Chapter 26: The Pleasure of Taking Things From Her

This result caught Su Zhiyi by surprise.

That unruly, wild girl finally managed to leave the estate, only to visit an inn? She didn't go to the Lu residence to find Lu San?

Su Zhiyi frowned slightly. "Who was she looking for?"

"I don't know. She just asked a few casual questions—how much the rooms cost, how many were available—and never mentioned anyone by name."

Su Zhiyi pondered for a moment, convinced it couldn't be that simple. "Go and get the guest register for that inn from the past few days. Don't leave a single name out."

"Understood."

Su Zhiyi turned her wheelchair to look out the window. In the courtyard, the shadows of the trees swayed gently, and the white blossoms were in full bloom. This "Pearl White" tree had been sent back from the frontier by General Su three years ago, allegedly to celebrate the return of his "pearl."

Yu Shengsheng was nothing but a blade of wild weeds from the countryside. A pearl? She didn't deserve the title!

Su Zhiyi had merely mentioned in passing her days at the frontier with General Su and Su Dingqin, and the great victory they had won, and this "Pearl White" tree was planted in her courtyard.

Su Zhiyi gently stroked the jade ring on her finger and spoke in a slow, measured tone: "Rujian."

Rujian bowed her head and entered.

"Take the ointment on the table. Apply it thickly; you will be better by tomorrow."

Rujian was pleasantly surprised and moved. "Thank you, Miss."

"Bring a kettle of boiling water," Su Zhiyi said, her gaze fixed on the Pearl White tree. "Pour it onto that tree. From today on, pour a kettle every day."

Rujian was slightly startled. "But Miss, don't you love that tree..."

A faint smile bloomed on Su Zhiyi’s lips. "I have never cared for the object itself; I only enjoy the feeling of snatching things away from her."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Nanny Zhao arrived with Mistress Miao to take measurements. Nanny Zhao offered a barrage of flattery, helping to measure and record, then held out an album with both hands for Su Zhiyi to choose from.

"Miss Sheng chose this set," Nanny Zhao said with a smile. "She said she didn't like anything too flashy. This one looks understated, but those in the know would recognize its quality at a glance. Miss Sheng certainly knows how to pick."

Su Zhiyi lowered her eyes, masking the cold smirk on her face.

Choosing something expensive and high-quality? That was for the best. At tomorrow's Lotus Banquet, she would let the noble ladies see that the General’s estate had not mistreated her. When she outshone those ladies and made everyone uncomfortable, that would be true satisfaction. And when the scandal broke later, no one would speak up for her—that would be even more satisfying.

Su Zhiyi picked a set at random. She had seen every luxury imaginable; why would she bother competing with a lowly creature like Yu Shengsheng over a piece of clothing?

***

Nanny Zhao had been with the Old Madam for so long, yet she had made no progress in her wits. Su Zhiyi had Rujian give her a few taels of silver to send her away, though she noticed the swelling still lingering on Rujian’s face.

***

Su Yanshu returned to the estate in high spirits. The Crown Prince had agreed to attend tomorrow, which was the perfect opportunity for him to make an impression. Upon hearing from a servant that Mistress Miao had been by and that Yu Shengsheng had chosen her attire, his mood improved even further.

"Sheng-sheng," Su Yanshu said, lifting the curtain to enter the room. He saw Yu Shengsheng painting at her desk. "What are you painting?"

His expression was gentle, marked by a faint smile. Sunlight spilled through the window, as if gilding him in a layer of warm gold—much like the days when he would hold Yu Shengsheng's hand to teach her calligraphy and painting.

Yu Shengsheng lowered her long lashes to hide the coldness in her eyes. "Just a casual sketch."

Su Yanshu placed a bag of candied fruits on the table. "I bought these for you. They’re your favorite."

Yu Shengsheng said nothing, and Su Yanshu was not annoyed. "Mistress Miao came by? Have you chosen your clothes?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "It’s good that you’re being obedient. Tomorrow morning, I’ll have Granny Wu come to help you dress."

"The Crown Prince will be there tomorrow, Sheng-sheng. You must be extra well-behaved. Do you understand?"

At the mention of the "Crown Prince," Yu Shengsheng’s fingers trembled, and her brush dropped onto the painting. It was ruined.

Su Yanshu ignored her slip, picked up the brush, and placed it on the rack. "Your painting skills have improved. It actually has some spirit now. In the past, whenever I had you practice calligraphy or painting, you were like a clumsy little duck."

Yu Shengsheng kept her hands under the table and clenched them tightly. During her year at the secondary estate, aside from being beaten and humiliated, she had been forced to do all sorts of labor. Not the rough work like chopping wood or washing clothes, of course—the Empress had decreed that her face and hands must remain unblemished, with any injuries hidden where no one could see.

She had spent her time trailing after painters and zither players, mixing colors, grinding ink, and repairing ancient scrolls—tasks that were exhausting and strained the eyes, yet appeared elegant on the surface. There was a time when she stayed up day and night repairing paintings until her eyes nearly failed; had she not found a doctor to apply medicine in time, she might have gone blind. Under that kind of intensity, how could she not have improved?

Just then, Nanny Zhao’s shrill voice rang out from the courtyard. "Someone! Tie up that wild girl and give her thirty slaps!"

Yu Shengsheng looked up, and Su Yanshu turned to look out the window as the maids Nanny Zhao had brought moved to grab Jin Baobao.

Yu Shengsheng stood up immediately. "Second Young Master, what is the meaning of this?"

"You praised me for being obedient one moment, and the next, you’re having my maid beaten?"

Su Yanshu was genuinely unaware. He frowned and said, "Don't be anxious, let me go out and see."

Jin Baobao was not about to be restrained by a few maids, but just as she was about to resist, she heard Su Yanshu’s cold command behind her: "Stop!"

Nanny Zhao’s expression shifted instantly, and she hurried forward with a forced smile. "The Second Young Master is here? Forgive me for the disturbance. It is just that this wild girl knows no manners and dared to strike Rujian, the Princess’s personal maid. I had no choice but to discipline her."

Su Yanshu turned back to look at Yu Shengsheng. She said angrily, "Nonsense! When has Baobao even seen Rujian today?"

"You’re still lying..." Nanny Zhao stiffened her neck. Su Yanshu’s expression turned grim. "Nanny Zhao, you must have grown too accustomed to your status by the Old Madam’s side. The way you lecture Miss Sheng is as if you were lecturing a common servant."

Nanny Zhao froze, her eyes darting around. What was this? Why was the Second Young Master speaking up for Yu Shengsheng? He usually doted on her, yes, but compared to the Princess—or even Rujian—she was nothing!

But today...

Yu Shengsheng was neither surprised nor confused. Su Yanshu was certainly not protecting her; he was merely trying to pacify her for the sake of tomorrow. Seeing this, Yu Shengsheng decided not to let the opportunity slip.

"Second Young Master, Nanny Zhao often accuses me like this. I am already used to it; please, do not take it to heart."

Su Yanshu’s face darkened further. "If that is the case, then you are the one who deserves the slaps. Someone, slap her."

The sound of slaps rang out, accompanied by Nanny Zhao’s pained cries. Outside the door, Su Zhiyi’s eyes were dark. She didn't care about a servant being beaten; what she cared about was that Su Yanshu hadn't mentioned Rujian, nor had he punished Jin Baobao.

Su Zhiyi waved her hand, signaling Rujian to wheel her away.

Tomorrow, at the Lotus Banquet, she would see to it that Yu Shengsheng was completely disgraced!

The next morning, Granny Wu arrived early as expected. Yu Shengsheng quickly pulled her aside. "How are your injuries?"

"Much better," Granny Wu said, spinning around. "Don't you worry."

Yu Shengsheng’s eyes reddened, and she held back her tears. "That’s good. I’m doing well, too. Everything will only get better from here."

"Granny, help me dress." Yu Shengsheng looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Today, she would put an end to this marriage.