Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

When one person praises it, others will chime in.

Those who were able to attend the banquet all had a good relationship with the Rong Prince's Mansion. Princess Rongjia had been away from Bianjing for many years, and she didn't know many of the younger generation.

"Lord Song and the princess are truly in love."

"That's normal. The princess is incredibly beautiful; who wouldn't love her?"

……

But soon, people who knew Cui Lingrong said that was wrong, "You've all mistaken her for someone else. The woman Lord Song is holding hands with is his first wife, not Princess Rongjia. Don't talk nonsense, or someone might overhear you."

"How could it be the first wife? Wasn't it said that Lord Song's first wife came from a humble background? This one, however, is elegant, composed, and very dignified!"

"She's been the mistress of a noble family for over a decade; even the most petty person would develop some composure by now. You're just inexperienced, so don't speak."

……

Every word they uttered reached the ears of Cui Lingrong and the others.

Cui Lingrong remained calm, while Song Shulan merely frowned.

Princess Rongjia, who was still inside the carriage, was in an awkward position. If she went out now, she would definitely be compared to Cui Lingrong. Just now, those people praised Cui Lingrong as a celestial being. She wondered what they would say about her.

And it's also said that Cui Lingrong and Song Shulan are in love?

Then what is she?

Princess Rongjia hadn't shown up yet, so Song Shulan came over and urged her, "Princess, if you don't get off the carriage soon, the people behind you will be blocked."

Princess Rongjia had no choice but to come out, and Song Shulan helped her.

On the left and right, Cui Lingrong and Princess Rongjia were both quite beautiful. One was aloof and noble, while the other was charming and graceful. Everyone's first reaction was that Song Shulan was very lucky.

After Princess Rongjia entered the Rong Prince's residence, someone whispered, "I think the first wife has more poise; Princess Rongjia is more like..."

He dared not say it outright, but in his heart he was thinking of his concubine, who was alluring and not at all dignified.

People entered Rongwang Mansion one after another. This was Cui Lingrong's first time here. She believed that she would be fine as long as she stayed with the crowd. After exchanging greetings with the host, she wanted to find a place to sit down, but was pulled aside by Madam Wu to talk.

"Where's Yu-jie? Why didn't you bring her along?" Madam Wu glanced behind Cui Lingrong. "I was thinking that she and Yu-jie would get along well since they're about the same age, and I was even considering introducing them."

Cui Lingrong herself had to be on guard at all times, so how could she possibly bring Yu Jie'er over? But when Madam Wu asked, she couldn't tell the truth. "Yu Jie'er isn't feeling well, so she's staying home to rest."

"That's a real pity. My Yu'er has few friends, and I was hoping she could have one more." Madam Wu was very enthusiastic towards Cui Lingrong and showed no intention of letting her leave. "Originally, we weren't planning to hold a banquet for her birthday. But the young master dotes on Yu'er and says that as the eldest daughter, she should be pampered."

In ordinary families, such a small birthday celebration would simply involve relatives gathering together, but today the Rong Prince's Mansion hosted a lavish banquet, extending from the front hall to the garden.

At this moment, Cui Lingrong saw that Yuan Mingzhu had also arrived, so she quickly made an excuse to stay with Yuan Mingzhu.

Yuan Mingzhu hadn't originally planned to come, but considering that the Rong Prince's Mansion would send an invitation to the Jiangyuan Marquis's Mansion, and in case Cui Lingrong also came, she begged her mother-in-law to bring her along.

"You actually came? I thought you weren't coming."

"There's no way around it, the Crown Princess specifically sent me an invitation, I can't refuse," Cui Lingrong said.

"I noticed she was being very friendly with you just now. When did you two become so close?" Yuan Mingzhu sensed danger. "Let me make this clear first: you can't be friends with her just because she's of higher status. You can only be best friends with me!"

Cui Lingrong laughed, "How old are you? Why are you saying such things?"

Sitting with her best friend, Cui Lingrong felt much more at ease. Hearing Yuan Mingzhu say that the Jiang family also had their eye on Xie Yunting, she was somewhat surprised, "Is General Xie that sought after?"

"Not really, many scholarly families look down on him. But my husband's family are military men, and it's probably because of the mutual respect among military generals that they chose General Xie." As she spoke, Yuan Mingzhu looked around and whispered, "I'll tell you quietly, Fang'er doesn't want to, she even threatened to hang herself. But my father-in-law is adamant, saying that marriage is a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaker's word, and Fang'er has no choice but to go and find an official matchmaker."

Cui Lingrong disagreed with the forced marriage, saying, "Even if it's the parents' decision, the younger generation has to agree. Otherwise, if they marry in with resentment, their lives won't be easy."

"Who says she isn't? It's just that Fang'er isn't my daughter. Otherwise, if my daughter didn't want to marry her, I would never agree!" At this point, Yuan Mingzhu realized that Cui Lingrong had just said the word "hot commodity," and hurriedly asked what was going on.

Cui Lingrong then revealed her brother's thoughts, "Yu'er is too young, and I want to keep her for another two or three years, so I didn't mention it to the Marquis."

Even if she brought it up with Song Shulan, Song Shulan would absolutely not agree to let Xie Yunting be his son-in-law; Song Shulan would be disgusted.

"Indeed, Yu-jie is still young. If there really isn't a suitable match, why don't you keep Yu-jie for a few more years, for my family..."

"Come on, your son is so much younger. I just don't want Yu-jie to be called an old maid," Cui Lingrong interrupted with a smile.

She and Yuan Mingzhu got along well, so it would be great if Yu Jie'er married into the Jiang family. However, their ages weren't suitable; by the time Yuan Mingzhu's son grew up, Yu Jie'er would be over twenty.

"Oh, I was just saying. It's my fault for not being able to have children. I only got married a year later than you, but I had children so many years later." Yuan Mingzhu said, touching her belly. "I'll tell you a secret, I'm pregnant again."

"real?"

Yuan Mingzhu nodded and said, "The first two were boys, and I've always wanted a girl. I was feeling really tired a few days ago, and my period hadn't come yet, so I went to see a doctor. It's been almost two months."

"You're so careless! How could you wait so long to find out?" Cui Lingrong was delighted. "Since you're pregnant, why did you even come to the banquet?"

"I only asked my mother-in-law to bring me because I was worried you'd be all alone if you came," Yuan Mingzhu said. "It's alright, I'm perfectly healthy, you don't need to worry about me. Oh, isn't that... Brother Xuan?"

From afar, Yuan Mingzhu saw two small figures.

Cui Lingrong also looked over and recognized her two sons at a glance.

Today is neither the first nor the fifteenth of the lunar month, and the Imperial Academy is not closed for the holidays. Why have they come to the Prince Rong's residence?

Cui Lingrong immediately asked Qiu's mother to bring her two sons over.

"If you didn't call it, could it be that your Lord Song sent someone to bring it?" Yuan Mingzhu asked.

Cui Lingrong frowned. If it was Song Shulan, she would have to go find Song Shulan.

After a while, Qiu's mother returned alone. "The Marquis said that it was Prince Rong who asked for leave on behalf of the two young masters. Since they are here, the Marquis should show them some things and tell the eldest mistress not to worry."

Men and women were seated separately, and Cui Lingrong couldn't go to the men's section. Wasn't this Rong Wang's idea the same as Princess Rongjia's?

What is Princess Rongjia going to do?

Cui Lingrong didn't think that Princess Rongjia genuinely wanted to be good to Xuan Ge'er and his brother. If something like what happened to Yu Jie'er were to happen again, this was the Rongwang Mansion. How would she handle it?

After a moment of reflection, Cui Lingrong grew increasingly anxious. Just then, Wu's mother came looking for her.

"When the Crown Princess learned that the two young masters of the Marquis's residence had arrived, she specially sent people to serve them. Please rest assured, Madam Song, the Crown Princess is in charge here, and no one can do anything under her watchful eye."

Unable to contain herself, Yuan Mingzhu asked directly, "I don't understand, what does your mistress mean? And what does Princess Rongjia mean?"

"Second Madam Jiang, there's no need to doubt the young master's wife's intentions. Some things are better left unsaid. But please rest assured, the young master's wife has no ill intentions."

She left after she finished speaking.

Yuan Mingzhu summoned an old woman and asked her husband to keep an eye on things as well. She advised Cui Lingrong to relax a bit, "Since the young master's wife says so, let's trust her this once. She's right, she's in charge of the Rong Prince's residence, so if anything happens, she'll be responsible!"

"Mingzhu, there's something I've never understood. Princess Rongjia keeps getting close to Xuan-ge'er and his brothers. Why is she doing that?" Cui Lingrong couldn't figure it out. "She'll have her own children sooner or later, so why bother with Xuan-ge'er and his brothers?"

Yuan Mingzhu subconsciously replied, "That's not necessarily true. She's been married into the Du family for so many years and hasn't had a child. Maybe she won't be able to have one even if she marries into the Jiangyuan Marquis's household?"