Chapter 364

Chapter 364: Bearing a Grudge Cui Lingrong had just finished asking when Song Mingjin came running in, panting heavily. "Go and see your father. Your elder brother won't arrive that early. Whatever he says to you, just listen—don't argue with him." After Cui Lingrong finished her instructions, it wasn't until dusk that Er Shun brought Xuan-ge back. Only upon seeing Xuan-ge did Cui Lingrong finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Did you see your father?" Cui Lingrong asked. Song Mingxuan nodded. "I did. Father this time..." He pressed his lips together, unable to finish the rest. "It's up to his own fate now," Cui Lingrong said. "As his son, he hasn't wronged you in too many ways. At a time like this, you and Jin-ge should take turns attending to him. Don't give anyone cause to find fault." "I understand, Mother." "Also, even if your father doesn't pull through, it doesn't matter. You're young—settle down and study for a few years in peace, then sit for the Imperial Examination. Don't overthink things. The cart will find its way around the mountain when it gets there." Cui Lingrong gave a few more instructions before returning to the Cui residence. She had just stepped inside when she saw Xie Yunting lying on the couch, fast asleep. "Since you came, why didn't you sleep in the bed?" Cui Lingrong sat down to drink tea as Nanny Qiu went out to fetch hot water. "You told me—no washing up, no getting in your bed." Xie Yunting opened one eye first, then let out a yawn, saying lazily, "Sister's finally back. I thought you were going to stay at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion." The words were dripping with jealousy. Cui Lingrong glanced at Xie Yunting and patted his leg. "What, jealous?" "Just a little. What does Song Shulan's life or death have to do with you? Why did you stay so long?" Xie Yunting shuffled over and lay his head on Cui Lingrong's lap. "You have no idea how much I missed you." "I don't care about Song Shulan's life or death, but Xuan-ge is the one who will inherit the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Before he comes of age, I need to hold things together for him. The second and third branches of the Song family may be incompetent, but human hearts can be tempted—no one can guarantee they'll stay that way forever." Cui Lingrong explained. "The moment Xuan-ge arrived, I came back." She stroked Xie Yunting's cheek. "Song Shulan's prospects look grim this time. Honestly, I think it'd be better if he died." "Won't you feel sad?" Xie Yunting insisted on asking. Cui Lingrong stood up and pushed him away. "If I were going to feel sad, would you still be here cuddling with me? Xie Yunting, you really are petty." "That's right, I'm very petty—I just want Sister to dote on me alone." Xie Yunting followed her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Dear Sister, don't be angry. It's just that I care about you too much. Why don't you punish me? I'll lie down and let you do whatever you want. Even if you hit me or bite me, I won't make a sound." Cui Lingrong had long grown accustomed to Xie Yunting's shamelessness. "Get out of here. Who wants to hit you?" The two of them talked as they drifted toward the bed. On the other side, Song Shulan drifted in and out of consciousness. By the time he regained some awareness, it was already two days later. Opening his eyes to see Xuan-ge dozing by the bedside, Song Shulan tried to speak but found his throat painfully sore. He could only reach out and touch Xuan-ge's arm. Song Mingxuan startled awake. "Father, you're awake! Let me pour you some warm water first." The commotion in the room drew Qingshan and the others inside, who then headed off to the kitchen. Only after drinking the water did Song Shulan find the strength to speak. "Xuan-ge, I... this body of mine... will it recover?" He didn't want to die. Seeing his son's silence, Song Shulan gripped the bedding tightly. "Go summon the imperial physicians from the palace! Even if we have to sell everything we own, we must... cough... we must cure me!" "Father, please don't get agitated. Several doctors have already come to see you. Drink your medicine first—you'll get better once you've taken it." Song Mingxuan had been on watch for two days, eating poorly and sleeping poorly, looking haggard. The medicine was bitter, but Song Shulan forced himself to finish it all, because he wanted to live. "Did your mother come to see me?" The thought of Cui Lingrong and Xie Yunting's affair sent rage surging through Song Shulan, and he began coughing again. Song Mingxuan frowned. "You and Mother have already gone through a Mutual Divorce—you're no longer family. Whether she comes or not is none of your concern. What matters most now is that you focus on recovering." "Yes... I must get better. I need to make that pair of adulterers pay!" Song Shulan suddenly grabbed Song Mingxuan's hand. "In the future, you must never trust your mother. She and Xie Yunting were involved long before. If it weren't for Xie Yunting, she never would have sought the Mutual Divorce and abandoned you and Jin-ge. Remember this—Cui is not your mother. She is our enemy!" "Xuan-ge... cough... answer... answer me!" Song Shulan had no strength left, yet he still clutched at Song Mingxuan's sleeve. "You are my son. One day you will inherit the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. You must stand on my side. Swear to me now—swear that you will never acknowledge Cui as your mother for the rest of your life." Looking at his ailing father on the sickbed, Song Mingxuan wanted to say something but swallowed the words back. Though Song Mingxuan was still young, after his father had married Madam Zhao, the affairs of the marquis mansion had grown complicated, and he had come to understand a great deal. Now, hearing his father demand such an oath, Song Mingxuan felt mostly helplessness. "Father, please rest well." At this moment, Song Mingxuan chose not to argue with his father—otherwise, word would spread that he'd angered his own father to death, and his chances in the Imperial Examination would be ruined forever. "Why aren't you answering me? Are you disobeying me?" Song Shulan struggled to sit up but lacked the strength, finally collapsing back down. "Xuan-ge, I am your father. You must think of me. I cannot die wearing a green hat—I would never rest in peace!" "But Father, do you truly believe Mother is that kind of person?" Song Mingxuan said, shaking his head. "No, you never understood Mother. From the moment you decided to marry Madam Zhao, you stopped knowing who she really was." Further words were useless. Song Mingxuan called for Qingshan and had him attend to his father. Song Shulan cursed in fury, "How could I not understand her? We were married for over a decade—who else knows her better than I do?" From the very beginning, he had known that Cui Lingrong also valued power and status. Why else would she travel all the way from far-off Suzhou to Bianjing to seek a match? Were there no suitable men in Suzhou? They were clearly the same kind of people—so why did everyone blame him instead of speaking ill of Cui Lingrong? Song Shulan could not swallow this grievance. Just thinking of Cui Lingrong committing adultery with Xie Yunting made him want to kill that pair of adulterers. "No, I cannot let them off so easily. Absolutely not!" He could not die so humiliatingly. Song Shulan kept his eyes wide open until the dead of night, when Qingshan came to check on him and noticed something was wrong. "Marquis?" Qingshan called out several times, but his master did not respond. "Marquis, please don't frighten me." Qingshan patted his master, only to find his arm stiff and cold. Goosebumps rose all over his body. "Someone come quickly! The Marquis seems to have stopped breathing!"