Chapter 258

Chapter 258: Foolishness Prince Rong told County Princess Rongjia to leave first. County Princess Rongjia, having failed to gain her parents' support, stormed off angrily to find Madam Qian. "It's all Cui Lingrong and her brother's fault! If not for them, how could Second Brother have ended up like this? Second Sister-in-law, don't worry—one day, I will avenge Second Brother!" Hearing County Princess Rongjia say this, Madam Qian turned over, facing away from her. Only now, at this moment, did Madam Qian regret ever getting entangled with County Princess Rongjia. Her husband had been sentenced to death by hanging, and her son's legs had been broken. Either way, Madam Qian was on the verge of collapse. When County Princess Rongjia saw that Madam Qian wasn't speaking, she felt that Madam Qian was also blaming her. She stood up and pointed at Madam Qian. "Fine! Every single one of you—are you all blaming me?" Madam Qian still said nothing. "Yes, when Second Brother took a liking to Caiyue, it was I who suggested Song Shulan and told him to agree. But later, when Cui Lingrong refused, I never brought it up again. How can you all put the blame on me?" County Princess Rongjia was utterly bewildered. It was her Second Brother who had been foolish—if he was going to abduct Caiyue, he should have been more discreet. Instead, he got himself caught. As for that wretched girl Caiyue, she had merely suffered a bit of fright, yet she had cost Second Brother his life. Madam Qian couldn't help but sit up. "Since you walked through that door, have I said a single word blaming you?" "You didn't say it, but your attitude says it all!" "Am I not even allowed to grieve? When you arrived, was I supposed to get up and comfort you, tell you it's not your fault, and that you shouldn't feel upset?" Madam Qian shrieked almost hysterically, completely losing her composure. "Yes, you've been pampered since you were little, so you're willful and you disregard the law. But if you weren't a daughter of the Rong Prince Mansion, with your personality, who would ever like you?" The room fell into dead silence. Madam Qian continued, "Do you think Song Shulan truly loves you? You're a widow who remarried and cannot bear children. Who would keep professing love for you over some childhood affection?" She emphasized her words. "Rongjia, you're far too naive. It's only because you're a daughter of the Rong Prince Mansion that Song Shulan tolerates you again and again. Even I have to put up with your bad temper!" With no hope left for her days, Madam Qian had nothing to fear. She had been holding in a bellyful of resentment, and County Princess Rongjia had conveniently delivered herself to her doorstep. "But we've been friends since we were children—surely that's not because I'm a daughter of the Rong Prince Mansion?" County Princess Rongjia was stunned. Madam Qian fell silent again. They had known each other for many years. Perhaps at first, Madam Qian had harbored intentions of currying favor, but after all those years together, and with Madam Qian later willing to stand up for County Princess Rongjia, there had been some genuine feeling. But at this moment, Madam Qian was too depressed herself, and with County Princess Rongjia constantly complaining and blaming, Madam Qian simply didn't want to argue. Seeing Madam Qian silent, County Princess Rongjia took it as confirmation. "Fine, you! So you were being insincere all along. You deserve to be a widow—this is your retribution!" "Does the County Mistress not fear retribution herself for saying such things?" Madam Qian couldn't hold back. "No, wait—you've already lost one husband!" Just as the two were about to break into a full-blown quarrel, Lady Wu arrived and interrupted their exchange. Princess Consort Rong, fearing that County Princess Rongjia might say something reckless, had specifically sent Lady Wu to check on things. "No matter how much you two argue, things are already as they are. I suggest that instead of blaming each other here, you think about how to make Second Brother's last three days more comfortable." Lady Wu felt no particular grief over Zhao Zhongzhi's death, so her tone was indifferent. County Princess Rongjia had nothing more to say to them and turned to leave. Lady Wu was about to leave as well when Madam Qian suddenly called out to her, "Elder Sister-in-law, are you feeling quite pleased with yourself right now?" "Have you lost your mind?" Lady Wu frowned slightly. "Second Brother committed such a grave offense that it has affected the Rong Prince Mansion's reputation. What would I have to be happy about? Madam Qian, I have no time to play petty games with you. Whatever happens to you, I don't care." She sat securely in her position as the Heir's Wife—why should she bother getting upset with people like Madam Qian? Still, she hadn't expected Cui Lingrong and her brother to be so unyielding, actually taking the matter all the way to the Emperor. Once word spread, it truly didn't reflect well on the Rong Prince Mansion's reputation. When Lady Wu returned to report to her mother-in-law, she added a few extra words. "When I arrived, Rongjia was quarreling with Second Sister-in-law. Actually..." She deliberately paused. Princess Consort Rong sensed that Lady Wu had more to say, and with a single look, the maidservants withdrew. Only then did Lady Wu continue, "Actually, over the years, the Rong Prince Mansion has cleaned up quite a few messes for Sister Rongjia. I know you and Father are fond of her, but if this continues, I fear one day it will drag down the rest of the Rong Prince Mansion." "Are you blaming us for spoiling her too much?" Princess Consort Rong's face darkened. "Spoiling a daughter is harming a daughter. Rongjia is at an age where she should know better." Lady Wu spoke bluntly—if she didn't speak up now, the Rong Prince Mansion would truly be dragged to ruin by County Princess Rongjia. Although Princess Consort Rong understood the reasoning, hearing such words was hardly pleasant. "Do you think I don't understand? I've admonished her plenty on ordinary days. You have to let her change gradually—you can't expect her to become steady and decisive overnight." Lady Wu thought to herself, County Princess Rongjia was not young anymore. If she kept taking things slowly, was she waiting until she was seventy or eighty before she understood anything? "Alright, you may go back. I know you don't care about Rongjia and Zhongzhi and the others. I'll handle their affairs myself—just don't go siding with outsiders." Princess Consort Rong's words carried a pointed meaning. She was not deaf; she knew that Lady Wu often approached Cui Lingrong. Lady Wu had said all she could, but her mother-in-law still favored County Princess Rongjia and the others. After withdrawing, Lady Wu went about her usual business as before. Three days later, Zhao Zhongzhi was hanged to death at Caishikou. It was said that he had been cursing nonstop before he died. When the common people saw that even a member of the imperial clan like Zhao Zhongzhi was punished the same way for breaking the law, they felt more assured. As for the clansmen, they dared not complain openly, but privately they vented their resentment on newly risen nobles like Cui Zeyu. Thus, for the following period, Cui Zeyu was extremely busy. Song Shulan was different. After Zhao Zhongzhi's death, the Rong Prince Mansion deliberately kept its distance from him. Without the mansion's support, and with his own abilities being unremarkable, he barely managed to keep the flames of conflict from reaching him through flattery and sycophancy. Time passed quickly to the end of the seventh month. What arrived before the autumn hunt was Cui Zeyu obtaining evidence of the Gao family's bribery. Because of this, the second son of the Gao family was thrown into prison, and the Gao family had no choice but to beg at the Wu Prince Mansion. The Prince and Princess Consort Wu both avoided meeting them, but they leaked the matter to Lady Gao, who was bedridden with illness. Dragging her sick body, Lady Gao knelt in the main courtyard. "Your Highness, the Hereditary Princess has already been kneeling for a quarter of an hour. I fear she cannot hold on much longer," a servant came to report. If anything happened to Lady Gao, Princess Consort Wu would earn a reputation for cruelty, so she had no choice but to go out. "Your brother's matter—the evidence is conclusive. What are you doing, trying to threaten me like this?" "Your... your daughter-in-law would not dare threaten you, Mother. I only... hope that you and Father can plead for my second brother." Lady Gao was so weak she could not even cry. Her small face was deathly pale, and her voice was feeble. "Don't tell me that's not a threat. Not long ago, Zhao Zhongzhi of the Rong Prince Mansion was sentenced to death by hanging. Do you think the Emperor will show leniency to the Gao family?" Princess Consort Wu was angered. "As a member of the Wu Prince Mansion, you don't think about the mansion's difficulties, but instead think only of your natal family. And that younger sister of yours—using the excuse of visiting you, she refuses to leave the mansion. Don't think I don't know what the Gao family is scheming!" After this harsh reprimand, Lady Gao's face turned even paler, but she completely forgot the dignity befitting the Hereditary Princess of the mansion. Kneeling forward, she said, "I beg you, I truly cannot bear to watch my brother die like this. Give him one more chance... cough, cough..." Lady Gao was too agitated and clutched her chest, coughing violently. The more Princess Consort Wu looked, the angrier she became. She had people take Lady Gao away directly. "Foolish thing! I'm truly unlucky to have such a daughter-in-law!" As she said this, she couldn't help but think of Song Yu. Although Cui Lingrong had helped deal with the Gao family, having witnessed Cui Lingrong's methods, she wanted an even more capable daughter-in-law and grew increasingly satisfied with Song Yu.