Chapter 27: Fellow Sufferers

Chapter 27: Fellow Sufferers

"This..." Xiao Feiyan's mind was momentarily overwhelmed, and it took her a while to piece together the implications of the news. When she finally did, she noticed Jin'er beside her wearing an identical expression of astonishment, which slowly turned into realization.

"It turns out Miss sent Chunya to pour the sewage today! Excellent, let them be drenched! How hateful the Lu family is!"

Jin'er had been feeling a little envious earlier, wondering if Miss favored Chunya more. But now, she was deeply moved - it was because of the sewage task that Chunya had been chosen.

Upon learning this, Xiao Feiyan couldn't help but despise Lu Song for his lack of morals, and the entire Lu family for their extreme wickedness.

Su Youyue had given the Lu family many gifts in the past, and she was aware of this, having overheard other ladies mentioning it before. Back then, people had ridiculed Su Youyue for being lowly, but Xiao Feiyan thought that Su Youyue had done nothing wrong. Given her engagement, it was only right to offer help when her fiancé's family was struggling.

However, if the Lu family had taken so much from Su Youyue and concealed their extramarital affairs from Lu Song while spending her money to support a mistress and child, they were truly monstrous!

Moreover, the Lu family had been spreading malicious rumors about Su Youyue these past few days. How dare they?

Xiao Feiyan now fully understood why her mother had advised her not to take gossip seriously – one could never truly know someone's heart!

"I can't believe the Lu family is so shameless; it's utterly disgusting," she chimed in, her gaze toward Su Youyue filled with sympathy. "Don't worry, I'll scold them fiercely on your behalf when I return home today!"

"Miss Xiao, that's why I say we share a similar plight. I've heard that your fiancé, Sheng Xiuran, keeps two male favorites in the Stone Alley in the northern part of the city. He addresses them as First Lady and Second Lady, indulging in debauchery with them day after day..."

"What?!" Xiao Feiyan was struck as if by lightning, taking a half-step back.

Su Youyue didn't continue, only letting out a sigh. "Miss Xiao, if you don't believe me, you can go back now and ask Lady Hou to investigate for you. See if what I'm saying is true or not. I genuinely feel that we both share a similar plight..."

In her previous life, no sooner had the news of Xiao Feiyan's disappearance spread than, on the very next day, the Sheng family took advantage of the anxiety that gripped the Jinghai Marquis Manor to call off the engagement, citing Xiao Feiyan's failure to return home at night as the reason. It was said that the Jinghai Marquis himself, a grown man, almost resorted to physically assaulting Lady Sheng, indicating that no amicable words were exchanged between the two families.

Though not entirely proper, no one could really fault them. For a young lady from a prominent family to go missing in the middle of the night and fail to return home, her reputation would be irreparably tarnished. Following the confirmation that Xiao Feiyan had been abducted by human traffickers, there were barely any who dared to criticize the Sheng family.

Yet, what truly caught everyone's attention to the Sheng household was when the disengaged Sheng Xiuran was betrothed once more, and his prospective in-laws discovered he had been keeping a male courtesan for years... Of course, this all unfolded a year later, by which time the Jinghai Marquis's family had been searching for their lost daughter for a year, leaving them little concern for reproaching the Sheng family.

Though there was an element of exaggeration in Su Youyue's words, when the Xiao family discovered that Sheng Xiuran indeed kept a male concubine, who would bother to nitpick over the specifics? They might not even inquire about where she had heard such information.

Xiao Feiyan had initially regarded Su Youyue's situation as a crisis brewing in one's backyard. Little did she expect that her own backyard would catch fire upon turning around. With no mood to continue listening, she hastily took her leave, "I... I must take my leave first..."

At this moment, she still couldn't quite believe what she had just heard. If it were true, then Sheng Xiuran's apparent affection for her whenever they met was nothing but... how infuriating!

"Miss, when did you learn all these things?" Jin'er had her fill of the gossip, her round eyes widening almost into bells.

Su Youyue smiled faintly. "Something I overheard at a previous gathering."

With that, she lowered her gaze into deep thought. Jin'er, still in shock, didn't press for more information. Miss had brought Qiao'er to several banquets instead of her; perhaps it was during those times that she overheard something.

For Miss to endure for so long before reacting, how pitiful...

From the moment she saw Xiao Feiyan, Su Youyue had intended to help her. She knew that Xiao Feiyan had been abducted by traffickers the day after the plum blossom viewing banquet. Changing her fate wouldn't be a difficult task.

But if she could expose the leaders of the traffickers and the forces behind them earlier, she could truly save more innocent victims.

An idea began to take shape in Su Youyue's mind. Her eyes brightened as she slapped the armrest of her wheelchair in excitement.

Though she lacked the ability to uncover the traffickers' leaders, Xie Yuan did!

According to the original timeline, it was Xie Yuan's people who, a year later, thoroughly investigated the trafficking case, bringing it to light and toppling Master Qi while clearing the former prince's name.

Either Xie Yuan's people hadn't noticed this trafficking case yet or they were aware but hadn't uncovered anything substantial.

If she could lend him a hand, hastening the exoneration of the deposed prince, wouldn't he remember her kindness? At that time, the grudge she held against that whipping would be insignificant.

Su Youyue was utterly fed up with that sly fox, Xie Yuan, lingering around her daily, threatening her. Once this matter was settled and Xie Yuan regained his status, he would surely leave her side.

Then, she wouldn't have to see him again, the mere thought of which brought her joy.

Excitement filled Su Youyue as she tugged on Jin'er's sleeve. "Go fetch Xie Yuan for me."

"Alright, but Miss is going out?" Jin'er asked in confusion. "Didn't you ask Xia Hua to tell him not to come this morning?"

"Not going out..." Su Youyue was still searching for an excuse when Xiao Feiyan returned from outside.

Their eyes met, and both fell silent for a brief moment.

"Su Youyue, you... you should go take a look. Madam Lu and Lady Liu are arguing at your gate, and a lot of people have gathered to watch," Xiao Feiyan informed, expecting to see surprise on Su Youyue's face, but the latter showed no hint of astonishment.

"So the dogs are fighting, huh." A crooked smile appeared on Su Youyue's lips. "Jin'er, hurry and push me over to witness the spectacle. Oh, I almost forgot to thank Miss Xiao for the heads-up. Want to join me to watch the drama?"

"..." Xiao Feiyan thought to herself, this Miss Su really had a sharp tongue. But someone as straightforward as her was much easier to deal with than Su Qian.

Though she was indeed curious to witness Su Youyue's reaction, her urgency to return home prevailed. "No need, I just came to inform you so that your household doesn't keep it from you. I'm leaving now."

With that, she dashed off without looking back.

Su Youyue couldn't help but smile at Xiao Feiyan's endearing behavior.

Recalling the tragic outcome Xiao Feiyan faced in her previous life, the corners of Su Youyue's lips softened.

In this lifetime, she vowed to alter Xiao Feiyan's grim fate!