Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

The moonlight was hazy. Cui Lingrong was about to rest when she saw Song Shulan come in. She thought she had mistaken him for someone else.

"Mother has always been concerned about Madam's health, does Madam know that?" Song Shulan stood by the bed.

At this moment, Cui Lingrong had removed all her hairpins and ornaments, and the more she wore her bare face, the more beautiful and refined she appeared. Song Shulan had always been very satisfied with Cui Lingrong's appearance, and he couldn't help but take a few more glances at her.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Mother. My health is indeed not as good as before... cough cough..." Cui Lingrong asked Qiu Mama to serve tea. "Did you come so late, Lord Marquis, because you have something to say?"

Song Shulan said it was nothing, he just came to check on things. "Jiang Shi is not up to the task, it is still necessary for Madam to support the Marquis's mansion. You need to get better soon."

Cui Lingrong said she wanted to, but she had no choice.

From the moment Song Shulan entered the room, he kept looking at Cui Lingrong. Was she really sick?

It looks like it.

The mother said that Cui Lingrong was putting on airs.

After much thought, Song Shulan still couldn't understand it.

He sat on the edge of the bed, took Cui Lingrong's hand, and said, "I'm currently busy with court affairs, and I hope you can focus on your work without worries, right?"

"That's natural."

"In that case, if you feel better, Madam, please take over the stewardship. The Marquis's mansion really can't do without you. Please... please, Madam, do you care?" Song Shulan said earnestly, gazing at Cui Lingrong with deep affection.

After their eyes met, Cui Lingrong lowered her gaze and whispered, "But Lord Marquis... I..."

"Just tell me what you want," Song Shulan said, getting impatient as Cui Lingrong hesitated.

At the opportune moment, Madam Qiu interjected, "My lord, if this old servant dares to speak, the eldest mistress has never asked for much, nor has she ever deliberately competed with Princess Rongjia for anything. On the day of the autumn banquet, she simply wanted you to stand by her side and support her."

But when Song Shulan saw Princess Rongjia and the Crown Prince Rong, he completely forgot his promise to Cui Lingrong.

People's subconscious reactions don't lie; everyone knows what's more important.

"Aunt Qiu, please stop," Cui Lingrong interrupted, then looked at Song Shulan. "I know what the Marquis is thinking, but now that I've taken over the Marquis's residence, how am I supposed to manage it?"

Song Shulan asked, puzzled, "Wouldn't it be better to just do it the same way as before?"

"Your Excellency makes it sound so simple. The princess's status is different. Should I treat everyone equally, or should I give special treatment to the Wutong Courtyard?"

Cui Lingrong explained to Song Shulan, "Both Princess Rongjia and I are the Marquis's legal wives. If the expenses of Wutong Garden are higher than those of Qiushuangzhai, what will others think of me? Will they still listen to my arrangements? How can I establish my authority and get things done?"

Song Shulan frowned; he hadn't thought that much about it.

Cui Lingrong continued, "Furthermore, after the county head took charge, he replaced many of the supervisors. If someone makes a mistake, should I punish them equally severely, or should I give the county head face? If I let them off lightly because of the county head, will others still be convinced?"

As she spoke, she shook her head and sighed, "My lord, for the past ten years or so, you have only seen the peace and harmony of the Marquis's mansion. I have never complained to you about how much I have actually done. Now the situation is even more complicated. I can't sleep just thinking about it. The doctor said the same thing. If I don't get enough rest, it will be difficult for me to recover."

Song Shulan was indeed unaware of these intricacies, but he understood that Cui Lingrong's problem stemmed from a "heartache." "I know Madam is in a difficult position. Please feel free to make any requests you may have. We are all doing this for the good of the Marquis's mansion."

Cui Lingrong pretended to think for a while, then said, "The old lady and the Marquis put me in charge of the household because they want the Marquis's mansion to improve. Since the Marquis has asked, I will make a few requests. First, the expenses of Wutong Garden should be the same as those of Qiushuangzhai. If the Princess has other requests, she can use her own private funds to make them. Second, all personnel changes must be decided by me, and no one else can interfere. Third, my birthday is approaching, and I will invite some of my old friends to be guests. The Marquis must be present."

"Sure, I agree to all three of your requests." Song Shulan breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought Cui Lingrong would want him to favor her, but it was just a birthday celebration, which was easy enough.

"Since Your Excellency has agreed, please give me the first and second instructions after I take over, so that the people in the Marquis's residence won't think that I acted on my own initiative. I also don't want the Princess to cause me any trouble," Cui Lingrong said.

"This..." Song Shulan hesitated for a moment, but still agreed. The princess's expenses were indeed high, always covered by public funds, which the Marquis's mansion couldn't afford. "However, some accounts are in the past, so let's not investigate them further. Let's all keep things peaceful, don't you think?"

Cui Lingrong understood. Song Shulan also knew that Princess Rongjia's accounting was not clean and wanted to make excuses for Princess Rongjia.

She smiled and said okay; the most important goal had been achieved, and she knew when to stop.

Two days later, Cui Lingrong recovered. She took the account books from Jiang and then called over Wang Shanxi's wife.

"I heard the princess is unwell. You are her closest confidante, so I can ask you anything." Cui Lingrong took the account book and compared it item by item with Caixia and Caiyue. "The Marquis said that the previous expenses of Wutong Garden need not be investigated further, so I wrote down the issues and will not inquire further. However, this sandalwood and glass screen, as well as the porcelain and calligraphy, were all taken by the princess from the storeroom without her consent. Perhaps the princess could ask the old lady or the Marquis. If they tell the princess, then we will leave it alone."

Wang Shanxi's wife was almost at her breaking point. Qiu Shuangzhai was showing no respect to the princess at all. She said awkwardly, "Reporting to Madam, there are many things here that the Marquis brought to please the princess."

"Oh, is it all? When and where is it all registered?" Cui Lingrong raised one eyebrow.

Wang Shanxi's family couldn't answer.

"Since it's not all of them, then I'll trouble the Princess to ask the old lady and the others for them, or we can send them back to the storeroom." Cui Lingrong insisted on handling it this way. Princess Rongjia had been suppressing her for so long, and it was time for her to feel disgusted with Princess Rongjia. "Wang Shanxi's wife, you're a smart woman. The Princess comes from a noble family and certainly doesn't lack these little trinkets. Why gain a reputation for embezzling money?"

"Madam, you flatter me. The princess would never have meant that." Only then did Wang Shanxi's wife realize that Qiu Shuangzhai was not a good-tempered man; he was quite sharp-tongued.

"That's good. Go and give me an answer on how to handle it by this evening." Cui Lingrong gestured to Wang Shanxi's wife that she could leave.

She then sent Qiu Mama to the main kitchen to deliver a message: Granny Hao is too old to do her job well, so she gave Granny Hao five taels of silver as retirement money so she could go home and retire. From now on, Granny Yu will be in charge of the main kitchen.

Granny Hao had been living in fear these past few days. When she heard that the eldest mistress was indeed going to make her leave, she immediately cried and begged for mercy, "Aunt Qiu, I don't want to go back! I can still work. Let Aunt Yu manage things, I'll continue to be the head cook. Please, please plead with the eldest mistress for me, I can't go back!"

She has the dignity she has now because she is in charge of the main kitchen; otherwise, how could her son and daughter-in-law do what she wants?

Aunt Qiu said coldly, "You've made so many mistakes, and the eldest madam hasn't punished you because she's been serving you for so many years. Granny Hao, you can't be a weather vane. You can't please one person and then try to curry favor with the eldest madam. Go home and retire peacefully, how many more years of comfortable life do you expect?"

Mother Yu laughed mockingly, "Yes, Granny Hao, the eldest madam is so kind. If it were me, I would have beaten you to death with sticks!"

Granny Hao was an old servant of the Marquis's mansion and the first person to show goodwill to Princess Rongjia after she married into the family.

Cui Lingrong's act of making an example of someone to scare others also demonstrated her kindness. Anyone else with ulterior motives should think twice.

As for Granny Hao's future, given her incompetence, Princess Rongjia will not let her off easily.

While Granny Hao was being taken away, in the Wutong Courtyard, Princess Rongjia smashed several vases, yelling, "That wretched woman!"

"Princess, please calm down. Don't take offense at that woman from Qiushuangzhai. She's just a petty person who's gotten ahead now," Wang Shanxi's wife quickly advised. "Let's be patient. As long as the Marquis's heart is with you, there's still room for things to turn around."

Princess Rongjia was seething with anger, wishing she could rush to Qiushuangzhai and slap Cui Lingrong twice. How dare a woman of such lowly birth bully her!

Wang Shanxi's wife helped her master sit down, and Qingxue led the people to sweep up the broken porcelain shards.

Princess Rongjia suddenly grabbed Wang Shanxi's hand tightly, "You...you go and fetch a doctor, I have a stomachache."

"Take a deep breath, this old servant will go find someone to fetch a doctor right away." Wang Shanxi's wife hurriedly ran out, telling her servant to run to fetch a doctor as quickly as possible.

When Shou'an Hall learned that Princess Rongjia was unwell, Old Madam Song still sent Xu Mama to take a look.

When Madam Xu returned, she exclaimed joyfully, "Congratulations, Madam! Congratulations, Madam! The Princess is pregnant!"