At this moment, Qiu Shuang, who had been standing behind Su Fu the whole time, stepped forward. Facing the direction where Su Zhe stood, she said, “Master, though I am only a lowly maid, my innocence cannot be slandered. I beg you to uphold justice for me!”
The moment Qi Chuan saw Qiu Shuang, he was stunned.
He quickly turned his head to look at the woman on the inner side of the bed and nearly jumped in shock. “Xiao Chun! How—how could it be you?”
Xiao Chun could only cry, unable to say a single word.
Su Zhe’s face had darkened to the extreme. “Su Fu, this happened in your courtyard. Explain to me—what exactly is going on?”
“Father, when your daughter returned from Chengsong Courtyard, it was already close to the hour of Xu. After coming back to my room, I washed up as usual and went to bed. I have always been a light sleeper, but for some reason, even with such a commotion from the fire just now, I was not awakened. Even Qiu Shuang and Qiu Xue, who were keeping night watch in my room, failed to wake in time.”
Su Fu’s eyes shifted slightly, as if unintentionally glancing at Madam Zhou and Su Qing before continuing slowly, “Father, I feel there must be something suspicious about this matter. I hope Father will investigate thoroughly.”
Hearing Su Fu’s words, Su Zhe realized this matter might not be so simple.
Calming down, he instructed a nearby servant, “Go to the eldest young lady’s room and see if there’s anything suspicious.”
Madam Zhou quickly spoke to stop him. “Master, in my opinion, this is simply a case of a servant and a maid who were mutually interested and secretly meeting in the room. Though it was Fu’er’s lax discipline of her servants that led to such serious consequences… if this matter spreads… where would the Su family’s dignity remain?”
With a face full of concern for the household, she continued, “Since it has already happened, why not choose an auspicious day and marry Xiao Chun to Qi Chuan to settle the matter?”
Su Zhe had been married to Madam Zhou for many years and knew her character well. Seeing her demeanor now, how could he not understand? This matter must be connected to her.
However, she was not entirely wrong—this matter truly should not be blown up.
After pondering for a long time, Su Zhe finally said, “For the sake of the steward’s years of diligent service to the Su family, this matter will not be pursued further. From now on, no one is to mention it again.”
“Since things have come to this, pick an auspicious day for Qi Chuan to take Xiao Chun.” With that, Su Zhe flicked his sleeve and left.
Su Fu walked slowly to Madam Zhou’s side. Her voice was lowered to the barest whisper, yet the chill within it was bone-piercing.
Unlike before, her tone no longer carried its usual gentleness. Instead, it was cold enough to seep into one’s marrow.
Pausing briefly beside Madam Zhou, she leaned in and enunciated each word clearly: “Madam, are you satisfied with tonight’s events?”
After speaking, her expression returned to its usual cool detachment as she walked calmly back toward her room, leaving Madam Zhou frozen in place.
Madam Zhou clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.
So this wretched girl had been pretending all along… That previous meekness had all been an act!
Upon hearing he was to marry Xiao Chun, Qi Chuan immediately protested, “Madam, I don’t want to marry Xiao Chun!”
Madam Zhou pointed at him and cursed angrily, “You fool! I arranged everything for you perfectly, yet you’re so incompetent you couldn’t even figure out which woman you were sleeping with!”
Now that matters had reached this point, even if Qi Chuan was unwilling, he had no choice but to marry Xiao Chun. He consoled himself inwardly—at least Xiao Chun wasn’t bad-looking. Compared to Qiu Shuang, though, she was still lacking…
A few days later, Qiu Shuang put on a somewhat old wedding dress, packed her belongings simply, and was taken out through the Su family’s back gate. When she left, she didn’t even have a decent piece of jewelry.
On the day Xiao Chun left, Qiu Xue asked Su Fu, “Miss, Xiao Chun betrayed you. Are you really just letting her go like this?”
Su Fu’s dark eyes fell upon the flowers and plants in the courtyard. Her thin lips parted slightly. “Marrying Qi Chuan is the greatest punishment for her.”
“Eldest Sister!”
With the call, Su Ziyan entered wearing a green robe.
“Eldest Sister, I’ve come to bid you farewell. I’m returning to Hengsheng Academy!”
Hearing this, Su Fu’s expression remained calm and elegant as ever, without much change. She nodded slightly and replied indifferently, “Mm. Be careful on the road.”
Su Ziyan waited for a while. In his heart, he had secretly expected that, as before, upon hearing of his departure, Su Fu would carefully prepare many precious items for him.
But this time, he was destined to be disappointed.
Seeing the faint disappointment in his expression, Su Fu sneered inwardly.
Had he grown used to taking others’ things? Still expecting her to give him all the good items as before?
Watching her sit gracefully in her chair sipping tea, with no intention of speaking further, Su Ziyan could only leave awkwardly. As he turned away, a sly glint flashed in his eyes.
He went to Madam Zhou’s courtyard. “Mother! Su Fu is very different from before. You must keep a closer eye on her from now on,” he urged uneasily.
“I know. Focus on your studies at the academy. You needn’t worry about matters in the residence. I manage the inner household now—am I supposed to fear a mere young girl?”
Thinking of the incident with Xiao Chun, Madam Zhou’s eyes turned venomous. Through gritted teeth she said, “That little wretch is probably no longer under our control. I truly underestimated her before!”
Her voice carried both regret and resentment.
That day, Su Fu anxiously waited in her room for Qiu Xue, who had gone out. After a while, Qiu Xue returned excitedly, beads of sweat dotting her forehead from hurrying.
Panting, she rushed to Su Fu and reported eagerly, not even bothering to wipe the sweat from her brow.
“Miss, today the teahouses and restaurants along the capital’s main road were packed! Everyone was scrambling to reserve seats for tomorrow. Luckily you instructed me to go early, otherwise we wouldn’t have gotten a good spot!”
The weight hanging over Su Fu’s heart finally eased. At the thought of seeing Xiao Junhe tomorrow, she felt both excited and nervous.
That night, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
When she finally did fall asleep, she dreamed of Xiao Junhe’s death in her previous life.
In the dream, Xiao Junhe was covered in blood, his crown fallen, his black hair whipping in the wind. With the last of his strength, he thrust his sword through the enemy general’s chest.
Afterward, his body could no longer hold on, and he dropped to one knee. His bloodshot eyes, however, held a softness she had never seen before. A faint smile curved at his lips.
“A-Fu… I’m afraid… I won’t be able to protect you anymore…”
“Xiao Junhe!” Su Fu jolted awake from the dream, large beads of sweat sliding down her face.
Qiu Shuang, who was keeping night watch, heard the movement and hurried in. “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Su Fu took a deep breath. “It’s nothing. Just a nightmare.”