Chapter 49

Chapter 49: The Imperial Physician Just then, a maidservant came in to announce that Princess Consort Rong had arrived with the Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong. At these words, Song Shulan and Old Madame Song braced themselves as if facing a formidable enemy. Cui Lingrong frowned. Why had they come so quickly? "Quickly, invite them in," Song Shulan had just said when Old Madame Song shook her head at him. Princess Rongjia was in such a state—if Princess Consort Rong were to see her like this, there would be no end to the trouble. Old Madame Song went out to greet them, intending to block them outside, but Princess Consort Rong swept furiously into Wutong Court. Catching sight of her, the princess showed no kindness. "Su-shi, I married my daughter into your family, and this is how you treat her?" Princess Consort Rong was somewhat older than Old Madame Song, and the bearing of a princess cultivated over many years, the overwhelming pressure that came off her, made Old Madame Song's heart tremble. "In answer to Your Highness, this was truly an accident. If you would only—" "Whether it was an accident is not for you to say. I have heard all about it—your granddaughter has quite the nerve, daring to harm my daughter!" Princess Consort Rong shot Old Madame Song a vicious glare. At a time like this, she could hardly be expected to keep her composure. Old Madame Song could only endure the scolding, not daring to say another word. Song Shulan came out a step behind, and Princess Consort Rong showed him no mercy either. "I gave you my daughter in good faith. When you married her, you promised to treat her with every kindness. Now, not even half a year has passed—how have you treated her? If you don't cherish her, I don't mind taking her back home and providing for her for the rest of her life!" After berating Song Shulan, Princess Consort Rong stormed into the room. The first thing she saw was her daughter lying pale-faced on the bed, and her heart ached so much that tears fell. "My precious child, how did you come to this?" "Mother, I..." Princess Rongjia embraced her mother, sobbing quietly. "My child is gone." Princess Consort Rong paused. Only then did she notice Cui Lingrong in the room. She drew a deep breath, her gaze turning sharp, filled with murderous intent. "Cui-shi, you have a cruel heart. Was this your daughter's doing, or is it that you cannot tolerate my daughter?" "I have no intention of harming anyone, and Yu-jie absolutely has no such thoughts either." The situation was growing thorny. Cui Lingrong glanced toward Song Shulan, hoping he would bring up the matter of the physician. But at this moment, Song Shulan was focused solely on how to quell Princess Consort Rong's fury and did not notice Cui Lingrong's look at all. The Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong, Lady Wu, walked to the edge of the bed and glanced at Princess Rongjia lying there. As she withdrew her gaze, she noticed a physician standing beside Cui Lingrong and asked, "And who is this?" Wang Shanxi's Wife cut in, "The Eldest Young Madam did not trust the physicians of the Rong Prince Mansion, so she specially invited this doctor to take the princess's pulse. Your Highness, Consort of the Heir—this Doctor Xu is the one who has long taken the pulse for the mansion's peace and health. Tell me, how could he possibly harm the princess?" Hearing this, Princess Consort Rong flew into a rage. "Cui-shi, you have quite the audacity—you dare to suspect even the people of the Rong Prince Mansion?" "I would not dare." Cui Lingrong's brows were tightly knit. At this point, she had no choice but to meet Princess Consort Rong head-on; otherwise, Yu-jie would only have the accusation confirmed against her. "I merely find it strange. The princess has always been in good health, and after conceiving, she never showed any discomfort. Yet this time, she miscarried so easily. Is it that her attendants were negligent, or that someone harbored ill intentions? I am also acting for the good of the Rong Prince Mansion—I would not want the mansion to be harmed by treacherous people." Princess Consort Rong sneered. "So I should be thanking you, then?" Cui Lingrong said that was not her meaning. "Moreover, this matter concerns my daughter's innocence. We are both mothers—put yourself in my place. If we get to the bottom of this, we can each give a proper account to the other. Would you not agree?" "Don't give me that. Don't think I don't understand your game." Princess Consort Rong walked toward Cui Lingrong. She had heard of Cui-shi before—a woman of dignified beauty, thorough in her conduct, and in her youth renowned throughout Bianjing for her skill in the art of tea. After marrying, she rarely came out into society, but no one had ever spoken ill of her. A woman of such refined and subtle mind—it was a pity her daughter had been so careless. Princess Consort Rong stopped before Cui Lingrong, attempting to pressure her with her status. "The daughters of my Rong Prince Mansion cannot bear the slightest grievance. And how dare anyone question my people?" She emphasized each word. "Cui-shi, if you are tired of living, just say so plainly!" When Princess Consort Rong had approached, Cui Lingrong had lowered her head. But upon hearing the princess's words, she no longer cowered. She looked straight at Princess Consort Rong. "Though I come from a modest background, I am still the daughter of an official family. If Your Highness wishes me dead, on what charge? Merely because I wished to have someone take Princess Rongjia's pulse? Your Highness is being far too overbearing!" When she finished speaking, everyone in the room held their breath. Princess Consort Rong was a person of the utmost honor—and Cui Lingrong actually dared to talk back to her! Even Princess Consort Rong was stunned for a moment, then she ground her teeth. "For your failure to teach your daughter properly, for indulging her in plotting against her lawful mother—on that charge alone, I can have the Emperor issue an edict and have Song Shulan divorce you, you poisonous woman!" "Your Highness, why do you also insist on preventing the pulse from being taken? Is there something about yourself, or about the princess, that you do not wish us to know?" With no way back, Cui Lingrong could only steel herself and press forward. Old Madame Song felt her head would soon detach from her neck. She strode over and pulled Cui Lingrong aside. "Lady Cui, this is Princess Consort Rong! How dare you speak like that?" "Even a princess consort must abide by reason, must she not?" Cui Lingrong turned her gaze back to Princess Consort Rong. "If you refuse to let a physician take the Commandery Princess's pulse today, then I have every reason to suspect that the Commandery Princess was never pregnant at all—that she deliberately framed Yu-jie. If Your Highness has a clear conscience, then petition the Emperor for a decree. Even if the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion casts me out, I will still beat the drum of justice and file a petition to the Emperor, and we shall see on whose side justice lies!" Princess Consort Rong's brows twitched violently. At this moment, she could be certain—Cui Lingrong knew something. Otherwise, Cui Lingrong would not speak with such conviction! As for the false pregnancy, Princess Consort Rong had only just learned of it herself. Qingxue and Wang Shanxi's Wife had been unable to contain the situation, and it was only on the road that Qingxue had revealed the daughter's scheme in full. Princess Consort Rong had listened with a fury burning inside her. Two tigers cannot share one mountain—when her daughter had married, she had told her plainly: when necessary, strike Cui Lingrong dead with a single blow. As for the matter of household authority, Princess Consort Rong had deemed it unimportant and had not intervened. But if she did not step in this time, her daughter would fall into the very pit she had dug for herself. Princess Consort Rong studied Cui Lingrong. She could be certain—Cui Lingrong had uncovered something. Old Madame Song and Song Shulan, meanwhile, believed Cui Lingrong was spouting nonsense. Old Madame Song shot her a glare. "Lady Cui, you cannot just say whatever comes to mind. The Commandery Princess is not that kind of person!" Song Shulan added, "The Commandery Princess drinks so much medicine every day to protect the pregnancy. Cui, your words go too far. How can you suspect the Commandery Princess of faking a pregnancy?" One after another, they all spoke in defense of Princess Rongjia. Cui Lingrong stood alone. She understood very well—this was a battle she absolutely could not lose. "True or false—let a physician take her pulse, and we will know," Cui Lingrong said. "Cui, can you please stop making a scene?" Song Shulan could sense Princess Consort Rong was about to lose her patience. "You were never this headstrong before. What has become of you?" Song Shulan still firmly believed Princess Rongjia had carried his child. These past days, Princess Rongjia had often shared her visions of their child with him. From her genuine anticipation, he could see that her feelings were real. As for Cui Lingrong, he simply thought she was a cornered dog desperately grasping at anything. If the physician diagnosed that Princess Rongjia had indeed been pregnant, how would he face the people of Rong Prince Mansion? Song Shulan walked to Cui Lingrong's side and said in a low, deliberate voice, word by word, "We have been married for over a decade. I believe you would never do anything to harm heaven and earth. But this matter is already settled. If you want to defend Yu-jie, there must be a limit. Apologize to the Princess Consort at once." He believed her? Cui Lingrong nearly laughed in spite of herself. If he truly believed her, how could he say the matter was already settled? He had already made his decision—he would use Yu-jie's entire life to appease the Rong Prince Mansion! Cui Lingrong looked at Song Shulan with stubborn resolve. "If the physician diagnoses that Princess Rongjia was indeed pregnant, then I, Cui Lingrong, will voluntarily leave this household. Will that suffice?" "Stop this nonsense!" Song Shulan had been married to Cui Lingrong for many years, and on the whole, he was quite satisfied with her. Except for matters in the bedchamber—Cui Lingrong was too reserved and could never fully satisfy him—but with her managing the household, the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion had indeed flourished. "I am not making a scene. I raised my daughter, and I believe in her. The Marquis may call me irrational, or call me unreasonable, but I demand a definitive answer." With that, Cui Lingrong turned to Princess Consort Rong. She knew the Princess Consort must understand Princess Rongjia's methods—otherwise she would not have tried to stop her. "As an Equal Wife, speaking frankly, it is not a pleasant feeling to have two mistresses of one household. Since I am voluntarily handing you a handle to use against me, should not Your Highness and the Commandery Princess seize the opportunity?" Princess Consort Rong finally understood why her daughter had lost. In a moment of such tension, Lady Cui could still calmly and logically maneuver to corner her. What remarkable skill. If she forcibly blocked this, and Lady Cui refused to yield, what would happen then? From the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion's perspective, they certainly would not sever ties with the Rong Prince Mansion—but Song Shulan's trust in her daughter would be diminished. Her daughter had already been married once; she could not divorce and remarry. Princess Consort Rong casually glanced at the physician Cui Lingrong had brought. He wore plain cloth garments—an ordinary man from the streets, without power or influence. "This is the physician you brought?" Princess Consort Rong's gaze settled on him. "Are you certain his medical skills are refined, and are you certain he has not been bribed by you?" Princess Consort Rong let out a cold laugh. "You there, physician—do you know who I am? And do you know whose pulse you are being asked to take?" The physician knew, of course. He had stood there this whole time and heard everything clearly. He now wished nothing more than to leave. Even if the Marquis Mansion's eldest daughter-in-law had treated him well, he had no desire to offend the Rong Prince Mansion. "Eldest Young Madam, I..." The physician looked over hesitantly. Cui Lingrong's heart tightened. She had overlooked one thing—the physician was an ordinary man, and the Rong Prince Mansion wielded a power that ordinary men dared not defy. Just then, Cui Zeyu's voice came from outside, "Ordinary physicians aren't very skilled. Why not let the imperial physician from the palace take a look at the Commandery Princess?" Accompanying him was an imperial physician dispatched from the palace. This was because when he had encountered Xie Yunting, Xie Yunting had voluntarily offered to help him find one.