Su Zhe said, “At the last palace banquet, it seemed the Crown Prince had a good impression of Qing’er. Later, he even sought her out privately once.”
Zhou Hong slowly stroked his beard.
Hearing Su Zhe’s words, he felt even more pleased with this granddaughter.
“Go back home and tell her to keep in touch with the Crown Prince more often.”
“Understood, Father-in-law!” Su Zhe paused for a moment, then asked, “What about the General’s Manor?”
“The imperial decree has already been issued. Everything is settled—just proceed as usual. Perhaps having your eldest daughter marry into the General’s Manor isn’t a bad thing; who knows, it might even help the Crown Prince in the future.”
Zhou Hong’s eyes grew deeper and darker as he stared at Su Zhe, secretly pondering the various possibilities and interests behind this matter.
Su Zhe nodded inwardly. “Little Xu knows what to do. Please rest assured, Father-in-law!”
..
That day, Su Fu sat by the window, admiring the flowers blooming in the courtyard.
Qiushuang stepped in from outside the yard. “Miss, Your Highness just sent someone to say he will come to the residence in three days to present the betrothal gifts.”
Su Fu withdrew her gaze. Hearing this, she was slightly surprised. “Three days? Why so soon?”
“Your Highness is eager to marry you!” Qiuxue stifled a giggle behind her hand.
Su Fu’s expression grew serious. Looking at Qiushuang and Qiuxue, her eyes were sincere.
“I am certain that I will marry into the General’s Manor. Would you two come with me? The General’s Manor is wealthy and grand, but it also harbors many hidden risks. If you do not wish to, I will return your indenture contracts and grant you freedom.”
Qiushuang and Qiuxue both knelt. Qiushuang said, “I have been by your side since childhood. If you marry, I will remain with you. Wherever you go, I go! I am not afraid of danger.”
Qiuxue hurriedly added, “Me too! Wherever you go, I follow! I don’t want to leave you, Miss.”
Su Fu reached out to help them up. Thinking of how the two maids had fared in her previous life, she felt a pang of sadness. “Very well.”
She then turned to Qiushuang. “Qiushuang, go fetch the list of dowry items my mother left behind.”
“Miss, do you wish to see it now?”
A trace of cool resolve passed through Su Fu’s eyes. “Mother’s dowry has been used for so long. Now that I am betrothed, it’s time to retrieve it!”
Qiushuang carried the dowry list and followed Su Fu to the old madam’s Chengsong Courtyard.
When Su Fu arrived, Su Zhe, Madam Zhou, and Su Qing were all present. Laughter occasionally drifted from inside the room, though it was unclear what they were discussing.
Su Fu’s face remained cold, a sneer in her heart: Perfect, they’re all here!
She stepped forward.
“Greetings to Grandmother, Father, and Mother.”
The room fell into various expressions upon seeing Su Fu.
The old madam smiled and raised her hand. “Fu girl, what brings you here?”
Su Fu, unwilling to waste words, spoke directly. “Granddaughter is here today to retrieve the dowry my mother left before her passing.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
The old madam’s lips stiffened into an awkward smile. “Your mother’s dowry is, of course, yours. But so many years have passed… counting it all carefully will take some time.”
Su Fu calmly took the dowry list from Qiushuang, her expression serene as if she had expected the old madam’s words.
“Grandmother need not worry. To save you the trouble, I’ve brought my mother’s original dowry list. It records every item and the store it came from.”
After speaking, she opened the box and carefully pulled out the list.
Those in the room were taken aback, unable to believe what they saw.
Su Zhe’s brow twitched, and his gaze turned cold. “How do you have the dowry list?”
Su Fu’s phoenix-like eyes curved slightly, finding his question almost laughable. “This is my mother’s dowry left for her daughter. Of course the daughter has the list!”
Madam Zhou’s face showed hesitation. “But… your mother passed away so many years ago. The authenticity of this dowry list is hard to verify.”
Su Qing quickly chimed in, “Mother is right, sister! What if some ill-intentioned maid fabricated it to fool you? We cannot be deceived so easily!”
Su Fu lightly adjusted the hairpin in her hair, her expression calm. Her phoenix eyes swept to Su Qing, her tone icy.
“I shared that concern, so I brought along the old nanny who once served my mother.”
She gestured to Qiushuang to bring Wang Mama in.
Wang Mama had accompanied Su Fu’s mother when she married into the Su residence.
Later, just before Su Fu’s mother passed, seeing that Wang Mama had grown old and frail, she allowed her to retire home.
Over the years, Su Fu had asked Qiushuang to trace Wang Mama’s whereabouts.
Qiushuang helped an elderly woman with gray hair but neatly arranged, walk into the room.
Though Wang Mama had aged and her face was lined with wrinkles, the old madam, Su Zhe, and Madam Zhou immediately recognized her as the nanny who had served Su Fu’s mother in her lifetime.
Seeing that Su Fu had brought Wang Mama, the old madam and Madam Zhou both felt a rising sense of dread.
They felt that something important they tightly held was slipping away.
Su Zhe, on the other hand, felt his eldest daughter growing increasingly unfamiliar and beyond his control—a feeling that unsettled him.
Wang Mama bent slightly and tremulously greeted everyone in the room.
When she saw Su Fu, her dim eyes brightened instantly. She reached out a shaking hand, as if wanting to touch Su Fu’s face, her emotions stirred.
Su Fu rose and helped Wang Mama to a seat beside her.
Wang Mama’s eyes were red; her voice hoarse. “She… she truly looks just like the young madam!”
Once Wang Mama calmed down, Su Fu showed her the dowry list.
Gently, she asked, “Mama, do you recognize this?”
Wang Mama leaned in to examine it closely. “This is your lady mother’s dowry list. I remember there’s even the seal of the residence here!”
She pointed to the place where the red seal was stamped. Over the years, the seal had faded, almost invisible unless examined carefully.
Su Fu held it up and let the old madam, Su Zhe, and Madam Zhou each inspect it carefully.