Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

As soon as Song Zhizhi arrived at the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence, Cui Lingrong knew about it.

Caiyue brought back a message: "Second Madam took the person to the second house. I don't know what Second Madam wants to do."

Aunt Qiu glanced at her mistress; she could guess what the second mistress meant, but she didn't know if it would work out.

Cui Lingrong didn't even look up as she listened to Caiyue speak, sketching patterns as she did so. With the spring rains, she wanted to make a couple more pairs of shoes for Xuan Ge'er and his brother.

After Song Zhizhi left the second room, other people came to deliver a message.

Cui Lingrong was in charge of the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence; she knew who came and went.

A few days later, on the second day of the second lunar month, the day the dragon raises its head, Song Zhizhi brought her family to the door.

She was suppressed by Grandma Sun for a while, but as soon as her husband returned, she immediately became arrogant again.

Cui Lingrong went to pay her respects to Old Madam Song according to custom, and had to meet with Song Zhizhi. When the two met again, Song Zhizhi naturally did not give her a good look.

Cui Lingrong showed no outward sign of anything amiss. When Sun Zhigao spoke to her, she responded as usual, revealing no sign of anything wrong.

"You're quite the actor." Song Zhizhi glanced at her, then turned to speak to Princess Rongjia, "I really liked the jewelry you gave me last time. Is the velvet flower you're wearing today a tribute item?"

Princess Rongjia said it was a reward from the Empress when she attended a banquet in the palace during the first month of the lunar year; she wouldn't normally take it out.

"The tribute items are really different; they're much prettier than the ones sold outside." Song Zhizhi gazed longingly at Princess Rongjia's hair bun, constantly hinting that Princess Rongjia should give it to her. "It doesn't matter whether it looks good on me at my age, but Qin Jie'er is at the age where she loves to dress up. If she wears such a beautiful velvet flower, she'll definitely be very happy."

Princess Rongjia understood perfectly well, but she only received two. It wasn't that she was stingy; it was just that Song Zhizhi's face was too ugly.

Since Song Zhizhi returned to the capital, she never saw Song Zhizhi give her anything; on the contrary, every time she came, she would take something with her.

Princess Rongjia pretended not to understand, but Song Zhizhi pulled her daughter over and asked if she liked it. She then directly asked for it, saying, "Princess, you see how much Qin'er likes it, why not give it to her? You've been wearing it for a while now, you're probably tired of it, right?"

Sun Qinwan looked at Princess Rongjia expectantly, and after learning that it was a tribute, she wanted it even more.

The more this was the case, the less Princess Rongjia wanted to give it to her. She smiled and said, "Qin'er is at the best age. She doesn't need any makeup; she's beautiful enough."

Upon hearing this, Song Zhizhi immediately frowned, her lips twitching slightly, and she told her daughter to go play by herself, clearly unhappy.

Sun Qinwan didn't get the velvet flower hairpin she wanted, and didn't dare to vent her anger on Princess Rongjia. In a bad mood, she went out with her maid and unfortunately bumped into Jiang Shi, who was late.

"Oh dear, it's Sister Qin. It's alright, it's alright. I'll take you to get it fixed." Jiang Shi pulled Sun Qinwan away.

Hearing the sound, Song Zhizhi went over.

In the main hall, Cui Lingrong and Princess Rongjia were left facing each other, along with a silent Li Shi.

Grandma Song asked, "Why didn't Huadie and Pingping come over?"

Normally, concubines wouldn't be allowed to show their faces on such occasions. Old Madam Song invited these two over because she valued He Pingping's unborn child and also knew that she wanted to use Huadie to anger Cui Lingrong.

As soon as she finished speaking, Huadie and He Pingping arrived at Shou'an Hall one after the other. Old Madam Song hurriedly asked He Pingping if she was feeling unwell, and then asked Huadie to sit next to Princess Rongjia.

The old lady smiled broadly at Princess Rongjia and Huadie, but immediately stopped smiling when she saw Cui Lingrong.

Hua Die's pregnancy is considered stable, but lately she has become particularly picky about food. "The old lady's pastries are still the best. I wish I could come and serve the old lady every day."

"If you want to eat it, just tell the head kitchen," said Mrs. Song.

Hua Die looked troubled. "I'm afraid it won't work. The eldest mistress said that the Marquis's mansion is short of funds, and I have to eat several meals a day, so she won't allow it."

Hua Die still harbored resentment towards Grandma for hitting Bai Tao, and deliberately tried to sow discord among the old lady.

Old Mrs. Song immediately looked over, "Mrs. Cui, is that so?"

"Reporting to the old lady, when Huadie was first found out she was pregnant, the princess forbade her daughter-in-law from interfering in Huadie's affairs. All of Huadie's expenses were first sent to Wutong Courtyard, and then distributed from there. As for Huadie asking for anything else, it's not that her daughter-in-law wouldn't give it to her, but she was afraid that she would get an upset stomach and misunderstand her daughter-in-law." Cui Lingrong used Princess Rongjia as a shield, "After all, the princess specifically emphasized that her daughter-in-law should not interfere in Huadie's affairs."

Grandma Song had intended to make things difficult for Cui Lingrong, but Cui Lingrong blocked her way. Feeling a bit awkward, she waved her hand, telling Cui Lingrong to go do whatever she was supposed to do.

Cui Lingrong had long wanted to leave, so she took her daughter out for some fresh air.

As soon as Cui Lingrong left, Old Mrs. Song complained, "She's so powerful now, she doesn't even respect me, her mother-in-law."

"Sister Cui probably didn't think that much about it," Princess Rongjia said.

"Yes, Madam, the eldest mistress is always so considerate. Perhaps I've misunderstood her," Huadie added. But as soon as she finished speaking, a maid spilled tea, soiling her clothes. "What's wrong with you?"

"Please forgive me, Madam, this servant will take you to change your clothes right away."

Hua Die reluctantly followed, changed into clean clothes, and stopped when she heard Song Zhizhi complaining about the Marquis's mansion as they passed a room.

"I thought the princess was generous, but it turns out she's stingy. I just asked her for a velvet hairpin, but she refused." Song Zhizhi snorted, still thinking about the hairpin.

Jiang wouldn't speak ill of Song Zhizhi, after all, Song Zhizhi's mouth might betray her at any time. "After all, she's a tribute, it's normal for the princess to like her. Don't be angry, eldest sister, we should probably go back now. The old lady likes Qin'er, she'll definitely give Qin'er other good things."

"It's been three years, and you've certainly become more talkative." Song Zhizhi was much better off being coaxed, and her gaze fell on Jiang's lower abdomen. "That's right, your belly hasn't shown any signs of pregnancy, so even if you're arrogant, you can't be so cocky anymore. I'm telling you, you should see a proper doctor. How could you let your cousin climb into your man's bed? People will laugh at you to death if they find out!"

Jiang looked extremely embarrassed.

At this moment, she also wanted to slap Song Zhizhi, but she could only hold back. "I'm just not lucky enough to have He Pingping's good fortune."

"If you know that, then don't be so jealous. What good does it do you to cause my brother to have no descendants?" Song Zhizhi said.

"Don't worry, elder sister. With the old lady protecting He Pingping, just like with Princess Rongjia looking after Hua Die, both are very safe." Jiang Shi had already noticed someone outside and deliberately mentioned Hua Die.

Song Zhizhi chuckled. "Hua Die is a fool. Does she really think that giving birth to a child will make her rise to the top? If I were a princess, I would definitely keep the child and remove the mother. I would never let the child harbor any disloyalty. Since you're sensible, you can do the same even if you can't have a child yourself. Does it matter if the child came from your womb or not? Even without a birth mother, you are the closest legal mother, and the child will still have to respect you!"

After talking so much, Song Zhizhi's mouth was dry, and she felt annoyed that the people serving her lacked tact.

Hua Die, who was outside, turned pale and quickly helped Bai Tao to get away.

She leaned against the wall, panting heavily. "Bai Tao, isn't Grandma talking nonsense?"

"Definitely. Your great-aunt is a loose tongue. Don't take her words seriously. You need to be careful with the baby in your womb." Bai Tao didn't expect her great-aunt to talk nonsense. It's true, she was so scared that her back was wet with sweat.

Hua Die couldn't calm down for a while. What does it mean to "must leave the mother and keep the offspring"?

If the great-aunt would do that, would the princess do the same?

Hua Die was in turmoil. When Song Shulan came to see her that night, she couldn't help but ask, "My lord, may I...may I speak to you about something?"

"You say it." Hua Die was young and pregnant, so even if Song Shulan didn't stay overnight, he would still come to see her every few days.

"May I raise this child myself?" Huadie placed her hand on the Marquis's hand. "This is my first child, and I can't bear to part with him."

Song Shulan had heard the old lady mention this matter briefly, saying that the princess might raise Huadie's child, but the princess had not yet mentioned it to him.

Now that Hua Die had asked, Song Shulan knew that Princess Rongjia had already mentioned it to Hua Die. He didn't think it was a big deal, since he had two legitimate sons anyway, so he immediately agreed, "If you want to raise it yourself, I'll talk to the princess for you. Just focus on your pregnancy and don't think too much. The child is yours, and it will always be your child."

Hearing the Marquis say this, Huadie felt a little more at ease.

When Song Shulan went to Wutong Garden, he told Princess Rongjia about this matter.

Princess Rongjia couldn't keep her composure, but she dared not show it, fearing that Song Shulan would become suspicious.

It wasn't until the next day, when Bai Tao secretly came to see Wang Hechun's family, that Princess Rongjia realized it was Song Zhizhi who had been too talkative.

"That idiot Song Zhizhi! I spent so much effort trying to win her over, and she just ruined everything!" Princess Rongjia slammed the teapot down. "Chen De's wife, what am I supposed to do?"

"Princess, why are you in such a hurry? The child has lost its mother and needs someone to raise it. Let's proceed according to the original plan, it's still the same." Chen De's wife urged her mistress to calm down. "That Bai Tao is quite clever. But we can't let someone like her live."

Princess Rongjia said it was easy, "If Huadie gets into trouble, we can easily find a reason to deal with Baitao. You're the only one with a solution, otherwise I would have panicked again."

Bai Tao, who had left but returned, overheard this conversation.

She thought that by tipping off the princess, the princess would remember her efforts and allow her to leave with the money.

At that moment, Bai Tao felt a chill run down her spine. Hearing that there was no sound from inside the house, she quickly tiptoed away.

Should we go back to find my aunt?

No.

That's stupid.

Grandma, yes, she has to go find Grandma!