Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Staying the Night Madame Jiang's heart seized up, her eyes darting back and forth. This was the first time the eldest sister-in-law had come to her, and she came with a threat. She didn't dare agree rashly. "You... you first tell me what it is." "Don't worry, it's nothing difficult." Cui Lingrong pressed her lips together. "I want you to leak a piece of information to Huadie." "What?" "Once Huadie gives birth to a boy, Princess Rongjia will remove the mother to keep the child." Madame Jiang frowned deeply. "It's just passing a message—why doesn't eldest sister-in-law do it herself?" "If my people do this and it gets discovered, they'll say I have ulterior motives. But you can reveal it casually, and then it has nothing to do with me." Cui Lingrong's intention was clear. If she stirred up conflict between Huadie and Princess Rongjia, causing consequences that Old Madame and Song Shulan didn't want to see, they would inevitably blame her. But if Madame Jiang did it, it would seem like an accident, because Madame Jiang had no conflict of interest with Huadie's child. Cui Lingrong had helped Madame Jiang, and now she wanted Madame Jiang to repay her. Madame Jiang had her own worries. "But if I go say this, the Princess will definitely hold a grudge against me. Eldest sister-in-law, I don't have your abilities, and I have no reason to offend the Princess." She had been disappointed in Princess Rongjia over the He Pingping matter, but that didn't mean she wanted to make an enemy of her. What kind of person was Princess Rongjia? If she dared to stab Princess Rongjia in the back, wouldn't she be waiting to be targeted? Madame Jiang shook her head repeatedly. She didn't dare do this. Cui Lingrong guessed that Madame Jiang had concerns about the consequences, so she turned to mention their sister-in-law. "Old Madame just called me over and said Zhizhi is coming back." "Her?" Mentioning Song Zhizhi, Madame Jiang was equally displeased. This sister-in-law of hers was a robber—whatever she saw and liked, she'd directly demand it, saying she'd borrow it for a few days, but she never returned anything. "Eldest sister-in-law means... you want me to use someone else's knife to kill?" "You're overstating it. I have no intention of killing anyone. I just want to watch dogs fight dogs. If you won't do it, I'll arrange for someone else..." "I'll do it, I'll do it!" Madame Jiang disliked how Cui Lingrong always kept her under her thumb, but she hated Song Zhizhi even more. "You make the arrangements. I'll follow your lead." "Good. Come closer." Cui Lingrong beckoned to Madame Jiang, and the two spoke at length. After leaving the second branch's quarters, Cui Lingrong returned to Qiushuang Zhai. Seeing Concubine Zhang hesitating outside the garden, she called her over and asked what was wrong. "It's not that I'm fond of tattling, but Huadie has gone too far. These past days, she said there wasn't enough charcoal in her room and took ours—fine. But today, the meals sent from the kitchen were also intercepted by her. By the time it reached my quarters, only scraps and leftovers remained." Concubine Zhang spoke with grievance. She was of low standing and had never sought favor, but she couldn't tolerate being trampled on like this. Concubine Zhang was an old hand in the marquis's household, having been there longer than even the eldest young madam. If she'd had a child, she wouldn't be in such a miserable state. "Such a thing happened?" Cui Lingrong's brows knitted together. "Was it Baitao who snatched them?" Concubine Zhang said yes. "Nanny Qiu, take some people over there. Huadie is pregnant so I can't touch her, but Baitao can take ten strokes of the board. Tell Huadie that this household has its rules. If she finds her food and clothing insufficient, she can ask the Marquis and Old Madame for more. What kind of skill is it to rob others?" Cui Lingrong then reassured Concubine Zhang. "Don't worry. You're the one who has served the Marquis the longest; he always has some regard for you. If anything like this happens again, come straight to me. Don't endure it." Concubine Zhang said gratefully, "In this household now, only the eldest young madam treats me like a person." The Marquis visited her only a few times a year, and everyone else judged people by their standing. Fortunately, the eldest young madam was fair and never skimped on her allowances, so she could get by. Now that Huadie had come along and was stealing things, Concubine Zhang had no choice but to come to the eldest young madam. "Don't wallow in self-pity. Life is what you make of it. You're not old and decrepit—within your own means, try to make your life as good as you can." Cui Lingrong had Caixia fetch two baskets of charcoal and send them to Concubine Zhang's courtyard. After Concubine Zhang left, Nanny Qiu also arrived at Huadie's courtyard. Nanny Qiu never wasted words. She brought two matrons who dragged Baitao into the courtyard. Before Huadie could even rush out, Baitao was already pressed down on a bench and beaten. "Ouch! It hurts so much!" "Concubine, save me! Nanny... Nanny Qiu, what are you doing? What... what did I do wrong... ah... it hurts!" After only three strokes, Baitao was sweating from her forehead. She gritted her molars, the pain splitting her skin open, her buttocks feeling as if they were being torn apart, and then another stroke came down. Huadie's heart pounded wildly as she heard it. She wanted to rush over and shield Baitao, but Nanny Qiu blocked her. "Nanny Qiu, what... what right do you have to come to my courtyard and beat my people?" Huadie glared at Nanny Qiu angrily. Since becoming pregnant, Huadie considered herself above others, growing increasingly impatient with servants, let alone the other concubines. Now Nanny Qiu coming to beat Baitao was like slapping her in the face. How could she let it go? "Nanny Qiu, Baitao is my person. If you want to beat her, you might as well beat me instead!" Nanny Qiu smiled as she heard from Baitao that the beating was finished, then took her leave. "The Eldest Young Madam said that you are a person, and Concubine Zhang is also a person. In this marquis's estate, there has never been any business of one person trampling another. If you are dissatisfied, you are free to lodge a complaint. If this happens again, the Eldest Young Madam will remember it, and once you have given birth, she will deal with you then." "You... how dare you speak to me like that!" Huadie raised her hand to strike Nanny Qiu, but fortunately Nanny Qiu dodged quickly, and only the hair at her temple was brushed by Huadie's slap. Furious, she lunged forward but was restrained by several matrons. Nanny Qiu had never seen such a ruleless concubine as Huadie, and her face immediately turned stern. "If Concubine wishes to strike this old servant, you may go and find the Eldest Young Madam. Today's lesson to Baitao was because you instructed Baitao to bully others. Everyone in this courtyard, listen well—this marquis's estate has its rules, and no one may act out of line." Having managed affairs in the marquis's estate for many years, Nanny Qiu had never suffered such indignity. She had originally planned to summon a physician for Baitao, but now she left with her people directly. Baitao was awakened again by the pain and cried out to her mistress for help. Huadie had lost all face and harbored resentment toward the Eldest Young Madam and Concubine Zhang. She went to find Princess Rongjia, but Princess Rongjia said she was not the one in charge and hinted that Huadie should go to the Marquis. When the Marquis returned home, Huadie's people were waiting at the gate, begging Song Shulan to come see her, saying that Huadie had stomach pains. Song Shulan had fathered a child late in life and was naturally concerned. The moment he heard Huadie had stomach pains, he rushed over without stopping, not forgetting to scold the servants along the way. "How have you been attending to her? Have you called for a physician?" "Reporting to the Marquis, the Eldest Young Madam would not allow it." Hearing this, Song Shulan's face darkened immediately, and he ordered someone to fetch a physician. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Huadie lying on the bed crying and hurriedly asked what was wrong. Huadie sobbed and threw herself into Song Shulan's arms. "Marquis, this concubine cannot go on living. This concubine merely borrowed a few things from Concubine Zhang, and the Eldest Young Madam said this concubine was bullying others. She sent Nanny Qiu over, who beat Baitao without even listening to explanations. How is this concubine supposed to hold her head up in the future?" Hearing this, Song Shulan was somewhat doubtful. "The Eldest Young Madam has never been one to make a scene without reason. Did you do something?" "No, this concubine truly did nothing." Huadie clutched her belly. Seeing that the Marquis was suspicious, she began crying out in pain. Song Shulan's attention was indeed diverted. When the physician arrived, he said Huadie's pregnancy had been disturbed and that she needed to rest and recuperate for a while. Huadie looked at Song Shulan with a pitiful expression. "Marquis, this concubine knows her place and status—not as noble as the Eldest Young Madam. But having suffered such humiliation today, this concubine fears she will not be able to sleep at night. If the child should have any... wuwu..." When she mentioned the child, Song Shulan's heart tightened. "Stop crying. I will go speak with her." Song Shulan went to Qiushuang Zhai. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard laughter coming from within, and his expression grew even darker. "You can still laugh?" Song Shulan sat down with a black face. "Do you know that Huadie's child was nearly lost? If you wanted to discipline Baitao, that's fine, but why would you not let her call for a physician?" "Is that what Huadie said?" Cui Lingrong looked over. Song Shulan said it was. "I never said she couldn't. I only warned her not to bully others just because she is with child." Cui Lingrong said. "Marquis, Concubine Zhang is the one who has served by your side the longest. Even if she has no great merit, she has earned some credit, has she not? Huadie snatched her food and left her with nothing but cold leftovers. I only had Baitao beaten ten strokes—I do not think that is excessive." "Well..." Song Shulan still trusted Cui Lingrong's way of handling matters. He thought for a moment and softened his tone somewhat. "But you should not have beaten her in front of Huadie. If something had happened to her child, how would you explain yourself to me and Old Madame?" "Enough, enough. Let there be no more of this next time." Song Shulan was tired. Without waiting for Cui Lingrong to explain further, he told Nanny Qiu to serve the meal. Since he had come to Qiushuang Zhai, he might as well eat here. But Cui Lingrong did not want to keep Song Shulan. "Concubine Zhang has been wronged. Why don't you go and see her, Marquis? Even just sitting with her for a while will keep the servants from treating her poorly." Song Shulan was stunned. It had been a long time since he had stayed overnight at Qiushuang Zhai, and now Cui Lingrong was actually sending him off to someone else? Did she not miss him at all?