Chapter 259

Chapter 259: The Old Widow Gao Shi couldn't move her mother-in-law, so she turned to her husband, Zhao Zhongfu. In all their years of marriage, there had never been a time of deep affection between them. Whenever Gao Shi brought up her natal family, Zhao Zhongfu always showed impatience. When she arrived at his room, before she even stepped inside, Zhao Zhongfu caught a whiff of medicinal scent. "If you've come about your second brother's matter, don't bother. Lu Zeyu shows no regard for personal connections—even the cousin from Rong Prince Mansion didn't escape, let alone your second brother." "But my second brother was merely momentarily foolish," Gao Shi said. "Momentarily foolish?" Zhao Zhongfu took a deep breath. "Can momentary foolishness embezzle over ten thousand taels of silver? Gao Shi, the law shows no mercy. The Emperor clearly intends to punish these people severely, yet you keep putting me and the mansion in an impossible position. In your heart, which matters more—the mansion or the Gao family?" When they had first married, Zhao Zhongfu had been somewhat reluctant, but he thought that since the marriage was done, life had to go on, and there was no need to dwell on the past. Two people could manage with mutual discussion. But Zhao Zhongfu discovered that he simply couldn't have a proper conversation with Gao Shi. Between the two of them, the gap wasn't just in family standing, but also in breadth of mind and depth of insight. Gao Shi was wholly devoted to her natal family, thinking of them in everything. Zhao Zhongfu himself wasn't particularly outstanding, and the Emperor didn't allow overly capable imperial clan members to rise above the rest. For Zhao Zhongfu, he was weary of Gao Shi's constant pleas. "Shizi, just one last time—one last time, please?" Gao Shi knelt down. "I've been married to you for years. If not for merit, then at least for my toil. For the sake of our children, help my second brother once. You know my time is short—can this be my final request?" "You truly are incorrigible!" Zhao Zhongfu rose and walked toward the door. At the threshold, hearing Gao Shi still sobbing and begging, he couldn't help but utter harsh words. "Let me tell you, I've tolerated your Gao family for far too long. Even if Lu Zeyu weren't set on your second brother, if the evidence fell into my hands, I'd be the first to hand it over!" Gao Shi's sobbing stopped abruptly. She couldn't understand why Zhao Zhongfu hated the Gao family so much. What had she done wrong? The Gao family had never been prominent. If she didn't help support them, how could she be of any use to them? Besides, if the Gao family had some capability, it would benefit Zhao Zhongfu as well. Moreover, she was a daughter of the Gao family. Her parents and brothers were her dearest kin. She only helped out occasionally—it wasn't as if she constantly asked the mansion to extend a hand. Gao Shi couldn't catch her breath. She spat out blood on the spot and fainted. After Gao Shi was carried back, her younger sister Gao Qingyun learned that the Wu Prince Mansion refused to help, and despair settled in her heart. When Gao Shi woke, it was already dark. She clutched her sister's hand tightly. "Qingyun, you're young. Go find the Shizi. I've run out of options—the Gao family can only rely on you." "But sister, if I go without any proper standing, how would my brother-in-law think highly of me?" To be honest, Gao Qingyun was unwilling to do such a thing. It made her seem cheap. Even if she succeeded, how could she earn a man's respect? But her family had pressured her to come, so she had no choice but to stay and care for her sister. She should have been betrothed long ago, but her parents knew her sister was unwell and kept delaying—delaying until she was now eighteen. It was as if they were waiting for her sister to die quickly so she could take her place. "You silly girl, between a man and a woman, feelings grow through time together. Once you make him happy, is there anything he wouldn't do for you?" Gao Shi weakly pushed her sister. "Go quickly! If you delay any longer, second brother will truly lose his head. Then how will you face the Gao family, face second sister-in-law and your nephews?" Gao Qingyun reluctantly walked out of the room. Her sister had found her a very sheer garment and told her to bring her brother-in-law a midnight snack. Her cheeks flushed so red they could drip blood. When she reached the door, despite the old nursemaid's constant urging, Gao Qingyun still couldn't take that step. In the end, the door opened first. Seeing her brother-in-law come out, Gao Qingyun was overcome with shame. She dropped the food box and fled in panic. Zhao Zhongfu looked at the shattered bowls and chopsticks on the ground and sighed helplessly. He would never marry another woman from the Gao family again. Without the Wu Prince Mansion's help, Gao the Second Son was soon sentenced to beheading. When Gao Shi learned the news, she vomited blood violently. On the day Gao the Second Son went to the Yellow Springs, Gao Shi also passed away. For the Wu Prince and his wife, Gao Shi's death was actually a relief—at last they could shake off the burden of the Gao family. When sending out the formal invitations, the Wu Prince Mansion deliberately sent one to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Upon receiving such an invitation, Cui Lingrong and Song Shulan had no choice but to go pay their respects. They had planned to offer incense and leave immediately, but not long after Cui Lingrong boarded the carriage, it was suddenly struck with a violent jolt. "What's going on?" Song Shulan asked instinctively, reaching out to steady Cui Lingrong—but she deliberately leaned backward rather than accept his help. His expression darkened further. Before the driver could answer, a man's angry shout came from outside. "Are you all happy now? My sister is dead, making room for your daughter!" Cui Lingrong lifted the curtain with displeasure. Upon learning that the carriage axle had been damaged, she simply stepped down. Her gaze searched and found a tall, thin young man who was clearly from the Gao family. "Are you Gao the Fifth Son?" "I never change my name, whether sitting or standing—I am Gao the Fifth of the Gao family. Today I deliberately rammed your carriage. If you can't swallow this, take me to the county office and I'll accept whatever punishment they hand down!" Gao the Fifth said from atop his horse, but when he saw who was speaking, he froze. Soon enough, Song Shulan stepped up beside Cui Lingrong. "Your Gao family truly conducts itself like petty small-timers. As for today's matter, I will most certainly demand an explanation!" "I alone did this, and I alone will answer for it—no need to drag the Gao family into it. But I also want an explanation for my sister! Before my sister had even left, your Song family was already rushing to send your daughter to the Prince Wu Mansion. Is your daughter so desperate she can't be married off?" Gao the Fifth glared viciously at Cui Lingrong and her husband. Cui Lingrong furrowed her brow and ordered Qingshan to drag Gao the Fifth off his horse. These past few days, quite a few passersby had been walking near the Prince Wu Mansion. If Gao the Fifth kept shouting like this, what would become of Yu-jie's reputation? Once Gao the Fifth was hauled over, Cui Lingrong said, word by word, "My daughter will never be anyone's concubine. Nor will she ever be used and exploited for the family's gain like your Gao family does to its daughters. Gao the Fifth, you're not young anymore, yet you still act with such recklessness—it's clear your Gao family simply has no class!" In the Gao family's view, the fact that Princess Consort Wu had repeatedly invited Lady Cui to her residence, combined with what they had learned of Princess Consort Wu's fondness for the eldest Song daughter, was why Gao the Fifth harbored such deep resentment toward the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. And yet here they were, saying they had never once considered marrying their daughter into the Prince Wu Mansion. Gao the Fifth refused to believe it. "Who are you trying to fool? Everyone knows that Marquis Song, in his desperate bid to climb the social ladder, married an old widow at his age. Your Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion is the most snobbish of them all—one foot on the Rong Prince Mansion's big ship while trying to board the Prince Wu Mansion's boat. Am I wrong?" Climbing the social ladder? Marrying an old widow? In that moment, Cui Lingrong finally understood why Gao the Fifth was so reckless—it turned out he was simply someone who spoke without thinking, down to his very bones. She glanced sidelong at Song Shulan. Though Song Shulan did harbor ambitions of climbing higher, he was also a man who valued face above all, and nothing stung him more than being called out on it. Seeing Song Shulan's face turn ashen, Cui Lingrong found, for some reason, that Gao the Fifth didn't seem quite so detestable after all. Especially when she thought of Gao the Fifth calling County Princess Rongjia an old widow—what a pity the county princess wasn't here, because if she had heard that title, she would surely have flown into a rage.