Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Cui Lingrong had absolutely no desire to associate with Song Shulan, so she ignored Song Shulan's post.

She followed Xie Yunting to a manor with hot springs, where she could relax and rejuvenate.

"Is your soaking comfortable, sister?" Xie Yunting leaned close from behind.

The hot spring water, smooth as silk, washes over the skin of two people, their skin touching.

Cui Lingrong couldn't help but shudder.

"Didn't you just go?" Cui Lingrong placed a blanket on the edge of the pool and buried her face in it. "Stop messing around."

"You think the worst of me. I just wanted to hold you, what was there to do?" Xie Yunting rested his head on Cui Lingrong's shoulder. The woman's fragrance was intoxicating. "I heard that Song Shulan invited many prominent families to Xuan-ge'er's birthday celebration, and many of these families have daughters."

The meaning of Song Shulan is self-evident.

Song Mingxuan is seventeen years old this year, and some families have indeed started to consider him for marriage.

"He's just looking for trouble. Old Mrs. Song just passed away, and he wants to hold a birthday banquet for Xuan-ge'er. Doesn't he care about what people say? Not to mention arranging marriages, he has all sorts of ulterior motives. Does he think everyone else is blind?" Cui Lingrong sighed. "I think it's better to keep him from moving around, so he doesn't keep causing trouble."

"Alright, I'll do whatever you say, sister." Xie Yunting said, leaning forward. "Sister, please be kind to me again today and give me some fun?"

"You shameless bastard!"

Cui Lingrong had witnessed firsthand how robust the physique of a military officer was, and Xie Yunting pulled her into his arms.

The water splashed against the edge of the pool.

After an unknown amount of time, when it was almost dark, Xie Yunting finally picked up Cui Lingrong.

They stayed in the village for three days.

Xie Yunting was a minister valued by the emperor, so he didn't have much free time.

The two returned to Bianjing together. Xie Yunting was too lazy to go back to his own home, so he went back to the Cui residence with Cui Lingrong.

Just then, Song Yu and his wife returned.

"Mother!" Song Yu was overjoyed to see his mother. Then, seeing Xie Yunting, he was somewhat taken aback. "General Xie, you've arrived!"

Xie Yunting smiled and patted Luo Feng on the shoulder, "You look good, kid. Come out and spar with me, I'll give you some pointers."

Luo Feng went to see Song Yu, and Song Yu had no objections.

Once only Cui Lingrong and her daughter were inside, Cui Lingrong asked, "Didn't you say you wouldn't be back for another two weeks? Why are you back so early?"

"Grandmother was worried it would snow if we were late, so she told us to set off early." Song Yu's face was rosy; the Luo family treated her well, and she was quite comfortable. "Mother, how is things going with my uncle's family?"

When she was almost in Bianjing, she heard that General Dai had returned.

At first, she didn't know who General Dai was. Later, she heard from others that he was her aunt's former fiancé.

Cui Lingrong shook her head. "Your uncle said I don't need to worry about it, and your aunt didn't say anything either. Life is going on as usual."

"So you're alright?"

"A calm exterior doesn't mean nothing's wrong underneath," Cui Lingrong said. "Alright, your uncle is a grown man; we don't need to worry about such things. Now that you're back, go to the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence. You missed your grandmother's passing, so you should still go and offer incense."

When people die, past grudges and grievances simply dissipate.

Song Yu had no objections. After lunch, he went to the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence.

As soon as the couple arrived at the Marquis's residence, her father came to complain.

"Yu-jie, tell me, where in the world is there anyone like your mother?" Song Shulan said indignantly. "She's already divorced me, yet she's still stopping me from remarrying. What does that mean?"

Song Yu reminded him, "Father, you are still in mourning. You cannot marry a wife, or even take a concubine."

"I'm referring to what happened before your grandmother passed away," Song Shulan said. "Could it be that she still had feelings for me, which is why she's doing this to stop me?"

Song Yu was speechless. "Father, please stop thinking such nonsense. Mother just doesn't want to see other girls being harmed. You're already like that, what's the point of you getting married?"

Luo Feng glanced at Song Shulan, wondering what she meant by "like that"—he didn't understand.

Song Shulan paused for a moment, then waved his hand, "Fine, you're in cahoots with your mother, all you do is annoy me!"

Song Yu was too lazy to argue with his father, so he went to the ancestral hall to burn incense. Thinking about how much the Marquis's mansion had desolate along the way, he couldn't help but sigh.

"What's wrong with you?" Luo Feng asked.

As Song Yu walked in the garden, he sighed, “I’m lamenting that the Jiangyuan Marquis’s mansion used to be a grand family, but now it’s become like this. My father is truly… a man of many words.”

Luo Feng didn't dare say too much, "My father-in-law is indeed a bit clueless."

"Forget it, let him do whatever he wants. Fortunately, Zhao Shi has been punished, and now no one in the Marquis's mansion will harm Xuan-ge'er and the others, so we can rest assured. In the future, when Xuan-ge'er achieves official rank, Father should retire." With his younger brothers not around, Song Yu didn't want to see his father and left without even eating.

After returning to the Luo family, Song Yu sent gifts to some relatives and friends.

The days of traveling had left her exhausted, and she went to sleep as soon as it got dark.

The next morning, when Zhuang Qi arrived, Song Yu had just woken up.

After they went to pay their respects to You Shuyi, You Shuyi told them to go and have fun on their own, while she went to the Cui residence instead.

Upon seeing Cui Lingrong, You Shuyi smiled and took out a prescription, while the old woman beside her put down several packets of medicine.

"What is this?" Cui Lingrong asked.

You Shuyi gave a wink, and the maids and servants withdrew. "I heard yesterday that you came back with Xie Yunting?"

Cui Lingrong blushed instantly.

"Quietly, I told you that 'absorbing yang to replenish yin' is especially nourishing for young, strong men. Look at your complexion now, it's so good." You Shuyi sat down next to Cui Lingrong. "Between us, there's no need to hide anything. I won't ask about the details of your affair with Xie Yunting. These are some contraceptives, and the prescription is for nourishment. Since you're not married, you can't have children."

Cui Lingrong saw that it was even hotter now, and she had taken some medicine.

"No prescription from outside can compare to mine," You Shuyi patted Cui Lingrong. "Don't worry, I'll have someone deliver it to you every month from now on. How about it? Want to tell me how impressive General Xie is?"

"You shameless person!" Cui Lingrong said, blushing.

"We're all getting on in years, what's there to be shy about? Having fun is the most important thing. Let me tell you, it's fine to play around with younger men, but remember not to get attached to them. Even if you're going to marry Xie Yunting, you still have to stay clear-headed." You Shuyi said she was an experienced woman, "Remember my words."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Xie Yunting's voice came from the courtyard. You Shuyi gave Cui Lingrong a look and said, "Tsk tsk, you two are so lovey-dovey, it's so enviable."