Episode Eleven: A Heart of Compassion

Old Mother Zhou held Yu Shengsheng tightly, refusing to let go.

"This old slave’s leg was broken by the order of the Princess. In this General’s Mansion, no one is willing to use me; only you did not look down on me. I am your person, Miss Sheng."

Old Mother Zhou’s face was covered in tears. "I beg you, Miss, for your own sake and for Nurse Wu, do not be impulsive."

Yu Shengsheng’s body shuddered as she looked down at her.

"Miss, you must prioritize the big picture!"

Yu Shengsheng closed her eyes slightly. The big picture—she had to prioritize the big picture. She had to take Nurse Wu away from here safely, along with Brother Zhuo. If she did not endure this now, the number of blows dealt to Nurse Wu would only increase.

"Fine. I... will not... go."

She ground the words out through clenched teeth, carving this lesson into her heart. From now on, she would have to be even more cautious, never allowing anyone to find a single fault in her.

She stood in the courtyard, motionless, listening to the sound of the wooden board striking Nurse Wu, though she could not hear a single cry of pain from the old woman. Each strike seemed to land on her own heart, the agony spreading to her limbs until no part of her was spared.

Thirty-one.

She counted silently in her heart. Exactly thirty-one.

The commotion outside gradually faded, and Nurse Wu was dragged away. Old Mother Zhou, still holding onto Yu Shengsheng, remained filled with worry. "Miss Sheng, you must not go now; you must endure a while longer."

"I know."

...

In the Old Madam’s courtyard.

The Old Madam leaned against a silk-covered bolster, clutching her sandalwood prayer beads, listening to Nurse Zhao’s report of the incident.

"In this old servant’s view, she is truly afraid. When the Second Young Master wanted to intercede for her, she wouldn't allow it, and the Second Young Master was left in quite a temper."

The Old Madam’s eyes were half-closed, her back straight as she sat in meditation. "Afraid? I think she is capable of endurance. Such fortitude is not something everyone possesses."

Nurse Zhao chuckled. "Are you overestimating her? She is only sixteen, after all."

The Old Madam rotated her beads, her tone merciful. "Enough. As long as she remains sensible, we shall leave it at that. In any case, it won't be long before she proves useful, so there is no need for me to worry further."

"Yes."

...

As night fell completely, Yu Shengsheng took out a cloak she had prepared and hurried out of the courtyard. Ruzhu had long since gone to rest, and Old Mother Zhou was left to watch the yard.

Crossing through the quiet courtyard and walking down the deserted paths, Yu Shengsheng finally reached the quarters where Nurse Wu resided. It was pitch black, silent, and empty.

"Grandma."

Yu Shengsheng dared not light a lamp. She held back her tears, terrified that if she let them fall, they would blur her vision and prevent her from seeing clearly.

Nurse Wu managed to open her eyes and forced a smile, struggling to sit up, only to collapse back down.

Yu Shengsheng hurried to support her. "Don't move. I’ve brought herbs; I will apply them for you."

That afternoon, while enduring the agony in her courtyard, she had drawn a sketch of the herbs and sent Old Mother Zhou to the garden to gather a few.

Nurse Wu suppressed her pain. "It’s alright. The Old Madam bestowed medicine upon me; it is excellent, and someone has already applied it."

Yu Shengsheng bit her lip in silence, looking at the medicine bottle on the table. It was indeed high-quality medicine. The Old Madam’s style remained consistent: outwardly merciful and gentle in speech, yet possessing thunderous methods, never showing a moment's hesitation.

Yu Shengsheng reapplied the medicine and bandaged the wounds. Seeing the mangled flesh, she turned her head away, tears streaming down her face. She wiped them away forcefully and took hold of Nurse Wu’s hand. The old and the young remained in silence, looking at one another.

On her way back, Yu Shengsheng’s hem brushed against the weeds by the path. She was like these weeds—inconspicuous, unloved, but not easily broken.

After passing through the final moon gate and walking through the garden, she would reach her residence.

In the garden, someone stood under the golden osmanthus tree.

"Sister." Su Zhiyi turned her head, looking at her with a beaming smile.

The moonlight was cold, casting light through the gaps in the leaves onto her face, creating a play of light and shadow that reflected the smile floating on the surface.

Yu Shengsheng paused, then walked over slowly, stopping two meters away.

Su Zhiyi opened her palm to reveal an exquisite medicine box. "This is excellent medicine for external wounds, brought back by my eldest brother from the frontier. Take it."

Yu Shengsheng did not move. "There is no need. Thank you."

She stood there, her posture formal, her hands folded before her.

Su Zhiyi’s gaze fell upon her hands; they were smooth and delicate, each finger like a white onion. Yet, when she had first arrived, those hands had been rough and cracked, with several broken nails. Su Zhiyi had once sent her various fragrant balms to treat them, and over two years, she had finally cultivated the hands a wealthy young lady ought to have. In the year she spent at the secondary residence, these hands had remained unchanged.

However, her right arm had still been broken—Su Dingqin had done it himself. As a martial general, breaking the arm of a frail girl was truly child’s play for him.

Su Zhiyi did not insist. Her smile deepened, and she spoke as if they were sisters chatting. "Sister, you blame me for taking your place and living a good life for over a decade. If we speak of reason, there is really no reason to be had."

Yu Shengsheng remained composed, not even blinking an eye.

"This matter cannot be blamed on me. It was your foster mother who harbored hatred. If you think about it, I also lost my biological parents; I am a pitiable person too."

"My status as a Princess and the glory I carry were earned by myself, not through relying on my father or brothers. If you are unsatisfied, sister..."

"I am satisfied," Yu Shengsheng interrupted. "I am very satisfied. If the Princess has no further instructions, I shall take my leave."

Su Zhiyi was silent for a moment, her smile deepening. "Back then, you startled my horse. Had I been conscious, I certainly would not have held it against you. Alas, by the time I woke up, the matter was already settled."

Yu Shengsheng raised her head, her eyes like cold pools meeting Su Zhiyi’s smiling gaze. "Whether or not I startled your horse, your guard, Rujian, knows clearly."

She did not want to tangle further with Su Zhiyi; nothing good ever came of it. Yu Shengsheng was not afraid for herself, but she could not implicate Nurse Wu any further.

Having said this, she did not wait for Su Zhiyi’s response and turned to stride away.

Only after her silhouette had vanished did Rujian emerge from behind a tree, his voice low. "Princess."

Su Zhiyi smiled. "It has nothing to do with you; do not take it to heart."

"Thank you, Princess."

Su Zhiyi glanced at the direction in which Yu Shengsheng had disappeared, suppressing the coldness in her eyes: So what if she is the biological daughter? She is still no match for fame, wealth, and status. With the title of Princess in hand, whatever the Su family chooses to discard will always be Yu Shengsheng.

Yu Shengsheng did not even have the right to bear the name Su.

After surviving the arduous night, Yu Shengsheng was startled awake from a dream before dawn. Seeing a sliver of moonlight, she let out a heavy breath, constantly reminding herself that she was not at the secondary residence.

Unable to sleep any longer, she rose early, washed, and dressed. She had to go pay her respects to the Old Madam early. The Su siblings might not have to, but she did.

Before she reached the Old Madam’s courtyard, she met Su Dingqin coming the other way. He had already changed into his court attire, heading out early for the morning audience.

Seeing Yu Shengsheng, the corners of Su Dingqin’s mouth curled up.

"So early—are you here to see your elder brother off to court?"

In the past, Yu Shengsheng would often see him off, sleepily tugging at his sleeves as she walked him to the mansion gate, watching him leap onto his horse, clapping her hands and saying how impressive he was. During the year Yu Shengsheng was away, he had truly felt a bit unaccustomed to her absence.

He raised his eyes and saw the simple silver hairpin in her hair, finding it inappropriate.

"After court ends today, I will return and take you out for a stroll..."

As he spoke, he reached out to pull the hairpin from her hair.

Yu Shengsheng stepped back and bowed her head in a formal greeting.

"I would not dare to delay the Young General from court. I must go to pay my respects to the Old Madam."

Su Dingqin’s hand froze, his expression faltering. She was just going to pay her respects, not to see him off?