Chapter 97

Chapter 97: County Mistress "Lady Cui, don't go too far!" Prince Rong gritted his teeth. "Brother Emperor, Rongjia hasn't committed any great offense—why strip her of her title?" Cui Lingrong didn't respond to Prince Rong. Song Shulan also didn't want Rongjia to cease being a Commandery Princess—after all, Rongjia was his Equal Wife, and her status elevated his own. Xie Yunting said, "Why not? Wearing the title of Commandery Princess while doing nothing good is what truly shames the Emperor!" "Xie Yunting, the Emperor hasn't spoken yet—it's not your place to interrupt!" Prince Rong was furious. Xie Yunting, however, was unbothered. "Is the Prince angry from embarrassment? No need for that. You are you, and your daughter is your daughter. I never said 'when the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam leans,' so why are you in such a hurry?" Xie Yunting raised an eyebrow and smiled. Prince Rong was simmering with rage. Just as he was about to plead with the Emperor, the Emperor spoke first. "Yunting is right. Since Rongjia is not a first-time offender, she shall be demoted to County Mistress." The Emperor had to make a concession. "As for that Cui... Cui what's-his-name?" Xie Yunting: "Cui Zeyu." "Oh, Cui Zeyu. He suffered injustice, so let Rongjia compensate him double. Lady Cui, is that acceptable?" The Emperor was already weary, his tone revealing impatience. Cui Lingrong knew this was as far as she could push today. She stopped while she was ahead. "Thank you, Your Majesty. This woman thanks you on behalf of my younger brother. You are a wise sovereign, and my brother and I are deeply grateful." As for Rongjia the Commandery Princess—no, now Rongjia the County Mistress—she wished she could go over and beat Cui Lingrong to death. But the moment she raised her head, she met her father's shaking head. Since Cui Lingrong wasn't pressing further, if the Rong Prince Mansion refused to let it go, the Emperor's fondness for the mansion would diminish. Prince Rong was still hoping the Emperor would adopt his son so he could rise to glory. Rongjia the County Mistress bit her lip hard. She hated Cui Lingrong, wished Cui Lingrong would die this instant! The Emperor told them all to leave and ordered Rongjia the County Mistress to reflect on her actions for a month upon returning home. As Cui Lingrong rose, her knees trembled slightly. This was the small measure of success she had achieved with all her might. She walked out of the great hall first. When she looked back, she saw Song Shulan walk over to stand beside Rongjia the County Mistress, leaving without looking back. "Sister Cui, wait a moment." At the palace gate, Xie Yunting approached her. "You're going to see Brother Cui, aren't you? Shall I go with you?" Cui Lingrong said yes. When Song Shulan exited the palace, he saw this scene—Xie Yunting standing by the carriage, smiling warmly at Cui Lingrong, as if they were husband and wife. "Master Song, I—" "The County Mistress needn't explain. I know you acted rashly in a moment of confusion. Besides, that brat Cui Zeyu truly is insufferable." Song Shulan wasn't angry, because Rongjia the County Mistress had targeted Cui Zeyu. If it were him, he'd want to kill Cui Zeyu too. Hearing Song Shulan say this, Rongjia the County Mistress felt even more certain that marrying Song Shulan had been the right choice. The two of them had grown up together, after all. They boarded the carriage together, and Rongjia the County Mistress gripped Song Shulan's hand tightly. "Master Song, I'll never do anything foolish again. The fact that you spoke up for me today proves you have me in your heart." "In my heart, you are naturally the most important." Song Shulan looked at the gentle, considerate Rongjia the County Mistress and felt deeply pleased. Then, thinking of Cui Lingrong leaving with Xie Yunting, Song Shulan's face darkened again. "Just now Sister Cui left with Xie Yunting—they're probably going to see Cui Zeyu. I truly don't understand why Sister Cui values Cui Zeyu so much." Song Shulan said he didn't understand either. "Anyone who didn't know better would think they were real siblings." He snorted, then called for Qingshan. "Go to Cui Zeyu's place. Tell the Eldest Madam to remember her position—she is the Eldest Madam of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. If she refuses to come home tonight, then she need never come home at all!" It was getting late. Song Shulan's words were spoken out of jealousy, especially when he thought of Xie Yunting and Cui Lingrong together. That bastard Xie Yunting might very well have designs on Cui Lingrong. The more Song Shulan thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He grew restless, and after returning to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, he sent someone again to urge Cui Lingrong to come home. At that moment, Cui Lingrong had just met her younger brother with Xie Yunting. Xie Yunting glanced at Cui Zeyu and remarked with a sigh, "Brother Cui is fortunate indeed—to have a sister like Sister Cui is a blessing earned from your past life." Cui Zeyu had grown much thinner. He said guiltily, "I've caused you both worry." "Not at all." Cui Lingrong was the one who felt guilty. "Because of me, Rongjia the County Mistress targeted you. Fortunately, this incident has left a bad impression of her with the Emperor, and I've also had people spread word of her deeds throughout Bianjing." "Then won't your family's Old Madame be angry?" Cui Zeyu feared his sister would be blamed by Old Madame Song. "Let her be angry. Even if she believes in her heart that I spread the rumors, she has no proof." Cui Lingrong was now emboldened and cared little for such hollow reputation and face. Cui Zeyu clenched his fists, suddenly regretting. "If I had gritted my teeth and persisted with the Imperial Examination back then, and earned an Official Rank today, I wouldn't have been humiliated to this extent." Cui Lingrong, however, did not see it that way. "Serving as an official does bring status and prestige, but you went into business to make our lives better. In my eyes, that is not inferior at all." Hearing his sister say this, Cui Zeyu felt even worse. His sister thought so highly of him, yet he lacked the ability to protect himself and had been schemed against without the means to save himself. And all of this was because of his merchant origins. Having done business for many years, Cui Zeyu knew very well that the world looked down on merchants. As they were speaking, Er Shun came to deliver a message, saying that Qingshan had arrived to urge the eldest young mistress to return to the residence. It was getting dark, and Cui Lingrong truly could not stay any longer. "I'll have Nanny Qiu stay behind to look after you. Rest well and don't overthink things." Cui Zeyu said there was no need for such trouble, but Cui Lingrong insisted on leaving Nanny Qiu behind. Xie Yunting also took his leave. He caught up with Cui Lingrong's pace, walking alongside her and calling out, "Sister Cui." Cui Lingrong was deeply grateful to Xie Yunting. "This matter has troubled General Xie once again. If there is anything you need, you may tell me directly, and I will do my utmost to help." "As a matter of fact, there is something I'd like to ask Sister Cui about. Brother Cui should have told you about my marriage arrangement. This match was bestowed by the Emperor himself, so there is no backing out of it. The Qin family knows they are in the wrong and have let me make my own choice. But I am not familiar with either of the two young ladies of the Qin family—I don't know which one is good and which is not. Could you help me look into it? Ideally, I'd like to meet them and get to know them." said Xie Yunting. Cui Lingrong agreed without hesitation. "The Qin family is connected to the Duke of Dingguo's household by marriage, and they have a roundabout connection to me as well, so I do encounter them at certain gatherings. Since you have entrusted this matter to me, I will certainly look into it thoroughly. But General Xie, marriage is a matter of a lifetime. Before you've even wed, you've already had a falling out with the Qin family—is this marriage truly impossible to annul?" Xie Yunting gave a bitter smile. "You saw the Emperor yourself today. It truly cannot be annulled." "Very well." Cui Lingrong walked to the doorway, then paused to think for a moment before saying, "General Xie, you are a truly good person, and I sincerely hope your marriage goes smoothly. I will help you vet this matter, but if neither of the two Qin ladies is suitable, you should fight for yourself—after all, it is a matter of a lifetime." Recalling how Xie Yunting had confronted Prince Rong before the Emperor, Cui Lingrong felt that Xie Yunting was someone who would dare to go all out. Xie Yunting said "very well," but in his heart, he was thinking of something else entirely... something Cui Lingrong could never have imagined.