Chapter 304

Chapter 304: Bribery "You mean Du Cheng?" Cui Lingrong asked. Lou Wanxian nodded in confirmation. "This happened when I attended a banquet the day before yesterday. I encountered Mrs. He pressing Madam Zhao about what had happened to Cheng ger. Although Mrs. He didn't say much, I sent people to investigate afterward and learned that Du Cheng hasn't been to the Guozijian for quite some time." That was strange indeed. Back then, the Du family had pressured Zhao Susu to arrange for the two Du boys to enter the Guozijian, and now Du Cheng had disappeared. Cui Lingrong hadn't heard mention of Du Cheng in a long time either. "After Du Cheng left the Rong Prince Mansion, his whereabouts became unknown. But I don't think Zhao Susu would go so far as to harm Du Cheng." "I think so too. Zhao Susu had plenty of opportunities before, and now that you've left the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, why would she bother targeting Du Cheng?" Lou Wanxian said she couldn't figure it out either. "But from what Mrs. He said, she hasn't seen Du Cheng in several months either." Then, as if something occurred to her, Lou Wanxian added, "If he had died in some corner of Bianjing, someone would have found the body eventually. But there's been no news of Du Cheng at all. I think someone might be keeping him somewhere, deliberately hiding him from the Du family." Cui Lingrong said that was possible. Even at this point, Cui Lingrong hadn't connected Du Cheng with Zhao Susu. They chatted for a while longer, and when it approached mealtime, Cui Lingrong ordered the evening meal to be prepared, but Lou Wanxian quickly declined. Lou Wanxian rose to take her leave, then suddenly paused and asked, "Sister Cui, do you think if Zhao Susu weren't the daughter of the Rong Prince Mansion, Prince Rong and his consort wouldn't protect her like this?" "Definitely." Cui Lingrong answered instinctively. "It's precisely because Zhao Susu is their daughter that Princess Consort Rong took the blame and died in her place. And it's because Zhao Susu is Prince Rong's daughter that she's committed so many wrongs and yet still lives well to this day." If Zhao Susu didn't have the prince's mansion as her natal family, she would have died ten thousand times over. She would have died back when she was still in the Du household, let alone survived until now. Noticing that Lou Wanxian's expression seemed off, Cui Lingrong asked what was wrong. "Nothing. I was just reflecting—it must be wonderful to have parents who dote on you." Lou Wanxian pressed her lips into a smile, then took her leave of Cui Lingrong. As she walked out of the Cui residence, Lou Wanxian glanced back. She asked the matron beside her, "Do you think Sister Cui can really help me?" "Madam needs to think this through carefully. The Rong Prince Mansion is not what it used to be. This servant has heard that Prince Rong is being constrained at every turn, and your husband has thrown in his lot with Prince Wu. If your suspicions are confirmed, it may not necessarily be a good thing for you." A good servant does not serve two masters. Lou Wanxian's husband had become an advisor to the Prince Wu's mansion. If Lou Wanxian turned out to be Prince Rong's daughter, how would that work? But Zhao Susu occupied the identity of Prince Rong's daughter and continued to appear at every social occasion. Watching Zhao Susu bask in glory, Lou Wanxian couldn't swallow this indignation. She had suffered so much since childhood and had never understood why her mother treated her this way. It wasn't until recently, after a big quarrel with her mother, that she discovered her mother had hidden away a baby's dudou. And considering her past experiences—her mother was harsh only with her, never with her other siblings. Even with her cousins, her mother wouldn't casually show displeasure. Only with her. Lou Wanxian was very reluctant to admit it, but her mother hated her—truly hated her. Why? She had been pondering this question these past days. Leaving the Cui residence, Lou Wanxian went to the Lou family home. "That Cui woman doesn't abide by proper womanly conduct, and the Marquis of Jiangyuan is incompetent—letting that Cui woman leave with so much property! Utterly useless!" Madam Bai was drinking tea and didn't notice Lou Wanxian entering. Lou Wanxian's attitude toward her mother was now very different. "Why is Mother so interested in the affairs of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion? Are you discussing it for amusement, or is there someone you're concerned about?" "Why are you here?" Seeing it was Lou Wanxian, Madam Bai immediately wiped the smile from her face. "My affairs are none of your concern. You've grown your wings now—since you won't listen to me, don't come to my door!" "It was Mama Zhou who said you were almost out of your medicine and asked me to bring some silver. That's the only reason I came to check on you—why Mother would seek out this least beloved daughter of hers." Lou Wanxian looked at her mother, and there was still turmoil in her heart. In truth, she had tried to find other excuses for her mother's behavior, but none of them were convincing. The moment Lou Wanxian finished speaking, Mama Zhou immediately lowered her head. Madam Bai hurled her teacup to the ground. "Who told you to go find her?" Mama Zhou said in a small voice, "Forgive me, Madam. Your health is failing. Though the eldest young master and the others do give money, it's... it's never quite enough to buy better quality medicine." Among Madam Bai's children, Lou Wanxian was the only one doing well now. The others couldn't even contribute money to support Madam Bai—some still relied on her for help. "If you can't afford it, then don't take it. I'd rather die than take her money!" Madam Bai seemed to harbor an immense hatred toward Lou Wanxian. "Why do you hate me so much, Mother? I truly cannot understand." Lou Wanxian took out her money pouch and placed it on the table. "Perhaps Mother has never considered me your daughter at all." "Get out of here, I have no daughter like you!" Madam Bai ordered Mama Zhou to return the money. But Mama Zhou was in a difficult position. Her mistress was barely being kept alive by medicine. When she chased after with the money pouch, she found Miss Xian waiting for her. "Miss Xian, you..." "Mama Zhou, keep the silver. As long as you don't say it was from me, Mother certainly won't bring it up." Lou Wanxian looked at Mama Zhou, thinking that since Mama Zhou had always stayed by her mother's side, she must know everything about her mother. "Mama Zhou, tell me, why does Mother hate me so much?" "You jest, miss. You are the lady's own daughter—there's no overnight grudge between mother and daughter. The lady merely has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Don't take it to heart." Mama Zhou said awkwardly. "Then why doesn't Mother treat others the same way, only me?" Lou Wanxian looked at Mama Zhou, then pulled out another banknote and pressed it into Mama Zhou's hand. "Mama Zhou, I heard your son got into a fight with someone recently, and the other party insists you pay compensation. Take this money first to cover the emergency." "No... this servant cannot accept it." "Do you want to see your son go to prison, or be sent into exile?" Lou Wanxian urged Mama Zhou to keep it safely. "I don't need you to do anything for me. In the future, when Mother mentions me, just put in a good word or two. After all, I still hope to reconcile with Mother. Who in this world doesn't want a mother who dotes on them?" She sighed softly and said wistfully, "If only Mother could treat me the way Princess Consort Rong treats Zhao Susu, I would die without regret." Mama Zhou held the banknote that burned in her hand and ultimately did not return it, because her son truly needed the money. When she returned and the lady asked about the money, Mama Zhou concealed the banknote and only said that Miss Xian had still left the money pouch behind. "Mama Zhou, I always feel that this girl Wanxian is somehow off." Madam Bai furrowed her brows. She had been especially pleased when she learned of Princess Consort Rong's death, but learning that Zhao Susu had been reduced to a commoner, she couldn't feel happy either. "Tell me, could that wretched girl know something?" "She wouldn't. That matter is known only to you and this servant. No one else in the household knows. Miss Xian couldn't possibly know." Mama Zhou said. "That's true, but I still feel she's been acting strange lately. Every time she talks to me, there's an indescribable feeling." Madam Bai trusted Mama Zhou completely, but found it very odd. "If I'd known, I would have strangled her back then. I raised her all this way, and now that she's recovered, I still can't feel at ease." Mama Zhou thought of the banknote, and her eyes shifted. "My lady, actually Miss Xian treats you quite well. Princess Consort Rong is dead now, so why not..." "Why not what? Treat her as my own daughter?" Madam Bai's expression turned sharp in an instant. "You know very well how much I hate that slut. Treat her daughter as my own? Dream on!" Madam Bai said that even if she died, she would drag Lou Wanxian down with her as a cushion. Her emotions ran high, and she began coughing violently. Meanwhile, after leaving the Lou residence, Lou Wanxian returned home. Today Mama Zhou had accepted her banknote, which meant she had a chance to gain leverage over her. People's hearts change. Her mother was not actually clever—otherwise, she wouldn't have aroused her suspicion.