In her previous life, the woman Su Huai brought back was a beautiful actress.
She was stunning, but also foolish. Not long after becoming pregnant she still didn’t behave herself. Not only did she deliberately provoke others, she even flaunted the favor she received in front of Zheng Rui.
Zheng Rui loved Su Huai. Otherwise, given her status, she wouldn’t have first accepted the position of equal wife and later become the official wife after the former one died. Naturally, she could not tolerate that actress.
The actress didn’t even have time to give birth before she died silently in the bed of another stable servant.
Su Huai had been cuckolded. Furious, he ordered people to drag the actress into the mountains and feed her to the wolves.
Although Su Huai was lustful, he had refined tastes. Very few people could truly win his favor. The actress was foolish but extraordinarily beautiful if properly guided earlier, she might have become useful.
Su Lingqing had planned to win her over in advance and then train her well.
But… who would have thought that in this life, it would be a completely different person?
After thinking for a moment, Su Lingqing stepped forward and bowed to Su Huai.
“Father, you must be tired after traveling such a long distance. Perhaps you should first bring this lady inside to rest before discussing other matters.”
Her tone was neither humble nor arrogant, yet carried a hint of gentle frailty. Su Huai’s previously tense expression relaxed, and when he looked at Su Lingqing, there was rare approval in his eyes.
At the same time, Zheng Rui and Su Yaoyao shot her cold looks sharp enough to feel like poison.
Su Huai nodded with a smile. “Lingqing is right. I am indeed tired and should rest.”
Zheng Rui’s lips drooped slightly. She glanced vaguely at the lowered head of Su Lingqing and said, “Indeed. I was somewhat discourteous. Husband, please come inside.”
She deliberately left Zhou Jianyue behind, as if she had forgotten about her.
But Su Huai publicly took Zhou Jianyue’s hand and quickly walked toward the courtyard.
When Zheng Rui saw this, every step she took felt painful. Though she looked calm on the surface, she was twisting her handkerchief so tightly it nearly tore.
Following behind them, Su Lingqing could tell that Zheng Rui was very wary of this Jiangnan woman whose identity was unknown but who had already received so much favor.
In her previous life, that actress had never received such treatment at the beginning.
Thinking this, the girl fixed her gaze on Zhou Jianyue.
So… how long would you survive?
After entering the main hall, everyone prepared to sit, but another problem quickly appeared.
The seating had already been arranged beforehand. Su Huai sat in the main seat, beside him Zheng Rui and Su Lingqing, then Su Yaoyao and the other concubines and children.
But now there was an extra Zhou Jianyue.
No matter where she sat, it seemed inappropriate.
Cold sweat formed on the servants’ foreheads. If they arranged a seat beside Su Huai, they would offend Zheng Rui. If they didn’t, they would offend the Minister himself.
Su Huai’s expression became serious, but Zheng Rui acted as if she saw nothing and spoke gently.
“Everyone, please sit first. The dishes will arrive shortly.”
Then she pretended to suddenly remember Zhou Jianyue and lightly tapped her forehead.
“Oh my, look at my memory. This young lady…”
She intentionally left the sentence unfinished, wanting Su Huai to make the decision himself.
After all, she wanted to see whether he would completely disregard the dignity of his lawful wife for the sake of a mere woman.
Watching the familiar scene unfold, Su Lingqing’s eyes grew darker. Even though she had been half-delirious with illness in her previous life, she still remembered this moment.
Back then, Su Huai had reluctantly let the actress sit at the far end. On the surface it seemed Zheng Rui had won, but Su Huai had already begun to resent her.
Zheng Rui loved Su Huai.
And that was her greatest weakness.
Just as the stalemate continued, a soft voice suddenly spoke:
“Why not… let this elder sister sit in my place? Lingqing sitting beside Father only makes me nervous anyway. Father’s return should be a happy occasion. I’m afraid I might make a mistake and cause trouble for everyone.”
After speaking, Su Lingqing smiled at both Su Huai and Zheng Rui.
“Wouldn’t this be the best of both worlds? What do Father and Mother think?”
Su Huai smiled at Su Lingqing. He hadn’t expected the daughter he disliked the most to help him out of such an awkward situation.
His impression of her improved considerably.
Su Yaoyao looked at Su Lingqing with contempt, wishing she could tear that mouth of hers apart.
How had she never noticed before how good Su Lingqing was at pretending?
Disgusting!
Wretch! Her mother was a wretch, and now she was a little wretch too! A wretch giving birth to another wretch!
She was almost more likable when she used to be weak and stupid!
She cursed viciously in her heart, nearly tearing a hole in her sleeve with her fingernails.
Before anyone else could react, Zhou Jianyue suddenly raised her hand and pointed at Su Lingqing.
“I like this younger sister.”
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone in the room froze.
Including Su Lingqing.
The first person to react was Zheng Rui she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Her laughter snapped everyone else out of their shock. Su Lingqing looked at Zhou Jianyue with surprise, pressing her lips together without speaking.
What… did that mean?
If this had been her previous life, Su Lingqing would have thought the woman was trying to curry favor with her, and she would have cautiously befriended her.
But during their journey here, Su Huai definitely hadn’t mentioned her.
If she wasn’t mentioned, it meant she wasn’t important.
So what was the point of pleasing her?
Or… was this woman even more foolish than the actress from the previous life?
Su Lingqing smiled lightly.
“Thank you for liking me, elder sister. It’s only what I should do.”
After saying that, she turned and walked toward the lower seats, searching for an empty spot.
After this small interruption, the hungry crowd finally sat down.
Su Huai was quite dissatisfied with Zheng Rui’s earlier laughter. Though he sat beside her, all his attention was focused on Zhou Jianyue.
Su Lingqing was still looking for a seat. Everyone else had already sat down, and none of the remaining places seemed suitable.
“Eldest Miss, sit here with me.”
A gentle voice spoke. Su Lingqing looked up and realized it was the First Madam.
A servant had already placed an extra stool beside her. Su Lingqing thanked the First Madam briefly and sat down steadily.
This seat was far away from Su Huai, which suited her just fine.
Perhaps because of Zhou Jianyue’s arrival, Su Huai was eager to show her the very best side of the Minister’s residence. The servants worked even harder to serve the dishes.
Only Su Yaoyao looked displeased, her mood written all over her face. Even the foods she usually loved were left untouched.
Zheng Rui coughed lightly to remind her.
“Is a mere wretch worth upsetting yourself like this?”
Su Yaoyao pouted and whispered, “Your daughter just feels wronged for Mother! Why does Father keep bringing these wretches back to the residence? And that Su Lingqing too! She even took the chance to show off in front of Father!”
Hearing this, Zheng Rui’s expression also darkened. Her cold gaze shot toward Su Lingqing.
Su Liao suddenly chuckled softly.
“Ah, it suddenly feels a little cold.”
The First Madam lifted her eyes.
“When someone lacks ability, they can only vent their anger on others. Doesn’t she always do that?”
Su Lingqing’s heart skipped a beat.
Were this mother and son really whispering like this right beside her?
It almost seemed like they deliberately wanted her to hear.
The First Madam and Zheng Rui had never gotten along well, and life for this mother and son wasn’t easy either.
Su Lingqing, who was being stared at, didn’t lift her eyes.
But when Su Huai turned back and saw his wife’s expression, the dissatisfaction he had been suppressing suddenly burst out.
“What are you doing? I’ve just returned, and you greet me with such a cold face?”
His voice was neither too loud nor too soft just enough for everyone to hear.
Following her gaze, he looked over and found Su Lingqing increasingly pleasant to the eye.
Su Huai spoke coldly:
“Lingqing only moved to a lower seat because she didn’t want to put us in a difficult position. Why are you staring at her like that? Could it be that while I was away you treated her like this every day?”