Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Power and Influence Yuan Yuzhu's warehouse stock could only cover three-tenths of Cui Zeyu's needs, but even that was enough for emergencies—with it, he could deliver the congratulatory cloth to the Qian family as promised. Cui Zeyu thanked Yuan Yuzhu once again. "Thank you for your help, Princess Consort. I will remember this kindness. If there's ever anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask." "Alright, I'll come find you when I need something." Yuan Yuzhu rose to see the Cui siblings off. Inside the carriage, Cui Zeyu knew he couldn't hide the truth from his sister, so he confessed, "For the remaining shortfall, with the Princess Consort's connections, I think we can fill part of it. For whatever's still lacking, I'll write to the cloth merchants and have them send supplies." Cui Lingrong let out a sigh of relief. "As long as we can cover it, that's fine. Business runs on reputation—losing a bit of money doesn't matter; we can earn it back later." She took out the banknotes again. "Don't tell me you have money. You lost a batch of cloth and still need to spend more to buy replacements—money is needed everywhere. I'm a shareholder too; I can't let you bear the loss alone." "Sister, I—" "Enough, stop dawdling. A man takes a tumble and gains wisdom. Don't let this happen again, understood?" Cui Lingrong was about to step down when the carriage stopped, but she heard the urgent sound of hooves. Nanny Qiu said it was General Xie. Hearing this, both Cui Lingrong and Cui Zeyu stepped down from the carriage. Xie Yunting leaped off his horse in fury, rushing over. "Do you know who was behind this? It's that Princess Rongjia again, along with Madam Qian of the Rong Prince Mansion. They've been telling people that Brother Cui's cloth shop has good cloth at cheap prices, recommending it to all sorts of people." Princess Rongjia certainly wouldn't be kindly recommending business. The Cui siblings instantly understood what was going on—this fire was definitely connected to her. Xie Yunting cursed angrily. "Her trick is truly vicious. On the surface, she spreads the word that she's being generous, even recommending business to Brother Cui. But behind the scenes, she burns the cloth to make Brother Cui offend all those noble households. Come on, I'll take you to confront her—let's see what she has to say this time!" With that, Xie Yunting grabbed Cui Zeyu and started pulling him toward the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Cui Lingrong quickly said no. "Even if Princess Rongjia admits she recommended the business, no one would see a problem with that. We'd need evidence of arson to have any leverage over her." She and Xie Yunting both looked at Cui Zeyu. Cui Zeyu shook his head. "On New Year's Eve, I wasn't at the shop. By the time I arrived, the shopkeeper and the constables had already put out the fire. The shopkeeper didn't think much of it at the time, and when I went to look later, I couldn't find any clues." In other words, they had no evidence. Cui Lingrong took a deep breath. "Knowing who did it is better than knowing nothing at all. Thank you, General Xie, for helping Zeyu investigate. We owe you another favor. It's getting late—you should head back. I have a plan for this matter." "What does Marchioness Song intend to do?" Xie Yunting was curious. "If we can't catch her on the arson, then we'll take revenge through other means. Whatever money she made me lose, she'll have to spit back out." Cui Lingrong turned to her brother. "Princess Rongjia's people are surely still watching the cloth shop. Be careful these next few days—don't get caught in another scheme. In the end, this is my fault for dragging you into it." "What are you saying, Sister? Princess Rongjia is the one with a venomous heart—it's not your fault or mine." Cui Zeyu smiled at his sister. "Go on back now. I'll keep a close eye on the shop." Cui Lingrong hummed in acknowledgment and turned to head back into the mansion. Xie Yunting felt frustrated and asked Cui Zeyu, "Are we really not going to cause trouble for Princess Rongjia?" "My sister is right. Without witnesses or evidence, if we go charging in, it'll only make us look like we're the ones causing trouble for no reason," Cui Zeyu said. Xie Yunting snorted. "That's true enough. If only you had power—enough to overpower Princess Rongjia. Then we'd see if she still dared to cause you trouble!" Since arriving in Bianjing, the thing that had struck Xie Yunting most deeply was that no matter how coldly he treated those people, none of them dared to provoke him. The reason was simple. The Emperor valued him and doted on him greatly. So he had power. If Cui Zeyu also had power, the Rong Prince Mansion would have thought twice before doing something like this. But Cui Zeyu was a merchant, and in Bianjing, merchants held low status. The Rong Prince Mansion had plenty of ways to deal with a merchant if they wanted to. "Speaking of which, Brother Cui, why didn't you take the official path instead of going into business?" Xie Yunting asked casually. "With your intelligence, if you sat for the Imperial Examination, you might even become a Zhuangyuan." Cui Zeyu smiled. "You flatter me, Brother Xie. The Imperial Examination is a single-plank bridge for thousands upon thousands—those who become Zhuangyuan are all sons of heaven's favor." He thanked Xie Yunting once more, and with dusk approaching, he took his attendants and headed back to the cloth shop. As for why he didn't take the official path—back when he'd entered the Song family school to study, those people had learned he was adopted, and not a single one of them had looked at him with respect. Later, seeing his sister constantly worrying over money, he'd simply said he didn't want to study anymore, taken the silver she gave him, and started in business. As for power and influence? Cui Zeyu felt a knot of suppressed anger in his chest. Yes, right now he had neither power nor influence. But he refused to believe he would remain this way forever. One day, when his business grew so vast it rivaled a nation's wealth, would he still lack power and influence? This lesson made Cui Zeyu realize he needed to work even harder. Princess Rongjia's move was meant to ruin his business and cut off his sister's source of income, but he would not let Princess Rongjia have her way. Meanwhile, Cui Lingrong had just returned to Qiushuang Zhai when Caiyue began telling her about what had happened in the Second Branch. "Not long after you left today, Miss He developed a stomachache, and her maidservant climbed through the window to find Old Madame," Caiyue said with a look of utter disdain. "Old Madame had a physician summoned, and he said Miss He is one month pregnant." "One month?" Cui Lingrong asked. "Shouldn't it be two months?" Caiyue was certain. "This servant didn't mishear—it's definitely one month. Old Madame was especially delighted and immediately conferred upon Miss He the status of Noble Concubine. Once an auspicious day is chosen, the matter will be settled. Mama Xu came by especially to say that you should go to Shouan Tang tomorrow morning—Old Madame wants to discuss this matter with you." Cui Lingrong quickly understood. "I suspect that during He Pingping's house arrest, Second Master secretly went to see her again. Madame Jiang was truly foolish beyond belief—she let He Pingping steal from the household a second time." Caiyue didn't understand what she meant. "What did Miss He steal from the household?" Nanny Qiu went over and whispered something to her, and Caiyue immediately flushed red. "Pah! How shameless! The daughters of the He family have absolutely no sense of propriety!" Nanny Qiu said, "If she had been more reserved, she would have been sent back to the He family. What good end could a girl who has lost her virtue and whose family has fallen into ruin possibly have? Miss He is clever—she knew to seize the opportunity. Now that she's with child and has become a Noble Concubine, Second Mistress is probably furious enough to faint." "And it serves Second Mistress right—she's always caused trouble for First Mistress in the past!" Caiyue felt no sympathy for Second Mistress. Cui Lingrong felt none either. She had never gotten along with Madame Jiang, and the only reason she had helped Madame Jiang by inviting You Shuyi to take her pulse was because Madame Jiang had been feeding her information. Now that He Pingping was pregnant, Madame Jiang would truly be crying herself into a faint. The next day, after finishing breakfast, Cui Lingrong went to Shouan Tang. Taking a Noble Concubine was not like an ordinary concubine, where a sedan chair simply carried the woman in. Some families would even host a banquet and invite relatives and friends to celebrate. Old Madame Song was a woman who cared deeply about face. Her intention was to set up a few tables. "It just so happens that Zhizhi is coming back. Taking advantage of this happy occasion, you can host a few tables and make it lively." The Zhizhi Old Madame referred to was her daughter, who had gone to serve in the provinces with her husband some years ago and would be returning this year. Thinking of her sister-in-law, Cui Lingrong said without changing her expression, "It's wonderful that Sister is coming back, and we truly should set up a few tables of feast. However, as for Miss He's matter, I think we should forget it." Old Madame Song's face immediately fell. "Why?" "Miss He is carrying a child in her belly. If anything were to happen, and people found out, it would be embarrassing. It would be better to wait until the child is born before making any plans." Old Madame's intention was for Cui Lingrong to foot the bill, but when did it ever become the eldest sister-in-law's duty to pay for the younger brother-in-law's concubine? Having been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for over a decade, Cui Lingrong understood Old Madame's implication without needing to think twice. Hearing this, Old Madame Song thought of how her second son still had no son, and could only concede. "You're right. Once He gives birth to a son, we can properly host a full-month celebration—that will be just as good. But Zhizhi's return is a major matter, and you must handle it well. The bird's nest and fresh milk she loves most must be prepared every day. Also, I've promised her a set of Eastern Pearl hair ornaments—as the eldest sister-in-law, you should make that gesture. I haven't seen her in so long, so I'll definitely keep her by my side for a while." Cui Lingrong's sister-in-law had been cradled in Old Madame Song's palm since childhood, raised to be spoiled and willful. When she married, Old Madame Song had spared no expense on her dowry. Now that Song Zhizhi was returning, and Old Madame still wanted Cui Lingrong to arrange everything properly, Cui Lingrong said directly, "I'm afraid the silver remaining in the marquis household accounts won't be enough to procure a set of Eastern Pearl hair ornaments. If Old Madame gives me the money, I'd be happy to help with the purchasing." "Cui, why is it that everything you say these days is about money? As the eldest sister-in-law, shouldn't you show some generosity?" Old Madame Song's face darkened. "Have you been spending so much time with that brother of yours who reeks of copper that you've picked up the unsavory merchant habits that can't be brought into polite society?" Cui Lingrong's face sank. She was just about to retort when a maidservant came in to announce that Princess Rongjia had arrived.