Chapter 38: There’s Plenty of Time Ahead

Chapter 38: There's Plenty of Time Ahead

After leaving Su Youyue, Mama Zhang hastened her pace and finally arrived at Qingfeng Garden, where Su Qian resided.

When she visited Su Rong, the latter had thrown a tantrum before reluctantly conceding, wasting much time. However, Mama Zhang was not in a hurry; she had always had a favorable impression of Su Qian and expected that dealing with the second miss wouldn't take long.

Miss Second was known for her propriety and grace; she certainly wouldn't cling onto something that didn't belong to her.

Upon reaching Qingfeng Garden, Mama Zhang encountered Concubine Liu before meeting Su Qian. Upon learning the purpose of Mama Zhang's visit, Concubine Liu became indignant.

"Those items have already been given to Qian'er. How can she demand them back? Is this how a sister should behave?!"

Though Mama Zhang liked Su Qian, she had no fondness for Concubine Liu. She frowned in disgust and retorted, "Madam, what are you talking about? Could it be that Lady has turned lending things to Miss Second into a feud?"

Concubine Liu knew that the matrons favored by Old Lady held her in low regard, so she responded with an equally sour expression. "Lend? When she initially gave those items, she never mentioned lending. It's unreasonable to want something back after giving it away!"

Mama Zhang, who had anticipated such a response, calmly unfolded the list in her hand. "Madam is correct. Old Lady said that anything Miss First offered voluntarily doesn't count. Only the items Miss Second requested will be taken into account."

Su Qian was skilled in maintaining her dignity and would never directly ask for things. Instead, she often used borrowing as an excuse, though she never returned them. As Su Youyue was generous, the distinction between gifts and loans became blurred with the accumulation of items.

Madame Liu, of course, was not convinced and was about to continue her tirade when Su Qian approached from behind. Having overheard the entire conversation, she greeted Mother Zhang with a smile, "Mother Zhang, my aunt didn't know what I borrowed from Elder Sister. She thought that everything was a gift for me from Elder Sister. Please don't take her words to heart."

Upon seeing Second Miss Fu Xing approaching, Mother Zhang's furrowed brows immediately relaxed. "Second Miss is so understanding. Don't blame this old servant... This is Lady Feng's order. Third Miss has already returned everything."

Su Qian was taken aback for a moment before she obediently smiled. "Of course, I wouldn't make things difficult for Mother Zhang. But why would Grandmother suddenly think of this matter?"

Mother Zhang's face also lit up. Compared to the willful and capricious Third Miss, who wouldn't prefer the gentle and considerate Second Miss? She didn't hesitate to offer some advice.

"It's actually all because of Aunt. Yesterday, you were only concerned about Second Miss's reputation and took her away, leaving Eldest Miss to face the scolding from the Lu family alone. Lady Feng was upset about that."

Madame Liu immediately protested, "Now that Eldest Miss insists on managing the household by herself, isn't it natural for her to deal with the Lu family? Besides, that old hag from the Lu family was brought here by her in the first place. If it weren't for her previous engagement, that good-for-nothing Lu family would never have any connection with our Su residence!"

"Be cautious with your words, Aunt!" Mother Zhang's expression turned stern. "A family's prosperity or decline affects everyone. If Eldest Miss hadn't stepped forward for Second Miss and our Su residence yesterday, Second Miss's reputation might have been tarnished by the Lu family. Then, where would Aunt be today, criticizing things after the fact?"

If Madame Liu had such a broad perspective, she wouldn't have scolded Su Youyue in front of outsiders yesterday. Naturally, she couldn't understand Mother Zhang's words and felt that she was intentionally causing trouble, taking advantage of Lady Feng's favor to make her feel miserable.

Moreover, Su Youyue's reputation wasn't new news. It had never affected her own Qian'er; on the contrary, the worse Su Youyue's reputation became, the more it highlighted Qian'er's virtues.

Observing Madam Liu's rebellious expression, Mother Zhang felt frustrated with her lack of ambition. The well-being of the Second Miss was about to be compromised by this incompetent mother.

Su Qian's eyes flickered, and she held onto Madam Liu's arm. "Madam, Mother Zhang is right. We shouldn't have left Elder Sister there yesterday. Besides, I had intended to return those items to her. It was just that I've been too busy and neglected it."

Finished speaking, she turned to Mother Zhang sincerely. "Mother Zhang, today was too rushed. I was actually in the process of packing additional dowry for Elder Sister with Madam. Could you give us two more days? Today, we'll make up for the missing dowry, and within the next two days, we'll return what we borrowed."

With a young lady acknowledging her mistake and siding with her, Mother Zhang's demeanor softened. She looked at Su Qian with concern.

"Well then, I'll speak on behalf of the Second Miss with the Elder Lady and grant her a few more days."

"Thank you, Mother Zhang..."

After bidding farewell to Mother Zhang, Su Qian led the still displeased Madam Liu back inside to whisper privately.

"Mother, of course, I'm not worried about Su Youyue's reputation. I'm concerned about yours and mine. Mother Zhang does have a point. If we had just left that day, outsiders might perceive me as heartless."

Madam Liu huffed through her nose. "That little wretch Su Youyue doesn't deserve to talk about loyalty with us. If not for her, the Lu family would never have dared to approach anyone from our Su residence. It's all because of her that we're in this situation."

"That may be true, but outsiders won't think that deeply. I've worked hard to build my reputation these past years. Now that I'm finally at an age for marriage proposals, I can't let Su Youyue ruin everything."

Su Qian's eyes narrowed slightly, a chilling glint flickering across her delicate features.

"Currently, these trivial gains are mere peanuts. If I were to marry into the royal family, wouldn't Su Youyue have to bow before me and pay respects in the future? What difference does it make if she's a legitimate or a concubine-born daughter? Or even if she has Grandmother and Father's favor? A woman relies on her father in the first half of her life, but on her husband in the latter half."

Madam Liu's heart surged with excitement. If her daughter were to become an imperial princess in the future, wouldn't she be the birth mother of an imperial princess?

Bear in mind, she was merely a maid. These notions were beyond her wildest dreams. Poisoning Master Su and climbing into his bed was the boldest move she had ever made in her life to change her fortunes.

Previously, they had orchestrated for Su Rong to inform Su Youyue that the Lu family intended to withdraw the marriage proposal. This was all to ensure that Su Youyue would insist on not breaking off the engagement, and thus marry into the Lu family, which was in decline. In this way, in the future, when Su Qian marries into a more prestigious family, she would naturally be able to firmly keep her elder sister, who is the legitimate daughter, under her thumb.

To everyone's surprise, Su Youyue agreed to the annulment. However, with her ruined reputation, no prominent or noble family, let alone the royal family, would ever consider taking her in as a member.

"Then... are we really going to return everything to that little harlot?" The thought alone pained Lady Liu immensely.