Chapter 281

Chapter 281: Confession Song Shulan didn't give County Princess Rongjia a chance to say more. He yawned, sat down on the edge of the bed himself, and took off his shoes. "Master Song, haven't you been swamped with official duties lately? If you come to my place, won't you sleep poorly?" County Princess Rongjia still steeled herself and said in a soft, coquettish voice. Song Shulan thought County Princess Rongjia was flirting with him, so instead he pulled her into his arms, buried his face in her neck, and breathed in her feminine fragrance. "County Mistress, you smell wonderful." But County Princess Rongjia had no mind for such things with Song Shulan. She pushed him away, afraid he might discover something, and tugged at her collar. Her actions were keenly noticed by Song Shulan. "Is the County Mistress disgusted with me? Do you not want to be intimate with me?" "No, I just want you to rest well," County Princess Rongjia said. "But today I want to be close to you. Does the County Mistress think I can't perform as a man, and no longer wish to be with me?" Song Shulan was very sensitive now. Seeing that County Princess Rongjia didn't immediately explain, during that brief pause of hers, he stood up and said, "I'm not whole. Since the County Mistress is disgusted with me, then I'll leave!" County Princess Rongjia found it increasingly hard to explain herself. Watching Song Shulan walk away just like that, she simply didn't bother chasing after him. It was Wang Hechun's Wife who came in and asked, "County Mistress, the Marquis left just like that. Aren't you afraid he'll harbor resentment toward you?" She knew about the illicit affair between County Princess Rongjia and Du Cheng, and she was the most afraid of that affair being discovered, because she would be the first to die. But County Princess Rongjia was too lazy to deal with Song Shulan. "What would happen even if I chased after him? Surely you don't actually want me to undress with him? Then how would I explain all those marks on my body?" "But..." "But what?" County Princess Rongjia snorted. "Besides, the Marquis can't perform as a man. Other than getting me all fired up, what else can he do?" Every time she wanted it badly, Song Shulan couldn't satisfy her, leaving her miserable. Du Cheng was different. Youth truly meant a strong body—every time they met, they spent it in bed. Involuntarily, County Princess Rongjia began to savor the memory of her trysts with Du Cheng. Wang Hechun's Wife wanted to remind her, but she understood her mistress wouldn't listen, so she could only retreat and sigh. Early the next morning, County Princess Rongjia prepared to go out and find Du Cheng again, but when she saw Cuixi following her, she had to suppress the urge and stay. Unable to go out and secretly meet Du Cheng, County Princess Rongjia itched with frustration. She cursed Cui Lingrong inwardly, wondering why Cui Lingrong had to open her mouth—she hadn't wanted to compete with Cui Lingrong over this anyway. On the other side, Cui Lingrong was far more at ease than County Princess Rongjia. Cui Lingrong had no guilty conscience, so she didn't mind having an extra tail following her around. Her focus now was solely on Yuan Mingzhu's condition. Upon learning that the Jiang family was preparing to divide the household, Cui Lingrong specially sent someone to inquire. After receiving a reply that Yuan Mingzhu need not worry, Cui Lingrong didn't interfere. Soon, the Jiang family divided their property. The second branch received a courtyard close to the ancestral home—Old Madame Jiang's intention being that her eldest son could look after the second branch more easily. On the third day after the division, Old Madame Jiang passed away. Cui Lingrong went to the Jiang residence once more to offer her condolences. No one was surprised by Old Madame Jiang's passing. After offering incense, Cui Lingrong wanted to go to the second branch to find Yuan Mingzhu, but as she walked into the garden, she remembered that Yuan Mingzhu had already moved away. Just as she turned around, she ran into Xie Yunting. Meeting again, even without Cuiyun following, Cui Lingrong still felt she should maintain some distance from Xie Yunting. So she took a step back. "General Xie." "I knew I would run into you today," Xie Yunting said. "Does General Xie have business with me?" Cui Lingrong asked. Xie Yunting raised one eyebrow. No longer was it the respect of a younger brother toward an elder sister, but the appraising gaze of a man toward a woman. "Sister Cui, are you keeping your distance from me?" "General Xie jests. You have shown me kindness, and I will always respect you," Cui Lingrong said. "Respect?" Xie Yunting took two steps forward, and only stopped when he saw Cui Lingrong's brows slightly furrow. "I wonder if anyone has ever told Sister Cui that you are truly beautiful. Over all these years, there must have been quite a few men who've shown you favor, haven't there?" In fact, there weren't many. Because Cui Lingrong never met alone with unrelated men, giving no other man the opportunity. Still, there had been a few bold ones who tried every means to get close to Cui Lingrong and confess their feelings, but they were all harshly dismissed by her. She was a proper, rule-abiding married woman who had never once considered straying from her marriage. Hearing Xie Yunting bring this up now, she felt a strange discomfort in her heart. Afraid he might say more things she didn't want to hear, she took her leave, saying she had matters to attend to. But suddenly, Xie Yunting grabbed her slender wrist. Not only did it startle Cui Lingrong, but Nanny Qiu also looked around in terror. "General Xie, what are you doing?" Nanny Qiu asked in a hushed voice, her heart leaping to her throat. If anyone saw this, the Eldest Madam would never be able to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River. Cui Lingrong struggled to free her hand and also asked, "General Xie, why won't you let go?" "Sister Cui, you're not truly happy with Song Shulan, are you?" Xie Yunting asked. Nanny Qiu: "General Xie, this is a matter between the eldest mistress and the Marquis. Though this place is secluded, someone might still appear." Only then did Xie Yunting release Cui Lingrong's hand. Seeing her flustered, he said directly, "I know, Sister Cui, you are a virtuous woman who upholds propriety. But I, Xie Yunting, have never cared for such messy conventions. I admire you. Why not divorce Song Shulan and marry me instead?" Cui Lingrong could never have dreamed of hearing such words from Xie Yunting. "General Xie, do not mock me. You are Zeyu's friend!" "I am not joking, nor do I see any gap between us." Xie Yunting was a rough man who spoke without beating around the bush. "Do you know, during the northern expedition, I nearly died twice. At those moments, I thought—what a pity, I had never expressed my feelings for you, how could I die like that? Clinging to that conviction, I fought again and again, and only then did I return triumphant to Bianjing." "But... I am already a wife and a mother. If you entangle yourself with me, people will only gossip." Cui Lingrong had never imagined she would have anything to do with Xie Yunting. Even after leaving the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, she had never considered remarrying, let alone marrying someone as powerful as Xie Yunting. "So what? I do not mind, and you need not fear. If anyone dares to wag their tongue, I will cut it out. As long as you are willing, I will give you everything." As he spoke, Xie Yunting leaned slightly closer. "Sister Cui, one lives only once. Why torment yourself? Would it not be better to spend the rest of your life happily with me?" Cui Lingrong was truly stunned. It was only when Nanny Qiu tugged at her sleeve, saying she thought she heard footsteps, that Cui Lingrong finally refused, "General Xie, you are still young and have a bright future ahead. Perhaps this is a passing whim, but I will not gamble with my life. There can never be anything between us. Do not bring this up again." Cui Lingrong hurriedly pulled Nanny Qiu away, her heart pounding wildly. No matter how she thought about it, she could never have foreseen this day. Meanwhile, Xie Yunting turned a corner and saw Cui Zeyu standing behind the wall. "You heard everything?"