Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Hua Die's cheeks burned with pain. Fear made her kneel down with a thud, tears streaming down her face like broken beads. "Your Highness... Your Highness, this servant..."

She still couldn't figure out what she had done wrong.

"idiot!"

Princess Rongjia couldn't help but retort, "You're one of my people, so what's with you going to beg Cui Lingrong for help? I've already put you on the side of the Marquis, so there will definitely be a day when you're promoted. But you can't wait any longer. Are you deliberately trying to see me humiliated by Cui Lingrong?"

"No, I didn't," Huadie said, adding that she hadn't asked for help. "She said it herself; I really didn't ask her for any help."

"Are you mute? Can't you refuse her?" Princess Rongjia chose Huadie as her concubine because she thought Huadie was pretty but brainless, and that she could be taken advantage of if she was a little stupid. But she didn't expect Huadie to be so stupid. "She said in public that she wanted to make you her concubine. Now, as you wished, if I don't make you her concubine, I'll be considered petty."

Admittedly, Princess Rongjia was disgusted.

She had her own plans for Hua Die, but now that Cui Lingrong had disrupted them, she still had to thank Cui Lingrong, which was even more unpleasant than swallowing a fly.

Hua Die covered her mouth, not daring to cry out loud, nor daring to explain further, for fear of saying the wrong thing.

"After the Mid-Autumn Festival, I'll have someone calculate an auspicious date, and I'll have the Marquis grant you a title. You don't need to serve me these next few days; go back and rest." Princess Rongjia didn't want to see Huadie. As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the joy flash in Huadie's eyes and regretted choosing Huadie even more.

Hua Die thought that taking a slap wouldn't be a loss, since she would gain practical benefits anyway. If she had a son or daughter in the future, she could establish herself in the Marquis's mansion.

After sending Hua Die away, Princess Rongjia still couldn't calm down.

If Wang Shanxi's wife hadn't been unable to get up, she wouldn't be without anyone to offer advice.

With that thought in mind, she led a group of people to visit Wang Shanxi's family.

Upon learning that their master had arrived, Wang Shanxi's wife was deeply moved, crying tears of joy and insisting on getting up to pay her respects.

"Alright, you're already like this, don't worry about such things." Princess Rongjia pressed down on Wang Shanxi's shoulder, making her continue to lie down. "You need to take good care of yourself; I can't live without you."

She sighed and recounted what had happened that day.

Wang Shanxi's wife chimed in with a curse, "That woman from Qiushuangzhai sells cloth and salt; she's no busybody. Huadie is from Wutongyuan; when did it become her place to make arrangements?"

As she got emotional, she subconsciously remembered something that aggravated her wound, causing her to wince in pain. "Never mind, Huadie's indenture is in your hands, and she's a stupid and ignorant person who can't cause any trouble. You were originally planning to promote her anyway, but it was a little too soon."

Princess Rongjia said that her heart felt very heavy.

"If the princess wants to promote Huadie, she should make Huadie happy, so as not to alienate those around her." She was referring to the slap the princess gave Huadie.

"I know, I'll send her some fine jewelry later. I still can't live without you; without your reminders, I can't control my temper." Princess Rongjia sighed as she spoke. "Song Lang is good to me; he's given me all the respect I deserve. In this Marquis's mansion, all I'm missing is a child of my own."

only……

Princess Rongjia did not continue.

Wang Shanxi's wife tactfully said, "Princess, you are still young. We have a long future ahead of us. You will eventually have your own child. Besides, the two sons of the eldest son's family like you quite a bit. That girl from Qiushuangzhai is disgusting to us. We can also make them and their son drift apart."

Princess Rongjia's eyes lit up. "What's your plan?"

Wang Shanxi's wife lowered her voice, "Come closer, this old servant has something to say to you..."

At this moment, in Qiushuangzhai, Cui Lingrong carefully examined her two sons twice, and asked about their food and lodging over the past few months. She breathed a sigh of relief when she learned that Princess Rongjia had not cut back on their food and clothing.

Song Mingjin was only eight years old, the youngest child in the eldest branch of the family. Lively and adorable, he was doted on by the old lady and Song Shulan. His speech was still filled with childlike innocence and naivety. "Actually, Princess Mother is quite kind. The clothes she bought for me and my brother are things that even the brothers of the Su family can't afford. She knew I liked Cuju (ancient Chinese football), so she specially commissioned a craftsman to make them for me. I also… Ahh, Eldest Sister, why are you twisting my ear? Ouch, ouch, ouch!"

Song Yu couldn't stand it anymore. "You opportunistic scoundrel! Is she your mother? How dare you call her that?"

"Father and grandmother told us to call them that. I listened to them, so what's wrong with that?" Song Mingjin said aggrievedly, covering her ears and hiding behind her brother, her eyes red.

Song Mingxuan was older and, having overheard the servants' discussions these past few days, understood quite a bit. He helped his younger brother stop his older sister, saying, "When the princess entered the house, neither Mother nor my eldest sister were home, so no one taught us what to do. Jin-ge is young, so it's normal for him to develop feelings for those who treat him well."

He paused deliberately, looking at his mother, "But Mother, Father's marriage to the Princess is a done deal. Do you want to compete with the Princess, or do you intend to coexist peacefully?"

Cui Lingrong looked at her eldest son. Of her three children, her eldest son was the one who resembled her the most. Although he was young, he was much more mature than his peers. He was a child that Cui Lingrong had raised and nurtured since childhood.

"What do you think?" Cui Lingrong asked her son in return. She no longer treated them as children. The princess was shrewd, and she couldn't protect them in every way. They had to be aware of it themselves.

Song Mingxuan pondered for a moment, but dared not look at his mother. "Father is obsessed with his career. Marrying Princess Rongjia is a good thing for him. In this respect, Father will definitely favor Princess Rongjia and pay less attention to us. When Princess Rongjia gives birth to a son, our lineage will probably be... probably not as good as the princess's son."

From the very beginning, Song Mingxuan felt uncomfortable with Princess Rongjia's overtures. Logically, Princess Rongjia should have rejected him and his brother, but she treated them very well.

He remained on guard, trying to find some flaws in Princess Rongjia's defenses, but he failed to discover that the princess intended to harm them.

The more this happened, the more uneasy he became.

"Son? Princess... Princess is pregnant with a little brother?" Song Mingjin peeked out from behind her brother, her round little face full of doubt.

Song Mingxuan said no, "but it will happen sooner or later."

As the eldest son of the Marquis's family, Song Mingxuan was given special attention and cultivation by his father from a young age. He knew very well how much his father valued his future.

Song Mingjin didn't understand. "Why would it happen sooner or later?"

Song Yu couldn't stand it anymore. She took a deep breath and said, "As long as Father still dotes on Princess Rongjia, she'll have a child sooner or later. Who do you take after? How come you can't even understand what I'm saying?"

"Mother, my elder sister called me stupid!" Song Mingjin complained, pointing at her elder sister.

"I didn't!" Song Yu denied it.

The siblings simultaneously snorted and turned their heads away, refusing to look at each other.

Madam Qiu smoothed things over, saying, "Jin-ge'er, don't misunderstand. Yu-jie'er didn't mean that. And please don't think Jin-ge'er is asking too many questions. He's still young, and it's normal that he doesn't understand some things."

"I'm feeling wronged on behalf of my mother," Song Yu said, looking at her mother. "Even if we want to coexist peacefully with Princess Rongjia, it doesn't necessarily mean she thinks the same way."

Song Mingxuan hesitated slightly at this point, saying, "If it can be like this, then it's actually a good thing."

He was still young and had no official rank, so even if he wanted to do something, he couldn't compete with Princess Rongjia.

Song Yu's eyes widened as she listened, scolding her younger brother for being unambitious, "What do you mean by 'good'? Mother's power to manage the household has been taken away, Father has to share half with others, and we have to live by the nose of others in the mansion. Is that good?"

Song Mingxuan felt he couldn't reason with his elder sister, his small chest heaving. "Then what do you suggest? Do you have a way to outmaneuver Princess Rongjia? Or do you have the ability to reclaim the household management power for Mother?"

Seeing that the siblings were about to start arguing, Cui Lingrong told them to "quiet down," saying, "Yu-jie, when you came home, didn't you say you missed your brothers? Why are you arguing again as soon as you see them?"

She sighed softly, "My relationship with the princess is our own affair. What I need to tell you now is that you must always be wary of others. The situation at the Marquis's residence will be different from now on. Be careful when you see anyone from Wutong Courtyard, understand?"

"I know, you have to make sure Xuan-ge and Jin-ge remember this." Song Yu was still angry, and immediately turned her back to her brothers after saying that.

Song Mingxuan nodded; he understood without his mother needing to tell him.

Song Mingjin was confused. "So, does that mean I can't accept anything the princess gives me in the future?"

"You can ask me first," Cui Lingrong said.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than someone arrived at Shou'an Hall, saying that the old lady had prepared a special dinner after learning that Xuan-ge'er and his brothers had returned, and that all three branches of the family would be having dinner at Shou'an Hall that evening.

Seeing that it was getting late, Cui Lingrong told the children to go back to wash up and change their clothes before heading to Shou'an Hall together.

As the group arrived at the entrance of Shou'an Hall, they happened to run into Song Shulan and Princess Rongjia.

Song Mingxuan bowed first and said, "Father, are you well?" Then he looked at Princess Rongjia and said, "Princess, are you well?"

Song Yu did not want to greet Princess Rongjia, but only bowed to his father.

Song Mingjin first looked up at her mother, and after her mother nodded, she bowed to her father and the others.

Cui Lingrong skillfully called out "Lord Marquis," and subtly moved to Song Shulan's side, talking about the children's daily life. "Xuan-ge'er got a top grade in his studies. He said it was because you taught him. You'll have to keep an eye on Jin-ge'er's writing too. Only when Lord Marquis is watching him will he write obediently."

While Princess Rongjia was momentarily stunned, she had already fallen behind Cui Lingrong and Song Shulan. Listening to their familiar and tacit conversation, a bitter feeling welled up in her heart, along with waves of resentment.