Chapter 48

“Get out!” Old Madam Xiao bellowed sharply.

Second Madam Xiao and Huo Rou stepped forward, subtly positioning Su Jinyuan in the middle. Second Madam Xiao glared and demanded, “Why aren’t you scramming already? Do you want me to have someone throw you out?!”

Madam Qi’s face immediately swelled with shame and anger, and Qi Lanzi’s expression turned as white as a sheet in sheer mortification.

Pointing accusingly at the onlookers, Madam Qi shrieked, “The Xiao family are bullying people way too much…”

SWISH—

Old Madam Xiao lifted her hand, revealing the soft whip coiled around her wrist. Instantly, Madam Qi recalled the last time she’d been whipped, her face bloodied and raw. Shuddering, she snatched Qi Lanzi and fled the Xiao residence in utter disarray.

Huo Rou spat derisively at their retreating backs, “Filth!”

The surrounding onlookers fell silent for a moment. Only after Old Madam Xiao pulled down her sleeve to conceal the whip did she compose herself and announce to everyone, “Vile ruffians have invaded our abode, bringing disgrace upon our children and making a mockery of our lineage.”

Those who had come to offer their condolences could clearly see that the Xiao family was formidable—and that they held this eldest daughter-in-law, who was said to have eloped, in very high esteem. They waved their hands in disapproval at the Qi family for their lack of propriety, while their attitude toward Su Jinyuan was less dismissive and tinged with genuine concern.

Second Madam Xiao and Huo Rou, along with their attendants, continued to guard the mourning hall, while Old Madam Xiao and Xie Yunyan, together with Su Jinyuan, led the two Su Heng into the inner chambers.

Once the outsiders had dispersed, the little girl who had arrived with Su Heng pounced on Su Jinyuan. “Ah Yuan, you scared me to death!”

Being held by her, Su Jinyuan felt her palms tremble as she asked, “Yinyin, what brings you to the capital?”

Wang Yin had been her best friend since childhood. Before her father’s departure, Wang Yin had always lived in Jingchuan; and after her father left, she went to the capital to seek refuge with her uncle. Wang Yin’s father was the Prefect of Jingchuan, and even after arriving in the capital, the two of them never ceased their correspondence.

In her previous life, after she eloped with Lu Zhuo to Qu’an, everyone regarded her as a disgrace—except for Wang Yin, who remained as steadfast as ever. Wang Yin had once advised her to turn back, but by that time, there was no turning back. Wang Yin was the only one who never despised her and had helped her countless times; yet later, when Wang Yin’s father became embroiled in a power struggle and met a tragic end, Wang Yin herself also suffered the same fate.

She recalled that in her past life, although Wang Yin and Su Heng knew each other, they were not particularly close—so why was it that today she had come to the Xiao household together with Su Heng?

“Big Brother, you and Yinyin…”

Su Heng glanced at the little girl and said, “When I went to Linzhou to persuade Feng Kui on your behalf, the guards in charge of the transport were extremely strict. It wasn’t until we passed through Jingchuan that Yinyin helped me sneak into the prisoner transport cart.”

He continued, “I should have returned to the capital several days ago, but because I was worried about you and Lu Zhuo, I took Yinyin with me on a trip to Qu’an. I never expected you’d have the nerve to cajole Old Madam and the others into storming the palace gates.”

Su Heng’s face grew noticeably serious. Wang Yin, still holding the little girl’s hand, added, “Do you know that Brother Heng and I were nearly terrified to death when we heard that you were storming the palace gates? We raced to the capital at full gallop—thankfully, you’re safe…”

As she spoke, she jabbed Su Jinyuan sharply on the forehead, exclaiming, “You liar! Didn’t you tell Brother Heng that you only wanted Feng Kui to change his stance—waiting until he returned to decide? Is that really your plan? Huh? How can you be so shamelessly capable?”

Under their piercing gazes, Su Jinyuan felt a pang of guilt. She knew how formidable Su Heng was, and precisely because she trusted him, she had sent him on this errand. Yet she also dreaded burdening him further.

“If he had stayed in the capital, Su Heng would have undoubtedly accompanied the Xiao family when they stormed the palace gates. That’s why she deceived him by saying she had other plans.

Xie Yunyan noticed her forehead turning red from all the prodding and suddenly reached out to pull her over.

After Wang Yin’s finger missed its mark, she paused in astonishment—and Su Jinyuan was also a little taken aback.

When Xie Yunyan released his grip, he said in a calm tone, “This matter has nothing to do with my sister-in-law. The Xiao family simply cannot afford to wait that long.”

“The situation in the capital is ever-changing; every day we delay with the Linchuan issue puts the Xiao family at a disadvantage for another day. If we don’t use the corpse bones as bait on the day our adoptive father and his entourage return to the city, the affair concerning the Xiao family won’t incite universal outrage, nor will it rouse the palace to force a public trial upon them.”

“Sister-in-law only wishes to preserve the Xiao family and doesn’t want to drag Master Su into this.”

As the young man spoke on her behalf, Su Jinyuan couldn’t help but let a small smile play on her lips.

Old Madam Xiao also said, “The current Xiao family affair is largely thanks to Master Su’s assistance.”

After letting his gaze linger on Xie Yunyan for a moment, Su Heng finally turned away and said, “Madam, you’re overstating it. Ah Yuan is my sister—I naturally must help her. Besides, without Old Madam’s decisive action, the Xiao family’s matter might not have succeeded.”

“Still, we must be grateful,” Old Madam Xiao retorted.

As the saying goes, “It is easy to add flowers to embroidery, but hard to deliver charcoal in the snow.” No matter what motive Su Heng had for making this trip on their behalf, this favor is one they must remember.

After waiting for a while, Old Madam Xiao and Xie Yunyan noticed that Su Heng seemed to have something he wanted to discuss privately with Su Jinyuan. So they first headed off with Xie Yunyan to the front courtyard.

However, after walking a bit, Xie Yunyan suddenly found an excuse to turn back midway. He had someone push him around to the back of the flower hall. When his wheelchair stopped in a corridor by the adjacent wall, they could hear several voices coming from inside.

“Big brother, did you really send Lu Zhuo to Jingzhao Mansion?”

“Yes.” Su Heng, who had been sitting silently at the side, was interrupted when Wang Yin spoke first: “You have no idea—when Brother Heng and I tracked down that Lu Zhuo, that bastard was doing all sorts of things. He was sweet-talking a rich lady into meeting him in private, spouting lines as if he’d memorized them, one after the other.”

“After all, you left the capital with him, yet after vanishing in Qu’an for so long, he never even tried to find you. When Brother Heng and I went searching for you, he pretended not to know you, saying you had long since run off with someone else…”

Lu Zhuo’s repulsive words, especially those disparaging Su Jinyuan, were so nauseating that she couldn’t even bring herself to repeat them.

Su Heng—such a gentle, refined man—could not help but react violently at hearing those filthy and vulgar remarks. Later, he directly threw Lu Zhuo into that madam’s residence. In just a few words, he incited the family to beat Lu Zhuo until his head was bloody; they not only slit his tongue but also kicked him so severely that his manhood was broken.

Looking at Su Jinyuan with disdain, Su Heng said, “So, what exactly did you see in a guy like that back then?”

Su Jinyuan replied quietly, “…I suppose I was blind.”

Su Heng remarked, “Well, you must have been really blind then.”

Su Jinyuan fell silent.

Seeing her mouth twitch uncontrollably, Wang Yin burst into laughter and sat down beside her, saying, “It used to be okay to be oblivious—but now if you’re not, then it’s a problem. That Lu Zhuo pocketed your aunt’s silver and jewels. Some of them even bear the private seal of the authorities.”

“Brother Heng only mentioned that he and the Su family extorted those items; after having someone’s tongue cut out and sending him to prison, he couldn’t utter a single bad word about you.”

“But Ah Yuan, now that the Xiao family’s issue has been settled, when do you plan to leave the Xiao family?”

At that moment, Xie Yunyan, who was about to leave, suddenly froze. His face darkened, and as he turned back abruptly, a flash of panic appeared in his phoenix eyes.