Originally, the entire capital had known that Su Niao was to be engaged to the Fifth Prince, Xie Qinglan. But suddenly, news of their falling out spread like wildfire.
Some took pleasure in the misfortune, but even more were simply curious and eager for gossip. Before long, rumors began circulating that a dispute between the Duke’s household sisters and the Fifth Prince had forced the marriage arrangement to be shelved.
A feud between sisters was irresistible drama. For a time, the affair became one of the capital’s favorite topics of conversation after meals and over tea.
Inside the chambers of Liu Ruyu, Nanny Qin softly urged her: “The matter has already become public knowledge. If Madam does not decide soon, both young ladies’ reputations will be ruined… The eldest miss is, after all, your biological daughter, and she has always been gentle, obedient, and frail. Madam…”
Nanny Qin’s eyes were red from crying, while Liu Ruyu herself looked exhausted and haggard. It was not that she felt no resentment toward her old nursemaid. But she also knew very well that, given the circumstances back then, if Nanny Qin had not decided to find a child and deceive her, she would likely have died long ago. At the time, she had suffered a difficult labor and nearly bled to death on the journey home from visiting relatives. Another emotional blow on top of that might well have buried her beneath the earth years ago. Yet now, the daughter she had raised for more than a decade was not her own flesh and blood, and that daughter had become entangled in such a conflict with her biological daughter.
Even someone as decisive as Liu Ruyu found herself overwhelmed and unsettled. Hearing Nanny Qin mention the rumors outside, she knew she could no longer delay.
Letting out a long breath, Liu Ruyu said: “Call Niao Niao here.”
The moment Su Niao heard that the Duchess wished to see her, she had a pretty good idea why. Sure enough, when she arrived before her adoptive mother, Liu Ruyu informed her that she would be sent to one of the family’s rural estates for a while to avoid the public storm.
Su Niao fell silent for a moment, then nodded. “Yes.”
This response startled Liu Ruyu. Given her younger daughter’s temperament, being told she was being sent away should have caused an enormous uproar.
Everyone understood what it meant. At a time like this, sending someone away was essentially equivalent to placing all the blame and responsibility upon that person’s shoulders.
Su Niao had never been one to endure injustice in silence.
And yet now, she did not utter a single word of protest.
After a pause, Liu Ruyu looked at the girl standing there, eyes lowered and hands respectfully at her sides. Her voice was hoarse as she asked, “Niao Niao, have you come to hate your father and mother?”
However, Su Niao neither answered yes nor no.
Liu Ruyu watched as her usually spoiled and willful younger daughter finally lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears. “Mother, are you not going to want me anymore?”
With that single question, a wave of heartache immediately surged through Liu Ruyu. After all, this was the daughter she had raised for more than ten years. Even if she had suddenly learned they were not related by blood, the affection built over those years was real. Now, seeing her normally proud and flamboyant daughter so anxious and pitiful, Liu Ruyu’s heart ached.
Reaching out, she pulled Su Niao closer and wiped away her tears. “How could Mother not want you? I raised you with my own hands. But after what happened today, if I don’t make a choice, both you and your sister’s reputations may be ruined in the future…”
Su Niao interrupted her. “I’m willing to go, Mother.”
Liu Ruyu froze. Then she saw her younger daughter sniffle and say with feigned nonchalance, “Besides, my reputation wasn’t exactly very good to begin with. You don’t have to make things difficult for yourself, Mother. I’m willing to go.”
For a moment, Liu Ruyu’s heart softened completely. “Our Niao Niao has grown up.” Her eyes filled with guilt and tenderness.
“You’ve been wronged, Niao Niao. Once the attention dies down in six months, Mother will bring you home.”
The moment those words left her mouth, Su Niao’s eyes lit up. She immediately broke into a smile. “It’s a promise, then. I’ll wait for Mother to bring me home.”
Unable to help herself, Liu Ruyu pulled her daughter into an embrace. What she did not see was that the tears and smile had already vanished from the face of the daughter she was holding.
Su Niao had long guessed what choice the Su family would make. She had guessed it the moment Liu Ruyu unhesitatingly chose to protect Su Xuan in the imperial palace, as she had in her previous life. An adopted daughter and a biological daughter were, after all, not the same. If she expected nothing, then she would never be disappointed again.
Rather than making a scene and being sent away anyway, it was better to take the initiative. At least this way, she could use the Duke and Duchess’s guilt and affection to secure her position in the Duke’s household, at least temporarily.
Blinking, she spoke again in her usual spoiled manner: “Then I want to buy lots and lots of nice things to take with me to the estate.”
Without hesitation, Liu Ruyu pulled out a thick stack of banknotes. “Buy whatever you like. If it isn’t enough, ask Mother for more.”
Su Niao threw her arms around Liu Ruyu, acting coquettishly. “Mother is the best…”
Seeing that her younger daughter truly seemed comforted, Liu Ruyu finally managed to suppress the lingering guilt in her heart.
Meanwhile, after learning their mother had summoned Su Niao, Su Xuan waited for the mysterious voice to sound again. She was certain that once Su Niao learned she was being sent away, she would make a huge scene. That would inevitably earn the displeasure of those around her and increase her cannon-fodder value.
Whenever Su Niao’s cannon-fodder value increased, Su Xuan’s satisfaction points and halo points rose as well. The higher her halo value became, the more people she could influence, and the stronger that influence would be. In that way, she would become the heroine the voice had spoken of. The whole world would make way for her. Everything she desired would be hers, and she would possess the very best of everything. Yet even after night fell, she received no notification at all.
A deep sense of unease suddenly welled up inside Su Xuan. What had gone wrong? Up until now, everything had been proceeding smoothly.
Fortunately, the truth behind the rivalry between the Duke’s two daughters soon spread throughout the capital.
Everyone learned that the Duke’s second daughter, Su Niao, was not actually the Duke’s biological child. Worse, she allegedly stole the credit for her sister Su Xuan’s rescue of the Fifth Prince to climb the social ladder, only to have her deception exposed.
For a time, Su Niao became the target of public condemnation. Finally, Su Xuan saw her satisfaction points and halo points begin to rise. Although the increases were tiny, since they came from insignificant people, they were still useful.
Sure enough, on the second day after her halo value increased, Xie Qinglan sent someone to deliver gifts to her.
Su Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, however, a lingering worry remained. Su Niao was about to be sent to the estate and would no longer be by her side. It would become much harder to increase Su Niao’s cannon-fodder value in the future. Still, it didn’t matter.
Given Su Niao’s personality, she offended people wherever she went. Her cannon-fodder value would inevitably keep rising one way or another.
As long as Su Xuan could smoothly become engaged to Xie Qinglan, her halo would increase dramatically. And when that happened, Su Niao’s cannon-fodder value would rise even further. The more of a cannon-fodder character Su Niao became, the greater Su Xuan’s halo would grow.
A perfect positive cycle. Within just a few days, the story of Su Niao, the capital’s greatest beauty, had spread everywhere.
Everyone now knew that the arrogant Second Miss of the Su family was no longer what she used to be. Rumor had it that she was about to be sent to the Su family’s estate in neighboring Yunzhou Prefecture to “cultivate her character.”
Tsk… It looked as though she would be leaving the capital with her tail between her legs. But then all those people secretly waiting to watch her make a fool of herself were left dumbfounded.
Not only did Su Niao fail to slink away in disgrace, but she actually went out in grand style. As always, she dressed magnificently, brought a retinue of maids and servants, and headed straight to Wanbao Pavilion, where she lavishly bought a large quantity of jewelry and accessories. There wasn’t the slightest sign of dejection.
And Su Niao truly did not hold back. After all, she was going to spend half a year at the Yunzhou estate. Naturally, she needed to prepare properly. She bought so much that she nearly cleared out half of Wanbao Pavilion’s newly released jewelry sets before finally feeling satisfied. But just as she came downstairs and was about to leave, someone blocked her path.
“Well, if it isn’t Second Miss Su. What a coincidence.” The speaker was a young woman dressed in luxurious robes. Accompanied by her maids, she deliberately stood in Su Niao’s way, her face full of malicious delight.
Someone nearby immediately recognized her. “Isn’t that Ye Lingxi, the daughter of the Grand Tutor’s household?”
Ye Lingxi and Su Niao had always been bitter rivals. The two were like fire and water, competing openly and secretly at every turn.
The moment Ye Lingxi heard that Su Niao had fallen from grace, she could hardly wait to jump out and mock her. Looking at Su Niao, she pretended to suddenly remember something.
“Oh, I nearly forgot. There isn’t a Second Miss of the Duke’s household anymore. There’s only a First Miss and an adopted daughter. Su Niao, are you doing all right?” The concern in her voice was obviously fake; the ridicule impossible to hide.
Su Niao looked at Ye Lingxi and curled her lips into a smile. “Ye Lingxi, I think you’ve misunderstood something. I’ve only become an adopted daughter. I haven’t become ugly.”
She looked Ye Lingxi up and down at leisure. “No matter how jealous you are, you’re still less attractive than I am. So tell me, what exactly are you so happy about?”
Ye Lingxi’s expression immediately changed. “You…”
Su Niao interrupted her with a thoughtful hum. “Say, Ye Lingxi, isn’t that hairstyle of yours copied from the one I wore during the Dragon Boat Festival?”
A flash of guilt crossed Ye Lingxi’s eyes. “What nonsense are you talking about? Who copied you?”
Su Niao clicked her tongue. “I’m only trying to help. That hairstyle is practically longer than your legs. It really doesn’t suit you.”
Ye Lingxi was furious. “Su Niao…!”
But Su Niao had already strolled past her and walked out at an unhurried pace.
Stamping her foot in rage, Ye Lingxi shouted after her, “Let’s see how much longer you can keep acting so arrogant!”
Without even turning her head, Su Niao replied, “Then wait and see.”
The jewelry she had purchased would be delivered directly to the Duke’s residence, so Su Niao planned to visit a few other places. But as soon as she climbed into her carriage, she sensed something was wrong. Before she could react, a flash of cold steel appeared before her eyes.
A hand clamped over her mouth, and she was pinned against the carriage wall—a dagger pressed against her cheek.
Keeping his voice low, the man said, “I’ll have to trouble the young lady to help me leave the city.”
He wore ordinary coarse clothing, but a mask covered the upper half of his face from the nose upward. A faint scent of blood lingered on him.
“I have no desire to ruin such a pretty face, so I’d appreciate it if you were sensible.” The dagger radiated a chilling coldness.
Su Niao hurriedly nodded.
The man slowly loosened his grip.
Swallowing nervously, Su Niao stared straight at him and cautiously asked, “And what if you don’t let me go after we reach the outskirts?”
The concern was perfectly reasonable.
The man began, “You…”
But at that very instant, Su Niao moved without warning. She raised her hand, and the small wrist crossbow Xie Qinglan had given her fired a bolt.
Unexpectedly, the man moved even faster, twisting aside to avoid it. In the next moment, he lunged forward. His knee pinned her in place, and his hand once again covered her mouth. The carriage was cramped, however, and he could not afford to make too much noise. In the split second that followed, he had to lower his elbow to keep the dagger away from the girl’s face. Then he suddenly froze. His elbow had brushed against a soft, yielding part of her body.
Su Niao gritted her teeth. “You shameless bastard!”
Seeing her glare at him with furious, catlike eyes, tears of embarrassment and anger welling up, the man paused. Then he said, “It was an accident. My apologies.”