Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 196: I Will Settle Accounts with Each Noble House Later (Xue Tuan Arc)

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: I Will Settle Accounts with Each Noble House Later (Xue Tuan Arc)

"The Crown Prince is not a good person!"

"His actions are sinister indeed. I have suffered a lot because of him."

"It’s so annoying, just mentioning him makes me angry."

It must be a great grudge.

When it comes to Ji Zhui’s faults, Ji Cong could go on for three days and nights without finishing.

The Second Prince is probably a trap.

If any other prince said such things, they would be suspected of forming cliques, and if it reached Emperor He’s ears, they would not have a good outcome.

But it was Ji Cong who said it.

Emperor He would only think that the Crown Prince and the Second Prince truly do not get along.

Soon, those Madams stepped forward to awkwardly apologize. Even if they were dissatisfied with Cui Xuan, it was ultimately their mistake when brought into the open.

A farce was thoroughly unfolding.

Ji Cong didn’t understand: "Is just admitting a mistake enough?"

"If I kill someone later, does it mean that I can be pardoned just by bowing at his tomb? "

"Cui Yun, don’t trust them, Mama said that a bad person is always bad, and won’t really learn to be good."

This matter quickly reached the ears of the Governor’s wife, who shuddered upon hearing it. Further hearing that one of those gossipy Madams was her sister-in-law, she immediately loathed her deeply.

"I knew she was a disaster! Isn’t the number of people she has offended by running her mouth already numerous? She never learns her lesson, again and again relying on being pampered by her mother-in-law, repeatedly defying me! Now she’s even offended the Marquis Yangling Mansion. What’s next, dare to cause trouble in the palace?"

"The Marquis Yangling Mansion offended the Empress Dowager, but what of it? This world belongs to the official, and as long as the official protects Marquis Yangling Mansion, how can the Empress Dowager deal with Cui Bai?"

For others, defying an imperial order could result in beheading.

This shows how much favor Cui Yang enjoys from the Holy Favour.

And yet, right now, the Second Prince in front of all aristocratic ladies has torn off this fig leaf.

"Go, report this matter to my lord’s ears, Marquis Yangling won’t esteem Xuan Shuyu any less, and won’t let her be humiliated like this. He would surely want to be prepared in case it ruins the relationship between the two families."

"Yes."

"Madam, the cat in the Marchioness’s arms just knocked over the teacups."

Governor’s wife: ?

Soon, she didn’t dwell on these things, thinking it was Cui Xuan who knocked them over.

"Foolish woman, causing me trouble!"

The Governor’s wife cursed under her breath.

The Yan Family has yet to divide their family property, and she is the Madam. The mistakes her sister-in-law makes are her mistakes. She was about to step forward but then had a second thought.

"Go, call the Dowager."

"This... I’m afraid the Dowager..."

"My mother-in-law has always looked down on me. No matter how well I do, I will never compare to that troublemaker. If that’s the case, why should I step forward for her? Xuan Shuyu and I are neither kin nor kind, yet she has been insulted at my banquet and suffered the insult of my Yan Mansion. Why should she give me face and let the matter go? It’s true that she has a good temper, but do you think the Cui Family would just let this slide easily?"

It was already a thankless task, might as well have the old ancestor come out and shamelessly settle it.

On this side, the atmosphere remained tense.

Several women stood with pale faces, their once eloquent tongues only repeating the same few phrases now.

——Madam, we won’t dare to do it again.

——Marchioness, quell your anger, it was us who were bewildered.

Cui Xuan stroked Xue Tuan’s head for a while, and then quickly cast down her eyes.

Angry?

Angry.

But... what they said was indeed the truth.

She truly was less than a dead person.

So many years have passed, she has given birth to children for the Cui family. Bai should already be getting married, yet she has not been able to make Cui Yang look at her more favorably.

As she was lost in thought, Xue Tuan cutely rubbed her head against her hand. She blinked, not familiar with playing with it to cheer it up anymore.

Cui Yun: "Just forget these words."

"There’s really no point."

"After witnessing the ladies’ spirited discussions, speaking of such matters now truly seems like a jest."

Black boots stepped onto the shattered porcelain pieces. The youth wiped the moisture from the cat’s paw pads.

Ji Cong, still nearby, showed no sign of the shame one would expect from causing trouble: "Even your cat can knock over tea cups."

"This really is too much."

At this point, Dowager Yan hobbled over with her cane, followed by the Governor’s wife.

As soon as Dowager Yan approached, she said: "It is the negligence of my Yan Family’s steward that has spoiled your mood, please forgive our thoughtlessness."

She is a Madam of Imperial Decree, and upon her arrival, everyone inevitably pays their respects to her.

Dowager Yan did not dare let Cui Xuan offer her respects and immediately took her hand.

"Speaking of this incident, I feel ashamed. I wonder if you could look past it for the sake of this old woman..."

Cui Yun stood behind Cui Xuan, looking up.

"The Dowager is taking this too seriously."

"Our Cui family also does not wish to create an embarrassing scene for the Governor Mansion."

Cui Yun endured his temper. His gaze inch by inch slid over the meddlesome women who wished they could disappear on the spot.

"May I ask which noble family these ladies belong to? I will personally settle accounts with your esteemed mansions later."

Dowager Yan forced a smile: "The lady in blue is my second daughter-in-law."

"No wonder."

The man’s stern face was quite intimidating: "The Governor Mansion really provides an eye-opening experience for the younger generation."

Ji Cong was smart enough to point out: "She was the one who started it."

Cui Yun glanced at him: "Even if Marquis Yangling Mansion isn’t perfect, it still has some say in the presence of the official family."

Speaking of which, Cui Yun gave Dowager Yan a bow: "This is the respect towards elders as taught by Marquis Yangling Mansion. The Dowager stepping in shows you do not wish for a rift between the two families, and the younger generation understands."

"But I, equally ignorant, as a son, cannot simply watch my mother be humiliated and just let the matter rest."

Cui Yun’s expression was impassive.

He understood better than anyone that the root cause of all this laid with Cui Yang. However, a son ultimately cannot meddle in the grievances between parents.

He spoke slowly, word by word, yet there was no detectable arrogance: "If we unveil the truth today, what about tomorrow or the day after? Would not anyone then be able to trample over my mother, and later have their elders intervene? What would that make the Cui Mansion?"

Respectfully, Cui Yun helped Cui Xuan: "Mama, let’s return to our mansion."

Cui Xuan gently responded with a murmur.

Xue Tuan puffed out her chest proudly, then watched, wide-eyed, as the mother and son forgot about her and left.

Xue Tuan: ...

This was the second time Cui Yun had left her behind!

"Meow!"

That cry was truly plaintive.

Ji Cong: "Hey, do you still want your cat, or should I take her away?"

The man paused at the sound, then turned back.

Xue Tuan grumbled angrily about being forgotten. Soon she was lifted into the air, as Cui Yun supported her back, gently pacifying her with a soft whisper.

"See, I didn’t lose you after all."

Indeed, as brother had said before, besides him, few men are reliable.

----

Following the departure of Cui Yun and Cui Xuan, Dowager Yan’s dignity was scarcely maintainable.

The gossipy women, anxious and unsettled, had come to enjoy the blossoms but ended up offending the people of Marquis Yangling Mansion. How could they stay any longer with such a mood?

One by one they left like drenched chickens.

With these people gone, how many more would wish to remain? Soon, each found an excuse to leave as well.

The Governor’s wife managed to keep up a stiff smile, persisting in seeing the guests to the door.

Once the last person had been seen off, her expression suddenly turned gloomy.

This was the most embarrassing banquet she had ever hosted, and it wouldn’t be long before the tale spread throughout Shengjing.