Zhou Jianyue was momentarily stunned, then smiled and stepped forward.
“Madam, you’re joking. I only thought the eldest miss looked kind and she helped me, so I wanted to thank her. I wouldn’t dare have any other intentions.”
Su Lingqing lowered her eyes and said nothing. She wasn’t sure how much of their earlier conversation had been overheard.
It was all because Zhou Jianyue had distracted her she hadn’t even noticed someone approaching!
Zheng Rui curled her lips into a faint smile, one that seemed somewhat sinister.
“In that case, why don’t you tell this lady what the two of you were just talking about?”
Su Lingqing spoke calmly, “Mother, not long ago Father asked Lingqing to accompany Sister Zhou to familiarize herself with the residence. If you have any questions, you may ask Father or Lingqing can go ask him for you.”
With just one sentence, Zheng Rui was left speechless.
Since it had been arranged by Su Huai, she naturally had no right to interfere. And if it were brought before Su Huai, she would only embarrass herself!
The woman swept a cold gaze over the two of them.
“If that’s the case, then continue your stroll.”
Soon, Zheng Rui returned to her usual graceful and dignified demeanor before leaving the place.
The maids had already returned. When they saw Zheng Rui earlier, they had been very nervous.
“Miss, Miss Zhou, just now Madam…”
Zhou Jianyue smiled. “It’s nothing. We were just chatting. Don’t worry I won’t tell the master.”
Su Lingqing nodded as well, and only then did the maids relax.
The jade pendant had been found. Zhou Jianyue took the initiative to thank them, and the young maids hurriedly waved their hands with flushed faces.
This young lady was truly gentle…
Before leaving, Zhou Jianyue suddenly took Su Lingqing’s hand.
“Today I really troubled you, Miss. I didn’t expect you to be so gentle and patient. It’s completely different from what I’ve heard.”
Some of the servants lowered their heads.
After all, weren’t those bad rumors about the eldest miss spread by the servants themselves?
Su Lingqing only smiled shyly.
“Sister Jianyue is too polite. This is what Lingqing should do. It is a daughter’s duty to share Father’s burdens.”
These words would soon reach Su Huai’s ears.
As for the things that had spread from Fusheng Courtyard yesterday… they served the Minister himself, not that courtyard. They could say whatever they liked why should they be controlled by those people?
After Zhou Jianyue left, Su Lingqing gathered her cloak and looked up at the orange-red sky.
Time passed so quickly before she knew it, night was approaching again.
Suddenly, she remembered the day in her previous life when Su Huai brought Zheng Rui and Su Yaoyao to ask her to marry in her sister’s place.
That evening, Su Huai returned around dinnertime, holding an imperial decree. Soon chaos broke out in Fusheng Courtyard, and Su Yaoyao fainted on the spot.
The sky that evening had been as fiery red as it was now.
When Su Huai decided to marry his daughter to Zhao Mingcheng in exchange for a small fief in Mobei and the title of Princess Consort of Prince Ning, he had already planned everything.
Although the imperial decree named Su Yaoyao, no one in Shengjing knew that Su Huai had another daughter a beauty like snow and frost, breathtakingly beautiful, standing apart from the world.
Such an otherworldly appearance, like a heavenly fairy, had finally found its use. If the two simply switched names, it wouldn’t count as deceiving the emperor!
What had Su Lingqing’s reaction been back then?
She ignored Su Yaoyao kneeling on the ground crying bitterly and Zheng Rui comforting her with reddened eyes. In the end, she looked at the man who was most closely related to her by blood her father, Su Huai.
The man only pretended to be sorrowful for a moment. He said Su Yaoyao was still young, said it was difficult for him to maintain his position in the court, and said Prince Ning loved beautiful women the most if she went, nothing bad would happen.
Was Su Lingqing foolish? Of course not.
Compared to Zhao Mingcheng, she would rather marry rotten trash.
But seeing Su Huai looking so troubled and Su Yaoyao so frightened and heartbroken, she quickly agreed.
Father, little sister I don’t want to see you struggling or crying.
If someone has to walk this path, then let it be me.
Su Lingqing agreed. When she saw them smiling through their tears, she smiled too until tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
For that tiny bit of thin, false love, she was willing to take her sister’s place.
And in the month before she married into Prince Ning’s residence, she did indeed live through the most comfortable days of her life.
If Zheng Rui and Su Yaoyao forced her onto that dead-end path, then Su Huai was the one who personally paved it.
Not a single one of them was innocent.
A gust of cold wind blew by, carrying snow grains that struck her face painfully.
She smiled faintly. Judging by the time, the imperial decree would soon be delivered to Su Huai.
The girl slowly walked back toward Weirui Pavilion alone. As she passed Yun Yue Residence, a figure happened to step out.
“Hm? Second Sister?” Su Liao turned and saw her, his eyes flickering slightly.
Su Lingqing nodded politely. “Elder Brother.”
“You’re heading back to Weirui Pavilion, right? It’s getting dark I’ll walk you there,” the young man said, avoiding her gaze.
“That won’t be necessary. If Elder Brother has matters to attend to, please go ahead. Thank you.”
Hearing the distant and indifferent tone in Su Lingqing’s voice, Su Liao’s gaze quickly dimmed.
He turned as if to speak again, but when the corner of his eye caught sight of something, his voice stuck in his throat.
His fingers moved slightly as if he wanted to call her back, but he soon lowered them again.
Su Lingqing was in a bad mood and only wanted to be alone, so she didn’t notice anything unusual.
When the girl’s figure finally disappeared around the corner, Su Liao walked toward a certain spot, then quickly returned to his room like a thief, shutting the doors and windows tightly.
From his sleeve, he gently pulled out a delicate handkerchief that still carried the cool fragrance of orchids.
Su Liao startled himself. His expression carried both recklessness and a sense of self-abandonment.
A moment later, his face flushed bright red.
…
As night deepened, faint curses could be heard inside the cold, damp ancestral hall.
Perhaps remembering that generations of ancestors were watching from above, the voice soon quieted down and disappeared.
Su Yaoyao knelt on the thin prayer cushion, grinding her teeth so hard they nearly shattered.
A cold wind howled through the crack in the door behind her, sounding like evil spirits whispering in her ears.
Su Yaoyao didn’t dare blame Su Huai, nor did she dare offend Zhou Jianyue. Instead, she poured all her hatred onto Su Lingqing.
A classic case of bullying the weak while fearing the strong.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang behind her. Startled, she collapsed onto the ground, trembling like a frightened bird.
Cold sweat instantly soaked her back. Even her lips turned bluish-purple from the cold, yet she didn’t dare turn around.
“Oh dear, how pitiful, sister. I’m almost feeling sorry for you,” a familiar voice sounded with faint sympathy.
Su Yaoyao let out a long breath, her face flushing slightly he had seen her embarrassing moment just now!
Su Yuan closed the door, walked over, and sat directly on the altar table. He picked up an apple and began crunching into it.
“You… you!” Su Yaoyao stammered in fright.
Swinging his legs, the young boy said vaguely, “What is this? It tastes terrible. If our ancestors had to eat fruit like this, they definitely wouldn’t want to bless us.”
He casually tossed the apple beside Su Yaoyao.
“Dear sister, your scheme was really too low-class, wasn’t it? Why do you hate her so much? Is it because she’s prettier than you?”
The boy grinned. “But there’s nothing you can do about that it’s simply the truth.”
Su Yaoyao always broke out in cold sweat when facing him, because Su Yuan was truly a little psychopath a born villain.
“How my scheme works is none of your business! If you don’t want to help me, then forget it. What’s the point of coming here just to watch me make a fool of myself?”
Su Yuan raised an eyebrow.
“It’s fine if you don’t want me to interfere. But you have to promise me one thing.”
“What?” Su Yaoyao had no other choice.
“After the plan succeeds, hand Sister Lingqing over to me. I want to do some interesting things to her.”
He smiled in a sick, twisted way, his face flushed with excitement.