Chapter 28: What Did You Put in My Bowl!

Hua Tuo leaned back on the sofa, his eyes slightly red.
“She was brought to me by Qingdai. That child… she’s my lifelong regret. I had hoped she would inherit my skills, but who would’ve thought…”

Zhang Shuo said respectfully,
“This was Miss’s own choice. As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.”

Hua Tuo sighed.
“She’s made herself like this—can she really be happy? But she’s too stubborn. Back then, we were all too stubborn… Qingdai was like that, and so is Jingtian. Now that I’m old, someone must inherit the secret techniques of Medicine King Valley.”

Zhang Shuo still looked uneasy.
“But Su Rong has been in prison. That’s a stain she can never erase. There’s no precedent in Medicine King Valley for such a person.”

Hua Tuo waved his hand.
“Let’s see where fate leads. She already has some foundation. If she truly has the will and the talent, it’s still worth considering. There’s no rush.”

Zhang Shuo added,
“A successor of Medicine King Valley must not only have medical skill, but also upright character.”

Hua Tuo replied,
“I don’t see any particular flaw in Su Rong’s character. Let’s observe longer… Besides, she may not even want it.”

Zhang Shuo thought to himself: This is a blessing countless people would beg for—how could anyone refuse?

After several days of acupuncture combined with herbal medicine and ointments, Su Rong found that the pain in her left hand had lessened, and the flare-ups were becoming less frequent.

Old Madam Su called, asking her to return to the Su household.

That evening, the whole family was present. The dinner table was lavishly set, with five or six servants waiting on them.

Su Xue’er blinked her wide, innocent eyes, putting on a harmless expression as she served Su Heng a dish.
“Brother, this is your favorite stir-fried Wagyu beef. Eat more.”

She then propped her chin with one hand, looking pitiful.
“Brother, you don’t seem to pay much attention to me lately. Do you not like me anymore?”

Ever since that night when Su Xue’er falsely accused Su Rong, causing him to push Su Rong down the stairs, he had grown distant from Su Xue’er, deliberately avoiding her these past few days.

Bai Fei, distressed for her daughter, said,
“Ah Heng, Xue’er has suffered so much before finally returning to the Su family. Don’t make her feel burdened.”

It was a reminder: because of Lin Lan’s selfishness, Su Xue’er had endured nineteen years of hardship in her place. No matter what Su Xue’er did, they had to be tolerant and understanding.

Su Heng’s heart softened.
“Got it.”

He turned his head toward Su Rong, his eyes showing faint disapproval, as if to tell her not to be so petty, not to pull a long face over trivial things.

Su Rong only felt more out of place in this home. Still, she didn’t want to hurt the elders’ feelings—they had raised her, after all.

After dinner, Su Xue’er cast Su Rong a cold, sinister glance. The corners of her lips curled into an evil smile.
“Elder sister, your medicine is warm now. I’ll bring it over for you.”

She trotted obediently into the kitchen, looking ever so eager to help.

Su Rong’s instincts screamed, and she hurriedly followed.

Inside the kitchen, only Su Xue’er was there. Su Rong saw with her own eyes as she stirred the bowl of medicine with her finger.

“What are you doing!”

At that moment, Aunt Yun entered. Su Xue’er immediately put on her innocent act, carrying the bowl with both hands and offering it to Su Rong.
“Drink it while it’s hot. I tested it—the temperature is just right.”

Su Rong stared at her coldly.
“What did you put in my bowl?”

Su Xue’er’s voice quivered, as if about to cry.
“I didn’t put anything! I only wanted to improve our relationship as sisters, so I brought your medicine. Sister, surely you don’t suspect me?”

Su Rong’s voice sharpened.
“I clearly saw you stirring it with your finger, and you still claim you didn’t do anything?”

“I didn’t!” Su Xue’er’s eyes brimmed with tears.
“The bowl was too full, my thumb accidentally touched the medicine, just a little! My hands are very clean, really! Sister, drink it quickly while it’s still warm.”

But Su Rong had seen clearly—she had used her index finger, not her thumb.

“In the future, I’ll heat my medicine myself.”

Aunt Yun, perceptive as ever, said,
“That’s fine too. If you need me to warm it up, just let me know.”

Su Rong turned and left.

Su Xue’er blinked her eyes, still holding the bowl, and chased after her.
“Sister, what do you mean? I kindly brought you your medicine, trying to please you, and you treat me like this?”

Everyone at the dining table was now watching.

“If you don’t believe me, have it tested then! See if I put anything in your bowl!”

Su Rong stopped. She understood—Su Xue’er might have done this on purpose, trying to provoke her reaction, then play the victim in front of the family. Even if there was no poison, how could she possibly drink medicine stirred by someone’s finger?

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll drink it myself!”

To everyone’s shock, Su Xue’er lifted the bowl and drank it all in one gulp, medicine spilling from the corners of her lips.
“Now you should believe me!”

“Xue’er, child, how could you recklessly drink medicine like that?” Bai Fei fussed, dabbing at the spilled liquid on her daughter’s mouth.

Su Xue’er’s eyes reddened.
“I only didn’t want to make things hard for everyone. I wanted to get along with Sister… but she suspected I poisoned her. I had no choice but to drink it myself to prove my innocence.”

The trick worked perfectly. Not only did she win the Su family’s guilt and affection, she also made Su Rong look petty and vile.

Especially Su Heng—his words, deliberately for Su Rong to hear:
“Don’t do this again. Brother believes you.”

His gaze at Su Rong grew colder, as though she was the one stirring up trouble and breaking family harmony.

“Thank you, brother,” Su Xue’er said sweetly, but her eyes challenged Su Rong with undisguised provocation.

Su Jiancheng sighed in disappointment and went to the living room. He hated household strife most of all, especially between siblings. Since childhood, he had taught Su Heng to love and protect his sister. Like Bai Fei, he believed Su Rong should yield to Su Xue’er.

Old Madam Su said nothing, only asked Aunt Yun to reheat another bowl of medicine for Su Rong. Su Rong drank it silently, then went upstairs.

Luckily, she was already used to Su Xue’er’s tricks—otherwise, she might have been furious enough to choke.

As for the Su family, their favoritism was blatant. But she couldn’t complain. After all, Su Xue’er was their true-born daughter.

The next day was Saturday. There were no classes at Imperial Palace.

Su Rong got up at eight. She wanted to go to the black market again to find a few gemstones, to repay Sheng Qiye and Leng Xiao. After all, one meal was hardly enough to thank them for their help.

When she opened her door, Su Heng was standing there. His eyes darkened as he glanced at her clothes.

The other day, he had spent an entire morning at the mall, carefully selecting several outfits for her. Other than wearing one set the day after he bought them, she had never worn any of them again. If he had known she didn’t appreciate them, why had he bothered going out of his way?

“Something you need?” Su Rong asked. The gap between them was widening. His constant shielding of Su Xue’er had long since erased the brother who once cherished her.

Su Heng restrained his temper.
“Today there’s a rough stone auction at Bihai Bay. I’m taking Xue’er to have some fun. Come with us. It’ll be a good chance to mend things between you and her.”

But those auctions started at very high prices, and the risks were great. The black market was much more worthwhile.

“I have things to do today. I won’t go.”

Besides, her relationship with Su Xue’er was beyond repair.

Su Heng froze, anger flashing in his eyes. He had humbled himself to offer peace, and she still refused to give him face!

Just then, her phone rang. Su Rong glanced at the caller ID—it was Leng Xiao. She quickly turned back into her room, shut the door, and answered the call…