Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Cui Lingrong and Song Shulan had been married for fifteen years. Before Princess Rongjia married into the family, she always felt that she and Song Shulan had a good relationship.

So many years of friendship couldn't compare to the sudden appearance of Princess Rongjia.

Perhaps, in a man's eyes, his career is far more important than his wife.

The thought that had just popped into her head startled Cui Lingrong.

The fact that she would even think of making Song Shulan unable to have children shows how much resentment she had accumulated in her heart.

Qiu's mother thought it was feasible, "You already have three children, so you don't need to rely on them to solidify your position. If someone else can't have children, Princess Rongjia can't possibly take your children away; she'll never have children in her life."

Cui Lingrong was moved.

"Why don't we wait until Grandma Luo comes to Bianjing and then find an opportunity to ask her?" Neither Qiu's mother nor her master knew anything about medicine. Although they had thought of a direction, they didn't have a feasible plan.

You can't go to an outside doctor for this kind of thing.

If she's not careful, Cui Lingrong could easily ruin her reputation.

You need to find someone reliable.

"Mm." Cui Lingrong nodded.

A few days later, Lanxin and Zhuqing came together to pay their respects to Cui Lingrong, which meant that Song Shulan had accepted her into his service.

Madam Qiu brought over tea. "You serve the county magistrate and also the marquis. The eldest madam appreciates your hard work. This tea is made with ginseng and other tonics."

Lanxin looked down at the dark, murky bowl. The bitter smell of medicine filled her nostrils, and she didn't know whether she should drink it or not.

Zhu Qing, who came from the Rong Prince's Mansion, put down the bowl again. "Thank you for your concern, Madam, but I'm afraid it's too bitter and I really can't drink it. I'd better leave it for someone else to drink, so as not to waste such a good thing."

Cui Lingrong didn't speak. What Aunt Qiu brought was naturally genuine tonic. If she openly forced Lanxin and Zhuqing to take the medicine, and Princess Rongjia told others, her reputation would be ruined.

However, this bowl of tonic was used as a test.

Mother Qiu continued, "Good medicine tastes bitter, but it's the eldest mistress's good intention. If you don't drink it, wouldn't that be disrespectful?"

The eldest mistress is the master, while Lanxin and Zhuqing are just maids who share a room, not even concubines. How dare they disobey their master?

Lan Xin thought for a moment, then took a sip and drank it all in one go.

Zhu Qing moistened her lips with the medicine, then exclaimed "Oops!" and knocked over the medicine bowl. "Please forgive me, Madam. I didn't hold it properly and knocked it over."

"It's alright, let Aunt Qiu bring another bowl," Cui Lingrong said.

"No need!" Zhu Qing blurted out instinctively.

Cui Lingrong looked her over scrutinizingly. "What, do you think I would give you poison?" She had barely finished asking when she saw the panic in Zhu Qing's eyes and knew that's what Zhu Qing was thinking. "So that's what you think of me?"

"This servant wouldn't dare, this servant is truly useless." Zhu Qing knelt down. Before she came, Chen Mama had repeatedly told her to pay attention to what the eldest mistress gave her and what she said. Now she understood why Chen Mama had given her such instructions.

In a short while, Zhu Qing's back was covered in a fine layer of sweat.

Cui Lingrong stared at Zhu Qing, then called out "Aunt Qiu," and Aunt Qiu brought over another bowl of tonic.

Even if she was arranged by Princess Rongjia, once she became Song Shulan's maid, she would have to call her "Mistress".

It's necessary to give the people from Wutongyuan a hard time.

Zhu Qing stared at the dark medicine bowl in front of her and bit her lip hard.

"It seems the young lady still doesn't dare to drink it. Then take it back and let the county magistrate check it out." After saying that, Madam Qiu placed the bowl in Zhu Qing's hands.

Cui Lingrong waved her hand, and Zhu Qing walked out of Qiushuangzhai with a bowl in her hand, her back completely soaked.

Many people on the street looked over curiously, especially at the bowl in Zhu Qing's hand.

Some people heard it was a tonic, but Zhu Qing wouldn't drink it, and for a time, people who saw it had all sorts of opinions.

Zhu Qing was utterly humiliated. Returning to Wutong Courtyard, she knelt before Princess Rongjia and wept bitterly, "I remembered Chen Mama's words; how could I dare drink anything given by the eldest mistress? Yet she made me bring it back, with so many people watching along the way. How can I face anyone after this?"

As expected, Mrs. Chen was right; the eldest mistress is no good person. She lost face today; who knows what she might do something even worse someday.

Princess Rongjia was actually annoyed by Zhu Qing and the other two. If she hadn't been forced to, she wouldn't have arranged two maids for Song Shulan.

Hearing Zhu Qing crying, he felt even more annoyed, but he still had to pretend to be magnanimous. "Stop crying. It's not wrong for you to be careful. You're one of my people. If anyone says anything against you, I'll slap them across the face. I'll back you up."

Zhu Qing wiped away her tears, sobbing.

Lanxin remained silent. She was bought from outside. If her family hadn't been struggling to make ends meet, why would she have been willing to become a maidservant in a wealthy household?

Princess Rongjia looked at the two beautiful maids and really didn't want to say anything more. She glanced at Chen De's wife, who then led the two women out.

After a while, Chen De's wife returned and said, "Your Highness, the doctor examined her and said that the medicine the eldest mistress gave her was a tonic, not a miscarriage-inducing drug."

"As expected of Cui Lingrong, she scared Zhu Qing half to death. That fool Zhu Qing must have thought it was an abortifacient and dared not drink a drop." After speaking of Zhu Qing, Princess Rongjia was dissatisfied with Lanxin's actions. "Things bought from outside are never as good as those born in the wild. Isn't she afraid it really is an abortifacient?"

She invited Lanxin and the other girl into the manor so that they could have children, but Lanxin ended up drinking what Cui Lingrong gave her.

"Lanxin is from outside, so it's normal for her to be afraid of the eldest mistress," Chen De's wife said. "Anyway, their indentures are in your hands. This time, they definitely won't be like Huadie."

Speaking of Hua Die, Princess Rongjia was filled with anger again. The thought of having two more women sharing her favor made her feel even worse.

She snorted, "Alright, stop saying things I don't like to hear."

Chen De's wife immediately understood and changed the subject to the Duke of Dingguo's residence, "The Duchess of Dingguo sent us an invitation, saying it's for flower viewing in the spring. I heard that the Duchess of Dingguo has found a few young boys from her clan and wants to bring them to the public. Do you want to go?"

"Go ahead, I've been so bored these days. Of course I have to go see the good show at the Duke of Dingguo's house. By the way, was the invitation delivered to me separately, or is it also sent to Qiushuangzhai?" Princess Rongjia asked.

Chen Dejia said, "It's just for you."

Princess Rongjia was pleased. "It's good that the Duchess has good judgment; she knows that Cui Lingrong is not presentable."

Cui Lingrong had also heard about this matter at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. It was Yuan Mingzhu who sent her son to deliver something to Cui Lingrong and also wrote her a letter.

As Yuan Mingzhu's belly grew larger, the Jiang family forbade her from leaving the house, but she knew of interesting things and couldn't wait to share them.

"Mother said that when Lady Song has time, you must go and see her. She has prepared a lot to say to you," Yuan Mingzhu's eldest son said with a hearty laugh.

Cui Lingrong agreed, "Go and tell your mother that I will go to see Xuan-ge'er after he goes to take the prefectural examination."

After agreeing on a time, Cui Lingrong went to read Yuan Mingzhu's letter again and learned that the Duke of Dingguo and his wife were having a huge fight. She just treated it as an amusing story.

The next day, the Duchess of Dingguo's invitation arrived at her place, not to invite her to a banquet, but to meet her alone for tea, which she found rather strange.

The elder sister of the Yuan family has already returned to Suzhou. She has never had any contact with the Lady of Dingguo. Why would she arrange to meet with her?