Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

"My daughter is not for you to lay a hand on!" Cui Lingrong's rare rebuke instilled fear in everyone.

Even Song Shulan was startled.

How many times has Cui Lingrong lost her temper?

Before Song Shulan could react, Song Zhizhi burst into tears, crying, "Big brother, second brother, are you just going to watch her hit me?"

She knelt before her mother again, saying, "As soon as I returned to Bianjing, I thought of seeing you. It's just a hairpin; if Yu-jie won't give it to me, fine, but look at my face! Has my sister-in-law gone mad?"

In all her life, Song Zhizhi had never been beaten like this before.

A clear handprint was visible on her cheek.

A burning sensation followed, and Song Zhizhi cried, begging her mother to stand up for her.

Old Mrs. Song's expression was also very unpleasant. "Mrs. Cui, what are you doing? Don't you have any manners when it comes to entertaining guests?"

Song Yu relayed in a low voice, "It wasn't my daughter's fault. It was my aunt who insisted on taking my daughter's hairpin. My daughter didn't talk back to her, but my aunt stopped her. She even asked you what gift you were going to prepare for her."

Cui Lingrong patted her daughter's arm and walked towards the old lady.

She had never liked Song Zhizhi before, but she thought that harmony in the family was the most important thing, and the old lady and the Marquis loved Song Zhizhi, so she didn't argue over trivial matters.

Over the years, Song Zhizhi came to believe that she could take things from the main house at will.

Cui Lingrong bowed to the old lady, then said slowly and deliberately, "Grandma, a young lady's demeanor is of utmost importance. Look, what did Yu'er do wrong that Zhizhi had to pull out her hairpin in public?"

Old Mrs. Song couldn't answer this. She avoided Cui Lingrong's gaze and said, "It's just a hairpin. Do you and your daughter have to be so fussy about it?"

"Yes, a hairpin isn't much. But Zhizhi wanted it, didn't she ask? She just grabbed it, messing up Yu'er's hair. What kind of logic is that?" Cui Lingrong became increasingly angry as she spoke. "There was no one else present today. If there were, how could Yu'er face anyone?"

Seeing that the old lady was about to speak again, Cui Lingrong emphasized, "If Zhizhi hadn't tried to hit me just now, I wouldn't have done it. The old lady loves her daughter, and I wouldn't want my daughter to suffer."

As she spoke, Cui Lingrong turned to look at Song Zhizhi, changing her form of address, "Grandma Sun, if you're not satisfied, feel free to bring the Sun family here. I'm willing to argue with your husband and mother-in-law to see who's right and wrong!"

"Mr. Cui, are you threatening me?" Song Zhizhi suddenly stood up. "Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Her cheeks were burning, but her mother-in-law disliked her and wouldn't help her. As for her husband, he was still on his way and hadn't arrived in Bianjing yet.

"Of course you're not afraid of me, but you've really disappointed me. The old lady told me to prepare properly to welcome you, and I did so according to etiquette, but you humiliated my daughter in public. Fine, you've always disliked me, so I won't bother you here today." Cui Lingrong called out "Yu-jie'er," then went over and took her daughter's hand, walking away.

Song Yu was dumbfounded. What had happened to his mother, who used to be so meticulous and thorough?

Inside Shou'an Hall, Song Zhizhi burst into tears again. "Brother, look how she treated me! If you didn't welcome me, why did you bring me here? Come on, Sister Qin, let's leave too! We're not staying here!"

Grandma Song hurriedly pulled her daughter back, "What nonsense are you talking about again? I've been missing you so much I can't sleep. You were indeed a bit hasty just now; how could you snatch the hairpin from Yu'er's hair?"

"Mother, why are you blaming me?" Song Zhizhi's eyes widened, feeling even more wronged.

Song Shucheng chuckled. He had been bullied by his older sister since childhood, and he felt quite pleased when his sister-in-law slapped her earlier. "Sister," he said, "I'd say you're a married daughter, like water spilled from a cup. If you want to cause trouble, do it at the Sun family. Coming to the Song family to act like a tyrant, who can tolerate that?"

Upon hearing this, Song Zhizhi rushed over without hesitation, grabbed her younger brother by the collar, and was about to hit him.

Song Shucheng was not a good-natured person. He shook off Song Zhizhi's hand and said, "Mother, I'm tired. I'll go back and rest first. I won't stay with you today."

Jiang stood up unsteadily, unsure whether to leave or not.

Only Princess Rongjia comforted Song Zhizhi, "Good sister, don't be sad. I don't know what's wrong with Sister Cui these days, her temper is getting worse and worse, I don't even dare to speak loudly in front of her. What happened today is not your fault, it's just a hairpin, if Yu-jie hadn't come to snatch it, the hairpin wouldn't have fallen to the ground."

"That's right!" Song Zhizhi looked at Princess Rongjia, "You're so generous and considerate, unlike some people who deserve to have half their husbands stolen away!"

Princess Rongjia wasn't so happy with these words. What did she mean by taking away half of it?

Song Lang belongs entirely to her.

Princess Rongjia's eyes flashed with displeasure, but she still ordered someone to bring hard-boiled eggs to apply to Song Zhizhi's face.

Old Mrs. Song was in a bad mood. Looking at her eldest son, she sighed, "You saw it too, didn't you? Does Cui even respect me as her mother-in-law? She hit someone right in front of me and then left without a word. Shulan, if you don't give me an explanation for what happened today, don't call me 'mother' again!"

This incident not only resulted in her daughter being beaten, but also caused her to lose face.

What kind of matriarch would hit someone in public?

Grandma Song still can't quite believe that Cui Lingrong could do something like this!

What's wrong with the most composed and considerate person you've always been today?

On the other side, Song Yu was also curious about what was wrong with her mother today. She went with her mother to Qiushuangzhai and waited for Qiu's mother to re-comb her hair before carefully moving to her mother's side.

Seeing that her mother was still calmly reading, Song Yu tried to ask, "Mother, just now in Shou'an Hall, you...?"

"Whether I shake off your aunt's hand or slap her, her reaction will be the same. Since that's the case, why not just do it to yourself? After all, I've wanted to hit her for a long time." Cui Lingrong put down her book.

Song Yu stared in astonishment, her eyes wide. "You... how could you have such a thought?"

My mother, in my memory, was always gentle and kind; she never even raised her voice to scold me, let alone hit me.

Cui Lingrong smiled, "Actually, I've always had that feeling, but I used to think that harmony in the family is the most important thing, and your father didn't like arguments at home, so I just endured it. Besides, I really am not a person who likes to resort to violence."

Why couldn't I bear it anymore?

Cui Lingrong couldn't give a specific answer either.

When she reached the door, she heard Song Zhizhi scolding her daughter, and a surge of anger welled up inside her.

The fact that Song Shulan didn't say a single word in her daughter's defense made her even angrier.

When she entered the house and saw that Song Zhizhi was about to make a move, she decided to settle both the old and new scores and slap her back.

Even now, Cui Lingrong still feels like she's dreaming.

Normally, she would never do such a thing.

However, it was indeed refreshing.

"Father..." Song Yu said with great disappointment when her father was mentioned, and lowered her head. "Mother, I don't like Father anymore."

These are outrageous words, which Song Yu dared not say before, but now that her mother has taken action, she wants to say them.

A tear slid down her cheek.

It seeps silently into the floor tiles.

Song Yu raised her hand and wiped the corner of her eye.

Cui Lingrong felt only heartache, "Your father..."

She paused, unsure how to talk to her daughter about Song Shulan. If she spoke ill of Song Shulan, it would damage their relationship. But if she spoke in Song Shulan's favor, she couldn't think of any good qualities Song Shulan could offer that would make her say nice things.

Just then, Qiu's mother came in and said that everything was ready.

Song Yu looked over and asked, "What is that?"

Cui Lingrong said, "I hit your aunt, and I did it in front of your grandmother. Your grandmother is such a proud person, do you think she'll let me off easily?"

Song Yu shook his head.

"So I asked Aunt Qiu to prepare gifts and send them to the Sun family to inform them of what happened today and to apologize to Grandma Sun on my behalf." Seeing her daughter's puzzled expression, Cui Lingrong asked, "What do you think my intentions were?"

Song Yu thought for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "Old Madam Sun has never liked Aunt. Aunt suffered an injustice at the Marquis's residence today, and she will definitely twist the truth when she gets back. Sending Aunt Qiu will not only incite Old Madam Sun to teach Aunt a lesson, but also prevent the Sun family from being deceived by Aunt."

Cui Lingrong nodded approvingly, "Yu'er has grown up. It's good that you can understand." She then looked at Qiu's mother, "Go quickly. When you see Grandma Sun, be respectful. Just say that I was protective of my daughter and acted subconsciously."

"Don't worry, Madam, this old servant understands. You are known throughout Bianjing for your virtue and thoughtfulness. If it requires your help, Old Madam Sun will definitely make things difficult for Auntie." Madam Qiu smiled and left, urging Er Shun to hurry along the way, as she couldn't wait to go and complain.