Chapter 300

Chapter 300: Secret Letter "Even you won't listen to me?" Song Shulan looked at his daughter with suspicion. "Fine, don't come crying to me later!" Song Shulan turned and left. He returned to the Marquis Mansion and drank two jugs of wine. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand why things had come to this. When Zhao Susu came to see him, he was already tipsy. "Susu, Lady Cui actually... actually said she wants a Mutual Divorce with me!" "Really?" Zhao Susu watched Song Shulan grab her hand tightly and pulled away with a hint of disgust. "I think Lady Cui must have someone on the outside. Otherwise, why wouldn't she have asked for a divorce before? Why bring it up now of all times?" Zhao Susu didn't particularly care about the position of mistress of the Marquis Mansion anymore. She just wanted to see Cui Lingrong live miserably. Once a woman was caught having an affair, her reputation would be ruined for life. Not only would Cui Lingrong herself be finished, but Song Yu would never be able to marry either. "Yes, why did she really ask for a Mutual Divorce?" Song Shulan murmured. "Master Song, trust me—Lady Cui must have something going on. She wouldn't act this way otherwise. Let's be discreet. If we observe long enough, we're bound to find something we can use against her." Zhao Susu urged. "If we can find leverage, then for the sake of Yu-jie and the others, Lady Cui will have to hand over her dowry to fill the Marquis Mansion's coffers." The Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion had been struggling even more lately. Without Cui Lingrong managing affairs, the household had no money, and Song Shulan was finding it harder and harder at court. On the surface, Song Shulan would never admit he wanted to scheme for Cui Lingrong's dowry, but Zhao Susu's words struck a chord deep within him. "Master Song, the Marquis Mansion is in a difficult position now—don't be shy about it. Cui Lingrong's dowry and private property aren't for the mansion's use; they're for Xuan-ge and the others. Think about it—Xuan-ge is growing up. Won't you need to hire renowned tutors? Won't marriage cost a fortune later? You can't just let Cui Lingrong take it all away, can you?" Zhao Susu wished Cui Lingrong would leave the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion penniless and with a ruined reputation. Using the children as justification did make it seem proper. Song Shulan nodded. "You're right. If Cui Lingrong wants to leave, she'll leave behind all her private property!" With his mind made up, Song Shulan no longer feared Cui Lingrong's request for a Mutual Divorce. Moreover, forcing Cui Lingrong out would give him something to report to Prince Rong. Song Shulan suddenly felt relieved—no more wavering back and forth. Seeing that Song Shulan had taken her advice, Zhao Susu grew even more eager. The next day, she went to persuade Old Madame again. Old Madame Song didn't quite agree. Matters of Mutual Divorce, no matter how they were framed to the outside world, would still invite gossip and bring shame upon the family. She warned Zhao Susu, "I won't bring up your past deeds. But don't interfere in the matter between Lady Cui and Shulan. You have no children of your own—you'll have to rely on Xuan-ge to support you in the future. If you offend Lady Cui to the point of no return, what will you do when you're old?" "Even as things stand now, Xuan-ge and Jin-ge don't exactly hold me in high regard," Zhao Susu muttered quietly. "Which is exactly why you should be making amends, not stirring up trouble. I think you still haven't learned your lesson." Old Madame Song grew annoyed with Zhao Susu. "Enough. Go back to your Wutong Courtyard. With Lady Cui absent these days, the most important thing is for you to manage the household well." Zhao Susu left in a huff without Old Madame's support. When she returned to Wutong Courtyard, she immediately had Wang Hechun's Wife close the doors. Du Cheng emerged from behind the bed and massaged Zhao Susu's shoulders. "What's wrong, Susu? Who made you angry this time?" Zhao Susu couldn't easily go out anymore, so she'd come up with a scheme to sneak Du Cheng into the mansion. With Cui Lingrong absent and Song Shulan never coming to spend the night, Zhao Susu could shut her doors and live quite freely. Zhao Susu took Du Cheng's hand. "It's still that Cui Lingrong business. Even at this point, Old Madame still refuses to cast her out. I can't understand it—Cui Lingrong doesn't even show Old Madame any respect anymore. What is she still thinking?" "And what does Song Shulan say?" Du Cheng asked. "Him? I've got him all wound up—he's sent people to keep watch on Cui Lingrong. As soon as they find something to use against her, we can seize all of Cui Lingrong's private property." Since Zhao Susu had stopped caring about Song Shulan, she saw him more clearly than ever. "Song Shulan is the type who values his own interests above all else. He doesn't have the ability to uphold the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion's dignity. If he can seize Cui Lingrong's property, he'll jump at the chance." Du Cheng crouched down, pressing his cheek against the back of Zhao Susu's hand. "You're so clever, Susu. If you can get Lady Cui's property, then when Song Shulan can't hold things together anymore, the Marquis Mansion will be yours to rule." At that, a glint of cunning flashed in Zhao Susu's eyes. Old Madame had said she'd have to rely on Xuan-ge to support her in the future—she'd almost laughed at that. She had thoroughly offended Cui Lingrong and her children. How could Song Mingxuan possibly support her? Once she drove Cui Lingrong away, the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion would be hers to control. Why would she ever let Song Mingxuan and his brother grow up to succeed? And as for Song Yu—she'd just marry her off to someone who looked respectable on the surface but was rotten underneath. That would ruin Song Yu nicely. "You always understand what's in my heart," Zhao Susu said, tilting Du Cheng's chin up. Wang Hechun's Wife tactfully withdrew to the outer room, listening to the low panting coming from within. Every time, she was on tenterhooks, afraid that someone might suddenly barge in. She truly couldn't understand her mistress—why she had to carry on a secret affair with Du Cheng. If she had kept him outside the residence, that would be one thing—she could visit him from time to time to satisfy her cravings. But her mistress insisted on secretly hiding the man inside the Marquis's residence. With time passing like this, how could it not be discovered? True, her mistress had ordered that no one else could enter without her command. But what about the Marquis and Old Madame? Who could stop them? Hiding a grown man in the house meant everything—eating, drinking, and other necessities—had to be concealed. Even requesting food from the kitchen required an extra portion. Not to mention the Du family. Du Cheng had stopped attending his studies now. If word ever reached the Du household and they came demanding their son, how would her mistress explain herself? Wang Hechun's Wife felt there were flaws everywhere. Once suspicion was aroused, her mistress would surely be divorced even sooner than the Eldest Young Madam. These past days, mulling it over and over, Wang Hechun's Wife had been thinking about how to make her mistress exercise more restraint. Otherwise, she truly feared her own head might roll one day. From inside the room came the panting of a man and a woman once more. Just hearing it made Wang Hechun's Wife's face burn with heat. She went outside altogether, took a long deep breath, and instructed the young maid, "The mistress is already asleep. No one is to come near or disturb her. If you wake her, you know what will happen." After giving her stern orders, she didn't dare wander far. She had someone bring a stool and sat at the doorway, all the while pondering whether the Eldest Young Madam would really go through with a mutual divorce with the Marquis. That question—Cui Lingrong had blurted it out in the heat of the moment, not something she had carefully deliberated before saying to Song Shulan. But things had escalated to this point. Unless Song Shulan offered some explanation, Cui Lingrong naturally couldn't go back. In Cui Lingrong's heart, there was instead an indescribable sense of satisfaction. And so, a few days later, when Cui Lingrong received a secret letter and learned that Song Shulan truly intended to pursue a mutual divorce—and was even scheming over her private assets—she made her decision.