Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

"The government said that Brother Cui swindled the Qian family out of money by selling inferior goods. Originally, this was not a big deal; the money could have been paid back. However, one of the Qian family's children used that cloth and suffered from vomiting and diarrhea until he was on his last breath."

After saying that, Xie Yunting couldn't help but curse, "I think the Qian family is trying to extort money. What kind of health do they have? They got like this from using a piece of rag?"

"The Qian family?" Cui Lingrong muttered a few words before realizing that it was the maternal family of the second mistress of the Rong Prince's Mansion.

Sure enough, it's related to the Rong Prince's Mansion again.

Cui Lingrong thought for a moment, then asked Ershun to go to Wu's shop and "have the shopkeeper pass on a message for me, saying that I want to see the Crown Princess."

After Er Shun left, Xie Yunting said again, "I'll take the doctor to the Qian family right away. Since their child isn't dead, we can find out what happened!"

Cui Lingrong said she would go too, but Xie Yunting refused.

"I have a reputation as a rogue and a scoundrel. I can cause trouble with the Qian family, but if you come with me, they will group you and me together." Xie Yunting waved his hand and told the servants to prepare the horses.

Just then, someone came to report that Lord Song had arrived.

Upon hearing that Song Shulan was coming, Xie Yunting immediately said he would not see her. He then turned around and saw Cui Lingrong, so he had someone bring Cui Lingrong in.

Song Shulan found Cui Lingrong standing with Xie Yunting extremely irritating, so she went over and pulled her to her side, saying, "Where have all your old manners gone?"

"What does Your Excellency mean?"

"You don't come to me, but keep coming to see some other man. Don't you care about your own reputation? Don't you think about Yu-jie's reputation?" Song Shulan felt even more disgusted at the thought that Xie Yunting might have lustful thoughts. "Come back with me. I will handle Cui Zeyu's matter."

He grabbed Cui Lingrong's wrist, making a thin, tight circle around it, as if he could snap it with a little force.

But Cui Lingrong's body only tilted slightly; her feet did not move.

"Hmm?" Song Shulan looked over.

"My lord, please don't pull me like that." Cui Lingrong tried to shake off Song Shulan's hand, but couldn't.

Even if they are husband and wife, it's not a good look for them to be pulling each other like this, especially in public.

Song Shulan's face turned green. "I told you to go back, didn't you hear me?"

"Then how does Your Excellency help?" Cui Lingrong didn't believe Song Shulan's words. She didn't know why Song Shulan had come to the Xie residence, but she knew that Song Shulan had directly refused her.

"There's always a way. I've already sent Qingshan to inquire," Song Shulan said.

"A method?" Xie Yunting raised an eyebrow and looked over. "Lord Song can't give a specific answer, yet he's making things difficult for a woman. Is this your method and skill?"

Song Shulan could never quite explain himself to Xie Yunting.

He didn't want to talk to Xie Yunting anymore, and only looked at Cui Lingrong, "I'll just ask you one question, do you believe me or him?"

Cui Lingrong bowed to Xie Yunting, "I'll leave the matter of Zeyu to General Xie. I'll visit you again another day to express my gratitude. I'll be returning now."

After all, she was the mistress of the Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion. Since Song Shulan had come, she had to give him some face, otherwise she wouldn't look good herself.

Xie Yunting deliberately called out, "Sister Cui, if you need anything, feel free to come to me. Brother Cui and I are like brothers, so you are like my own sister."

He deliberately called out "Sister Cui" in a soft and gentle tone.

Cui Lingrong didn't think anything of it, but Song Shulan felt provoked.

After getting into the carriage, the two sat facing each other, with Song Shulan staring intently at Cui Lingrong.

After a long while, Song Shulan reluctantly gritted her teeth and asked, "You and Xie Yunting are actually that close in private?"

"What personal relationship?" Cui Lingrong found Song Shulan's question baffling. "General Xie and I have never met privately. When Zeyu was in trouble, you were the first person I contacted. If you had agreed to my request, why would I have bothered with Xie Yunting?"

One sentence instantly shut Song Shulan up.

"Then...then you can't come to me anymore?" Song Shulan said angrily. Qingshan had already gone to Cui Lingrong, but Cui Lingrong didn't believe him.

"What's the use of coming to you?" Cui Lingrong turned her head away, only giving Song Shulan a side profile. "My lord, what exactly are you fussing about? My relationship with General Xie is completely innocent. It's Zeyu's matter that's related to the Qian family, and the Qian family is the maternal family of the second mistress of the Rong Prince's Mansion."

Hearing Song Shulan's words implying that she and Xie Yunting were involved, she simply said, "Why don't you ask Princess Rongjia if she's the one stirring things up behind the scenes?"

The atmosphere inside the carriage became tense, and breathing grew increasingly anxious.

Song Shulan and Cui Lingrong have been arguing a lot lately. He said angrily, "You were better before."

"In the past, I didn't have to share a husband with someone else." Cui Lingrong didn't want to stay in the carriage, so she got off first when the carriage stopped.

Song Shulan watched Cui Lingrong's sullen back. He used to think Cui Lingrong was bland and boring. Now that Cui Lingrong was angry with him, he started to have a headache again.

That's it.

He is a man.

I won't argue with a woman like that.

He stepped over the threshold, but could no longer see Cui Lingrong. He then went to the front yard, where he knew Qian Jiasanlang and planned to pay him a visit.

Meanwhile, at the Qian family residence, Xie Yunting was in the front hall with a doctor.

The Qian family has already split up, and the current Minister of Works, upon learning that Xie Yunting had arrived, hurriedly brought his men over.

"I wonder what brings General Xie here?" Qian Jin also disliked Xie Yunting, and looked at Xie Yunting with wariness in his eyes.

"I heard that my brother's cloth harmed your illegitimate son, so I specially invited a doctor over. If it is truly related to my brother, we should acknowledge it. Please lead the way," Xie Yunting said.

Qian Jin frowned. "My son only has one life left, and you still bring people to cause trouble? General Xie, can't you go too far?"

"I'm causing trouble?" Xie Yunting sneered. "I've been speaking politely. Where have I caused trouble? Lord Qian, if you think I've done something wrong, you can go and complain to the authorities and see what I've done wrong."

He paused for a moment, then emphasized, "But I only invited a doctor here today to check on your son. If you don't appreciate it, I'll sit at the gate of your Qian residence and see if it's your Qian family that murdered your illegitimate son and framed someone else, or what!"

Qian Jin's face was ashen. His sister had asked him for a favor, and he thought that since Prince Rong had recently gained favor, he was willing to do Prince Rong's family some face.

His brows furrowed; he hadn't expected Xie Yunting to challenge him for the sake of a mere merchant.

While Qian Jin was still pondering, Xie Yunting spoke first, "Alright, alright, since you refuse, then I'll go find the officials."

"Wait a minute!" Qian Jin took a deep breath. "Come with me!"

Qian Jin led Xie Yunting to his son's room. Xie Yunting gave the doctor a wink, and the doctor began to take his pulse.

Looking at the person on the hospital bed, Xie Yunting clicked his tongue twice, "Lord Qian, is this the kind of place you live as your illegitimate son?"

"General Xie, this is my family matter. Please don't meddle."

"I was just saying, but look at these windows, they're all drafty. Living in a place like this, it's no wonder you get sick!" Xie Yunting snorted, and seeing that the doctor had finished taking his pulse, he hurriedly asked how he was doing.