“You’re lying!”
Yuchuan knelt on the ground, looking at Yu Yao in disbelief.
Yu Yao’s gaze flickered slightly before she gritted her teeth and hardened her heart. “Though we are sisters, no bond of affection can outweigh loyalty.”
After speaking, she exchanged a meaningful glance with the other two maids who had been beaten. Understanding her intent, they both pointed the finger at Yuchuan.
Among the four, Yuchuan was the most honest, only ever working quietly without complaint. She had never gained Su Wan’er’s favor, making her the perfect scapegoat.
Yuchuan had no way to defend herself. She crawled on her knees to Su Wan’er, desperately kowtowing.
“Miss, please believe me, it really wasn’t me! I didn’t do it!”
Su Wan’er cast a look of disgust at the maid prostrate on the floor, a cold sneer curling her lips as she kicked her away viciously.
“You didn’t? So they all conspired to frame you?”
Su Wan’er lifted Yuchuan’s chin, her watery eyes glinting with venom, cold and terrifying.
Yuchuan met her gaze, trembling uncontrollably, pleading for mercy again and again.
Outsiders praised the eldest daughter of the Marquis Manor as amiable and compassionate, with a heart of a bodhisattva. Only those who served her closely knew that Su Wan’er had a terrible temper, quick to beat or scold them at the slightest displeasure.
Now that she had been framed, Yuchuan feared she would be beaten half to death.
“You’ve made me suffer such humiliation, and you still have the nerve to ask me to spare you!”
Su Wan’er slapped Yuchuan’s pale, gaunt face hard, her anger still unappeased. She turned and ordered two nannies.
“Beat her, beat her hard. After that, sell her to the lowest brothel.”
Yuchuan collapsed to the floor, her eyes wide with terror as the two nannies approached, gagged her mouth, and rained blows upon her body with inch-wide paddles.
In less than half an incense stick’s time, Yuchuan lay crumpled on the ground, her breathing faint.
One of the maids couldn’t bear to watch and turned her head away, witnessing Yuchuan being carried off by the servants.
Seeing the matter concluded, Xue Huan entered the room to report to Su Wan’er.
Su Wan’er sat on the couch, offering no comment. Her phoenix eyes, swollen like walnuts, stared fixedly at the jade bracelet on her wrist.
Receiving no response, Xue Huan stood trembling by her side.
Su Wan’er removed the jade bracelet and carefully placed it in a brocade box. Leaning back against the chair, she spoke coldly.
“What do you think about Yuchuan’s situation?”
Her knees weakened, and Xue Huan fell to the floor with a thud, pleading for mercy repeatedly.
“Miss, I am loyal to you, absolutely without any disloyalty!”
Su Wan’er scoffed, reaching out to help Xue Huan up from the floor. She toyed with her red-painted nails, her voice icy. “Do you think your mistress is so easily fooled?”
In truth, she had seen Yu Yao exchanging glances with the other two maids. Yuchuan had always been timid and subservient in her presence—she wouldn’t dare to betray her even if given the courage.
The day’s events had made it clear to her that the incident with the jade bracelet wasn’t the work of any of them. But if she didn’t produce a scapegoat, how could she save face after making such a fuss only to let it go lightly? How could she manage her subordinates and warn others?
Xue Huan, who had grown up by Su Wan’er’s side, quickly grasped her meaning. She shivered involuntarily, her heart turning cold.
“Earlier, when I sent you and Nanny Zhang to fetch the second young miss, did you notice anything?”
Xue Huan recounted everything that had happened on the journey in detail.
The more Su Wan’er listened, the tighter her frown became. When they first met, the girl had been a timid country bumpkin, but she had changed along the way.
It seemed Nanny Zhang had put considerable effort into shaping her.
Now with Prince Jin’s support, once Su Leyun is entered into the family register tomorrow, she will rightfully become the legitimate daughter.
How could a mere country girl outrank her?
“You may leave now.”
Su Wan’er let out a soft sigh, took the brocade box, and went alone to Old Madam’s quarters.
The night was deep, the full moon hung high, and the winter wind cut through the bone with its icy chill.
As soon as Su Wan’er entered the moon gate, Mama Zhao hurried over from afar with a lantern to light her way.
“Old Madam knew you would come, so she had me leave the door open for you.”
“I’ve troubled you, Mama, waiting outside for me in such cold weather.”
With a faint smile at the corner of her lips, Su Wan’er discreetly slipped a silver ingot into Mama Zhao’s hand.
After some polite refusal, Mama Zhao accepted it. Weighing it in her hand, she beamed with delight.
She quickly lifted the door curtain for Su Wan’er to enter.
Inside the bedroom, candlelight flickered. Old Madam sat on the couch, eyes half-closed, her fingers slowly turning a string of prayer beads.
Not daring to disturb her, Su Wan’er stood obediently to the side, picked up the silver scissors, and trimmed the candle wick.
“Sit down.”
After a long while, Old Madam finally spoke, slowly setting down the prayer beads and gazing calmly at Su Wan’er.
Su Wan’er dared not sit. Holding the brocade box in both hands, she presented it to Old Madam. Before she could speak, her eyes reddened, and tears began to fall in a steady stream.
Seeing her like this, Old Madam sighed, placed the brocade box on the table, and said helplessly, “I haven’t even scolded you yet. Why are you crying?”
Handing a handkerchief to Su Wan’er, Old Madam pulled her to sit beside her.
“Wan’er knows Grandmother believes in me. I just feel wronged in my heart.”
Su Wan’er covered her face with the handkerchief, tears falling silently. Old Madam gently stroked her head, letting her lean on her shoulder.
She then opened the brocade box, took out a jade bracelet, and slipped it onto Su Wan’er’s wrist.
“This is a family heirloom. Now it’s the perfect time to give it to you. Wear it tomorrow when you meet the elders of the clan.”
The cool jade brushed against her skin. Su Wan’er stopped crying, sniffling as she tried to remove the bracelet.
“This is Grandmother’s beloved treasure. Wan’er cannot accept it.”
Old Madam held her hand, preventing her from taking it off, her tone a mix of doting and reproach.
“It’s because it’s a beloved treasure that I’m giving it to you. Remember, Wan’er, no one can surpass you in my eyes.”
Su Wan’er’s nose tingled with emotion. She looked up at Old Madam, her expression pitiful and delicate.
“Grandmother, Wan’er only has you.”
Old Madam sighed, patting her back as she comforted her softly.
“I see that the eldest son of the Li Family is truly sincere toward you. Once this matter settles, I will go to the Li residence and discuss with their old madam to finalize your marriage.”
Hearing this, Su Wan’er’s brows furrowed slightly. She stiffened and pulled away from Old Madam’s embrace.
“Grandmother, I wish to stay with you for a few more years. I don’t want to marry yet.”
Old Madam chuckled at her words, stroking the top of her head and gazing fondly at her granddaughter, who had grown into such a graceful young woman.
“Silly child, I am old and cannot protect you forever. What happened today may very well happen again in the future.”
Old Madam seemed to recall something, her eyes reddening slightly, but she forced the emotion down.
While she was still here, someone dared to frame Wan’er over the jade bracelet. Once she was gone, who knew how difficult Wan’er’s situation in the Su household would become.
With the legitimate daughter’s return, Wan’er’s position was already awkward. To make matters worse, that girl Leyun was capable, backed not only by the Guardian General’s household but now also favored by Prince Jin.
The manor had always been a place where people fawned over the powerful and trampled on the weak. Rather than staying cooped up in Marquis Manor, enduring such foul treatment, it would be far better to marry into the Li Family early and become the mistress of the household, where life would be stable and carefree.