During the following half‑month, aside from the servants occasionally withholding her food, clothing, and daily necessities, Su Liuyue’s days were otherwise quiet.
Just as Er’an had said, the household servants had never truly respected her. In the past, they only pretended because of her status. Now, they didn’t even bother with the act. They rarely came near her courtyard at all.
Madam Guo, however, did keep her word. Not long after returning that day, she sent Su Liuyue’s head maid, Meixiang, to deliver the deed to the pastry shop that had belonged to her birth mother. After handing it over, Meixiang gave her two disdainful looks before leaving arrogantly.
Ersi was so furious she nearly dragged Meixiang back to slap her across the face.
Su Liuyue, however, didn’t bother with such things. Rather than wasting energy on the servants’ arrogance, she focused on the real question—why had they not shown such contempt before, but only now?
She didn’t believe it was simply because the original mistress had made mistakes. A master was still a master, no matter how foolish. Servants had no right to openly scorn her.
Unless Madam Guo had given tacit permission.
In Madam Guo’s eyes, there was no longer any need to maintain the façade of a kind mother and dutiful daughter. Because something was about to happen to her—either she would be forced to leave the Su household, or she would die.
The servants’ behavior only confirmed Su Liuyue’s growing unease.
Unfortunately, Ersi’s attempts to gather information were unsuccessful. Time and again, she returned, tearfully complaining that no one would speak to her. Even those who had once been friendly now acted strangely, avoiding her altogether.
Su Liuyue wasn’t surprised.
These people depended on the Su family for their livelihood. They must have caught wind of something in advance, which was why they kept their distance.
Though her unease grew heavier, Su Liuyue could only remain patient. “Take your time. There’s no rush. Ask when you find the chance. Whatever you can learn, however little, will be enough.”
Ersi: “Yes!”
Finally, just as half a month was about to pass, Ersi managed to uncover some news.
That evening, after Su Liuyue had finished her supper, she was reclining on the long couch reading when Ersi suddenly rushed in, her little face flushed bright red. “Miss, Miss! I’ve found out something! They say Master and Madam have been frequently entertaining a certain General Wu these days! Just now, when I took your dishes to the kitchen after supper, I happened to overhear some of the cooks talking about it, so I quickly hid myself nearby. Apparently, this General Wu is someone important—part of the Shenwu Army. I don’t really understand Shenwu Army or Ghost Army, but the cooks said that the unit is formidable, one of the main forces that fought alongside the new emperor to win the realm. And the supreme commander of that army is none other than the Crown Prince himself!”
“Master and Madam treat this General Wu with great respect, inviting him often to banquets. It’s said that just the fine wine they’ve brought in to entertain him filled several carts! One cook said that once, when she went to serve dishes, she caught sight of him and was terrified. Truly a man who has fought on battlefields—his arms were as thick as two of her thighs, his face fierce, his voice booming like thunder, and his eyes like a beast prowling the forest. If he looked at you once, you’d be scared half to death. But what shocked her most was… was…”
Seeing the little maid stammer, her face full of embarrassment, it was clear that the next words were hard to say.
Su Liuyue’s heart sank. “What is it? Speak quickly!”
Ersi bit her lip, almost in tears. “The cook said that when she went in, Master and Madam were watching the dancing girls perform. That General Wu seemed to take a fancy to one of them, and right there in front of everyone, he dragged her over and began pawing her…”
For a young maid not yet married, saying such things was truly difficult.
Ersi’s voice trembled, but she forced herself to finish. “The cook said the scene was unbearable to watch, so she turned her head away. That night, General Wu stayed in our residence. He didn’t leave until nearly noon the next day. But the dancer he had taken a liking to didn’t leave—she remained in the estate. They said that night she supposedly fell and injured herself, her whole body covered in bruises. Master and Madam, being kind, let her stay, even called a doctor for her, and after several days of recovery, she finally left. Yet that cook said the dancer hadn’t fallen at all—she was clearly battered by General Wu’s abuse…”
“Good heavens!”
Er’an couldn’t help but cover her mouth, scolding softly: “What use is it to dig up such things? Stop—don’t sully our young lady’s ears…”
Su Liuyue, however, let out a bitter laugh, enunciating each word: “No, the news you’ve uncovered is very useful.”
This couple was even more repulsive than she had imagined.
Su Weili was indeed restless—climbing up to the Zheng family wasn’t enough, now he had somehow latched onto this General Wu. Clearly, he intended to use General Wu to secure his footing in the new dynasty. And if she wasn’t mistaken, their next step would be to marry her off to this General Wu!
Ersi and Er’an froze, realizing the same thing at the same time, their faces turning pale.
Er’an stammered: “No… no, surely not. Master and Madam wouldn’t do such a thing to you, Miss…”
Su Liuyue gave a cold snort. “No matter what they’re planning, we cannot sit and wait for doom. Tomorrow my confinement ends—I’ll first go to my mother’s pastry shop.”
Disgusting as it was, knowing their scheme actually gave her some relief.
Once she understood their aims and intentions, she could counter them move by move. The most urgent matter now was to find a way to break free from this household’s control. Yet in this world, life for women was already difficult—let alone for Su Liuyue, newly arrived, with no foundation at all. To escape this family’s grasp was no easy task. Still, however hard, she had to try. The first step was to make money—the more, the better. With money, she would have the means to stand on her own.
The next morning, Su Liuyue rose and set out with Ersi and Er’an.
Since half a month had already passed, the gatekeeper merely glanced at her, gave a perfunctory bow, and let her through.
As soon as she stepped outside, Su Liuyue hired a carriage straight to her birth mother’s pastry shop.
The shop was located on Chang’an Street in the new capital. Though not the busiest street, it housed an academy, and at class times many students passed by—so the foot traffic was steady.
The driver didn’t know exactly where the shop was along the street, so once they reached Chang’an Street, Su Liuyue had to get down and search on foot.
It was nearly noon, and the street was quiet, with only a few passersby here and there.
As she walked along, suddenly she saw a crowd gathered outside a shop in the distance. Among them were government officers in black narrow-sleeved robes with red half-coats, long knives at their waists, moving in and out.
Her steps faltered—an ominous feeling rose in her chest.
Just then, a mother and son passed by. The mother tugged her boy, who craned his neck to watch the commotion, and muttered: “What a sin! That Man Yifang shop has been an old brand for over ten years, and who would have thought the shopkeeper was a murderer! He always seemed so honest and decent. Tsk tsk, truly you can’t judge a man by his looks…”
Su Liuyue’s heart sank instantly. She quickened her pace toward the crowd.