Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

The heavenly might pressed down, and Cui Lingrong didn't dare to raise her head.

She could feel that Song Shulan, who was beside her, was breathing rapidly.

Cui Lingrong only got up when the officials told her to.

"Cui, I've already ordered your adopted brother released. No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes. Rongjia is someone I watched grow up; she may be a bit willful, but she's not malicious. This incident deserves a lesson, don't you think?" The Emperor, seeing Cui's gentle face, subconsciously assumed she was easy to talk to. Rongjia was a member of the imperial family, and this was her first offense; she hadn't caused any death. In the Emperor's view, this could be resolved peacefully, even if it seemed minor.

Cui Lingrong's hand clenched slightly within her sleeve. After a moment's thought, she replied, "Your Majesty is right; everyone has moments of confusion. However..."

She stopped speaking, and Prince Rong immediately looked over with displeasure.

The emperor also frowned slightly.

Xie Yunting looked over expectantly. He knew that Sister Cui valued Brother Cui and would not let Princess Rongjia off easily.

"However, the Princess and I have a very deep-seated grudge. The Emperor certainly doesn't know that Princess Rongjia previously..."

"Lingrong!" Song Shulan interrupted softly, not wanting Cui Lingrong to say anything more.

Cui Lingrong continued, "Princess Rongjia previously faked her pregnancy to frame my daughter. I backed down again and again, but the princess kept pressuring and threatening me. I know that my status is lowly and not as noble as Princess Rongjia's, so I have tried my best not to provoke her. But alas... well, you know, it's hard to be fair to everyone, and it's hard to divide a person into two whole halves."

Her voice was clear and melodious, like flowing water. She spoke each word very clearly, without any particular emotion, which made the listener more convinced.

The emperor was unaware of the false pregnancy; he assumed Rongjia was a first-time offender, but he had no idea that the resentment had run deep.

"Madam Cui, Rongjia was unaware of the false pregnancy; don't confuse the truth!" Prince Rong had no choice but to speak up. "As for your daughter's matter, it was unintentional; why are you making such a fuss?"

"Your Highness is mistaken. Look at you, you're going so far as to twist the truth before the Emperor for your daughter's sake. My daughter's reputation was almost ruined for life. We're both parents, so why are you being so petty with me?" Cui Lingrong argued logically and was used to debating calmly.

She tilted her head back, her chin maintaining a stubborn curve.

Song Shulan's heart was pounding. He never imagined that his private affairs would be brought before the emperor.

Prince Rong was speechless for a moment.

Princess Rongjia cried and pleaded, "I was confused for a moment, but I never thought of harming anyone. I... I was just afraid that you, Sister Cui, and Song Lang had a deep friendship, and I wanted Song Lang to pay more attention to me."

As she spoke, she kowtowed to the Emperor, "Uncle, please punish me. My life has been miserable; marrying into the Du family has been an eternity. I finally met a good man, but unfortunately, I stole Sister Cui's husband, and she harbors resentment towards me. I understand."

"Princess." Upon hearing this, Song Shulan felt a lump in her throat.

"Song Lang, there's no need to plead for me. Being able to be with you for a few months is already the greatest happiness of my life," Princess Rongjia said, bowing her head and sobbing.

The more vulnerable she appeared, the more heartbroken Song Shulan felt.

Princess Rongjia apologized to Cui Lingrong, saying, "I have wronged you in the past, and all my mistakes have caused you inconvenience. It was all my fault. You can hit me or scold me as you please. I only hope that you will give me a place to stay. My heart has already been taken from Song Lang and cannot be taken away."

She didn't cry or make a fuss, giving the impression that she was genuinely remorseful.

The Emperor also wavered somewhat. "Cui, I've heard you're a very considerate person. Now that things have come to this, and Rongjia knows he was wrong, what do you intend to do?"

Anyone with a bit of sense would know that the Emperor didn't want things to get too ugly, so he was offering Cui Lingrong a way out. If Cui Lingrong simply said that they would get along well in the future, the Emperor would give Princess Rongjia a light punishment and then reward Cui Lingrong.

As for Cui Zeyu, who was not present, no one mentioned him.

Cui Zeyu suffered, and he was also framed, but the officials seemed to have forgotten about his existence.

Only Cui Lingrong remembers.

"Your Majesty, it is not I who will be punished, nor am I the one suffering in the prison. You ask me what to do, but I dare not answer. After all, Princess Rongjia has the title of princess, while I am just an ordinary person. Everything is up to Your Majesty's will." Cui Lingrong pushed the words back again.

She can be assertive with Song Shulan, and she is not afraid of the power of Prince Rong.

But when facing officials, one can only maintain a watertight rhetoric.

After her reminder, the Emperor thought of Cui Zeyu and thought to himself, "No wonder Rongjia is so wary of Cui. This Cui is not only beautiful but also has a clear mind. Song Shulan is really lucky."

Not wanting to gain a bad reputation, the emperor asked Song Shulan, "Minister Song, what do you think?"

"Your humble servant..." Song Shulan wanted to protect Princess Rongjia, after all, he still needed the Rong Prince's Mansion to get promoted. Moreover, if things got out of hand, he would lose face, and the Rong Prince's Mansion would lose even more face.

For a moment, Song Shulan couldn't think of a way to satisfy both sides, but Cui Lingrong wouldn't let go, and the Emperor pushed the matter back to him.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Song Shulan's forehead, and he couldn't answer for a long time.

Xie Yunting laughed sarcastically, "Is Lord Song deaf, or is his brain not working properly? Why can't he answer?"

Song Shulan really disliked Xie Yunting, but she couldn't do anything about him. She glared at him, but all she saw was provocation in Xie Yunting's eyes.

"If you ask me," Xie Yunting said, "Cui Zeyu has been wronged, and Princess Rongjia and the Rong Prince's Mansion should make amends to him. And..." Xie Yunting knew the Emperor didn't want to play the villain, so he took on the role himself, "and Princess Rongjia, who knows what her true nature is? In any case, what she's done isn't good. Your Majesty, I think we should strip her of her title of princess to make her pay the price. Otherwise, she'll abuse her power, and how could Sister Cui possibly stand a chance against her?"

"Thank you... Thank you, General!" Prince Rong gritted his teeth.

Princess Rongjia looked over in disbelief.

If she lost her status as a princess, wouldn't she be laughed at by everyone in Bianjing?

Cui Lingrong had the same thought, but she couldn't say it. She glanced gratefully at Xie Yunting.

Her little action was seen by Song Shulan, which made him even more uncomfortable.

Song Shulan said no, "It's really not right to do this for the sake of one merchant."

After saying that, he looked at Cui Lingrong and said in a low voice, "How long are you going to keep making a scene?"

Cui Lingrong almost laughed out of anger. Was she being unreasonable?

In Song Shulan's eyes, she was being unreasonable?

Cui Lingrong took a deep breath, knelt down, and pressed her forehead to the ground. "All the people under heaven are subjects of the emperor. Civil officials strategize to govern the country, military generals guard the borders to protect the nation, farmers cultivate the land and produce grain, and merchants connect the specialties of various prefectures and counties. All of them are contributing to the country. The emperor is a benevolent and wise ruler. I beg the emperor to give my brother justice."