“Su Mingzhu, do you even know what you’re saying?!” Madam Wan’s fingers turned pale from gripping her prayer beads. Her vision dimmed, and she nearly lost her balance.
Su Mingzhu was frightened by her mother’s reaction. “Mother, please, let me explain…”
Madam Wan instinctively reached for Su Shuyao but grabbed only air. Her brows furrowed slightly. What was wrong with Su Shuyao today?
The Heir of the Marquis Residence wanted to marry a woman from the Courtesan House—such a major affair—yet Su Shuyao remained this calm?
Wasn’t she supposed to be the most opposed?
Madam Wan glanced at the silent Marquis of Weiyuan standing across from her. She thought, today someone has to be the villain, and it’ll have to be her. A few days later, she’d have Su Shuyao clean up the mess.
“No! I don’t agree!” she shouted. “I don’t agree! Mingpei, if you marry a courtesan, I’ll kill myself to stop you!”
Determined, Madam Wan shut her eyes and threw herself toward a pillar. The maids swarmed forward, managing to rescue her in time. They pinched her philtrum, poured water down her throat—only after much effort did she regain her breath.
Holding her violently heaving chest, Madam Wan recited several “Amitabha”s before speaking slowly, “Mingzhu, are you trying to get your brother killed?”
Su Mingzhu stepped forward, knelt before her, and clung to Madam Wan’s leg. “Mother, please don’t be angry. Listen to me. Haven’t you always hoped brother would make something of himself? If he marries Miss Litang, he will. He’s so talented. He’s bound to succeed in the imperial exams. With some extra effort, he could even become the top scorer. By then, you’ll be the mother of a top scholar.”
The crease on Madam Wan’s brow didn’t ease. That reasoning clearly wasn’t enough to convince her.
But in this one point, she did agree.
She had always believed that Mingpei was excellent in every way. As long as he was willing to work hard, even the Grand Secretariat was within reach.
Acknowledged for his talent, Su Mingpei’s lips curled slightly. “Mother, as long as I can marry Litang, I’ll definitely rank in the top three of the First Class in next year’s exam. But if I have to marry Censor Tang’s daughter, I’m afraid I won’t even pass as a second-class Jinshi!”
In his past life, he had only made it as a co-entrant scholar.
Madam Wan snapped, “Stop speaking nonsense!”
Su Mingzhu quickly asked, “Mother, are you worried that without Censor Tang’s support, brother’s official path will be hindered?”
Madam Wan nodded.
That was exactly what she valued most.
This marriage had been arranged by the old Marquis. Given the current status of the two families, Censor Tang’s daughter would be marrying down.
Not to mention, offending Censor Tang would make Su Mingpei’s career in officialdom extremely difficult.
“Mother, think about how the Tang family treats our Marquis Residence every time we meet,” Su Mingzhu continued.
Madam Wan thought for a moment. “Not very well.”
Not just not well—downright disdainful.
The Tang family, emboldened by their favor in the imperial court, always treated them with arrogance and condescension.
Madam Tang had once complained in public that if it weren’t for the old madam insisting on this marriage, her precious daughter would’ve become a prince’s consort by now.
Every time they met with the Tang family, Madam Wan would need several days just to calm down.
Seeing her mother waver, Su Mingzhu pressed further, her confidence growing. “If brother marries the Tang girl, would such a family genuinely support him? The Tang family has so many rules. Before marriage, they’re already forbidding brother from taking concubines. What if he really marries in—what then?”
“If brother is wronged, mother will be wronged too. With the Tang family’s influence, our Marquis Residence would have no place to seek justice, even with reason on our side.”
Madam Wan sighed. “Your mother suffering doesn’t matter. What matters is Mingpei’s future.”
Su Mingzhu continued, “Actually, none of that is the most important. The key issue is this—if the Tang girl can’t give birth to a son, and she forbids brother from taking concubines, then what happens to the family line?”
At the mention of heirs, Madam Wan immediately straightened.
Su Mingzhu grew more confident. “As for brother’s career, you really don’t need to worry. Once he places in the top three, he’ll definitely enter the Hanlin Academy. That’s the cradle of future Grand Secretaries. With brother’s abilities, he’s bound to do well. Becoming a marquis, even a minister, is just a matter of time. You can rest assured, mother. Brother will never let you down.”
“Just trust your daughter this once. I know that brother is destined to achieve greatness!” she declared with such conviction, as if she had seen Su Mingpei’s brilliant future with her own eyes.
Su Mingpei looked at his younger sister, who truly cared about him, and his heart softened.
This sister he cherished genuinely thought for his sake.
Su Mingzhu felt as if a spotlight was shining on her. “If brother really were useless, even ten Tang families couldn’t prop him up. But if he’s true gold, then even without the Tang family, he’ll shine all the same.”
Su Shuyao gave a faint smile.
In the previous life, Su Mingpei had only managed to pass as a third-class Jinshi. It was the Tang family’s connections that secured him a poor county magistrate position.
With the help of Tang family advisors and more than a million taels of silver from Su Shuyao, Su Mingpei produced outstanding political results. Three years later, he was transferred back to the capital and rose rapidly, eventually becoming a second-rank Minister—an illustrious career.
But once he became Minister, the one thing he couldn’t stand was hearing people say his success was due largely to the Tang family and Su Shuyao. This time, he was determined to prove that without the Tang family or her silver, he could go even further.
Thinking of this, Su Shuyao’s expression turned calm and relaxed.
Marrying a courtesan, Su Mingpei would soon realize—his hardships were just beginning.
Without her help, he wouldn’t even qualify as a co-entrant scholar.
Perfect. In this life, she no longer needed to waste her youth on this family.
She would take the time to rebuild herself.
Su Mingpei raised his right hand and swore, “Mother, as long as I can marry Litang, I will earn you a first-rank lady’s title! Please trust me!”
Madam Wan also longed for the honor of dual titles.
She remained silent.
Su Mingpei saw the hesitation in her eyes and pressed harder. “Mother, you agree?”
“I…” Madam Wan hesitated.
Though she felt Su Mingzhu’s reasoning wasn’t wrong and believed in Mingpei’s abilities, something still didn’t sit right.
Su Mingzhu cut in, “Brother, don’t worry about mother for now. Ask sister if she agrees.”
Madam Wan immediately nodded, “Yes, ask Shuyao. As long as she agrees, so will I.”
This was such a big matter—she couldn’t make the decision lightly. If Mingpei succeeded, all was well. But if he failed because of this marriage, how would she face their ancestors?
Having successfully shifted the responsibility, Madam Wan visibly relaxed.
Su Mingpei turned to Su Shuyao and said coldly, “Shuyao, what do you say?”
Su Shuyao smiled gently. “This concerns brother’s happiness. Since mother has agreed, what reason would I have to oppose? I follow mother’s decision. Of course, I support it.”
Su Mingpei sneered, “At least you know your place!”
Su Shuyao remained sincere. “Congratulations, brother, on finding your match. I wish you a bright and successful future.”
“Su Shuyao, don’t pretend. I know exactly what you’re really thinking.”
Thankfully, Su Mingzhu had been brought back earlier in this life. Thanks to her, he didn’t have to marry the Tang girl.
If not for her, he might’ve repeated the same mistake.
“Thank you, Sister Mingzhu! Thank you, Mother!”
Su Shuyao watched Su Mingpei’s excited figure and smiled faintly.
From now on, the Marquis Residence would know no peace.
Miss Litang… was no ordinary courtesan.