Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Song Shulan did want to go, but he didn't want to reveal anything in front of Cui Lingrong, otherwise, given Cui Lingrong's resentment towards Princess Rongjia, she would definitely keep investigating this matter.

These past few days, what he's been thinking about most is whether he would divorce Princess Rongjia if she really did have an affair.

will not.

After marrying Princess Rongjia, he had the Rong Prince's Mansion as his backer, which brought him considerable benefits in officialdom.

Song Shulan will only hold onto Princess Rongjia's weakness to ensure she obeys him from now on. As for affection, there will be absolutely no more.

"No need. The county princess is too willful. She should be taught a lesson." After saying that, Song Shulan saw Caixia coming over and took the initiative to ask Caixia for her opinion on Xu Shuanzi.

Caixia looked towards her great-grandmother.

Cui Lingrong came to the rescue, saying, "A young lady should be reserved. How could Your Excellency ask such a question in front of so many people? I will tell Your Excellency when there is good news. Please also tell the County Princess that this matter concerns Caixia's reputation and will affect the face of the Jiangyuan Marquis's Mansion. Before things are settled, please ask her not to speak carelessly. I believe Your Excellency is not one to gossip. If others find out, it must be the County Princess who said it."

She gave Caixia a wink, and Caixia came over to help her.

Before Song Shulan could finish her sentence, Cui Lingrong had already left with her people.

He felt inexplicably weary, due to the commotion caused by Princess Rongjia and the neglect from Cui Lingrong.

Why does it feel like neither side is very good?

With Rongjia County Princess in mind, Song Shulan made sure Cui Lingrong had left before heading in Rongjia County Princess's direction.

By the time he arrived, Princess Rongjia's carriage had already left.

Qingshan said the county magistrate had been inside for about half an hour. "I guess the people across the hall are the county magistrate's men. Every time the county magistrate comes, they sit at the door and do their work. I dare not get too close, my lord. Why don't you come by yourself next time?"

After squatting there for so many days, Qingshan was a little scared. What if Princess Rongjia really cheated on him? What would happen to the Marquis's reputation?

If not, wouldn't it damage the relationship between the two if the Marquis were to barge in rashly?

After much deliberation, Qingshan decided to let the Marquis make the decision himself.

Song Shulan was also afraid that today's incident would happen again, "Go find someone who is good at martial arts and find out whether it is a man or a woman living inside. Remember not to attract anyone's attention."

After giving instructions to Qingshan, Song Shulan returned to his residence, and it was already dark.

Chen De's wife was waiting for him at the door, saying that the county princess had personally cooked. "The county princess knows you are angry, but today it really wasn't her who deliberately set things up. It was a misunderstanding that caused you to misunderstand as well."

"I know, please put the county princess at ease. I'm tired today, so I won't go over." Song Shulan said he hadn't thought much of it, but he wasn't going to Wutong Garden.

I originally intended to go back to the study, but after walking outside, I felt depressed and turned to go to Lanxin's room.

Comparing Zhu Qing and Lan Xin, Song Shulan preferred Lan Xin's appearance and spirit. Although Lan Xin wasn't as warm-hearted, she resembled the young Princess Rongjia.

Upon entering the room, Song Shulan noticed Lan Xin's obvious surprise and asked, "What's wrong? Are you surprised I came?"

"Yes, a little. Did the county princess arrange for you to come?" Lanxin put down her needlework, got up to serve tea, but was pulled into the marquis's arms. She lowered her head nervously.

"What, it's not like it's the first time, are you afraid of me?" Song Shulan asked.

Lanxin shook her head. Actually, the Marquis treated her quite well, but the thought of Zhuqing becoming a lowly maid and the Marquis not asking her a single question made her afraid.

She knew very well that she was a tool that Princess Rongjia had bought to win over the Marquis, and as for her status and position, the princess could give them whatever she wanted.

Regarding the child, she had overheard Zhuqing and Huadie arguing that day, and she believed what Huadie said.

When she was a child, her mother said that there was a lot of trouble in wealthy families. After she entered the Marquis's mansion herself, she understood the meaning of "not being able to control one's own destiny" even more.

Therefore, Lanxin doesn't want the Marquis to come looking for her. She would rather be like air, with no one thinking of her, and live out her life quietly like a weed.

Song Shulan lifted Lanxin's chin and looked at her face. He thought of many things from his youth. People say that fate plays tricks on people. Wasn't he and Princess Rongjia the same?

That's enough, there's no point in dwelling on the past.

Song Shulan kissed Lanxin and pinned her to the table.

"My lord!"

Lanxin's coquettish reproach was also Song Shulan's aphrodisiac whisper.

After venting his frustrations overnight, Song Shulan went to Wutong Garden the next day, but he didn't go in. Instead, he exchanged a few words with Chen De's wife and then went to his shift.

When Princess Rongjia woke up and learned that Song Shulan hadn't even entered the house, her heart sank. "Chen De's wife, do you think the Marquis has abandoned me? He won't even come into my room now?"

The woman in the bronze mirror, compared to her youthful charm, possessed a more mature allure. She was still beautiful, but the anxiety of the past few days had added a few barely perceptible fine lines to the corners of her eyes.

"Do you think it's because I'm getting old that Song Lang doesn't like me anymore?"

"The county princess is still beautiful, showing no signs of aging," Chen De's wife comforted her. "The Marquis was just worried about disturbing your rest. Don't think too much about it; it wasn't even dawn yet."

"Is that really true?" Princess Rongjia looked at the bronze mirror with a skeptical expression. "You Shuyi said I can't rush things, how can I not be anxious?"

She was extremely anxious.

Chen De's family also wanted the county princess to have a child soon, but these things couldn't be rushed, so they could only advise the county princess to relax.

After worrying about Song Shulan, Princess Rongjia was now troubled by her lack of money. "That bitch Cui Lingrong has cut off the expenses of Wutong Garden, and I still have to subsidize the old lady. Is that thing you mentioned really going to make money?"

"Your Highness, that's the fastest way to make money. My nephew said that no one knows you're investing, so you can just wait to make money steadily." Chen De's wife didn't dare to encourage the county magistrate to do anything illegal, otherwise, if she got arrested, she would definitely be implicated in the end.

"That's good. If we don't make some money, we'll all starve," said the county magistrate of Rongjia.

Chen De's wife said, "Why not take this opportunity to reduce the subsidies for Shou'an Hall and turn the focus to the eldest mistress, letting the old lady deal with her?" She felt that the old lady's expenses were too high, costing several hundred or even a thousand taels of silver a month.

Princess Rongjia wanted to save face, but her empty purse wouldn't allow it. Since Cui Lingrong was cutting her expenses, she had no choice but to accept it.

When Chen De's wife went to Shou'an Hall to report, the old lady's face turned as black as charcoal as soon as she finished speaking.

"Cui told me about what happened at the temple. It was the county princess's fault. No matter what, Cui wouldn't do something outrageous." After hearing what Chen De's wife said, Old Madam Song thought to herself that it was just as Cui Lingrong had said. The county princess had her allowance withheld, so she blamed Cui Lingrong.

Old Mrs. Song understood Rongjia County Princess's little scheme without even having to think about it.

In her opinion, it was only because Princess Rongjia herself lacked the ability and had no concrete evidence that she had taken her eldest son to catch the adulterer in the act.

Is Cui Lingrong someone who is easy to deal with?

If Cui Lingrong and Xie Yunting were having a secret rendezvous, how could they have let Princess Rongjia see it?

Now they're even going to deduct her expenses, which makes Old Madam Song very unhappy. "Alright, you don't need to explain anymore. Go back and tell the county princess to reflect on her mistakes, go out less in the future, and stop causing trouble."

These words were rather impolite. Chen De's wife had intended to make the old lady resent the eldest daughter-in-law, but unexpectedly, she ended up causing the county princess to be scolded by the old lady instead.

She was terrified on her way back.

Just as she expected, as soon as she finished relaying the information to the county princess, the princess threw her teacup at her.

As for Qiushuangzhai, Cui Lingrong knew what Chen De's wife was going to say when she learned that Chen De's wife had gone to Shou'an Hall.

"Luckily, Grandma was quick-witted and went to tell the old lady in advance, otherwise the old lady would definitely have scolded you," Caixia said.

Cui Lingrong went to the old lady only as a precaution, saying, "The county princess didn't get anywhere, so she'll definitely cause trouble. But let's not talk about that. Since you're willing to marry Commander Xu, I'll take care of the arrangements for you."

Speaking of which, she was still a little reluctant to part with him. "I've already prepared your and Caiyue's dowries. From now on, if you ever need anything, I'll be your family."

Caixia's tears rolled down her cheeks instantly; she was moved by Xu Baihu's words, "They all come from the same background."

"Give yourself a chance, and you might just find your way to a bright future," that's what my grandmother encouraged her with.

"Madam, I don't want to get married so early."

"You want to wait a little longer, but Commander Xu can't wait." Cui Lingrong smiled and wiped away Caixia's tears. "Don't cry, this is a good thing, and it's your good fortune."

Just then, Qiu's mother and Caiyue came in. Caiyue was about to make a joke when Caixia shyly slipped away.

Caiyue chuckled and said, "Look at her, she's shy again."

"Don't tease her, she's always been shy." The atmosphere was harmonious on Cui Lingrong's side, but at this moment, the Xie family was tense.

For several days, the Duke of Dingguo had been looking for Xie Yunting, but Xie Yunting had always managed to evade him. Today, however, he finally managed to corner Xie Yunting as he climbed over the wall.

Looking at Xie Yunting on the wall, the Duke of Dingguo said irritably, "Xie Yunting, come down here, or I'll beat you to death!"