Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Cui Lingrong was naturally curious.

However, she didn't rush to ask why. Instead, she said calmly, "More than that, I'm curious why the Crown Princess is telling me all this. Princess Rongjia is from the Rong Prince's residence. Surely the Rong Prince's residence doesn't know that the Crown Princess is telling me these things?"

"Yes, if I hadn't run into you today, I wouldn't have planned to say it. After all, things that are deliberately planned always have flaws, and coincidences are more natural."

Madam Wu picked up her teacup; the tea was clear and sweet. She then slowly said, "Rongjia is the only legitimate daughter of the Rong Prince's Mansion. She has been spoiled since childhood. Because she is favored, she gets everything she wants."

Cui Lingrong listened quietly to what Madam Wu had to say, and poured some tea for Madam Wu when appropriate.

"Later, I became pregnant, and she pushed me into the water. I lost the baby and also developed health problems. I've held this grudge for many years, and I want to ask Lady Song for help." Wu said simply, "You might think I hold a grudge, but those were the most difficult years of my life, so difficult that I will never forget them."

"So that's how it is." Cui Lingrong said thoughtfully.

"Yes, my child is gone, and Rongjia is getting her comeuppance. She'll never have children in this lifetime." At this point, Wu's smile became genuine. "She was premature, born weak, and the doctor said she was born with congenital deficiencies and would never be able to conceive. So, Lady Song, you know why she's been eyeing Huadie's unborn child, don't you?"

Cui Lingrong had this suspicion, but the imperial physician did not mention it when he took her pulse, so she did not investigate in that direction.

Looking back now, the imperial physician must have noticed the problem, but the atmosphere was tense that day, and he didn't want to cause trouble, so he didn't mention it.

Madam Wu continued, "After Rongjia got married, in order to keep her secret, the Rong Prince's Mansion arranged for someone skilled in medicine to be included in her dowry. However, that person died in the Du family."

"There's something I don't understand. Since Princess Rongjia knew she couldn't have children, why did she stop Du Dalang's concubine from giving birth?" Cui Lingrong asked.

"I told you, Rongjia is spoiled and arrogant. She doesn't believe in fate and insists on trying. Besides, when they first got married, the couple were very affectionate, and Du Dalangjun was willing to pamper her. How could Rongjia tolerate someone else bearing Du Dalangjun's child?" Madam Wu couldn't say too much; she had to let Cui Lingrong investigate herself. "But men's hearts are fickle. Later, Du Dalangjun kept a mistress, and all sorts of quarrels followed. Rongjia became jealous and didn't want Du Dalangjun to get his way."

These things are similar to what Cui Lingrong found out.

"So, does the Crown Princess want to see what happens to Princess Rongjia?" Cui Lingrong asked.

"This..." Madam Wu smiled, pursing her lips. "I'm in the Rong Prince's residence. If I do anything that's detrimental to Rong Jia, my life won't be easy. I haven't thought about the specific outcome. I just wanted to tell Lady Song about this matter. How you handle it is up to you."

Wu believed that, given Cui Lingrong's stance, she would never let Princess Rongjia have an easy time.

A concubine?

How can we be on equal footing?

It's bound to be one mountain pressing down on another.

"Thank you for reminding me, Your Highness. I understand," Cui Lingrong said.

She could no longer invite the imperial physician to take Princess Rongjia's pulse; she could only keep this in mind.

"Yes, I believe you won't let me down." Not wanting to stay there too long, Madam Wu got up and said goodbye to Cui Lingrong.

When she returned home with her daughter, she asked, "How are things going with Song Yu?"

Zhao Yu was a quiet and reserved person who didn't talk much to anyone and didn't have many friends. "At first, she was wary of me, but after listening to the storyteller, she became so engrossed in the story that she forgot to be wary of me. She was actually quite innocent and lively."

After a pause, Zhao Yu asked her mother, "Do you want me to become friends with Song Yu?"

"Do as you please, I won't force you," said Madam Wu.

"I understand, Mother, it's not good for you to associate with Madam Song, but I can be a little willful. My visits to the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence can also bring matters concerning my aunt to you." Zhao Yu spoke without much expression. "Since you need me to, Mother, I can also be friends with Song Yu."

Mrs. Wu looked at her daughter and sighed, "You, so young, how come you're so mature? I told you, just do as you please, you don't need to worry about me so much."

She now manages the Rong Prince's Mansion and has both a son and a daughter. As long as she doesn't crave her husband's affection, her life will be peaceful.

On the other side, Cui Lingrong was also discussing Zhao Yu with her daughter.

"She never smiles, she always has a cold face. Later on, I couldn't be bothered to deal with her anymore, so I just did whatever made me happy." After saying Zhao Yu, Song Yu asked what Wu Shi had said.

Cui Lingrong didn't intend to hide it from her daughter. "She told me that Princess Rongjia was born with a defect and could not have children."

"So that's how it is. No wonder Princess Rongjia didn't want you to interfere in Huadie's affairs. Do you think Huadie is willing to give her child to Princess Rongjia?" Song Yu didn't want to see Princess Rongjia succeed. "Why don't we leak the information to Huadie and let her fight against Princess Rongjia?"

"Before this, I had already asked Caixia to tell Huadie that Princess Rongjia might want to raise her child," Cui Lingrong said. "But Huadie didn't do anything. If that's the case, she should be willing to let Princess Rongjia raise the child."

"If Princess Rongjia raises Huadie's child, the illegitimate son will become the legitimate son, wouldn't that threaten the status of Xuan-ge'er and Jin-ge'er?" Song Yu immediately thought of her two younger brothers, "If that's the case, it would be better not to let this child be born."

As soon as he said it, Song Yu felt he had been too cruel. "But it is a life after all. If you take action, I'm afraid it will bring bad karma."

Deep down, Song Yu didn't want to see this child born.

But Song Yu had never been involved in such matters before, and he felt somewhat reluctant to let his mother do it.

Cui Lingrong said, "We must not get our hands dirty, otherwise it will be easy to leave evidence if we really investigate. Our ultimate goal is not to prevent this child from being born, but to prevent Princess Rongjia from raising this child."

She said there's plenty of time, and the butterflies won't be born for a long time, so there's no need to rush.

Cui Lingrong took her daughter back to the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence. She was busy for a few more days. On the day before her younger brother's new house moving banquet, Song Shulan came to Qiushuangzhai.

"Why didn't you tell me your brother was hosting a banquet?" Song Shulan's words carried a hint of reproach.

"Didn't the Marquis say that Zeyu is just an adopted brother, not a proper relative of the Marquis's household? I thought the Marquis would be busy at the end of the year, so I won't trouble you." Cui Lingrong remembered Song Shulan's words from that day and deliberately said sarcastically.

Song Shulan frowned. "We're not even proper relatives, so why are you taking everything so seriously? Lingrong, what are you still arguing with me about?"

He had long noticed that Cui Lingrong's attitude towards him was no longer as intimate as before.

In the past, when he came over, Cui Lingrong would prepare tea and snacks in advance, and would tell him in detail about her recent affairs.

But now, Cui Lingrong no longer talks to him about these things.

Upon hearing this question, Cui Lingrong was also confused about what Song Shulan was thinking. Did she really need to explain the estrangement between them?

"My lord, you are overthinking it."

"I hope it's just me overthinking things. I'll make time to go tomorrow. You should rest well." Song Shulan said and left.

Everyone in Bianjing knew about the relationship between the Marquis's mansion and Cui Zeyu; it wouldn't make sense for him not to show up.

Song Shulan was in a bad mood and didn't want to go anywhere, so she went straight to the front yard.

"Qingshan, do you think Grandma doesn't care about me as much anymore?" Song Shulan suddenly asked.

"No, you're the head of the family, the matriarch's everything. Naturally, you're the most important person in her heart." Qingshan thought for a moment, then added, "Perhaps it's because you're good to the princess that the matriarch is a little jealous?"

"That's true. She's always been a very proper person, so it's more reasonable to say she's jealous. Oh well, I'll give her some face tomorrow and go to Cui Zeyu's place early." Song Shulan ate her dinner casually and went to bed early.

The next day, Song Shulan went to his shift first, and didn't go to Cui's residence until almost noon.

As soon as he arrived at the door, a servant came up to him and said, "The mistress instructed that once you arrive, I will take you there."

Seeing that Cui Lingrong remembered that he was coming, Song Shulan felt much more at ease.

After bypassing the front courtyard, as the voices gradually became clearer, Song Shulan turned into the main hall.

As he stepped over the threshold, a wave of heat hit him. He first saw Cui Lingrong chatting and laughing with Cui Zeyu beside her. The two of them stood together, listening to other people's congratulations, with smiles on their faces. The scene was very warm.

For some reason, Song Shulan felt a strange sensation. He strode over and squeezed between Cui Lingrong and Cui Zeyu.