Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

"Grandma, the princess has passed away." Madam Qiu couldn't help but sigh.

"Mother, don't sigh. Things have come to this point. Whether I'm angry or wallowing in self-pity, it will only make Princess Rongjia more pleased," Cui Lingrong said. "Also, send a message to the old lady saying that I'm ill and can't pay my respects to her recently. Send two more people to wait for Xuan-ge'er and Jin-ge'er at the academy gate."

She hasn't seen her two sons since returning home.

"And what about the Marquis?"

Speaking of her husband, Cui Lingrong felt resentment, confusion, and disappointment.

The Emperor's bestowal of marriage was out of necessity, but she didn't believe that the Emperor would bestow marriage without reason. There must have been something someone said or did that led the Emperor to bring Princess Rongjia and Song Shulan together.

"I remember when we first got married, I was scolded by the old lady for being late in paying my respects, and the Marquis secretly bought me a rose hairpin to appease me. Have Caixia take the rose hairpin to the study, and don't say anything else." Cui Lingrong and Song Shulan have been married for more than ten years, and she knows Song Shulan very well. He is shrewd, timid, and doesn't offend anyone. Over the years, his official career has been quite good, and he is already a fourth-rank official.

"You and Master were childhood sweethearts, so your bond must be even stronger. We still have to live in the Song family, so your relationship with Master cannot be broken." In Qiu Mama's opinion, compared to Princess Rongjia, who was widowed and remarried, Master must love Madam more.

Cui Lingrong stared out the window, lost in thought. Was that really the case?

Why didn't Song Shulan come to give her an explanation last night?

As evening approached, Cui Lingrong prepared a table full of dishes, hoping that her two sons would come over after school.

After waiting and waiting, no one came. Qiu's mother grew anxious. "Caixia, go to the front yard and ask if the two boys have returned yet?"

Just after Caixia left, Ershun, who had been sent to the academy to pick them up, came back to report, "Madam, I waited at the academy gate until everyone was gone before I dared to go in to look for them. The teacher said that our two sons are no longer at Ling'an Academy, but have been transferred to the Imperial Academy by Princess Rongjia."

If there weren't so many people in the room, Aunt Qiu would have scolded her for meddling in other people's business. The eldest mistress's children are her own responsibility; when did it become Princess Rongjia's place to interfere?

The Imperial Academy only has two days off per month, and students are not allowed to leave the school without permission on weekdays. Yesterday, no one left the door open for Cui Lingrong, so the two young men naturally did not know that Cui Lingrong had returned.

No wonder I didn't see either of you come to pay your respects this morning.

Not just anyone can enter the Imperial Academy. Xuan'er is only twelve years old and hasn't even achieved the title of Xiucai (a lower-level scholar), let alone eight-year-old Jin'er. Song Shulan's official position is not high enough to allow his child to be admitted to the Imperial Academy through hereditary privilege.

Princess Rongjia certainly has a lot of influence.

It would be a good thing to be able to enter the Imperial Academy. The old lady and the Marquis would certainly not stop her, and would even praise Princess Rongjia for her kindness.

Cui Lingrong's usual composure crumbled somewhat at this moment. She turned around expressionlessly and said, "Yu-jie, let's eat first."

Song Yu could sense his mother's disappointment. "How about we go to the Imperial Academy tomorrow to see Xuan-ge and the others? If they're heartless and keep talking about how good Princess Rongjia is to them, I won't acknowledge them as my brothers!"

"You're talking like a child again." Cui Lingrong put some food on her daughter's plate. "After you finish eating, remember to pay your respects to the old lady. You are the eldest daughter of the Song family, and the old lady dotes on you. You've grown up now, so you need to learn to keep your dissatisfaction with others to yourself."

"If you're not satisfied, you should say it. If you keep it bottled up, you'll just make yourself angry to death!" Song Yu asked, puzzled.

Facing her daughter, Cui Lingrong finally smiled slightly. "Would it make any difference if I said it? If Princess Rongjia weren't a princess, I could have arrogantly forced her to hand over the management of the household. I could have even called her a hen crowing at dawn, it wouldn't have mattered. But she is a princess, and I don't have a powerful family background. Compared to her, I'm at a disadvantage. Knowing that the situation is unfavorable to me, I should remain silent and wait for the right opportunity to strike decisively."

Previously, in the Song family, Cui Lingrong's biggest trouble was Jiang Shi's occasional, harmless annoyances. She would sometimes give her daughter a few pointers. Now it's different; firstly, Princess Rongjia is difficult to deal with, and secondly, her daughter is older.

Seeing that her mother was still smiling faintly when she said that the blow would kill, Song Yu thought that her mother must have her own plans, and nodded in agreement to go see her grandmother.

After her daughter left, Cui Lingrong sat alone behind the window, gazing at the clump of green bamboo in the courtyard, her face revealing neither joy nor anger.

Song Shulan arrived at the hour of the garrison. He was tall and wore a moon-white robe, which gave him a unique and elegant air.

When Qiu's mother saw him, she wanted nothing more than to spit at him, but she had to greet him with a smile, "My lord, the eldest mistress has been waiting for you for a long time."

The door was closed, leaving only Cui Lingrong and Song Shulan inside. Song Shulan walked over, his eyes scanning Cui Lingrong. "My wife, your husband has arrived."

"At first glance, I thought the Marquis was calling someone else 'Madam,'" Cui Lingrong said softly. "Please sit down, Marquis. This is the first time I've seen you since I returned home. With such a beautiful wife in your arms, you certainly look quite well."

"Ling Rong, you would never have said such harsh words before."

"I never knew before that the Marquis would take a concubine."

The steam from the tea rose gently, brushing against Song Shulan's face and bringing tears to his eyes. He hurriedly explained, "The arranged marriage was sudden; I swear to God, I knew absolutely nothing about it beforehand!"

He had been married to Cui Lingrong for many years. At first, they were distant and polite, but he grew to like Cui Lingrong's beauty and gentleness, and then gradually found her boring.

Overall, the couple has maintained a harmonious relationship over the years, and their relationship is sincere and genuine.

After scrutinizing Song Shulan, Cui Lingrong realized he wasn't lying and breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Alright, I trust you, Lord Marquis."

"Lingrong, we've been husband and wife for over ten years. Don't you know who I am?" Song Shulan sighed deeply. "Princess Rongjia was betrothed by the Emperor. We were married later in life. How can that compare to the affection between you and me? I was wrong yesterday, but I was really afraid that you would blame me, abandon me, or even divorce me."

He held Cui Lingrong's hand and said, "You have to believe that you are the most important person to me."

Cui Lingrong looked down and saw that Song Shulan was a handsome man. It seemed that Nuwa had bestowed special blessings upon him, as even his five fingers were long and beautiful.

But Song Shulan truly values ​​her the most. He shouldn't have come to see her last night, nor should he have stayed at Princess Rongjia's place.

She didn't expose Song Shulan's sweet talk.

"With your words, Lord Marquis, I am content. However..." Cui Lingrong deliberately paused, stood up, and withdrew her hand. "However, marrying a concubine is a rare occurrence, especially one bestowed by the Emperor. There are countless eyes in Bianjing City watching the Marquis's residence. When I returned home yesterday, the gates of the Marquis's residence were tightly closed. I'm afraid people outside are already saying that I am not on good terms with the Princess."

Song Shulan: "How could that be?" He least wanted to see his wives and concubines fighting amongst themselves. The affairs of the court alone were troublesome enough. When he got home, he just wanted to be served comfortably.

"While the Marquis may not think so, others may not. I don't necessarily want to compete with the Princess for the power to manage the household, but I am the first wife, and the Princess is younger than me. She seized the power as soon as she entered the household; in others' eyes, she used her status to suppress me, the first wife." Seeing Song Shulan about to explain, Cui Lingrong quickly added, "The Princess's marriage to the Marquis is a done deal. I feel somewhat wronged, but I will still prioritize the Marquis's reputation and hope to get along peacefully with the Princess. I suppose the Marquis hopes for the same?"

Song Shulan said yes.

"This morning, the princess kept calling me 'sister,' and even said she wanted to build a wall in the middle of the main house. I don't care, but I'm worried about what people outside might say." Cui Lingrong turned her back, her eyes half-closed. "I'm only half a year older than the princess. What will people with ulterior motives think if they hear her calling me 'sister'?"

After a pause, Cui Lingrong, when asked for the final answer, asked, "From now on, if we live together, who will be the head of the main house? If we live separately, does the Marquis really intend to listen to the Princess and build a wall in the courtyard?"

Song Shulan values ​​his reputation above all else and would never agree to build a wall. So, let Cui Lingrong, or even Princess Rongjia, be the head of the main house, or even manage the entire Marquis's mansion?

Song Shulan looked deeply troubled.

Cui Lingrong used a feigned retreat to advance, saying, "I am willing to let the prefect manage the household, which will give me some peace and quiet. As long as the censors don't think the princess is abusing her power, our entire household can remain as harmonious as before."

She walked to the door. "It's getting late, Lord Marquis. You should go and discuss this with the Princess. Also, please tell the Princess that, regardless of the order of precedence or age, I deserve to be called her elder sister. Tell her not to forget this next time."