Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Song Shulan is dead.

He died on a night filled with resentment and helplessness.

His greatest desire in life was to climb to a high position, and he was willing to do anything to get promoted.

However, he died when his reputation was at its worst and he held no official position.

No one knows how much resentment he felt that night.

Because nobody heard it.

With his death, the title of Marquis of Jiangyuan was lost. By the time of Song Mingxuan's generation, they could no longer inherit the title. If they wanted to be ennobled or appointed as prime ministers in the future, they would have to earn it themselves.

On the seventh day after Song Shulan's death, Cui Lingrong had a rare dream about Song Shulan.

With blood streaming down his face, Song Shulan still questioned Cui Lingrong about why she had cheated on him.

"Song Shulan, you're useless in life, and you're still a coward in death," Cui Lingrong said. "If you're so capable, then come and take revenge on me, drag me down to hell?"

"Cui Lingrong, even now, how can you feel no remorse at all? Do you know how much pain I'm in? I wish you and Xie Yunting were both dead!"

"That's a pity, we won't die yet. We'll still be loving and affectionate for a long time to come." Cui Lingrong looked at Song Shulan with anger. "But you, you'd be a nuisance even if you died. People like you should be scattered to the winds and never live again!"

"Cui Lingrong, I hate you! I want to curse you..."

Cui Lingrong didn't hear what was said after that. She suddenly woke up and the person next to her hugged her a little tighter. She turned over to face Xie Yunting and snuggled into his arms before she felt at ease.

After Song Shulan's death, Cui Lingrong's life became much more peaceful. No one came to cause trouble, and no one made her unhappy.

Not long after, Song Shucheng returned, but this had little to do with Cui Lingrong, as she and the Jiang family were not that close.

In the blink of an eye, four years have passed.

Cui Lingrong hadn't changed much, but not long after Song Shulan's death, she moved next door to the Song family and opened a door in the wall to make it easier for her to manage her sons' affairs.

Originally, Xuan-ge'er said that she should go back to the Song family's house directly.

But Cui Lingrong refused.

If I move back to the Song family home, some members of the Song family will talk about it.

Now she lives next door in a house she bought herself, and when she's happy, she opens the door.

If you're unhappy, you can close the door, and then there are two courtyards.

In this way, her sons can see her every day, and she can also have her own life. For her, it's a win-win situation.

Today is the day Song Mingxuan goes to take the imperial examination.

Cui Lingrong waited anxiously at home.

Song Yu returned as well. "Why haven't we heard anything yet?"

Her husband, Luo Feng, also passed the imperial examination.

"Don't worry, once the results are out, someone will come to bring the good news. Just sit here and relax." Cui Lingrong gestured for Yu Jie'er to sit down and have some tea.

"How could I sit still? Only you are so calm." Song Yu craned her neck to look outside. She had given birth to a daughter last year and had matured a lot since then, but even she couldn't remain calm at a time like this. "Why hasn't Uncle said a word?"

"Your uncle is also in the main hall, how did he get the news?" Cui Lingrong stopped talking and let Yu Jie'er go and see.

But when her younger brother was mentioned, Cui Lingrong couldn't help but sigh.

Wu Hui passed away two years ago. Everyone outside thought that was the case, but in reality, it was her younger brother who arranged for Wu Hui and Dai Xin to go to a distant place.

Later, the younger brother refused to marry and instead raised Lu Weijie himself.

The Duke of Dingguo cursed him countless times, and even had Cui Lingrong intervene, but to no avail.

Cui Lingrong tried to persuade her brother twice, but he said, "Sister, I'm happy with myself the way I am now. Please don't force me to do things I don't like, okay?"

Hearing her brother's words, Cui Lingrong was speechless.

After that, Cui Lingrong never mentioned getting her younger brother married again.

Half an hour later, the sound of gongs came from outside.

Er Shun rushed over with the good news, "They passed! They passed! Master, Yu-jie and Xuan-ge have become the third-ranked scholars!"

"My God! My brother is the third-ranked scholar!" Song Yu's joy was overflowing. She turned around and pulled her mother, "Mother, did you hear that? Xuan-ge'er has become the third-ranked scholar!"

"I heard that," Cui Lingrong said, instructing Qiu Mama to reward the servants and to set off firecrackers.

Xuan-ge'er's achievement of becoming the third-ranked scholar shows that the Song family has hope for the future, and it also gives Cui Lingrong confidence.

The Song family hadn't held a banquet in a long time, so Cui Lingrong took advantage of this occasion to host a three-day feast, which was incredibly lively.

Having achieved official rank, Song Mingxuan asked his mother to arrange a marriage for him.

He was classmates with the second son of the Lan family. The Lan family was a century-old scholarly family with strict family rules, and many of its members served as officials in the court. Their social standing was much higher than that of the Song family.

Therefore, when Cui Lingrong went to propose marriage, she specially brought her younger brother Cui Zeyu with her. With Cui Zeyu's presence, the elders of the Lan family gladly agreed to the marriage.

With Xuan-ge'er's marriage settled, it was time for Jin-ge'er's turn.

In the past few years, Song Mingjin has followed Xie Yunting to the battlefield and has already made meritorious contributions.

The first time he went to the battlefield, he secretly followed Xie Yunting. By the time Xie Yunting discovered him, they were already halfway there.

Song Mingjin even threatened, "If you don't let me go with you, I'll refuse to leave when you go to see my mother. Let's see how you get along with her then!"

Xie Yunting was both angry and amused, and had no choice but to take Song Mingjin with him.

Now, Song Mingjin is a commander of a thousand households on his own, and he spends his days practicing martial arts with his brothers in the army, determined to recover more cities than Xie Yunting.

However, Song Mingjin was still young, so Cui Lingrong thought she should wait and see and wasn't in a hurry.

This process continued until Song Mingjin came of age, when Zhuang Huaiming came to arrange a marriage for his youngest daughter, Zhuang Lu.

Cui Lingrong was naturally willing. Her cousin had not remarried all these years. Although Lu Jie'er was born out of wedlock, Aunt Lu was a good person, and Lu Jie'er was raised by her to be gentle and tender.

After consulting with Jin-ge'er and receiving his consent, Cui Lingrong began preparing for the wedding.

With her children all having promising futures, Cui Lingrong no longer worries about her grandchildren, and the Song family doesn't require her to manage affairs. She spends her days either drinking and traveling with You Shuyi and the others, or with Xie Yunting.

Live life as you please and freely.

It was a level of comfort she had never experienced in the first half of her life.

(Finish)