Time passed in the blink of an eye.
Soon, it was the morning of the next day.
A maidservant walked lightly to the door of Su Nuohan’s room and reported in a low voice, “Young Madam, someone has come from your maternal family. Madam has asked this servant to inform you.”
Maternal family? Su Nuohan, who had just woken up, sat up from the bed, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.
Why would the Su family send someone? Could it be that Adjutant Qin had already delivered those fifty silver dollars last night to humiliate them, and the Su family, unable to swallow their anger, had come early in the morning?
Doubts filled her mind, but since the Su family had come looking for her, she also wanted to see what kind of wonderful expressions they now had.
“Young Madam…” The maidservant outside, seeing no response, called softly again.
Su Nuohan steadied herself and replied in a clear voice, “I’m up. I’ll get up now. Go tell Madam that I will go over after washing up and changing clothes.”
“Yes, Young Madam.” After receiving the response, the maidservant turned and went downstairs.
Su Nuohan washed up and dressed unhurriedly. She chose a high-quality emerald green qipao with a low-key design. It neither dishonored the identity of the Young Marshal’s wife nor appeared overly ostentatious.
When she arrived downstairs in the living room, she saw only Madam Fu leisurely drinking tea alone.
“Mother.” Su Nuohan greeted her with a slight bow, a trace of confusion on her face.
Seeing her come down, Madam Fu set down her teacup and smiled warmly. “Nuohan, you’re here.”
Su Nuohan nodded. “Mother, the maidservant just said that someone from the Su family has come…”
“Yes, yes, they’ve come. They’re waiting outside the gate,” Madam Fu replied.
“Outside the gate?” Su Nuohan looked slightly surprised.
“Oh, Nuohan, don’t misunderstand.” Madam Fu, afraid she might overthink, explained gently, “I invited him in, but he insisted on staying outside. I couldn’t force him inside.”
Upon hearing this, Su Nuohan smiled knowingly. “Mother, what are you saying? How could your daughter-in-law misunderstand? This is the Young Marshal’s residence after all, a military headquarters. It is only proper for outsiders to be cautious when coming here. It avoids unnecessary trouble. If it affected military affairs, that would be a serious offense.”
Madam Fu nodded in satisfaction, finding her daughter-in-law increasingly sensible and considerate of the bigger picture. “You girl, it’s not as serious as you make it sound.”
Su Nuohan smiled faintly and bowed again. “Then Mother, I will go take a look at the gate first.”
“Alright, go ahead. If anything happens, call for someone at any time,” Madam Fu said with a smile.
Su Nuohan moved gracefully, and under the accompaniment of a maidservant, she walked toward the imposing gate of the Young Marshal’s residence.
There, Su family butler Uncle Wang was pacing anxiously alone at the foot of the stone steps. He looked haggard, his clothes wrinkled, completely lacking his usual dignity.
When he saw Su Nuohan come out, he seemed to see a savior and hurried forward a few steps, but was stopped by the stern gaze of the armed guards at the gate and did not dare to approach further.
“Uncle Wang?” Su Nuohan appropriately showed just the right amount of surprise and concern. “Why have you come?”
As she spoke, her eyes swept past Uncle Wang but did not see Su Yaohua or Lin Wanfang, which made her even more suspicious.
Uncle Wang rubbed his hands together, his face full of panic. Lowering his voice but unable to hide his anxiety, he said, “Oh my, Eldest Miss, I’ve finally seen you. Something has happened in the residence—something terrible!”
“What? Something happened? What happened?” Su Nuohan asked in feigned shock.
“Oh no, the house was robbed! Master of the House… Madam sent this old servant to urgently ask you to return home at once!”
“Robbed?” Su Nuohan frowned slightly, quickly calculating in her mind.
It seemed it was not about those fifty silver dollars.
She put on a worried expression and asked softly, “Uncle Wang, don’t panic. Speak slowly. What exactly happened? Where are Father and Mother? Why did they not come personally?”
Uncle Wang wiped sweat from his forehead, unable to care about details anymore, and spoke rapidly, “Master of the House has been so angered that he fell ill and cannot get out of bed! Madam is taking care of him and cannot leave! The Second Young Miss is still young and cannot travel far.”
“Eldest Miss, you don’t understand. Before dawn today, this old servant rushed here in haste. Please, come back with me quickly!”
“Wait, Uncle Wang, what exactly does it mean that the house was robbed? You must explain clearly!”
“Oh! There’s no time! Please just come back and see for yourself!”
Su Nuohan frowned, deliberately showing slight displeasure. “Uncle Wang, if you do not explain clearly and still ask me to go back, I am only on my second day of marriage. If I return with you like this, where will my husband’s family put their face? How will I live peacefully here in the future?”
Butler Wang froze for a moment, feeling that what she said made sense.
After thinking it over, he said, “Eldest Miss, how about this? You just tell your in-laws that something serious has happened at home and you need to return.”
Su Nuohan let out a cold laugh upon hearing this. “Uncle Wang, you are already of age. Since when does a newlywed bride return to her maternal home on the second day of marriage? Besides, you won’t even say what happened. How could I possibly go with you?”
“I… you… sigh!” Butler Wang sighed and finally explained that the Su residence had been robbed.
Upon hearing this, Su Nuohan laughed. “Oh, I thought it was something serious. It’s just some lost money. Is there really a need to be so anxious?”
“What? Just some lost money? Oh my goodness, Eldest Miss! That was the entire fortune of the Su family accumulated over generations!”
Su Nuohan waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, just over generations’ worth of money. Our Su family is large and powerful, with industries all over Yun City. That little bit of money is nothing serious. I believe Father can earn it back again.”
Butler Wang was nearly frantic. “No, Eldest Miss, it’s not about whether it can be earned back—it’s…”
He sighed again. “Please, just come back with this old servant!”
Su Nuohan shook her head. “I will not return. I am not a detective who can catch thieves, nor a deity who can conjure money. What use would I be if I go back? You should return.”
After speaking, she turned and prepared to leave.
“Eldest Miss…” Butler Wang quickly called out, rushing forward a few steps.
Su Nuohan stopped and turned back. “Uncle Wang, go back.”
Seeing her firm attitude, Butler Wang became as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Ignoring the intimidation of the guards, he rushed forward and cried out with a trembling voice, “Eldest Miss! Please wait! Listen to me! It’s not just money that’s gone—it’s everything! The treasury, the accounting office, all the jewelry and valuables from each household, even the rice, flour, oil, and food in the kitchen, even the clothes and bedding in the young ladies’ rooms… everything is gone!”
“Master of the House vomited blood on the spot after discovering it! Madam also fell ill! There is not even rice left to cook in the entire residence!”
“All those relatives and friends who used to flatter us now refuse to even open their doors. We are truly at a dead end. That is why Madam sent this old servant to beg you!”
He practically shouted out the true tragedy of the Su family, his aged face covered in tears, despair written all over him.
Su Nuohan froze in place, then slowly turned around. Her face showed extreme shock and disbelief at the right moment. She even covered her mouth with her hand, her voice trembling. “W-what…? It has… it has come to such an extent? Even food and clothing…”
She acted as if she had just learned the full truth, shaken by the horrifying situation.
“Yes, Eldest Miss,” Butler Wang cried.
Su Nuohan shook her head. “It seems Father will have to start over. Sigh… it is only my fault for being unable to help him.”
After speaking, she turned and walked straight back into the residence without looking back.
Butler Wang called after her several times, but she did not respond.