Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Cui Lingrong asked Qiu's mother to put away the prescription. "I envy Shuyi a little. She's carefree and dares to take responsibility for her actions."

"Grandma Luo is indeed a very insightful person. She understands what true happiness is," Qiu Mama sighed. It's a pity that her mistress has so many ties, and it's really too difficult for her to let go of them.

"Yes, I'm happy to see her doing well," Cui Lingrong said with a smile. "New Year's Eve is in a few days. Has the Cui family sent any news?"

Every year at the end of the year, the Cui family would send someone to deliver New Year's gifts, along with some requests, hoping that Cui Lingrong could do this or that for the Cui family.

Madam Qiu said not yet, "It'll probably be in the next day or two. The Marquis got promoted this year, and the Cui family will definitely send even more generous New Year's gifts. Madam even wrote a letter before asking about Yu'er's marriage. It seems that Madam wants to strengthen the family ties through marriage."

The lady she mentioned was Cui Lingrong's stepmother, who was arranging a marriage for her elder brother's son.

However, Cui Lingrong hinted at the time that it wouldn't work; she wouldn't let Yu Jie'er marry far away and would only choose someone within Bianjing City.

"It must be my father's idea. The Cui family doesn't have any outstanding young men. The Marquis of Jiangyuan's family is the only relative in the Cui family with some prestige, which is why they are so eager to see Yu'er's marriage. But my elder brother and sister-in-law have too many ulterior motives. Yu'er won't have a comfortable life after marrying into the family," Cui Lingrong said.

"Yes, this old servant thinks Feng-ge'er is quite good, and he gets along well with Yu-jie'er. It's just a pity that the Luo family is in Suzhou, which is quite far from Bianjing." Madam Qiu had observed Luo Feng for several days and quite liked him.

Cui Lingrong and You Shuyi are close friends. Since Yu Jie'er married into the Luo family, there will naturally be no conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. However, since the Luo family practices medicine, Song Shulan may look down on the Luo family's social standing.

Cui Lingrong's daughter's marriage is not a decision she can make alone.

"Yu-jie is still young, let's wait and see," Cui Lingrong said, adding that there was no rush and they started arranging things for the New Year.

In the blink of an eye, Lunar New Year's Eve has arrived.

The Cui family's New Year's gifts were delivered before New Year's Eve, but the carriage broke down on the way, causing a delay.

Along with the New Year's gifts came the matter of Cui's father asking Cui Lingrong to arrange for his two nephews to enter the Imperial Academy. Cui Lingrong said she didn't have that ability and sent someone back with a letter.

Leaving aside the Cui family's reaction, the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence was exceptionally lively this year. Princess Rongjia, who loved to show off, prepared New Year's gifts for everyone in the residence.

Song Mingjin remembered her sister's words and didn't dare to take it. It was only after her father urged her that she accepted it and handed it to the nanny.

He no longer dared to accept Princess Rongjia's gifts.

Princess Rongjia sensed Song Mingjin's wariness and went to him specifically, asking, "What's wrong, Brother Jin? Don't you like the gold lock I gave you?"

Song Mingjin said it looked good.

"Then why don't you try it on?" Princess Rongjia was about to help Song Mingjin put it on when Song Mingjin instinctively took a big step back and bumped into a pillar. Princess Rongjia's hand froze in mid-air. "Oh, what's wrong? I don't remember ever scolding you. Why are you so afraid of me?"

Song Mingjin's back ached from the impact, but he didn't dare to cry, so he ran behind his brother to hide.

Song Mingxuan stepped forward to speak up for his younger brother, "Your Highness, Jin-ge'er was so looking forward to New Year's Eve that he didn't sleep well last night, so he's not in much spirits right now."

"Is that so?" Princess Rongjia asked, disbelieving.

Grandma Song interjected, "On New Year's Eve, don't cause any unpleasant things. Jin'er, come to your grandmother, and I'll give you some hawthorn fruit."

The old lady could tell that Princess Rongjia was about to cause trouble, and she was a little unhappy. On days like this, the family should be happy together.

Princess Rongjia only gave up after hearing Old Madam Song speak up.

While staying up late on New Year's Eve, Jiang suggested playing cards, but Cui Lingrong didn't play that. Instead, she and Li went to play with Langge'er. Ling'er, who was over a week old, saw her chubby and adorable cousin and grabbed a piece of pastry.

Aunt Meng hurriedly ran over and said cautiously, "Ling'er can eat it herself, Lang'er can't eat it all yet."

Actually, Lang Ge'er is ready to eat. Seeing how careful Aunt Meng was, Madam Li wasn't angry. "You don't need to watch Ling Jie'er so closely. She's about the same age as Lang Ge'er. It's good for the two siblings to play together and have each other as companions."

"Replying to Third Madam, I'm afraid that Ling'er is too young and doesn't know any better. It wouldn't be good if she hurt Lang'er." Aunt Meng usually doesn't come out, but today is a big day, and the old lady likes to have all her children and grandchildren around, so she had no choice but to bring Ling'er along.

"You're too cautious." Madam Li said no more. Everyone has their own way of living. She was from the third branch of the family and had no say in the affairs of the second branch.

Aunt Meng took Ling'er away, while Hua Die clung to Song Shulan, implying that she wanted Song Shulan to keep her company that night.

However, Song Shulan was not blinded by lust. He told Huadie to play aside and talked to his brothers about recent events.

Hua Die, feeling rebuffed, looked down on Aunt Zhang and Aunt Meng. She approached the princess and forced her way into the conversation between the princess and the old lady, saying, "I know the Duchess of Dingguo. I've heard she's extremely jealous. Apparently, she wants to have her daughter-in-law adopt a child. That makes sense; her son is dead, and someone needs to continue his family line."

Hua Die moved her lips up and down, talking to herself without paying any attention to the expressions on Old Mrs. Song's and the others' faces.

"Hey old lady, take this one." Hua Die took the paper.

As soon as Old Mrs. Song played her card, the other person won. She immediately glared at him and said, "I'm giving you face by letting you stay up to welcome the New Year. Why aren't you quietly playing? What are you doing here?"

If it weren't for the fact that Gu Nianhua was pregnant, Old Mrs. Song would have had Xu's mother slap her across the face.

Hua Die was scolded by the old lady, her cheeks burning. She didn't dare to argue with the old lady, so she could only pick on the weakest one.

She went up to Aunt Zhang and said irritably, "Get out of the way, I want to sit here."

"Why should I?" Having witnessed what happened last time, Aunt Zhang didn't move. The eldest mistress said they were all concubines, and there was no need for anyone to give way to anyone else; the rules of the Marquis's mansion hadn't been broken yet. "Sister, don't you know about first come, first served?"

After Aunt Zhang finished speaking, Huadie went to see the eldest and third mistresses. Seeing that no one spoke up for her, she left with red eyes.

Cui Lingrong instructed Bai Tao, "It's cold outside. If your mistress doesn't want to stay up all night, take her back inside. Otherwise, if she gets sick in the freezing weather, even a god couldn't save her."

Bai Tao, feeling a chill run down her spine, chased after him.

After the New Year's Eve vigil ended, everyone went home.

Song Shulan glanced at Cui Lingrong and saw that Cui Lingrong was still as cold to him as before. Without saying a word, he followed Princess Rongjia to Wutong Garden.

Cui Lingrong herself didn't feel anything.

She was used to Song Shulan following Princess Rongjia.

Song Shulan had also gotten used to choosing between two options, and he always chose Princess Rongjia.

She learned to comfort herself that as long as she didn't care, she really wouldn't care.

Song Yu felt indignant on behalf of his mother, so he deliberately followed his father all the way back, only dispersing when they reached the outside of Wutong Garden.

She whispered to Qiu Tang, "She always tries to outdo Mother in everything, even with New Year's gifts. She's just putting on a show. I wonder how much money she'll have left to keep up this act after the New Year!"

Just as he finished speaking, he saw someone approaching from a distance. Hearing that it was Wang Hechun's voice, he quickly told Qiutang to extinguish the candle.

Wang Hechun's wife seemed very angry. "She really thinks she's a proper mistress. She can't put on airs at Shou'an Hall, so she orders us around instead. One minute she wants hot soup, the next she wants the kitchen to make lotus leaf chicken for her. It's the New Year, everyone else is having fun, and even other mistresses don't cause her as much trouble as she does."

She was peacefully eating melon seeds and drinking tea at Shou'an Hall when Huadie suddenly threw a tantrum and wanted to leave. The princess was worried about Baitao being alone, so she asked Huadie to come and watch over her.

When they arrived at Huadie's house, Huadie took her anger out on her.

Bai Tao also thought her mistress was too stupid. "Don't be angry, Mama Wang. She's just arrogant now, but once she gives birth, the princess will definitely not keep her."

"Who told you that?" Wang Hechun's wife frowned.

"I understand without anyone saying a word." Bai Tao took out a bag of silver. "This is all the money I have. I know the princess is afraid I'll talk too much, but I can promise that I won't say a single extra word to anyone. I only ask that the princess give me a way out, and I'll go to any manor. You are the princess's most trusted person. As long as you say the word, I believe you can help me."

Wang Hechun's family had put down a rather heavy money pouch, and when they looked at Bai Tao again, they couldn't help but scrutinize her more closely. "You little rascal, you're quite clever. Alright, I'll remember that. As long as you take good care of Huadie until the child is born, the princess will definitely reward you handsomely."

"Thank you for your kind words, Madam Wang. I won't see you off. Otherwise, if my aunt waits too long and gets angry, she'll take it out on me." Bai Tao looked around and, seeing that Wang Hechun's family had walked away, muttered to herself, "I'm really unlucky. I thought I could rise to prominence with my master, but I never thought I was such a fool who courted death."

Song Yu, who was behind the wall, frowned as he listened. It turned out that Princess Rongjia planned to leave the mother and keep the child.