Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Aunt Zhao had been pregnant before, so she knew some things to be careful about in order to protect her pregnancy.

She had already been pregnant for three months, but she still lost the baby.

The doctor said that she had dieted too much when she was young, which made her body very weak, and that's why she couldn't keep the baby.

She was a "thin horse" specially bought and trained. She was not given enough to eat and had to learn all sorts of ways to please men, so her body was indeed not as good as that of an ordinary person.

As she left Wutong Garden, Aunt Zhao couldn't help but sigh.

The eldest mistress was a cautious person, but perhaps too cautious. She could see clearly that both the old lady and the Marquis favored Princess Rongjia, and if she continued to follow the eldest mistress, she truly had no future.

"If only I could have a child, even a daughter, that would be wonderful," Aunt Zhao sighed. The maid beside her dared not step forward, for she knew this was Aunt Zhao's deepest sorrow.

When Aunt Zhao returned to the courtyard, she heard laughter and chatter coming from next door.

The Marquis went to see that old woman, Consort Zhang, again?

Why is a hen that can't lay eggs clinging to the Marquis?

Aunt Zhao remembered that the Marquis had gone to see Aunt Zhang from her place a few days ago. On a whim, she took out her pipa and began to sing a mournful song.

Hearing the melodious and mournful song, Song Shulan, who lived next door, drifted off into the distance.

Aunt Zhang was very magnanimous. "Would the Marquis like to go and take a look?"

"Forget it, I've already come all this way." Song Shulan rarely came to Aunt Zhang's place. Sometimes he would just come over for a visit. After all, she was the person who had been with him the longest, and Aunt Zhang was considerate and sensible, so there was still some affection between them.

He ate with Aunt Zhang and then left.

Aunt Zhang was not surprised. Ever since the Marquis learned that she was infertile, he rarely stayed overnight at her place.

However, she thought the Marquis would go to Aunt Zhao's place, but the maid said no, "The Marquis went in the direction of Qiushuangzhai."

"After all, the eldest mistress is the first wife, and she still holds some weight in the Marquis's heart." Aunt Zhang took out her embroidery. She herself had no children, but she had watched Yu Jie'er and the others grow up, and planned to make a pair of felt gloves for Yu Jie'er.

On the other side, when Song Shulan arrived at Qiushuangzhai, Cui Lingrong was looking at the account books.

Seeing Song Shulan arrive, Cui Lingrong was somewhat surprised. "What brings you here today, Lord Marquis?"

Song Shulan sat opposite Cui Lingrong. "Did you get the land deed?"

Cui Lingrong hummed in agreement and continued looking at the account books. Winter clothes were essential; otherwise, the cold winter would make them sick.

She didn't want to talk about the land deeds, so she steered the conversation to winter clothes. "Mother Xu told me that the old lady wants an extra winter coat made this year, and I agreed. And there's Xuan-ge and Jin-ge, they're studying at the Imperial Academy, they can't be shabby anymore, I'll mend their fabric myself. Yu-jie too, she'll be a young lady after the New Year, she needs to dress up nicely. And..."

Song Shulan listened as Cui Lingrong listed several people, but not him, and interrupted, "Is Madam still angry with me?"

"what?"

Cui Lingrong said no.

"You clearly have them, so why do you patch up winter clothes for the children but I don't?" Song Shulan wouldn't have cared about this before, but now he feels that Cui Lingrong doesn't care about him that much, which makes him feel bad.

Cui Lingrong: "I thought the princess had many good things, so she would definitely prepare them for the marquis, and I wouldn't need to spend any money. Besides, I don't have much money. After subsidizing the children, I don't have any left for myself. Please let me off the hook, marquis. I'll add more fabric for you. I can only wear my old clothes."

Song Shulan looked at Cui Lingrong without saying a word, and felt a tightness in his chest.

Cui Lingrong continued looking at the account books, and even when Song Shulan yawned, she showed no sign of taking a break.

Song Shulan thought that by taking the initiative, he was giving Cui Lingrong a way out. However, Cui Lingrong only had eyes for the account books. He thought to himself that he would never take the initiative and would wait for Cui Lingrong to serve him.

As he waited, Song Shulan himself fell asleep.

Actually, Cui Lingrong was also a little confused about her own feelings at this moment. Even after Song Shulan went to bed, she remained sitting still.

Are you tired of it?

Or are you just tired?

Cui Lingrong didn't know.

Her first reaction was that she didn't want to do "that" with Song Shulan anymore.

With each broken promise, her disappointment in Song Shulan grew day by day.

But Song Shulan was her husband who had been with her since childhood. After so many years together, it would be a lie to say that there was no affection between them.

Cui Lingrong sighed softly.

Looking at the account books at night made her eyes sore and dry. She closed her eyes until Aunt Qiu came to bring her hot tea, then she told Aunt Qiu to go back and rest.

Lying on the same bed with Song Shulan again, Cui Lingrong felt uncomfortable. Her body was tense, and she deliberately pressed herself against him, creating a cleavage between them.

Throughout the night, Cui Lingrong slept fitfully, no longer feeling the peace of mind she once had.

Before Song Shulan woke up, Cui Lingrong got up to wash and then arranged for someone to fetch breakfast.

As soon as breakfast arrived and Song Shulan had just washed her face, Wang Shanxi's wife came to call for someone again, and Song Shulan hurriedly went to Wutong Garden.

Caiyue couldn't help but mutter, "She's so troublesome because she's pregnant. The eldest mistress never caused so much trouble before. She probably didn't sleep a wink last night because she knew the Marquis came to see the eldest mistress!"

"Caiyue," Cui Lingrong reminded her. The princess was the master, and if anyone heard discussing the master, they would be punished.

"This servant is standing up for you." Caiyue had been in a bad mood these past few days, and her words and actions were tinged with emotion.

Madam Qiu came over and said, "Grandma is doing this for your own good. If others hear this, Princess Rongjia won't let you off easily. Princess Rongjia is pregnant now. You can see how much the Marquis cherishes Princess Rongjia by rushing to Wutong Garden."

"This is Qiushuangzhai. Does anyone dare to spread rumors?" Caiyue said that she would not let anyone with ulterior motives get away with it.

Cui Lingrong said, "People's hearts can change, so it's better for everyone to be cautious."

After breakfast, Cui Lingrong had people go to each room to take measurements so that winter clothes could be made.

Caixia led her people to the second house and said that Miss He was ill and hadn't opened the door. "She must be too ashamed to see the people from Qiushuangzhai. Madam, are you still going to make winter clothes for Miss He?"

"As long as she's still in the Marquis's residence, I'll make it for her. I'll make it according to the previous measurements and send it to her." Cui Lingrong said, then asked about Consort Meng from the second branch of the family, "Have you seen her?"

"I saw her. Aunt Meng was with Ling'er. Neither of them looked well." Caixia was a little confused. "You said Aunt Meng was given to the Second Master by the Old Madam, so why doesn't she stand up for herself? If the Second Madam bullies her, she can go to the Old Madam for support."

Cui Lingrong said that being a concubine is not easy. "Although Concubine Meng's indenture is in the hands of the Old Madam, she can't complain no matter how Jiang punishes her. If the Mistress is kind, her life will be a little easier. If the Mistress is jealous, she won't have an easy time. The Old Madam can help her once or twice, but she can't help her forever. One day, the Second Master will move out and live separately. If she offends Jiang to death now, how will she live in the future?"

She paused, then looked at Caixia. "That's why, all these years, I've never let any of my maids become concubines. Caixia, you and Caiyue are both good girls, remember this. Relying on your looks to serve someone can't last. Once a concubine loses favor, her good days are over."

Caixia said she understood, and she only breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Caiyue come out to work these past few days.

While the master and servant were talking, someone from Shou'an Hall came to deliver a message, asking the eldest mistress to come over quickly.

Cui Lingrong asked what was wrong.

The messenger, looking embarrassed, lowered her head and said, "They say...the Second Master was caught sleeping in his cousin's bed by...by the Second Madam. The Old Madam is so angry she fainted and wants you to go quickly to cover for her."

Cui Lingrong's eyebrows twitched. Didn't He Pingping like Zeyu?

Why are you sleeping with Second Master?