Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Cui Lingrong anticipated that some people would be dissatisfied, but she didn't care about the opinions of the Jiang family.

She was really tired today and went to bed early.

The next morning, someone came to report the death, saying that the heir of the Duke of Dingguo had passed away. Cui Lingrong hurriedly led people to the old lady's place.

Although the Marquis of Jiangyuan's residence and the Duke of Dingguo's residence were not particularly close, they had been related by marriage in their ancestors' generation, so the Marquis of Jiangyuan's residence had to send someone to offer condolences.

When Old Madam Song heard the news, she was stunned for a moment, then sighed, "The hardest thing in the world is for an old person to send off a young person. Come with me, let's go see the Duke and his wife first."

As she spoke, she asked Mama Xu to go to Wutong Garden. "Logically speaking, the princess should also go, but she is not yet three months old. We will let the princess go on the day of the funeral."

Madam Xu nodded in agreement, and Old Madam Song led Cui Lingrong to the Duke of Dingguo's residence.

The Duke of Dingguo's mansion was a prominent and prestigious family. When they arrived, there was a long line of carriages at the gate.

Cui Lingrong helped the old lady into the mansion. She had only been to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion twice before, both times with Yuan Mingzhu, and was not familiar with the place.

Following the servants to see the Duchess, Old Madam Song and the Duchess of Dingguo burst into tears. Cui Lingrong stood aside, glancing at the Heir Apparent's wife out of the corner of her eye.

However, before seeing the Crown Prince's wife, they first saw Old Madam Jiang arriving with Yuan Mingzhu. When Old Madam Jiang saw Old Madam Song, her eyes immediately sharpened.

After greeting them, Yuan Mingzhu naturally stood next to Cui Lingrong and whispered, "Don't worry, they won't start arguing today." She didn't dare to argue either.

She said she wanted to visit her sister and dragged Cui Lingrong along with her.

At the mourning hall, Yuan Yuzhu looked haggard. When she saw her younger sister arrive, she quickly told her to slow down.

Cui Lingrong and the Crown Prince's wife bowed and said, "Madam, please accept my condolences."

"Sigh." A sigh, full of bitterness, Yuan Yuzhu had already cried several times, and now her eyes were sore. "Fortunately, Lady Song is with my sister, otherwise, with her impetuous nature, I'm really afraid she would offend someone important."

She said that not only Prince Rong came this morning, but also the Eldest Princess.

Cui Lingrong knew that the Duke of Dingguo's family was of high status, but she didn't expect it to be so highly regarded. She didn't pay much attention to court affairs, and there were some things she didn't know. She planned to ask the Marquis about them later.

Before the three of them could exchange more than a few words, Yuan Yuzhu was called away.

Yuan Mingzhu opened her mouth to speak several times, but swallowed it all back. There were too many people today, and the Duke of Dingguo's mansion was not the place to talk.

As the two were preparing to return to their respective mothers-in-law, they overheard several women chatting in the pavilion.

"What do you think will happen to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion now that the heir is gone?"

"That's obvious. They'll definitely adopt a child from the clan. Otherwise, it would be such a waste if such a large family as the Duke of Dingguo's mansion had no heir."

"What if the Crown Prince's wife wants to remarry?"

"How could that be? She's so old. Some men her age are already marrying off their daughters. How could she have the nerve? Even if she did, what family would want to marry a woman who's a jinx to her husband?"

"Indeed, the young master's wife is not young. Rather than remarrying, it would be better for her to maintain the dignity of the Duke's mansion and earn a memorial arch for her chastity..."

Before the man could finish speaking, Yuan Mingzhu rushed out, and Cui Lingrong couldn't stop her.

"Who said she's a jinx to her husband?" Yuan Mingzhu had a fiery temper. Her sister was pitiful enough, yet she still had to be pointed at and gossiped about. She glanced at the crowd. "Who said that?"

Seeing that no one dared to answer, Yuan Mingzhu said angrily, "You dare to say it but not admit it? I think you're the cowards, you can't stand up to anyone!"

She included everyone in her rant, and some of the more timid people immediately retorted, "It's none of my business! I didn't say anything! You can't include everyone in this!"

"If you just listen without arguing back, either you agree with it in your heart, or you're a coward!" Yuan Mingzhu rolled up her sleeves, assuming a fighting stance.

Seeing that Yuan Mingzhu was still as fierce as when she was a child, Cui Lingrong quickly went over and grabbed Yuan Mingzhu's hand. "Good sister, this is the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, not the Jiang family's. We can always find out who said anything about being heartless. How can your sister face people if you keep making such a scene?"

There were many people present, so they dared not point them out now, but if they asked them one by one in private, they would eventually get an answer.

There are many people coming and going today. If Yuan Mingzhu really causes a scene here, Old Madam Jiang will lock her up for a year or two.

Yuan Mingzhu was furious and felt wronged for her sister. "My sister married into the Duke of Dingguo's mansion at the age of sixteen. She took care of her sickly brother-in-law and managed all the affairs of the mansion. Who wouldn't say she was virtuous? Let me tell you, if I ever hear anyone say a bad word about my sister again, I'll tear their mouths apart!"

After saying that, she turned and left.

Cui Lingrong glanced at the people in the pavilion, her gaze finally settling on Su Yunfei before she went to chase after Yuan Mingzhu.

Of course, Yuan Mingzhu wouldn't let it go so easily. She went to the Duchess of Dingguo, knelt down, and begged for forgiveness. "Duchess, please punish me. I couldn't help myself and cursed those people. You can hit me or punish me as you please, I will accept it. But I beg you to do justice for my sister and find out which vicious woman cursed her!"

She knelt with her back ramrod straight, leaving everyone present stunned.

Old Madam Jiang's brows twitched. When she was marrying her second son, she didn't think she was marrying a member of the main family, so her requirements weren't that high. As long as her son liked her and her family background was acceptable, that was enough. She didn't think much of Yuan Mingzhu, but the Yuan family and the Duke of Dingguo's mansion were related by marriage. It was because of this relationship that she allowed her second son to meet Yuan Mingzhu.

As a result, the second son took a fancy to Yuan Mingzhu, who was the most ruthless in her actions.

What place is this?

It's the Duke of Dingguo's mansion!

Those who came to pay their respects today were all wealthy and powerful, yet Yuan Mingzhu dared to curse them in public. Where does that leave the Jiang family's reputation?

Grandma Jiang clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves. Grandma Song, sitting opposite her, was somewhat smug. Compared to her daughter-in-law, Grandma Song felt that her own daughter-in-law was much better. But then she saw Cui Lingrong kneel down as well.

As a close friend, Cui Lingrong naturally had to help Yuan Mingzhu. "Please forgive me, Madam Duchess. The young master has just passed away, and Mingzhu is as grief-stricken as you are. How could she listen to others talking about the young master's widow? That's why she acted impulsively, but it's understandable."

Compared to the straightforward Yuan Mingzhu, Cui Lingrong was more eloquent, reminding the Duchess of the pain of losing her son. The Duchess immediately darkened her face. She only had one son, and today was the day of her son's mourning. How could anyone accept that someone would say such things in the Duke's mansion?

"Good girls, get up." The Duchess ordered an investigation. "I also want to see which ignorant person dared to slander the people of my Duke of Dingguo's mansion!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present knew that the matter could not be resolved peacefully.

Just then, an old woman came in and whispered a few words in the ear of the Duchess of Dingguo. The Duchess of Dingguo glanced at Old Madam Song and said, "Mingzhu, don't worry, I will definitely give your sister an explanation. But I'm busy today, and... I'm also feeling uneasy..."

The Duchess choked up and couldn't speak. Her only son had passed away without leaving any heirs, and the thought of this vast Duke's mansion benefiting others filled her with hatred.

She cried for a while before being helped into the house by the maids. It was time for Old Madam Jiang and the others to leave.

When Yuan Mingzhu met her mother-in-law's gaze, she felt a little afraid and cautiously called out "Mother," but she did not regret it.

Old Mrs. Jiang suppressed her anger, intending to deal with her second daughter-in-law when she got home, and boarded the carriage without saying a word.

On the other side, Cui Lingrong also boarded the carriage back to the manor with Old Madam Song. Old Madam Song's face was gloomy. "I told you long ago not to associate with the Yuan family, but you wouldn't listen to me. Today you've not only lost face for yourself, but also for the face of our Marquis's manor!"

Cui Lingrong lowered her eyes and said, "Don't worry, Grandma. Not many people will talk about Sister Yuan today. If Sister Yuan swallows her anger and keeps quiet about her elder sister being called a jinx to her husband, then people will talk about her."

She paused, then whispered a reminder, "However, it would be best for the old lady to go to the Su family today."

"What does the Su family have to do with this?" Old Mrs. Song looked over, puzzled.

"I recognized Su Er's voice in the pavilion. If I hadn't pulled Yuan away, given her personality, she would definitely have made a scene. Just now at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, the Duchess initially wanted to investigate thoroughly, but someone whispered a few words to her, which prevented her from causing a scene on the spot. However, the Duchess is already heartbroken from losing her only son. If the Su family can't appease the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and the Yuan family, Su Er may not be able to marry into a good family," Cui Lingrong said calmly.

As Old Mrs. Song listened, her eyebrows twitched faster and faster. "Why did you only tell me about such a big thing now!" She told the driver to turn the horse around; she had to go back to her parents' home.

Cui Lingrong wanted to return to the Marquis's residence first, but Old Madam Song grabbed her arm, saying, "You're the most resourceful, you're coming with me to the Su family!"