Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Making a Move Voluntarily leaving her husband's household? Song Shulan was stunned. He had never seen Cui Lingrong this angry before. In the past, Cui Lingrong was like a lump of dough—even if you wanted to argue with her, a fight could never get started. But now Cui Lingrong was like a snarling beast, as if she wanted to lunge at him and tear off a piece of his flesh. At that moment, Wang Shanxi's Wife and He Qingxue both came out and knelt down. "My Lord Marquis, please see clearly! If this old servant is lying, may heaven strike me down with lightning!" Wang Shanxi's Wife kowtowed forcefully until the skin on her forehead broke and beads of blood trickled down. "Why would the Commandery Princess use her own child to frame Yu-jie?" Cui Lingrong looked over. "I'd like to ask the same thing—what exactly does the Commandery Princess mean by this?" "First Young Madam, ever since the Commandery Princess married into the Marquis's household, she has always respected you. When you asked her to call you 'elder sister,' she changed her address accordingly. Later, when you wanted control of the household, the Commandery Princess didn't compete with you for it. This old servant would like to know—is the Commandery Princess's child blocking Yu-jie's path, or yours?" Wang Shanxi's Wife steered the conversation toward Cui Lingrong. Yu-jie was, after all, a child of the Marquis's household. No matter what mistake she had committed, she bore the surname Song. If this matter were handled by Cui Lingrong, then Song Shulan would surely divorce her. Cui Lingrong couldn't help but snort at this. "Wang Shanxi's Wife, are you saying that I instructed Yu-jie to harm the Commandery Princess's child? Then you truly underestimate me. If I were the one making a move, how could I possibly let you catch hold of any evidence?" She rose and walked over. Never before had she been this angry. Cui Lingrong understood now—the Commandery Princess's schemes were still aimed at her. An Equal Wife? Cui Lingrong turned to look at Song Shulan. For the first time, her heart burned with a resentment that could not be extinguished. Even the moment she learned Song Shulan was taking an Equal Wife hadn't made her this angry. She stopped in front of Wang Shanxi's Wife. "Let me ask you—at that time, besides the people from Wutong Court, who else was present?" Wang Shanxi's Wife said she didn't know, but just as she finished speaking, Concubine Zhao arrived. Concubine Zhao knelt before Song Shulan and cast a timid glance in Cui Lingrong's direction. "First Young Madam, this concubine has thought it over again and again, but I cannot go against my conscience and shield Yu-jie." "What do you have to say?" Cui Lingrong turned to look at her. "The Commandery Princess is a kind-hearted person. She often tells us how much she loves children—especially Yu-jie and her younger brother, who are so handsome. She very much wanted to grow close to them, but unfortunately Yu-jie harbors a natural hostility toward the Commandery Princess." Concubine Zhao spoke while using her peripheral vision to survey those present. "Today, this concubine happened to be passing by nearby and witnessed Yu-jie colliding with the Commandery Princess. This is absolutely true. If this concubine has uttered a single lie, may I die a miserable death!" She said she had struggled with herself for a long time indoors, and added that the Commandery Princess loved children dearly—since she had seen what happened, she had to come forward and speak the truth. "Concubine Zhao, you must be responsible for what you say!" Cui Lingrong fixed her gaze on her. Fine, layer upon layer of schemes. The Commandery Princess truly was a master of calculation. At this point, Wang Shanxi's Wife spoke again. "First Young Madam has heard it now, hasn't she? This is no longer just the one-sided account of Wutong Court's people. Isn't Concubine Zhao's testimony enough to serve as proof?" After a pause, Wang Shanxi's Wife added, "Or does First Young Madam intend to use Concubine Zhao's indenture to threaten her?" When Cui Lingrong had married into the household, Old Madame Song had given Concubine Zhang's indenture into Cui Lingrong's hands. As for Concubine Zhao, she had been a gift from one of Song Shulan's colleagues. At that time, Song Shulan and Cui Lingrong had treated each other with mutual respect, so naturally Song Shulan had given Concubine Zhao's indenture to Cui Lingrong as well. Concubine Zhao spoke again. "My Lord Marquis, this concubine knows full well that First Young Madam holds my indenture and can dispose of my life or death at will. But I cannot stand by and watch a good person be harmed. Even if First Young Madam sells me away, I must still bear witness for the Commandery Princess!" Hearing Concubine Zhao say so much, Song Shulan's heart shifted once more. From within the room came the Commandery Princess's intermittent sobbing. Song Shulan's heart tightened at the sound—he hated these inner-courtyard squabbles more than anything. "Lady Cui, do you have anything else to say?" "Concubine Zhao comes to Wutong Court every few days. Does the Marquis not know that Concubine Zhao and the Commandery Princess are in league with each other?" Cui Lingrong kept forcing herself to stay calm. The more critical the moment, the less she could afford to act on impulse. Since this was the Commandery Princess's scheme, there had to be a flaw in it. She swept her gaze over the people in the courtyard and saw her daughter still sitting on the ground. "Nanny Qiu, take Yu-jie back first and find a physician to examine her." Wang Shanxi's Wife abruptly raised her head and called out, "My Lord Marquis!"—signaling that the Marquis should keep Yu-jie there, as the First Young Madam was clearly trying to take the child away. But before Song Shulan could speak, Cui Lingrong had already delivered a resounding slap across Wang Shanxi's Wife's face. "No matter what Yu-jie has done, she is still a master of the Marquis's household. If she is to be beaten or punished, the charges must first be established. What—are you, a mere servant, going to stop a master from seeing a physician?" Wang Shanxi's Wife was stunned by the slap. She was the Commandery Princess's person, and the Commandery Princess was still lying in the room—how dare Cui Lingrong strike her? As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, one must consider its master. Wang Shanxi's Wife immediately kowtowed and wailed, "First Young Madam, please calm your anger! This old servant wouldn't dare. It's just that the matter has not yet been fully investigated, yet you are letting Yu-jie leave. What your intentions might be, this old servant cannot presume to know." Song Shulan was equally stunned. In his memory, Cui Lingrong had always been easygoing and never lost her temper. Today was an eye-opener for him. Still, in his heart, he believed Cui Lingrong. Since Concubine Zhao had given testimony, it seemed this was just Yu-jie's own little tantrum. Song Shulan spoke up, "Cui-shi, this is still Wutong Courtyard. Even if you're going to strike someone, you need to mind where you are. Don't lose your sense of propriety." Old Madame Song was also helped out, supported by others. "Yes, Cui-shi, do you still have any regard for me, your mother-in-law, and the Marquis? Yu-jie has committed an unfilial act, and instead of persuading her to repent, you're here throwing your weight around. You really are something!" Old Madame Song ordered Cui Lingrong to kneel. But Cui Lingrong stood her ground. Her daughter was not at fault, and she would not kneel for this. "Old Madame, Yu-jie says she's innocent, and I believe her." "Cui Lingrong, I can understand your desire to shield your daughter, but can you not see the bigger picture? You are not only Yu-jie's mother—you are also the head matriarch of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Do you want to see this household plunged into irredeemable ruin?" Old Madame Song only wanted to settle the matter quickly. As for Yu-jie, no matter the truth of it, she would have to be sent away. She did feel for Yu-jie, but things had come to this, and she could not help her. Who told Yu-jie to be so foolish? "Old Madame, I've said the matter is not yet concluded. No one is going to stop my daughter from seeing a physician." Cui Lingrong's stance was resolute. "Cui Lingrong!" Old Madame Song was furious. "Are you trying to anger me to death?" Cui Lingrong said she would not dare, then gave Nanny Qiu a look. Nanny Qiu and the others shielded Yu-jie as they moved toward the exit. When someone stepped forward to block their way, Cui Lingrong personally went over and delivered another slap. She had managed household affairs for years, and the matrons in the mansion all held her in awe. In the end, Nanny Qiu and the others made it to the door. Cui Lingrong walked over to her daughter and wiped away her tears. "Don't cry. Your mother believes you. As for everyone else, they don't matter. You must stay calm and learn to be steady. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you." "Mother, I..." "Enough. Let the physician examine you first, so nothing is left to chance. Yu-jie, remember today's lesson. Take it as a lesson life has taught you, so you may rise from the ashes like a phoenix." Cui Lingrong then turned to Nanny Qiu. "After the physician has seen Yu-jie, trouble him to make one more trip and take Princess Rongjia's pulse as well." Hearing this, Song Shulan and Old Madame Song looked puzzled, but Wang Shanxi's Wife suddenly raised her head. Could it be that the Eldest Young Madam knows something? Meanwhile, in the Third Branch's quarters, a maidservant returned to report to Madam Li. "Wutong Courtyard is sealed up tight as a barrel. This servant only heard the Marquis scolding Yu-jie. The Eldest Young Madam has just gone in—this servant doesn't know the situation now." Song Shuhe dismissed the maidservant, then looked at Madam Li. "Sit down. Even if you go to testify for Yu-jie, what good would it do?" "But I saw with my own eyes that Princess Rongjia deliberately provoked Yu-jie, and it was someone from Wutong Courtyard who bumped into Yu-jie. It's obvious Princess Rongjia set Yu-jie up. You want me to stand by and do nothing? How can I watch Yu-jie suffer such injustice?" Madam Li's palms were nearly torn by her nails as she remained torn over what to do. Elder Sister-in-Law had been so good to her. If anything happened to Yu-jie because of this, she would be haunted by guilt for the rest of her life. "But if you go to Wutong Courtyard, it'll be one word against another. Do you think Eldest Brother will believe you, or Princess Rongjia?" Song Shuhe didn't want to get involved in these matters. "Even if Eldest Brother believes you, do you think he would divorce Princess Rongjia?" He wouldn't. They both knew that Eldest Brother still wanted to use the Rong Prince Mansion to advance his career. If he divorced Princess Rongjia, it would be the same as opposing the Rong Prince Mansion. Song Shuhe continued, "Shu'er, I know you have a kind heart. But if you go and accuse Princess Rongjia, our Third Branch will thoroughly offend her and the Rong Prince Mansion. I have no ability—how could I protect you and the children?" Madam Li knew this too. Once she set foot in Wutong Courtyard, she would be locked in confrontation with Princess Rongjia. But Yu-jie was such an innocent, lovely person. If the accusation were confirmed, the Marquis Mansion would certainly not keep her. "I don't understand. Princess Rongjia set such an elaborate trap—was it only to harm Yu-jie?" Madam Li frowned deeply. "Shouldn't the child in her belly be more important?" On this point, Song Shuhe also couldn't figure it out. Logically speaking, Princess Rongjia should have used this scheme against Elder Sister-in-Law instead.