Chapter 303

Chapter 303: Dirty Water Just how deep was the hatred? Cui Lingrong felt as though her chest was about to explode. Song Shulan turned his head, still showing no intention of relenting. "I don't believe you dare." He still thought Cui Lingrong would consider the future of their three children. But Cui Lingrong immediately instructed Nanny Qiu, "Take the silver now and go find the storytellers in Bianjing—have every single one of them tell the story!" Nanny Qiu had just turned to leave when Song Shulan finally realized Cui Lingrong was truly willing to burn everything down. "Wait!" "What's the matter, Song Shulan? Are you afraid too?" Cui Lingrong had come today precisely to settle this matter once and for all. "Cui Lingrong, if you go this far, have you thought about what comes after?" Song Shulan gritted his teeth. "How will you face the children in the future? How will you hold your head up?" "Song Shulan, those words should be directed at yourself. How will you face the children? The one who did wrong is you, not me!" Cui Lingrong took a deep breath. "Are you going to sign or not? I don't want to waste words with you!" "Master Song, you..." Zhao Susu called out softly. Old Madame Song also slammed the table. "Sign it then! Do you really think the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion can't survive without her?" Song Shulan looked around, taking in everyone's expressions. He could only grit his teeth and sign the divorce agreement. He threw the brush to the ground. "From this day forward, you and I are strangers. Remember, Cui Lingrong, it was you who insisted on leaving the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. If you can't make it on your own later, don't come begging to me—I won't have any sympathy for you." "Song Shulan, you remember this too: no matter what happens, I will never come looking for you again. As for you, you'd better pray for your own good fortune. Don't forget what I said—when the time comes, you won't even know how you died!" Cui Lingrong took the divorce agreement and had people begin moving her belongings. She was deeply grateful that she had taken in Zeyu back then—otherwise, she could never rely on the Cui family to back her up today. Not to mention where she would go after the divorce—the Cui family would only see her as a burden. As chest after chest of luggage was carried out, Song Shulan stormed off in anger. Old Madame Song didn't want to see Cui Lingrong either, leaving Mama Xu and others to keep watch, lest Cui Lingrong take more than she should. Only Madam Li was truly reluctant to see Cui Lingrong go. She waited until the old madame and the others had left before daring to approach. "Elder Sister-in-law, what are your plans from here on?" "You needn't call me elder sister-in-law anymore. Now that I've severed ties with the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, I am no longer its mistress. Just call me Sister Cui. As for the future—I have my own properties, and I can get by. Once Xuan-ge passes the imperial examinations, I will still be his mother, and I won't be completely cut off from the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion." Cui Lingrong said she had some things to leave for Madam Li. "They're not anything fine—I hope you won't think little of them, sister." They had gotten along for many years, and Madam Li was a low-key, easygoing person. By maintaining this connection with Madam Li, Cui Lingrong was also preserving a favor—if anything ever happened to Xuan-ge and his brothers, Madam Li could simply send her word. Madam Li felt a pang of sadness, but there was nothing she could change. With Mama Xu watching, she exchanged a few more words before having to return. On the other side, Cui Lingrong sent Dongyun to find Concubine Zhang. "My mistress says she doesn't know what you yourself wish to do. But Madam Zhao is not easy to get along with, so she's returning this indenture to you. If you wish to leave, my mistress will take you with her today." Dongyun placed the indenture on the table. Concubine Zhang was stunned. She knew the eldest mistress had come today, but she didn't know why. When she later learned that Nanny Qiu was having people move belongings out, she had a bad feeling. Now, hearing Dongyun's words, all that remained in her heart was despair. Looking at her own indenture, Concubine Zhang couldn't make up her mind for a moment. "If I leave the marquis mansion, where would I even go? I have no family, and I can't bear children." The authorities wouldn't grant a woman an independent household registration, and Concubine Zhang didn't have a single person to turn to. Concubine Zhang gave a bitter smile. "Thank the eldest mistress for thinking of me, but I won't be able to leave in this lifetime." "Then take good care of yourself, madam. Now that the indenture is in your own hands, you can make many decisions for yourself. If anything comes up in the future, you can always come find my mistress." Dongyun let out a soft sigh as she left. She could understand why Concubine Zhang chose to stay—and precisely because of that, she found Concubine Zhang pitiful. By the time Dongyun returned to her mistress's side, Nanny Qiu was still directing people in taking inventory of the properties. It wasn't until after dark, when the last chest of luggage was loaded onto the carriage, that Cui Lingrong finally rose to leave. She boarded the carriage without looking back. She knew that from this day forward, there would be no shortage of gossip about her. So Cui Lingrong planned to keep her doors shut for a while and not concern herself with the outside world. And so it went until the end of the year, when a servant from the Cui family went to deliver New Year's gifts to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion and only then learned that Cui Lingrong had already obtained a mutual divorce. By the time Cui Lingrong received her father's letter, it was already the day before New Year's Eve. In the letter, Cui's father berated Cui Lingrong for her gross filial impiety—how dare she make such a major decision without consulting the family—and demanded that she bring her properties and return to the Cui family at once. Cui Lingrong wrote a letter severing ties with her family and, after the New Year, sent it back to the Cui household. During the first month of the new year, Cui Lingrong did not go out; it was Yuan Mingzhu and the others who came to visit her. As for the rumors in Bianjing, Cui Lingrong did not go out of her way to investigate. It wasn't until the sixth day, when Madam Li returned from her natal family's home and came over for a brief visit, that she brought news from the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. "After you left, Sister, the marquis mansion has been managed by Madam Zhao. Madam Zhao is not skilled at management, so she makes things difficult for my husband at every turn. We can only endure and bear it." Madam Li sighed as she spoke. After all, her husband was concubine-born and not highly regarded. "Haven't you considered dividing the family?" Cui Lingrong asked. "You know, Sister, Old Madame won't allow it." Madam Li also wanted to divide the family, but with Old Madame still around, "This matter, none of us can bring it up. Once mentioned, Old Madame would suppress us with filial piety, and we wouldn't be able to hold our heads up in society." Cui Lingrong nodded. "I can't help you with the specifics, but since you can't bring it up, you can let Zhao Susu do it. Isn't the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion living beyond its means now? Both Zhao Susu and Old Madame love to put on a show of grandeur. So secretly remind Zhao Susu that if the family divides, she wouldn't have to manage the finances of the second and third branches—she'd surely be willing. As for how to divide things, let Zhao Susu make a fuss, and you just stay on the sidelines." Madam Li had come precisely to seek advice. After hearing Cui Lingrong's suggestion, she looked over hesitantly. Cui Lingrong told Madam Li to speak her mind directly. "Sister, have you not been paying much attention to the rumors in Bianjing lately?" Madam Li asked. Cui Lingrong paused. "What are they saying about me?" "It's not that I want to stir up trouble, but Sister still has to live in Bianjing, and Yu-jie hasn't been betrothed yet. If we can redirect the rumors, it's best to use some means. These days, everyone in Bianjing is saying that your insistence on Mutual Divorce is because you've been unfaithful." Madam Li said, "But I believe you're definitely not that kind of person. It's just that you don't attend banquets, so others who want to verify have nowhere to ask. And Madam Zhao is busy at all kinds of occasions—with just her mouth alone, it's easy to lead people astray." Madam Li had come secretly and didn't dare stay long. Having said what she needed to say, she rose to take her leave. Cui Lingrong had expected Zhao Susu to smear her reputation, but she hadn't expected Zhao Susu to be so impatient about it. She called for Er Shun. "Go and find out what people outside are saying about me now." Just as Er Shun left, the gatekeeper came to announce that Lou Wanxian had arrived. Hearing Lou Wanxian's name, Cui Lingrong was quite surprised, but since she had already come, Cui Lingrong had her escorted in. As it turned out, not long after Lou Wanxian sat down, she also brought up how Bianjing had recently been buzzing with talk about Cui Lingrong. "These words all originated from Madam Zhao's mouth. Sister Cui, I know things are very difficult for you right now. If there's anything you need, just tell me." She paused, then thought of something else. "Oh, by the way, did you know that Cheng-ger of the Du family has gone missing?"