At the Marquis of Weiyuan’s residence, in Yilan Courtyard.
A canopy had been set up in the courtyard, and Su Shuyao was sitting beneath it with Qiushuang, enjoying a spicy hot pot. The crimson broth bubbled vigorously, making a gurgling sound that filled the air.
Beside the pot, there were neatly arranged plates of sliced bamboo shoots, beef, mushrooms, leafy greens, lotus root slices, ox tripe… The ingredients were beautifully presented and mouthwatering to look at.
Qiushuang wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and said, “Miss, it’s so hot today. We haven’t even started eating and I’m already drenched in sweat.”
Su Shuyao pulled her to sit down beside the pot. “You’re no longer a maid, so why are you still calling yourself a servant? That habit needs to change.”
Qiushuang looked uneasy. “I’ve been a maid for over ten years… it won’t be easy to change.”
Su Shuyao smiled and said, “If you can’t change something this simple, how will you manage all the shops I’ll have you oversee in the future? How will the shopkeepers take you seriously?”
Qiushuang exclaimed, “Miss, how could I possibly have the ability to manage your shops?”
Su Shuyao rested her cheek on her hand, feigning distress. “Then what do I do? You’re the person I trust most. Only you will give your all to help me. Everyone else, to some degree, has their own selfish motives.”
Thinking of Su Shuyao’s situation in the Marquis Residence, Qiushuang suddenly brimmed with determination. “Alright, I’ll change right now! Not only that, I’ll study seriously too!”
“Good. After we finish this spicy hot pot, I’ll teach you how to read.” Su Shuyao picked up a slice of tender beef, dipped it briefly in the boiling red broth, and then popped it into her mouth. The beef was fresh and tender, coated in chili oil—her tongue tingled slightly from the heat, but the spiciness was both numbing and satisfying.
After just a few bites, Su Shuyao was already dripping with sweat. She had a maid place some ice in the courtyard and kept fanning herself beside it. Even so, her clothes were soon soaked through.
Qiushuang glanced at the blocks of ice and said, “Miss, we’ve been spending a lot of silver lately. I can bear the heat—I don’t need the ice.”
Since setting up the small kitchen, it added a new expense. That was still manageable, but supporting Su Mingpei’s family was the real cost. On top of that, the young miss had recently bought an outrageously expensive pot of orchid… They had to save where they could, and she didn’t need the ice.
Su Shuyao smiled and said, “Isn’t silver earned to be spent? If I don’t spend it myself, someone else will.”
Qiushuang thought it over and realized it was true. The silver in the Marquis Residence was earned by the young miss, but it was always others who got to spend it. Even so, the lady of the house still looked down on her. Then spending it like this was exactly the right thing to do.
“Miss, that orchid—should we assign someone to look after it?” A 1,200 tael orchid was worth more than her life. Qiushuang thought even hiring ten people to take care of it wouldn’t be too much.
“No need. I’ll take care of it myself.” Su Shuyao genuinely enjoyed tending to flowers and plants. “Later when we go out, I’ll pick up a few books on gardening.”
“Going out again?” Qiushuang was worried that Madam Wan would be displeased.
They’d been going out often lately, and the look in the gatekeeper woman’s eyes was honestly quite terrifying.
Su Shuyao said, “Mhm. I’m reopening the Spice Shop, so I need to find a new storefront.”
Right now, only the East and West streets in the capital were bustling, and properties there were expensive. But soon, thanks to court reforms, the South Street would start thriving too. Properties there were still cheap. Even if she didn’t run businesses there, buying a few shops now would yield a big return when prices rose. Oh, and a couple of suitable residences as well. When she left the Marquis Residence, she’d need a place to go.
There were sounds of scolding and attempts to intervene—it was quite a ruckus.
Word spread that something had happened to Su Mingpei.
Two little maids at the gate craned their necks to peek outside.
Qiushuang saw them and scolded, “If you want to see so badly, why don’t you just go out and watch properly?”
Miss had told them to stay away from trouble. Now that the second miss was in charge, they couldn’t give her any reason to find fault.
Listening to the commotion outside, Su Shuyao linked arms with Qiushuang and said, “Let’s go take a look.”
She guessed that Su Mingpei had failed in seeking a master and caused trouble on his return.
In her previous life, Su Mingpei had written an Autumn Chrysanthemum Essay, which she had taken to Grand Scholar Li’s residence.
Su Shuyao had read that essay—it was mediocre at best. Unconvinced, she had revised it before sending it. To call it revision was generous—she had practically rewritten the entire thing. Because of Su Mingpei’s pride, she hadn’t told anyone.
If she was right, this time Su Mingpei must have taken that same essay to Grand Scholar Li’s residence.
Su Mingpei was hot-tempered and couldn’t tolerate criticism. At home, she had always praised him, but outside, who would know who he was?
He must have been rejected by Grand Scholar Li, lost his temper, and now someone had reported it to the Marquis Residence.
Sure enough, after asking around, the truth came out.
The gatekeeper at Grand Scholar Li’s residence said the Autumn Chrysanthemum Essay wasn’t well written. Su Mingpei got into a fight with the man, which startled Grand Scholar Li. The scholar personally reviewed the essay and commented: “Mediocre talent, unfit for refinement.” Su Mingpei fainted from anger on the spot. The steward from Grand Scholar Li’s household had now come to return him.
The steward sneered, “The Heir is clearly a man of great talent. Our humble Grand Scholar can’t possibly teach someone so brilliant. I suggest the Marquis find someone more suitable. And please, watch over the Heir properly—don’t let him come again. Our small temple really can’t accommodate such a grand Buddha.”
The Marquis of Weiyuan was furious and wanted to punish Su Mingpei with the Family Law.
Madam Wan and Su Mingzhu tried to talk him out of it.
When she saw Su Shuyao, Madam Wan rushed over and pleaded, “Shuyao, quickly persuade your father. How can the Family Law be used so carelessly?”
“Mingpei is destined for greatness. What if he’s injured from the punishment?”
When Su Mingpei made mistakes, he was untouchable. But when she did nothing wrong, they threatened her with the Family Law every time.
Su Shuyao feigned surprise and showed a trace of heartache. “If the Heir has offended Grand Scholar Li, doesn’t that mean Second Brother has lost his chance to become his disciple too?” Her second brother, Su Mingtian, wasn’t a great student either but had lofty ambitions. This story is hosted at NovelPing.
Originally, this had nothing to do with him. But after hearing Su Shuyao’s words, he suddenly felt as if he had suffered a great loss.
Right! If it weren’t for Eldest Brother being so reckless, he too might’ve had a chance to be accepted as a disciple of Grand Scholar Li.
Su Mingtian had been about to speak up in defense, but now the words died in his throat.
Even as the second legitimate son of the Marquis of Weiyuan, he still had a shot at inheriting the title.
Seeing no one else stepping forward, Su Mingzhu finally took a trembling step up and softly called out, “Father.”
Her voice was faint and gentle, tinged with grievance. As soon as she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.
“Father, Big Brother acted out of a desire to improve himself. That’s why he offended the Grand Scholar. If he were a frivolous man, he wouldn’t have sought a teacher at all. Big Brother’s ambition deserves encouragement, not punishment. You are a reasonable man—please, for my sake, spare him this once…”
Her heartfelt words were full of sincerity and emotion, and Su Mingpei was moved beyond reason.
In contrast, Su Shuyao stood tall like a mountain, calm and composed, a faint smile playing at her lips as if to say: See? Without me, even becoming a disciple fails!
Su Mingpei clenched his teeth and turned his face away.
Su Shuyao, don’t get cocky!
Without you, he would only succeed more!
He slumped to the ground, his shoulders drooping, unable to understand why Grand Scholar Li refused to accept him as a disciple.
In his last life, hadn’t he been accepted easily?
Back then, Grand Scholar Li had even praised his Autumn Chrysanthemum Essay, saying it had potential.
Why was the evaluation so harsh this time?
It must be the gatekeeper’s fault—he must have spoken poorly of him to the Grand Scholar. It shouldn’t have gone like this.
The Marquis of Weiyuan pointed at Su Mingpei’s nose and scolded, “Tomorrow you’ll go and apologize to Grand Scholar Li in person!”
“You ungrateful child! I don’t ask you to achieve greatness—just don’t disgrace the family!”
The Marquis of Weiyuan wasn’t particularly capable, but he cared deeply about appearances.
With a scandal like this, word would soon spread far and wide.
When something happened to his son, his first reaction wasn’t to investigate what had occurred or whether his son had been wronged—but to worry that his reputation had been tarnished.
The men of the Marquis Residence were selfish to the core—an unbroken legacy.