Chapter 110: Concerning Minister Su…

Chapter 110: Concerning Minister Su...

Madam Liu was oblivious to the servants' thoughts; her mind was entirely occupied with the desire to retrieve her daughter as soon as possible.

Even if Su Rong and Su Youyue are not allowed to bring their daughter back, as long as the daughter returns, she will be able to deal with these two little rascals who have already joined forces. Otherwise, how can she, alone, be their match?

Madame Liu had long forgotten Su Qian's instruction that, at the very least, Su Youyue should personally send someone to fetch her before she could return. Upon learning that the Matriarch was planning to send someone to pick her up, she quickly brightened with joy.

Mrs. Zhang paid a visit to the Lin family the following day. Led by a maid, she made her way to the inner courtyard and found Su Qian lying in bed, her face as pale as a sheet. Mrs. Zhang's heart ached instantly. "Miss Second!"

A faint glint flickered in Su Qian's eyes, accompanied by a weak cough. "Mother Zhang, why are you here?"

As she spoke, she attempted to rise to greet the woman.

Seeing her condition, Mother Zhang quickly supported her back into lying down. "Miss Second, please lie down. Your body hasn't fully recovered yet..."

It seemed that Miss Second had truly suffered greatly. Yet, even at this point, she remained so gentle and understanding.

After helping Su Qian settle back down, Mother Zhang hesitated before speaking. "Miss Second, Lady Elder asked me to check on your health and see if it's convenient for you to return home. Staying in the Lin family's residence for too long might cause inconvenience."

"Mother did say so..." Su Qian spoke gently.

However, just as she finished, Lin Wanwan burst out angrily, "Qian'er can't even get out of bed now. How do you expect her to go back? You're not asking her to return; you're asking for her life! Moreover, Su Youyue hasn't apologized to Qian'er. Why should she go back?"

Mrs. Zhang held some respect in the Su family and rarely encountered such an outburst. Now, she could only stammer, unable to respond. Seeing Su Qian's weak yet determined attempt to speak up for herself, she hesitated before saying, "Since Miss Second is still inconvenient to return, let her rest for a few more days. I'll inform Madam immediately."

Lin Wanwan huffed, seemingly appeased by this.

"Then I must trouble you, Mrs. Zhang. Please apologize to Grandmother on my behalf... Qian'er truly cannot fulfill her filial duties by her side these days," Su Qian said with a bitter smile.

Seeing her state, Mrs. Zhang thought to herself that perhaps Miss Second really hadn't noticed what had happened that day. Otherwise, considering how much Miss Second cared about Old Madam, she would surely have defended Qian'er's reputation.

Perhaps it was Miss First who misunderstood Miss Second.

Mrs. Zhang quickly left to report back to Old Madam.

Unknown to her, the moment she left, Su Qian sat up in bed, while Lin Wanwan approached with a triumphant grin. "Qian'er, hurry up and get up. That old woman's gone. Your family's Old Madam is ridiculous. Su Youyue beat you like this, and she didn't even punish her. She wants you to go back!"

In her heart, Su Qian also harbored resentment towards Elder Madam Su. She had expected some sort of punishment for Su Youyue, but days had passed without any action. Instead, Elder Madam had sent only Mrs. Zhang to dismiss her.

However, she couldn't say that out loud and instead defended her grandmother: "Wanwan, my grandmother does care for me..."

"She doesn't care about you at all. She lets that calamity star bully you in the mansion. You'd be better off staying here with us. My mother and sister-in-law love you; they wish you'd stay forever. Yesterday, my sister-in-law even mentioned wanting to get closer to you, hoping to bring more blessings to her unborn child!"

Lin Wanwan took Su Qian's hand and led her out. "Listen to me, the Third Prince and Princess are coming over soon. Quick, get yourself ready. I heard that Empress Concubine Qi is trying to matchmake you with the Third Prince..."

After spending every day together, Lin Wanwan knew that Su Qian's injuries were no longer a concern, which was why she dared to take her out.

Su Qian widened her eyes slightly and pretended to blush. "You, Wanwan, where did you hear such things from...?"

In reality, she had already expected this. It was obvious that the foolish Third Prince cared for her, and Empress Concubine Qi also favored her. Thus, it was inevitable that they had plans to matchmake them.

Although she didn't think highly of the Third Prince's character, it wouldn't change the fact that he would become the emperor's own brother and be granted the title of an Imperial Prince. If she could become an Imperial Princess, it would be excellent.

With the life-saving debt he owed her, the Third Prince would never mistreat her in his lifetime.

Lin Wanwan pulled her along. "Come on, everyone's talking about it outside. Who wouldn't know that the Emperor is planning to choose a good date for your marriage? The Third Prince and Princess came over today, wasn't it just to see you?"

A hint of bashfulness appeared on Su Qian's face, but a hint of pride flashed in her eyes.

Not for nothing had she toiled to build her reputation all these years; her dream of marrying into the royal family was finally coming true.

Henceforth, she would be an esteemed princess consort or queen, while it mattered little that Su Youyue was a legitimate daughter – no one wanted her anyway. In front of this concubine-born daughter, she would still have to bow and address her as Her Highness the Princess Consort.

Her biased father would not escape unscathed either!

Recalling the neglect she endured from Su Zhenyun over the years, Su Qian's gaze sharpened, but it quickly softened upon catching sight of the arriving Third Prince and Third Princess.

"Third Prince, Third Princess."

Lin Wanwan and Su Qian bowed together, but the Third Prince hastened to support Su Qian: "Miss Su, quickly rise. Your body is still frail – what kind of greeting is this!"

Overjoyed at the prospect of his father granting Su Qian to him, the Third Prince could hardly sleep the entire night. He and his sister were supposed to visit yesterday, but after learning he would marry Su Qian, he promptly ordered new attire that would only be ready in two days to be expedited.

After waiting through the night, the purple robe was finally completed by a dozen seamstresses working through the night.

As he envisaged the woman before him as his future princess consort, Baili Ming also found himself uncommonly tender towards her.

The Third Princess's gaze toward Su Qian today held a different nuance than before. As she looked at Su Qian, she couldn't help but recall her encounter with Minister Su from yesterday.

Before yesterday, she never imagined that Shangshu Su could be so handsome and refined, his age of over thirty concealed entirely.

In her palace, her male favorites were either effeminate or valiant, but she had never favored a man as elegant and mature as he, with a vulnerability that resembled delicate porcelain. After just one encounter, he lingered in her thoughts.

Now, at the sight of Su Qian, she recalled the reddened corners of Shangshu Su's eyes from yesterday. It stirred a tingling sensation within her, wishing that she was the woman who had captured his affection so deeply.

She had seen men fight over her, or despise her, but never had she encountered one who loved her so profoundly that he would die for her.

The Third Princess, lost in her thoughts, paid no attention to the conversation between her brother and Su Qian. Instead, a determined expression quickly formed on her face.

If she could lure Shangshu Su into her bed, the look on that little tramp Su Youyue's face would surely be priceless, wouldn't it?