Early the next morning, Su Leyun went to the family school as usual.
After taking her seat, before she could even set out the four treasures of the study, Li Rui strode over to her with an imposing air and stopped in front of her.
Su Leyun calmly placed her books on the desk, then picked up a piece of pine-soot ink and began grinding it meticulously, not even sparing Li Rui a glance.
Su Wan’er watched coldly from the side, the corner of her lips curling slightly.
Clan brothers and sisters in the same school whispered among themselves, their eyes darting back and forth between the two.
The legitimate daughter had returned, and the beautiful maiden Li Rui had set his sights on had turned into a country girl overnight. Today, no one knew what kind of commotion these two would stir up.
Li Rui remained silent for a long while, but eventually couldn’t hold back any longer. His opening words were filled with scornful warning.
“Su Leyun, I’ll tell you plainly today—I will never marry you!”
Her pale fingertips held the ink stick as she ground it slowly. Su Leyun focused on the task, not lifting her head. Her tone was light and indifferent as she said, “That suits me just fine.”
Li Rui’s face flushed crimson, as if he had punched a soft cotton ball—unable to advance or retreat.
He had already spoken so harshly. Shouldn’t she be ashamed of herself? How could she remain so unshaken?
“Playing hard to get won’t work on me, Su Leyun. Even if you are the legitimate daughter, in terms of talent, learning, and character, you are utterly unworthy of entering my Li Family! I, Li Rui, will only marry Wan’er in this lifetime!”
“Whomever Young Master Li wishes to marry is none of my concern.”
Su Leyun set down the ink stick and raised her eyes to glance faintly at Li Rui. Her gaze was clear, devoid of any trace of anger.
She simply couldn’t understand how, in her past life, she could have taken a liking to such a vain, arrogant, and foolish person.
Li Rui had said the same words to her in her past life. Back then, she felt as if the sky had collapsed. She returned to her room, clutched her quilt, refused to eat or drink, and cried for three whole days.
Now, hearing it again, her heart didn’t stir in the slightest.
Seeing her complete indifference, Li Rui grew even more humiliated and angry, his voice suddenly rising.
“If you still care about the dignity of a noble family’s daughter, then abandon those crooked thoughts and stop pestering me!”
Su Leyun sighed, propped her chin on one hand, and looked quietly at Li Rui, her red lips parting slightly.
“Young Master Li, right now, between the two of us, who is the one who won’t let go?”
The others couldn’t help but chuckle softly. The whispers reached Li Rui’s ears, making him even more furious.
“She was just sitting there peacefully, but he had to go over and speak to her.”
“She said she has no interest in him, yet he doesn’t know when to stop. Could it be he still hopes she has feelings for him?”
Blood rushed to his head. Li Rui glared fiercely at Su Leyun, spat out the words, “You’d better remember what you said today!” and then stalked back to his seat in a huff.
Su Wan’er had changed expression the moment Li Rui mentioned her name. Clutching her handkerchief tightly, she secretly fumed. Today, he had openly shouted about their relationship. If he later found a better match, how could she take the initiative?
Her sinister gaze fell on Su Leyun. Su Wan’er wondered inwardly: a country bumpkin from the countryside, yet she pays no heed to the son of a Hanlin scholar’s family. Is she truly without desires, or does she have ulterior motives?
After school ended, Li Rui trailed hesitantly beside Su Wan’er. Su Leyun ignored them and headed straight back to her own courtyard. Before she even reached the gate, she heard a clamor from afar.
“This is the legitimate young lady’s courtyard! Without evidence, how dare you say you want to search it!”
“Old Madam has given the order! How dare a mere servant block the way!”
Nanny Zhang stood blocking the courtyard entrance, barring Mama Zhao from Old Madam’s side and a group of maids from entering.
Su Leyun sneered, a trace of cold indifference flickering at the corner of her eye. They claimed to be flesh and blood, yet couldn’t bear to see her have even the slightest bit of good fortune.
“Mama Zhao, what brings you here with so many people?”
Su Leyun spoke clearly, her chin slightly raised as she stepped slowly to stand beside Nanny Zhang. Her imposing presence was in no way inferior to that of the noble ladies in the capital.
Mama Zhao glanced at her and unconsciously shrank back, yet still forced herself to stand firm.
“Old Madam’s heirloom jade bracelet is missing. She ordered this servant to search everywhere.”
“Oh? Is it searching everywhere, or specifically searching my place?”
Su Leyun’s words were laced with sarcasm, directly exposing Mama Zhao’s true intentions.
Mama Zhao’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Please don’t make things difficult for this old servant, Second Miss. Old Madam has worn that bracelet for decades and treasures it dearly. Otherwise, if it were lost, it would just be lost.”
Su Leyun scoffed, seeing through the attempt to use Old Madam to pressure her.
“Since this item is so precious, Mama Zhao, with just these few people, when will you ever find it?”
She turned and instructed Chunxing to go find the steward and gather more hands, so they could thoroughly search every corner of the manor.
Chunxing, upon receiving the order, revealed a glint of schadenfreude in her brow and trotted out with small steps.
A country girl, truly thinking of herself as the legitimate young lady of the Marquis Manor. Not only did she embarrass her in public, but she also wanted to drive her out of the manor.
She had placed the bracelet with her own hands. She wanted to see just how the legitimate young lady would clear her name this time.
Mama Zhao frowned. With such a commotion, Old Madam would surely blame her for incompetence.
“Second Miss, there’s no need for trouble. We’ll search and leave.”
As soon as the words fell, Mama Zhao was about to force her way in when she was sharply stopped.
“Outrageous! Who gave you permission to search the legitimate young lady’s courtyard!”
Sun Jiarou approached swiftly, her face tinged with anger, and shielded Su Leyun.
“Mama Zhao is an old servant of the manor, how could you be so reckless? Just because something is lost, you want to search the legitimate daughter’s courtyard. If tomorrow there are rumors that harm the legitimate daughter’s reputation, can you bear the responsibility!”
Sun Jiarou spoke breathlessly, her trembling index finger pointing at Mama Zhao, clearly furious.
“Daughter-in-law, are you blaming me as well?”
Old Madam, supported by Su Wan’er’s hand, walked over from the covered corridor, her expression somber.
Su Wan’er lowered her eyes and brows, appearing gentle and kind, but the corners of her lips lifted slightly in a place no one could see.
“This daughter-in-law wouldn’t dare.”
Sun Jiarou bowed in greeting, then tightly grasped Su Leyun’s hand, squeezing it twice as if to comfort her.
“With your mother here, I won’t let anyone tarnish your reputation.”
Su Leyun saw the unspoken words in her eyes, smiled faintly, and shook her head to indicate she was fine.
Sun Jiarou took a deep breath and, after calming down somewhat, spoke slowly.
“This daughter-in-law did not mean to offend Mother-in-law. It’s just that since you’ve lost a beloved item, searching only Yun’er’s courtyard might damage her reputation.”
A young woman’s reputation was of utmost importance. If they were truly allowed to search today, regardless of the outcome, with so many mouths spreading rumors, Su Leyun would hardly escape accusations of theft.
Old Madam frowned, slightly hesitant. Seeing this, Su Wan’er immediately explained timidly.
“Mother, Grandmother is only worried about younger sister, afraid that the servants in her courtyard might have poor character and inadvertently harm her.”
The manor had always been peaceful; not even a thread of needlework had ever gone missing, let alone jewelry. The maids and servants in Su Leyun’s courtyard were all born into servant families.
These words clearly insinuated that the two maids given by her maternal grandfather were dishonest.
“Mother-in-law, those two maidservants are…”
Su Leyun tugged at Sun Jiarou’s sleeve, signaling her to say no more. Invoking her maternal grandfather at this moment would not only be of no help in resolving the matter but would instead intensify the conflict between the Sun and Su households.
“My courtyard is open for Grandmother to search as she pleases. However, if the jade bracelet is not found, what then?”