Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

After Huadie left, Caixia, holding her breath, learned that the princess had invited the second mistress, who had then gone to Shou'an Hall. Feeling wronged for her mistress, she was also worried. "Eldest mistress," she said, "it seems the princess wants the second mistress to go see the old lady. What if the old lady pressures you and insists you give her money?"

Cui Lingrong said no, "The old lady values ​​her reputation more than her life. No matter what she thinks, she won't send anyone to find me. Not only that, she'll also be considerate and care about me, saying I should have done this a long time ago."

Having known each other for over a decade, Cui Lingrong knew the Song family inside and out.

Since Princess Rongjia is vying for power with her, and Song Shulan is biased towards Princess Rongjia, then Cui Lingrong will give way for a while.

Let's see how capable Princess Rongjia is.

While the master and servant were talking, Caiyue came in and said that Aunt Qiu had gotten into a fight with the people from Wutong Garden.

Cui Lingrong's expression softened. "What happened?"

"Hua Die and her entourage insisted that the two young masters go to Wutong Garden first. Mama Qiu refused, and after several shoves, she tripped and fell." Cai Yue's forehead was beaded with sweat. "Princess, you're such a busybody! Xuan-ge'er and Jin-ge'er are your children; she's meddling in things that don't concern her!"

Cui Lingrong immediately led her people to the front yard.

Just as they rounded the round gate, they heard Huadie cursing, "The princess is also the legal mother of the two young masters. She kindly prepared food for them, so how come in your old hag's mouth, the princess has ill intentions?"

Qiu's mother blushed with anger. She was the eldest mistress's confidante. The princess had sent Huadie out not only to snatch the two boys, but also to humiliate the eldest mistress.

"Xuan-ge'er and the others are the eldest mistress's children. According to the rules and etiquette, they should go to see the eldest mistress first. You keep saying you're acting on the princess's orders, but I doubt it. The princess is a kind person; how could she stoop so low as to snatch other people's children? Perhaps you, this lowly servant, are being disobedient and taking a trivial matter as an imperial edict?" Madam Qiu couldn't speak ill of her mistress; scolding the princess would only bring trouble to the eldest mistress. But she could scold Hua-die, and if anyone was smart, they would know she was referring to the princess.

"How dare you call me a lowly servant?" Huadie had already followed the Marquis and considered herself superior. She raised her hand to rush over, but before she could hit Qiu Mama, she heard a dignified "Huadie" and turned around to see the First Madam with a gloomy face.

Cui Lingrong stepped down the stairs. "When did the rules of the Marquis's mansion go awry? Who gave you the right to shout and yell here, and even lecture my people?"

Upon seeing the eldest mistress, Huadie immediately felt guilty, but then remembered that she had the princess's support, and she regained her composure. "Your Highness, this servant dares not forget the rules. The princess kindly invited the two young masters to come and sit down; she has no other intentions."

"Isn't that a bit too hasty?" As Cui Lingrong spoke, Madam Qiu had already brought the two boys behind her. Looking at her two sons, she told Madam Qiu to take them back to Qiushuangzhai first, while she herself stood in front of Huadie, saying, "What? My sons, can't I take them back with me?"

"no……"

"What is that?" Cui Lingrong rarely pressed her point, but this time, Princess Rongjia had crossed her line. "Are you saying that the princess loves the child more than I do, that I, the biological mother, am unimportant, and the princess is more important?"

Cui Lingrong exuded a powerful aura, leaving Hua Die speechless.

Seeing that Hua Die was foolish, Cui Lingrong smiled and asked Hua Die, "I heard that the princess just married into the family and immediately put you with the marquis. You're younger than both the princess and me, so the marquis must treat you well, right? When does the princess plan to make you her concubine?"

Hua Die longed for a formal title, but since the princess didn't mention it, she didn't dare to ask.

"How about I ask around for you?" Cui Lingrong's gentle eyes made it easy for people to lower their guard.

Hua Die asked instinctively, "Really?"

"Of course," Cui Lingrong said, adding that she would go to Wutong Garden to help Huadie get a formal status.

Hua Die was bewildered, her mind filled with the thought of becoming a concubine, unaware that something was amiss.

This was the first time Cui Lingrong had set foot in Wutong Garden since Princess Rongjia married into the Marquis's mansion. As soon as she entered the courtyard, everyone looked over, all with surprised expressions.

The maid at the door saw her and, momentarily at a loss for words, stammered, "You...you've come?"

"Princess, you care about Xuan-ge'er and Jin-ge'er. As their mother, of course I have to come and express my gratitude." As Cui Lingrong spoke, Caiyue took the initiative to lift the curtain and went in first without waiting for anyone from Wutong Courtyard to pass on the message.

Princess Rongjia hurried out of the house, her face beaming with smiles. "Sister, what brings you here? Please have a seat. I'm so happy you could come. Qingxue, go and get the Da Hong Pao robe I just got this year."

She gazed at Cui Lingrong with longing, as if they were truly sisters.

Hua Die glanced at the princess, then looked at the eldest mistress out of the corner of her eye. She was excited, but also gradually became uneasy. What if the princess didn't agree?

Cui Lingrong noticed Huadie's subtle movements. Looking at the served red tea, she showed no intention of drinking it. "Huadie went to fetch someone just now. I was afraid it was just the servants spreading rumors again. Since we live under the same roof, it's better to avoid misunderstandings. Huadie said the princess asked her to wait for Brother Xuan, but I don't know if that's true?"

"Oh dear, what a forgetful thing I am! I forgot that Sister Cui had already returned. Thinking that Brother Xuan and his brother were studying hard, I prepared food for them. While you were away, they were both so filial and sensible; I truly loved them." Princess Rongjia laughed twice. "Sister Cui is right. You are their birth mother; I should have gone to see you first. Sister Cui, you won't blame me, will you? I was just worried and confused."

Cui Lingrong said no, "I'm happy that the princess is good to them. But the princess has never been a mother, so she may not understand how I, her own mother, feel. Every child is the apple of a mother's eye, and she hopes they are the best to her and me."

Princess Rongjia has never given birth; there's no need to inquire about it, as all the prominent families in Bianjing know this.

As soon as Cui Lingrong finished speaking, she noticed Princess Rongjia's smile stiffen slightly. Turning to Huadie, she said, "Speaking of which, besides me, the other two concubines by the Marquis's side are also veterans. Huadie is the Princess's person, and to have received the Princess's favor, Huadie must be quite capable. If you ask me, since both the Princess and the Marquis are satisfied with Huadie, why not give her a formal title, so she can serve the Marquis wholeheartedly? What do you think?"

Song Shulan didn't have many women in his room. After Cui Lingrong married into the family, she promoted Song Shulan's maid to concubine.

Two years later, Song Shulan's colleague gave him a beautiful concubine, but he had no other concubines.

Neither of the concubines had children. When Concubine Zhang was a maid, the old lady gave her too much safflower, making her unable to conceive. Concubine Zhao did have a child once, but she was weak and miscarried, and never conceived again.

Cui Lingrong was not a petty mistress. Her servants were sensible and obedient, and she never mistreated her two concubines.

Before she married Song Shulan, her aunt repeatedly emphasized to her that she should not expect a man's love, but rather to obtain his money and power.

Love may change, but money and power will not.

Although Choi Ling-yong couldn't do this when she was young, she is now slowly seeing things more clearly.

She saw the expressions on Princess Rongjia's and Huadie's faces. If Princess Rongjia wanted to interfere in her child's affairs, she would let Princess Rongjia experience what it felt like to be in charge of the people in Wutong Garden.

The room was quiet for a while.

Cui Lingrong then apologized, "Oh dear, I was being nosy. Hua Die is the princess's person, so the princess must have made arrangements for you. Miss Hua Die, I've said what I promised you. Brother Xuan just returned to the manor, so I won't sit down any longer. I'll come and talk to the princess again next time."

When she got up, the tea had cooled down and lost its heat.

After Cui Lingrong left, Princess Rongjia glanced over and Huadie's heart trembled. Before she could figure out what was happening, Princess Rongjia slapped her hard across the face.

"Smack."

It was extremely crisp and loud.