Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Xie Yunting didn't recognize him at first glance, but he did it on purpose by saying "You are".

Qin Mengyao blushed immediately and glanced cautiously at the First Madam. Seeing that the First Madam's expression was not good, she felt very uneasy.

Qin Mengting neither went to see Xie Yunting nor her mother.

Madam Qin said calmly, "General Xie, you must have a bad memory; you don't even remember us."

"Indeed, your Qin family has a lot of troubles. One minute it's the third young lady, the next it's the fourth young lady. How could I possibly remember who's who?" Xie Yunting never compromised himself to save face for others. He retorted to Madam Qin and turned to leave.

Just then, the servant arrived and took Xie Yunting away.

As Cui Lingrong was about to leave, she was stopped by Madam Qin, who said, "Madam Song, you and General Xie seem quite close?"

"You can't just say things like that. What do you mean by 'close'?" Cui Lingrong retorted bluntly. "General Xie and my brother are sworn brothers, meaning he's my brother too. Do you consider someone close just because they greet each other and exchange a few words?"

"you!"

"I'll take my leave now, please go ahead." Cui Lingrong didn't linger any longer and turned to go to the female guests.

The Duke of Dingguo's mansion was unusually lively today, as if the Duchess was about to announce something to the world.

After Cui Lingrong sat for a while, the screen between the male and female guests was removed, and the Duchess came out with four boys of different ages, introducing them to everyone one by one.

The Duke of Dingguo looked extremely unwell and didn't even glance at the four boys.

The Duchess always wore a smile. Cui Lingrong glanced at her a few times, but didn't want to get involved, so she quietly drank her tea in the corner.

After a while, Mrs. Wu came looking for them.

Upon seeing Wu, Cui Lingrong quickly stood up.

"There's no need for such formalities between us," Madam Wu said with a smile. "Did you see that just now? Who do you think Madam Qin will choose as her son?"

Cui Lingrong shook her head.

"Do you not know, or do you not want to say?" Madam Wu looked at Cui Lingrong with great interest.

"I really don't know," Cui Lingrong said. "I only heard them exchange a few words; how could I possibly know what kind of people they are? Does the Crown Princess care about this?"

Madam Wu said no, "It was just a casual remark, nothing more." She glanced at Cui Lingrong and then said, "Rongjia is infertile, and you've arranged for two maids to enter the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence. What do you plan to do?"

"I've already given them a warning," Cui Lingrong said. "Princess Consort, we don't have a deep relationship, but we understand each other's predicaments. Can you tell me frankly, is there anything that can make even Prince Rong unable to protect the County Princess?"

Madam Wu knew that Cui Lingrong was intelligent, which was why she approached her. She smiled and shook her head, "If I could tell you, I would have done so long ago. Sister Cui, you are very smart; you should understand."

Cui Lingrong nodded; she understood.

However, the fact that Madam Wu could say this means that Princess Rongjia must have committed a very serious crime.

As for what it is, you can find out as long as you find the right direction.

A trip to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion was definitely worthwhile.

When Cui Lingrong saw that the crowd had dispersed, she guessed that after the Duchess of Dingguo finished speaking, someone came over to ask about her daughter, and she said that Yu Jie'er was ill, and then the person left.

"Is Yu-jie really sick?" Madam Wu asked.

Cui Lingrong said no, "She didn't want to come, so I didn't let her. Where's Yu-jie? Why can't I see her?"

Zhao Yu was a year older than Song Yu and was about to come of age. Madam Wu said to let her daughter stay at home, "You know, it's not my place to arrange Yu'er's marriage, so let her stay in the Prince's mansion to avoid running into any trouble."

Cui Lingrong nodded. They were both mothers and could understand each other's thoughts.

Seeing Princess Rongjia and Song Shulan chatting and laughing together, Madam Wu asked, "Does Marquis Song know that Rongjia is infertile?"

Cui Lingrong shook her head and said she didn't know.

"It would be better to find a way to let him know," said Mrs. Wu. "If there's anything I can do, just tell me, and I'll try my best to help."

As they were talking, Qin came looking for Wu and called her away.

Cui Lingrong stayed at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion for a while before taking her leave to go to the Jiang family.

Upon meeting Yuan Mingzhu, Yuan Mingzhu couldn't wait to ask about the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, "How is it? Is the Duchess of Dingguo going to adopt a child?"

"That's true, but the Duke of Dingguo hasn't given his approval, so no child has been decided today." Cui Lingrong asked Yuan Mingzhu, "Do you know something?"

"I heard that the Duke of Dingguo couldn't persuade his wife to allow him to adopt the child, but he insisted that the Duke's mansion must be passed on to his concubine's son after he is found." Yuan Mingzhu snorted as she spoke, "If they really find his concubine's son, plus the son the Duchess adopted, how will the inheritance be divided?"

Just listening to it made Cui Lingrong feel like there was a lot of trouble.

Yuan Mingzhu continued her rant, "The Duke of Dingguo's mansion looks glamorous now because of the Duke's high achievements. Just wait and see, whoever leaves first will lose. Luckily, it's none of our business, otherwise we'd be worrying endlessly."

Cui Lingrong said, "How's your sister doing in Suzhou?"

"I'll tell you a secret, my sister has already found a husband. Before she got married, my mother arranged a marriage for her with a scholar, but due to unforeseen circumstances, they both married other people. When that man learned that my sister had returned home after her husband's death, he went to propose marriage. It just so happens that his wife passed away a couple of years ago, leaving him with only two daughters." Yuan Mingzhu said that her future brother-in-law did not enter the officialdom but instead became a teacher at an academy. "That's good, it avoids the intricacies of officialdom."

"Indeed, please let me know when you send the dowry, so I can also give Sister Yuan a little something in return," Cui Lingrong said.

"Okay, I'll definitely tell you." Yuan Mingzhu chuckled twice, then said seriously, "By the way, a few days ago, my sister-in-law asked me about Yu-jie'er, and subtly inquired about your thoughts. I found out that her nephew is of marriageable age and seems to have taken a liking to Yu-jie'er."

She looked around and immediately said, "But her family is no good. They look like they're from a good family, but they're actually a large family. Once you marry into that family, you'll have to serve them endlessly."

Cui Lingrong said she knew, "If your sister-in-law mentions it to you again, just say that Yu-jie is still young and I want to keep her for a few more years."

Yuan Mingzhu watched Yu'er grow up and hoped she would find a good husband. "If you ask me," she said, "Luo Feng would be a good choice. He's about the same age as Yu'er. You know You Shuyi; she's very open-minded and will definitely treat Yu'er like her own daughter. Why don't you two become in-laws?"

Cui Lingrong had also considered this matter, "The only problem is that the Luo family is in Suzhou, I'm afraid..."

She was always reluctant to let her daughter marry so far away.

"I understand. You only have one daughter, and you still want her to marry in Bianjing. At worst, you can have You Shuyi come to Bianjing to buy property, but even if you're willing, your husband might not agree." Yuan Mingzhu's tone turned sour when Song Shulan was mentioned. "He's only interested in climbing the social ladder, he's already attached himself to the Rong Prince's mansion, and now he's desperate to marry Yu'er off to someone of high status. How could he possibly look down on the Luo family's background?"

Cui Lingrong cannot deny this point; Song Shulan definitely intended for his daughter to marry into a wealthy family.

She chatted with Yuan Mingzhu for a while, and it was getting dark before she returned to the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence.

As soon as she entered the gate, Qingshan was waiting for her, saying that the Marquis wanted to see her in his study.

Cui Lingrong asked what was wrong.

"I don't know either. The Marquis only said that it's related to Sister Yu," Qingshan said.