Chapter 272

Chapter 272: The Sleeping Drug In the following days, County Princess Rongjia ignored Mrs. Cai and her daughter, and Cui Lingrong also refused to see them. They hit walls everywhere they turned. As for Cui Junyan, his wounds had not yet fully healed when he was urged to return to the military camp. Seeing her son about to suffer hardship in the camp, Mrs. Cai's heart ached terribly. She finally saw reality for what it was and went to bid farewell to Cui Lingrong. At Qiushuang Zhai, Yu-jie was chatting with her brother Xuan-ge. When she saw Mrs. Cai enter, her smile immediately vanished. Song Mingxuan, with his ingrained upbringing, still rose to greet Mrs. Cai, and Song Yu followed suit. Song Mingjin, however, remained seated and motionless, pretending not to see her. Mrs. Cai had come today with things to say to Cui Lingrong, so she gave her a meaningful look, signaling her to send the three children away. "I understand what you mean, Madam, but there's no need for that. They've all grown up now, and it's time they learned something about the ways of the world." Cui Lingrong told Mrs. Cai to speak freely. With Song Yu and the other two present, Mrs. Cai found it hard to save face, but since she had come, she had to make herself clear. "Some things were my own folly. I failed to realize that we are family above all, and instead I listened blindly to County Princess Rongjia." "It's good that you've come to see that, Madam." Cui Lingrong said slowly. "Now that you understand, does that mean you plan to return to Yangzhou?" Mrs. Cai nodded. Though deeply unwilling and filled with great resentment, Mrs. Cai had thought it over again and again—there was no other choice. She had come to Bianjing with high spirits, only to slink back in defeat. The hatred in Mrs. Cai's heart could only be swallowed down. "I was short-sighted. How could the great noble families ever look favorably upon a household like ours? I plan to take your sister back to Yangzhou in a couple of days, but there is one matter..." Mrs. Cai glanced at Song Yu and the others, her tone pleading. "Your brother shares the same Cui blood as you—you are true siblings. He was foolish and made mistakes, but he has already been punished. Please help him. Think of it as setting an example for your three children. You wouldn't want them to grow apart and become enemies in the future, would you?" Mrs. Cai always had a way of speaking to things people didn't want to hear. Cui Lingrong said she didn't have that kind of influence. "You needn't doubt me, Madam. The Duke of Dingguo's household does have such influence, but the Cui family doesn't acknowledge Zeyu. I have no reason to waste my goodwill on your behalf." "You... how can you be so heartless?" "Yes, I am cold and heartless, so don't count on me." Cui Lingrong said. Mrs. Cai asked once more, "You truly won't help your brother?" "No." Those two simple words dashed all of Mrs. Cai's hopes. Cui Lingrong added, "Please also convey this to my father when you return: whether I, Cui Lingrong, am wealthy and honored in the future, or begging on the streets, I will never seek help from the Cui family. And please remember—consider yourselves as having no daughter like me. We despise each other, so there's no need to keep grating on one another." Mrs. Cai stared blankly at Cui Lingrong. In her view, Cui Lingrong wasn't holding a grudge against the Cui family over old grievances—rather, now that Cui Zeyu had risen in status, Cui Lingrong had found a new backer and had become snobbish. She held in her anger as she walked out of Qiushuang Zhai. Since Cui Lingrong wouldn't help, she could only turn to the Zhuang family. Instead, she got a lecture from Zhuang Huaiming. "Aunt-in-law, though you are an elder, there are things I must say. When a son goes astray, the father bears the blame. Whether it's my cousin or my cousin-sister, in all the days you've been in Bianjing, has there been a single thing you've done to bring honor to Cousin Lingrong?" "We—" "Not to mention Cousin Junyan's choice of companions. Everyone in Bianjing is now saying that he and Fu Ze slept together. Tsk tsk, a man with another... doesn't Aunt-in-law feel ashamed just hearing it?" Zhuang Huaiming was the most upright and principled of men. "Please return, Aunt-in-law. I will absolutely not bend the rules for personal reasons. Cousin Junyan deserves to suffer some hardship—perhaps it will make him turn over a new leaf!" Mrs. Cai didn't dare point at Zhuang Huaiming and curse, so she could only swallow her frustration and return. When news of their departure reached Shouan Tang, Old Madame Song finally breathed a sigh of relief and made a show of asking Cui Lingrong to prepare a farewell banquet. On that day, Du Cheng also came, along with the entire Zhuang family. Cui Lingrong was rather surprised to see Du Cheng. Song Yu leaned in and said, "Mother, could it be that Du Cheng's monthly visits have actually won over County Princess Rongjia?" "Unlikely. County Princess Rongjia is petty and would never accept Du Cheng as her son. Since she brought him here, she must have another purpose. Keep your guard up—if anything happens, go straight to Nanny Qiu and the others." Cui Lingrong feared County Princess Rongjia had ill intentions. Since there were no other guests, everyone dispersed after the meal. Song Mingjin, enjoying a rare day of rest, dragged his sister off to go fishing. Song Mingxuan, having passed the xiucai examination, carried himself with even greater composure. He joined his father and the others in discussing recent political affairs in Bianjing. Cui Lingrong, meanwhile, sat drinking tea in the pavilion. "Eldest Young Madam, this is this year's Da Hong Pao. Please have a taste." Nanny Qiu had just brought over a cup of tea when Dongyun came looking for her. Seeing Dongyun's troubled expression, Nanny Qiu asked what was wrong. "Eldest Young Madam, Miss Lingying has gone off with Cheng-ge." Dongyun said. "Oh?" Cui Lingrong hadn't expected Cui Lingying to still be so persistent. She couldn't allow Cui Lingying to court disaster. It seemed that County Princess Rongjia had brought Du Cheng here precisely for this matter. She took her people to find Mrs. Cai, then they went over together. "Madam had best pray that Lingying hasn't done anything foolish, or else she'll be confined to my estate for the rest of her life." "That's impossible. I didn't tell her anything—she wouldn't do such a thing." Mrs. Cai's heart was racing. This time, she truly knew nothing. And judging by Cui Lingrong's expression, she really would lock her daughter away. The group hurried over. Meanwhile, Cui Lingying had learned of Du Cheng's whereabouts from a young maidservant and had followed the trail all the way here, only to find no sign of Du Cheng. But she wasn't willing to leave just like that. She searched room after room. "Brother Cheng, are you in there?" Cui Lingying thought this was her last chance—if she failed, once she returned to Yangzhou, she would lose all face and dignity. She had just stepped into a room when she caught a strange odor. After taking a few deep breaths, her body suddenly began to grow hot. To avoid drawing attention, Cui Lingying had shaken off her maidservant and come alone. She felt her breath growing short, and when she saw Du Cheng appear at the doorway, she threw herself at him uncontrollably.