Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Discord On the day of the promotion banquet, Song Shulan lifted Princess Rongjia's house arrest. The moment Cui Lingrong's gaze met Princess Rongjia's, she looked away. She brought Yu-jie along and received the guests who came to offer congratulations. Seeing the Yuan sisters arrive together, Cui Lingrong hurried over to greet them. "I can finally get out now. I have something to ask you later—find me once you're done!" Yuan Mingzhu grabbed Cui Lingrong's hand, then looked at Song Yu. "Yu-jie, you've gotten so thin. Look, your chin is so pointy now. Just like your mother—you're going to grow into a great beauty." She pulled Yu-jie along to sit with her. Her elder sister was a daughter-in-law of the Duke of Dingguo's household, and many noble ladies came to chat with her. She was happy to introduce Yu-jie to others. As her daughter was led away by Yuan Mingzhu, Cui Lingrong didn't forget to tell Nanny Qiu, "Go check on the men's side. Don't let Jin-ge eat too much, or he'll choke and make a scene." Xuan-ge was steady and didn't need her worry, but Jin-ge was more childish. After Nanny Qiu left, Caixia moved closer to her mistress and said that Princess Consort Rong and her daughter-in-law had arrived. Meeting again, they were all adults who had weathered their share of years—no bristling hostility, no sneering sarcasm. Princess Consort Rong smiled amiably instead. "Congratulations, congratulations." "Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Your Highness. The Commandery Princess is inside speaking with people—this would be a good time for you to go in." Cui Lingrong pointed Princess Consort Rong in the right direction. Princess Consort Rong nodded. Lady Wu, however, paused before Cui Lingrong. "Marchioness Song, you have such magnanimity. I truly admire you." Cui Lingrong studied her carefully. At first listen, the words sounded like mockery, but on reflection, she felt Lady Wu was quite sincere. "You flatter me, Young Madam. I'm only an ordinary person," Cui Lingrong said. "You're too modest." Lady Wu stepped closer. "That day at Wutong Court, had it been me, I couldn't have mustered your courage. For your daughter's sake, you have my admiration. But..." She paused and shook her head. "But it's still a pity. You seem to have won, yet today Rongjia is out again. Marchioness Song, do you know where you lost?" Cui Lingrong said nothing. She knew. Lady Wu answered her own question. "You lost to power and influence." On this point, Cui Lingrong was very clear. Had Xie Yunting not appeared, she wouldn't have been able to do anything to Princess Rongjia afterward, let alone uncover the fact that Princess Rongjia had never been pregnant. But she didn't understand why Lady Wu was saying all this now. "Xie Yunting is favored by the Emperor. Even the Rong Prince Mansion doesn't dare oppose him openly. You're a clever woman—if you want to win, you need power and influence." Lady Wu looked at Cui Lingrong with an expectant gaze, leaning in. "I truly hope you win. Don't disappoint me." With that, Lady Wu went to find Princess Consort Rong. Cui Lingrong was momentarily stunned. The few times she'd met Lady Wu before, Lady Wu had always interjected at critical moments. She'd suspected then that Lady Wu and Princess Rongjia didn't get along—so it really was true. There was no time to ponder this now. Guests arrived one after another, and when Nanny Qiu returned, she said both Young Master Yu and General Xie had arrived. "The Marquis didn't look too pleased when he saw General Xie," Nanny Qiu said. "That's what he deserves. After all, I wasn't too pleased when I saw Princess Rongjia either." Cui Lingrong finished with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, and the banquet was about to begin. She and Princess Rongjia sat on either side of Old Madame Song. Old Madame was especially delighted today, drinking several cups in a row. Cui Lingrong remained subdued. When others came to toast her, she only took a small sip. Princess Rongjia showed no sign of haggardness at all. With a rosy glow on her face, she helped block toasts for Old Madame. "Yes, yes—today is my husband's happy occasion. I'll drink!" "The Commandery Princess has quite the capacity for wine! Old Madame, to have such a daughter-in-law, you're truly blessed." "Indeed, the Commandery Princess is so filial. Old Madame's fortune is beyond what ordinary people can compare." "Who says otherwise? Come, come—let me toast Old Madame another cup!" ... Those who could sit at Old Madame Song's table were either very close to the family or of noble status. They all knew in their hearts that Song Shulan's promotion was thanks to Prince Rong, which was why they all fawned over Princess Rongjia. Yuan Yuzhu was also at this table. Seeing Cui Lingrong's calm composure, she sighed inwardly—this was indeed a woman who could wrest back control of the household from Princess Rongjia's hands. She raised her wine cup. "Sister Cui, today's banquet is exquisite. I don't know how to say pretty words, so thank you for the hospitality." Cui Lingrong raised her cup with a faint smile and exchanged a glance with Yuan Yuzhu. The two smiled in tacit understanding. Only then did the others notice Cui Lingrong. Some came to strike up conversation with her; others, constrained by Princess Rongjia's presence, didn't toast her. By the end of the meal, who was close to whom was plain to see. Princess Rongjia was somewhat drunk, and Princess Consort Rong took her to sober up. The others went to the flower hall to watch the opera or sat in the garden brewing tea. As the mistress of the household, Cui Lingrong wouldn't hide away and slack off today. She wanted everyone to know that the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion was still under her management, and no one could look down on her. But Yuan Mingzhu had something to say to her and pulled her aside to a secluded pavilion. "A few days ago, I heard Princess Rongjia had a miscarriage. Why is she out today? Shouldn't she be resting indoors?" Cui Lingrong glanced around, then leaned in to briefly relay to Yuan Mingzhu the matter of Princess Rongjia's false pregnancy. "The Marquis couldn't bear to punish her and insisted on letting her come out. If any rumors spread from now on, they can hardly be blamed on me." The matter of Princess Rongjia's pregnancy was known to people like the Su family; it would be impossible to suddenly change the story and claim she had never been pregnant. To the outside world, the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion could only say that Princess Rongjia had miscarried. But today was only seven or eight days since Princess Rongjia's supposed miscarriage, and for her to appear before guests with such a radiant complexion—those with sharp eyes would inevitably begin to speculate. "She actually stooped to such filthy tricks, faking a pregnancy to frame Yu-jie!" Yuan Mingzhu nearly exclaimed. "How outrageous, yet Marquis Song just let it go lightly. Has he been blinded by lard? Does he truly dote on Princess Rongjia that much?" Beside her, Yuan Yuzhu laughed. "My silly sister, do you think every woman's husband is like yours, who would go buy you steamed buns at dawn just for your sake? I don't know whether Marquis Song likes Princess Rongjia or not, but I can confirm that he certainly values the Rong Prince Mansion as a great tree to lean on." "So that's how it is—all for show. I always thought he was hypocritical, and now I find him even more detestable!" Yuan Mingzhu never hid her feelings in front of Cui Lingrong, so she didn't care that Song Shulan was Cui Lingrong's husband—she said she disliked him outright. Yuan Yuzhu glanced at her silly sister, then turned to ask Cui Lingrong, "So what are you planning now?" "Today the Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong came to speak with me. From what she said, I gather she and Princess Rongjia don't get along. Sister Yuan, have you ever heard anything about the affairs of the Rong Prince Mansion?" Cui Lingrong asked. Yuan Yuzhu's husband's family was prominent, and she frequently interacted with nobles and high officials, so she inevitably heard some secrets of the imperial clan. However, she wasn't the gossipy type, and some things she didn't bother to remember. "Let me think." Yuan Yuzhu pondered for a moment. "The Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong isn't particularly easy to converse with. Every time I've seen her, she's never been very warm to anyone. By the time I married into Bianjing, she was already married into the Rong Prince Mansion, so I truly don't know what grudge she holds against Princess Rongjia. But now that you mention it, she and Princess Rongjia indeed don't seem to have a good relationship." She recalled something. "One year when my father-in-law celebrated his birthday, Princess Rongjia happened to be back in Bianjing visiting family. She sent the exact same gift as the Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong—clearly, the two hadn't coordinated." Yuan Mingzhu said, "Next time we see the Consort, we can try to pry some information out of her—maybe we'll learn something." "Don't bother." Yuan Yuzhu looked her sister up and down. "Just don't let her pry information out of you. Anyone who can become the Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong—do you think they're a simple figure?" "Sister, don't underestimate me!" "Ask Sister Cui—doesn't she think the same?" Yuan Mingzhu looked at Cui Lingrong. Cui Lingrong smiled and pinched Yuan Mingzhu's cheek. "Leave the prying to me. The secrets of the Rong Prince Mansion aren't something you can uncover in a short while. There will be plenty of time ahead—opportunities will come." "Indeed." Yuan Yuzhu said, narrowing her eyes. "If you want Princess Rongjia to never rise again, you'll need to find a handle on her that even the Rong Prince Mansion can't protect her from." Yuan Mingzhu asked, "Prince Rong holds great power. Unless Princess Rongjia commits murder, there's no way to bring her down, right?" "Then how do you know she hasn't?" Yuan Yuzhu said casually. "Otherwise, as you said, Prince Rong is favored—perhaps his son will even become the new crown prince. Then not only would Sister Cui be unable to touch Princess Rongjia, she might even be cast aside by Marquis Song." This was the truth. Yuan Yuzhu spoke bluntly to remind Cui Lingrong that if she wanted to gain the upper hand over Princess Rongjia, she needed to act early—because two tigers cannot share one mountain, and it would be a fight to the death.