Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

The Marquis's residence is now managed by Rongjia County. Yuan Mingzhu had just arrived when she received the news.

Wang Shanxi's wife brought over tea. "It's said that Second Madam Jiang is the closest friend of that woman from Qiushuangzhai. However, Old Madam Jiang and our Old Madam don't get along, and she's always forbidding Second Madam Jiang from coming over. That woman from Qiushuangzhai disregards the Old Madam's preferences and continues to associate closely with Second Madam Jiang. I imagine the Old Madam doesn't like it. Should we send a message to Shou'an Hall?"

Princess Rongjia said there was no need. "Cui Lingrong has been married into the family for over ten years, so Second Madam Jiang must come often. The old lady turns a blind eye, and it would be too deliberate for us to go and talk to her. As for the Sande matter, I was too hasty. Fortunately, it worked well. We don't need to mention anything now. We'll just wait for Cui Lingrong to make her move."

Wang Shanxi's wife said "good," and then said what the princess wanted to hear, "If there weren't so many errors in the accounts, you wouldn't have bothered with this. That woman from Qiushuangzhai is so tactless, trying to compete with you for management rights. If you ask me, with her background, she's not even worthy of carrying your shoes."

With no one else in the room, the master and servant spoke without restraint.

Princess Rongjia took a sip of tea, and thinking of Song Lang's deep affection for her, her thin lips couldn't help but curl upwards. All her plans had been worthwhile.

A concubine?

As a princess, how could she possibly share a husband with another woman!

"When I decided to marry Song Lang, my father and mother didn't understand. They said there were countless fine young men in Bianjing, so why did I insist on marrying Song Lang as a secondary wife?" At this point, Princess Rongjia looked out the window. "That little Cui Lingrong, merely the daughter of a fifth-rank official, what makes her think she can compete with me?"

This marriage was arranged by her on her own initiative, not by imperial decree as Song Shulan knew.

"That makes perfect sense." Wang Shanxi's wife became smug. "We're just waiting for the old lady to hear the rumors and punish that person from Qiushuangzhai."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a maid from Shou'an Hall arrived, saying that the old lady wanted the princess to come over.

Princess Rongjia and her servant exchanged a glance, then confidently headed towards Shou'an Hall.

Upon entering the room, Princess Rongjia saw Cui Lingrong kneeling. Suppressing her smile, she curtsied and said, "Greetings to the old lady. May I ask what brings you here, daughter-in-law?"

Before her eldest son's marriage, Old Madam Song assumed that Princess Rongjia would become her daughter-in-law. However, upon learning that Princess Rongjia was being betrothed, she realized that the Rong Prince's Mansion looked down on the Song family's social standing. Her son argued with Princess Rongjia for a long time before Cui Shi was born.

When she first learned that the Emperor had bestowed a marriage upon her, Old Madam Song was not very happy. After all, it was rare to have a concubine of equal status, and Cui had done nothing wrong. In fact, she had made the Marquis's family's life better over the years, so she was quite satisfied with Cui.

It wasn't until her son said that marrying Princess Rongjia would bring him success in his career that Old Madam Song began to find Princess Rongjia agreeable.

Old Madam Song didn't let Princess Rongjia get up. Everyone has their own agenda, not to mention that two tigers cannot share the same mountain. She didn't mind the power struggle between Madam Cui and Princess Rongjia, but she couldn't let it affect the Marquis's residence. "I'm asking you, a few days ago, was it you who dealt with Sande?"

"Reporting to the old lady, San De has been taking advantage of me as a new bride. Not only has she neglected her duties, but she has also been disrespectful to Sister Cui... Sister Cui, causing her to feel distant from me. The day I went to see Sister Cui, she asked me to give her an explanation." Princess Rongjia pushed all the blame onto Cui Lingrong.

She had been keeping her knees bent, and her calves were starting to ache.

"You're in charge, so I understand how you want to deal with San De to establish your authority. But you shouldn't have let the news get out. If Cui loses face, will the Marquis's mansion look good?" After listening to Cui's account, Old Madam Song was now fully aware of Princess Rongjia's ulterior motives. "Fine, if you find managing the household too strenuous, just hand it back to Cui. When she was in charge before, there was never any trouble."

If she had the will, then Princess Rongjia lacked vision. If she didn't, then she lacked ability.

Upon hearing this, Princess Rongjia panicked and immediately knelt down.

How could this happen?

That day, after leaving Qiushuangzhai, she spread the word that Cui Lingrong wanted to severely punish Sande. When Wang Shanxi's wife went to supervise the execution, she also said it was on Cui Lingrong's orders, and Cui Lingrong never refuted this, indicating that Cui Lingrong was satisfied with Sande's punishment.

Outsiders only say that Cui Lingrong is cruel, and no one says anything bad about her.

Princess Rongjia panicked for a moment, unable to come up with a solution. She absolutely could not return the power to manage the household, which she had finally managed to obtain, to Cui Lingrong; otherwise, wouldn't she become a laughing stock in Bianjing?

At this moment, Old Madam Song said again, "Fortunately, Madam Cui is broad-minded and made proper arrangements for Sande, which quelled the rumors outside."

Princess Rongjia felt a sudden "boom" in her mind before she realized that she had been tricked by Cui Lingrong.

Cui Lingrong glanced at Princess Rongjia out of the corner of her eye and spoke first before Princess Rongjia could speak, "If Mingzhu hadn't come to find me, I wouldn't have known that the rumors were like this. When Wang Shanxi's wife came to deliver the message, Caixia suggested sending him to the estate, but Wang Shanxi's wife said that Sande definitely couldn't utter a single word. I thought that since I'm now in charge of the estate, I shouldn't say too much, lest the princess misunderstand that I'm meddling. I kept Sande here because I was afraid of any problems later. I thought that if nothing happened, I wouldn't mention Sande and would just let him retire and work at the estate."

After a pause, Cui Lingrong looked embarrassed. "But...but I really don't know why people outside are spreading such rumors about me over such a simple matter. I'll never be able to face anyone again!"

After speaking, Cui Lingrong coughed a few times. Qiu Mama brought over a teacup with concern, "Madam is not fully recovered yet, please have some water to soothe your throat. The old lady is a very reasonable person. This was an undeserved disaster, and you did nothing wrong."

If Cui Lingrong did nothing wrong, then who is at fault?

Old Mrs. Song looked at Princess Rongjia. The old man used to have many concubines in his room, and she had seen all kinds of tricks and schemes.

All I can say is that Princess Rongjia was too impatient.

She didn't care who stepped on whom; as long as the Marquis's mansion was doing well, she was a good mistress.

After thinking it over, just as Old Madam Song was about to speak, a maid came to deliver a message that the Marquis had returned.

Everyone looked over.

Song Shulan was unaware of what was happening in the manor, but he overheard people talking about Cui Shi outside and rushed back in a hurry. "Your son greets Mother. Since everyone is here, there's something I need to ask clearly: who spread these rumors about the Marquis's manor? The rumors have even reached me; how awful must they be?"

Song Shulan's face was filled with anger. Qiu Mama, ever perceptive, spoke before anyone from Wutong Courtyard could, "I beg Your Highness to do justice for the Eldest Madam. San De's disrespect for his master is certainly deserving of punishment. Such a trivial matter has been spread through falsehoods and used to slander the Eldest Madam. But this happened within the Marquis's residence, and those who can spread the word are also from within the Marquis's household. If Your Highness doesn't investigate thoroughly, how will the Eldest Madam face anyone in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Song Shulan subconsciously looked at Princess Rongjia, "These past few days, the princess has been in charge of managing the household; hasn't she heard a single word?"

Three days have passed, and to say there was nothing would be a dereliction of duty. But Princess Rongjia couldn't say there was; if she heard about it but did nothing, it would be clear she wanted to see Cui Lingrong make a fool of herself.

Princess Rongjia couldn't answer for a moment, and Wang Shanxi's wife suddenly knelt down, "It was this old servant who was blinded by greed, thinking that such rumors couldn't be taken seriously and that it wasn't a big deal. People would forget about it soon, so there was no need to tell the master."

Song Shulan frowned. "Cui is also a legitimate mistress of the Marquis's mansion, how can this not be a big deal?"

Wang Shanxi's wife kept kowtowing, "It was this old servant's fault. The princess has been doing everything herself lately, wholeheartedly for the good of the Marquis's mansion. She hasn't slept a full night for several nights. This old servant was thinking of troubling the princess as little as possible. The Marquis can punish her as he pleases, please don't misunderstand the princess." She knew in her heart that if she didn't step forward to take the blame, this situation would be difficult to resolve. As long as her master was well, she wouldn't lose out by taking a few lashes.

Princess Rongjia wept, her face streaked with tears. She knew that saying more would be useless, so she looked at Song Shulan with a pitiful expression, which softened Song Shulan's heart.

Song Shulan went to see his mother.

Old Madam Song knew this matter shouldn't be blown out of proportion. The princess was of noble birth, and her eldest son relied on the Rong Prince's mansion for promotion. "Since it was the subordinates who failed in their duties, according to custom, Wang Shanxi's family should receive ten strokes of the cane and be fined three months' wages. As for the steward's matter..."

The old lady glanced at everyone in the room, and before she could continue, Song Shulan spoke first, "I have witnessed the Princess's contributions to the Marquis's mansion these past few days. If Mother were to rashly strip her of her power, people outside would likely gossip. No one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes. I implore Mother to give the Princess another chance. If that's not possible, perhaps Cui could take over the household again?"

Since her son had said so, the old lady had no choice but to agree.

Princess Rongjia breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Song Lang still favored her. However, she would remember the ten strokes of the cane today.

Qiu's mother felt indignant for her mistress and cautiously looked at her, but since the eldest mistress did not speak, she could only swallow her anger for the time being.

After leaving Shou'an Hall, Madam Qiu finally dared to say, "The Marquis's actions are truly biased. Madam, what should we do next?"

The more biased Song Shulan was, the more Cui Lingrong understood the importance of real power. She looked up and saw dark clouds obscuring the sun, the sky a hazy gray. "Today, Wang Shanxi's family received ten lashes. We've now become enemies with Wutong Garden. Take my invitation and go to the Jiang family. Ask Mingzhu to help me investigate the Princess's affairs with her previous husband's family."