Chapter 307

Chapter 307: Confrontation A few days later, Cui Lingrong brought congratulatory gifts and Yu-jie to the Prince Consort Wu's residence. This was her first public appearance since the Mutual Divorce. Everyone turned to look at her. And everyone had heard the rumors about her. Cui Lingrong gracefully paid her respects to Princess Consort Wu, presented the congratulatory gifts, and then went to chat with Lou Wanxian while Yu-jie stayed by her side. Lou Wanxian reminded her in a low voice, "Zhao Susu arrived a quarter of an hour ago. She's in the pavilion now." "Alright, I understand." Cui Lingrong nodded in thanks. Lou Wanxian was about to say something more when Mrs. Fu approached, and she immediately fell silent. A few days prior, the Fu family had sent an invitation, but since Cui Lingrong had never had dealings with the Fu family, she hadn't gone. Now, seeing Mrs. Fu, Cui Lingrong maintained a polite smile. Just as she turned to leave, Mrs. Fu suddenly praised Yu-jie, "It's been so long since I've seen her—Yu-jie has grown even more lovely." Song Yu had inherited the best features of both Cui Lingrong and Song Shulan, and she was indeed exceptionally striking. With the extra care she'd taken in dressing up today, she had drawn many eyes the moment she appeared. Song Yu smiled softly, feigning shyness. Cui Lingrong said, "What matters most for a young lady is her inner character. Mrs. Fu, we still have some—" "There's no rush for anything. I just adore your Yu-jie so much. Now that I've seen her today, this bracelet—a dowry gift from my mother—I'll give it to Yu-jie." As she spoke, Mrs. Fu began to remove the bracelet from her wrist. Cui Lingrong grabbed Mrs. Fu's hand firmly. She understood now what was happening and quickly declined, "Such a precious item—you should keep it for yourself. It would be a shame if Yu-jie were to damage it. We really do have matters to attend to." Cui Lingrong gave her daughter a look, and Song Yu immediately followed her away. Mrs. Fu was disappointed that her gift hadn't been accepted. She turned to Lou Wanxian and asked, "What do you suppose those mother and daughter are off to do?" Lou Wanxian shook her head, saying she didn't know. "Hmph, you're still so dull. Even if you've won Princess Consort Wu's favor, with an attitude like yours, how do you expect to break into the circle of noble ladies?" After venting at Lou Wanxian, Mrs. Fu went to strike up conversations with others. But those women paid her little attention, because the ones she approached were all families with daughters of marriageable age. On the other side, Cui Lingrong said quietly to her daughter, "That Mrs. Fu is most likely scouting for a wife for her son." "That Fu Ze who favors men?" Song Yu asked. "Yes. After that scandal back then, Fu Ze can't secure a good match, and the Fu family is quite troubled now." As Cui Lingrong spoke, she heard laughter and chatter in the distance and turned her gaze toward it. Straw mats had been hung around the pavilion to keep the wind from blowing in. Someone asked Zhao Susu, "I heard that Cui-shi was truly caught in bed with someone, which is why the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion cast her out. Is it true or false?" Someone couldn't help but chime in, "It must be true. Otherwise, why would Cui-shi, at her age, with her daughter just about to enter marriage negotiations, choose this exact moment for a Mutual Divorce?" "If you ask me, Marquis Song is too kind-hearted to agree to a Mutual Divorce. If it were me, I'd strip that shameless woman naked and throw her out. Marchioness Song, don't you agree?" ... Hearing the words "Marchioness Song," Cui Lingrong's heart tightened. It took her a moment to realize they weren't addressing her—they were referring to Zhao Susu. Zhao Susu stood among the crowd, pressing her lips into a smile. "Oh, please, everyone, stop. My Old Madame and the Marquis have said we shouldn't discuss it further. To err is human—Cui-shi did make some mistakes, but we can't drive a person to desperation." Hearing her say this, the others took it as confirmation. And it had been years since Bianjing had seen such a juicy scandal. The more Zhao Susu tried to downplay it, the more curious the others became. "Just tell us! I promise—I swear I won't tell anyone else!" "I can promise too! Once I leave the Prince Consort Wu's residence, I absolutely won't breathe a word to another soul!" "Yes, Marchioness Song, hurry and tell us—who was Cui-shi having an affair with? And how was she caught?" Zhao Susu looked at the crowd, sighed with a troubled expression, and said, "Since you sisters have all promised, then I suppose..." She deliberately paused, teasing their anticipation. The others grew even more curious, craning their necks toward her. "Hurry up and tell us! Are you trying to kill us with suspense? Was it General Xie, or her cousin the Minister?" Zhao Susu smiled. Just as she was about to speak, the straw mat was suddenly flung open. Everyone looked over and saw Cui Lingrong standing at the entrance, appearing there without warning. Embarrassment washed over them instantly. Eyes darted around; those with thinner skins rose to flee, only to be stopped by Cui Lingrong's outstretched arm. "Since everyone is so curious, let me tell you all myself—why I chose a Mutual Divorce." Cui Lingrong kept a smile on her lips and raised one eyebrow at Zhao Susu. "Zhao Susu, you've been spreading rumors about me plenty these past days. Since we've run into each other today, let's settle this face to face." Zhao Susu hadn't expected Cui Lingrong to appear. Lately, Cui Lingrong never attended banquets, so this time she hadn't even bothered to check whether Cui Lingrong would be present. Seeing Zhao Susu still frozen in place, Cui Lingrong spoke first. "Zhao Susu, you claim I was unfaithful and that's why Song Shulan divorced me. Then let me ask you—why is it that I hold a divorce agreement?" Zhao Susu never imagined Cui Lingrong would discuss such matters publicly. "Cui Lingrong, you're a divorced woman. Aren't you ashamed to speak of these things in front of everyone?" "I'm not the one who did wrong, so why should I be afraid?" As Cui Lingrong said this, the others grew even more curious. The commotion they were causing had already been reported to Princess Consort Wu. At that moment, Princess Consort Wu arrived with her attendants. Cui Lingrong knew she had few chances to clear her name, and if she was going to speak, she had to make it clear in one go—the more people who knew, the better. She no longer needed to uphold the dignity of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion as she once had. Looking at the crowd, Cui Lingrong began from the very start—when Song Shulan took Zhao Susu as his Equal Wife. "I never expected that when I returned from mourning, the household management was no longer in my hands, and the Marquis Mansion had gained an Equal Wife. But a married woman follows her husband, and for the sake of my three children, I endured it. But do you all know why Zhao Susu went from being a Commandery Princess, to a County Mistress, and now to a commoner?" This question piqued everyone's curiosity. Most people didn't know the details—only those close to the Rong Prince Mansion and the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion were aware of the specific reasons. Zhao Susu's heart leaped to her throat. She said urgently, "Cui Lingrong, have you forgotten what you said when you left the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion? You have nothing to do with the mansion anymore—why bring all this up?" "I didn't want to say anything, but you insisted on splashing dirty water on me!" Cui Lingrong's tone grew heavier, her eyes glaring fiercely at Zhao Susu. Song Yu said, "It's because Zhao Susu used a fake pregnancy to frame me for causing her miscarriage. When it was discovered that she could never conceive at all, she was demoted from Commandery Princess to County Mistress." "You're talking nonsense!" Zhao Susu rushed over, intending to teach Song Yu a lesson, but Nanny Qiu shoved her back. "Song Yu, I count as your mother! You're slandering me recklessly—just like your mother, you're no good!" Cui Lingrong said, "If Yu-jie were lying, then why did you lose your Commandery Princess title? Zhao Susu, everyone knows the truth—you must have committed some offense to be reprimanded by the Emperor again and again. I'm simply laying out the affairs of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion for everyone to hear today." In the inner quarters, conflicts between wives and concubines were hardly unusual. But when everyone heard Song Yu say that Zhao Susu couldn't bear children—confirming the earlier rumors in Bianjing—that was interesting. Curious gazes turned toward Zhao Susu, while others eagerly hoped Cui Lingrong and her daughter would reveal more. Cui Lingrong continued, "Later, you drugged Jin-ge, and time after time you tried to harm my three children. And Song Shulan shielded you all along—that's why I chose to leave the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. You say I was unfaithful, so let me ask you: if I truly had been unfaithful, why would Song Shulan agree to a mutual divorce, and why would he let me take all my personal property?" If a man had been cuckolded, would he really let Cui Lingrong leave peacefully? Was there such a generous person in this world? Everyone found it strange indeed. Just then, Princess Consort Wu arrived with a group of people, happening to hear Cui Lingrong's question. Knowing that Cui Lingrong was attending today's banquet, Princess Consort Wu had guessed that Cui Lingrong intended to counter the recent rumors. Princess Consort Wu had long found Zhao Susu distasteful. She walked over to Cui Lingrong's side and helped her press the question. "Yes, Susu, you are of the imperial clan—you represent the clan's honor. You can't speak carelessly. Lady Cui's question is valid. If she truly had been unfaithful, why would she be allowed to leave the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion in one piece?" In any other household, they would have locked Cui Lingrong away or handed her over to the Cui family and given her a cup of poisoned wine—not let her leave with all her personal property. Among those who came with Princess Consort Wu, some had heard the rumors about Cui Lingrong. Now hearing the challenges from Cui Lingrong and Princess Consort Wu, they too grew curious. Cui Lingrong asked, "Zhao Susu, why aren't you saying anything?" If Zhao Susu publicly revealed that Song Shulan was impotent—that was what had forced him to agree to the mutual divorce—then the marital bond between Zhao Susu and Song Shulan would be over. But if she didn't say that, Zhao Susu had no logical way to refute Cui Lingrong's questions. She glared viciously at Cui Lingrong, then simply let her eyes roll back, planning to fake a faint. Cui Lingrong signaled Nanny Qiu with a glance. Nanny Qiu immediately went over to pinch Zhao Susu's philtrum, but Wang Hechun's Wife blocked her, and instead Nanny Qiu grabbed Zhao Susu's collar. The neckline opened about half a palm's width, and Cui Lingrong caught sight of two red marks. She was no naive maiden—she understood immediately what those marks meant. After she left the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, had Song Shulan and Zhao Susu's relationship grown so intimate?