Chapter 165: The Revocation of the Title

Su Wan pushed the box away, saying, “Grandmother, I can’t accept this.”

“You are my only grandchild. If not for you, who would I give it to?” Old Lady Su scoffed. “Give it to the people in Weirui Pavilion? I’d rather throw it all into the river just to hear the splash.”

“Grandmother, you’re still in good health. You should hold onto these things for now,” Su Wan said, knowing exactly what was inside the box. It likely contained Old Lady Su’s dowry.

In a muffled voice, she added, “Your granddaughter has been thoughtless and made you upset before, failing to fulfill my filial duties at your side.”

“Your grandmother is doing just fine; why would I need you to take care of me? Now that you’re married, you should focus on managing your own household. I’m still strong and have people to look after me. You just need to visit me from time to time,” Old Lady Su said with eyes full of affection.

“I’m getting old and can’t handle everything anymore,” she added, a trace of weariness in her voice.

Su Wan’s nose tingled, and she leaned into her grandmother’s embrace. “Grandmother, you’ll live a long life. I’ll visit you often.”

“I’m not keeping you today,” Old Lady Su said. “If the people from Weirui Pavilion find out you’re here, they’ll cause a commotion, and that’s too much trouble.”

She hugged Su Wan, her face peaceful, gently stroking her head, as if there were no regrets left in her heart.

“I’ll leave Xiao Tao with you. If anything comes up, tell her, and she’ll pass the message on to me.”

“I’m not afraid of them,” Su Wan said, still intending to stay and have dinner with the old lady.

However, Old Lady Su didn’t want her to be caught up in any unpleasantness. “Your grandmother is getting old, and I can’t stand noise anymore. When my ears aren’t peaceful, it makes me feel terribly uneasy.”

Su Wan relented a little. “When you go to the temple, send someone to let me know, and I’ll escort you there.”

“Alright.” Old Lady Su agreed, then instructed the old maid, “Personally see her out.”

The old maid ordered Xiao Tao to gather Su Wan’s belongings and respectfully said, “Eldest Young lady, please follow me.”

Su Wan followed the old maid toward the exit. The maid at the door lifted the curtain, and Su Wan suddenly turned to look back.

Old Lady Su stood by the bed, leaning on her cane, with her hunched back illuminated by the white sunlight. The rays fell on her frost-white hair, casting a lonely, weathered silhouette.

Su Wan’s heart ached with a bittersweet sorrow, and she had the sudden urge to take Old Lady Su away with her.

“Grandmother…” Su Wan was about to turn back.

Old Lady Su waved her hand. “Go on, quickly.”

Su Wan stopped in her tracks and followed the old maid out through the side gate.

The old maid watched as Su Wan boarded the carriage and then returned to Fuxi Hall. At the courtyard gate, she ran into Qinglan.

Qinglan hurried over, her hair slightly disheveled. Upon seeing the old maid alone, she entered the house with a sullen face.

Her eyes scanned the room, and not seeing any sign of Su Wan, her face turned pale. She realized that the wretched Su Wan had already left.

“Old Lady, you’re advanced in age and should understand clearly who truly carries the Su family’s blood. You are the matriarch of the Su family, and everything you have belongs to the Su family. If any of it is taken by an outsider, the Marquis and I will stop at nothing to get it back!” Qinglan glared at Old Lady Su with hatred, her eyes filled with venom.

Ever since Old Lady Su had petitioned the Regent to revoke the hereditary title, Qinglan had been burning with the desire to kill this old hag.

Old Lady Su closed her eyes, treating Qinglan’s words like the wind passing by her ears.

Qinglan gritted her teeth so hard that it seemed they might shatter. “Don’t pretend to be confused. I’ll make sure the Marquis hears about this today.”

Not wanting to further humiliate herself, she left with her entourage in a grand display, ordering Xiu Jun to investigate whether Su Wan had taken any valuables from Old Lady Su.

Su Wan had caused her daughter to fall out of favor, turning her into a useless person, and had made the entire Dingyuan Marquis Mansion a laughingstock. She hadn’t settled that score yet!

The old maid watched as Qinglan stormed out, then closed the door and approached Old Lady Su. “Old Lady, if you give everything to the Eldest Miss, I’m afraid it might bring her trouble.”

“Wanwan is capable of holding her own,” Old Lady Su said as she opened her cloudy eyes, devoid of any light. “The thing I regret most in this lifetime is being too soft-hearted towards Qinglan back then and agreeing to the Empress Dowager’s request to arrange a marriage with the Qi family for Minmin(Qi Min).”

The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion wasn’t a title passed down without exception—it followed the normal hereditary system. By Su Jihong’s generation, the title was supposed to be downgraded from a second-class marquis to a third-class earl.

Su Jihong was not an outstanding man. When she was selecting a daughter-in-law for him, the Empress Dowager approached her, suggesting that if Su Jihong married Qi Min, the Dingyuan Marquis title would become a permanent hereditary title.

Old Lady Su was no fool. She had heard rumors about Qi Min and the Regent, and for the Empress Dowager to personally make such a request, it was clear that the royal family would not take a Qi family daughter as a bride.

If the Su family didn’t marry her, the Empress Dowager would find another candidate. After much deliberation, Old Lady Su agreed to the arrangement. In private, she sought out General Qi and promised him that she would take good care of Qi Min.

But what did Su Jihong do? He sent a servant to violate Qi Min!

Old Lady Su felt deeply indebted to Qi Min. No matter whose child Su Wan was, she was still her granddaughter.

“What I owe them, what the Su family owes them…”

Old Lady Su suddenly seemed much older.

The old maid sighed inwardly. The old madam had never been able to overcome the guilt in her heart, always believing that her selfishness had ruined Qi Min’s life.

“You need to forgive yourself. The Eldest Young lady hopes for you to live well.”

Thinking of Su Wan, Old Lady Su’s expression softened into a gentle smile.

——

Su Wan sat in the carriage and opened the wooden box. Inside was a deed, a key, and a letter.

This house had been purchased by Old Lady Su in her early years, and her dowry had already been moved into this house. Now, it was all given to Su Wan.

Su Wan sniffed, feeling that in both her lifetimes, she had been a fortunate person.

In her past life, she had no parents, but she was doted on by her grandfather and maternal grandfather.

In this life, she had no parents, but there were so many people who treated her with great kindness, giving her their whole hearts.

Su Wan raised her hand to wipe the tears welling in her eyes.

“Young lady?” Xiao Tao, carrying a bundle, climbed into the carriage and saw Su Wan’s red, swollen eyes. She asked nervously, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Su Wan buried her face in her arms and rubbed it gently. “I can’t bear to leave Grandmother.”

Xiao Tao hesitated, wanting to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.

“Have they been giving Grandmother a hard time?” Su Wan asked.

“They wouldn’t dare bully the old lady,” Xiao Tao said, sharing some good news to lift Su Wan’s spirits. “The step-lady has been trying to have a son to inherit the title and has been constantly seeking medical advice from Master Huiren. But the old lady went to see the Regent and asked him to revoke the hereditary title. Once the Marquis passes away, the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion will cease to exist.”

Su Wan didn’t feel relieved; instead, her heart ached even more.

The old lady had dedicated her entire life to the Marquis Mansion. If not for the situation becoming utterly hopeless, how could she bear to have the title revoked? She was likely feeling worse than anyone else.

“To the Jiang residence,” Su Wan called, knocking on the wall of the carriage.

The carriage headed toward the Jiang residence.

Xiao Tao was confused. “Young Lady, do you know the former Grand Secretary, Master Jiang?”

“I do,” Su Wan replied, closing the box and placing it in the cabinet by the wall of the carriage. “Huaizhi is Master Jiang’s student. Today, he’s visiting along with his second brother and third sister.”

Xiao Tao’s eyes widened in surprise, then her face lit up with admiration. “The young master is truly remarkable! But, then again, if he weren’t amazing, he wouldn’t be worthy of you.”

Su Wan smiled at the compliment.

Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt.

“What’s going on?” Su Wan lifted the curtain to inquire, her gaze landing on a tavern not far away.

Standing at the entrance was Gu Huaizhi, and across from him was none other than Cao Suxue!