Chapter 323

Chapter 323: A Wife-Killer Zhuang Qi's eyes lit up, and she ran over. "Father, why are you here?" Zhuang Huaiming said with a smile, "I arrived yesterday. Master Yu from the academy is my fellow classmate, and he invited me to give a lecture." He paused, then looked at his daughter. "And you are...?" "Oh, I'm accompanying my maternal aunt to see Cousin Xuan." Zhuang Qi answered quickly, then asked with concern, "Did you see Cousin Xuan? I heard he's been studying especially hard—has he lost a lot of weight?" As she spoke, she couldn't help turning her head to look around, wondering if there were any other familiar faces. Just then, Cui Lingrong and her daughter walked over side by side, and Song Yu bowed in greeting first. Cui Lingrong was momentarily taken aback, then asked with a bright smile, "Cousin, why are you here as well?" Zhuang Huaiming briefly repeated what he had just said, then added earnestly, "I saw Xuan-ge this morning—he studies with remarkable diligence. You should advise him that no matter how important his studies are, he must still take care of his health. He cannot afford to be impatient for quick results." Cui Lingrong said that was precisely why she had come. Zhuang Qi couldn't help interjecting, "Father, are you leaving now?" Zhuang Huaiming glanced at Cui Lingrong. "Not yet. I'll wait for you all to finish, and we can travel back together—it's safer to have company on the road." Cui Lingrong naturally agreed. She entered the academy, stated her purpose, and waited in the hall for someone to bring Xuan-ge to her. Zhuang Qi, meanwhile, followed her father to look around the vicinity. They happened to run into Master Yu, who was quite surprised to see Zhuang Huaiming still there. "Lord Zhuang, weren't you about to head back? Why are you still here?" "Ah, Father, when were you planning to leave?" Zhuang Qi blinked her big eyes. Zhuang Huaiming felt somewhat embarrassed, though fortunately his expression rarely showed much. "I suddenly encountered my cousin bringing my daughter here, so I thought we might return together." Only then did Master Yu look at Zhuang Qi. "So this is your daughter. It happens to be lunchtime—let me take you both to the dining hall." He invited them warmly, and Zhuang Huaiming couldn't refuse. He led his daughter along toward the dining hall, passing many students on the way. Zhuang Qi felt no shyness at all—on the contrary, she was quite curious, constantly looking left and right. Whenever she spotted a handsome scholar, she would steal a second glance. If Sister Yu were there, she would have wanted to share her observations with her, but unfortunately she didn't dare discuss the scholars' appearances with her father. On the other side, Cui Lingrong met Xuan-ge. "You've lost weight—indeed, you've lost quite a bit." Cui Lingrong sighed. Song Mingxuan smiled slightly. "I haven't lost weight at all. It's just that your son has grown taller, so he looks thinner." "You can still smile? Even your maternal cousin says you're diligent, which shows just how hard you're working." Cui Lingrong had her son eat while she spoke. "Mother knows that recently there's been much gossip about the marquis's household, and you want to distinguish yourself as soon as possible. But the Imperial Examination requires steady, solid accumulation. If you ruin your health, what future will there be?" "I..." Song Mingxuan lowered his head. Song Yu also said, "That's right, Xuan-ge. If you don't have a healthy body, what use is excelling in your studies?" Cui Lingrong continued, "Whether you're doing this for someone else or for yourself, studying well is certainly important, but you must still take care of yourself. You're not like Jin-ge—you've already grown up, so I don't need to beat around the bush with you." Song Mingxuan nodded, his eyes already moist. "Yes, Mother. Your son understands." He wanted to grow his wings as quickly as possible so he could hold up a piece of the sky for his mother. That Madam Zhao was truly too much—if not for her, why would his father and mother have come to this point? When his mother had wanted a Mutual Divorce back then, she had come to talk to him. Song Mingxuan had wanted to persuade her to stay, but he couldn't find the words. With his father and Madam Zhao being what they were, what face did he have to ask his mother to stay for his sake? Should he say, wait a little longer—in a few years, once he passed the Jinshi examination, everything would be fine? No. Even passing the Jinshi examination didn't guarantee he would accomplish anything. And even if he achieved fame and success someday, who knew how many years that would take? So Song Mingxuan had not uttered a single word of objection. But during these days, quite a few people had privately discussed the affairs of the marquis's household. Song Mingxuan pretended not to hear. He began to study even harder, to the point of forgetting to eat and sleep. Looking at her son, Cui Lingrong felt too many emotions stirring in her heart. "In the end, it's your father and I who have failed you children." "Mother, you don't need to say such things. Where have you gone wrong?" Song Yu huffed twice. "It's all Father's fault. If not for his desire to curry favor with the Rong Prince Mansion, how could the two of you have parted ways?" Song Yu had recently heard quite a few things from her future mother-in-law and felt they were absolutely right. If it were her, how could she have endured for so long? She would have gotten a Mutual Divorce long ago. The three of them talked for a while. When Cui Lingrong was about to leave, she sent someone to find her cousin. Zhuang Huaiming and his daughter arrived together with Master Yu. When Master Yu saw Cui Lingrong, his eyes lit up instantly. "So... so you are Mingxuan's mother. To have raised such a fine son as Mingxuan, one can see that you are also a person of upright character." Cui Lingrong said politely, "It's also thanks to the masters' efforts. We'll have to rely on you in the future." "Not at all, not at all—it's all our duty." Master Yu had heard some people at the academy mention that Song Mingxuan's parents had gotten a Mutual Divorce, but since he didn't like gossiping about others, he hadn't inquired further. Now seeing Lady Cui, she only felt that Song Mingxuan's father had no discernment—such a great beauty, and he didn't appreciate her; he truly didn't deserve to be called a man. The journey was long, and Zhuang Huaiming said it was time to set off, so Master Yu finally ended the conversation. On the way back, Zhuang Huaiming and his daughter shared a carriage. After arriving in Bianjing, Cui Lingrong invited them both to dine together. Zhuang Qi tugged at her father, and Zhuang Huaiming had no choice but to follow them to the Cui residence. "Father, I heard everything you and Concubine Lu said," Zhuang Qi whispered, leaning close to her father's ear. "Today, the way Master Yu looked at Aunt—didn't you notice something off? If you truly have feelings for Aunt, you need to make the first move. Since you're going to take a Successor Wife anyway, rather than someone else, I'd much rather it be Aunt." "Who told you I must take a Successor Wife?" Zhuang Huaiming said, then saw Cui Lingrong and her mother approaching and quickly cut off the topic. But did Master Yu truly have feelings for his cousin? That wouldn't do. He was a man who brought death to his wives. He had been betrothed three times before—the first two fiancées both passed away half a month before their weddings. The third eloped with someone else and died on the road as well. "Cousin?" Cui Lingrong called out twice before she saw her cousin look up. "What are you thinking about, so lost in thought?" "Oh, I was thinking about Master Yu," Zhuang Huaiming said stiffly. "He... although he's a decent person and has never married, but... but..." Seeing her cousin struggling to speak, Cui Lingrong smiled brightly. "Cousin, you're not thinking of playing matchmaker for us, are you?" Cui Lingrong had only said it as a casual joke. But Zhuang Huaiming was stunned speechless. After coming to his senses, he shook his head frantically. "No, no, that's not what I meant. I'm saying that if he has such intentions, you should simply refuse him." "Why?" Cui Lingrong knew her cousin well—he wasn't one to meddle in others' affairs. Zhuang Qi looked over with even greater anticipation. Could it be that her father was jealous? But Zhuang Huaiming said three words with the utmost seriousness: "He brings death to his wives."