Chapter 333

Chapter 333: The Scream Cui Lingrong was extremely surprised when she received Concubine Zhang's letter. She had even considered the possibility that it was Madame Jiang who couldn't withstand loneliness. Wang Hechun's Wife was merely a servant—she didn't have the capability to hide someone. It had to be Zhao Susu who was hiding Du Cheng. "Master, why would Zhao Susu hide Du Cheng?" Nanny Qiu couldn't understand. "Doesn't she hate the Du family the most?" "Yes, she hates the Du family, but people change." Cui Lingrong said she too couldn't figure it out. "If it's not an affair between them, then I don't understand why Zhao Susu would hide Du Cheng." Even if the Du family had leverage over Zhao Susu, there was no need to hide Du Cheng inside the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. They could have arranged for him to stay somewhere else, giving him good food and lodging. But Zhao Susu and Du Cheng? Just thinking about it made Cui Lingrong feel it was absurd. "An affair? He... they... are a generation apart." Nanny Qiu was stunned. "Who's to say otherwise? I said that if Du Cheng entered the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, someone must have been helping him, but I never imagined it would be Zhao Susu." Cui Lingrong truly hadn't expected this outcome. "It's too ridiculous." Nanny Qiu sighed. "It's not strange that it's Zhao Susu. This also explains why she killed Qiuju and why she's now making a move against Song Shulan." Cui Lingrong suddenly saw things clearly. Nanny Qiu added, "Qiuju must have stumbled upon their affair, which is why Zhao Susu silenced her. Master, should we tell Marquis Song?" Cui Lingrong shook her head. "If we tell Song Shulan, he won't reply—he'll just think I'm causing trouble and saying this deliberately. And if it's later proven true, Song Shulan will also know that someone in the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion is feeding me information." Although Cui Lingrong hadn't asked Concubine Zhang to act as her eyes, she had sold Concubine Zhang, and from now on, she wouldn't be able to gather information from her anymore. As for Madam Li, they were going to split the family anyway. "Then what do you plan to do?" Nanny Qiu asked. They had to do something—have someone investigate—so that Du Cheng and Zhao Susu could be exposed. "Didn't they say Du Cheng went out? He must be going to the Du residence." Cui Lingrong thought of Lou Wanxian. "Compared to us, Madam Zeng is also very interested in Zhao Susu's affairs. Let's tip off Madam Zeng that we saw Du Cheng leaving the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, and let her take action." Nanny Qiu understood and immediately instructed someone to handle it. Meanwhile, Du Cheng went to the Du residence, had a quarrel with Mrs. He and her husband, and after nightfall, quietly returned to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Lou Wanxian's people saw Du Cheng and returned to report to her. When Lou Wanxian heard about it, she was equally surprised. She came to visit the next day and asked Cui Lingrong what she thought. Cui Lingrong didn't mention that Zhao Susu and Du Cheng might be having an affair. "Hiding such a big person in the mansion requires a hiding place. Song Shulan hates Du Cheng deeply. If he discovers this, Zhao Susu won't be able to explain herself no matter what." "How can we get Marquis Song to discover it?" Lou Wanxian asked. "That man Song Shulan—when he wants to rise in rank and get rich, he's the best at currying favor. At other times, his brain isn't necessarily reliable." Cui Lingrong said they didn't necessarily need Song Shulan to see it himself. "Others would have the same effect, but the people in the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion won't necessarily spread the news." Lou Wanxian understood. "Are you saying I should go, sister?" "If it's you, sister, that would naturally be good, but Zhao Susu is wary of you. If you go alone, you might not even make it to Wutong Courtyard." Cui Lingrong said, "So we need to invite someone else—someone Zhao Susu wouldn't be as guarded against." "Who could that be?" Lou Wanxian couldn't think of anyone at the moment. But Cui Lingrong had someone in mind. "Madam Qian has been taken back by the Rong Prince Mansion. Now that her husband is dead, she's at odds with the Crown Prince's consort there. Have her go, along with the Crown Prince's consort. Rest assured, the Crown Prince's consort hates Zhao Susu to the bone and will definitely use this matter to her advantage." Cui Lingrong hadn't contacted Lady Wu for a long time. After finishing her discussion with Lou Wanxian, she had Wu Hui go see Lady Wu to avoid arousing suspicion. In the days that followed, Cui Lingrong quietly waited for good news. On the day she learned that Lady Wu and Madam Qian had gone to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, Cui Lingrong eagerly anticipated good news coming from the mansion. "These days are passing too slowly." Song Yu couldn't sit still, and standing was uncomfortable too. "Mother, how can you remain so calm and composed?" "Being anxious won't help. Besides, even if they go, they might not be able to catch Du Cheng and Zhao Susu in the act." Cui Lingrong said nothing was certain. "If they fail, wouldn't all our planning have been for nothing?" "That won't do. If they fail, wouldn't that alert the snake? What if Zhao Susu sends Du Cheng away?" Song Yu's eyes darted around. "Mother, why don't I return to the mansion?" "You go?" "Yes, even though I came out with you, I'm still a daughter of the marquis mansion. Father is ill—it's perfectly logical for me to go visit him." Song Yu said, then ordered the carriage to be prepared and rushed off to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion in a flurry. When she arrived at the mansion and saw that everything was calm and peaceful, she was deeply disappointed. When she saw her father, Song Yu exchanged a few pleasantries, then went to Shouan Tang. Old Madame Song saw her granddaughter arrive and immediately let out a snort to show her displeasure. "You ungrateful thing, I thought you'd forgotten us entirely?" "Grandmother, saying that breaks my heart." To be fair, her grandmother had always treated Song Yu well. "I couldn't bear to leave Mother alone, but I've also been thinking of Father and you, Grandmother. As soon as I heard Father was unwell, I came back to see him." "Your father—who knows what's wrong with him. A perfectly healthy man, suddenly taken ill." Old Madame Song had not been feeling well herself lately, and seeing her granddaughter's good complexion left a bitter taste in her mouth. Song Yu took the opportunity to ask whether the household had guests, and only then did Old Madame Song mention that someone from the Rong Prince Mansion had come. Speaking of Zhao, Old Madame Song was equally dissatisfied. "Zhao's temperament is poor. The way she handles herself—she can't compare to..." She had meant to say she couldn't compare to Cui Lingrong, but didn't want to praise Cui Lingrong, so she changed tack. "Thankfully I had your Second Aunt take charge of the main kitchen, or the Marquis household wouldn't be able to get by. A few days ago, the Du family sent someone demanding she give them a hundred taels every month. I don't understand—just how much does she cherish her feelings for her predecessor that she's willing to keep supporting the Du family like this?" Speaking of this, Old Madame Song grew angry. "Something like that happened?" Song Yu deliberately let a bit of information slip. "I heard from Madam Zeng that after Du Cheng left the Guozijian, he disappeared without a trace. But Madam Zeng discovered that Du Cheng has been coming to our marquis household regularly lately. Did you know about that, Grandmother?" She deliberately said she'd heard it from Madam Zeng, so that later her grandmother and father wouldn't discover that it was her mother keeping watch on the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. "Something like that happened?" Old Madame Song knew nothing about it at all. "I don't know the details either. A few days ago, Madam Zeng came to see Mother and mentioned it in passing. I assumed Zhao was helping Du Cheng." Song Yu turned to glance at the sky. "It's quite cool today. Why don't we take a walk outside?" Old Madame Song didn't have the strength. She waved her hand, declining. Just then, Madame Jiang and Madam Li came to pay their respects, so Song Yu pulled them along with her. She deliberately led her two aunts toward the Wutong Courtyard. Passing by the entrance, they heard cheerful laughter from inside. Song Yu suddenly said, "Zhao now counts as the mistress of the marquis household. Since I've returned, I should go in and greet her, lest she say I lack proper upbringing." Madame Jiang and Madam Li exchanged glances—especially Madame Jiang, who was astonished. Everyone knew that Song Yu and Zhao were sworn enemies. Even in the past, Song Yu had never come to the Wutong Courtyard to pay her respects. Why would Song Yu deliberately want to go in today? Madam Li belatedly thought of certain matters and agreed with Song Yu. "Yu-jie is betrothed now, so things are indeed different. In that case, we'll accompany you in." Madame Jiang wasn't too keen on seeing Zhao Susu, but since Madam Li had already said so, she had no choice but to follow along. The three of them entered the courtyard together, and the maidservants were all surprised to see Song Yu. Inside the room, Zhao Susu heard that Song Yu had come and thought she'd misheard. It wasn't until Song Yu entered the room that she realized she hadn't been mistaken. "Oh, if it isn't Yu-jie. What brings you to my place today?" Song Yu smiled slightly, her gaze sweeping the room as she took in the situation. With so many people present, Du Cheng probably wasn't hiding in this room. "I came to visit Father, so I thought I'd stop by and say hello." With that, Song Yu made to leave. Zhao Susu naturally wouldn't try to keep her, but Madam Li felt puzzled—why was Yu-jie leaving so easily? Watching Song Yu depart, Zhao Susu cursed under her breath, "That ill-mannered brat, deliberately coming to show off. But she's betrothed to some ordinary family—what's there to be proud of?" Madam Qian chimed in, "Perhaps her mother sent her to see how you're doing, sister?" "I'm doing perfectly well, of course." As Zhao Susu spoke, she had no idea that Song Yu had turned back. Song Yu said that as she'd passed by the wall just now, her handkerchief had been blown by the wind to the back of the house, and she'd come back specifically to ask a maidservant of the Wutong Courtyard for help. "No need to inform Zhao. Just have Qiutang go with you to retrieve the handkerchief." She refused to believe she wouldn't find the person today. The maidservants, hearing it was merely about retrieving a handkerchief, led Qiutang around to the back of the house. As she spoke, Song Yu began wandering around the courtyard. Meanwhile, Song Shulan had learned that his daughter was still in the marquis household and wanted to ask her about Cui Lingrong, so he came looking for her as well. Song Shulan had just entered the courtyard when he heard a scream. "Qiutang!" Song Yu recognized Qiutang's voice and immediately ran toward the back of the house. Song Shulan saw this and followed, but he had been unwell lately, and after just a few steps he was already gasping for breath. Inside the room, Zhao Susu and the others were all startled by the scream. Madam Qian was greatly alarmed and looked around, "Susu, what's going on?"