Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Cui Zeyu has passed the age of twenty and is ready to get married. In recent years, the cloth shop business has been stable, and Cui Lingrong has found a real estate agent to buy a house for Cui Zeyu.

As a result, Cui Zeyu got angry as soon as she mentioned marriage.

"Didn't I say I wasn't in a hurry? My sister is currently mired in trouble, how can I have the mind to start a family?" Cui Zeyu said firmly. "I'm all alone, whether I start a family or not is not important."

Cui Lingrong was puzzled. "Zeyu, I asked about your past, but you didn't want to talk about it, so I didn't press you. Now I want to know, why are you so opposed to getting married?"

Her marriage was her own business, and after Cui Zeyu got married, she no longer needed to live in the Marquis's mansion.

Cui Zeyu remained silent.

Aunt Qiu brought in tea. "Does Young Master Yu have someone he likes? You can talk to Madam. As long as the family is innocent, Madam will agree."

Given Cui Zeyu's background, Cui Lingrong didn't look for a wealthy or powerful family; she valued character above all else.

Cui Zeyu felt a lump in his throat and couldn't answer for a long time.

How could his true feelings ever be revealed?

He stood up and said, "Anyway, sister doesn't need to arrange these things for me. I'll deal with my affairs after you've settled things at the Marquis's residence. As for Yu'er's dowry, sister can rest assured. I've made quite a few friends through my business dealings over the years, and I'll make sure Yu'er has a grand wedding."

Cui Lingrong knew that the old lady wanted the money in her hands and wanted her to take it out to subsidize the Marquis's mansion. She would be disgusted. So she simply did what she had said before and prepared a dowry for Yu Jie'er first.

She's spent the money, so it's no use for the old lady and the marquis to covet it anymore.

Cui Lingrong had no choice but to tell her younger brother to take care of himself and then let Cui Zeyu go back first.

Cui Zeyu left Qiushuangzhai, and Caiyue chased after him, holding a sachet in her hand.

"When Young Master Yu came last time, he mentioned that he was often bitten by mosquitoes while sleeping outdoors, so I specially made a mosquito repellent." Caiyue's cheeks were flushed. Young Master Yu was handsome and had his own business. Every time he came to Qiushuangzhai, he was especially kind to the servants like them.

The autumn breeze was cool, and sunlight filtered through the treetops, falling on Caiyue's face, revealing the girl's shyness.

Cui Zeyu had just reached out his hand when he realized something and withdrew it. "It's autumn now, so I don't need to travel far. Thank you for your concern, but you should give this sachet to someone who needs it."

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: ①⓪①ⓚⓚⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ]

Seeing that Young Master Yu had left, Caiyue's face fell.

She was rejected?

Doesn't Young Master Yu have any feelings for her?

Why does Young Master Yu always chat and laugh with them whenever he comes to Qiushuangzhai?

Caiyue ran back into the house with a long face and burst into tears. When Caixia came in, she saw her like this and knew what had happened.

"Why did you actually go to see Young Master Yu?" Caixia frowned. "You're the eldest mistress's person. Your actions represent the reputation of Qiushuangzhai. Even if you like Young Master Yu, you should go to the eldest mistress first and let her make the decision for you!"

Caiyue cried, "If I go to find the eldest mistress first, and then Young Master Yu rejects me, how can I face anyone to stay at Qiushuangzhai? Don't you think I'm good-looking? Why doesn't Young Master Yu like me?"

Both were head maids serving the eldest mistress, and they looked after each other regularly. They also shared a room and had a good relationship. Caixia sighed and patted Caiyue's back. "You are beautiful and charming, with a lovely appearance. But Young Master Yu is a man who has traveled all over the country and has seen countless beauties. Moreover, the fact that he hasn't taken a liking to you is likely because he has someone else in his heart. Think about it, Young Master Yu is not young anymore. I heard from Aunt Qiu that the eldest mistress is arranging a marriage for Young Master Yu, but he has always disagreed."

Why do you disagree?

"Are you silly? Of course, Young Master Yu has someone in his heart, but Madam doesn't approve of that person's identity, so Young Master Yu won't say who it is." Caixia continued to comfort him. "I advise you to give up on this idea. Young Master Yu listens to Madam the most, but this time he won't listen to her, which shows that Young Master Yu really likes this person."

Hearing this, Caiyue cried even harder.

Both she and Caixia were of marriageable age, and among the people she could meet, Young Master Yu was the best in terms of both qualifications and affability.

Asking her to give up now would be too much for Caiyue to handle for the time being.

Caixia tried to comfort her for a while, saying, "Just cry inside for a bit, don't let Aunt Qiu see. I'll go help you with your shift."

When Caixia went to the main room, Qiu's mother asked about Caiyue. She said that Caiyue was not feeling well. "She may have caught a cold, so I made her some hot water."

"It's getting cold, you all need to be careful," said Madam Qiu. "Grandma wants you to go to the third branch of the family. Grandma just came over and had something to say, but Young Master Yu is here. Go and find out if there's anything wrong with the third branch."

Caixia agreed and turned to leave Qiushuangzhai.

Half an hour later, Caixia returned with the news and told her about the charcoal.

Upon hearing this, Cui Lingrong thought Jiang was foolish. "Go to the second house again and tell the second mistress in person that withholding charcoal could lead to death. I have a plan to help her cover it up and get her to come to Qiushuangzhai."

Why did the eldest mistress help the second mistress?

Cui Lingrong laughed. "She's completely obedient to Princess Rongjia. Even when the old lady punished her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall, she didn't betray Princess Rongjia. Now that she's helping with management, it's still Princess Rongjia who's in control. But now that she's here with me, what do you think Princess Rongjia will think of her?"

"A fence-sitter?" Caixia understood.

Cui Lingrong said, "Tell her that since I already know, when I take charge, I will definitely check the accounts thoroughly. If anything is missing, ask her to think about whether she can make up for it."

Caixia went to the second house and, after meeting the second mistress, conveyed the eldest mistress's message.

However, Second Grandma didn't come today. The next morning, Caixia saw Second Grandma reluctantly come over.

Jiang thought about it all night but couldn't come up with a way to deal with Cui Lingrong, so she had to use the excuse of visiting to see Cui Lingrong.

Seeing Qiu's mother feeding Cui Lingrong ginseng soup, Jiang wished that Cui Lingrong's illness would worsen or that she would die.

"How is your health, sister-in-law?" Jiang asked, forcing a smile despite her resentment.

"It's alright, it won't die, but I don't know how long it will take to recover." Cui Lingrong smiled at Jiang Shi. She was too lazy to deal with Jiang Shi and went straight to the matter of charcoal. "Thank you for your kindness, Second Sister-in-law, for not withholding the charcoal from Qiushuangzhai."

Jiang didn't not want to, but she didn't dare. She could only withhold the expenses of the third branch of the family and the concubines. She said with a forced smile, "This is not my fault. It was the county magistrate who made the purchases, so this is the only way I can divide them."

"Is that how it's written in the ledger?" Cui Lingrong asked.

Naturally not.

The account book stated the same thing as in previous years: Princess Rongjia had embezzled public funds.

Seeing that Jiang couldn't answer, Cui Lingrong said slowly, "The princess earned the money, but you took the risk. It's a huge loss. You're a smart person, and I understand that you want to rely on the princess's support. But you also know that the old lady will definitely put me in charge of the household. When I take over, I won't ask the princess for this money; I'll have to ask you for it."

"I didn't take it!" Jiang exclaimed anxiously.

"But you're the one who did it!" Cui Lingrong knew how to manipulate Jiang Shi. "I have an idea for you. The princess's monthly bird's nest comes from the public funds. You can use that money to replenish the charcoal."

Jiang frowned deeply. "Sister-in-law, do you want to see me die?"

"Don't worry, the princess won't make a fuss. The old lady is already unhappy, so she'll just have to suffer in silence. Besides, you can mention it to the old lady. Even if the princess blames you later, you can say it was the old lady's idea, and the princess won't dare to question her." After a pause, Cui Lingrong said she was tired. "Go back and think about it. Either you pay for the charcoal yourself, or you withhold the princess's bird's nest."

While others have a fixed quantity of bird's nest, only Wutongyuan prepares bird's nest for the princess to enjoy every day.

Cui Lingrong is now certain that Princess Rongjia's dowry is not lavish, but the reason for this is currently unclear.

The people she sent to Princess Rongjia's ex-husband haven't returned yet. Just wait and see; the matter will be investigated eventually.

After seeing Jiang leave in a huff, Cui Lingrong asked for a basin of hot water, washed her face, and felt much more refreshed.

No matter what choice Jiang makes, it will be a good thing for Cui Lingrong. It will either disgust Princess Rongjia or make Jiang suffer.

Everyone says she has a good temper, but she recently discovered that she actually holds grudges.