Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

The Duke of Dingguo dropped the matter, and the Su family even sent someone to thank Cui Lingrong.

Song Yu was overjoyed to learn that Su Yunfei had been sent away. "She's usually so arrogant. It's a pity I didn't see her suffer, otherwise I would have been happy for days."

Cui Lingrong looked at her daughter and smiled, "Su Yunfei is brainless, you should teach her a lesson. Your grandmother has been in a bad mood these past few days, you can go and see her more often."

"Daughter doesn't understand why Grandmother is so biased towards the Princess. When you gave birth, Grandmother wasn't so attentive." She even allowed Wutong Garden to cook separately. Song Yu knew that her grandmother was afraid that her mother would do something shady.

As Song Yu grew older, she understood more and more of the schemes and intrigues within the grand mansion, and suddenly she didn't want to grow up anymore.

Cui Lingrong smiled. The old lady was good to her grandchildren. One thing at a time, she didn't speak ill of the old lady in front of her daughter.

Just then, a maid came to announce that Young Master Yu had arrived.

Song Yu was especially happy to see her uncle, and every time he came, he would bring her something nice.

Cui Zeyu came to talk about buying a house. "The house we had looked at before, after I kept pestering them, the family agreed to a discount of 500 taels of silver. I thought it was impossible to get a discount any further, so I paid the money and went to complete the formalities."

Cui Lingrong listened with some regret, "If we delay it a little longer, it should be cheaper."

"Buy early and enjoy early, and it won't save you much money anyway." Cui Zeyu was especially happy after buying the house. "I've already hired someone to renovate it. After the renovation, shall we go furniture shopping together, sister?"

Cui Lingrong said she didn't have that much time, "Just choose the house you like. I'll bring Yu-jie and the others to congratulate you when you move into your new house."

Cui Zeyu was a little disappointed, thinking that his sister would accompany him, but he quickly smiled and said, "Then I'll get it done as soon as possible, and try to do it before your birthday."

"That's too tight a schedule." Cui Lingrong's birthday is just a few days away. "This year, I'll be inviting my friends over, mostly ladies and young women. I was thinking that the day before is the fifteenth, and Xuan-ge'er and his friends have a day off that day, so you should come a day early."

Cui Zeyu said yes, and then asked his sister what kind of birthday gift she wanted.

Cui Lingrong said it was all fine.

Song Yu leaned closer to her mother and said, "I've got everything ready. I'm just waiting to give it to you on that day."

The three chatted and laughed, and time flew by. Cui Zeyu stayed for lunch before going to deliver the goods.

Before they knew it, it was the fifteenth day of the month. Since Cui Lingrong's birthday was the sixteenth, only a few members of the eldest branch of the family gathered at Qiushuangzhai.

Song Shulan came over out of courtesy, and as soon as he entered the house, he began to question his two sons about their studies.

Song Mingxuan was alright. He knew from a young age that as the eldest son, he had to work harder, so his studies were good.

Song Mingjin was much less capable, but considering his young age, Song Shulan didn't criticize him too harshly and gave him a few more words of advice.

Only when Cui Zeyu arrived did Song Shulan's smile fade. "Zeyu bought a house, right?"

This wasn't something Cui Lingrong said, but rather someone else told Song Shulan. Upon learning that Cui Zeyu had the money to buy a house, a three-and-a-half-courtyard house at that, and considering the recent financial difficulties of the Marquis's mansion, he felt quite unhappy.

Cui Zeyu nodded in agreement, remembering his sister's instructions: "The housing prices in Bianjing are rising year by year. If I don't buy now, I really won't be able to afford it. So I borrowed some money from a money lender, and I'll have to pay it back to them later."

"Borrowed?" Song Shulan looked him over, not really believing him. "Your sister said that you've kept all the money for yourself over the past few years. Where have you spent it all?"

Cui Zeyu poured himself a glass of wine, thinking to himself that Song Shulan was truly despicable, even scheming about his money. "Has the Marquis forgotten? Buying the cloth shop took away several years' worth of my savings. Doing business also involves social obligations, and it's not like I make money every year. How could I possibly have so much extra money on hand?"

"That's true, socializing and gift-giving all cost money." Song Shulan picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. After dinner, he went to Wutong Garden. Princess Rongjia had been suffering from severe morning sickness lately, and he would go to keep her company whenever he had time.

After Song Shulan left, Cui Zeyu asked her sister, "Is the Marquis's mansion so short of money?"

Cui Lingrong said it was better than when she first married into the family, "but without my subsidies and with the addition of Princess Rongjia who spends money, we are indeed a bit strapped for cash. But it's alright, we can manage, the servants get enough money, and the household is relatively stable. If there are any complaints, they are from the masters, but if they are capable, they can certainly spend their own money."

"Sister has changed a lot. If it were before, you would definitely think that everyone being happy is the most important thing," Cui Zeyu said intentionally.

Song Yu nodded in agreement, "Mother has indeed improved in this respect. The third branch is alright, after all, the third uncle and aunt don't cause trouble. But the second aunt is ambitious and likes to upset Mother from time to time. She should suffer a bit."

With her mother's financial support, Song Yu's life remained unchanged.

In the courtyard, Xuan and his brothers were playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football). On their rare day off, they invited their sister and uncle to join them.

Song Yu got playful and went to the yard to play with his younger brothers. "If you lose later, you're not allowed to cry."

Cui Zeyu remained seated, and noticing that his sister's teacup was empty, he thoughtfully added some tea.

He gave his sister the latest gemstone jewelry; others could be frugal and thrifty, but his sister couldn't.

He wanted to give his sister the best and most expensive things.

When Li came to deliver the embroidery, she first saw Yu Jie'er and her brother playing in the courtyard. When she entered the house, she saw her sister-in-law and Cui Zeyu sitting and laughing. For a moment, she was in a daze and felt that this was a happy family.

"These are peonies I embroidered myself. I hope you won't find them too precious, sister-in-law." Knowing that Yuan and the others would send more valuable gifts, Li sent them over in advance because she was too embarrassed to present them tomorrow.

"How could I dislike it? Your needlework is so good. I was thinking of letting Yu'er learn from you. She's a restless person, and I'm embarrassed to let anyone see her needlework." Cui Lingrong really had this idea. Li's needlework was excellent, and she was a gentle person. She felt at ease letting her daughter learn needlework from Li.

Li said modestly, "My needlework is just so-so. As long as you don't mind, you can have Yu'er come to me anytime."

Cui Lingrong called her daughter in, "Your third aunt said she's willing to teach you needlework. Go over tomorrow and learn for an hour each day."

Song Yu disliked needlework, but since her mother had asked, she had no choice but to agree. Thinking that her third aunt was kind and wouldn't scold her if she slacked off, she relaxed again.

Li sat in Qiushuangzhai for half an hour. After she left, Cui Zeyu should also go back.

After dinner, Song Yu and her brother returned to their respective courtyards. On the way, they encountered Wang Shanxi's family. She was unwilling to talk to the people from Wutongyuan, so Wang Shanxi's family blocked their way.

"The princess heard the marquis mention Xuan-ge'er and his brothers and would like to invite them over for a visit. Yu-jie, would you like to join us?" Wang Shanxi's wife gestured for them to come.

"It's getting late, we won't go," Song Yu refused directly.

"It's not dark yet. The princess is your legal mother. Logically speaking, when Xuan-ge'er and his brothers return home, they should go and pay their respects. The same goes for Yu-jie'er, so that they can have a reputation for filial piety, right?" Wang Shanxi's wife still insisted that they go.

Song Mingjin said softly, "It wouldn't hurt to go sit down, would it?"

Song Yu glared at her, "Are you the princess's child? The princess will have her own children. Who are you rushing to show off to?"

Everyone said that Jin-ge was too young and didn't know any better, so Song Yu had to be even more wary of Wutongyuan, lest his younger brother be deceived by Wutongyuan's sweet talk.

"Yu'er, what you're saying is wrong. The Princess is your legal mother, and you are her children. It's basic etiquette for children to greet their legal mother. Does Madam intend to teach Yu'er to be disrespectful to her elders like this?"

Song Yu was furious, but remembering her mother's instructions, she held back and said, "Don't try to provoke me. If we're talking about seniority and humility, the princess is the one who came into the family later. Why don't you see her going to Qiushuangzhai to pay her respects to my mother? I'm a junior, so naturally I should learn how to behave like my elders. I admire Wang Mama's eloquence; she can turn white into black."

She didn't want to get entangled with Wang Shanxi's family any longer, so she gave her younger brothers a wink and led them back home.

Wang Shanxi's face turned ashen. She thought to herself, "As expected of the daughter of Qiushuangzhai, she has a sharp tongue."