Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Happiness The Duke of Dingguo did not pursue the matter further, and the Su family even sent someone to thank Cui Lingrong. When Song Yu learned that Su Yunfei had been sent away, she was especially delighted. "She's always been so arrogant. It's a pity I didn't get to see her face when she suffered a setback—otherwise, I could have been happy for days." Cui Lingrong looked at her daughter and smiled. "Su Yunfei has no brains. You should take her as a lesson. Your grandmother has been in a bad mood these past few days, so you might go and keep her company more often." "Your daughter doesn't understand—why is Grandmother so partial to the Commandery Princess? When you gave birth, I didn't see Grandmother being so attentive." She even had the Wutong Courtyard set up its own kitchen. Song Yu knew that Grandmother was afraid her mother might do something behind the scenes. The older Song Yu grew, the more she understood the schemes within a great household, and she suddenly didn't want to grow up anymore. Cui Lingrong smiled. The Old Madame treated all her grandchildren well—one thing at a time. She didn't speak ill of the Old Madame in front of her daughter. Just then, a maid came to announce that Young Master Yu had arrived. Song Yu was especially happy to see her maternal uncle. Every time he came, he brought her nice things. Cui Zeyu came to talk about buying the house. "The residence we looked at before—after much persuasion on my part, the owners agreed to reduce the price by five hundred taels of silver. I figured it couldn't go any lower, so I paid the money and completed the procedures." Cui Lingrong listened with some regret. "If you'd dragged it out a bit longer, you probably could have gotten it even cheaper." "Buying early means enjoying early, and it wouldn't have saved much money anyway." Cui Zeyu was very pleased to have bought the house. "I've already found people to do the repairs. Once the renovation is done, will you come with me to pick out furniture, Sister?" Cui Lingrong said she didn't have that much time. "It's your residence—just pick whatever you like. When you move into your new home, I'll bring Yu-jie and the others to congratulate you." Cui Zeyu felt a little disappointed, having hoped his sister would accompany him, but he soon smiled again. "Then I'll get it done as quickly as possible, aiming to finish before your birthday, Sister." "That would be too tight a schedule." Cui Lingrong's birthday was only a few days away. "For my birthday this year, I'll be inviting some close friends over—all ladies and young misses. I was thinking that the day before happens to be the fifteenth, which is Xuan-ge and the others' day off. You should come a day early as well." Cui Zeyu said that was fine, then asked what birthday gift his sister wanted. Cui Lingrong said anything would do. Song Yu sidled up to her mother. "I've already prepared mine—I'm just waiting for that day to give it to you." The three of them chatted and laughed, and time flew by. Cui Zeyu stayed for lunch before going to deliver his goods. In the blink of an eye, the fifteenth arrived. Since Cui Lingrong's birthday was on the sixteenth, only the members of the eldest branch gathered at Qiushuang Zhai that day. Song Shulan did them the honor of coming. As soon as he entered the room, he began interrogating his two sons about their studies. Song Mingxuan fared well enough—he had known since childhood that as the eldest son, he had to work harder, so his studies were solid. Song Mingjin, however, was far behind. But considering his young age, Song Shulan didn't scold him too harshly and merely offered a few words of admonishment. It wasn't until Cui Zeyu arrived that Song Shulan's smile faded. "Zeyu bought a residence, didn't he?" This wasn't something Cui Lingrong had told him—someone else had mentioned it to Song Shulan. When he learned that Cui Zeyu had the money to buy a residence, and a three-and-a-half-courtyard one at that, he felt quite displeased, especially given the marquis household's recent financial straits. Cui Zeyu nodded in confirmation. Remembering his sister's instructions, he said, "Property prices in Bianjing rise higher every year. If I didn't buy now, I really wouldn't be able to afford it. So I borrowed some money from a money shop—I'll be repaying them for a while." "Borrowed?" Song Shulan sized him up, not truly believing it. "Your sister said you've kept all your earnings from the past few years for yourself. Where did you spend it all, boy?" Cui Zeyu poured himself a cup of wine, thinking to himself that Song Shulan was truly despicable, even scheming over his money. "Has the Marquis forgotten? Buying the cloth shop's storefront alone cost me several years of savings. Doing business also requires entertaining clients, and not every year is profitable. How could I possibly have that much spare cash on hand?" "That's true—entertaining and gift-giving all cost money." Song Shulan raised his cup and drained it in one go. After finishing his meal, he went to the Wutong Courtyard. Recently, the Commandery Princess had been suffering from constant morning sickness, so he would go keep her company whenever he had time. Once Song Shulan had left, Cui Zeyu said to his sister, "Is the marquis household really that short on money?" Cui Lingrong said it was slightly better than when she had first married in. "But without my subsidies, and with the addition of the spendthrift Commandery Princess, things are indeed a bit tight. Still, it's manageable—the servants can get enough wages, and the household remains stable. If there's any resentment, it comes from some of the masters complaining, but if they have the ability, they can spend their own money." "Sister has changed a great deal. Before, you would have thought that everyone living well was what truly mattered." Cui Zeyu deliberately brought it up. Song Yu nodded in agreement. "Mother really has changed for the better in this regard. The third branch is fine—Third Uncle and Third Aunt don't cause trouble. But Second Aunt-in-law has ambitions higher than her station and loves to provoke Mother from time to time. She deserves to suffer a bit." With her mother's subsidies, Song Yu's life remained the same as before, unchanged. In the courtyard, Xuan-ge and his brother were playing cuju. On this rare day of rest, they called out for their sister and uncle to join them. Song Yu was in a playful mood and went to the courtyard to play with her younger brothers. "If you lose later, no crying." Cui Zeyu, on the other hand, remained seated without moving. Seeing that his elder sister's teacup was empty, he attentively refilled it. The gift he gave his sister was the newest gemstone jewelry—others could be shabby and frugal, but not his sister. He wanted to give his sister the best and most expensive of everything. When Madam Li came over to deliver her embroidery, she first saw Yu-jie and her brothers playing in the courtyard, then entered the room to see the eldest sister-in-law and Cui Zeyu sitting and chatting together. For a brief moment, she felt a sense of daze—this felt like what a truly happy family should be. "This is a peony I embroidered myself. I hope the eldest sister-in-law won't think it's too humble." Madam Li knew that Lady Yuan and the others would send more expensive gifts, and she would be too embarrassed to bring hers out tomorrow, so she had come early to deliver it. "How could I ever think that? Your needlework is so fine. I was actually thinking of having Yu-jie learn from you. She's too restless to sit still—I'm too embarrassed to show her needlework to anyone." Cui Lingrong genuinely meant this. Madam Li's needlework was excellent, and she was a gentle person. She felt at ease having her daughter learn needlework from Madam Li. Madam Li modestly replied, "My needlework is only average. As long as the eldest sister-in-law doesn't mind, Yu-jie is welcome to come find me anytime." Cui Lingrong called her daughter in. "Your third aunt said she's willing to teach you needlework. Go over tomorrow, and study for one hour each day." Song Yu disliked needlework, but since her mother had spoken, she had no choice but to nod in agreement. Thinking that her third aunt was lenient, she could slack off a bit and her third aunt wouldn't scold her, so she relaxed again. Madam Li stayed at Qiushuang Zhai for half an hour. After she left, it was time for Cui Zeyu to return as well. Song Yu and her brothers returned to their respective courtyards only after dinner. On the way, they ran into Wang Shanxi's Wife. Song Yu didn't want to bother with anyone from Wutong Courtyard, but Wang Shanxi's Wife blocked their path. "The Commandery Princess heard the Marquis mention Xuan-ge and his brothers. She'd like to invite them over for a visit. Yu-jie, why don't you come along too?" Wang Shanxi's Wife made a gesture of invitation. "It's getting late. We're not going." Song Yu refused outright. "It's not dark yet. The Commandery Princess is also your legal mother. By all rights, since Xuan-ge and his brothers have returned home, they should go pay their respects. Yu-jie should do the same—that's how you earn a reputation for filial piety, isn't it?" Wang Shanxi's Wife insisted on having them come. Song Mingjin whispered, "It wouldn't hurt to just go sit for a bit, right?" Song Yu shot him a glare. "Are you the Commandery Princess's child? The Commandery Princess will have her own children. Who are you trying to impress by rushing over there?" Others said Jin-ge was still young and didn't understand things, but Song Yu had to be even more vigilant against Wutong Courtyard, lest her brother be coaxed away by their sweet words. "Yu-jie's words are wrong. The Commandery Princess is your legal mother, so you are her children. It is the most basic etiquette for children to pay respects to their legal mother. Surely the eldest young mistress didn't teach Yu-jie to be disrespectful to her elders?" Song Yu was angered by this, but remembering her mother's instructions, she held back and said, "Don't try to provoke me with your words. If we're talking about respect for elders, the Commandery Princess married in later—why haven't I seen her come to Qiushuang Zhai to pay her respects to my mother? I'm a junior, so I naturally follow the example of my elders. Mama Wang is so eloquent—she can turn white into black. I admire that greatly." She didn't want to get tangled up with Wang Shanxi's Wife any further. She turned and signaled to her brothers, then led them back. Wang Shanxi's Wife's face turned ashen. She thought to herself, no wonder—she's truly the daughter of that one at Qiushuang Zhai. Sharp-tongued indeed.