Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Favoritism The Marquis residence was now under Commandery Princess Rongjia's management, so the moment Yuan Mingzhu arrived, she received word of it. Wang Shanxi's Wife poured tea and brought it over. "They say Second Madam Jiang is the closest friend of the one in Qiushuang Zhai, but Old Madam Jiang and our Old Madame don't get along, so she's always forbidden Second Madam Jiang from visiting. The one in Qiushuang Zhai disregards Old Madame's preferences and has kept up close contact with Second Madam Jiang. Old Madame probably doesn't approve. Should we send word to Shouan Tang?" Commandery Princess Rongjia said there was no need. "Cui Lingrong has been married here for over a decade—Second Madam Jiang must have visited often. Old Madame turns a blind eye to it. If we go making a fuss, it would seem too deliberate. The matter with Sande was me being too hasty; fortunately, the results were good. We don't need to mention anything now—just wait for Cui Lingrong to make her move." Wang Shanxi's Wife said that was right, then added what the princess liked to hear: "If there weren't any faults to find in the accounts, you wouldn't have had to go to such trouble. The one in Qiushuang Zhai doesn't know her place, delusionally trying to compete with you for management authority. This old servant would say, with her background, she's not even fit to hold your shoes." There was no one else in the room, so mistress and servant spoke without restraint. Commandery Princess Rongjia took a sip of tea. Thinking of Master Song's deep affection for her, her thin lips curved upward involuntarily. All her scheming had been worth it. Equal Wife? As a princess of noble birth, how could she possibly share a husband with another woman! "When I wanted to marry Master Song, Father and Mother didn't understand. They said there were countless fine young men in Bianjing—why did I insist on marrying Master Song as an Equal Wife?" Speaking of this, Commandery Princess Rongjia gazed out the window. "That insignificant Cui Lingrong is merely the daughter of a fifth-rank official. What does she have to compete with me?" This marriage was something she had specifically requested—not the imperial decree Song Shulan believed it to be. "Exactly so." Wang Shanxi's Wife grew smug. "We just have to wait for Old Madame to hear the rumors and punish the one in Qiushuang Zhai." No sooner had she spoken than a maid from Shouan Tang arrived, saying Old Madame requested the princess come over. Commandery Princess Rongjia and her servant exchanged a glance, then headed to Shouan Tang with confidence. Upon entering the room, she saw Cui Lingrong half-kneeling. Commandery Princess Rongjia suppressed the smile that rose, bent her knees in greeting, and said, "Greetings to Old Madame. May I ask what business you have with your daughter-in-law?" Before her eldest son married, Old Madame Song had assumed Commandery Princess Rongjia would become her daughter-in-law. Later, when she learned the princess was seeking a match, she realized the Rong Prince Mansion looked down on the Song family's standing. Her son had made a great fuss over the princess for a long time, and only afterward did Lady Cui come into the picture. At first, when she learned of the imperial marriage decree, Old Madame Song hadn't been very pleased. An Equal Wife was rare, after all, and Lady Cui had done no wrong. In fact, over the years she had improved the Marquis household's fortunes, and Old Madame Song was quite satisfied with her. It wasn't until her son said that marrying Commandery Princess Rongjia would smooth his official career that Old Madame Song began to look favorably upon the princess. Old Madame Song didn't tell Commandery Princess Rongjia to rise. Everyone had their own schemes, and to say nothing of the fact that two tigers cannot share one mountain—she didn't mind Lady Cui and Commandery Princess Rongjia sparring, but it couldn't affect the Marquis household. "Let me ask you—was it you who punished Sande the other day?" "To answer Old Madame, Sande took advantage of my being a new bride—not only neglecting his duties but also slighting Cui... Sister Cui, causing her to hold a grudge against me. That day I went to see Sister Cui, and it was she who demanded I give her an accounting." Commandery Princess Rongjia pushed all the blame onto Cui Lingrong. Her knees had been bent the whole time, and her calves were beginning to ache. "You're the one in charge. I understand you wanting to punish Sande to establish your authority. But you shouldn't have let the news spread. If Lady Cui loses face, does the Marquis household look any better?" Old Madame Song had first heard Lady Cui's account, and now saw through Commandery Princess Rongjia's little schemes completely. "Enough. If managing the household is too much trouble for you, then return it to Lady Cui. When she was in charge before, there was never any disorder." If it was deliberate, then Commandery Princess Rongjia lacked the proper breadth of character. If unintentional, then she lacked the capability. At these words, Commandery Princess Rongjia's heart seized with panic, and she immediately knelt. How could this be? After leaving Qiushuang Zhai that day, she had spread the word that it was Cui Lingrong who wanted Sande severely punished. When Wang Shanxi's Wife went to oversee the punishment, she too said it was on Cui Lingrong's orders, and Cui Lingrong had never refuted the matter—which meant Cui Lingrong was satisfied with Sande's punishment. What people outside were saying was that Cui Lingrong was cruel; no one was saying anything bad about her. Commandery Princess Rongjia was momentarily flustered, unable to think of a counterstrategy. She absolutely could not return the management authority she had worked so hard to obtain back to Cui Lingrong—otherwise wouldn't she become the laughingstock of Bianjing? Then Old Madame Song spoke again: "Fortunately, Lady Cui is broad-minded. She settled Sande properly, and only then could the rumors outside be quelled." A thunderous crash sounded in Commandery Princess Rongjia's mind. Only then did she realize—she had been outmaneuvered by Cui Lingrong. Cui Lingrong's peripheral vision flicked toward Princess Rongjia, and before the princess could open her mouth, she spoke first. "If not for Mingzhu coming to find me, I wouldn't have known the rumors had spread so far. When Wang Shanxi's Wife came to deliver the message, Caixia suggested sending him to the estate, but Wang Shanxi's Wife said Sande wouldn't utter a single word. I thought since the princess is currently managing the household, I shouldn't interfere too much, lest the princess misunderstand me as meddling. As for keeping Sande here, I was also worried there might be follow-up problems. I thought if nothing came up, I wouldn't mention Sande and would just let him retire and work at the estate." She paused, a look of embarrassment crossing her face. "But... but I truly don't understand why outsiders would spread such rumors about me over such a simple matter. I won't be able to show my face in public anymore!" With that, Cui Lingrong broke into a fit of rapid coughs. Nanny Qiu hurriedly brought over a cup of tea with concern. "The Young Madam's health hasn't fully recovered yet. Have a sip of water to moisten your throat. The Old Madame is the most reasonable person—this was simply an unprovoked disaster. You've done nothing wrong." If Cui Lingrong had done nothing wrong, then who was at fault? Old Madame Song looked toward Princess Rongjia. The late master had kept many concubines in his day, and she had seen every kind of scheme and cunning heart. All she could say was that Princess Rongjia was too impatient. She didn't care who stepped on whom, as long as it benefited the Marquis's household, that person was a good mistress. Old Madame Song mulled it over and was just about to speak when a maidservant came to announce that the Marquis had returned. Everyone looked toward the door. Song Shulan wasn't yet aware of what had happened in the household, but he had heard people outside gossiping about Lady Cui and had rushed back in a panic. "Your son greets Mother. Since everyone is here, there's something I need to get to the bottom of—who spread the rumors about the Marquis's household? The talk has reached even my ears, so you can imagine how vile it must be." Song Shulan's face was flushed with anger. Nanny Qiu, quick-witted as ever, seized the chance before anyone from Wutong Courtyard could speak. "I beg the Marquis to seek justice for the Young Madam. Sande was negligent toward his mistress and deserved punishment. Such a trivial matter has been twisted and exaggerated until it slandered the Young Madam. But since this happened within the Marquis's household, whoever spread it must also be from the household. If the Marquis doesn't get to the bottom of this, how is the Young Madam supposed to hold her head up in the future?" Hearing this, Song Shulan instinctively looked toward Princess Rongjia. "You've been managing the household these past days—have you not heard even a whisper of this?" Three days had passed. If she said no, it would be a dereliction of duty. But Princess Rongjia couldn't say yes either—if she had heard and done nothing, it would be obvious she wanted to see Cui Lingrong humiliated. Princess Rongjia was momentarily at a loss for words. Suddenly, Wang Shanxi's Wife knelt down. "This old servant's heart was clouded by greed. I thought such idle gossip couldn't be taken seriously, and since it wasn't a major matter, it would soon be forgotten—no need to trouble the mistress with it." Song Shulan's thick brows furrowed. "Lady Cui is also a proper mistress of this household. How is that not a major matter?" Wang Shanxi's Wife kowtowed repeatedly. "This old servant was wrong. The princess has been handling everything personally lately, devoting herself wholly to the household's good. She hasn't had a full night's sleep in days. That's why this old servant wanted to spare her the trouble. The Marquis may beat or punish me as he sees fit, but please don't misunderstand the princess." She knew in her heart that if she didn't step forward to take the blame, this situation would be impossible to resolve. As long as her mistress came out well, a few strokes of the board were no loss to her. Princess Rongjia wept with pear-blossom tears. She knew that saying more would be useless, so she gazed at Song Shulan with a pitiful, wronged expression that softened his heart. Song Shulan looked to his mother. Old Madame Song also knew this matter shouldn't be blown out of proportion. The princess held a noble title, and her eldest son still relied on the Rong Prince Mansion for his career advancement. "Since it was the servants' failure in duty, Wang Shanxi's Wife shall receive ten strokes of the board as per regulation, and three months' wages deducted. As for the household management..." The Old Madame swept her gaze across the room, but before she could continue, Song Shulan spoke first. "I've seen with my own eyes the princess's dedication to this household these past days. If Mother were to abruptly strip her of authority, outsiders would surely gossip. No one is a sage—who can be without fault? I humbly beg Mother to give the princess another chance. If it truly doesn't work out, then let Cui take over the household?" Since her son had spoken thus, the Old Madame could only nod in agreement to save face. Princess Rongjia breathed a silent sigh of relief. It seemed Master Song still favored her. But those ten strokes today—she would remember them. Nanny Qiu felt indignant on her mistress's behalf and cautiously glanced at her, but the Young Madam said nothing, so she could only swallow her anger for now. Only after leaving Shouan Tang did Nanny Qiu dare to speak. "The Marquis's actions today were truly biased. Young Madam, what do we do now?" The more Song Shulan showed his bias, the clearer Cui Lingrong understood the importance of real power. She looked up—dark clouds shrouded the sun, the sky a dreary gray. "Today Wang Shanxi's Wife took ten strokes. We've made an enemy of Wutong Courtyard. Take my name card and go to the Jiang residence. Have Mingzhu investigate the princess's affairs at her previous husband's household."