Chapter 28: Repaying a Favor

Chapter 28: Repaying a Favor

Before reaching the main entrance, Su Youyue heard the commotion outside, along with the scolding of Madam Lu in her shrewish tone, "Madame Liu, quickly summon your matriarch and master! I won't argue with a concubine like you. Do you really think you can decide on your young lady's marriage? You're just a secondary wife!"

Su Youyue raised an eyebrow. Seeing many servants from the household rushing to witness the spectacle, she instructed Jin'er to stop one of them and inquire about the situation.

It turned out that today, Madame Liu and Su Qian had gone out shopping for jewelry. Upon leaving the shop, they encountered a rampaging horse on the street. If not for Lu Song, who happened to be passing by and pulled Su Qian to safety, she might have already been trampled to death.

In theory, Madame Liu should be deeply grateful to Lu Song for saving Su Qian's life. However, Madam Lu was enraged when Old Madam Lu suggested that since Lu Song had ruined Su Qian's reputation, he should take responsibility and marry her.

Madame Liu's temper exploded, denouncing the Lu family's audacious fantasy. Old Madam Lu was no pushover either, and their argument escalated into a public spat. Su Qian, unable to bear the humiliation, urged Madame Liu to hurry back home in the carriage. Yet, to their surprise, the Lu family pursued them all the way to their doorstep.

The curious crowd outside the gate, never one to shy away from gossip, buzzed with speculation.

"Didn't the Lu family just break off their engagement with the Su family's eldest daughter? Why are they now proposing to the second daughter?"

"You don't know about this? Rumor has it that the Lu family never actually wanted the eldest daughter. They came to switch the engagement from her to the second daughter on that day, but Master Su refused."

"The Lu family is indeed rather unethical. Back then, when the engagement was set, Miss Su hadn't become disabled yet. Isn't this kicking someone while they're down?"

"Well, who can they blame but themselves? Their Miss was overambitious at just ten years old, insisting on taming a wild horse and ending up crippling herself. Besides, the Lu family isn't foolish either. Why would they welcome a calamity into their home?"

"Who wouldn't want to marry a fortunate star like Second Miss Su? But the Lu family shouldn't take advantage of the situation. Lu Song is completely unworthy of Second Miss..."

Jin'er, hearing these people insult her lady, puffed up her cheeks in anger. "How can they speak of our lady like that?!"

According to them, their lady was not worthy of the Lu family, but the Lu family was unworthy of Second Miss! Just how inferior was their lady to Second Miss?

Many servants from the Su family had gathered there. Hearing this, they secretly glanced at Su Youyue's expression, surprised to see no trace of anger or annoyance on her face.

Everyone knew how volatile the Lady was. She had once been deeply in love with Lu Song; wouldn't she be upset or heartbroken even after the broken engagement, upon hearing such remarks?

Su Youyue asked her question and simply sat quietly, her face devoid of sorrow or rage. Her eyes were calm and composed, resembling not an innocent young maiden, but a seasoned matriarch who could handle any challenge with grace and poise.

Though these servants had received news earlier that the Lady would now manage the household, they didn't truly believe in her capabilities. Deep down, they felt Su Youyue was incapable of running the family affairs effectively.

As they observed Su Youyue, they momentarily entertained the illusion that she might be able to manage the household. However, they quickly dismissed it. If she could truly manage, why would the chaos reach their doorstep? Yet, here the Lady sat, seemingly at a loss for what to do!

midst the hubbub, Madam Liu outside had already lost her temper, ready to barge in and confront Old Lady Lu. "Pah! Your family dreams of marrying our Qian'er? Everyone knows that our Qian'er is a blessing, yet your dilapidated family dares to think you're worthy! Do you think everyone's as blind as Su Youyue, believing your Lu Song to be a treasure?"

The crowd burst into laughter at her words. This prominent family indeed knew how to stir up excitement; even a concubine dared to insult a legitimate daughter. However, she wasn't entirely wrong; it was no secret in the folk that the former Su Family's eldest miss had shamelessly chased after her fiancé.

Hearing her aunt's anger escalate to the point of reckless speech, Su Qian's heart skipped a beat. She was about to intervene when a voice sounded from behind her.

"What does Madam Liu have to do with such a dishonorable family?"

Pushed forward by Jin'er, Su Youyue emerged with an indifferent expression, though her tone clearly conveyed her disdain for the Lus.

Madam Liu, now flustered, instinctively wanted to lash out at Su Youyue but was silenced by Su Qian's sharp tug. She looked at her daughter in confusion.

However, the still-fuming Old Lady Lu was further incensed. "You little wretch, what did you say?!"

She already despised Su Youyue for nearly attacking her during the broken engagement. Now, hearing Su Youyue publicly insulting her family, her rage reached boiling point. It was one thing for Su's second miss to be ungrateful, but what right did a disabled ill-omen like Su Youyue have to speak thus?

With a mocking smile on her red lips, Su Youyue quoted, "Mencius said, 'It is proper for men and women not to touch each other; yet if a man's elder sister is drowning, he should rescue her by any means necessary.' How come in Old Lady Lu's eyes, acting out of urgency to save a woman from a dire situation becomes an attempt to force an unmarried maiden to her death?"

Initially, many people believed that the elderly Lady Lu had a valid point. After all, Lu Song had embraced Miss Su II in broad daylight; how could he not take responsibility?

Moreover, even if Lu Song was not worthy of Su Qian, he had still saved her life. Aunt Liu had no right to berate the elderly Lady Lu regardless.

The Su family's actions were indeed unethical in this matter.

But upon hearing Su Youyue's perspective, they suddenly found themselves agreeing with Mencius. When one's life is at stake, saving a person should override concerns about propriety between men and women. One must be adaptable and prioritize urgency in such situations. It couldn't be considered a blemish on one's reputation.

Surely, a younger brother wouldn't refuse to save his drowning sister-in-law due to gender taboos, right? And if he did save her, would it mean he had sullied her reputation and thus had to marry her? Now, that would truly be absurd!

In that case, Miss Su II's reputation was not compromised at all, nor did she need the Lu family to take responsibility. Instead, it was the Lu family's attempt to repay their debt with marriage that appeared rather despicable.

"Indeed, Elder Lady Lu, your actions are unjust. Saving someone doesn't give you the right to force them into marriage!"

"In times of urgency, how can Miss Su II's actions be considered a blemish on her reputation? The Lu family has no reason to take responsibility."

Although the elderly Lady Lu didn't fully understand Su Youyue's words, she grasped the sentiment of the crowd and gritted her teeth in frustration. Today, she and her son had meticulously planned this scenario to tarnish Miss Su II's reputation and bring her into the family.

Though Miss Su was reluctant to marry, as a young lady and the main subject in question, she naturally could not openly refute. Madam Liu was a fool, unable to outwit her in any debate. It seemed that she was on the verge of tarnishing Miss Su's reputation entirely. Who would have thought that this little vixen would suddenly intervene!

It appeared to her that Su Youyue was still infatuated with her son, hence her jealousy, unable to tolerate him taking another bride!