Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Song Mingxuan was four years older than his younger brother. He was old enough to understand things, and when he heard his older sister talk about Princess Rongjia's fake pregnancy, he felt a wave of fear wash over him.

"Mother, does the Princess intend to spoil me and Jin'er?"

Hearing Xuan-ge'er's answer, Cui Lingrong breathed a sigh of relief. "Princess Rongjia will have her own son sooner or later. She and I are both your father's legal wives. Both will be legitimate sons, so who will inherit the Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion?"

In terms of lineage and seniority, it should be Song Mingxuan.

But Princess Rongjia's status is different; she is a princess and may also have a younger brother who is the crown prince.

If Princess Rongjia wanted her son to inherit the Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion, Song Shulan would definitely agree.

Cui Lingrong said seriously, "Xuan-ge'er, you have been precocious since childhood. You should understand that her position is hostile to ours. From arranging for you to enter the Imperial Academy to now frequently showing goodwill, it all seems strange."

Song Mingxuan said, "My son will be more careful in the future." He will study harder and will never let anyone take away what belongs to him.

Cui Lingrong then looked at her youngest son, "Jin-ge'er, if you want respectability, you should work hard to earn it yourself. The Imperial Academy is not only filled with high-ranking officials and nobles, but also with those less fortunate than you. You should focus on your studies, not on comparing clothes. This matter is your fault, and it is also because the people serving you did not advise you properly. I will arrange someone else for you."

Song Mingjin said he dared not do it again, and pleaded for his page, "Moshan and I grew up together, please give him another chance, Mother."

"Don't worry, I won't sell him out. I'll just replace him with someone else," Cui Lingrong insisted.

Cui Zeyu added, "Yes, Jin-ge'er, it's good to be loyal, but it depends on who you're with. Next time you and Xuan-ge'er are off work, I'll take you to the jewelry store. If there's anything you like, your uncle will buy it for you."

Upon hearing this, Song Mingjin's eyes immediately lit up. "Really?" He had a childlike nature and was easily swayed by others' emotions.

Cui Zeyu said seriously, "Sister Yu should come along too."

Hearing this, Song Yu was also looking forward to it. She hadn't been out for quite some time and begged her mother to go with her.

Seeing that her daughter was in a rare good mood, Cui Lingrong agreed.

The group chatted and laughed for a while before Cui Zeyu left after having a meal at Qiushuangzhai.

Cui Lingrong's place was warm and cozy, but the rest of Jiang Yuanhou's residence was quite different. The third branch of the family was used to a frugal lifestyle, while Jiang Shi of the second branch dared not speak out against their anger.

Both Wutongyuan and Shouan Hall could not bear the days when there was not enough charcoal.

Princess Rongjia made a special trip to Shouan Hall and saw that Shouan Hall did not have a brazier burning, but instead a basin of charcoal fire. She casually remarked, "I heard from the servants that nowadays, in our Marquis's mansion, only Qiushuangzhai is the most lively. They like to go there whenever they have nothing to do."

Old Mrs. Song was getting on in years and was even more sensitive to the cold, so she rarely left the house during the day unless absolutely necessary. But since Cui Lingrong was using her own money to buy charcoal, she didn't feel comfortable asking her daughter-in-law for more.

The old lady gave a soft hum.

Princess Rongjia knew that the old lady was dissatisfied. "Logically speaking, as an elder, we should give you the best things first. It's not that we covet Qiushuangzhai's things, but I'm worried about your health."

As she spoke, Chen De's wife added, "Yes, old lady, the princess was worried that you wouldn't have enough charcoal here, so she specially spent money to buy several baskets and delivered them to Shou'an Hall."

"You're so thoughtful." Old Mrs. Song also felt annoyed that Cui Lingrong was being inconsiderate. She didn't care about things, but Cui Zeyu had sent so much charcoal, yet Cui Lingrong hadn't shown her any filial piety even once.

After the false pregnancy incident, Old Madam Song was dissatisfied with Princess Rongjia. Although Wang Shanxi's family insisted that Princess Rongjia was murdered, the truth of the matter could not withstand scrutiny.

There's one thing that Grandma Song just can't understand.

If Princess Rongjia's pregnancy was a sham, why would she want to harm Yu'er? If it involved Xuan'er's brothers, she could understand a little better. But this was the one thing she never understood.

Or perhaps, as Wang Shanxi's family said, Princess Rongjia was indeed unaware of the false pregnancy and her actions against Yu'er were simply a form of revenge.

Old Mrs. Song had lived most of her life. When the old Marquis was alive, there were many wives and concubines fighting amongst themselves. However, she was the only legal wife, unlike the current situation.

She knew that Cui Lingrong and Princess Rongjia could not possibly get along, just like now, Princess Rongjia was clearly trying to sow discord. But Cui Lingrong's recent behavior disappointed her somewhat.

Regardless of Princess Rongjia's intentions, as long as Princess Rongjia respects and is filial to her, she considers it all good.

"The old lady loves me, so I should think of you too." Princess Rongjia then spoke of the child in Huadie's womb. "Huadie is a blessed person. She is someone who came from my household. Although Sister Cui is in charge, she is already tired enough managing such a large family. I was thinking of asking the old lady for a favor so that I could take care of Huadie."

"You don't need to work so hard. Cui has done a very thorough job." Old Madam Song's first reaction was that Princess Rongjia was afraid that Cui Lingrong would harm Huadie's child.

On this point, Old Mrs. Song believed Cui Lingrong.

After so many years as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Old Mrs. Song still knew very well what Cui Lingrong's true nature was.

Although she wasn't generous enough to take the initiative to let her husband take a concubine, Cui Lingrong was definitely not the jealous and petty person like Jiang Shi. Besides, Xuan Ge'er and his brothers were already so grown up; she was just an illegitimate son and wouldn't affect Xuan Ge'er and Jin Ge'er.

Princess Rongjia added, "I'm just bored and want to share in the joy."

"Is that so?" Old Mrs. Song agreed. "That's right. Maybe if you take care of Huadie, you'll move the Goddess of Fertility and she'll give you a child too."

Princess Rongjia lowered her head and smiled faintly, tacitly agreeing with Old Madam Song's statement.

After Princess Rongjia left, Old Madam Song belatedly realized what was going on and asked, "Aunt Xu, do you think Princess Rongjia wants to raise Huadie's child?"

"No way, the princess is still young, and the marquis dotes on her. She'll have her own children sooner or later. There's no need for her to raise an illegitimate son." Madam Xu paused, then added, "That's how it should be normally."

"That's true, I hope I'm overthinking it. But if she wants to raise him, that's fine too. She already has a child, and the Rong Prince's Mansion will be more willing to support Shulan." Old Madam Song still hoped her son could make further progress. "Take some charcoal to the front yard, and then go to Qiushuangzhai to ask if Cui Shi needs any. If she does, I'll send her some too, and see if she'll feel embarrassed!"

Mrs. Xu agreed.

She went to the front yard first, and when she went to Qiushuangzhai, she was greeted by a wave of warm air before she even entered the house. The princess was indeed not exaggerating.

Following the old lady's wishes, Madam Xu paused, then said, "However, it seems that Madam doesn't need this anymore. This is the most comfortable place in our Marquis's mansion."

Cui Lingrong understood the implication in Xu Mama's words, but she didn't want to take the opportunity given by the old lady to be a filial and sensible daughter-in-law. Instead, she praised Princess Rongjia, saying, "Princess is so well-off. My dowry can't compare to yours. As for the charcoal in the house, I didn't buy it; Zeyu sent it to me."

Mrs. Xu thought to herself that no matter where the charcoal came from, as a daughter-in-law, the eldest daughter-in-law should first be filial to her mother-in-law, then prioritize her husband and son's use, and only then should she enjoy it herself.

When she looked at her great-grandmother again, the great-grandmother was still the same as before, but the logic of her speech and actions had changed.

Knowing that the old lady valued her reputation, Mrs. Xu stopped there and didn't say anything more.

After Madam Xu left, Caiyue snorted, "Everyone wants to take advantage of Qiushuangzhai, but when something happens, the old lady never helps the eldest mistress!"

"Caiyue." Qiu's mother glanced over. The old lady's actions were not fair, but the master was the master, and it was not appropriate to gossip about her behind her back.

Caiyue pursed her lips and silently went to work.

Speaking of charcoal, Cui Lingrong thought of something else. "Aunt Qiu, after dark, secretly send two baskets of charcoal to the third house. Tell Li Shi not to make a fuss, just say she bought it herself. The two boys in the third house are both young and can't stand the cold."

"Grandma is still the kindest," said Qiu's mother.