Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Confrontation At this moment, Song Shulan was in the room where Princess Rongjia resided. When Princess Rongjia entered, Song Shulan looked over nervously. "Ling... how does Lingrong take it?" "Master Song cares quite a lot about Sister Cui's feelings?" Princess Rongjia walked over to Song Shulan's side, her delicate hand resting on his shoulder. A flicker of discomfort crossed Song Shulan's face. "She is my first wife, and she has raised our three children for me. It is only proper that I show her some respect." "Look at you, rushing to explain yourself. I never said you couldn't care about her. If I were that petty, would I have married you as an Equal Wife?" Princess Rongjia sat on Song Shulan's lap, speaking in a soft, coquettish tone. "Don't worry, Sister Cui is perfectly fine. It's just that the news came suddenly, and she needs a moment to process it. Tomorrow I'll go over personally to offer my apologies and put her mind at ease. Is that acceptable?" Before a man, one must humble oneself. Even though Princess Rongjia held a noble status, she would still be gentle and considerate with Song Shulan. After all, she had suffered greatly in her previous marriage. "I've put you in a difficult position." With a beauty in his arms, Song Shulan thought of how a Commandery Princess of her standing had agreed to be his Equal Wife—it truly was a sacrifice for Princess Rongjia. His hand on her waist tightened involuntarily. "Being able to ease Master Song's worries is my honor. Whatever you ask of me, I will do with joy." Princess Rongjia traced her hand across Song Shulan's chest. Just as she had anticipated, he lost control and hastily carried her to the bed. After the clouds had parted and the rain ceased, Song Shulan lay panting on Princess Rongjia's chest when she suddenly sighed. "If only I hadn't been so stubborn with you in our youth." They had known each other since they were young. Back then, Princess Rongjia, relying on her noble birth, liked Song Shulan but was very possessive—she wouldn't allow him to associate with anyone else. After one quarrel, Princess Rongjia, out of spite, agreed to the marriage her family had arranged. By the time Song Shulan came to beg her to reconsider, she had already married and left—he never once came to the prince's mansion to see her. Her married life had been unhappy. Her husband was ambitious but incompetent—in both character and appearance, he couldn't compare to Song Shulan. The more she lived, the more resentful she became. Fortunately, fate gave her another chance. Her former husband drank himself to death, allowing her to return to Bianjing and rekindle her romance with Song Shulan. "Ah." Two sighs, uttered in unison, expressed their shared regret and remorse. In their youth, Princess Rongjia had been radiant and lively, and Song Shulan had genuinely admired her. But times had changed, and when they met again, Princess Rongjia had returned to Bianjing as a widow. He never expected that the emperor would grant them a marriage, allowing them to pick up where they left off. "Tomorrow I'll go to Qiushuang Zhai with you," Song Shulan said. "No need. If Master Song goes with me, wouldn't it look like I'm bringing you along to flaunt my victory?" Princess Rongjia said softly. "Let us women settle matters between ourselves. I believe Sister Cui is reasonable—she will understand." Song Shulan thought of Cui Lingrong, and his conscience pricked him. Hearing that Princess Rongjia was taking the matter upon herself, sparing him from facing Cui Lingrong's probing questions and accusations, he let out a silent sigh of relief. Early the next morning, Song Shulan deliberately avoided Qiushuang Zhai on his way to court. Princess Rongjia took her time with breakfast, then led a procession of attendants in a grand parade toward Qiushuang Zhai. Meanwhile, Cui Lingrong had received word and sent her daughter away first. "Mother, you've always said I'm old enough now. Let me stay with you—if she tries to bully you, I can speak up for you." Song Yu refused to leave. Having learned that morning that her father had taken an Equal Wife, she had stormed over in a huff, wanting to defend her mother's honor. Cui Lingrong had crossed swords with Princess Rongjia the night before and knew that the princess was deeply calculating. She had said nothing herself, letting Madame Jiang be used as her pawn. Madame Jiang, unable to hold her tongue, had been exploited while feeling smug about it. "She and I hold the same status in the Song household—we can contend, we can quarrel. But the fact remains that she married your father, which makes her your elder. If you show the slightest disrespect and word of it gets out, wouldn't all the reputation I've carefully built for you go to waste?" Cui Lingrong took a deep breath and spoke earnestly to her daughter. "Yu-jie, the most foolish thing one can do is harm another without benefiting oneself—and you might not even succeed in harming her. Qiutang, take the young miss back and let her calm down. The sky hasn't fallen yet." Qiutang was Nanny Qiu's daughter, and she carried herself with the same steadiness as her mother. The moment Cui Lingrong finished speaking, Qiutang led her young mistress away. Before long, the door curtain was lifted. As Cui Lingrong caught sight of Princess Rongjia, it felt as though a chill wind had slipped through her collar, sending cold running from head to toe. She did not rise but continued trimming the branches of her crabapple flowers. Cui Lingrong had not slept all night. Not only had she learned that Song Shulan had spent the night at Princess Rongjia's quarters, but she had also discovered that Princess Rongjia had returned to Bianjing as a widow. "Sister has fine taste. This begonia is vibrant yet not garish—much like your temperament: elegant and refined." Princess Rongjia sat down across from Cui Lingrong. The moment she raised an eyebrow, the maids around her withdrew, leaving only her trusted confidante, Wang Shanxi's Wife. "If I haven't misheard, the Princess is half a year younger than I am. I cannot bear to be called 'younger sister' by you." Though they were said to be Equal Wives, there was no true equality—who held authority? Who managed the household? There had to be a clear answer. Cui Lingrong was the original wife, and no matter how one looked at it, Princess Rongjia ought to address her as "elder sister." The room fell silent. Princess Rongjia had also made inquiries about Cui Lingrong—how she had been neglected by her family in her youth, how she had risen to fame in Bianjing for her calligraphy, painting, and tea artistry. Every lady and young miss who had ever met Cui Lingrong shared the same impression: she was unhurried and composed, as if she never grew angry. Both women waited for the other to make the first move, neither willing to appear anxious. The silence stretched on until Nanny Qiu stepped forward to refill the tea and remarked, "When the Elder Mistress returned yesterday, the gatekeeper boy actually forgot himself—both the main gate and the side gate were shut tight. The Second Mistress said the Princess runs a strict household, and it's true enough. Anyone trying to take advantage of the Marquis's estate couldn't even squeeze through a crack in the door." Nanny Qiu spoke for the Elder Mistress; her words were what the Elder Mistress wished to convey. When she had first learned that the Master had taken an Equal Wife, Nanny Qiu had been furious. But after calming down and recalling the words "bestowed by the Emperor," she had begun to worry on her mistress's behalf. If Princess Rongjia could not be divorced, would her mistress have to step aside and seek a Mutual Divorce? Hah! That was impossible! The Elder Mistress had toiled for over a decade in the Song household—why should she make a wedding dress for someone else? Nanny Qiu held a belly full of resentment, and when she spoke with sarcasm, she gave no face to anyone. "Is that so?" Princess Rongjia looked utterly bewildered, then turned with a darkened expression. "Wang Shanxi's Wife, go find out what happened. Such a major matter as Sister Cui's return, and not only did no one inform me, but I'm to bear the blame for it—how infuriating!" Cui Lingrong gave a soft, low laugh. "So the Princess didn't know I was coming home? Then where did the letter I sent go?" She had thought all night. Nanny Qiu had urged her to keep her composure, not to clash with the Marquis in a moment of impulse. If she sought a Mutual Divorce, the Cui family would never take her back. And if she left, her children would become Princess Rongjia's children—the very thought made her stomach churn with bitterness. She had managed the Song household for over a decade. If she were afraid of a newly arrived Princess Rongjia, she would have wasted all the teachings of her aunt. Princess Rongjia still claimed ignorance. "My marriage to Master Song came suddenly, and I had no say in the matter. I feel guilty toward you. Had I known you were returning, I would have personally gone to the docks to welcome you, offered you tea in apology—how could I sit idly in the Song estate?" Her words were earnest, and she leaned forward. "Dear sister, if you have any resentment or hatred, vent it all on me. We are both women of Master Song; we shouldn't make things difficult for him. If you truly cannot bear to see me, you may build a wall in the courtyard, and we can live separately." The Marquis's estate had not been divided, yet the eldest branch would build a wall to split into two—this was to let all of Bianjing know that she, Cui Lingrong, was jealous and could not tolerate others, was it not? See how every sentence shifted not an ounce of blame onto herself, while pushing all the cause for conflict onto her. Cui Lingrong smiled. "If the Princess insists on building a wall, I cannot stop you. Today, I take advantage of my position as the original wife, having managed the Marquis's estate for over a decade, to speak a few more words with you. You have just arrived at the estate, and it's natural to want to establish yourself and gain face. But haste makes waste. The keys to this estate have been in my hands for over a decade without a single mistake. The moment you took over, the gatekeeper boy caused such an incident. Those who don't know the inside story will say we're locked in a dragon-tiger struggle, making a laughingstock of the Marquis's household. Don't you agree?" Princess Rongjia had snatched the household management authority from Madame Jiang with no intention of returning it to Cui Lingrong. Now that Cui Lingrong was using the gatekeeper incident against her, Princess Rongjia had to provide a reasonable explanation. Otherwise, word would spread that Princess Rongjia, after usurping the nest, had also humiliated Cui Lingrong, the original wife. Both were clever people; they did not need to speak plainly. Cui Lingrong set the trimmed crabapple blossoms into the vase. "I'm still not feeling well, so I won't see you out, Princess. Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, since you manage the household, you should investigate thoroughly—not just to give me an explanation, but because all the other servants are watching. My second sister-in-law praised your management, so I'll take a few days of rest. Once I've recovered, I'll come to you for the account books and keys." With that, she gave a soft cough and called for Nanny Qiu to escort her to the inner chamber, leaving Princess Rongjia pressing her lips together, only rising to leave after a long moment.