Chapter 252

Chapter 252: Drawing Attention When it came to blood relations, Cui Lingrong had her own full brothers, while Cui Zeyu had merely once borne the surname Cui—now he didn't even have that anymore. Song Shulan deliberately glanced at Cui Zeyu after speaking. Wu Hui was very adept at reading expressions. She noticed Song Shulan's look but didn't turn to stare. Instead, she picked up her chopsticks and focused on the food before her. Cui Lingrong asked, "What did the letter say?" Song Shulan didn't answer Cui Lingrong. Instead, he looked at Wu Hui. "Sister-in-law probably isn't too clear on this—the Cui family has always been short-sighted. They didn't acknowledge Zeyu before. So Zeyu grew up in the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Our mansion—" "Marquis, does it matter to you whether sister-in-law knows or not?" Cui Lingrong set down her chopsticks and turned her head to look at him. "Or do you just need to embarrass me at this very moment to feel satisfied?" The atmosphere instantly became tense. This was Wu Hui's first visit as a guest after her marriage, and to encounter something like this—she awkwardly set down her chopsticks too, at a loss, and looked at Cui Zeyu. Cui Zeyu likewise challenged Song Shulan. "Marquis, what exactly do you mean? My Cui was never the Cui of the Cui family—it's only ever been my sister's Cui. If you have something to say, say it directly. There are no outsiders here. Let Lady Wu see how your mansion treats my sister." After a pause, Cui Zeyu's tone grew heavier. "If you're not willing to live properly, I don't mind taking my sister and Xuan-ge and the others away." "Cui Zeyu, what did you say?" Song Shulan slammed the table and stood up. "It's Lu Zeyu." Cui Zeyu had to admit that at times like this, the surname Lu was particularly useful. "Song Shulan, if you're not happy eating this meal, you can get out!" Song Shulan pointed at himself. "Get out? This is the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion—my home—and you're telling me to get out?" He stared at Cui Zeyu in disbelief, and only when his gaze swept past Lady Wu did he realize how he'd lost his composure. With a snort, Song Shulan actually did leave. But he came back, calling out his two sons' names. "I need to speak with you both—come to the study with me!" Song Mingjin looked at his father with difficulty, then at his elder brother. Song Mingxuan called out, "Mother." Cui Lingrong nodded. "Go on. Better to avoid him holding a grudge if he's displeased." She didn't want her two children to be caught in the middle. Song Mingxuan understood his mother's intent, rose, and followed. Song Mingjin's lips curved upward, and he tilted his head, pretending not to have heard. Seeing his younger son hadn't moved, Song Shulan turned and left. He grumbled all the way. "Even Jin-ge won't listen to me anymore. Do you really think of Cui Zeyu as your true maternal uncle? Hah. You're grown now—you know what the Cui family is like. Cui Zeyu now goes by Lu, the Zhuang family goes by Zhuang, and you all share my surname—Song!" The more Song Shulan spoke, the angrier he got, and he stopped. "Your mother has been swayed by who knows who, and now she's become utterly distant with me. Doesn't she know that a husband is a wife's heaven—that I am her heaven?" "All day long, she's closer to Little Yuan-shi and the others. When it comes to me, she can't even spare a pleasant expression. She says we should just muddle through like this, neither of us minding who the other is thinking about!" "Who am I thinking about?" "Aren't I thinking about this family?" "About your future and mine!" Song Shulan slammed his fist hard against a wooden beam, only to hurt his hand. He sucked in a sharp breath, his anger burning even hotter. Throughout it all, Song Mingxuan watched his father calmly. He asked, "If, back then, Father had asked Mother's opinion before taking an Equal Wife, what do you think would have happened?" "If I'd told her, would she have agreed?" Song Shulan answered instinctively. "You see—you know Mother wouldn't have agreed. But you insisted on taking County Princess Rongjia as an Equal Wife anyway. They say a first wife is the most important person in a man's life, and the one most deserving of respect. Where was your respect for Mother?" Song Mingxuan's tone remained calm from beginning to end. He knew very well that a man like his father wouldn't change his way of thinking because of a few words from him. Song Mingxuan simply felt he should say something. Song Shulan was stumped—stumped by his own son. He couldn't answer. After a moment, he turned and strode off. "Fine, fine, fine. You're all so capable. Then go throw yourselves at Cui Zeyu—don't come claiming me as your father!" Song Mingxuan sighed helplessly. Sometimes his father couldn't see that you couldn't have your cake and eat it too—a person couldn't have everything they wanted. As the eldest legitimate son of a great family, Song Mingxuan had known from a young age the weight of family responsibility. But he would never, like his father, try to take shortcuts. On the other side, Cui Lingrong quickly returned to a normal expression and told Wu Hui not to mind. "The affairs of this mansion can't be explained in a few words. Don't take it to heart." Wu Hui asked hesitantly, "Sister, aren't you sad? Or angry?" "I was, once. But from a young age, my aunt always told me that if I wanted to live well, I couldn't pin my hopes on a man's love and affection. Perhaps that sounds cold and unfeeling, but I've come to believe it's true." A person unburdened by such ties lives more freely. To be perfectly honest, if not for her three children, Cui Lingrong might have left the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion without a second thought. Wu Hui recalled what her mother had said about Lady Cui's difficult situation, so she quickly changed the subject and began praising Yu-jie instead. Speaking of Yu-jie, Cui Lingrong had been troubled by a matter recently. She had thought that after discussing it with Lou Wanxian, the Wu Prince Mansion would give up. Unexpectedly, just yesterday, Princess Consort Wu had sent another invitation, specifically inviting her and Yu-jie to attend the flower-viewing banquet at the Wu Prince Mansion. The invitation had been delivered personally by the princess consort's senior maid, and the intention was all too clear. But Cui Lingrong could not refuse to go—she had already fallen out with the Rong Prince Mansion, and if she were to become hostile with the Wu Prince Mansion as well, it would not bode well for her in Bianjing. Glancing at her daughter, Cui Lingrong thought it over and, the next day, went to the Wu Prince Mansion by herself. Song Yu did not go, and naturally Princess Consort Wu asked about it. The moment Cui Lingrong said that Yu-jie was feeling unwell, Princess Consort Wu ordered someone to summon the imperial physician. "Young ladies are precious—she cannot remain ill for long. Do not stand on ceremony with me; we will be family soon enough." Princess Consort Wu had Cui Lingrong accompany her, and because of this, Cui Lingrong drew particular attention, with everyone speculating about the princess consort's intentions.