Su Wan woke up while the sky was still shrouded in darkness.
Her life was one of extreme discipline and restraint.
As a top-tier female star in the entertainment industry, every move she made, every word she spoke, even a single strand of her hair would be scrutinized and magnified by netizens searching for flaws. Her strict self-discipline was well-known within the industry.
Even after transmigrating to ancient times, she maintained her previous skincare and maintenance habits.
She jogged for half an hour along the small garden of the Lu Mansion, then returned to Xiangfei Courtyard to practice yoga for another half hour.
Daily aerobic and anaerobic exercise helped her sweat, expel toxins from her body, and kept her skin and figure firm and toned.
By the time she finished all this, Jin Tao and Can Yan had just woken up.
Jin Tao mumbled, “Miss, this servant truly doesn’t understand you. You’re already so beautiful, why do you still torture yourself like this?”
“Because although beauty is a gift from heaven, it still requires careful maintenance by the individual.”
Su Wan didn’t want to explain too much. Every time she talked about her little skincare tips, Jin Tao and Can Yan would listen as if hearing ghost stories, thinking she had lost her mind.
Things like washing hair with rice water, slicing cucumbers into thin pieces to apply on the face, and sometimes steaming the face with hot water before washing, claiming it was to open the pores… If not for their loyalty to Su Wan, they would have long called a Taoist nun to exorcise the evil spirits from her.
“This servant will go to the kitchen to fetch a bucket of hot water.”
Jin Tao took some silver and headed to the kitchen.
Money made things easier. Although Su Wan had only just arrived at the Lu Mansion, she was generous with the servants. She bathed twice a day, and spending a little silver to tip the old women who heated the water only brought her benefits, not harm.
After her bath, Can Yan had already brought today’s breakfast.
Three plates of plain porridge and side dishes, all savory and suited to Su Wan’s taste. She was eating happily when the door was suddenly pushed open.
Su Lin stormed in angrily, overturned the bowls and dishes on the table, raised her arm, and tried to slap Su Wan again.
It was Can Yan who stepped in to block the blow for her mistress.
A flicker of annoyance flashed in Su Wan’s eyes.
She was fiercely protective of those close to her. This was the second time Su Lin had struck Can Yan’s face. She mentally added another entry to Su Lin’s account in her ledger—a debt that would soon be repaid.
She pulled Can Yan behind her and smiled at Su Lin. “Sister, you have dark circles under your eyes. You must not have slept well last night. I wonder who angered you so much that you’re venting your rage like this early in the morning.”
Su Lin cursed, “You little slut, just like your low-born mother, you’re good at seducing men. I want you to pack your things and get back to Liuzhou right now. Don’t stay here and offend my eyes.”
Su Wan remained seated calmly, tilting her head slightly back as she said to Jin Tao and Can Yan, “Did you hear that? Sister doesn’t welcome us. Let’s pack our bags and set off for Liuzhou immediately.”
Nanny Liu had just stepped into Xiangfei Courtyard when she heard Su Wan’s indifferent words.
Her face immediately darkened.
Back in Liuzhou, Madam Su had repeatedly instructed that Su Wan must climb into Lu Guizhou’s bed, bear a son, and later have the son adopted by Su Lin to secure Su Lin’s position.
Nanny Liu had already explained the stakes to Su Lin, but Su Lin’s jealousy was too strong. Su Wan had only been here for a day, and she could no longer tolerate her.
What was to be done!
Su Wan absolutely could not return to Liuzhou.
Judging by Second Young Master Lu’s demeanor, it was clear he had some interest in Su Wan.While Su Wan was pondering, Nanny Liu had already arrived beside Su Lin.
“Miss Wan, please step out for a moment. This servant has a few words to discuss with the Eldest Young Lady.”
Su Wan had grasped Madam Su’s weakness and, more importantly, Su Lin’s weakness. That was why she dared to calmly speak of returning to Liuzhou.
She understood very well that Liuzhou was a place she could not return to. Her mission was to climb into Lu Guizhou’s bed and bear a son to be raised by her sister.
Hmph.
She was fully aware of the schemes others had for her, and she had her own plans as well.
When it came to scheming, years of navigating the entertainment industry, filled with intrigue and power struggles, had long honed her heart into one of exquisite cunning.
Su Wan took Jin Tao and Can Yan to sit in the courtyard for a while, allowing Nanny Liu to properly advise and make this ignorant, privileged Eldest Young Lady understand what it meant to live in a feudal era that devoured people without spitting out the bones.
With the doors and windows tightly shut to ensure no one could overhear their conversation, Nanny Liu then adopted her former authoritative demeanor, her tone turning stern.
“Eldest Young Lady, the Su Family has raised you for many years. Is this how you repay them?
If you drive Miss Wan back to Liuzhou, how will our Master’s official position be promoted? What about Fourth Young Master’s studies? And how will Uncle’s shops expand their business?”
Nanny Liu was Su Lin’s wet nurse; Su Lin had grown up drinking her milk, and the bond between them was deep.
This was the first time Nanny Liu had reprimanded her in such a severe tone.
Su Lin gritted her teeth in anger. “Nanny, what does any of that have to do with me? I’m just a weak woman. How could I possibly have the ability to help this one and that one?”
Nanny Liu smiled. “You are the Su Family’s legitimate daughter. You’ve enjoyed the Su Family’s wealth and status for years. Now that you’ve married into the Lu Family as a wife, do you intend to disregard your natal family? Your natal family is your root. We women are born to serve our natal families. Why else do women always marry upward? Isn’t it all for the benefit of their natal families?
Back then, the entire Su Family worked together to help you marry Lu the Second. You should be well aware of how this marriage came about.”
Su Lin stared at Nanny Liu in horror, unable to believe that her own natal family would turn around and threaten her.
After this round of intimidation, Nanny Liu put on a smiling face again and began to tempt her with benefits.
“Your natal family is your backing, Eldest Young Lady. Only when your natal family is strong will your husband’s family dare not look down on you.
Look at the current situation in the Lu Mansion. Lu the Second’s mother, Madam Zhou, looks down on you. You’ve been married for two years, yet she hasn’t given you any authority over the household. She even brought a distant niece into her son’s room as a noble concubine.
Madam Zhou has made it clear she doesn’t value you. That’s why you must win over Lu the Second’s heart and also have a child to rely on. Otherwise, if Concubine Chen gives birth to a son one day, who’s to say the Lu Family won’t divorce you?”
Only then did Su Lin become truly afraid.
She was clearly healthy, so why was her belly not showing any signs? Could this be retribution for stealing her sister’s husband?
She hurriedly grabbed Nanny Liu’s hand. “Then what should I do?”
Nanny Liu’s smile deepened. “Eldest Young Lady, from now on, don’t say things like telling Miss Wan to get lost back to Liuzhou. In the next few days, think of a way to sound out Lu the Second. See what his intentions are. If he has any ideas, then we’ll send Miss Wan to his room.”
Not long after, Su Lin walked out of Xiangfei Courtyard, her face deathly pale.Su Wan watched her departing figure and said to Jin Tao and Can Yan, “See, even a legitimate daughter is nothing more than a tool for exchanging benefits in the eyes of her own family.”
“The status of women in ancient times is just so lowly. I refuse to live as pitifully as she does. The wealth and future I desire, I will seize with my own hands.”
Jin Tao’s lips moved for a long while before she finally said, “Miss, what you said, neither Can Yan nor I can understand. It’s too profound.”
Su Wan smiled. “You don’t need to understand. Just follow me, and sooner or later, you’ll have your day of rising to glory.”
The three of them had just entered the room and were chatting and laughing when a young maid arrived, saying that the third young miss was heading this way.
Su Wan’s eyes immediately lit up. After dismissing the maid, she said to Can Yan, “Quick, slap me across the face, just as hard as when Su Lin hit you.”
Can Yan’s eyes widened in shock.
“Hurry,” Su Wan urged her, but Can Yan didn’t dare.
Su Wan could only turn to Jin Tao.
Jin Tao blinked. “Miss, I have a lot of strength. Don’t cry out in pain.”
“Go ahead and hit me.”
Su Wan lifted her face, letting Jin Tao slap her hard.
“Wan Sister, my father bought me two sugar figurines. I brought one for you to eat.”
Lu Jiayu arrived happily, only to be caught off guard by the clear slap mark on Su Wan’s clean, pale cheek. Instantly, she stomped her foot in anger.
“What happened! Who has the audacity to do such a thing!”
“Wan Sister, quickly tell me who hit you. I’ll take you to demand justice.”