Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Cui Lingrong was stopped at the door. A passerby said that the cloth shop had sold inferior goods as superior ones and cheated people out of their money.

Cui Lingrong's eyebrows twitched as she listened. When someone said that the master had been taken to the government office, she rushed there, gave them money, but still couldn't see her brother.

"No matter how much money you offer, we dare not accept it. Do you know who he has offended?" The constable looked at the money and waved his hand with heartache, saying, "Go back quickly and prepare your things as soon as possible. Who knows where you might be exiled to."

Cui Lingrong's eyebrows twitched as she listened.

Offend?

exile?

She had no choice but to wait for Song Shulan on the way home from her shift, hoping that Song Shulan could help her find out.

"Cui Zeyu has been arrested?" Song Shulan was actually quite pleased. "I knew that kid wasn't that capable; he was just trying to cheat people out of their money by selling inferior goods. I need to avoid suspicion, and you shouldn't go to the government office either, so as not to cause trouble for the Marquis's family."

"My lord, Zeyu is my younger brother; I cannot abandon him!"

"Then what do you plan to do? Do you expect me to go to the Marquis's mansion to save a bastard child with no blood relation?" Song Shulan raised her voice, then realized they were outside and lowered it, saying, "I'm not going to help. If you're so capable, go save him yourself. Hey... where are you going?"

Knowing Song Shulan's attitude, Cui Lingrong immediately got off the carriage.

She walked hurriedly, without turning back to look at Song Shulan. "Aunt Qiu, go find another carriage. We're going to find General Xie."

Looking at Cui Lingrong's stubborn back, Song Shulan couldn't catch his breath. "Tell me, why doesn't she know how to back down?"

Qingshan didn't know what to say, so he simply lowered his head.

Song Shulan said indignantly, "Fine, she's powerful. Let's see who she can ask for help from!"

Song Shulan sent the coachman back to his residence, ignoring Cui Lingrong. He figured that once Cui Lingrong had exhausted all other avenues of seeking divine intervention, she would surely come looking for him again.

This time, he waited for Cui Lingrong to back down.

On the other side, Cui Lingrong entered the Xie residence in the afterglow of the setting sun, but Xie Yunting was not there.

"The general is always carefree, and his return home is unpredictable. If Madam has something urgent, I may go and look for him?"

Cui Lingrong looked up at the sky, told the gatekeeper what it was about, and then went to the Jiang family to ask Jiang Kun to help her find out.

Jiang Kun and Yuan Mingzhu had a good relationship, so they immediately agreed.

Cui Lingrong left the Jiang family home after dark, so she had no choice but to return to the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence first.

Xie Yunting caught up on horseback, his hooves thundering. "Sister Cui!"

The carriage stopped, and Cui Lingrong pushed open the wooden window. Seeing Xie Yunting, she hurriedly said, "I went to the government office to see Zeyu, but they wouldn't let me see him. They said Zeyu had offended someone. I beg General Xie to help Zeyu. He is definitely not the kind of person who would pass off inferior goods as superior ones."

"Don't worry, sister. Brother Cui and I are like brothers. His affairs are my affairs." Xie Yunting glanced at the road in the distance. "I'll take you back to the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence first. I'll take care of the rest."

After speaking, he looked at the person inside the wooden window. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her eyes were red as she tried her best to suppress her emotions. Those eyes, as clear as autumn water, were as captivating as pearls in this spring night.

Xie Yunting stared in disbelief.

The word "General" brought him back to reality.

"General, I treat Zeyu like my own brother. His current crime is mostly related to me. If he needs money or anything else, please feel free to ask for it on my behalf. I will do my best to raise it." At this moment, Cui Lingrong was like a peony in the wind and rain, still strong despite being battered.

Under the hazy moonlight, Xie Yunting's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. After a moment of stunned silence, he said, "Don't worry, Sister Cui, I will do my best."

He escorted Cui Lingrong to the gate of the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence, and only rode away after Cui Lingrong had entered.

Qingshan had been waiting at the door. He could tell that the Marquis wanted to reconcile the two masters, so he came over and said, "Madam, the Marquis is actually worried about you. If you're willing to coax him, he's willing to help you."

"Did the Marquis send you to say this?" Cui Lingrong asked.

Aoyama said no, "It's my own idea."

"How could what you think be the same as what he means?" Cui Lingrong didn't believe it and instead led Qiu's mother back home, feeling exhausted.

Helpless, Qingshan returned to the front yard, just as his master was looking over.

Song Shulan waited for a while before asking, "You went all that way, where are you?"

"Grandma is probably tired, so she's going back first," Qingshan said.

"What did you say?" Song Shulan put down her pen.

After a moment's hesitation, Qingshan told the truth about what had happened.

Upon learning that Xie Yunting had brought Cui Lingrong back, Song Shulan frowned. "Why is it Xie Yunting again?"

Xie Yunting got involved the previous times, and it's Xie Yunting again this time. When did Cui Lingrong and Xie Yunting become so close?

With Xie Yunting being such a reckless person, what if he corrupts Cui Lingrong if she stays with him?

"Go to the government office first thing tomorrow morning and inquire. If it's not a serious matter, get Cui Zeyu out. Let him stay in the government office for one night; that will teach him a lesson." Song Shulan thought for a moment; it was his woman, and he had no right to ask others for help.

Qingshan felt that the Marquis still cared about his wife, after all, they had been married for more than ten years. He agreed and went to the government office early the next morning to inquire.

The officials told him to go back, saying that this matter was related to the Qian family.

"Which Qian family?"

"Is that even a question? The most famous family in Bianjing is the Qian family. You're from the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence, right? Instead of having you come, why not send Princess Rongjia? Isn't the second mistress of the Rong Prince's residence a member of the Qian family?"

Qingshan returned with the message, and Song Shulan, upon learning that it was related to the Qian family, went to Wutong Garden to look for them after some thought.

Princess Rongjia was initially pleased to see Song Shulan, but upon hearing him mention her second sister-in-law, she immediately lost her composure. "Did the Marquis come here because of Cui Zeyu?"

"The Cui family values ​​Cui Zeyu highly. She's already gone to Xie Yunting. If I don't step in, won't Xie Yunting laugh at me?" Song Shulan gave herself an excuse.

"How could I possibly interfere in my second sister-in-law's affairs?" Princess Rongjia said, admitting she lacked the ability. "Besides, Sister Cui didn't return until after dark, and she went to find some reckless man. Doesn't Your Excellency consider what their relationship is?"

Princess Rongjia thought that Song Shulan wouldn't intervene in Cui Zeyu's affairs, since Song Shulan disliked Cui Zeyu. Now she said it was for the sake of face, but who knew what she really meant? Song Shulan frowned, "Cui is not that kind of person."

"Alright, alright, even if she isn't, who can guarantee that Xie Yunting is a gentleman? If Xie Yunting threatens her with his looks, and Sister Cui cherishes Cui Zeyu, who knows?" Princess Rongjia didn't want to beat around the bush anymore and openly sowed discord. "Instead of worrying about Cui Zeyu's affairs, you should think about what's going on between Sister Cui and Xie Yunting."

Originally, Song Shulan didn't think much of it, but after Princess Rongjia said that, he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

He asked Cui Lingrong if she cared about him.

Cui Lingrong didn't say she cared.

Could it really be related to Xie Yunting?

Just thinking about it made Song Shulan unable to accept that Xie Yunting was a scoundrel, while Cui Lingrong... was indeed beautiful.

Song Shulan turned and left. He rushed to Qiushuangzhai, only to be told that Cui Lingrong had gone out to find Xie Yunting.

"Qingshan, let's go to the Xie residence!" Song Shulan couldn't wait a moment longer.