Chapter 100: Undermining

Qinglan waited outside, her heart pounding rapidly. She looked at the solemn and majestic Regent’s Mansion, feeling uncertain if the regent would see her.

People in the capital of her generation almost all knew about the affair between the regent and Qi Min. Qi Min was beautiful and had a fiery and bold personality; she had fiercely humiliated the regent.

The regent probably harbored resentment toward Qi Min, which was why he elevated her daughter, Su Mixue, to become the Crown Princess. In doing so, he could take revenge on Qi Min by marrying off her daughter to a farmer’s son.

Qinglan pondered, the regent should be very willing to use his power to pressure Su Wan into saving someone, right?

The tightly closed side door opened again, and her heart settled.

Indeed, the servant said, “The regent invites you to enter.”

Qinglan smiled and thanked him, then followed the servant to the study room.

The study room was vast and cold. Apart from a broad couch and a large desk, there was a bookshelf as large as a wall, filled with books. Besides these, there was no other furniture or decoration.

The regent sat behind the desk, not sparing her a glance. Despite this, Qinglan felt an invisible pressure emanating from him, making her chest feel tight and making it difficult to breathe.

“Regent, I have come today to request a favor.” Qinglan nervously clenched her fists. Seeing that the regent did not react at all, cold sweat broke out on her back. She swallowed and said, “A few days ago, the imperial doctor said that the old lady’s health was deteriorating and that we should prepare for her final moments. She is nearing her end today, and Wanwan can cure her.

However, because of her resentment over the marriage, she refuses to treat my husband. I had no choice but to disturb your peace and ask for your help in persuading Wanwan to treat the him.”

The regent finally looked up, his gaze cold and piercing. “You can’t even handle such a small matter and come to bother me. Perhaps I should find a new wife for the Marquis of Dingyuan, someone who can manage household affairs for you.”

Qinglan’s face turned pale. “Regent…”

“Leave!”

Chilled to the core, Qinglan dared not say another word. Her legs and arms felt weak as she walked out of the study. Standing in the sunlight, she shivered violently.

*

It was now the peak of summer in July. Worried about potential complications, Su Wan had traveled through the night without even taking a bath. She reeked and felt like she was marinated in her own sweat.

After taking a bath, she felt two pounds lighter, completely relaxed, and refreshed.

She towel-dried her hair until it was half-dry and then went to visit the Old Lady Su.

Xiao Tao stood at the door, her round face and eyes making her look very endearing. When she saw Su Wan, a bright smile appeared on her face, “Young lady! The old lady is awake!”

Su Wan dredged up memories of Xiao Tao from the depths of her mind, remembering that she was the granddaughter of the old maidservant. “Is Grandmother still feverish?”

“No more fever!” Xiao Tao opened the curtain. “Please go in and check her pulse again.”

Su Wan stepped into the room, entering the inner chamber, and saw the old maidservant sitting by the bed, supporting the Old Lady Su against her shoulder, feeding her water.

Su Wan quickly walked over, took the cup, and helped the Old Lady Su drink half a cup of water, then wiped her mouth with a cloth. “You’re awake? Are you still feeling unwell?”

“No, I don’t feel unwell.” The Old Lady Su was delighted to see Su Wan, holding her hand and sitting her down beside her. “Grandmother has something to ask you.”

Su Wan covered the old lady with the quilt. “Please, go ahead.”

“Wanwan, you didn’t want to marry Gu Huaizhi. Now that you are fortunate enough to be back, Grandmother can help you. If you don’t want to go back, then return to Grandmother’s family. Your cousins will settle you well.”

The Old Lady Su planned to use the golden cicada shedding its shell strategy^[1]“The golden cicada shedding its shell” (金蝉脱壳, jīn chán tuō qiào) is a Chinese idiom that refers to a strategy where one escapes danger or evades capture by leaving behind … Continue reading to help Su Wan escape smoothly and live incognito. “You are at a delicate age now, with a substantial dowry in hand. You can still find a suitable husband.”

Su Wan was dumbfounded, never expecting that Old Lady Su’s thoughts were not the least bit conservative or outdated.

She actually encouraged her to divorce and remarry!

In Su Wan’s mind, an image of Gu Huaizhi leaning against the door, bathed in the faint morning light, watching her departing figure, unexpectedly surfaced.

Old Lady Su saw her silence and her lack of immediate agreement, and her cloudy eyes revealed understanding.

She must have a tie to someone. If she didn’t like the person in Xinghua Village, she would have agreed immediately without any hesitation or doubt.

“Follow your heart. Grandmother is not forcing you; I just want you to be happy.” Old Lady Su looked at her lovingly and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you hungry? The meal should be ready soon.”

She instructed, “Xiao Tao, take the young lady to eat.”

“Yes.” Xiao Tao said to Su Wan, “Young lady, please follow me.”

Su Wan did not move but instead held Old Lady Su’s hand. “Grandmother, I promised them I would return; I cannot break my word.”

She raised her hands, a smile appearing on her lips. “I can earn the life I want with my own hands. You don’t need to worry about me not living well. Although the Gu family is not well-off, they are simple and kind, giving me their true hearts. I don’t want to let them down.”

When Su Wan first arrived in this foreign world, the first people she saw were the Gu family, who made her feel the warmth of home.

An unfamiliar environment also carries other variables, and it may not necessarily be better than her situation in Xinghua Village.

Her career was still in Xihe Town.

Old Lady Su felt relieved.

Wealth is easy to come by; true sincerity is hard to find.

“You are a good child.” Old Lady Su gently patted the back of Su Wan’s hand.

“I’ll go have my meal first, and then I’ll make some medicinal food for you.” Su Wan stood up and followed Xiao Tao out.

Mo Yuan and Mo Chen stood like two door gods at the courtyard gate.

“Follow me,” Su Wan called. “Let’s go eat.”

Mo Yuan and Mo Chen were silent for a moment, then followed Su Wan. Their keen ears had naturally heard the conversation between Old Lady Su and Su Wan.

The moment Old Lady Su considered helping Su Wan escape, their hearts nearly stopped.

If they lost Su Wan, their master could very well bury them as fertilizer for the flowers.

“Young lady, the estate sent some fish over this morning. I have instructed the cook to prepare your favorite braised fish.”

Xiao Tao, with her two bun-like hairstyles, was just twelve or thirteen years old and looked especially cute when she smiled.

When she mentioned the braised fish, she secretly licked her lips. “And there’s also your favorite lotus root starch soup.”

Su Wan quite liked Xiao Tao. Her chatter was cheerful and lively, making Su Wan unconsciously smile. “I must try it well; it would be a waste of your efforts otherwise.”

“Young lady—” Xiao Tao’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment.

Laughter spilled from Su Wan’s eyes as she tugged at the ribbon on Xiao Tao’s head. Seeing Xiu Qin approaching, she stopped.

Xiu Qin, with her head lowered, stood aside to make way for Su Wan.

A pair of embroidered shoes appeared before her eyes, and Xiu Qin’s heart skipped a beat. Her palms began to sweat, fearing that Su Wan might trouble her.

Suddenly, a plain white hand extended a box of ointment.

Xiu Qin looked up in surprise. “Young lady?”

Her heart immediately filled with caution, wondering why Su Wan was giving her ointment.

Without a doubt, it seemed Su Wan wanted to win her over.