Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Making Inquiries When Cui Lingrong returned to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, the night was already deep. Just as she entered the courtyard, Caiyue ran out and whispered, "Eldest Madam, the Marquis has been waiting for an hour, and his expression is especially grim." "I understand. Go get some rest," Cui Lingrong said. Caiyue then asked about Nanny Qiu. "She's at Young Master Yu's place." Cui Lingrong walked into the room and saw Song Shulan with a livid face. She didn't greet him proactively but sat down and asked Caiyue to prepare some food. "You can still eat?" Song Shulan slammed the table hard. "Why can't I eat? My brother has been vindicated, and the one being punished isn't me. I haven't done anything wrong. Shouldn't the Marquis be blaming Rongjia... County Princess Rongjia instead?" Cui Lingrong deliberately paused. She had a feeling that the relationship between Song Shulan and County Princess Rongjia wasn't as he had described—simply for the sake of his future prospects. Cui Lingrong knew Song Shulan very well. He was somewhat timid and disliked arguments. If it were only about his future, there would be no need to beat around the bush so much. Song Shulan would have handled it more smoothly. "You!" Song Shulan glared at Cui Lingrong. Seeing that she showed not a trace of regret, he rose in indignation. "Fine, fine, fine. Now that you have a backer, you won't listen to me or Mother. But have you considered that Xie Yunting is arrogant and overbearing, offending countless people in Bianjing? When the day comes that he falls, will you still be able to stand so firm as you do now?" "Marquis, my footing in Bianjing has never depended on anyone as my backer. If you think I've done something wrong, you're welcome to summon the clan elders. But you haven't, because you know in your heart that you're not in the right." As Cui Lingrong spoke, Caiyue and Caixia brought over the food. She issued her dismissal. "It's late. I won't keep you. Go find your County Princess Rongjia." "Cui, there will come a day when you cry!" Song Shulan had still expected Cui Lingrong to say something soft to him. "If you don't care about yourself, fine, but if you do something to stray from the marriage, don't ruin Yu-jie's reputation!" "Stray from the marriage?" "Yes, don't think no one knows. You and that Xie Yunting exchange flirtatious glances—any blind man can see that Xie Yunting harbors filthy intentions toward you!" "Don't assume everyone has a heart as dirty as yours. General Xie and I are completely innocent—there has never been anything improper between us!" Cui Lingrong also stood up. Her and Xie Yunting? What a joke. She merely regarded Xie Yunting as a younger brother, and Xie Yunting had always been proper with her, never doing anything inappropriate. As for Song Shulan, Cui Lingrong could only find him unreasonable—he could conjure up anything. "You'd better be!" Song Shulan threw down those words and left with a darkened face. Caixia and Caiyue dared not make a sound. After a long while, Caiyue finally spoke up for her mistress. "The Marquis himself refused to rescue Young Master Yu, and when General Xie was kind enough to help, he turns around and imagines the General as some improper person. If this servant may say so, ever since the Marquis married County Princess Rongjia, he's become a completely different person—utterly unreasonable!" As servants, they would never dare speak ill of their master unless they truly couldn't hold it in anymore. Ever since Caiyue had been gently rejected by Young Master Yu, she had a sense of having nothing left to lose. Since she couldn't see herself with anyone else, she would simply stay by the Eldest Madam's side for the rest of her life. Caixia shot Caiyue a look, then reminded her, "Eldest Madam, please eat something first, or it'll get cold." Only then did Cui Lingrong look at the food on the table. Though she had no appetite, she knew she had to eat—if her body collapsed, wouldn't that just please her enemies? She sat down and ate a full bowl of rice, then had Caixia and Caiyue prepare medicinal herbs to send to the Xie Mansion early the next morning. As for Song Shulan, he went to Huadie's place. He knew County Princess Rongjia must be in a bad mood, and he instinctively didn't want to face her. Huadie was delighted today. Upon learning that County Princess Rongjia had lost her Commandery Princess title, she had been wanting to find out exactly what had happened. Seeing the Marquis arrive, her mood improved even further. Unable to suppress her smile, she took his arm and led him inside. "What's wrong, Marquis? This concubine sees your expression isn't good—are you tired? Or troubled by the County Princess's matter?" "What are people in the mansion saying now?" Song Shulan frowned deeply. Huadie didn't understand at first, then after a moment's pause, she caught on. "You mean about the County Princess? Everyone in the mansion is curious, not understanding how the County Princess went from Commandery Princess to County Princess. The Eldest Madam isn't in the mansion either, so there's no one to keep things in check." After a pause, Huadie couldn't help but ask, "Marquis, what exactly happened to the County Princess?" Song Shulan was already irritated. He had come to Huadie's place to relax in the comfort of a gentle woman's company, and immediately showed an impatient expression. "Don't be nosy about things that aren't your business." He closed his eyes and tapped his shoulder, signaling Huadie to massage him. Huadie immediately understood and began kneading his shoulders. "Then this concubine won't ask. It must be something that troubles you. This concubine has no ability to share your burdens, but if I can make you more comfortable, that makes me happy." Song Shulan nodded in satisfaction and let out a contented hum. But Huadie remembered that County Princess Rongjia had caused the loss of her child, and she wouldn't easily let go of this opportunity. The next day, upon learning that palace matrons had come specifically to oversee County Princess Rongjia's house arrest, she couldn't wait to go to Qiushuang Zhai. "Eldest Madam, what exactly happened yesterday? Why was County Princess Rongjia placed under house arrest and demoted to County Mistress?" Huadie asked, extremely curious. No sooner had she finished asking than Madame Jiang and Madam Li also arrived with their attendants, all for the same matter. Huadie quickly stood up. "Second Madam, Third Madam, greetings." Madam Li nodded to Huadie in acknowledgment. Madame Jiang walked straight past Huadie to Cui Lingrong. "Eldest Sister-in-law, what happened with Princess Rongjia—no, County Mistress Rongjia? The Emperor summoned you and the Marquis to the palace—how serious was it?" Madam Li added, "After you and the Marquis entered the palace yesterday, Third Master and I were beside ourselves with worry. By the time you returned, it was too late to ask, so we came over today specifically to find out what happened." They were both afraid something had happened to the eldest branch. The current Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion relied entirely on the eldest branch to stay afloat. If the eldest branch fell, the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion would decline with it. Even Song Shucheng had sought out Madame Jiang early that morning, urging her to come and probe for information. Seeing Cui Lingrong calmly handling household affairs, Madam Li relaxed somewhat, but Madame Jiang still knitted her brows tightly. "It's nothing major. County Mistress Rongjia hired the Qian family to frame Zeyu, and General Xie caught hold of the evidence. When the Emperor learned that County Mistress Rongjia had harbored malicious intent time and again, he demoted her to County Mistress." As Cui Lingrong spoke, she surveyed the expressions of everyone in the room. "As for the palace matron who came, she's there to teach County Mistress Rongjia proper conduct." Madame Jiang found it unbelievable. County Mistress Rongjia had the backing of the Rong Prince Mansion—how could she have lost to Cui Lingrong? Just how capable was that Xie Yunting? Madam Li remained silent. Since Cui Zeyu was safe now, she could breathe a sigh of relief. As for opinions or observations, she absolutely would not voice them—with Madame Jiang and Huadie both present, she didn't want to court trouble for herself. Huadie, however, couldn't help but laugh out loud. Only when she realized she shouldn't be laughing did she cover her mouth and say, "I apologize—I'm not laughing about the County Mistress's matter. Don't misunderstand." The more she said that, the more it seemed like she was trying to cover something up. Cui Lingrong said, "That's the whole matter. As for how you choose to tell others, that's up to you. I'm not as lenient as I used to be. County Mistress Rongjia has harmed me time and again—I won't protect the Marquis Mansion's reputation for the sake of hers." Hearing this, both Madame Jiang and Madam Li understood that Cui Lingrong and County Mistress Rongjia had completely burned bridges. Huadie asked foolishly, "So we can really talk about it freely?" "As long as you can take responsibility for what you say." Cui Lingrong finished speaking and gestured that they could leave. Huadie wriggled her way out first. Since the Eldest Madam hadn't told her to keep quiet, she was definitely going to spread the word far and wide. Madame Jiang was slightly smarter than Huadie and planned only to tell her natal family. Madam Li, meanwhile, would only tell Song Shuhe—she had no intention of mentioning the matter to her natal family or anyone else. After the three women left, Cui Lingrong finished reviewing the account books, then called for Caixia and Caiyue. "Come. The Emperor said County Mistress Rongjia must compensate Zeyu's losses twofold. Since the Wutong Courtyard hasn't made a move yet, let's go collect what's owed."