Chapter 253

Chapter 253: Selling the Daughter Cui Lingrong did not want to be perceived as part of Prince Wu's faction, so she used the excuse of washing her hands to slip away from the crowd. Before long, Lou Wanxian followed and apologized to Cui Lingrong, "I truly had no idea why the Prince Wu Mansion is so persistent." When Lou Wanxian had replied to Princess Consort Wu, she hadn't noticed the princess consort being particularly angry. She had thought the matter would end there, never expecting Princess Consort Wu to still harbor such intentions. "You needn't worry about it. With Princess Consort Wu's status, her thoughts are not something you or I can influence. If she's so persistent, it must be because she sees some benefit to be gained from me." Cui Lingrong thought it over—she herself had little value to offer. If one had to speak of her network of connections, it would only be her younger brother and her cousin. As for Song Shulan, he had married County Princess Rongjia, and the Rong Prince Mansion and Prince Wu Mansion were at odds. Prince Wu Mansion's goal was not Song Shulan. With that thought, she understood. The state of her relationship with Song Shulan these past days might have been spread by others—that was possible. After all, County Princess Rongjia was still in the mansion, and whatever she chose to say was beyond Cui Lingrong's control. If Prince Wu Mansion knew she and Song Shulan were at odds, they would inevitably connect it to County Princess Rongjia. Perhaps they wanted to use her to deal with the Rong Prince Mansion, rather than genuinely seeking a marriage alliance. Having figured this out, Cui Lingrong had Nanny Qiu deliver a message that she had soiled her dress and would be returning first. But just as Nanny Qiu finished speaking, Princess Consort Wu came over with great concern. Seeing that the hem of Cui Lingrong's skirt was covered in mud, she immediately ordered someone to fetch her own dress. With no one else present, Princess Consort Wu looked at Cui Lingrong's lovely features, smiled faintly, and said, "Marchioness Song seems quite wary of Prince Wu Mansion?" "You flatter me, Your Highness. You and His Highness the Prince are both upright people. I would be delighted by your enthusiastic invitation. It's truly my carelessness—I was so captivated by the scenery that I lost my footing." Cui Lingrong first elevated the princess consort with praise. "Indeed, I appreciate people who are straightforward and clear-headed." Princess Consort Wu said, "Let's not mince words. I've taken a liking to your character and abilities, and Yu-jie is your own legitimate daughter. As for my eldest daughter-in-law's health... the imperial physician has said she has at most half a year to a year left." Cui Lingrong thought to herself, there would still be time to take a successor wife after she passed. To be in such a hurry to install a concubine—how could there not be some ulterior motive? Seeing that Cui Lingrong remained silent, Princess Consort Wu could only sigh and say, "To be honest, it's not that I'm anxious to stuff a woman into my son's arms—it's that the Gao family insists on sending someone to seize the position. But I've suffered one loss to the Gao family already, having married in a daughter-in-law with a petty heart. I'm unwilling to let the Gao family's youngest daughter come over, which is why I'm rushing to arrange someone. If you fear I might go back on my word, I can put it in writing—so long as Yu-jie marries in, she will surely be elevated to legitimate wife in the future." Princess Consort Wu spoke with utmost sincerity and without beating around the bush, which made it even harder for Cui Lingrong to respond. If Cui Lingrong were to make up some excuse, she would offend someone at this moment. After thinking it over, Cui Lingrong thought of Song Shulan. Better to let Song Shulan play the villain. She looked at Princess Consort Wu with a troubled expression. "It's not that I don't trust you, Your Highness. It's that my husband the Marquis has given explicit instructions—we are a scholarly family, and there has never been a precedent of sending daughters to be concubines. Even concubine-born daughters are properly married off. Of course, a prince's mansion is naturally different from ordinary households, but since the Marquis has given such instructions, I, as a woman of the inner quarters, cannot very well go against them." She pushed all the blame onto Song Shulan, and in this matter, she could be completely at ease. Song Shulan was not so muddled as to ruin himself—he wouldn't be foolish enough to cling to the Rong Prince Mansion while marrying his daughter into Prince Wu Mansion as a concubine. Princess Consort Wu knew this as well, which was why she had approached Cui Lingrong. She could tell that Cui Lingrong was still unwilling, so she turned the conversation to County Princess Rongjia. "I know you fear that if Yu-jie marries in, she might face the same situation as you and County Princess Rongjia. In truth, County Princess Rongjia was very willful in her youth. But with that kind of temperament, it's very easy to catch her in a mistake." Cui Lingrong smiled and lowered her head to take a sip of tea. "In her early years, when she was at the Du family, she relied on her status as Commandery Princess and ran rampant—even the elder Master and Madam Du had to live by her moods. Later, I don't know if you've heard, but Elder Master Du had actually kept a concubine in a hidden residence. The woman was already pregnant, yet County Princess Rongjia beat her to death with her own hands—two lives lost in one blow." Princess Consort Wu said such things to tell Cui Lingrong that she knew even more. And the matter of the hidden concubine was something Cui Lingrong could also use. Cui Lingrong had known for a long time. "Indeed. With the Rong Prince Mansion behind her, such matters are easily resolved." "So Marchioness Song already knew. And what about Marquis Song?" Princess Consort Wu was somewhat surprised, but seeing Cui Lingrong nod, she understood that Song Shulan had taken County Princess Rongjia's side, and that everything she had said was useless. But Princess Consort Wu was not so easily dissuaded. "It seems Marquis Song is very fond of County Princess Rongjia—so fond that he doesn't even care about a person's character. One can see how difficult things must be for you at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. But since Marquis Song is so fond of County Princess Rongjia, does he not fear repeating Elder Master Du's fate?" Princess Consort Wu's words carried a pointed implication. Cui Lingrong immediately understood what Princess Consort Wu meant, but she couldn't show it. She asked, "What does Your Highness mean by this?" "I believe you're clever enough to understand my meaning." Princess Consort Wu extended an olive branch. "Although I don't have solid evidence, if I investigate, I'm certain to find leads. Even the Rong Prince Mansion couldn't protect County Princess Rongjia's wealth and status in such a matter. County Princess Rongjia is the bond between Marquis Song and the Rong Prince Mansion. Once that bond is gone, your position as the stable Marchioness remains." Princess Consort Wu rose and looked at Cui Lingrong. "What you cannot do, or are unwilling to do, I can help you accomplish. As long as you help me resolve the Gao family matter and let Yu-jie marry into our household, we'll be on the same boat." Princess Consort Wu told Cui Lingrong to think it over—that this deal wouldn't put Cui Lingrong at a loss. In Princess Consort Wu's view, she had already made her promise and would never go back on it. Even if Yu-jie had to endure some temporary hardship, it would only last a year or two. And she could help Cui Lingrong eliminate County Princess Rongjia, that thorn in her side—Cui Lingrong wouldn't lose out. After all, County Princess Rongjia had been married into the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion for so long, and Cui Lingrong still hadn't managed to do away with her. Princess Consort Wu arranged a carriage for Cui Lingrong. After returning, Cui Lingrong had barely sat down when Song Shulan came to ask about Princess Consort Wu's intentions. Cui Lingrong only mentioned Princess Consort Wu's stated purpose. "She said the Gao family still wants to send a daughter to the Wu Prince Mansion, but since someone in the Gao family was convicted last year, and Elder Gao isn't to her liking, she raised this. But I declined. I said that the young ladies of our marquis mansion, even if concubine-born, have no reason to become someone's concubine." Hearing this, Song Shulan was visibly relieved. He had been afraid Cui Lingrong would succumb to the temptation and agree, which would have left him in an impossible position. "Indeed. The young ladies of our marquis mansion absolutely cannot become concubines. Even if they were later elevated to principal wife, it would sound terrible—people would say I sold my daughter for glory!" Song Shulan said. Cui Lingrong didn't mention the matter of County Princess Rongjia. Only after Song Shulan left did she tell Nanny Qiu that Princess Consort Wu must know something. "Prince Rong and Prince Wu are at odds despite outward harmony. It's only natural that Princess Consort Wu knows some things. It's a pity we can't learn them from her lips," Nanny Qiu said. "Not entirely without opportunity," Cui Lingrong said. "What Princess Consort Wu needs to resolve is the Gao family matter—it doesn't necessarily require Yu-jie to marry over. If I help her solve the Gao family trouble, she won't have to risk public criticism by taking a Noble Concubine for her son while his wife is gravely ill."