Su Shuyao brought Qiushuang to a restaurant.
Qiushuang recalled Mama Ni’s twisted expression as she left and whispered anxiously, “Miss, aren’t you afraid Mama Ni will slander you in front of Madam?”
“What’s there to be afraid of?” Su Shuyao smiled faintly. “Madam has already treated me like this. How much worse can it get?”
In her past life, she did everything to please Madam Wan, who felt it was only natural. From the moment she was taken into the Marquis Residence, she was expected to be endlessly grateful, to repay the favor in full, to sacrifice everything for the household—even her life.
So, when they poisoned her, they felt no guilt. She wasn’t raised by Madam Wan. She was raised by the old madam. Apart from the old madam, no one had the right to demand her life.
“If you ever catch Mama Ni gossiping behind my back, just tear her mouth apart.”
“Huh?” Qiushuang was stunned. “Miss, I… I can’t…”
“You sound just like one of the little maids being lectured.” Su Shuyao laughed. “If anything happens, I’ll take the blame.”
Qiushuang, like her, was three parts fearful and seven parts eager to please Madam Wan. But despite all their effort, what came back was death.
Su Shuyao no longer held any illusions. People like Madam Wan, heartless and vicious, didn’t deserve loyalty. She would slowly start changing Qiushuang’s mindset too.
“Miss, you’re so cool,” Qiushuang said, eyes gleaming with admiration. If Miss had always been like this, maybe she wouldn’t have suffered so much. She really liked this version of her.
After the meal, Su Shuyao took Qiushuang to the Tang residence.
“Shuyao, what brings you here?” Tang Wanxin greeted her warmly with an embrace.
After Su Tang’s engagement, the two families had interacted frequently, and Su Shuyao and Tang Wanxin had become very close in private.
“I’ve got good news,” Su Shuyao smiled.
“What good news? You’re being so secretive.”
Tang Wanxin had a poised and dignified appearance. Though she couldn’t compare to the famous courtesan Litang, she was more than capable of being the main wife in the Marquis Residence.
In her past life, Su Mingpei’s success wasn’t just due to his wife’s family background. Tang Wanxin’s capable support played a key role.
After she married in, Su Shuyao handed over the Inner Household Affairs. Tang Wanxin used her dowry to cover the deficits. Later, when the household’s situation improved slightly, she used her own money to buy farmland for the residence. She was truly dedicated.
She also built relationships with high-ranking officials’ wives to gather information for Su Mingpei.
But Su Mingpei constantly longed for Litang and often ignored her.
Tang Wanxin’s married life was miserable, and her relationship with Su Mingpei only survived because of her good upbringing.
Su Shuyao had seen her in pain, holding everything in.
Once they were inside and the servants had been dismissed, Su Shuyao said softly, “Su Mingpei wants to marry a courtesan. He sent me to break off the engagement.”
Tang Wanxin was stunned at first, then frowned, and finally tilted her head and beamed brightly. “That really is good news.”
The young woman put her hands together and bowed toward the Su residence. “Thank you, Heir Su, for sparing me!” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
This engagement had been arranged while the old Marquis was still alive. Back then, the Marquis Residence was at its peak, and the Su and Tang families were well matched.
After the old Marquis passed away, the household declined, and the engagement no longer felt suitable.
The Tang family valued loyalty. Though they grumbled in private, they still intended to honor the engagement. Now that the Su family had broken it off, the Tang family’s reputation would remain intact.
Tang Wanxin leapt up. “I’m going to tell my mother! She’ll be thrilled!”
She dragged Su Shuyao straight to Madam Tang’s courtyard.
“Mother, Mother, I have incredible news!”
Madam Tang laughed, scolding, “You’re nearly due to marry and still acting like a child. People will laugh at you.”
“Mother, I don’t have to marry anymore!” Tang Wanxin quickly explained about Su Mingpei wanting to marry a courtesan.
After hearing it, Madam Tang clapped her hands in delight. “Hurry, go fetch the Su family’s engagement token and his birth chart!”
She had never liked this engagement, especially not Su Mingpei.
He was arrogant with no real ability, loud and ill-tempered.
Madam Wan was even worse—selfish and fake.
If her daughter married into that household, she would surely suffer.
She had only refrained from withdrawing the proposal out of respect for Su Shuyao, who at least had sense and decency.
Su Shuyao said, “Madam, if we end the engagement directly, it might harm Wanxin’s reputation. We should find a more delicate way.”
After all, Su Mingpei would rather marry a courtesan than Wanxin. Society was always harsher on women.
Madam Tang chuckled, “It’s simple. We’ll say a master calculated that Wanxin isn’t suited for early marriage, and your Su residence was in a hurry. We parted amicably. That’s all.”
“This city never lacks gossip. In three months, this will be old news.”
Then she glanced at Su Shuyao with interest. “Shuyao, why are you so happy about your brother breaking off his engagement? You’re not as foolish as Madam Wan, are you?”
To her, Su Shuyao might’ve been an adopted daughter, but she was raised by the old madam, always calm and composed, putting the big picture first. She couldn’t possibly be unaware of what this meant for the Marquis Residence.
Su Shuyao smiled serenely. “They thought I meddled too much, so I stopped.”
Tang Wanxin hugged her. “I know you must’ve had a hand in this. If you ever need anything, just come to me. I’ll never forget your kindness.”
Su Shuyao smiled faintly, feeling a soft warmth in her chest.
In her past life, Su Mingpei used the Tang family for support while belittling Tang Wanxin’s love. Wanxin spent her days in silent sorrow and died miserably. In this life, Su Shuyao would flip that fate herself.
After leaving the Tang residence, she went to the Spice Shop.
She had ten shops—three in the capital and seven elsewhere. She had handed over nine. The one she was visiting now had been left to her by the old madam, and Madam Wan didn’t take it. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Outside the shop, a crowd had gathered—all clerks and managers from her other shops.
“Miss is here!” Manager Tong rushed forward. “Miss, what’s going on with the shop? Second Miss said she’s firing all of us. We were all kicked out by her.”
Everyone who worked in the shops was Su Shuyao’s person. Su Mingzhu didn’t trust them, so she fired them all.
“We came here to ask you directly—are you really letting us go?”
Su Shuyao smiled, “No. I brought new paperwork today. We’ll sign new contracts. However, we need to find a new shop location. Once that’s done, you can return to work. In the meantime, you’ll still be paid as usual.”
Manager Tong’s mouth opened slightly. Though Su Shuyao didn’t say much, he could sense the implication.
Miss was cutting ties with the Marquis Residence.
That was fantastic news.
Whenever the household procurement came by, they always demanded the best goods—sometimes even seizing items that had been reserved for other buyers.
When he tried to stop them, they’d shout, “This is Marquis Residence property. Who are you, a dog servant, to question us?”
The perfume trade was tightly controlled. If Miss’s fragrances hadn’t been so unique, their shop would’ve shut down long ago.
Whenever he reported this to Miss, she always told them to endure.
But no amount of profit could make up for that kind of harm.
“We’ll follow your lead, Miss.” Manager Tong led her into the back courtyard. “Miss, Boss Xie has been waiting for nearly half an hour.”
“Got it. Manager Tong, I’ll be counting on you for the new shop setup.”
As Su Shuyao walked into the inner courtyard, she saw a man in luxurious clothes lounging lazily on a huanghuali armchair.
“Miss, you called me over so urgently—is there good news?”
Boss Xie was in his early twenties, wearing a robe embroidered with gold thread and satin boots adorned with pearls. His extravagant appearance was more lavish than a noble son from a high-ranking family.
Despite the showy outfit, his features were stunning—especially those peach blossom eyes, soft like wet jade, gazing tenderly even at dogs.
Su Shuyao had met Boss Xie while sourcing spices. She didn’t know his background, only that his surname was Xie. He had some skill and was trustworthy. No matter how rare the product, he could always find it.
Su Shuyao smiled, “I heard your ship hit a storm and that a batch of spices from the East soaked in seawater. Big loss?”
Boss Xie pouted, “You called me here just to laugh at my misfortune?”
Su Shuyao chuckled, “Boss Xie misunderstood. I happen to know a buyer who doesn’t know quality. I could help you sell them at a good price.”
Boss Xie narrowed his peach blossom eyes and grinned. “That’s wonderful. I’ve been short on money lately.”
Spinning a bamboo fan in his hand, he said casually, “Shall we split the profits fifty-fifty?”
A handsome man with a crooked heart could still be charming.
Su Shuyao smiled contentedly, “Whatever Boss Xie says.”