Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Yuan Yuzhu's warehouse stock can only meet 30% of Cui Zeyu's needs, but it's enough for emergencies. For example, Cui Zeyu can deliver the wedding cloth to the Qian family as promised.

Choi Taek-ok thanked Won Ok-joo again, "Thank you for your help, Princess Consort. I will remember this kindness. Please feel free to ask if you need anything in the future."

"Okay, I'll contact you when I need anything." Yuan Yuzhu got up and saw Cui Zeyu and his sister off.

Inside the carriage, Cui Zeyu knew she couldn't hide it from her sister any longer, so she told the truth, "With the Crown Princess's help, we should be able to fill part of the gap. If there's still not enough, I'll write to the cloth merchants and ask them to send some to me."

Cui Lingrong breathed a sigh of relief, "It's good that it can be made up. Doing business is about reputation. Losing a little money is no big deal. We can earn it back later."

She took out the banknotes again, saying, "Don't tell me you have money. You lost a batch of fabric, and you'll have to spend money to buy more. Money is everywhere. I also invested in the company, so I can't let you lose money all by yourself."

"Sister, I..."

"Alright, stop dawdling. A real man learns from his mistakes. Don't let this happen again, understand?" Cui Lingrong heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats as the carriage stopped and she was about to get off.

Autumn's mother said it was General Xie.

Upon hearing this, Cui Lingrong and Cui Zeyu both got off the carriage.

Xie Yunting jumped off his horse angrily and said urgently, "Do you know who instigated this? It was Princess Rongjia again, and Madam Qian from the Rong Prince's Mansion. They said that Brother Cui's cloth shop has good quality and cheap prices, and recommended Brother Cui's cloth shop to many people."

Princess Rongjia would never kindly introduce business to anyone. Cui Lingrong and her brother immediately understood what was going on; this fire must be related to Princess Rongjia.

Xie Yunting cursed, "Her trick is really clever. On the surface, she says she's a good person and even introduced business to Brother Cui. But secretly, she set fire to the cloth so that Brother Cui would offend those powerful families. Come on, I'll take you to find her and see what she has to say this time!"

As he spoke, Xie Yunting pulled Cui Zeyu toward the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence.

Cui Lingrong quickly said no, "Even if Princess Rongjia admits that she introduced the business, in everyone's eyes, there is no problem. We need evidence that she committed arson to get to the bottom of her."

She and Xie Yunting looked at Cui Zeyu together.

Cui Zeyu shook his head. "I wasn't at the cloth shop on New Year's Eve. By the time I got there, the shop assistant and the constables had already put out the fire. The shop assistant didn't think much of it at the time, but when I went to look for it, I couldn't find any clues."

In other words, they cannot provide any evidence.

Cui Lingrong took a deep breath. "It's better to know who did it than to know nothing at all. Thank you very much, General, for helping Zeyu investigate. We owe you another favor. It's getting late, so you should go back now. I understand the situation."

"What does Lady Song Hou plan to do?" Xie Yunting asked curiously.

"If we can't find any evidence against her for arson, then we'll take revenge elsewhere. She'll make her pay back the money she made me lose." Cui Lingrong looked at her brother again. "Princess Rongjia's people are definitely still keeping an eye on the cloth shop. Be careful these days, and don't get tricked again. In the end, it was my fault that you were implicated in this."

"What are you saying, sister? It's Princess Rongjia who's vicious; it's not our fault." Cui Zeyu smiled at his sister. "Sister, hurry back; I'll keep an eye on the cloth shop."

Cui Lingrong hummed in agreement and turned to return to her residence.

Feeling aggrieved, Xie Yunting asked Cui Zeyu, "Are you really not going to cause trouble for Princess Rongjia?"

"My sister is right. Without witnesses and evidence, if we rush to find them, it will only make us look like we're being unreasonable," Cui Zeyu said.

Xie Yunting snorted, "That's true. If only you had power, you could surpass Princess Rongjia and see if she dared to cause you any trouble!"

After arriving in Bianjing, what impressed Xie Yunting the most was that no matter how he gave those people a hard time, they didn't dare to provoke him.

the reason is simple.

The emperor valued him highly and doted on him.

Therefore, he has the right.

If Cui Zeyu also had the power, the Rong Prince's Mansion would definitely have considered this matter carefully before doing so.

But Cui Zeyu was a merchant, and in Bianjing, merchants had a low social status. The Rong Prince's Mansion had plenty of ways to deal with a merchant.

"Speaking of which, Brother Cui, why didn't you pursue a career in government and instead went into business?" Xie Yunting asked casually. "With your intelligence and talent, you might have even become the top scholar in the imperial examinations."

Cui Zeyu smiled and said, "Brother Xie flatters me. The imperial examination is like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge, and those who become the top scholar are the emperor's favorites."

He thanked Xie Yunting again, and as it was getting dark, he headed to the cloth shop with his entourage.

As for why he didn't take the imperial examination, when he entered the Song family school, no one respected him after they learned that he was adopted.

Later, seeing his sister constantly worrying about money, he simply said he didn't want to study anymore, and with the money his sister gave him, he started doing business.

As for power?

Cui Zeyu felt a surge of anger in his chest.

Yes, he is powerless and without influence now.

But he didn't believe he would live like this forever. One day, when his business became so wealthy that he could rival a country, would he still lack power?

This experience taught Cui Zeyu a lesson he needed to learn: he had to work even harder. Princess Rongjia's actions were intended to ruin his business and cut off his sister's source of income, but he was determined to prevent her from succeeding.

At this moment, Cui Lingrong had just returned to Qiushuangzhai when she heard Caiyue talking about the second branch of the family.

"Not long after you left today, Miss He had a stomachache, and her maid climbed out the window to find the old lady." Caiyue spoke with a disdainful look. "The old lady sent someone to fetch a doctor, who said that Miss He is one month pregnant."

"One month?" Cui Lingrong asked. "Shouldn't it be two months?"

Caiyue was certain, "I didn't mishear, it's exactly one month. The old lady was overjoyed and immediately granted Miss He the title of concubine. They'll hold the ceremony on a chosen date. Mama Xu came over specifically to tell you to go to Shou'an Hall tomorrow morning; the old lady wants to discuss this with you."

Cui Lingrong quickly figured it out, "It's probably because Second Master secretly went to see He Pingping again while she was under house arrest. Jiang is really stupid to the extreme, actually letting He Pingping sneak into the house again."

Caiyue didn't understand what she meant. "What house is Miss He stealing from?"

Aunt Qiu whispered something to Caiyue, who immediately blushed, "Pah, shameless! The He family's daughter has absolutely no manners!"

Madam Qiu said, "If she had been more reserved, she would have been sent back to the He family. What good could a girl who has lost her virginity and whose family is in dire straits have? Miss He is very clever and knows how to seize the opportunity. Now that she has a child and has become a concubine, the Second Mistress is probably going to faint from anger."

"It's all Second Madam's fault. Who told her to always cause trouble for First Madam in the past!" Caiyue showed no sympathy for Second Madam.

Cui Lingrong showed no sympathy. She had always been at odds with the Jiang family and would only ask You Shuyi to examine the pulse for the Jiang family if the Jiang family wanted to tip her off.

Now that He Pingping is pregnant, Jiang will probably cry herself to death.

The next day, after breakfast, Cui Lingrong went to Shou'an Hall. Taking a concubine was not like taking a concubine in ordinary times; she was simply carried in in a sedan chair. Some families would even hold a banquet and invite relatives and friends to celebrate.

Grandma Song was a person who cared about face. Her idea was to set up a few tables. "It just so happens that Zhizhi is coming back. Taking advantage of this happy occasion, you can set up a few tables to make it more lively."

The Zhizhi that Grandma Song mentioned is her daughter. She and her husband were sent to work in other places a few years ago, and they are coming back this year.

Thinking of her sister-in-law, Cui Lingrong said calmly, "It's good that my sister is back; we should indeed have a feast. But let's forget about Miss He's matter."

Old Mrs. Song immediately lowered her expression. "Why?"

"Miss He is pregnant. What if something happens to her? It would be embarrassing if people found out. It would be better to wait until the baby is born before making any plans." The old lady meant that Cui Lingrong should host the dinner, but when is it the sister-in-law's turn to pay for her brother-in-law taking a concubine?

Cui Lingrong and the old lady had been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for more than ten years. Without much thought, she understood the unspoken meaning in the old lady's words.

Hearing this, Old Mrs. Song thought about how her second son had never had a son, and could only say, "You're right, we can hold a proper full-month celebration after He Shi gives birth to a son, it'll be the same. But Zhizhi's return is a big deal, you have to take good care of it. Her favorite bird's nest and milk must be prepared every day. Also, I promised to give her a set of pearl jewelry, as the eldest sister-in-law, you should do that. I haven't seen her for a long time, I definitely want to keep her by my side for a while."

Cui Lingrong, the younger sister-in-law, was pampered and spoiled by Old Madam Song since childhood. When she got married, Old Madam Song spared no expense in providing her with a dowry.

Now that Song Zhizhi is coming back, the old lady wants Cui Lingrong to arrange a proper ceremony. Cui Lingrong said directly, "The remaining silver in the Marquis's account is probably not enough to purchase pearl jewelry. If the old lady gives me the money, I can help with the purchase."

"Mrs. Cui, why do you keep talking about money these days? As the eldest sister-in-law, shouldn't you show some appreciation?" Old Mrs. Song said with a dark face. "Have you been spending too much time with your money-grubbing brother, and picked up those unsavory habits of merchants?"

Cui Lingrong's face darkened. Just as she was about to retort to the old lady, a maid came to deliver a message that Princess Rongjia had arrived.