Chapter 75

Chapter 75: The Slap Song Shulan felt displeased and did not move. "Lingrong, I haven't come to your quarters in a long time. Don't you want me to keep you company?" To be honest, Song Shulan hadn't visited in quite a while, and now that he saw Cui Lingrong still beautiful and elegant, his interest was stirred. Cui Lingrong, however, said, "How could the Marquis say he hasn't come in a long time? Even a brief visit counts as coming. Besides, I'm not the jealous type—I can tolerate a great deal." Song Shulan's expression turned grim. "You... if you have grievances, you can tell me directly. We've been husband and wife for over a decade—what could be more important than us? Or is there someone who could surpass me in your heart?" A husband is like heaven. Song Shulan's gaze remained fixed on Cui Lingrong. In the past, Cui Lingrong had treated him as her heaven, and he had grown accustomed to her devoted, selfless affection. Now he was asking her who could be more important to her than him. Cui Lingrong hesitated. Seeing that she did not answer, Song Shulan flicked his sleeves and left. No one in the room dared to make a sound. Nanny Qiu glanced at Caixia and the other maid, and after they had both withdrawn, she spoke in a low voice. "This old servant knows the Eldest Madam has lost heart toward the Marquis, but you still have to live in this household. You must still give face where face is due. Today the Marquis came—that alone ensures no one else in the household will dare look down on Qiushuang Zhai." "Nanny Qiu, I understand that reasoning. But do you know, the last time the Marquis stayed the night, we slept back to back the entire evening." Cui Lingrong let out a self-deprecating laugh. "The moment I think of being intimate with him, I simply cannot do it." Ever since she had returned home, Song Shulan had never shown her an attitude that satisfied her. Song Shulan claimed that taking an Equal Wife was not his wish, yet he showed concern for Princess Rongjia in every possible way. As for Cui Lingrong, Song Shulan only sought her out when he needed something. There had been loving times between them before—she managed the household, Song Shulan handled matters outside, and their family life had been warm and happy. She had known Song Shulan's flaws and had been willing to tolerate and forgive them. But now, she only felt the distance between them growing wider and wider. "Then what is to be done?" Nanny Qiu could not help but worry. "You can't just push the Marquis away every time he comes." "Nanny Qiu, the Marquis said I've changed. Indeed, I have." Cui Lingrong thought of her former self. "Before I married, though my aunt was strict, she treated me extremely well. My uncle was also a gentle and kind man. In my aunt's home, I never suffered a single cold look. Back then, I had hopes and aspirations for so many things." "Yes, the Madam was a truly wonderful person." Nanny Qiu also missed those days. The Eldest Madam had been quiet and refined, but Madame Jiang and Mrs. Luo had been lively and spirited. With them leading her along—spring outings, summer fishing, autumn osmanthus picking—every season of the year had been filled with joy. Nanny Qiu suddenly thought of a word. How should she put it? It was... vitality! Even after marriage, despite the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion being a complete mess, the Eldest Madam had still been full of hope for life. Step by step, through the Eldest Madam's careful planning, their days had been getting better and better—until Princess Rongjia had appeared out of nowhere. In these past few months, Nanny Qiu had seen the Eldest Madam stare blankly into space on several occasions. Her Eldest Madam truly was a good person, and a remarkably capable one. In truth, if the Eldest Madam left the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, she could abandon the three children, as Young Master Yu had suggested, and go somewhere no one knew them. With her abilities, she could live a perfectly good life. But the Eldest Madam could not bring herself to do such a thing. "My aunt also said that there is no problem in this world that cannot be solved—it's only a matter of time." Cui Lingrong missed her aunt. She wished she could sit before her aunt's grave and tell her that some things seemed useless no matter how much time passed. She could never return to how she once was, full of love for Song Shulan. The night had grown deep. Nanny Qiu said, "Let's have the meal served first. No matter what, you must not starve yourself." "Alright, I'll eat plenty." Cui Lingrong forced a smile with Nanny Qiu. "I need to eat and drink my fill so I'll have the strength to contend with Princess Rongjia and the others." Nanny Qiu agreed. Cui Lingrong told herself not to dwell on the pain, and certainly not to wallow in it. She was resilient, and she would absolutely not lose. A night passed, and You Shuyi came to administer acupuncture for Madame Jiang. This time, she did not linger. Before leaving, she specifically urged Cui Lingrong to cherish herself. Two days after You Shuyi's departure, Song Zhizhi returned with her children. She first went back to her husband's family, and only the next day brought her son and daughter to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. It had been three years since they last met. Song Zhizhi had grown thinner, which made Old Madame Song's heart ache. "Life in an outpost posting is hard—it can't compare to the comforts of Bianjing. I've already instructed your eldest sister-in-law to prepare your favorite dishes in advance. This time, stay by your mother's side for a good while and build your strength back up." Song Zhizhi nestled against her mother, whining coquettishly. "I would love to keep Mother company every day, but the Sun family still has a mountain of matters waiting for me to manage. Once I've settled those affairs, I'll come back to accompany Mother." Old Madame Song could not bear to see her daughter toil. "Let your sister-in-law continue managing those Sun family matters. Why must you exhaust yourself?" "It was Eldest Brother's idea. He said I am the rightful eldest daughter-in-law of the Sun family and asked me to come back and take over the family affairs. Mother couldn't bear to part with me, so she had Qin-jie accompany you instead—she's been saying she misses you." Song Zhizhi beckoned to her daughter, and a girl of about ten or so stepped forward to Old Madame Song. Mother and daughter looked very much alike. Sun Zhiqin sweetly called out "Grandmother," and Old Madame Song immediately pulled her into her arms, cooing "my treasure" and "my dear." Only then did Song Zhizhi turn to look at the others in the room. Before returning, she had received a letter from her mother informing her of her eldest brother's marriage to an Equal Wife. She and Princess Rongjia had known each other since youth, though the Princess's status was lofty and Zhizhi had always been the one trailing behind her. Now that the Princess had become her sister-in-law, she went over enthusiastically to greet her. "Knowing that Your Highness has become my sister-in-law fills me with joy. I always thought you would become my—" "Zhizhi, don't just focus on greeting the Princess—there are others here too." Old Madame Song interrupted her daughter's words. Only then did Song Zhizhi look at Cui Lingrong. Three years had passed, yet Cui Lingrong's appearance was as striking as ever—a fact she particularly envied. "Greetings, Eldest Sister-in-law. It's been three years—what regimen do you use to remain so beautiful?" Cui Lingrong did not meet Song Zhizhi's eyes. She sat upright and said, "Nothing more than the same grains and fare as you." "Does Sister-in-law mean that eating the same things, you're naturally beautiful while I'm just ordinary?" Song Zhizhi had never gotten along with Cui Lingrong. She had asked her for many things over the years, and Cui Lingrong had never willingly given them, which had bred a long-standing grudge. Moreover, Cui Lingrong had always been good-tempered. No matter how Song Zhizhi provoked her in the past, Cui Lingrong never argued back. This time, Song Zhizhi assumed it would be the same. "If that's how you choose to interpret it, then so be it." Only then did Cui Lingrong look up, a thin smile curving her lips. "After all, Old Madame herself has said that in looks, you are no match for me." "You—!" "Zhizhi!" Song Shulan entered and saw his sister pointing at Cui Lingrong. He frowned in warning. "How are you speaking to your eldest sister-in-law?" His sister had always loved competing with Cui Lingrong for things, but Cui Lingrong never liked to quarrel. Song Shulan instinctively assumed his sister was bullying Cui Lingrong again. Cui Lingrong added, "Indeed, Zhizhi. You've been away with your husband for years—how is it you still haven't learned any better?" Rarely one to stir conflict, she called for Nanny Qiu and headed toward the kitchen before Song Zhizhi could flare up, unwilling to watch the mother-daughter display of affection. The moment Cui Lingrong left, Song Zhizhi's face changed. "What does she have to be so proud of? Now that you have Princess Rongjia, surely you don't care for that Cui woman anymore?" Song Shulan frowned. "What nonsense are you spouting now?" "How am I spouting nonsense?" Song Zhizhi had grown up watching her eldest brother and Princess Rongjia as childhood sweethearts. Had it not been for their falling out, there would have been no place for Cui Lingrong at all. "You used to—" "Zhizhi, the children are present!" Song Shulan warned. Song Zhizhi then looked at Song Yu and the two children from the third branch of the family, her gaze finally settling on Song Yu. "Oh, Yu-jie certainly is Cui's precious jewel. Is that brocade you're wearing?" Song Yu disliked this aunt of hers. She kept her face stern and said yes. "Look at that—you need a merchant uncle, don't you? Otherwise, who in a marquis household could afford brocade? Your mother is truly unfilial, thinking only of dressing you in such fine fabric without a thought for your grandmother." As she spoke, Song Zhizhi had already walked up to Song Yu. Under everyone's gaze, Song Zhizhi pulled the turquoise hairpin from Song Yu's hair. "This pin is quite nice—it suits Qin-jie well. Consider it your gift to her." Caught completely off guard, Song Yu froze for a long moment before lunging to snatch it back—but the pin fell to the ground and shattered into several pieces. Song Zhizhi, the guilty party, struck first. "You child, where are your manners? Look—a perfectly good hairpin, now broken. No one gets it now." "Father!" Song Yu's eyes reddened. "You saw it—Aunt went too far, snatching my hairpin in front of everyone!" Song Shulan also felt his sister had overstepped, but this was her first day back, and his mother was in good spirits. He didn't want to make a scene. "Stop crying. It's just a hairpin—have your mother buy you another." Song Yu was stunned into silence. She felt wronged and wanted to cry, but she noticed everyone watching her—especially her aunt, who wore an expression of amusement. She forced herself to hold back her tears. Just then, Princess Rongjia presented the jewelry she had prepared for Song Zhizhi. Song Zhizhi turned back to Song Yu. "Did your mother prepare a gift for me?" Song Yu didn't want to speak to her aunt. She turned to leave, but her aunt reached out and blocked her path. "When an elder speaks to you and you walk away—is that the manners your mother taught you?" Song Zhizhi raised her hand to discipline Song Yu just as Cui Lingrong walked back in. Cui Lingrong was quick. She raised her hand to block Song Zhizhi's, then flung it back with force. Taking in her daughter's disheveled hair and the broken hairpin on the floor, she swung her other hand and delivered a sharp slap across Song Zhizhi's face. Smack! Everyone was stunned.