Chapter 51 She Can't Make Any Waves

Su Huaishan stood on the steps, his tall and robust figure appearing even more oppressive, casting a shadow that enveloped Yu Songsheng entirely.

Su Huaishan glanced sidelong at Yu Songsheng. "What is this? You still haven't learned basic manners, not even knowing how to address your elders?"

Madam Su urged in a soft voice, "Songsheng, quickly greet your Second Uncle."

Yu Songsheng lowered her gaze, speaking indifferently, "As a mere distant relation, how am I worthy of calling General Su my Second Uncle?"

Su Huaishan let out a cold laugh. "Consider yourself self-aware. Zhiyi's birthday is approaching, and since you just came out of the Zhenning Tower, you are thoroughly tainted with bad luck and ill omen. Prepare a birthday gift, but you need not attend."

Yu Songsheng looked at Madam Su, who deliberately avoided her gaze.

"I have nothing worthy of presenting, nor did I intend to attend, and I have no gifts to offer. Besides, as someone as ill-fated and unlucky as I am, what if a single gift were to bring disaster upon the County Princess? Wouldn't that be dreadful?"

"Tell me, Madam, am I not right?"

The one who gave birth to her back then was Madam Su, and it was certainly not by her own will that she had been switched and swapped at birth. Yet, in the end, everything had somehow become her fault.

Ill-fated, inauspicious—such fatal labels for a young woman were hurled mercilessly upon her head.

Even though Yu Songsheng cared little for her reputation, hearing such words to her face still inevitably stirred anger within her heart.

Madam Su moved her lips hesitantly. "Songsheng, we can discuss the matter of the birthday banquet later, all right?"

Yu Songsheng withdrew her gaze, unwilling to continue. What was there to discuss? No matter how they phrased it, it was always the same old rhetoric.

To someone who is unloved, everything they do is wrong.

Su Huaishan furrowed his brows. "Elder Sister-in-law, you simply pamper her too much, which is why she has no manners at all. After returning home for three years and even being tutored by the Empress for a full year, she has shown not the slightest bit of improvement. Truly incorrigible."

With that, he turned and strode into the room. Madam Su sighed and signaled Yu Songsheng to follow behind her.

Old Madam Su sat with her eyes closed, turning Buddhist prayer beads in her hand while chanting scriptures in a low murmur. She did not stop spinning the beads until all of them had entered the room and stood properly in their places.

"You're back?" The old lady's gaze swept over Yu Songsheng. "Since you have returned, remember this lesson and refrain from causing trouble in the future."

"Your eldest brother is still bedridden with injuries, and your second brother has traveled far away—all of this was on your account. Return to your courtyard, copy the scriptures in self-reflection, and pray for blessings on their behalf."

Yu Songsheng lowered her eyes, not even lifting her eyelids. She didn't need to look to know what expression the old lady wore.

"If the Old Madam has no other instructions, I shall return to my courtyard."

The old lady's eyes narrowed slightly, likely surprised by her submissiveness. She had expected that upon her return, the girl would inevitably throw tantrums or put on an airs-and-graces display.

Yet there was none.

Just as she was about to wave her hand dismissively, Su Huaishan barked angrily, "You didn't offer a single greeting upon meeting, and the first thing you want to do is leave. You refuse to call me Grandmother, addressing her merely as the Old Madam instead—you truly have no upbringing!"

Yu Songsheng curtsied and said, "As a mere distant relation, how am I worthy of calling the Old Madam 'Grandmother'? As for the word 'upbringing,' indeed, no one has ever taught me."

"You—" Su Huaishan raised his hand as if to strike her, but Madam Su hurriedly threw herself in front of Yu Songsheng to shield her.

"Songsheng has just suffered through a harrowing ordeal and returned in low spirits. Please spare her this once."

The old lady remained silent, her sharp gaze fixed on the subtle changes in Yu Songsheng's expression. Seeing her remain completely calm and composed made the old lady feel even more suspicious.

"Enough, take her back to her courtyard," the old lady instructed Madam Su.

Madam Su hurriedly pulled Yu Songsheng away.

Su Huaishan sat down in his chair, his face full of lingering resentment. "Just the sight of her attitude makes my blood boil."

"Your blood boils, yet she remains as unshakable as a mountain," the Old Madam said, turning her prayer beads. "A trip to the Zhenning Tower seems to have changed her once again."

The old lady's brow furrowed slightly. "This is no good sign."

This granddaughter always gave her a deep sense of unease. Such temperament and such powers of endurance—if she were a man, the Su family would undoubtedly rise to glorious heights under her command.

Yet she happened to be a woman, and one who had not been raised by their side since childhood, impossible to truly tame.

Su Huaishan dismissed the thought with a scoff of contempt. "What changes could there possibly be? What storms could she possibly whip up? Her only value now is to be married off to the Prince of Nanshun's Estate."

The Old Madam let out a soft breath. "How did Dingqin return? He was carried back on a stretcher! Yet she managed to walk out under her own power. Out of all those who enter the Zhenning Tower, how many ever emerge whole?"

Su Huaishan clenched his cuffs. "It's nothing more than relying on that face of hers. Hao Mengye is a man, after all. In my view, it's most likely because I returned to the capital bringing a mountain bandit along, which made Hao Mengye exercise a degree of caution."

"Mother, the Scarlet Dragon Guards are tyrannical indeed, but they must still answer to the Emperor. Songsheng being married to the Prince of Nanshun's Estate for a political alliance is, after all, the Emperor's will."

The old lady's brow unknotted, and she nodded slowly. "What you say does make sense."

Su Huaishan clenched his hand into a fist. "Of course it does. I guarantee she will never escape my grasp."

...

Yu Songsheng returned to her courtyard, with Madam Su accompanying her all the way.

"Everything in your courtyard is still here. If you lack anything, just tell your mother. If there's anything you wish to eat, I'll have the kitchens prepare it for you."

Yu Songsheng paused for a moment before saying in a low voice, "I lack nothing else. Madam need only assign Grandma Wu to my courtyard."

Madam Su's smile stiffened slightly. "She still has tasks to attend to at the moment. There are many preparations for Zhiyi's birthday banquet, and she has been transferred to help out there. Let's wait until after the birthday banquet."

Yu Songsheng frowned slightly. "Grandma Wu does not understand protocol, nor can she do delicate manual labor. What could possibly require her presence specifically?"

"It's... making glutinous rice cakes. She knows how to make them, and Zhiyi is fond of them. We accidentally discovered that she makes them quite well and suits Zhiyi's palate. Zhiyi hasn't been feeling well lately and has a poor appetite, so let her handle this just this once."

Things having reached this point, Yu Songsheng could not press any further. To be overly forceful might instead bring danger to Grandma Wu.

"Then have her come to see me when she has a moment. Surely we aren't even allowed the time for a meeting."

Madam Su nodded, considering it a promise.

Having been away for several days, Mama Zhou was busy tidying up the courtyard. The rooms were swept daily, yet both indoors and out carried a stifling, oppressive heat.

Madam Su looked surprised. "Why haven't you gone to collect the ice?"

Mama Zhou lowered her head. "Replying to Madam, I went, but they said it would be better to wait until the young miss returned to the mansion before collecting it."

"You really are—" Madam Su said with displeasure. "The ice basins should have been prepared before Songsheng returned so that it would be cool the moment she entered. To collect it only after she returns means she must endure the heat for a while longer?"

"You can't even handle a simple errand like this. Go and collect it right now."

Mama Zhou turned to leave, while Yu Songsheng glanced at the elderly maid standing beside Madam Su.

"Better let Mama Wu go instead. Mama Zhou's position is lowly and her words carry little weight, so I fear it won't suffice. Mama Wu, would you trouble yourself? Can you?"

Though Yu Songsheng's words sounded polite, the elderly woman let out a dry, mirthless laugh. "What is Miss Songsheng saying? All the rations and provisions in the mansion are allocated fixedly; it's the same whoever goes to collect them."

"Is that so?" Yu Songsheng pondered for a moment. "Then let Mama Zhou go first after all."

Mama Zhou nodded and left, while Mama Wu rolled her eyes inwardly—what kind of status did she think she had, daring to order her around?

Madam Su smiled amiably. "Songsheng, you should rest first then. Mother won't disturb you any longer and will come to see you tomorrow."

"Madam, please sit for a moment."