Chapter 357

Chapter 357: The Deceased Husband Song Shulan had barely stepped out the door when a gang of ruffians beat him. Before he could even react, the thugs had already fled. The news didn't reach Cui Lingrong until two days later. Cui Zeyu came to tell her that one of Song Shulan's colleagues had taken a disliking to him and hired men to beat him. Now the two sides were locked in a heated dispute. Cui Zeyu had come straight from the hunting grounds. After finishing the matter of Song Shulan, he pulled several letters from his bosom—all entrusted to him by Xie Yunting to pass along. "Sister, although Xie Yunting is a man of good character, no one knows what his future holds. If you become entangled with him, things will be very difficult to explain later." Seeing his sister accept the letters, Cui Zeyu's brow furrowed even deeper. "Sister, have you developed feelings for Xie Yunting?" "You yourself said that Xie Yunting is a man of good character." "But he..." Cui Zeyu stopped himself. There were some things he couldn't bring himself to say. But Cui Lingrong understood what her brother meant. "I know. You're saying that if I were to marry Xie Yunting, there would be no shortage of gossip in Bianjing. But I have no intention of marrying him." Cui Zeyu: "Then what are you two...?" "Since you ask—it's a passing pleasure. If both parties are satisfied, then it can continue for a long time. If either side no longer wishes to continue, then it ends." Cui Lingrong smiled slightly. "In the past, my thinking was constrained, and I didn't know how to put myself first. Now I want to live for myself." Cui Lingrong took a deep breath. "Zeyu, in this one life we live, I no longer wish to be a devoted wife and mother, but neither will I collapse over a man's departure. You might say I've changed, and I do feel that I've changed—but shouldn't I have changed?" After everything she had been through, if she remained exactly as she was before, she would truly be a block of wood that couldn't be split no matter how hard you struck it. Hopelessly beyond saving. Cui Zeyu was at a loss for words. He had never heard his sister speak like this before, and his mind was now roaring with confusion. If only he had known that his sister could disregard the conventions of the world... he wouldn't have... But there was no such thing as knowing in advance. When Cui Zeyu returned home, he was in a daze the entire way. In truth, compared to Xie Yunting, he would have much rather heard that it was Zhuang Huaiming. Because Zhuang Huaiming could give his sister a stable life, and since his sister and Zhuang Huaiming had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, there was bound to be some affection between them. Moreover, Zhuang Huaiming was mature enough. As for Xie Yunting... he was younger than his sister. If Xie Yunting were to marry someone else in the future, what would become of his sister? Cui Zeyu lay awake all night, unable to sleep. It wasn't until the next day, when the Duke of Dingguo came looking for him, that Cui Zeyu snapped out of his thoughts. "Something on your mind?" "A few days ago, Minister Wang of the Revenue Bureau mentioned to me that he has a niece who was smitten with you at first sight and is willing to marry you as a noble concubine. What do you think?" The Duke of Dingguo only raised the matter because he thought it was worthwhile. "Minister Wang's official rank may not be high, but he holds real power. An alliance with his family would be a great boost to you." Cui Zeyu let out a mocking laugh. "If it's so useful, why don't you marry her yourself? You don't even have a proper wife right now, yet you want me to take a concubine?" "We're talking about your affairs—why drag me into it?" The Duke of Dingguo's face darkened. "Let me tell you this: even if Lady Cui obtains a mutual divorce, you and she will never have a chance in this lifetime!" Had the Duke not brought it up, Cui Zeyu might have been fine. But hearing the Duke mention it now, he immediately hurled his teacup to the ground. "My affairs with my sister are none of your business!" "Why are you getting so worked up? Even if you disregard the gossip and insist on having Lady Cui marry you, would she even be willing? If word of this gets out, you might be shameless enough to bear it, but how would she face the world?" The Duke of Dingguo's words struck right at the wound. Cui Zeyu clenched his fists. He often hated the fact that he had spent so many years interacting with his sister under the guise of being her brother. "See? You can't say anything either. Because you know that you'll never have a chance with Lady Cui in this lifetime. Lady Cui is someone who strictly adheres to convention—she would never be intimate with you. Even if you reject Minister Wang's niece, there will be someone else's niece in the future. Zeyu, you can't resist temptation forever. Since you want to rise to power, you might as well treat yourself as a tool." With that, the Duke paused, then added with emphasis, "After all, haven't you always wanted to become stronger so you could protect Lady Cui?" If you're a tool, then you don't need feelings. Lady Wu, or Minister Wang's niece, or anyone else. Everything could be divided into useful and useless. Cui Zeyu stared at the Duke of Dingguo for a long moment, then said slowly, word by word, "Lu Zhong, I am not you. Official rank and wealth matter to me, but they don't matter that much. Let me tell you—my affairs are none of your concern. If you interfere again, I can just as easily give up this cage called the Duke of Dingguo's estate." In the past, Cui Zeyu had relied on the prestige of the Duke of Dingguo's household to trade for power and influence. But he had fought so hard these past days, offending whoever he needed to offend, and had climbed to where he was now—it wasn't for nothing. Without the Duke of Dingguo's estate, he could still thrive in the court. The Duke of Dingguo dared not speak further, because he knew his son meant every word. "Ah... you... you brat. Fine, I'm old and no longer able to control you. But you remember this: once you've entered the gates of the Duke of Dingguo's estate, you are a member of this household for life!" As for anything else, don't even think about it. He was old, but not completely powerless. After leaving his son's place, the Duke of Dingguo sent someone to Wu Hui to relay a few words. The Duke's household had no mother-in-law, so Wu Hui's days were quite comfortable—except for the matter of heirs, which the Duke of Guo had raised several times. Today, he sent someone again to bring it up. Wu Hui thought it over and, during the midday meal, mentioned it to Cui Zeyu. They were husband and wife in name only, each with someone else in their hearts. "If you want heirs, I can arrange a few people to serve you. Just tell me what kind you prefer." Wu Hui's mother had once told her to give one or two of her maidservants to Cui Zeyu. A man as outstanding as Cui Zeyu—countless women would be willing to attach themselves to him. She had brought it up once before, but Cui Zeyu had refused. "Don't mind what Lu Zhong says. As for heirs, you needn't worry—I don't need them," Cui Zeyu said. "If Lu Zhong comes to you again, tell me, and I'll go speak with him." Wu Hui was somewhat surprised. She had interacted with Lady Cui a few times and knew she was a very kind person. But she hadn't expected Cui Zeyu to be so devoted to Lady Cui. "Alright, since you've made up your mind, I'll follow your lead." Wu Hui ate her meal in silence. After the meal, Cui Zeyu went off to attend to his affairs. Wu Hui had nothing to do. As she sipped her tea, the matron beside her sighed. "Second Young Madam, the way you and Second Young Master are—don't you find it a pity? He's such a good man." "A pity? I don't find it a pity at all. He's a good man, loyal and righteous. If a man like that ever stopped being loyal and righteous, that's when my good days would come to an end." Wu Hui saw things clearly. She also knew the concerns of those around her. But she knew that once she crossed that line, she wouldn't be able to get along with Cui Zeyu anymore. Besides, she could never forget the person in her heart. She told the matron not to overthink it and was about to take a sip of tea when a maidservant rushed in, drenched in sweat—but she was looking for Mama He, who served at Wu Hui's side. "Look at you, so flustered. What would people think if they saw you like this?" Mama He asked what the matter was. The young maidservant glanced at the Second Young Madam and kept signaling Mama He with her eyes. Mama He found it strange, and Wu Hui noticed too. But Wu Hui didn't press the matter—after all, if she wanted to know, Mama He would surely tell her. Mama He followed the maidservant outside and whispered, "What are you doing? Is there something the Second Young Madam can't hear?" "This matter—the Second Young Madam really shouldn't know!" The maidservant looked around left and right. "Mama He, come closer. I just heard someone say that the Second Young Madam's former fiancé, General Dai, has returned!"