Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

"Why are you looking at me like that? It's normal that she can't have children. If she could, why didn't she have any children before? Is it her ex-husband who has a problem?" Yuan Mingzhu said matter-of-factly.

Cui Lingrong looked at Yuan Mingzhu thoughtfully.

Yes.

It's normal not to be able to give birth.

She had previously thought that since Song Shulan often visited Princess Rongjia, and men and women who slept together for a long time, they would eventually have a child.

Cui Lingrong overlooked one point: some people will not get pregnant no matter how long they sleep.

If Princess Rongjia doesn't have her own child, then in order to consolidate her position, she needs a child registered in her name. Does Princess Rongjia want to compete with her for Xuan-ge'er or Jin-ge'er?

wrong.

Even if Princess Rongjia wants to raise a child, she can arrange a concubine for Song Shulan. This way, the child raised will be closer to Princess Rongjia.

Xuan and his brothers are all old enough to understand things. It's really not a wise move for Princess Rongjia to try and take the children from her.

Throughout the banquet, Cui Lingrong kept thinking about this matter.

When she was about to leave, Madam Tian, ​​who was by Madam Wu's side, saw her to the door and said, "Madam Song, please take care. The Crown Princess really enjoyed chatting with you. She said she would like to invite you for tea another day when she has some free time so that you can have a good chat."

Cui Lingrong nodded. After getting into the carriage, she did not leave immediately, but waited for Song Shulan to bring Xuan Ge'er and his brothers out.

Meanwhile, in the inner courtyard of the Rong Prince's Mansion, Princess Rongjia had just received three thousand taels of silver from her mother and was about to leave when she ran into her sister-in-law, Madam Wu.

"Sister-in-law, you and Sister Cui had a very pleasant chat today. You seem to like her quite a bit?" Princess Rongjia said with a forced smile, taking two steps forward. "Are you very happy that she beat me twice?"

"Your Highness is joking. Did Cui win? If she had won, why would you be here today?" Wu scoffed, looking at Princess Rongjia's arrogant face, she really hated it.

Princess Rongjia raised an eyebrow. "Indeed, Song Lang is truly sincere to me. My life is much better than my sister-in-law's. I heard that my elder brother has recently acquired a beautiful concubine. I advise my sister-in-law to focus her energy on my elder brother and mind her own business."

She snorted coldly and led her men away with a swagger.

Wu's eyes were almost bleeding. She and the prince had a strained relationship. They had been married for many years but had never had a heart-to-heart talk.

There were countless women in the backyard, and their children, born one after another, all had to call her their mother. Her own first child, a fully formed male fetus, was stillborn, thanks to Princess Rongjia.

Before her tears could fall, the prince said that Princess Rongjia was young and didn't understand things, and told her not to take it to heart.

Her father-in-law and mother-in-law also defended Princess Rongjia, blaming her for standing by the pond, otherwise she wouldn't have fallen in.

Little did she know that Princess Rongjia would be so vicious as to push her into the water!

After her miscarriage, she suffered from persistent headaches and it took her a long time to recover before she conceived Yu-jie.

But before that, her mother-in-law blamed her for her poor health and arranged for two concubines for the heir, which resulted in the birth of the illegitimate son first.

Wu made great efforts to stop expecting her husband's favor and instead focus on raising her children and managing the household.

"Princess Consort, it's windy here, shall we go back?"

"Aunt Tian, ​​do you think Cui can defeat Rongjia?" The hatred welling up in Wu's heart was impossible to suppress.

"Cui is a smart woman, but the princess has the Rong Prince's Mansion as her backing, so she won't fall easily," said Mama Tian.

"You're right. Unless Rongjia commits a grave mistake, the Rong Prince's Mansion will always be there to protect her. She wanted to marry Song Shulan, and the Prince obtained an imperial decree to grant the marriage for her, not to mention the Princess's doting affection for her." Madam Wu narrowed her eyes. "But even the most beloved daughter will eventually grow tired of your antics, won't you say?"

Madam Tian understood her mistress's thoughts. "Yes, when Madam Cui sent people to Jinling, didn't you specifically guide them to find that madwoman? Should we give her another hint, so that Madam Cui continues to investigate the Du family?"

Madam Wu shook her head. "If I interfere again, the Prince and his men might find out. We need to let Madam Cui realize something's wrong. Besides, with Madam Cui's current abilities, even if we send people to Jinling, they won't find out much more. Let me think about it."

Her relationship with the Crown Prince was only superficially harmonious. If she were to take action against Princess Rongjia, she would surely be abandoned by the Crown Prince.

Ms. Wu has endured so much for so many years, a few more days won't make a difference.

She took a deep breath and led Tian's mother to find her daughter.

After the New Year, her daughter will turn fourteen, and recently many people have brought up her daughter's marriage.

However, she hoped that her daughter could marry someone who understood her heart, so that she wouldn't end up like her, spending every night alone in an empty room.

Wu went to find her daughter, while Cui Lingrong waited at the carriage until her two sons got into the carriage.

As soon as Song Mingjin got into the carriage, she excitedly said, "Mother, the Rong Prince's Mansion is so grand. Father said this is my maternal grandparents' home, and he wants me to get closer to my cousins ​​in the mansion."

As he spoke, he raised his hand to show his mother the gilded agate bracelet he was wearing. "This was a gift from my cousin Xu. He said he liked me and gave it to me as a greeting gift."

Cui Lingrong frowned. "How could you accept something so valuable so easily?"

"Cousin Xu said it's alright, he has plenty." Song Mingjin was still immersed in the joy of receiving the gift, but Cui Lingrong had the carriage turn around and return to the Rong Prince's Mansion.

Upon hearing that she had to return the bracelet, Song Mingjin reluctantly protected it. "I don't want it! It's mine now that it's given to me. Why won't Mother make me happy? If my grandfather hadn't asked for leave for me today, I'd still be studying hard at the Imperial Academy!"

Cui Lingrong was stunned. Her sons had been studying at the Imperial Academy recently, and she hadn't spent much time with them. Only then did she realize that her youngest son had become unruly.

"Jin-ge'er, you received such a valuable gift, how are you going to repay it?" Cui Lingrong said patiently. "Do you know how much silver that gilded agate bracelet is worth?"

She then looked at Xuan-ge'er, "You took some too?"

Song Mingxuan said no, "My son tried to persuade his younger brother, but he really liked it, and I couldn't persuade him otherwise."

Song Mingjin pleaded, "Mother, please let me stay. I have a classmate who's always showing off his clothes, it's so annoying. I want something to outshine him, please just let me have it..."

"Foolish!" Cui Lingrong was truly angry now. "I sent you to study and learn how to be a person, not to compare yourself to others. If you really want these things, you should work hard and earn them through labor, not try to get them for nothing. Give me the bracelet!"

Song Mingjin reluctantly covered his hands, tears streaming down his face, but he simply refused to hand over the bracelet.

At this moment, Qingshan returned and said, "The Marquis learned that the eldest mistress's carriage had turned around and sent me over to ask what happened."

Cui Lingrong said it was nothing and told Qingshan to go back first, then she would go and see Jin-ge'er sternly.

After she held out her hand for a while, Song Mingjin finally couldn't resist and reluctantly took off the bracelet and placed it in her hand.

Cui Lingrong then led her people back to the Rong Prince's Mansion. Xu Ge'er was the child of the second branch of the Rong Prince's Mansion. Cui Lingrong handed the bracelet to the gatekeeper, saying, "I am truly sorry that Jin Ge'er accepted this gift without knowing the proper etiquette, but he knows in his heart that it is inappropriate. Please return it to Xu Ge'er."

After saying that, she took her two sons back home.

Having just returned to the Marquis's residence, the old lady missed her two grandsons. Cui Lingrong didn't want her son to lose face in front of so many people, so she said, "I'll talk to you about the bracelet later. Go and pay your respects to your grandmother first."

When they arrived at Shou'an Hall, Princess Rongjia and Song Shulan were also there. Song Mingxuan led his younger brother in bowing, while Song Mingjin was still immersed in her grief, her little face drooping.

Grandma Song sensed something was wrong and hugged Song Mingjin, "My darling, why are you unhappy?"

Song Mingjin shook her head and said no.

Seeing that she couldn't get an answer from him, Old Mrs. Song looked up and asked Cui Lingrong, "You tell me, what happened?"

Cui Lingrong had no choice but to tell him about the bracelet.

Just as Old Madam Song frowned, Princess Rongjia smiled and said, "Sister Cui is too strict. It's just a gilded agate bracelet, not something very valuable. The fact that Xu-ge'er gave it to Jin-ge'er shows that Xu-ge'er likes Jin-ge'er. It's a good thing that the cousins ​​are close."

As she spoke, she beckoned to Jin-ge'er, looking like a loving mother, "Jin-ge'er, don't be sad. I have some nice bracelets. Come with me and pick one out. Xuan-ge'er, come along too. You're studying at the Imperial Academy, so your attire shouldn't be too shabby, lest people laugh at you."

Cui Lingrong said that the princess should not spend money. "They are going to study. If they develop a habit of comparing themselves to others, how can they concentrate on their studies? Xuan-ge'er is not young anymore. The Marquis is hoping that Xuan-ge'er can pass the imperial examination and become a scholar. It would bring honor to the Marquis's mansion."

When the topic turned to his son's studies, Song Shulan finally spoke up, "Yes, the Imperial Academy is a place for studying. Lingrong is right; it's not good to develop extravagant habits."

Just as Song Mingjin was about to be happy, her curved eyebrows furrowed again upon hearing her father and mother's words.

When she returned to her own courtyard, she saw that Chen's mother had brought her new jade ornaments. Song Mingjin wanted to accept them but dared not.

"Don't worry, Jin-ge'er. This jade is understated and translucent; most people can't see its quality. It's perfect for taking to the Imperial Academy. Besides, the Princess gave it to you secretly. As long as you don't say anything, no one will know." Chen De's wife placed the jade ornament on the table. "Don't blame the eldest mistress for being strict; she's only doing it for your own good."

really?

Song Mingjin pursed his lips. He wished his mother could be as kind and gentle as the princess. He didn't think he was vain; he just didn't want to be outdone by others.