Chapter 80

Chapter 80: The Swapped Marriage "Nanny Qiu, you're right—she's not the sharpest tool in the shed. If you want to find out, just probe her next time and you might get the answer." Today, her mistress had brought back 6,700 taels in bank notes, and Nanny Qiu was delighted too. In the past, Nanny Qiu would have worried about how Old Madame might react, and that the Eldest Young Madame still needed to keep Old Madame happy. But now, Nanny Qiu could see that even if the Eldest Young Madame tried her best to please Old Madame, it wouldn't matter. When it came time to take sides, Old Madame would still choose Princess Rongjia. Since the outcome was the same either way, it was better to live life on her own terms. "That's true. Song Zhizhi has never been clever since she was young. Since she's started this, I'll eventually get to the bottom of it." Cui Lingrong had survived over a decade in the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, which showed she had plenty of patience. "Tomorrow, take out five thousand taels and have Er Shun deliver them to Zeyu." The cloth shop had lost money, and her younger brother, worried she might be concerned, would never approach her on his own. Now that she had money in hand, there was no point in hoarding it. Nanny Qiu acknowledged the instruction and divided the bank notes into two portions. The next day, after learning that Old Madame had gone out, Nanny Qiu summoned Er Shun. No sooner had Er Shun left than He Pingping arrived. Caiyue looked down on He Pingping and snorted coldly, "Someone like her is better not seen. She might spout all sorts of nonsense and trouble you, Eldest Young Madame." "She's pregnant, and Old Madame and Second Master value her belly. If I refuse to see her, it would easily give people something to talk about. Caiyue, if you don't want to see her, just stay inside. Caixia, come with me." Cui Lingrong went to the main hall and saw He Pingping with red-rimmed eyes, so she asked what was wrong. "Your servant pays respects to Eldest Young Madame." He Pingping kept her head lowered, as meek as a kitten not yet weaned. She didn't say what was wrong, but tears fell immediately. Cui Lingrong wasn't concerned about He Pingping's affairs. She held her teacup, composed and unhurried, taking small sips. Caixia spoke on her mistress's behalf, "If Concubine He has something to say, you may speak directly. The Eldest Young Madame is not one to beat around the bush. You must speak up before the Eldest Young Madame can know whether she can help." "Your servant knows that in this household, the Eldest Young Madame is the kindest person." With that, He Pingping knelt down. "I beg the Eldest Young Madame to help me. I... I truly don't want to keep fighting with my cousin... the Second Young Madame." Only then did Cui Lingrong look up at her. "Your food and daily expenses are all provided directly from the household accounts. As far as I know, the Second Master has also given you private property. Your life shouldn't be difficult." "Food and clothing are more than enough—it's that the Second Young Madame won't acknowledge me." He Pingping had gone to pay her respects several times but was turned away at the door each time. "No matter how great my fault, since the Second Young Madame and I both serve the Marquis, it would be better for us to get along harmoniously. As long as the Second Young Madame can let go of her anger, I'm willing to be her beast of burden." "So then, what does your matter with the Second Young Madame have to do with me?" Cui Lingrong asked. "I heard that the Eldest Young Madame has been close with the Second Young Madame lately, so I took the liberty of begging you to mediate." When He Pingping learned that Cui Lingrong had summoned a female physician for Madame Jiang, she grew somewhat anxious. She didn't yet know whether the child in her womb was a son or daughter. If Madame Jiang was also pregnant, whose child would matter more was obvious without comparison. Cui Lingrong understood now—the talk of mediation was a pretense; the real purpose was to pry into Madame Jiang's affairs. Seeing through He Pingping's scheme, Cui Lingrong became less courteous. "I can't get involved in the matters between you two. You are the Second Young Madame's cousin. You know very well how she has treated you." "Your servant knows that the Second Young Madame has shown me great kindness. It's precisely because of that that I wish to repay her." He Pingping said tearfully. "The best way to repay her is to stop appearing before her." Cui Lingrong said, "Concubine He, you are a concubine, and she is the wife. If she doesn't want to deal with you, then stay quietly in your own courtyard. That's better than being summoned by the mistress every day to be disciplined. Be content with what you have, and don't stir up trouble here." Cui Lingrong showed He Pingping no kindness. Someone who would stab others in the back was not worthy of trust. He Pingping's expression turned awkward. Cui Lingrong had someone help He Pingping up. "Go now. I see through your little schemes perfectly. Since you willingly became a concubine, don't harbor delusions about anything else." After those few words, He Pingping's face turned deathly pale. Cui Lingrong wasn't venting on behalf of Madame Jiang—she simply despised He Pingping from the bottom of her heart. Fortunately, her younger brother hadn't taken a liking to He Pingping. If He Pingping had revealed her true nature, she wouldn't have been worthy of him. Speaking of her younger brother, Cui Lingrong couldn't help but worry about the cloth shop's business. She sighed to Caixia, "I wonder if the cloth shop can recover to what it once was." "Young Master Yu is highly capable. Your servant believes he can do it." Speaking of Young Master Yu, Caixia couldn't help but think of Caiyue. Well, those feelings of Caiyue's would fade with time. At that moment, Er Shun had finished a cup of tea at the cloth shop and was walking toward the door. "Please don't see me off. The Eldest Young Madame said that if you're having difficulties, use the money as you see fit. Only when you've rebuilt your business will she be able to receive her dividends." Er Shun bowed to Young Master Yu. Cui Zeyu learned that his sister had given him money the moment she had it, and his heart burned with warmth—his sister still cared about him. At that very moment, Old Madame Song and Princess Rongjia happened to be passing nearby. From inside the carriage, Old Madame Song overheard Er Shun's words and couldn't help but curse, "That worthless wretch!" Princess Rongjia asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with Old Madame?" Old Madame Song pressed her lips together and did not answer. "Although it's Sister Cui's money and we have no say in how she spends it, why is she sending money to Cui Zeyu again?" Princess Rongjia studied Old Madame's expression and continued, "The Marquis Mansion isn't even holding a banquet, yet she's using her money to support a bastard she picked up off the street. I really wonder what she weighs more heavily in her heart." Old Madame Song could not hold back and blurted out, "That's my money, my money!" The money she had just taken from her yesterday was sent to Cui Zeyu today. Cui Lingrong had never even been that good to the Cui family! Old Madame Song could not swallow this indignation, and thinking of how she had been threatened by Cui Lingrong yesterday, she suddenly grabbed Princess Rongjia's hand. "Princess, we must have a son!" Princess Rongjia was startled by Old Madame Song's sudden movement, especially since the scene made her think of Old Madame Du forcing her to drink talisman water. She instinctively shook off Old Madame Song's hand. Old Madame Song fell backward against the wooden panel of the carriage. Bang — she hit it. Everyone in the carriage was stunned. "Are... are you alright?" Princess Rongjia quickly apologized. "Your daughter-in-law didn't mean it. It's just that you were so sudden, and no one has ever grabbed my hand like that. Are you alright?" The carriage was cramped, and Princess Rongjia's movement had not been forceful. Old Madame Song was not hurt, but she was very surprised at why Princess Rongjia had reacted so strongly. She had not done anything, had she? Old Madame Song studied Princess Rongjia and saw that her face had turned pale, apparently frightened. She shook her head and said she was fine. For a moment, no one in the carriage spoke. Princess Rongjia thought Old Madame Song was angry and wondered how to smooth things over. Old Madame Song, meanwhile, was pondering why Princess Rongjia had reacted that way. After a while, Princess Rongjia was the first to bring up the matter of her sister-in-law. "When we get to the Sun residence, let's properly advise Zhizhi. She is now a daughter-in-law of the Sun family, and she should get along better with Old Madame Sun." "Indeed." Thinking of her daughter, Old Madame Song could not help but sigh. "Zhizhi was raised by me to be rather naive. Yesterday Old Madame Sun mentioned a writ of divorce. I don't know what she was thinking — how could she bring up such a thing?" "She was probably just speaking casually. Don't overthink it. Zhizhi has been married into the Sun family for so many years now. With Qin'er about to be betrothed, Old Madame Sun would not divorce Zhizhi at a time like this. Families inevitably have their quarrels; once things are talked through, it will be fine." Princess Rongjia was still shaken. However, she did not bring it up, and Old Madame Song did not ask again. On the surface, the two acted as if nothing had just happened. Meanwhile, the sound of Old Madame Song hitting the carriage had caught Cui Zeyu's attention. Seeing that it was the carriage of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, he followed it all the way. When he saw the carriage stop at the Sun residence but did not catch sight of his sister, he was about to leave when a broad hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, startling him. "It's me!" Seeing Cui Zeyu clench his fists, Xie Yunting quickly spoke up. "What are you skulking around for? Anyone would think you were following some young lady!" "Brother Xie, why are you here?" Cui Zeyu did not explain. "Don't even mention it. I just came out of the Qin residence. Do you know what the Qin family wanted with me today?" Xie Yunting grew angrier as he spoke. "They said the Emperor's betrothal decree didn't specify which daughter of the Qin family, and it was originally understood to be the third young lady, but now they want to switch to the fourth." Xie Yunting grew angrier as he spoke. "Do I look like someone who would accept just anyone? The Qin family wants to fob me off — not a chance. Come on, keep me company for a few drinks!"