Chapter 363

Chapter 363: Vomiting Blood The river was not deep, but Song Shulan's head had struck a rock. When he was pulled from the water, his face was deathly pale, and he had already lost consciousness. By the time he was brought back to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, he had begun to drift in and out of awareness. Concubine Zhang, seeing the Marquis in such a state, lost all composure and had no idea what to do. Watching as someone was sent to fetch a physician, in her panic, the only thought that came to her was to send for the Eldest Young Madam to come and take charge. When Cui Lingrong heard that Song Shulan had met with an accident, she initially did not want to go. But when she learned that Concubine Zhang had sent someone to summon her, she hesitated for a moment before ultimately bringing along the two guards Xie Yunting had given her. "Er Shun, take some men and go to the Second and Third branches of the Song family," Cui Lingrong said, thinking that if anything happened, it would be best to have Xuan-ge present. She also sent someone to fetch Xuan-ge. As for Jin-ge, she decided against it—they still did not know Song Shulan's condition. When Cui Lingrong arrived at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, Song Shulan had still not woken up. The moment she entered the courtyard, Concubine Zhang rushed over like a drowning woman grasping at a lifeline, seizing her tightly. "Eldest Young Madam, you've finally come. The physician said the Marquis's wound is deep, and he's started running a fever. If the fever doesn't break, he... he won't make it." Concubine Zhang's mind was in a whirl, and she had no idea what to do. With Madam Zhao gone and Old Madame having passed away, Concubine Zhang's life had become somewhat easier. Now, if something happened to Song Shulan, Concubine Zhang was too flustered to tell whether it would be a good thing or a bad thing. "That serious?" Cui Lingrong had just asked when Madame Jiang arrived first. She lived nearby, so she had come more quickly than the Third Branch. "Sister-in-law... Sister Cui, how is the Marquis?" Madame Jiang was not particularly concerned about whether Song Shulan lived or died, but since she was still part of the Song family, she had to come and put in an appearance. Cui Lingrong said she had not yet gone in to see him. "Go in and take a look yourself. If Concubine Zhang hadn't said she had no other recourse, I wouldn't have come either." Madame Jiang hesitated for a moment. "I'll wait until the people from the Third Branch arrive, then we'll go in together." As a woman, it would be inconvenient to go in alone. Noticing that Cui Lingrong looked well, Madame Jiang thought to herself that Cui Lingrong must be living a good life. Her eyes darted around, and Madame Jiang decided to curry favor. She had someone prepare tea. "The physician will need some time to tend to the wound. We haven't seen each other in a long while—when Yu-jie got married, I saw how busy you were and never found the chance to have a proper chat with you." Cui Lingrong smiled. "Are Fifth Ger and Sixth Ger doing well?" At the mention of her two children, a flicker of complexity passed through Madame Jiang's eyes. She had thought that sickly child wouldn't live long, yet he had remained healthy all this time. She could not bring herself to be so vicious as to secretly harm the child's life, so she simply chose to ignore his existence. "They're both doing very well. They can talk and walk now, and Sixth Ger even asks about you from time to time," Madame Jiang said. "Some other day when you have time, bring him over to play. I'm quite free these days, and with Yu-jie married off, I have even less to do." Cui Lingrong could see what Madame Jiang was getting at. Although she had mutually divorced Song Shulan, if something truly happened to him, she would still have to expend considerable effort on Xuan-ge and his brother's affairs. As for the people of the Second and Third Branches, they might not seem to have much ability now, but no one could say what the future held. As long as Madame Jiang was not being a nuisance, Cui Lingrong was willing to entertain her. "That sounds wonderful. I don't usually stir up trouble, so I'll bring Sixth Ger over to play another day." Madame Jiang was pleased. The Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion might be declining now, but Cui Zeyu and his people were rising like the sun at noon. She knew she could never be truly close to Cui Lingrong, but maintaining a casual acquaintance meant that if anything ever happened to Sixth Ger in the future, she could ask Cui Lingrong for help. Madame Jiang had more to say, but Li and her husband had arrived, so she had to swallow her words for now. It had been a while since they last met, and Li looked very well. After the family division, although she had to worry about daily expenses herself and her finances were not as comfortable, being able to manage her own household and have everything under control meant Li slept much more soundly at night. As soon as the couple entered, they also greeted Cui Lingrong first, and then Song Shuhe asked, "How is Eldest Brother now?" Cui Lingrong said she did not know. "Third Master, go in and take a look. It's not very convenient for us." She had already mutually divorced Song Shulan, so there was no reason for her to go in and attend to him. Song Shuhe nodded and entered the room. Seeing the large red welt on his eldest brother's forehead, he frowned. "Physician, how is my eldest brother?" The physician let out a sigh. "Marquis Song's condition is critical—his life hangs by a thread." For a physician to speak such words, it most likely meant there was little hope. Song Shuhe was not particularly close to his eldest brother, but Xuan-ge had not yet grown up, and the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion still needed someone to hold it together. All of them, as collateral branches, depended on the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion for their livelihood. If his eldest brother passed away, would the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion not wither even further? "Please, physician, do your utmost. You must save my eldest brother." Song Shuhe had someone prepare silver. "Rest assured, I will do my best. But Marquis Song's fever persists. If it continues like this, even if he survives, he will be a simpleton for the rest of his life." The physician said he would go write a prescription. Song Shuhe was stunned speechless. He went to the outer room and relayed the physician's words. After taking in the situation, Cui Lingrong did not leave immediately, because Xuan-ge had not yet returned. If Song Shulan truly died, Xuan-ge would inherit the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. But Xuan-ge was still young and couldn't consider many things, so Cui Lingrong needed to remind her son. Now Cui Lingrong was also a guest. She waited in the side room for Xuan-ge and sent someone to find Jin-ge. Just then, Madame Jiang came looking for her again, without even a single maidservant by her side. "Please, sister, help me." Madame Jiang knelt down. Cui Lingrong was startled. Nanny Qiu went over to help her up. "Second Mistress Song, if you have something to say, just say it directly. If my mistress can help, she will. There's no need for such a grand gesture." "I... I truly have no other way." After sitting down, Madame Jiang dabbed the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief. "The Emperor has granted a general amnesty. Second Master and that slut He Pingping are coming back. If it were just Second Master alone, that would be a good thing, but there's also He Pingping. If they come back together, how am I supposed to live my days after that?" In her heart, Madame Jiang didn't even want to see Song Shucheng, let alone have both of them return together. She and Song Shucheng had fallen out so badly, and for the past two years, it had been He Pingping watching over Song Shucheng. She didn't need to think to know their feelings for each other had grown stronger. Now the two of them were coming back together, and Fifth Boy was born to He Pingping. What standing could she possibly have? With Song Shucheng away, Madame Jiang had been guarding the second branch, living a carefree and comfortable life. She didn't have to pay morning respects to her mother-in-law—she was the highest authority herself. "This is indeed a difficult matter." Cui Lingrong had already forgotten about those two, Song Shucheng and He Pingping. "Exactly. They suffered together, so their bond must be even stronger. I'm the one who seems like an outsider instead." Madame Jiang sighed as she spoke. Cui Lingrong genuinely disliked Song Shucheng and He Pingping from the bottom of her heart—neither of them was a good person—so she thought it over for Madame Jiang's sake. "Setting aside what they've become now, one thing is certain: after suffering so much in exile, He Pingping must have become much uglier. It depends on what you want. If you want Song Shucheng to live with you in mutual respect, then you should pick a young beauty and be considerate toward Song Shucheng. Given his lecherous nature, the two of them will surely drift apart." "Then... what if I don't want to live in mutual respect with Second Master?" Madame Jiang said euphemistically. But Cui Lingrong understood what Madame Jiang meant. "Then do you have the means and the ruthlessness to kill someone?" Madame Jiang shook her head. If she did, why would she have come to find Cui Lingrong? "If you don't, and you can't get a mutual divorce, then you'll just have to wear it out." Cui Lingrong paused. "But how you wear it out makes a difference. After suffering so long, what does Song Shucheng most want to do when he returns to Bianjing?" "Eat, drink, and have fun?" Madame Jiang knew Song Shucheng well. "Yes. When the time comes, just let him do as he pleases and let him drain his own body. If he chooses to wallow in self-destruction, then it's not you murdering anyone." Just as Cui Lingrong finished speaking, someone came knocking outside, saying Song Shulan had vomited blood. Cui Lingrong's brows knitted tightly. "Has Jin-ge arrived yet?"