Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

"It seems it was voluntary. If the He family finds out you had an affair with a man without a matchmaker, ruining their reputation, will they still accept you?" Seeing He Pingping's pale face, Cui Lingrong walked to Song Shucheng's side. "Second Master is an official; don't you know how important reputation is?"

"Sister-in-law, in a consensual relationship like this, people might just call me a womanizer," Song Shucheng said dismissively.

Seeing that Song Shucheng showed no remorse, Cui Lingrong became even more disgusted. He Pingping was no good, and Song Shucheng was no better.

"Romantic?"

Cui Lingrong smiled. "Logically speaking, I have no right to interfere in my brother-in-law's affairs. But since the old lady asked me to speak up, I'll presume to say a few words. Your wife has been married to you for many years; she's certainly put in a lot of effort, if not great. If you don't like her from the bottom of your heart, you can simply write her a divorce agreement. Why go through the trouble of having an affair with Miss He and disgusting people like that?"

Upon hearing the words "divorce agreement," the people in the room were even more shocked.

The old lady had asked Cui Lingrong to persuade Jiang to be magnanimous, but Cui Lingrong ended up suggesting divorce.

Even Jiang herself was stunned. Having been married into the Jiangyuan Marquis's family for many years, she had never thought about divorce. She muttered, "Elder sister-in-law."

Cui Lingrong turned around and said, "This matter is clear today, Second Sister-in-law. If you don't want He Pingping to enter the family, I can arrange for someone to send her back to the He family. After all, it was Second Master who made a mistake. As for the He family, I will provide additional compensation, which will be deducted from Second Master's monthly allowance. The He family is now in ruins, and if they receive so much money, they will definitely not make a fuss, thus preserving the reputation of the Marquis's Mansion."

As for Song Shucheng, she really wanted to order him to be dragged away and beaten, but it wasn't her place to punish her brother-in-law, since the old lady was still listening in the inner room.

"Or, if you want a divorce, I'll agree. It all depends on whether Second Master is willing," Cui Lingrong said.

"I will not divorce." Jiang glanced at Song Shucheng, then looked at He Pingping.

At this point, He Pingping became frightened and knelt down in front of Jiang.

She initially rejected Song Shucheng, finding the whole thing too shameful. But Song Shucheng said that many people in the manor now knew she had stopped Cui Zeyu from speaking, so who could she marry in the future?

I might as well go with him.

He Pingping resented her cousin for refusing to help her, and she also resented Cui for being so ruthless. Why did she look down on her?

In her confusion, He Pingping let Song Shucheng succeed in his scheme.

Once it happens, it will happen again.

These past two days, Song Shucheng has been climbing over the wall at night to see her, and he even promised that if she could give birth to a son, he would divorce Jiang and make her his official wife.

"Cousin, I was blinded by greed, please give me a way out." He Pingping knelt at Jiang's feet, kowtowing repeatedly. "If I'm sent back to the He family, they'll just marry me off to a butcher or hunter. I won't survive. I remember all the kindness you've shown me, please."

Hearing the last sentence, Jiang was furious. "Knowing how good I am to you, how could you do such a thing? He Pingping, how could you face me?"

"I...I don't ask for your forgiveness, just let me stay by your side, I'll serve you, and I'll listen to you from now on. Cousin, please save me, I really can't go back." He Pingping kowtowed until her forehead was swollen, but Jiang Shi remained unmoved.

Jiang turned her head away; the tip of her tongue was bitten, and her mouth tasted of blood.

She shot herself in the foot, raising a menace for herself.

Seeing that Jiang Shi refused to help her, He Pingping went to Song Shucheng for help, "Second Master, please say a word for me. You promised me you would..."

"Don't talk nonsense. My relationship with you is just a fling, nothing more." Song Shucheng initially seduced He Pingping with the intention of disgusting the Jiang family.

He had so many women around him, but he never cared about any of them, let alone He Pingping.

He Pingping was now in despair.

Want to play some games?

Were all those promises Song Shucheng made to her just for fun?

He Pingping glanced around the room, her eyes filled with indifference, disgust, and disdain... She gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Hasn't Second Master always wanted a child? What if I'm already pregnant?"

Upon hearing the word "child," Song Shuli immediately sat up straight, then frowned, "How is that possible? We've only been together for a few days, how do you know you're pregnant?"

"I don't know, Second Master, why don't you wait a month or two? What if you want a son?" He Pingping saw no other hope. If the Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion really sent her back to the He family, her life would be over. She could only seize on Song Shucheng's desire for a son to buy herself another month or two.

These words did indeed tempt Song Shucheng.

As long as there was a glimmer of hope, Song Shucheng was willing to keep He Pingping.

"Sister-in-law, did you hear what she said? Let's wait a bit. If she's not pregnant, we'll send her back to the He family." Song Shucheng said, then called out "Mother."

The old lady inside had originally intended to keep He Pingping, but upon hearing this, she had Xu Mama help her out. "Let's do as Shuhe said. Jiang, I haven't held your past actions against you. But now, Shucheng's offspring are the priority. If you're not satisfied, you can invite your father and mother over, and we can sit down and talk."

Song Shucheng also had other concubines who became pregnant, but none of them gave birth. As for why, Jiang knew best.

As for inviting Jiang's parents, Jiang's face turned ashen. Her stepmother didn't care about her. Otherwise, with her family background, she could have married into a better family. Why would she have married into the empty shell of the Jiang Yuan Marquis's mansion?

The old lady had spoken, and no one else dared to say anything.

Cui Lingrong and Jiang Shi didn't have a very good relationship, so she wouldn't argue with the old lady for Jiang Shi's sake.

Grandma Song dismissed everyone, saying, "No one is allowed to talk about this with anyone else. For the next two months, He Pingping is not allowed to go anywhere. Cui, you should have someone deliver her three meals a day."

She feared that Jiang might secretly poison her grandson.

As everyone left Shou'an Hall, Princess Rongjia, holding Wang Shanxi's hand, glanced meaningfully in Cui Lingrong's direction.

Song Shucheng didn't think the old lady would punish him, and strode away.

Jiang called out to Cui Lingrong, looking at her with confusion, "Why did you help me today, sister-in-law?"

She knew that if the old lady hadn't spoken up, Cui would have really sent He Pingping away.

"I'm not helping you, I just can't stand this kind of thing, so you don't need to thank me." Seeing the complicated look in Jiang's eyes, Cui Lingrong couldn't help but smile. "You don't think I'm helping you for ulterior motives, do you?"

Jiang remained silent.

"But second sister-in-law, what do you have that I need?" Cui Lingrong shook her head. "You can't even take care of yourself, let alone ask you to help me. Let me give you a piece of advice: He Pingping is despicable, but don't do anything to her in the next two months, or the old lady and the second master won't let you off the hook."

At that point, it won't be a divorce, but a separation from the wife.

Undeterred, Jiang pressed on, "I thought my sister-in-law was on my side because she understood my situation. But if it were my sister-in-law who intervened, how would anyone know if He Pingping was pregnant or not?"

Only now did she realize how shrewd Cui's methods were. Regarding today's events, since Princess Rongjia wanted to steal the spotlight, Cui let her speak her mind first. Only after Princess Rongjia couldn't persuade her did Cui speak.

When the old lady came out, Cui immediately stopped talking.

No one is better at knowing when to advance and when to retreat than the Cui family.

Jiang hates He Pingping, just as she said today: anyone but He Pingping.

If Cui adds something to He Pingping's food, He Pingping will not be able to detect her pregnancy.

Seeing that Cui remained silent, Jiang stepped forward and asked, "Sister-in-law, do you really want Princess Rongjia to give birth to the child?"

Cui Lingrong raised one eyebrow. "What are you trying to say?"

"Princess Rongjia is of noble status. If she gives birth to a son, will Xuan'er still be able to inherit the Marquis's mansion? With just a word from the Rong Prince's mansion, the Marquis will give the mansion to Princess Rongjia's son. What originally belonged to Xuan'er, would you, sister-in-law, be willing to give it up?"

Today, Princess Rongjia kept urging Jiang to stay, and Jiang realized that Princess Rongjia had not considered her feelings.

In Princess Rongjia's eyes, she was just an unimportant pawn.

"As long as you help me, I will repay you." Jiang thought Cui would agree. No matter how good-tempered Cui was, she might not always be a good person when it came to children.