Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Princess Rongjia couldn't use catching someone in adultery as an excuse. She was scared now. What if Cui Lingrong managed to evade her? Wouldn't that be shooting herself in the foot?

So she used the pretext of seeking a child to invite Song Shulan over.

"I heard that the Guanyin Bodhisattva here is especially efficacious for granting children, so I came to offer incense. But the nun at the temple said that it's best if both husband and wife come and sincerely kneel in worship for it to be effective, so I sent someone to find you." Princess Rongjia hugged Song Shulan. "Let's go offer incense quickly, don't keep the Bodhisattva waiting too long."

Song Shulan didn't want to come, but she couldn't refuse.

He was pulled by Princess Rongjia to offer incense, and his feelings were very complicated, after all, he had not yet found out the truth about Princess Rongjia's trip.

After offering incense, the county magistrate of Rongjia said that the scenery inside the temple was nice and he wanted to take a look around.

Before Song Shulan could refuse, Princess Rongjia had already ordered someone to lead the way, so he had no choice but to follow.

"Why is Song Lang unhappy?" Princess Rongjia noticed something was wrong at this moment.

Song Shulan forced a smile. "No, I'm just a little tired."

"Official duties are important, but Song Lang's health is more important," Princess Rongjia said with concern. "I'm hoping to have a child with Song Lang, so you must take good care of yourself."

The two walked and talked.

Then Chen De's wife suddenly exclaimed, "Hey, isn't that Caixia?"

Princess Rongjia also looked over, "It's her. Who's next to her?"

Although no one present knew each other, it was clear that Caixia and the man knew each other, even though they were several steps apart.

Song Shulan frowned. He valued his reputation, and if news of a secret rendezvous spread among Cui Lingrong's maids, it would damage the Marquis's reputation.

Just as Song Shulan was about to send someone to inquire, Princess Rongjia grabbed his hand. "My lord, if we rush over there, we won't catch anything. Why don't we have a maidservant get closer and eavesdrop on their conversation? Besides, Caixia is here; could Sister Cui be here too?"

She specifically mentioned Cui Lingrong, just in case Song Shulan wouldn't think of this.

"The Cui family?" Song Shulan was genuinely surprised to see Cui Lingrong there, and turned to look at her.

Princess Rongjia suggested that they go and take a look at the meditation room.

More than Caixia's matter, Song Shulan was concerned about whether Cui Lingrong was coming to see other people.

He hurried to the meditation room and indeed saw Ershun at the door. When Ershun was about to speak, he glared at him, and Ershun shut his mouth.

Standing with Er Shun was Xie Yunting's entourage, whom Song Shulan recognized at a glance, and her anger was about to explode.

He had suspected Xie Yunting of having ulterior motives towards Song Shulan before, and now he was about to catch him red-handed.

Without thinking, he kicked it in.

With a "crackling" sound.

The door to the meditation room slammed shut, and Cui Lingrong and Qiu's mother instinctively stepped back.

Song Shulan re-entered the room. "Where is he?"

"Who goes there?" Cui Lingrong asked angrily. "What is the Marquis doing? You stormed in, kicking down the door. What's the matter?"

The meditation room was small and had no cabinets, so Song Shulan could tell at a glance whether someone was there or not.

After confirming that no one was in the meditation room, Song Shulan realized that he was too emotional and took a deep breath.

Princess Rongjia frowned and asked hastily, "Sister Cui, weren't you having a secret rendezvous? What are you doing at the temple?"

"Look at what you're saying, Princess Rongjia. Coming to the temple is just for a secret rendezvous. If the Bodhisattva heard you say that, he would send you to the Hell of Tongue-Pulling." Cui Lingrong laughed in anger. If Xie Yunting hadn't discovered that Song Shulan and Princess Rongjia had come early, her younger brother really wouldn't have been able to escape.

Seeing her brother wouldn't affect her reputation, but it would make it harder to investigate the assassination.

Now, hearing from Princess Rongjia about their secret rendezvous, it seems that Princess Rongjia mistakenly believed that she and Xie Yunting were having an affair, and therefore specially brought Song Shulan to catch them in the act.

Princess Rongjia paused, she clearly saw Xie Yunting enter the meditation room, where did Xie Yunting go?

She searched for him herself, but there was indeed no one else in the meditation room.

"Impossible," Princess Rongjia murmured.

"What's impossible?" Cui Lingrong seized on Rongjia County Princess's words, "What are you thinking, County Princess?"

Princess Rongjia looked up and asked, "If Sister Cui has come to offer incense, why are Ershun and General Xie's entourage guarding the door? Where is General Xie?"

Mentioning Xie Yunting reignited Song Shulan's anger. She looked at Cui Lingrong and asked, "Yes, what brings you and Xie Yunting to the temple?"

"I understand, Your Excellency is here to catch us in adultery. Who told you that General Xie and I were having a secret rendezvous at the temple?" Cui Lingrong retorted. "Who would have a secret rendezvous at a temple, and with so many people? Is it Your Excellency who suspects this, or are you being manipulated and instigated?"

Song Shulan subconsciously looked at Princess Rongjia.

This scene was witnessed by Cui Lingrong.

"It seems the County Princess instigated this. Why does the County Princess suspect me of having a secret meeting with General Xie?" Cui Lingrong asked calmly, showing no sign of panic. "If the County Princess is so confident, then where is General Xie? Where is he?"

Song Shulan then realized that Princess Rongjia's request for a child was a pretense; she actually wanted him to catch her in adultery.

"Where he is, shouldn't you be the one to tell me?" Princess Rongjia was furious. "Xie Yunting's entourage is right outside. Does Sister Cui intend to say that she didn't see Xie Yunting today? Do you dare swear to Buddha that if you tell a single lie, may all three of your children die young?"

She knew that Cui Lingrong cared most about Yu Jie'er and her two daughters.

But she forgot that Yu Jie'er and her siblings were also Song Shulan's children.

"Princess!" Song Shulan looked over with displeasure.

Princess Rongjia then realized she had misspoke. She had been putting on an act in front of Song Shulan for so long, but now she had Cui Lingrong swear by the early death of her child. Her heart skipped a beat.

Cui Lingrong was also very angry. "How much does the county princess hate Yu'er and her brother that she's so vicious as to make me swear on their behalf? My lord, you always say that the county princess is good to Yu'er and her brother, is this what she means by 'good'?"

Princess Rongjia: "Young Master Song, I didn't mean it. It was just a slip of the tongue."

Song Shulan remained silent; sometimes, the words that come out of the mouth are the most truthful.

"I swear, if I were to secretly meet with General Xie today, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!" Cui Lingrong swore on herself, then looked at Princess Rongjia and Song Shulan. "Alright, I swore before the Bodhisattva, now it's the Princess's turn. You've slandered my innocence and even cursed my child to die young. Do you dare say, in front of the Bodhisattva, that what you just said was just a slip of the tongue?"

Princess Rongjia dared not; she truly hoped that Xuan-ge'er and the others would die.

But now that things have escalated to this point, Princess Rongjia can only keep pressing Xie Yunting's case. "I don't need you to force me. Since you claim you and Xie Yunting are innocent, why is Xie Yunting's servant at the door? Can you honestly say he wasn't there to see Xie Yunting today?"

Song Shulan also wanted to know about this.

Cui Lingrong glanced at Qiu's mother, who then walked up to Chen De's house. "Chen's mother, let's go out first."

Chen De's family's items remained untouched.

"With the Marquis here, does Madam Chen think I'll do anything to the County Princess?" Cui Lingrong sneered. Seeing everyone else had left, she continued, "I did meet with General Xie, but I had serious business to discuss. If it's proven the County Princess wronged me, how will she apologize to me?"

The county magistrate of Rongjia said, "I only need you to prove yourself, what do you need an apology for?"

"That won't do. I used to be too good-natured, which is why I was constantly being schemed against." Cui Lingrong refused to let it go so easily. "My lord, what do you think? I can't be wronged for no reason. If General Xie finds out about this, it concerns his reputation, and he certainly won't let it go so easily."