Chapter 283

Chapter 283: The Lawsuit Cuixi was a person from the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Now that she was dead, and died such a miserable death, Cui Lingrong still had to send someone to investigate. She had Er Shun accompany the yamen officials over there, while she herself went to the Wutong Courtyard. Seeing County Princess Rongjia playing with a bird, Cui Lingrong said, "Does the County Princess know that Cuixi has been found?" "So what if she's been found? A disloyal one like her—just beat her to death, what's there to say?" County Princess Rongjia said dismissively, not even glancing at Cui Lingrong. "The County Princess is right. A runaway slave like her, it doesn't matter if she's dead. However, Cuixi's belongings were all robbed, and someone found a dudou nearby that looks very familiar. From the description, I heard it resembles the craftsmanship of the Wutong Courtyard. I've already sent someone to bring it for the County Princess to take a look." Leaving these words behind, Cui Lingrong did not linger any longer. County Princess Rongjia's hand paused. After a long moment, she turned and went into the house. Wang Hechun's Wife hesitated for a moment, but then a roar came from inside the room. "Mama Wang! Get in here!" Wang Hechun's Wife steeled herself and entered the room. Before she could speak, a comb was thrown at her. She hurriedly knelt down. "County Princess, please don't be angry. Could it be that the Eldest Young Madam is bluffing us? Cuixi's bundle was packed by this servant personally—there's no way it contained any of your belongings." Only now did Rongjia realize that Cui Lingrong had very likely deceived her. Still, she was furious. "How did you do things? How could you let the yamen officials find Cuixi so quickly?" Yes, it was she who had let Cuixi leave the mansion. It was also she who had arranged for Cuixi to be abducted, because Cuixi was too much of a hindrance. A runaway slave like Cuixi couldn't have run very far. Moreover, with Cuixi alive, County Princess Rongjia couldn't rest easy. So it was also County Princess Rongjia who arranged for men to rape Cuixi, creating the scene of Cuixi being harmed by vagrants—after all, such things were not uncommon. But County Princess Rongjia hadn't expected the yamen to find Cuixi so quickly. In her view, it was all because the people below hadn't done their jobs properly. "Reporting to the County Princess, this servant did everything according to your arrangements. This servant had no idea it would be discovered so quickly." Wang Hechun's Wife was terrified. "County Princess, should we inform the Rong Prince Mansion? What if..." "What if what? Are you that eager for something to happen to me?" County Princess Rongjia interrupted Wang Hechun's Wife with displeasure. "Cuixi deserved to die—who told her to ruin my plans!" Originally, County Princess Rongjia hadn't intended to kill her. But every time she wanted to go out, Cuixi would insist on following. She hadn't been able to see Du Cheng for days, and her heart ached unbearably. The more she looked at Cuixi, the more irritated she became. "How could this servant ever think such a thing?" Wang Hechun's Wife felt that things were getting harder and harder to manage lately. The County Princess refused to inform the Rong Prince Mansion, surely because she feared the mansion would investigate deeply into why Cuixi had been killed. All she could do now was pray that Cuixi's matter wouldn't be traced back to her—otherwise, she'd be like Chen De's Wife and the others, going to meet the King of Hell early. Wang Hechun's Wife silently recited Amitabha in her heart. County Princess Rongjia said, "Fortunately, Cuixi was bought from outside—no one will care whether she lives or dies. Go prepare the carriage. I'm going out." "County Princess, Cuixi just died. The Eldest Young Madam is definitely keeping an eye on the Wutong Courtyard. If you go out now, the Eldest Young Madam will surely investigate." Wang Hechun's Wife said anxiously, "Why not wait a few days, until things settle down?" But County Princess Rongjia refused. "I've been abstaining for so many days already, and you still want me to stay cooped up in the marquis mansion? What exactly are you afraid of? Or is there something you haven't done cleanly?" Wang Hechun's Wife shook her head, saying no. Rongjia didn't want to hear any more of Wang Hechun's Wife's persuasion and insisted on having the carriage prepared. County Princess Rongjia had arranged a new residence for Du Cheng, in a very secluded courtyard. She believed that no one could find that place. Wang Hechun's Wife had no choice but to have the carriage prepared. Cuixi had just died, and Rongjia was already going out. When Cui Lingrong learned of this, she had a gut feeling that Cuixi's death must be connected to County Princess Rongjia. But before the cause of Cuixi's death could be fully investigated, Mei Qiusheng, under Cui Zeyu's guidance, went to the Jingzhao Prefecture to file a lawsuit against County Princess Rongjia for murder. Prince Rong had just lost a son, and now his daughter was being sued at the Jingzhao Prefecture. When Prince Rong heard the news, he roared on the spot, "Who exactly is it?" The servants didn't dare breathe too loudly. Princess Consort Rong said anxiously, "Your Highness, you should hurry into the palace and see. Rongjia is our only daughter—we absolutely cannot let her be harmed." "It's all because of the daughter you raised—willful and reckless. And besides, didn't we already resolve the Du family matter? How can someone still be bringing it up?" Prince Rong was referring to Du Shibei's death. When he learned that his daughter had spent years slowly poisoning Du Shibei to death and had been carrying on an affair, Prince Rong had been forced to forfeit all the dowry, take the initiative to arrange official positions for the Du family members, and promise to protect the Du family forever—only then did the Du family agree not to make a fuss about it. Back then, for this matter, Prince Rong had personally gone to the Du family. One could say he had humbled himself, using both threats and bribes. Princess Consort Rong said, "It's not the Du family filing the lawsuit. It's that hidden residence woman—the Mei family filing the lawsuit." Prince Rong did not remember the Mei family, but he knew that Du Shibei had kept a concubine in a hidden residence, and that the concubine had been killed by his daughter. The matter was later settled with compensation. Prince Rong found it strange. "Didn't the Mei family take the money and leave? Why have they come back to file a complaint now?" Princess Consort Rong's eyes darted away. Knowing the truth could no longer be concealed, she finally confessed, "Back then, Rongjia wrote to me, saying that if she did not eliminate the threat once and for all, she would not be at peace. I... I sent people to deal with the Mei family. Who would have thought that some would slip through the net?" "Foolish! The both of you are utterly foolish!" Prince Rong roared in fury. "The Mei family merely lost a daughter, and their daughter was kept as a concubine in a hidden residence—hardly a respectable matter to begin with. We paid them money, and that should have ended the matter. Rongjia said to silence them, and you actually dared to act on it! The two of you, mother and daughter..." Prince Rong pointed at Princess Consort Rong, unable to speak for a long moment. "My lord, I know I was wrong. But the urgent matter now is to deal with the Mei family first, or both Rongjia and I will be affected," Princess Consort Rong said tearfully. "Rongjia was spoiled by me. If anything happens, I will bear the responsibility." "You say it so lightly—bear the responsibility? With what, the hundred years of glory and prosperity of the Rong Prince Mansion?" Prince Rong was nearly faint with rage. Because of his second son's affair, the Emperor had already grown displeased with the Rong Prince Mansion. These past days, Prince Rong had found no favor anywhere. He had thought to quietly achieve some tangible results, but now the Mei family had come knocking again. Prince Rong was overwhelmed with troubles and stormed out of the mansion in a huff. On the other side, at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, when Song Shulan learned that someone had filed a complaint against County Princess Rongjia, he went straight to the Wutong Courtyard. But the yamen officers had already arrived, intending to take County Princess Rongjia in for questioning. "Questioning is questioning, but none of you touch me!" County Princess Rongjia shouted at the yamen officers. "I have not been convicted yet—I am still a County Mistress. Keep your filthy hands off me!" Song Shulan hurried over and asked in a low voice, "County Mistress, is what the Mei family accused you of true?" "What is Master Song afraid of? No matter what happens, the Rong Prince Mansion is still behind me. They are nothing but a few lowly commoners—what can they possibly do to me?" Even at this point, County Princess Rongjia did not believe she would be in any trouble. If she had been able to deal with the Mei family before, now that she was in Bianjing, what could possibly be beyond her reach? County Princess Rongjia left with the yamen officers. Song Shulan, feeling uneasy, followed along. In his heart, he silently prayed that the Rong Prince Mansion would resolve this properly—otherwise, the Emperor would not be so easy to appease.