Chapter 342

Chapter 342: Cold Sweat Cui Lingrong agreed to the plan to deal with Song Shulan. If Zhao Susu was vicious and deserved to suffer torment, then Song Shulan's sins were no less than hers. Had it not been for Song Shulan's repeated indulgence, how could Zhao Susu have accomplished all those things? Moreover, Song Shulan was single-mindedly set on climbing the ranks, with no bottom line or principles. The grievances Cui Lingrong had suffered at his hands were what pained her the most. "Good, then that's what we'll do!" Xie Yunting was especially delighted to hear Cui Lingrong agree. Because he knew that Cui Lingrong had completely let go of Song Shulan in her heart. Cui Zeyu felt some hesitation, but seeing that his elder sister and Xie Yunting both had ideas, he said, "I'll help mediate when the time comes too. More hands make lighter work." "That's the logic." Xie Yunting said, feeling hungry. "Sister Cui, have you prepared some food? I'll join you for a meal. Since Brother Cui is here today too, let's drink and talk to our hearts' content!" Seeing Xie Yunting about to sit beside his sister, Cui Zeyu hurried over to grab the seat. But the spot on Cui Lingrong's other side was empty, and before Song Yu could react, Xie Yunting snatched the seat first. Xie Yunting could hold his liquor and was a smooth talker. In no time, he had drawn Song Yu and Zhuang Qi's attention. After several rounds of drinks, Song Yu left first with Zhuang Qi. Zhuang Qi wore a worried frown the whole way. "What's wrong with you?" Song Yu asked. "Worrying about my father. General Xie is young and eloquent. My father is such an old stick-in-the-mud—how could he possibly compete?" Zhuang Qi sighed. She had to admit that General Xie was very charming. If she hadn't noticed that General Xie had feelings for her aunt, Zhuang Qi might have been tempted herself. "You're still thinking about that?" Song Yu advised Zhuang Qi to set the matter aside. "My mother is a woman of strong will. Once she makes a decision, she rarely changes it. Since she said she doesn't want to remarry, it's unlikely she will. Though I'd also like to see someone by my mother's side, I respect her choice." "But I just feel that my father does have that intention." Zhuang Qi said. "If he didn't, then fine, but my father truly cares about Aunt. He's not the type to sweet-talk, and I can tell." Song Yu pinched Zhuang Qi's little cheek—it was smooth. "You, stop worrying so much. If Uncle truly has feelings, he can come propose. If it doesn't work out, things go back to how they were. Why fret over it?" "You don't understand. Never mind, I'll go back again tomorrow. General Xie has already gotten the advantage of being close by. If my father stays so dull, he'll never have a chance in this lifetime." Zhuang Qi still wanted to play matchmaker. Song Yu found it amusing, but since her uncle and mother were getting along well now, if that window paper were poked through, it would indeed be awkward. She hadn't even told her mother about Qi-jie'er's words. The moon hung high in the sky. Seeing that it was getting late, Cui Zeyu pulled Xie Yunting along to leave. Meanwhile, at the Lou residence, Madam Bai had barely eaten for two days. Lou Hefeng knelt by the bedside. "Mother, please eat at least a bite. If you won't take your medicine, how will you recover?" Lou Hefeng was merely a seventh-rank official. If his mother passed away, he would have to observe three years of mourning. After three years, whether there would still be a place for him in Bianjing was uncertain. Moreover, his mother's illness had come on suddenly. The physician said it was pent-up frustration, but nothing major had happened in the Lou family recently! Madam Bai lay in bed, her eyes bloodshot. She couldn't close them. "How could this happen?" "Mother, what are you saying?" Lou Hefeng leaned in closer but heard nothing more. Madam Bai waved her hand, signaling that she didn't want to hear more and wanted them all to leave. Mama Zhou came over to persuade him. "Master, you should go back and rest. I'll persuade the Old Madame. You have duties tomorrow—don't delay your important business." Madam Xia also said softly, "Yes, Husband. It's getting late. I'll stay and attend to her. You go back first." Lou Hefeng sighed, gave a few instructions, and then rose to leave. Madam Xia was the daughter-in-law, and since the Lou family had divided the household, she had to stay and attend to her mother-in-law. But the Old Madame had been strange lately, repeatedly showing Madam Xia disrespect. When she said she'd stay to attend, she merely slept in the outer room while Mama Zhou provided close care. "Mama Zhou, take good care of her. Whatever the Old Madame needs, feel free to ask the kitchen. Stay alert at night and keep the food and drink timely." After giving her instructions, Madam Xia went off to sleep. She harbored no fondness for the Old Madame—the woman was muddle-headed and made life difficult for everyone. The door was closed. Mama Zhou brought over the medicinal broth and said softly, "Old Madame, this servant knows why you're so distressed. But you cannot collapse. If you fall, who will go to Jing'an Hall to save the young lady?" "Why?" A tear slid from the corner of Madam Bai's eye. "I can't understand it. I racked my brains and sent Susu to the better Rong Prince Mansion. How did it come to this?" She had thought that if the girl moved to the Rong Prince Mansion and became a noble Commandery Princess, she would enjoy a lifetime of wealth and honor. And what was the result? The first wife died first, without leaving a single child. Now there was a Mutual Divorce. And she had been sent to Jing'an Hall. Being sent to Jing'an Hall meant that Susu had some leverage or secret that had fallen into the hands of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. "That Prince Rong is nothing but a useless waste! He actually... cough... he actually allowed Song Shulan to send Susu to Jing'an Hall!" Madam Bai grew more agitated as she spoke. "Do you know what kind of place that is? It's a place that devours people without even spitting out their bones!" Madam Bai was utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically. She wanted to save her daughter. But she had no way to do so. Her son was incompetent and lacked the ability. Moreover, asking her son for help would inevitably arouse suspicion. As for that wretch Lou Wanxian, Madam Bai knew that Lou Wanxian would never help Susu either. And so it was that Madam Bai endured day after day, until she had withered into the state she was in now. "The more difficult things become, the more you must rally yourself," Mama Zhou said. She too had been unable to eat or sleep properly these past few days. "Think about it—the Rong Commandery Prince Mansion is already powerless to act. If you were to pass away as well, who would go save the young lady? Can you bear to let her spend the rest of her life in Jing'an Hall?" These words struck Madam Bai to the core. She forced herself to sit up and let Mama Zhou feed her the medicine. "You're right. I must rally myself." Mama Zhou opened the door to fetch the medicine. When Madam Xia learned that the old lady was willing to take her medicine, she breathed a sigh of relief. However, as Mama Zhou came and went through the door, Madam Xia found herself unable to sleep. She wanted to go see how the old lady was doing now. But just as she reached the doorway, she overheard something that shocked her to her very core. The night was very, very still, and though the people inside had lowered their voices, Madam Xia still heard every word clearly. "You must take care of yourself. Think of how much effort we put in back then to swap the young lady into the Rong Commandery Prince Mansion. Even if things don't look hopeful now, the Rong Commandery Prince Mansion still stands. There will always be a way to rescue the young lady." Mama Zhou spoke with earnest sincerity. "Also, the eldest young master and the others are your own flesh and blood too. You must think not only of the young lady, but also of your other children." After drinking the medicine, Madam Bai broke out in a sweat. "The eldest and the others are all useless, but you've reminded me of something. Susu is his true blood sister. There's no harm in telling him the truth. Relying on myself alone, how could I possibly rescue Susu?" "You've made up your mind?" Mama Zhou asked. "What other choice do I have?" Madam Bai said, feeling utterly powerless. "I'd like to rely on myself, but am I capable?" Once someone was sent to Jing'an Hall, no one could rescue them unless Song Shulan agreed. Even Prince Rong lacked that ability—how could Madam Bai possibly have it? Madam Bai took a deep breath. Little did she know, Madam Xia at the doorway was breaking out in a cold sweat. No matter how she tried to imagine it, she could never have dreamed that her mother-in-law would be so bold as to dare to swap the daughter of a member of the imperial clan! If the Rong Commandery Prince Mansion ever found out, would their Lou family have any chance of survival? And her mother-in-law actually wanted to go rescue someone from Jing'an Hall. Jing'an Hall was a place where criminal women were imprisoned. Zhao Susu must have committed some enormous offense—there was no other way she could have been sent there. Madam Xia had completely lost all desire to sleep. So that was why, even though they were all her mother-in-law's children, the old lady favored everyone except her youngest daughter-in-law. It turned out that the youngest daughter-in-law wasn't even her biological child! Madam Xia's heart pounded with anxiety. What should she do? She didn't want to be entangled with the people of Jing'an Hall in any way. After thinking it over, Madam Xia turned and went to find her husband. She absolutely had to persuade him—he must not, under any circumstances, get involved in Zhao Susu's affairs. Let this secret remain a secret forever!