The commotion naturally drew the attention of everyone in Fuxi Hall.
Old Madam Su, Su Bingyan, Madam Zhu, and Su Xuan all came out.
Su Bingyan glanced at the crowd gathered at the hall’s entrance and said coldly, “What’s all this noise?”
Su Rui, pointing at her reddened face, immediately complained, “Father, Eldest Sister hit me!”
Su Xuan seized the opportunity to assume an air of moral superiority, her voice soft and gentle: “Eldest Sister, if Fourth Sister offended you, you should show some forbearance. After all, we’re all sisters. If there’s an issue, we can discuss it civilly—why must it come to hitting?”
Sisters? Su Hua heard this from Su Xuan’s mouth and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. When they bullied, humiliated, and framed the original Miss Su, did they ever consider themselves her sisters?
Su Hua sneered coldly: “Show forbearance? Shouldn’t you ask what Su Rui just said? If those words spread, Father, you would bear the guilt. The Prime Minister’s residence is dissatisfied with Prince Ning, dissatisfied with the Emperor’s decree, dissatisfied with the royal family, and…”
“Enough!” Su Bingyan cut her off sharply, his voice stern. “What exactly happened?”
A servant who had witnessed the earlier scene stepped forward and recounted everything in detail.
Su Rui lowered her head, suddenly deflated.
Seeing this, Lady Yang quickly pleaded, “Prime Minister, Rui’er is still young; she only spoke without thinking just now.”
Su Bingyan’s voice was cold: “Young? She’s fifteen, not a three-year-old child. If her careless words reach the outside world or the Emperor’s ears, do you think His Majesty would consider them mere carelessness?”
Indeed. Everyone knew that Prince Ning was crippled, but no one dared to openly speak of it, because regardless, Prince Ning was a royal prince, the Emperor’s brother.
Even if the Emperor harbored resentment toward his brother, publicly insulting Prince Ning would damage the royal family’s honor—and the Emperor would never allow such audacity.
Lady Yang stammered, “Prime Minister, I—”
Su Bingyan cut her off: “Silence. Take her back to your own courtyard and properly discipline her. Without my order, she is not to step outside the gate.”
Su Rui pleaded, “Father, I know my mistake. I won’t do it again. Please forgive me this once.”
Su Bingyan’s expression was stern and unyielding: “Take her away.”
As Su Rui was led off, she shot Su Hua a murderous glare. Damn her! It’s all that wretched bitch’s fault!
Seeing this, Lady Yang and Su Die could do nothing but leave, still throwing glares at Su Hua as they went.
Su Hua paid them no mind. Instead, she looked at Su Xuan and taunted, “Second Sister, Fourth Sister has been grounded. Are you not going to keep pretending to be virtuous so Father will spare her?”
Su Xuan gritted her teeth, her hands clenching instinctively. Her gentle expression was about to crack. There was nothing she could do—she could never openly oppose her father.
Old Madam Su saw Su Xuan’s predicament and smoothly changed the subject: “Enough. It’s early morning and noisy. No need to pay respects. Dismissed.”
This old lady was truly biased. Su Hua’s lips curled in a mocking smile. She didn’t linger, departing gracefully.
Once Su Hua left, the three concubines—Han, the fifth young lady Su Han, and fourth concubine Liu—each bowed to Old Madam Su and answered, “Yes, grandmother,” before withdrawing.
Old Madam Su then spoke to Su Bingyan and Madam Zhu: “You two may leave. Let Xuan’er stay and chat with me.”
Su Bingyan and Madam Zhu left Fuxi Hall together.
Inside, Old Madam Su guided Su Xuan back and gently patted her hand, her face full of warmth and love.
“Our Xuan’er’s talent and beauty surpass all in the capital. And soon she will marry into Prince Jing’s residence, a status of gold and jade. There’s no need to let unrelated matters trouble her.”
“Grandmother speaks wisely, but…” Su Xuan thought of all the obstacles Su Hua had caused her over the past two days, and her heart could not feel at ease.
Old Madam Su continued: “Xuan’er, you arranged, using Prince Jing, to marry Su Hua off to Prince Ning, a crippled man. That is already a tremendous humiliation for her.”
“But Grandmother, I truly did not expect that she could survive after all that,” Su Xuan admitted.
“She was merely lucky this time. Next time, luck may not favor her,” Old Madam Su said kindly. “Xuan’er is the one truly worthy of the Prime Minister’s pride.”
Su Xuan nodded. Yesterday, when she went to see Su Hua, her plan had been to let her know—though dead, even her memorial tablet would be married to a cripple.
Hmph! It was good that the wretched girl hadn’t died. The daily thought of marrying a cripple would still be a constant humiliation.
As Grandmother said, next time, Su Hua would surely die. Only then would Su Xuan be praised by the entire capital as the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter.
Su Xuan nestled close to Old Madam Su, speaking sweetly: “Grandmother spoils Xuan’er the most.”
Old Madam Su smiled at the sight, satisfied that her granddaughter understood. “Silly child. If I didn’t love you, who else would I?”
…
Lan Yue Pavilion
Su Hua returned to her room and casually tossed the imperial edict onto a nearby table.
Granny Xia carefully picked it up and, concerned, said, “Miss, earlier outside Fuxi Hall… what about Second Concubine’s side?”
Su Hua remained calm: “No matter what, Prince Ning is now my fiancé. I cannot control what others say behind my back, but if they speak in front of me, they need a lesson. Even Madam Zhu I do not regard; a mere concubine—what power is she?”
Yun Shuang nodded in agreement: “Miss is right. Previously, Fourth Miss often whispered unpleasant things behind your back. I think two slaps from you would have been too few.”
Su Hua smiled. “There will be plenty of opportunities later. No rush—take it slow.”
Just then, she sensed someone outside the courtyard.
Last night, she had drunk the spring water from her spatial sanctuary. Then she had picked herbs from the medicinal fields and made a medicinal bath with the spring water. Her body had fully recovered.
Though to reach the level she had in her previous life would require training and practice, the spring water’s effects were extraordinary. It not only strengthened the body but heightened perception, sharpening the senses.
“Yun Shuang, go check who is outside.”
Without hesitation, Yun Shuang obeyed.
Soon she returned, respectfully reporting: “Miss, it’s Fourth Concubine Liu outside. She says she has business to see you.”
Granny Xia looked puzzled. “Miss, Fourth Concubine Liu has been in the household only two years but is greatly favored by the Prime Minister. Unfortunately, she suffered two consecutive miscarriages, which slightly reduced the Prime Minister’s favor. Why would she come to see Miss now?”
Su Hua was also slightly surprised. She then instructed Yun Shuang: “Go invite her in.”
Yun Shuang replied respectfully, “Yes, Miss.”