“Madam, Second Miss, someone said they saw people from Weirui Pavilion carrying Old Madam Zhou here. She was beaten until she looked like a pig’s head, and the eldest young lady was even walking in front of them… smiling!”
Zheng Rui’s hand paused while trimming flower branches. She didn’t speak, but Su Yaoyao quickly walked over.
“What? Old Madam Zhou was beaten and carried back by people from Weirui Pavilion, and my sister was in front… smiling?” The girl’s expression darkened. After getting confirmation, she hurried to Zheng Rui.
“Mother! Didn’t you say this would work? I really don’t want to see that vixen face of Su Lingqing ever again!”
By the end, her tone was full of hatred, her teeth clenched.
Su Yaoyao was pretty, with delicate and pleasing features.
But whenever she stood beside Su Lingqing, she looked like a plain cabbage completely unremarkable, even dull in others’ eyes.
Simply because Su Lingqing’s face was too beautiful!
Fortunately, Su Lingqing had always been timid, and her mother had never been favored by her husband. After her death, no one even remembered her.
For so many years, Su Lingqing had been kept under their control. In the capital, almost no one even knew about her.
“Why are you so anxious? This little trick was never expected to succeed anyway. I only sent Old Madam Zhou to test the waters over there.”
As Zheng Rui spoke, her willow-shaped brows frowned slightly.
“But how did she end up being carried back by Su Lingqing? That’s rather strange…”
Mother and daughter walked into the courtyard together.
Su Yaoyao stared eagerly outside the courtyard. Finally, she saw Su Lingqing arrive with Old Madam Zhou being carried behind her.
Seeing Old Madam Zhou beaten into something resembling a pig’s head, Su Yaoyao’s mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg. Zheng Rui, however, remained calm, her expression unreadable.
“Lingqing, what… happened here?” Zheng Rui asked.
The woman wore pale moon-white clothing, looking gentle and dignified. A soft smile always lingered at her lips, reminding people of the Bodhisattvas worshipped in temples.
The servants from Weirui Pavilion shrank back, clearly terrified.
Su Lingqing pretended to be foolish and smiled as she bowed.
“Mother, I helped carry this stupid servant back for you. Look at how badly she fell!”
The moment she finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent except for the wind.
“She… ended up like this… from falling?” Su Yaoyao asked carefully.
Her lips twitched she wanted to curse but held it back.
There were slap marks on the woman’s face and footprints all over her body, and she was saying it was from falling?!
But Su Yaoyao kept up her excellent acting.
“Good sister, never mind whether she fell or not. It looks like you’ve just gotten out of bed and walked all the way here. Sit down and rest first.”
The servants couldn’t help thinking that the second young lady was truly as gentle as an immortal.
Su Lingqing didn’t stand on ceremony. She pointed directly at Su Yaoyao’s personal maid.
“My sister is so thoughtful. Chaochun, go bring a stool for me. I’m exhausted.”
“You say I should sit and rest, but there isn’t even a stool!”
Su Yaoyao’s smile froze.
She had brought so many servants, yet Su Lingqing deliberately ordered her personal maid by name!
Looking at Su Yaoyao clenching her teeth but forcing herself to endure, Su Lingqing nearly burst out laughing.
Chaochun was so startled she didn’t move at first. Su Lingqing blinked at Su Yaoyao.
“Sister, your maid has quite the airs. Even I, the legitimate eldest daughter, can’t order her around.”
“How about you personally bring a stool for your sister?”
After saying that, she ignored Su Yaoyao and turned to Zheng Rui.
“Mother, before Old Madam Zhou fainted, she said something very strange to me. Do you want to hear it?”
Su Yaoyao was completely stunned. She had always hated Su Lingqing’s lifeless appearance, but she never expected her to publicly humiliate her like this!
Legitimate eldest daughter? Was she mocking the fact that her own mother had once been only a secondary wife, while Su Lingqing’s short-lived mother had been the true legal wife meaning she would always be inferior?
The servants in the courtyard heard this and their eyes filled with resentment and disdain.
The second young lady was so kind how could the eldest young lady be so arrogant!
“Sister, have you gone delirious from illness?” Su Yaoyao asked through clenched teeth, smiling.
Su Lingqing still smiled sweetly and shook her head.
“Not at all. After all, I had someone carry Old Madam Zhou back. She’s as heavy as a fat pig for the New Year. I was quite tired myself.”
Su Yaoyao took a deep breath, suppressing her disgust and anger.
“Chaochun, go bring a stool for my sister. Don’t let her get too tired!”
Who was she pretending for? She hadn’t even carried Old Madam Zhou herself the servants did!
Chaochun brought a stool, and Su Lingqing rubbed her forehead as she sat down.
Her body hadn’t fully recovered. Having just woken up and gone through all this trouble, even her head throbbed painfully.
After arranging everything else, Zheng Rui asked,
“Lingqing, what did Old Madam Zhou say to you?”
Instead of answering, Su Lingqing asked nervously,
“Mother, is Old Madam Zhou usually very respected here?”
Zheng Rui smiled faintly.
“Lingqing, why do you ask?”
Su Lingqing looked troubled. After thinking for a while, she sighed.
“Forget it. Asking is pointless anyway. Mother would never send her to deliberately humiliate me. I must have misunderstood.”
Su Yaoyao couldn’t help speaking up.
“Of course! What exactly are you trying to say, Sister? Mother is so gentle and kind how could you think that!”
Su Lingqing immediately looked anxious.
“That’s right! Mother would never marry me off to a rotten cucumber who goes to brothels every night and sleeps with both men and women! That must be nonsense Old Madam Zhou made up!”
The moment she finished speaking, everyone in the courtyard stared at her.
Good. Now everyone knew about it. Let’s see how Zheng Rui explained this!
Su Yaoyao’s mouth fell open again. Zheng Rui’s expression changed.
“Lingqing, Old Madam Zhou told you this?”
Su Lingqing immediately covered her face and burst into tears.
“Mother! Please don’t marry me off to that rotten cucumber!”
Afraid she didn’t look sad enough, she even pinched her own thigh.
Zheng Rui shouted sharply,
“Nonsense!”
Su Yaoyao muttered viciously,
“That Old Madam Zhou must have a death wish…”
Su Lingqing cried softly.
“If Mother really married me to such a man, wouldn’t everyone mock me? But Old Madam Zhou is known to be your trusted servant. Her words can’t be false, so that’s why I’m so heartbroken!”
Zheng Rui frowned.
She knew Old Madam Zhou couldn’t possibly have said that but how did Su Lingqing know the inside story?
She had assigned the task to Old Madam Zhou. Aside from herself, only Yaoyao knew.
“Mother?” Su Lingqing interrupted her thoughts and sniffled.
“So many people are listening. Please hurry and tell me what’s really going on.”
The servants from Weirui Pavilion were sweating coldly.
They didn’t remember Old Madam Zhou ever saying such a thing!
If Su Lingqing knew what they were thinking, she would have burst out laughing.
Because she had been reborn.
Zheng Rui, who had never really taken her seriously, finally lifted her eyes and met Su Lingqing’s gaze.
The latter’s eyes were slightly red, looking extremely sad.
But Zheng Rui had the distinct feeling that Su Lingqing was pretending.
The woman was so angry her chest ached.