She gripped the silk handkerchief tightly, biting her lip so hard it nearly bled.
No… impossible! After all, Yuan’er was still her own son. He couldn’t possibly oppose her so openly!
But once the seed of suspicion is planted, it quickly takes root and sprouts.
She had no face to speak of it in front of her maids and could only secretly investigate on her own.
“Forget it. I’ll go check on Yaoyao first. You two don’t need to follow.”
With that, Zheng Rui stood up and left, her steps slightly unsteady.
…
Inside Weirui Pavilion, a single lamp burned faintly.
Normally, Su Lingqing would already be asleep at this hour, but today she sat on the imperial concubine couch, wearing a cloak with her long hair loose. The firelight reflected along the side of her exquisite face.
She stared unblinkingly at her palm.
Resting there was a familiar token.
It was the same piece Su Lingqing had taken out yesterday the black jade token carved with dark patterns.
As she looked at it, fragments of memories from her previous life slowly surfaced.
Almost all memories of her mother had faded, leaving only the image of the woman occasionally taking out this jade token, clutching it to her chest with sorrow in her eyes.
She remembered now her mother had a name: Ji Lian.
Before marrying into the Su family, she had been the most beloved youngest daughter of the Ji family, heroic in spirit and peerlessly beautiful.
After marrying into the Su family, Ji Lian gradually became silent and reserved, always seeming as though she had more to say but held it back.
Because of her straightforward nature, she was constantly restrained within the inner household and had never once won against the eloquent and cunning Zheng Rui.
Su Huai never loved Ji Lian. He married her only to stabilize the hard-won position of Minister he had obtained. Soon after, he married his “true love.”
Thinking of how her mother had cried night after night, Su Lingqing closed her eyes.
When you cried so heartbreakingly back then… had you already regretted stepping into this hell that devours people without leaving even their bones?
The two of them, mother and daughter, were quite alike both used and deceived by others, ultimately dying with hatred in their hearts.
Yet one thing still puzzled her…
Su Lingqing opened her eyes and tightened her grip on the jade token.
Since her mother had been so cherished in the Ji family, why was it that after marrying Su Huai, not a single person came to see her even when she died?
Even if her mother had grown somewhat distant from her natal family… it shouldn’t have come to this.
It seemed there were still many mysteries surrounding what happened back then. She would have to investigate slowly to uncover the truth.
Zheng Rui, rest assured before I find what I’m looking for, I won’t let you die so easily.
Su Lingqing lifted her chin and blew gently, extinguishing the candle.
…
Su Huai stayed the night at Fangfei Courtyard. In front of Zhou Jianyue, the man was exceedingly gentle, completely different from how he had interrogated Zheng Rui.
The woman lightly massaged his shoulders to help him relax and casually said, “Today I saw Madam and the eldest young lady. I found it rather strange they don’t look alike at all.”
Su Huai’s body stiffened. He forced a laugh.
“They aren’t biological mother and daughter. Lingqing’s real mother was someone else, but she passed away long ago. No need to bring it up.”
Zhou Jianyue puffed out her lips.
“My lord is being biased! You must be afraid I’ll get jealous, so you refuse to say more! The eldest young lady is so beautiful her mother must have been just as stunning. If she were still alive, I would definitely want to be friends with her!”
Hearing this, Su Huai’s gaze became distant.
Ji Lian…
In his mind appeared the image of a beautiful woman always dressed in red, her laughter like silver bells, awkwardly yet sincerely trying to get close to him.
If she were still here, the residence probably wouldn’t feel as lifeless as it does now.
It would be vibrant beyond measure.
Noticing the change in Su Huai’s expression, Zhou Jianyue curled her lips slightly and quietly withdrew her hands.
Inside the ancestral hall, Su Yaoyao’s knees hurt unbearably. She simply plopped down onto the prayer cushion and stopped kneeling altogether.
Su Yuan had done far worse things before. If the ancestors wanted to punish someone, they would punish him first not her!
“Su Lingqing… just you wait! I’ll make it so you can neither live nor die!” she muttered viciously.
The door of the ancestral hall never closed tightly. Whenever the cold wind blew, it banged loudly.
But she had already gotten used to it perhaps her resentment had made her bold.
Su Yaoyao yawned. If the ancestral hall weren’t so gloomy and damp, she would already have fallen asleep from drowsiness.
Perhaps knowing no one would come looking for her, she pouted and let a couple of tears fall.
Her younger brother wouldn’t help her, and her mother didn’t care about her either!
Just as she was thinking this, the door behind her suddenly slammed open with a loud bang!
Although she wasn’t that scared anymore, the sudden noise still startled her.
“Ah! Who’s there?!” she screamed as she turned around.
The doorway was nothing but darkness. Cold sweat appeared on Su Yaoyao’s forehead and nose.
What was going on? Why was no one there this time?
Could it be… could it really be a ghost?!
“Ahhh!! Ancestors above, I didn’t mean anything! Don’t come after me!” Terrified, she knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the ancestral tablets.
“C-cousin… I’m here…” A somewhat hoarse young man’s voice sounded, followed by a hiccup.
Su Yaoyao’s back stiffened, then she relaxed.
“Who are you trying to scare to death?!” she snapped angrily, turning to look at the young man staggering in.
The man looked fairly decent at first glance, appearing well-dressed and proper. But the dark circles under his eyes and his unsteady steps made it obvious how indulgent and debauched he was in that regard.
This was the “good husband” Zheng Rui had found for Su Lingqing a rotten man who spent every night in brothels and even slept with both men and women.
Tao Yong looked at Su Yaoyao and swallowed.
“Cousin… three years since we last met. You’ve really grown up… you’re getting more and more beautiful!”
Hearing his compliment felt more disgusting than swallowing a fly. Su Yaoyao turned her head away in distaste.
“No one must know about our meeting tonight,” the girl said quietly.
Tao Yong’s eyes lit up instantly!
He had only recently come from a young male prostitute’s bed. These past few days he had been tangled up with men, and now he found himself missing the soft and graceful figure of a woman.
“Cousin… are you thinking about…” As he spoke, he stepped forward to hug her.
“Stay away from me!” Su Yaoyao shrieked, running to the side. “What nonsense are you thinking! If you keep acting like this, I won’t give Su Lingqing to you anymore!”
Tao Yong immediately froze.
“What did you say? Who is Su Lingqing?”
Su Yaoyao secretly pulled out a small portrait from somewhere and unfolded it in front of him.
The young man’s eyes widened instantly his drunkenness vanished!
He remembered!
Several years ago, when he came with his family to visit and freeload, he had accidentally seen that beauty once. She had still been young then, yet already enchanting enough to captivate the soul.
For months afterward, he didn’t even visit brothels. He could only fall asleep imagining that beauty; no one else could arouse his interest.
“Cousin… did you call me here so she and I can…” The young man trembled with excitement.
“Before, Mother intended for you to marry her, but something happened… I’ll just ask you one thing do you want her or not?”
Tao Yong swallowed hard and nodded frantically.
“Yes! I want her! I must have her! Do you have a plan? I’ll listen to everything you say!”
Su Yaoyao suppressed her disgust and soon smiled with satisfaction.
“Good. To avoid future complications, how about tomorrow you…”
The two of them plotted inside the ancestral hall, completely unaware that someone at the doorway had already witnessed everything.