Chapter 297

Chapter 297: Second-Rank Honorary Title Inside the carriage, Cui Lingrong and Song Shulan sat facing each other, but neither spoke a word. It wasn't until the carriage came to a stop and Cui Lingrong stepped down, catching sight of the four large characters reading "Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion," that she couldn't help but let out a scornful snort. "Is this the Rong Prince Mansion?" Cui Lingrong asked Song Shulan. Song Shulan walked over to stand beside Cui Lingrong with his hands clasped behind his back, lowering his voice. "This isn't the Rong Prince Mansion, but it is your home. Don't be so relentless in pressing your advantage. Your affair with Xie Yunting didn't come out of thin air—I've chosen not to pursue it, so stop making trouble." "I'm making trouble?" Cui Lingrong suddenly recalled how Xie Yunting had asked her what she sought at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion—if everything was for the children, then what about herself? Looking at Song Shulan's impatient expression, Cui Lingrong laughed in the end. "Yes, to you, Song Shulan, it's me making trouble. You wanted to enjoy the pleasures of having two wives like the legendary Emperor Shun with his consorts Ehuang and Nüying, but I and Zhao Susu ruined your peace. Song Shulan, the greedier you are, the less you'll get!" Gazing at the plaque of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, Cui Lingrong didn't enter. Instead, she turned and climbed back into the carriage, instructing the driver to head in another direction. "Cui Lingrong, what are you doing? Surely you don't intend to make a scene at the Rong Prince Mansion?" Song Shulan chased after the carriage for a few steps, but Cui Lingrong gave him no response. Inside the carriage, two streams of tears fell from Cui Lingrong's eyes without her even realizing when they had started. She rarely cried. But today, her heart ached so much she could barely breathe. Though she and Song Shulan had quarreled countless times before, she had never felt such loss and disappointment. Being misunderstood, being forced to give up fighting for the justice that belonged to her. In Song Shulan's eyes, she was nothing. Cui Lingrong returned once more to the residence that Cui Zeyu had purchased earlier. When he bought it, he had said it was specially prepared for Cui Lingrong. Little did she expect that she would actually have need of it. "Eldest Madam, please don't be angry with the Marquis. You've long since seen what kind of man he is. We need to think about how to counterattack against Madam Qian and the others," Nanny Qiu said in a low, soothing voice. If not for General Xie's sharp senses and his foresight in climbing onto the rooftop to leave early, who knows what great injustice Eldest Madam would have suffered if the Marquis had caught them. Cui Lingrong said she wouldn't be angry with Song Shulan. "You're right—I've long known what kind of man Song Shulan is. Many people witnessed what happened today. Go spread the word: say that Madam Qian has lost her mind and is recklessly slandering others." Now that the Rong Prince Mansion had fallen out of favor, and with Madam Qian embroiled in such a scandal, there was no way she could ever re-enter the circle of nobles in Bianjing. Nanny Qiu immediately went to find someone to spread the word. Meanwhile, Cui Lingrong stayed at the Cui residence for nearly half a month, paying no attention to matters at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. It wasn't until Yu-jie came to visit that she finally asked, "Did your father send you?" "Yes." Song Yu fiddled with the sachet in her hands. "Everyone in Bianjing is saying that you're going to seek a Mutual Divorce from Father. They're also saying you have someone else in your heart. Those people have such foul mouths—it's truly detestable!" Cui Lingrong didn't need to guess who was spreading those rumors. "And you? Do you want me to go back?" Cui Lingrong asked her daughter. Song Yu shook her head, then paused. "Daughter knows that you are a person with principles, and you would never do anything that defies moral decency. It's Father who has gone too far—not only does he refuse to fight for justice on your behalf, he suppresses you at every turn. It's absolutely outrageous!" But if her mother didn't return, people would gossip. Song Yu was of the younger generation and couldn't easily talk back to her father and the elders. In truth, her mother living apart would bring her much more peace of mind. Song Yu looked up at her mother and suddenly whispered, "Mother, if you truly have someone else in your heart, then go. Don't worry about us. Your daughter is grown now and doesn't need your protection. Xuan-ge and Jin-ge are sensible too—I'll look after my younger brothers." This was a thought that had only recently occurred to her. At first, when she learned that her father had married Madam Zhao, Song Yu only thought her father was foolish. In her heart, she secretly hoped that once Father discovered Zhao's poor character, he would surely come to value Mother again. But then, one thing after another happened, and Song Yu was disappointed in her father time and time again. So much so that by today, watching her mother being bound by the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, she felt genuine heartache for her. After Song Yu finished speaking, seeing her mother stunned, she felt a twinge of regret for speaking so rashly, but she didn't take back what she had just said. "You... how could you think such a thing?" Cui Lingrong asked. "It's because Father is truly unreasonable. If he wants to use the Rong Prince Mansion to advance his career, he shouldn't go about it this way. I know that as a child, I shouldn't speak ill of my elders, but he is so foolish that I... I actually wish you did have someone in your heart." Song Yu said this was unfilial of her, but she had been holding it in for a long time. Cui Lingrong fell silent. Since Song Yu had started, she wanted to speak her mind fully. "I know that you definitely have nothing going on with General Xie. But put yourself in my shoes—if I encountered such in-laws in the future, what would you want me to do?" Would she want Song Yu to keep enduring and tolerating in her husband's family for the sake of her children? Or would she hope for Song Yu to find her own happiness? As a parent, wishing for one's daughter to marry into a good family is simply wishing for one's daughter to live well. But if she were unhappy, then it wouldn't be a good family. Cui Lingrong had never thought about it from a daughter's perspective. She simply felt that this time, she wanted to be a little willful and give Song Shulan the cold shoulder for a while. Faced with her daughter's question, Cui Lingrong found herself momentarily at a loss for words. "See, you can't answer, because you want me to be happy, yet you know that if my husband were the same kind of man as Father, I certainly wouldn't be happy. Mother, you're a proper, rule-abiding person, but that doesn't mean you have to be that way for the rest of your life." Song Yu sighed. "I genuinely hope you can find more joy. As for anything happening at the Marquis's residence, I'll keep you informed. Don't rush back. Until the matter with Madam Qian is settled and you're given an explanation, just stay here comfortably." Even though her father was pressuring her through the marriage, Song Yu wasn't afraid. If she were to selfishly make her mother suffer in order to secure her own marriage, she would be far too selfish. Even Nanny Qiu felt that Yu-jie's words made sense at this moment. But in the end, this was something Cui Lingrong had to decide for herself. Song Yu had lunch at the Cui residence. When she was about to leave in the afternoon, the gatekeeper suddenly rushed in, saying that someone had arrived from the palace. "Why would someone come from the palace out of the blue?" Cui Lingrong was puzzled. "I don't know either, but the master is also there, and he asked you to come quickly to receive the edict," the gatekeeper said, adding that the eunuch had already arrived. Cui Lingrong didn't dare delay and hurried over with her daughter. When she saw her younger brother, before she could even ask what was going on, the eunuch announced that he would read the imperial edict, and Cui Lingrong had no choice but to kneel down first. "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Lady Cui, who is respectful, wise, gentle, and obedient..." Cui Lingrong was completely bewildered, and even after the eunuch finished reading, she remained stunned. Her younger brother had actually petitioned for a Second-Rank Honorary Title for her? "Sister, quickly receive the edict," Cui Zeyu reminded her in a low voice. Only then did Cui Lingrong extend both hands to accept the heavy imperial decree. It wasn't until the eunuch had left that Cui Lingrong asked her brother, "Zeyu, this... what is this all about?" "I handled some matters for the Emperor, and he asked what reward I wanted. I knew you'd been wronged recently, so I specially asked the Emperor to grant you an honorary title." Cui Zeyu had learned early on that his sister had come to stay, and had gone to find out what had happened. After learning the full story, he wished he could hang Song Shulan up and give him a good beating. But he knew that beating Song Shulan wouldn't do any good. It was better to give his sister some real standing. "Madam Zhao has lost her County Mistress status, hasn't she? Now that you have a Second-Rank Honorary Title, she and Madam Qian will have to defer to you from now on. Let's see how they can keep putting on airs!" Cui Zeyu snorted.