Chapter 365

Chapter 365: Contentment Song Shulan was dead. He died on a night filled with resentment and helplessness. All his life, he had yearned to climb to the highest positions, willing to use anything as a bargaining chip for promotion. Yet he ended up dying when his reputation was at its worst and he held no official title. No one knew how much unwillingness he felt that night. Because no one heard it. With his death, the title of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion was lost. By Song Mingxuan's generation, the noble title could no longer be inherited. If they wished to be enfeoffed as marquises or appointed as prime ministers in the future, they would have to earn it themselves. On the seventh day after Song Shulan's death, Cui Lingrong unexpectedly dreamed of him. Blood still seeped from Song Shulan's eyes as he questioned Cui Lingrong about why she had cuckolded him. "Song Shulan, you were useless in life, and you're still pathetic in death," Cui Lingrong said. "If you have any ability, then come take revenge on me. Drag me down to hell?" "Cui Lingrong, even now, how can you show not a trace of remorse? Do you have any idea how much I'm suffering? I wish both you and Xie Yunting would die!" "What a pity. We're not going to die. For a long time to come, we'll still be deeply in love." Cui Lingrong grew irritated just looking at Song Shulan. "As for you, you're nothing but trouble even in death. A person like you deserves to have your soul scattered to the winds, never to be reborn for all eternity!" "Cui Lingrong, I hate you! I curse you—" Cui Lingrong didn't hear the rest. She suddenly woke up. The person beside her pulled her a little closer, and she turned over to face Xie Yunting, nuzzling into his embrace before she felt at ease. After Song Shulan's death, Cui Lingrong's days became much more peaceful. No one came to cause trouble, and no one dared to make her unhappy. Not long after, Song Shucheng returned, but that had little to do with Cui Lingrong. She and Madame Jiang were never that close. In the blink of an eye, four years passed. Cui Lingrong hadn't changed much, but not long after Song Shulan's death, she had moved to the house next to the Song residence, opening a door in the shared wall so she could conveniently manage her sons' affairs. Xuan-ge had suggested she simply move back into the Song residence. But Cui Lingrong refused. If she moved back into the Song house, certain members of the Song family would have things to say. Now she lived next door in a residence she had purchased herself. When she was happy, she opened the door. When she wasn't, she closed it, and they were two separate courtyards again. This way, she could see her sons every day while still having a life of her own. For her, it was the best of both worlds. Today was the day Song Mingxuan took the palace examination. Cui Lingrong waited at home, nervous. Song Yu had also returned. "Why is there still no news?" Her husband Luo Feng had also passed the Jinshi examination. "Don't rush. Once the results are out, someone will naturally come to announce the good news. Sit down and have some tea, calmly." Cui Lingrong urged Yu-jie to sit and drink. "How can I sit still? Only you can be so composed." Song Yu craned her neck to look outside. She had given birth to a daughter last year and had matured considerably, but at times like this, she still couldn't stay calm. "Why hasn't Uncle sent word either?" "Your uncle is also in the great hall. How could he send word?" Cui Lingrong stopped talking and let Yu-jie keep watching. But speaking of her younger brother, Cui Lingrong couldn't help but sigh. The year before last, Wu Hui had supposedly died of illness. Outsiders believed that was what happened, but in reality, her brother had arranged for Wu Hui and Dai Xin to leave for a distant place. After that, her brother refused to remarry and instead personally raised Lu Weijie. The Duke of Dingguo had scolded him countless times over this, even asking Cui Lingrong to intervene, but to no avail. Cui Lingrong had tried to persuade him twice, but her brother said, "Sister, I'm very satisfied with my life as it is. Please don't force me to do things I don't want to do, alright?" Hearing those words, Cui Lingrong was left speechless. From then on, Cui Lingrong never again brought up the matter of her brother remarrying. Another half hour passed, and the sound of gongs came from outside. Er Shun came running at full speed to deliver the good news. "He passed! He passed! Master, Yu-jie, Xuan-ge is the Tanhua Lang—third place in the palace examination!" "Heavens! My brother is a Tanhua!" Song Yu's joy was overflowing as she turned to grab her mother. "Mother, did you hear that? Xuan-ge placed third in the palace examination!" "I heard." Cui Lingrong instructed Nanny Qiu to reward the servants and had people set off firecrackers. Xuan-ge achieving the Tanhua rank meant the Song family had hope for the future—and it was also a source of confidence for Cui Lingrong. The Song family hadn't held a banquet in a long time. Cui Lingrong took this opportunity to host three days of feasting—it was livelier than words could describe. With his official rank secured, Song Mingxuan asked his mother to propose a marriage on his behalf. He was a fellow student of the second legitimate son of the Lan family. The Lan family was a prestigious scholarly household with a hundred years of history, strict family rules, and many members serving as officials at court. Their family standing was far higher than the Song family's. Therefore, when Cui Lingrong went to propose the match, she deliberately brought her younger brother Cui Zeyu along. With Cui Zeyu's involvement, the Lan family elders readily agreed to the marriage. With Xuan-ge's marriage settled, it was Jin-ge's turn. Over the past few years, Song Mingjin had followed Xie Yunting onto the battlefield and had already earned merit. The first time he went to the battlefield, he had secretly followed Xie Yunting. By the time Xie Yunting discovered him, they were already halfway there. Song Mingjin even threatened, "If you don't let me come with you, then next time you go to see my mother, I'll refuse to leave and see how you manage to spend time with her!" Xie Yunting was both exasperated and amused, and could only bring Song Mingjin along. Now Song Mingjin, relying on his own efforts, had become a chiliarch, spending his days practicing martial arts with his brothers in the army, determined to retake more cities than Xie Yunting had. However, Song Mingjin was still young, and Cui Lingrong thought it best to wait and see, without rushing things. This waiting continued until Song Mingjin reached his coming-of-age ceremony at twenty, when Zhuang Huaiming came to propose a marriage match for his youngest daughter, Zhuang Lu. Cui Lingrong was naturally willing. Over the years, her cousin had still not remarried after his wife's death. Although Lu was concubine-born, Concubine Lu was a good person, and Lu had been raised by her to be gentle as water. After asking Jin-ge and hearing that he agreed, Cui Lingrong began to prepare for the wedding. With her children all having secured their futures, Cui Lingrong no longer worried about matters concerning the grandchildren. The Song family no longer required her to manage affairs. Every day, she either drank and went on outings with You Shuyi and the others, or spent time with Xie Yunting. Her days were carefree and content. It was a comfort she had never known in the first half of her life. (The End)