Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Madam Qiu called out to the Marquis again.

When Song Shulan saw Qiu Mama, she realized it was Cui Lingrong's birthday. She clicked her tongue and said, "The princess is not feeling well. I'll go check on her and then come back."

"The Marquis promised the eldest mistress that you must come," said Madam Qiu.

"I know, do I need you to remind me?" Song Shulan was preoccupied with the child in Princess Rongjia's belly and just wanted to get to Wutong Garden as soon as possible. After saying this perfunctorily, she hurried towards Wutong Garden.

When he arrived at Wutong Garden, the doctor had just finished taking Princess Rongjia's pulse and said that she had miscarried and needed to rest.

"Why would something go wrong and cause miscarriage?" Song Shulan thought about what happened last night. Could it be that he used too much force?

Wang Shanxi's wife saw through the Marquis's thoughts and quickly said, "The princess was fine this morning. It was Huadie who burned the princess when she came to pay her respects, which is why the princess was frightened."

She didn't quite understand why the princess wanted to suppress Huadie. Huadie was clearly the princess's person, and the princess should feel at ease with Huadie serving the marquis.

Princess Rongjia, her eyes red, said, "My lord, please don't blame Huadie. She didn't mean to."

"Since she's so clumsy, let her reflect on her actions in the courtyard for half a month and don't let her out!" After saying this, Song Shulan noticed that Aunt Zhao was also there. She hadn't seen Aunt Zhao for a long time, and seeing that Aunt Zhao had beautiful features, she couldn't help but take a second look.

Aunt Zhao tactfully withdrew without saying a word. She knew that Princess Rongjia was very jealous. That fool Huadie, every time she came to pay her respects, would mention how good the Marquis was to Huadie. How could Princess Rongjia stand that?

Aunt Zhao knew she wasn't young anymore, and if she didn't seize the opportunity to have a child, things would get even harder later. Life with the eldest mistress was stable, but too stable; the little favor she received wasn't enough to make her life better.

With no one else in the room, Princess Rongjia leaned against Song Shulan's chest. "Song Lang, I was so scared just now, I was afraid..."

"Don't be afraid, I'm here with you." Song Shulan felt a pang of pain in his heart when he saw Princess Rongjia crying.

Princess Rongjia pulled Song Shulan to take a nap, and it wasn't until evening that she suddenly realized and said, "I forgot that today is Sister Cui's birthday. Song Lang, go and see her quickly, don't let Sister Cui be sad."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"I'm much better now, and with Wang Shanxi's family here, Song Lang, you don't need to worry about me. Sister Cui and I have many misunderstandings. If you haven't visited her on such an important day, I'm afraid she'll hate me even more." Princess Rongjia pursed her lips, pushing Song Shulan with a pitiful expression.

Song Shulan held Princess Rongjia in his arms for a while before going to Qiushuangzhai.

When he arrived at Qiushuangzhai, all the ladies and young women had left, and Cui Lingrong was enjoying tea with Yu Jie in the courtyard.

When Song Yu saw his father, he was still angry. He called out "Father" and then fell silent.

"Ling Rong, I..."

"My lord, there's no need to explain. The child in the princess's womb is more important."

"I really wanted to celebrate your birthday and spend time with you. How about we invite Madam Wu and the others over for dinner another day?" Song Shulan felt uneasy seeing Cui Lingrong so calm.

Cui Lingrong said no need, "Everyone here is a capable person, and it's already a great honor for me to come and support us today. I've already said that the child in the princess's belly is more important, and I'm not angry."

She glanced at Song Shulan only once throughout the entire encounter. The rest of the time, her gaze remained fixed on the teacup in her hand.

Song Shulan knew, however, that the calmer Cui Lingrong appeared, the angrier she actually was.

He gave Qiu's mother a wink, and Qiu's mother took Yu'er away.

Song Shulan sat down next to Cui Lingrong and said, "Lingrong, the princess's pregnancy is still unstable, and I really can't manage both. I know you're angry with me. Tell me, what compensation do you want? I'll give it to you."

Cui Lingrong almost laughed. Princess Rongjia's pregnancy was unstable, was Song Shulan some kind of magic cure?

"Even if the princess can't come, it would be good if the Marquis could at least show his face." Cui Lingrong sighed and shook her head. "But the Marquis didn't come. I know, I understand, I won't hold it against him, and I won't argue with him. Why do you have to say all this?"

Song Shulan: "I..."

"Or would the Marquis be willing to give me the agate from Diancui Tower, or perhaps shops and land?" Cui Lingrong looked at Song Shulan earnestly.

She was truly disappointed.

Why can't Song Shulan even keep such a simple promise?

Others might not dare to say it, but she understood, because in Song Shulan's eyes, Wutong Garden was more important when comparing the two.

As for her birthday, what does it matter?

Song Shulan frowned. "Ling Rong, you weren't so materialistic before."

"I don't want these things. It's just that even a child knows that an apology must be sincere. I want to see if you still care about me, my lord. You wouldn't refuse to give them to me, would you?" Cui Lingrong looked at Song Shulan, taking in every expression on his face.

He hesitated.

He was reluctant to part with it.

He was reluctant to spend money.

The more this happened, the more Cui Lingrong wanted Song Shulan to give it to her.

Because she is no longer the foolish woman who was solely devoted to the good of the Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion and only thought about giving.

"Since Your Excellency is unwilling to give it, then forget it." Cui Lingrong turned her head away. "I said I'm not angry, Your Excellency, please leave."

Seeing Cui Lingrong like this, Song Shulan lost his patience and turned to leave Qiushuangzhai.

After seeing the Marquis leave, Madam Qiu came over and asked, "Why were you arguing with the Marquis?"

"Shouldn't I be angry?" Now that no one else was around, Cui Lingrong no longer hid her true emotions. "He promised he would come, but Princess Rongjia said she had a stomachache and went away all day. He didn't even give me that much face. What does he take me for?"

"Aunt Qiu, I am also a human being. I can be happy and angry. I am not like the clay bodhisattva that everyone says has no temper."

Cui Lingrong took a deep breath, still unable to calm down. "Tell me, he didn't even bother to send anyone over, acting like he'd completely forgotten about it. Men are all the same, none of them are good!"

Madam Qiu couldn't think of any words to persuade him; the Marquis's repeated actions had disappointed his master greatly.

"Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore, it's no use. He won't even say a few kind words, let alone give me land to build a house." Cui Lingrong laughed self-deprecatingly, got up and walked into the house.

Today, Sister Yuan said that she had done right by the Duke of Dingguo's heir, serving him her whole life and bearing a lot of gossip. She didn't need to stay for him any longer. Although the Duchess of Dingguo offered generous terms, she refused them all and decided to return home in three months.

She said, "I've only come to understand this at this age: life is short, whether you're happy or unhappy, it's still just one day. The dead are dead, why should I care about their reputation?"

She said not to worry about it, she wanted to be a little willful for the rest of her life, even though many people didn't understand, as long as she understood herself.

At this moment, Cui Lingrong envied Yuan's sister for being able to do such a thing. She felt that she didn't have the courage to abandon her child and everything she had fought for in the Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion.

After entering the room, Cui Lingrong took out the account books and started keeping herself busy.

If you have something to do, you won't overthink things.

Meanwhile, Song Shulan went to Aunt Zhao's place and complained to her about Cui Lingrong, "I only forgot for a moment, but I still went to Qiushuangzhai in the end, and she got angry with me. She said she wasn't angry, but she wouldn't even look at me. Don't you think she's changed?"

When Aunt Zhao saw the Marquis arrive, she was overjoyed. All she wanted to do was get the Marquis to have a child as soon as possible. While listening to the Marquis's complaints, she leaned against him and said, "Since you're unhappy, just leave the eldest mistress out for a while. Anyway, the eldest mistress has always been like this, she'll be fine in a few days."

She touched the Marquis's cheek, but Song Shulan was not in a good mood. Unable to get any emotional response from Aunt Zhao, she got up and went to the next room.

Aunt Zhang was surprised by the Marquis's visit. Hearing that it was about the Eldest Madam's birthday, she poured him a cup of tea. "The Eldest Madam is angry, which means she's hoping for your presence. What woman doesn't want her husband to pamper her?"

These words struck a chord with Song Shulan. Yes, Cui Shi still cared about him, which was why she was angry.

"My lord, please try to appease the eldest mistress. She doesn't ask for much." Aunt Zhang remembered the eldest mistress's kindness and was willing to say a few words in her defense.

Song Shulan thought for a moment, then hummed in agreement. "I'll have Qingshan deliver the land deed to her tomorrow. If she's still angry, then she's just being dramatic."

That night, Song Shulan stayed with Aunt Zhang. After all, she was the one who had served him the longest, so Song Shulan spent the night comfortably.

The next morning, Qingshan delivered the land deed to Qiushuangzhai.

When Cui Lingrong saw the land deed for the five acres of fertile land, she felt as if she were in a dream. She realized that women shouldn't be too sensible; only women who know how to cry can reap the rewards.

She finally understood that sentence today.

After accepting the land deed, Cui Lingrong asked Qiu Mama to prepare some pastries and have Qingshan deliver them to Song Shulan. She knew when to stop, lest Song Shulan refuse to send the land deed next time.

Not long after Qingshan left, Ershun, whom she had sent to investigate the ex-husband's house of Princess Rongjia, returned. She hurriedly had Ershun brought in.