Even though Zheng Rui sensed that something was wrong, there was nothing she could do about it now.
“Lingqing, the things you mentioned I truly know nothing about them. Perhaps there’s some misunderstanding…” the woman said softly, trying to comfort her.
Su Lingqing wiped her tears and nodded.
“That’s what I thought. Mother is so kind how could you bear to marry me to someone like that? But since you’re arranging a match for me, the future bride shouldn’t know nothing. Mother, tell me whose son it is.”
“Is it the eldest son of the Minister of War? Or the eldest grandson of the Grand Chancellor? Or perhaps General Zhou’s younger brother?”
When she finished speaking, Su Yaoyao could no longer hold it in.
“Sister! Those young masters are among the finest in the capital! How… how dare you even think that!”
Zheng Rui shot her a cold glance, and Su Yaoyao immediately shut her mouth.
Su Lingqing shook her head disapprovingly.
“Why would you say that, Sister? I am the legitimate eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites. Naturally my status matches theirs. If someone of low status married me, wouldn’t that bring shame to Father?”
Zheng Rui tightened her grip on the Bodhi prayer beads in her hand.
“Lingqing, there’s no need to rush matters of marriage. I haven’t decided on a specific person yet. Once it’s settled, I’ll tell you.”
Su Lingqing blinked, looking aggrieved.
“That’s strange. Old Madam Zhou said Mother had already chosen someone for me. She even said our birth charts were about to be matched. Otherwise she wouldn’t have come asking while I was still unconscious.”
Cold sweat appeared on Su Yaoyao’s forehead. She looked at Zheng Rui and noticed her back had gone stiff.
Even Mother… found this difficult to deal with?!
She turned to Su Lingqing again and saw that the girl was about to speak once more. Su Yaoyao quickly interrupted.
“Sister!”
Her sudden shout rang out. When their eyes met, Su Yaoyao suddenly felt a chill run through her body.
What was happening?
Why did she feel a little afraid of Su Lingqing?
“Sister hasn’t finished speaking yet,” Su Lingqing said calmly. “Interrupting others like this is improper. If Father knew, he would certainly be unhappy.”
Using Su Huai to pressure them was the simplest and most effective method.
If they wanted to pressure her instead, they’d have to see whether Su Huai would side with Su Lingqing or not.
Su Yaoyao hated the person in front of her to the core. She sneered coldly.
“Then I’d like to ask Sister something. How did Old Madam Zhou end up beaten like that and sent back to Fusheng Courtyard? She was personally instructed by Mother to visit you. Or is it that Sister has always resented Mother, and used this opportunity to do such a thing?”
Zheng Rui pretended to scold her.
“Yaoyao!”
The servants from Weirui Pavilion, who had just relaxed slightly, immediately grew nervous again, cold sweat breaking out once more.
Su Yaoyao waited for Su Lingqing’s usual pleading voice.
But nothing came.
She looked up and froze.
Su Lingqing was looking straight at her, a faint smile on her lips. So faint that there wasn’t a trace of sincerity in it.
“So Mother really did send her,” Su Lingqing said lightly. “I was wondering how such a wicked servant dared bully her master. Turns out someone was backing her.”
She suddenly straightened her posture, and even her demeanor changed.
During eighteen years in the Prince Ning’s residence, she had transformed from a useless, timid girl into a clever, meticulous, and courageous princess consort.
Su Lingqing dared to say that aside from herself, no one could have shared a bed with Zhao Mingcheng for eighteen years.
That was where she had learned the most important things: reading the situation, pretending to be deaf and blind, waiting for the right moment to act.
Those lessons had become her greatest confidence.
She should even thank the people who pushed her into that hell.
Otherwise, no matter how many times she lived again, she would always remain the same useless fool.
At that moment, Su Lingqing felt a little sad.
She had ended up joining them in bullying the kind girl she used to be.
But kindness was useless.
She wanted to live.
Su Yaoyao’s mouth hung open. In the end, she could only force out one sentence.
“How outrageous! How dare you say such things, Sister!”
Su Lingqing blinked innocently.
“What did I say? Sister seems very emotional.”
“You… you dared to speak ill of Mother!”
She shook her head calmly.
“That’s not correct. You were the one who admitted that Old Madam Zhou’s disrespect toward me was ordered by Mother. I simply followed your words. How can you blame me?”
“Besides, I’ve always been the most obedient to you and Mother. Doesn’t Sister know that?”
Su Yaoyao forced a smile, her expression awkward.
“I misspoke. Sister, don’t overthink it. But Old Madam Zhou is still Mother’s servant. Beating her and carrying her back here so openly is inappropriate. Later you should go apologize to her.”
Su Lingqing let out a cold laugh.
She was the master, while that woman was merely a servant yet they wanted her, still ill, to apologize?
If she actually did that, tomorrow the Minister’s residence would become the laughingstock of the entire capital.
“Sister must be joking. I am the legitimate eldest daughter of this residence. You want me to apologize to a lowly servant? Are you mad, or am I?”
Su Yaoyao’s face turned green with anger, completely speechless.
Su Lingqing ignored her and suddenly said,
“If I remember correctly, tomorrow should be the day Father returns.”
Then she stood up and walked away.
“Mother, since this matter cannot be clarified right now, Lingqing will return first. When Father comes back, we can decide then.”
What she wanted to accomplish had already been done.
The Minister’s residence was not an airtight wall. Everything she said today would soon be spread everywhere through countless mouths.
Family scandals shouldn’t be made public?
That depended on whether the family was worth protecting.
Weren’t they all obsessed with reputation and dignity?
Then they could lose it all.
Whatever they valued most, she would smash it.
Zheng Rui was probably furious now.
Zheng Rui’s face was colder than ice, her expression filled with dark hatred.
Seeking death.
After Su Lingqing left with the others, Su Yaoyao rushed back to her room and began smashing things in a frenzy.
Zheng Rui rubbed the white jade Bodhi beads in her hand, her expression unreadable.
Su Lingqing… you hid your abilities for fourteen years. You almost fooled me.
Chaochun worried about Su Yaoyao and hurried to stop her.
“Miss! Be careful not to hurt yourself!”
But Su Yaoyao ignored her completely. Only after the room was a complete mess did she slump into a chair, seething with helpless rage.
Outside, Zheng Rui slowly opened her eyes and looked at Qiuyun.
Without needing to speak, Qiuyun understood her mistress’s meaning. Lowering her eyes, she quickly followed after Su Lingqing.
…
Not long after leaving Fusheng Courtyard, Su Lingqing turned to the others.
“All of you go back first. If Jianjia and Jingzhe ask, tell them I’m going to handle something and will return before dinner.”
After speaking, the girl turned and left.
The servants exchanged glances and hurried back to report.
Qiuyun, who had just arrived, happened to see this scene. She watched as Su Lingqing left the residence and walked in another direction.
Back in the courtyard, Zheng Rui called for the maid Dongxue.
“Make the arrangements. Su Lingqing is acting strangely. Qiuyun just sent word that she has left the residence. She cannot be allowed to live.”
The maid accepted the order and withdrew.
Zheng Rui’s expression remained gentle and calm, as if the power of life and death she had just exercised meant nothing.
Little slut. Your mother died by my hands back then. Now you’ll be the same.