Su Leyun hesitated, twisting her handkerchief in her hands, unsure where to begin.
If she revealed the truth of that night, not only would it worry both of them, but it might also strain the relationship between Prince Jin and her brother.
With Prince Jin currently holding significant influence, there was no need to offend a prince over a minor matter.
Su Leyun racked her brains to find a suitable explanation, unaware that her demeanor held a different meaning in Sun Jiarou’s eyes.
Sun Jiarou took Su Leyun’s hand, a knowing smile in her eyes, speaking like someone who had been through it all: “Mother knows Yun’er is shy. It’s alright, you don’t have to say it if you don’t want to.”
Unable to contain her joy, Sun Jiarou paced back and forth in the room, secretly calculating in her mind.
“Prince Jin is a rare talent among the younger generation, of noble birth, with outstanding character and learning. No wonder my Yun’er couldn’t take a liking to that boy from the Li Family.”
“But the imperial family is not like ordinary households. I should hire a nanny for you soon and have two new sets of jewelry made for you to wear at the spring banquet…”
Listening to her mother meticulously planning every detail for her, Su Leyun felt both moved and sorrowful.
Prince Jin had only hinted at his intentions, yet Sun Jiarou was already eager to arrange the next several decades of her life with utmost care. Unfortunately, Prince Jin was far from a suitable match for her, and she feared she would ultimately disappoint her mother.
“Mother.”
Su Leyun tugged at Sun Jiarou’s sleeve, pulling her back to sit beside her, and said coquettishly, “Mother, look how anxious you are, as if you can’t wait for your daughter to marry tomorrow.”
Sun Jiarou gently stroked Su Leyun’s hair, caressing it softly.
“Of course, Mother is reluctant to part with you. But a girl must marry eventually. If I don’t plan for you early, all the good young men will be taken by others, and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”
“Then I won’t marry! I’ll stay with Mother forever!”
Su Leyun nestled into Sun Jiarou’s embrace, playfully sticking out her tongue.
“Exactly, nothing is settled yet. My sister just returned, and I can’t bear to see her marry so soon.”
Su Ye, who had been ignored for a while, rubbed his nose and began eating the peeled pine nuts on the table.
Regardless of Prince Jin’s true intentions, his sister was not yet of marriageable age. She should stay at home for a few more years and enjoy a carefree life before anything else.
Sun Jiarou gave her son a reproachful look and pondered for a moment.
“Prince Jin came today to give us a hint. When the time is right, he will naturally seek His Majesty’s favor for a marriage decree.”
At these words, Su Leyun’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She muttered to herself that if Prince Jin truly obtained an imperial decree, she would have to marry him, no matter how unwilling she was.
Not to mention the dangers of the struggle for the throne, Prince Jin himself was fated to die young. According to the events of her past life, he would meet his end in a tiger attack during the spring hunt in a few months.
The thought of that cold, stern man dying in such a manner stirred an inexplicable heaviness in Su Leyun’s heart.
Before she could dwell on it further, Sun Jiarou called Nanny Zhang over and carefully instructed her on the attire and etiquette for the family registry ceremony the next day.
“All the elders of the clan will be here tomorrow, Yun’er. Don’t be afraid. Mother will be by your side the whole time.”
Su Leyun nodded obediently. Based on her past life’s experience, most of the clan elders were easy to get along with. Since it was just a matter of entering the family registry, she didn’t expect them to give her a hard time.
“Alright, you’ve had a busy day. Rest early.”
Sun Jiarou left with Su Ye.
Su Leyun watched them walk away before instructing the servants to close the doors of the main hall.
“Nanny, summon all the maids from my room.”
Nanny Zhang understood that she wanted to establish discipline through the matter of Chunxing and promptly went to carry out the order.
In no time, the main hall was crowded with three rows of maidservants standing shoulder to shoulder. They whispered among themselves, discussing the events that had occurred during the day.
Su Leyun sat in the master’s seat, resting her chin on one hand, her gaze coldly sweeping over the crowd. With her other hand, she lightly tapped the tabletop, remaining silent for a long while.
As time passed, the maidservants gradually quieted down, lowering their eyes and not daring to speak.
“You must have all heard about Chunxing’s matter.”
“Working here at Morning Glory Cottage, the quality I value most is loyalty. If any of you find me an unsatisfactory mistress, you are free to seek better prospects elsewhere now.”
Su Leyun signaled to Lianxin with a glance, who immediately took out a money pouch and poured its contents onto the table.
High-quality silver ingots clinked and jingled, gleaming with a soft, silvery light under the candlelight.
“As we have shared a master-servant relationship, I will provide you with some money for your livelihood.”
As her words fell, the maidservants exchanged glances and knelt in unison.
“We dare not, Mistress.”
“Are you truly unwilling to leave?”
Su Leyun looked at them and asked in return.
“We wish to serve the young lady for a lifetime.”
The maidservants kowtowed, declaring their loyalty in unison. At present, the Second Young Lady was someone Prince Jin valued highly. Only a fool would let go of such a prized opportunity.
“Good. I will remember your words today. If anyone in the future behaves like Chunxing, their fate will be even worse than hers.”
Su Leyun spoke slowly and deliberately, her sharp words striking fear into the hearts of the maidservants.
Everyone kowtowed, not daring to rise. Some of the older maidservants secretly marveled—they had assumed the Second Young Lady, having grown up in the countryside, would be weak and easy to bully, but her methods were unexpectedly firm.
“All of you, rise. Lianxin, distribute these silver ingots among everyone.”
Amidst the chorus of gratitude, Su Leyun returned directly to her room. Sitting before the bronze mirror, she removed her hairpins and ornaments, gazing at her reflection with a cold smile.
Su Wan’er, I wonder if you are satisfied with today’s surprise?
All the grievances of my past life, I will repay a hundredfold in this one.
In Peony Garden, the lights were ablaze. In the main hall, servants knelt in rows, bowing low, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Su Wan’er pressed a handkerchief to her red, swollen eyes from crying and angrily threw a teacup at the servants before her. Shattered porcelain scattered everywhere, and several maidservants kneeling at the front were cut by the shards but dared not utter a word.
Xue Huan stood by her side, gently soothing her, moving carefully for fear of accidentally displeasing Su Wan’er and suffering the consequences.
“Tell me! How did this jade bracelet end up in my room!”
Her sinister gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on the senior maidservants who served in her room.
Her courtyard had always been strictly regulated. Aside from a few senior maidservants, no one else could enter her bedroom.
“I have treated you all well, yet you repay me by helping outsiders harm me!”
“Beat them! Beat them hard until they talk!”
As her words fell, two nannies stepped forward, slapping the faces of two senior maidservants with full force.
The remaining two senior maidservants stood to the side, trembling and weeping, tears streaming down their faces in panic and helplessness.
Xue Huan looked at the two sisters’ already swollen cheeks and secretly felt relieved.
Fortunately, she had been running errands for the young lady outside these past two days, or she too would have been unable to escape this ordeal today.
The two maidservants were beaten until their hair was disheveled and blood trickled from the corners of their mouths, yet they endured the pain, not daring to cry out. Seeing that it was enough, the nannies stopped and walked over to the other two.
Her calloused hand had just been raised high when a maid knelt to the ground, pointing at another maid and saying, “Miss, that day I saw with my own eyes Yuchuan sneaking into your room, and it seemed… it seemed like she was even groping around on your bed…”