Chapter 286

Chapter 286: Overlooked "Don't be afraid, sister. Song Shulan isn't even a real man—he doesn't have the guts." Cui Zeyu said. Cui Lingrong truly wasn't afraid, because Song Shulan indeed couldn't do anything to her. Otherwise, with all the times she had talked back to him and Old Madame Song, in any other household, she would have long been branded as utterly unfilial and disrespectful—there would be no place for her at all. Song Shulan was the type who loved to weigh every option, yet could never commit properly to any of them. In the end, he lost both the sesame seeds and the watermelon. Cui Lingrong said, "Just do as we discussed earlier. Don't worry about anything else. If I don't make a clean break of it this time, there will only be more trouble ahead." Cui Zeyu said he understood everything. "Sister, has General Xie been looking for you lately?" He asked tentatively. Cui Lingrong said no. She studied her younger brother, suddenly thinking that he and Xie Yunting were close. If Xie Yunting had said something to her brother, her reputation... "Right, right. General Xie did mention to me that he wanted to find you—though I don't know what about." Cui Zeyu changed the subject. After the siblings exchanged a few more words, Cui Zeyu took his leave. That night, County Princess Rongjia was not released. Early the next morning, Mama Xu came over, saying that Old Madame requested Cui Lingrong's presence. There was no need to guess—Cui Lingrong knew exactly what Old Madame wanted to say. She brought only Nanny Qiu with her and headed straight to the ancestral hall. The moment she stepped inside, Old Madame Song barked at Cui Lingrong to kneel. "How could our Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion have a daughter-in-law like you?" Cui Lingrong stood still, unmoving. She looked at the ancestral tablets of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion and laughed. "Old Madame, you must be getting senile. Those words should be directed at County Princess Rongjia. She's the one who killed someone—not me. Why are you blaming me?" "You dare talk back to me?" "I'm not talking back. I'm simply stating the truth." Cui Lingrong looked at Old Madame Song. "Isn't that so? Or could it be that Old Madame wishes to shield County Princess Rongjia?" Old Madame Song felt like she could barely catch her breath. She stared at Cui Lingrong in bewilderment. "You... how did you become like this? If not for yourself, then think of the three children!" "It's precisely for the sake of the three children that I must punish evil and eradicate it—to drive out a great villain like County Princess Rongjia completely!" Cui Lingrong's words carried a murderous edge when she mentioned County Princess Rongjia. "Since Old Madame is worried about the mansion being implicated, why not simply divorce County Princess Rongjia? Or is it that you can't bear to give up the power of the Rong Prince Mansion? But aren't you afraid that even the Rong Prince Mansion will one day fall?" "Don't try to fool me. Prince Rong is the Emperor's own younger brother. No matter what happens, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse—far more powerful than your Cui family!" Seeing that Cui Lingrong refused to kneel, Old Madame Song signaled Mama Xu with her eyes. Mama Xu had just stepped forward to force her down when Cui Lingrong shot her a glare so fierce that Mama Xu hesitated. "What now? As your mother-in-law, I can't even discipline you?" Old Madame Song roared. "Old Madame may discipline me, but what have I done wrong? Or is it that I've done nothing wrong, and you simply want to punish me anyway? In that case, I won't accept it." Cui Lingrong made Old Madame Song look at the ancestral tablets. "Old Madame, look—the ancestors of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion are all watching you. They know everything you've done. When you pass on, won't they ask you why you failed to see people clearly, and why you allowed a wicked woman like County Princess Rongjia into this household, bringing harm upon the mansion?" Cui Lingrong stepped closer, step by step. She had endured for over a decade. For all those years, Old Madame Song had never thought highly of her. If not for her genuine abilities that kept the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion's household running well, Old Madame Song would have cast her out long ago. She had never bothered to dwell on the bitterness of those years, yet Old Madame Song had allowed County Princess Rongjia into the household, never once considering her contributions—and now turned around to blame her. Cui Lingrong took a deep breath. "I, Cui Lingrong, can search my conscience and say that everything I've done passes the test of integrity. But what about you? Do you have the face to face the ancestors?" After Cui Lingrong finished speaking, the ancestral hall fell into a terrifying silence. Old Madame Song's eyes rolled back, and she fainted. Mama Xu panicked and rushed to call for help, while Cui Lingrong calmly gazed at the ancestral tablets of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Nanny Qiu was still somewhat anxious. "Eldest Young Madam, Old Madame seems to have truly fainted from anger." "As long as she isn't dead, it doesn't matter." Cui Lingrong said. "Old Madame is someone who cherishes her life dearly—she'll take good care of herself. Come, let's go to the government office and have a look." The moment Cui Lingrong arrived at the government office, she heard that County Princess Rongjia had been making a racket since early morning—and that by now, she had already been summoned to the palace by the Emperor. Cui Lingrong went instead to find Yuan Mingzhu. "You've truly burned all bridges with Song Shulan and your old madame?" Yuan Mingzhu had grown noticeably thinner. Now that she had to support a household on her own, she was no longer as lively and innocent as before. She began analyzing the situation for Cui Lingrong instead. "Song Shulan is a coward—no need to worry about him. The real concern is whether Old Madame Song will keep making trouble. And this time, who knows whether the Rong Prince Mansion will step in to protect County Princess Rongjia." "That's impossible. If the Rong Prince Mansion could have saved her, County Princess Rongjia's second brother wouldn't have died either. Once the crime is pinned on County Princess Rongjia, she's doomed. The Emperor has no heirs and cares even more about his posthumous reputation—he would never ruin his image as a benevolent ruler for the sake of a clan princess." After saying this, Cui Lingrong turned to ask how Yuan Mingzhu had been lately. "Has the Jiang family been looking after you?" At the mention of the Jiang family, Yuan Mingzhu gave a helpless smile. "People leave when the tea goes cold. Old Madame is gone too—who would think of us now?" She took a deep breath. "At least no one's making things difficult for us. With my dowry and the properties Old Madame left me, raising three children won't be a problem. I'm grateful for Old Madame's arrangements—otherwise, I really would have had to come asking for your help." But Cui Lingrong understood that being ignored was its own kind of hardship. Food and clothing weren't a concern, but social connections couldn't be neglected. If she didn't network, how would Yuan Mingzhu's three children build connections in the future? But to curry favor deliberately meant lowering herself. In the past, Yuan Mingzhu had never done such things. Now she had to hold up the family's standing, and reality had forced her to grow. "If there's anything you need, just say it. We're like sisters—no need to stand on ceremony with me," Cui Lingrong said. "Of course." That said, Yuan Mingzhu couldn't possibly trouble Cui Lingrong with everything. She knew that Cui Lingrong's own affairs were already a mess. The two talked for a long while, until Er Shun came to report that the Emperor had sent people to the Rong Prince Mansion. Yuan Mingzhu asked, "You also filed a complaint against the Rong Prince Mansion?" Cui Lingrong shook her head. "Mei Qiusheng only accused County Princess Rongjia. But I suspect the Rong Prince Mansion had a hand in what she did, and they might get dragged in. If that happens, it's actually a good thing." Having the Rong Prince Mansion stripped of power would benefit Cui Lingrong in every way. She had Er Shun continue gathering information. Since she couldn't enter the palace, and her brother's news couldn't reach her in real time, she had to rely on her people in Bianjing to find things out. Meanwhile, at the Lou residence, Lou Wanxian had been hastily summoned home by her mother. Madam Bai confirmed with her daughter once more, "Are you saying someone actually filed a complaint against County Princess Rongjia at the government office?" Lou Wanxian nodded in confirmation. "How could this happen? Will County Princess Rongjia be in trouble? Will she? Say something!" Madam Bai stood up abruptly in her panic, nearly stumbling. Lou Wanxian didn't understand her mother's urgency. Wasn't this good news? Why did her mother look so worried?