Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

While Li was doing needlework, Qiu's mother came to the third room.

Mother Qiu didn't dare stay any longer. She gave instructions to Hongmei, who was by Li's side, and then left.

When Li learned that it was Qiu's mother who had come to deliver charcoal, she was stunned. "Hongmei, I'm so sorry, sister-in-law."

Hongmei knew that her mistress was referring to Yu'er's matter. "Don't overthink it. You are of low status and your words carry little weight. Even if you had gone to Wutong Garden that day, it wouldn't have made any difference. Fortunately, in the end, it was Princess Rongjia who knelt in the ancestral hall. Don't feel too burdened."

Because of her husband's words, Li hesitated again and again, but still did not go to Wutong Garden.

I feel guilty for receiving charcoal today.

"My sister-in-law is a good person," Li sighed. "The old lady only cares about the Marquis and herself, and Princess Rongjia is even more heartless."

The life in the Marquis's mansion may seem glamorous to outsiders, but only they themselves know the true state of affairs.

"Once the family is divided, you'll be in charge of your own affairs, and your life will be much better," Hongmei comforted her.

"That's true, and that's not true either. We haven't separated the family yet, and we still live and eat at the Marquis's mansion. After we separate, we'll be able to manage our own lives, but how will we survive?" Li sighed again as she spoke of this.

After the Third Master manages the Marquis's estate and the family divides the property, how much will the third branch receive?

Li was feeling melancholy and didn't sleep well all night. The next day, she took the sanitary pads she had made to Qiushuangzhai.

When she arrived, Cui Lingrong was still talking to the stewardesses, so she sat down and listened.

"Anyone who wants to help out at Young Master Yu's place can tell Caixia; her monthly pay will be half again as much. Also, make sure to contact the merchants about the New Year's gifts so nothing is missed." After giving her instructions, Cui Lingrong took a sip of chrysanthemum tea to soothe her throat and thanked Madam Li for the sanitary pads she had brought.

"It's just a small thing, sister-in-law, you're too kind."

"Even the smallest thing is something you made yourself; it's all from your heart," Cui Lingrong said with a smile. "It's getting colder lately, and Ling'er caught a cold. You have to take good care of the two children. Children are most susceptible to illness, so we can't be careless."

Speaking of Ling'er from the second wife's family, Li Shi had only met her twice, once when she was a month old and once when she was a year old. At other times, Aunt Meng never brought Ling'er out again.

"Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. I haven't been taking Lang Ge out these days, otherwise he can't handle the temperature changes." When it comes to children, Li and Cui Lingrong have a lot in common.

After a while, Qiu Mama came in and said that the old lady had instructed that Princess Rongjia should take care of the butterfly painting from now on, and Cui Lingrong should not worry about it.

Upon hearing this, Madam Li sized up her sister-in-law and tentatively asked, "Does the princess desire a child who paints butterflies?"

Cui Lingrong shook her head. "You know, the princess and I aren't even on the surface of peace. How could I possibly know what she's thinking?"

After thinking for a moment, Madam Li offered her analysis: "Hua Die came from Wutong Garden, so it makes sense for her child to be registered under the Princess's name. However, the Princess isn't that generous. If she really takes Hua Die's child, she probably won't keep Hua Die in the Marquis's residence."

Li may appear unassuming, but she is actually quite shrewd.

She wanted to repay Cui Lingrong's favor, so she continued, "If the princess leaves the child and the mother is gone, sister-in-law, you should worry more about Xuan-ge'er. It would be best if Huadie gave birth to a daughter, so that she could also be safe. However, whether the princess wants this child or not is another matter, but it's better to be prepared."

If it were Li Shi, she probably wouldn't have allowed Hua Die to give birth to this child. It wasn't that she was jealous and intolerant; it was simply that the situation of the eldest son's family was special.

"You're right, thank you for thinking of me." Cui Lingrong could tell that Li was very grateful for the charcoal she had brought. When Li left, she asked Qiu Mama to find two sheepskins for Li to take back and use.

After Li left, Qiu's mother also had some thoughts. "Actually, Third Madam is right. It would be best if it were a daughter. But we don't know whether it's a boy or a girl until the child is born. Eldest Madam, if I may say something, you are kind-hearted, but sometimes you have to play the villain."

"Let me think about it." Cui Lingrong had never done this before and couldn't make a decision in a short time.

However, there are some things she can remind Huadie of first.

The old lady forbade her to manage Huadie, but since the concubine was pregnant, it was normal for the principal wife to send her some gifts as a gesture of goodwill.

She called Caixia over and said, "Go to Huadie's place and tell her that the princess has taken on her responsibility. If you need anything in the future, just tell the princess."

Caixia understood her mistress's meaning and took the things to Huadie's place. As soon as she entered the room, she praised Huadie with a smile. Before leaving, she added, "Auntie is so lucky. The princess specially asked the old lady for this favor. It seems she values ​​the child in your womb very much. If your child can be raised under the princess's name in the future, it will be even more noble."

"What? The princess is going to raise my child?" Hua Die had never thought of this before.

"Ah, this servant doesn't know, I only said a few words because I saw how concerned the princess was. Please don't take it seriously, this servant was just talking nonsense," Caixia said. "This servant will go now, you should rest well."

No sooner had Caixia left than Huadie wanted to go find the princess to ask her for clarification.

Bai Tao turned pale with fright and grabbed her mistress, saying, "You're confused! It's a good thing that the princess is willing to raise your child!"

"What good news?" Huadie didn't want to give the child to the princess. "She'll have her own children in the future, why is she taking mine?"

The more she talked, the more aggrieved she felt.

Bai Tao hurriedly said, "No one can change the fact that the child came from your womb. But if he's registered under the princess's name, he's a legitimate son, which is better than him being with you, isn't it?"

"But I can't bear to part with it."

"If you miss your child, just go see him every day. Besides, what kind of business would you be going there now? Questioning the princess about whether she wants to raise your child? Do you think the princess would be happy?" Bai Tao was exhausted. How did she end up serving such a master?

Hua Die stopped rushing out when she heard that Princess Rongjia would be angry.

She was pulled to sit down by Bai Tao, but she had no idea what to do.

Bai Tao comforted her for a while, and only after her master had rested did she go to Wutong Courtyard to find Granny Wang.

"Was it Caixia who came, and that's when Aunt Huadie thought of it?" Wang Hechun's wife asked.

Bai Tao said, "I guess the eldest mistress wanted to sow discord, that's why she sent Caixia. Mama Wang, does the princess really want the concubine's child?"

"Don't worry about this matter. Just focus on doing your job well with your aunt. The princess will definitely reward you if you do a good job." Wang Hechun's wife sent Bai Tao away before reporting back to her master.

Princess Rongjia's face darkened instantly when she learned that Caixia had gone to see Huadie. "She really didn't have good intentions. Luckily, Baitao is quick-witted and was able to persuade Huadie."

"Yes, Bai Tao was chosen by my mother-in-law, so naturally she's on the princess's side. She had to persuade Aunt Hua Die for quite a while before she was convinced." Wang Hechun's wife is now aware of the crisis. She always feels that there are some things the princess only tells Chen De's wife but doesn't let her know, so she mentions her deceased mother-in-law from time to time.

"Yes, it's good that your mother-in-law is here. I don't need to worry about anything." Princess Rongjia sighed. "Have Bai Tao keep an eye on things. Cui Lingrong might make a move. Make sure to protect Huadie's child."

Wang Hechun's wife tried to say, "Actually, Princess, if the eldest mistress really has such thoughts, why don't we play along? If we can get hold of the eldest mistress's weakness, the Marquis and the old lady will definitely be on your side."

Princess Rongjia had considered this possibility, but she was afraid that Huadie's child might really be lost. "Let's forget it and prioritize Huadie's child."

She had waited so long for this child, she couldn't let anything happen to him.

Wang Hechun's wife found it strange. The princess could have given birth on her own, so why was she staring at Huadie's belly?

Meanwhile, Cui Lingrong, who was out, encountered Wu Shi in Fanlou.

She took some people to her younger brother's new house, helped inspect the site, and since she was out, she brought her daughter to Fanlou for some snacks.

"I saw your maidservant outside the door and learned it was you here. It feels like fate. Lady Song, you don't mind if I disturb you, do you?" Madam Wu had already sat down, and she had her daughter with her.

Cui Lingrong could only say she wouldn't disturb them, and introduced her daughter to Madam Wu, "Yu'er, quickly greet the Princess Consort of Rong."

Just as Song Yu was about to stand up, Madam Wu quickly said there was no need for such formalities, "There are no outsiders here, so there's no need for such formalities. This is my daughter, Yu'er. You two are about the same age, so you can chat together."

As she spoke, she turned to look at her daughter, "Yu'er, didn't you just say you wanted to go listen to storytelling? Why don't you take Yu'er with you?"

Zhao Yu glanced at her mother, then got up to wait for Song Yu.

Cui Lingrong nodded to her daughter, then had Caixia follow the two young ladies until only she and Madam Wu were in the private room. Only then did she ask, "Did the Crown Princess send Yu'er and the others away because she wanted to tell me something?"

"I heard that Rongjia's concubine, who was given to Marquis Song, is pregnant," said Madam Wu.

"The Crown Princess is truly well-informed; it is indeed the case, it has been more than a month already."

"What does Lady Song think? Do you want this child to be born?"

Upon hearing this, Cui Lingrong carefully examined Madam Wu. "I don't understand what the Crown Princess means. Moreover, the Princess specifically sought out my old lady and told me not to interfere in Huadie's affairs, but to let her take care of Huadie."

"Do you know why?" Ms. Wu asked.

Cui Lingrong guessed, "It's most likely that Princess Rongjia wants to raise this child."

"Yes, she definitely wants to raise this child." Madam Wu was very satisfied with Cui Lingrong's answer. It seemed that Cui Lingrong was intelligent, and such a person was suitable to be her ally. "Does Madam Song want to know why Rongjia didn't give birth herself, but instead focused on the child in Huadie's womb?"