Chapter 308

Chapter 308: High Standards Zhao Susu's collar was quickly pulled back, and she raised her hand to strike Nanny Qiu, but Nanny Qiu dodged backward, only having a bit of her temple hair grabbed. "What do you think you are, daring to pull at my clothes!" But with this, Zhao Susu's pretense of fainting was exposed, and everyone turned to look at her. Princess Consort Wu spoke up, "Susu, what are you doing? With so many people watching, you might as well explain things clearly to everyone, so as not to be misunderstood." "Evidence? You say I did this and that—do you have any evidence?" Zhao Susu flew into a rage out of humiliation. Cui Lingrong countered, "Then when you spread rumors about me, where was your evidence?" Zhao Susu naturally had no evidence. Cui Lingrong continued to press, "However, I do happen to have kept some evidence. Just now when I heard you say those things, I sent someone to retrieve it." In truth, she had brought it with her from the start, but Cui Lingrong said this to give herself a reasonable excuse. Cui Lingrong produced the evidence of the confession from those around Zhao Susu when she had framed Yu-jie. "Zhao Susu, if you want more, I have that too." At the sight of this, everyone looked at Zhao Susu with contempt. Faking a pregnancy to harm others—her character was far too poor. Princess Consort Wu chose the right moment to speak, "Susu, how could you do such a thing? But thinking about it now, you never bore a single child in the Du family—it truly confirms what they say, that you cannot conceive. But since you can't have children, why did you try to harm Yu-jie and the others? Surely you didn't want Marquis Jiangyuan to have no heirs?" At her words, everyone's imaginations ran even wilder. Having finally caught hold of Zhao Susu's weakness, Princess Consort Wu intended to stomp on the Rong Prince Mansion again, and she would do so with full force. Cui Lingrong shared the same goal as Princess Consort Wu. "Later you were demoted to commoner, and that was only because your mother conspired to harm the Mei family. What a venomous heart—you caused Mei-shi to die with her child, and your mother hunted down her entire family. Tsk tsk, I think everyone should stay far away from the Rong Prince Mansion, lest you never know when you might bring disaster upon yourselves." At these words, the people around Zhao Susu all took a step back. Zhao Susu pointed at Cui Lingrong. "Cui Lingrong, you vile woman, you did this on purpose!" Deliberately letting her spread the rumors. And deliberately choosing today, when so many people were present! "Zhao Susu, you flatter me too much. If I had the ability to foresee the future, I would never have let you marry into the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion in the first place." Cui Lingrong looked at the crowd. "I, Cui Lingrong, dare to guarantee before everyone here today that my Mutual Divorce from Song Shulan was entirely due to Zhao Susu's persecution of me and my children, as well as Song Shulan's injustice—it was only then that I became disheartened. Everyone here has families and children. If it weren't absolutely necessary, why would I choose to divorce at a time like this?" Cui Lingrong spoke with tears streaming down her face. Zhao Susu, however, cursed Cui Lingrong for putting on a hypocritical act. But by this point, no one paid Zhao Susu any more attention. Who would dare to associate with someone of such vicious character? Although these people didn't grow any closer to Cui Lingrong either, Cui Lingrong had already achieved her purpose in coming—thoroughly ruining Zhao Susu's reputation. In this way, the words of a villain would no longer be believed. Cui Lingrong looked at Zhao Susu's face, twisted with both hatred and anger, and gave her a satisfied raise of the eyebrow. Princess Consort Wu said, "Susu, I can see you're not looking well. Perhaps you should head back first, lest something happen to you here at my residence." This was a clear order to leave. Being dismissed in front of everyone, the crowd understood Princess Consort Wu's stance. Now that Zhao Susu had no title, she would most likely not be invited to such gatherings of noble ladies in the future. Princess Consort Wu turned back to chat warmly with Cui Lingrong, even pulling Song Yu over to praise her. However, since Cui Lingrong was now divorced, she wouldn't have Song Yu marry into her family, but she was willing to elevate Song Yu's standing. Being in Princess Consort Wu's company, many people took notice of Song Yu. Some with quick minds reasoned that since Cui Lingrong's reputation was unblemished, from Cui Zeyu's perspective, Song Yu was still a good match. For a time, some wives of fourth-rank and third-rank officials came over to strike up conversations with Cui Lingrong and her daughter. When Cui Lingrong left, she had received several invitations, and she didn't immediately decline any of them. Just as Cui Lingrong was about to board her carriage, Mrs. Fu chased after her. "Sister Cui, wait. Are you heading back too? Could you give me a ride?" Cui Lingrong turned back to look at the carriage. "I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Fu, but we're not going the same way." "That's all right. There are some things I'd like to discuss with you." Mrs. Fu grabbed Cui Lingrong's wrist. "Good sister, look at you now—divorced, with no man in the house, raising Yu-jie all on your own. It must be so difficult." "Mrs. Fu, I have no intention of remarrying." Cui Lingrong said. Mrs. Fu was momentarily stunned. "Oh dear, I'm not talking about that. Look at you—since you've brought Yu-jie out, you'll be depending on each other from now on. So why not marry Yu-jie into a good family? Then Yu-jie will be your support in the future, don't you think?" Mrs. Fu's eldest son truly couldn't find a match anymore—the fact that her son favored men was known throughout the great and noble families. If they were to marry a girl from an ordinary commoner family, even a somewhat respectable household wouldn't be willing, and one missing an arm or a leg—the Fu family wouldn't be pleased with that either. In Mrs. Fu's view, even if Cui Lingrong had left the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, she still had an adopted brother from the Duke of Dingguo's estate. But an adopted brother was, after all, adopted, not a blood relative. As time passed, who would still remember the kindness from years ago? So when she came to extend her goodwill, it was actually Yu-jie who was marrying above her station. Cui Lingrong gave Nanny Qiu a look, and Nanny Qiu led Yu-jie to the carriage first. Then Cui Lingrong turned to Mrs. Fu. "May I ask, Mrs. Fu, for whom are you proposing a match?" "Naturally, for my eldest son," Mrs. Fu said with a smile. "He was a bit foolish in his youth, but he has since mended his ways and turned over a new leaf. If we could unite our two families, once my eldest son earns merit and distinction, Yu-jie would become the matriarch of the Fu household." There was another point—Mrs. Fu felt that Song Yu was truly beautiful. Any man would be drawn to her. If they brought Song Yu into the family, perhaps it would set her son back on the right path and stop him from preferring men. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Fu, but Yu-jie is not a suitable match for your eldest son. Please don't bring this up again." Cui Lingrong had stopped smiling. "Why not?" Mrs. Fu's smile vanished as well. "My eldest son is so wonderful—why wouldn't it work? You rejected me without even a moment's thought. Are you looking down on my son?" Being refused to her face, Mrs. Fu immediately became defensive. Cui Lingrong felt helpless and didn't want to waste more words with Mrs. Fu here, so she said bluntly, "Mrs. Fu, your eldest son simply doesn't like women. Why would you ruin a good girl's life?" She hadn't mentioned this earlier out of respect for Mrs. Fu. "What do you mean, he doesn't like women? Don't talk nonsense. My eldest son was just immature before—he's grown up now and is ready to marry and have children!" Mrs. Fu was furious. "Besides, you're a divorced woman with a daughter. The Fu family taking an interest in Yu-jie is doing you a favor. What more could you possibly want?" Cui Lingrong was speechless. "Then let me say it once more: my daughter will never marry your eldest son. And as for you doing us a favor—it's plainly because none of the official matchmakers in Bianjing are willing to arrange a match for Fu Ze that you came here today casting your net wide!" With a snort, Cui Lingrong turned and boarded the carriage. "Mrs. Fu, please show some self-respect. If you try to make trouble over this, don't blame me for being unkind in return!" Mrs. Fu felt her breath catch in her throat. Watching Cui Lingrong's carriage drive away, she clenched her fist inside her sleeve. "What a piece of work—offered face and she wouldn't take it! Just some fallen household, who wants her daughter anyway? I'd like to see what fine family she ends up marrying that girl into after all her pickiness!" With that, she put on a smile again and tried to return to the Prince Wu's mansion to find other ladies and misses, but was stopped by the stewardess, who said the banquet was coming to an end. She had no choice but to board her carriage, cursing under her breath. Remembering what Cui Lingrong had said, Mrs. Fu felt a knot of anger in her chest. When she spotted Zhao Susu's carriage, an idea struck her, and she ordered her driver to follow.