Chapter 102: Striking Someone

“Mother, she actually dared to talk back.” Yao Ruoshui saw Su Liluo lift her head high with an arrogant air and immediately reported to the matriarch.

The matriarch also looked at Su Liluo with displeasure, as if she were speaking nonsense. “Su Liluo, you are so unruly and still claim you are not at fault? It seems only family discipline can teach you some things are simply not to be done.”

Pointing at Su Liluo, the matriarch scolded fiercely, wishing she could make her disappear at once. She clutched her chest, gasping heavily. Yao Ruoshui and Nurse Hua anxiously asked, “Madam, are you alright?”

“I'm fine. Help me sit down.” A sharp-eyed servant quickly brought over a chair. The matriarch sat and drank some warm water, feeling much better.

Su Baihan raised an eyebrow smugly. “Su Liluo, you disgrace the Su family’s honor shamelessly and have even made Grandmother ill. Truly detestable.”

Su Liluo glanced coldly at Su Baihan and retorted sarcastically, “Fourth sister, before you speak, you should think of second sister. She is the one who has most tarnished the Su family’s reputation, having lost her own purity. How could I ever compare?”

Su Baizhi was furious inside but put on a pitiful expression, wiping tears as she cried to Su Liluo, “Big sister, why do you say such things? I never meant to steal the Crown Prince’s favor; it was he who said he liked me, not you. Can big sister not accept this?”

“Su Baizhi, don’t pretend to be innocent. You know well what you did. Who are you trying to fool with that pitiful act?” Su Liluo looked at her with disdain, wanting to scratch her face to see what else she might use to seduce others.

“Big sister, I don’t understand your words. The Crown Prince is of noble status; I had no choice. If you want to blame someone, blame me entirely, but please don’t joke with your own reputation,” Su Baizhi pleaded earnestly.

Su Baihan, feeling indignant for her sister, said, “Big sister, don’t try to persuade her anymore. She was born shameless—she even seduced Prince Yi before. Now, she disobeys Grandmother’s orders and leaves the mansion without permission, completely disregarding the Su family.”

Su Liluo sneered coldly. “Grandmother, I only left the mansion to handle the Xuexiu matter. You know Xuexiu was a gift from the Empress herself. Every noble in the capital prides themselves on owning a set of Xuexiu products. I was only enhancing the Prime Minister’s household’s prestige, not doing anything disgraceful as Fourth Sister claims.”

Hearing Su Liluo’s explanation only angered the matriarch more, feeling she was being pressured by the Empress’s name. Coldly, she ordered, “What are you waiting for? The eldest miss disobeyed my orders and left the mansion without permission. She has no discipline. Give her twenty lashes at once to teach her a lesson—let her know what is proper to say.”

A plump, sturdy old woman approached. After paying respects to the matriarch and madam, she strode over to Su Liluo. Su Liluo watched calmly as the old woman raised her hand and brought it down heavily.

With a sharp slap, Su Liluo felt no pain. Opening her eyes, she saw Liuying holding her tightly, pressing her face to her chest, while Qingyi and Qingyao grabbed the old woman’s hand and slapped her back in retaliation, a sight that pleased onlookers greatly.

Yao Ruoshui screamed, “This is outrageous, Su Liluo! Where did you learn such insolence? You even dare hit someone close to Grandmother?”

The matriarch, seeing Su Liluo’s companions fight back, shook with anger and pointed at Su Liluo. “You wicked girl, you won’t even obey me. Someone, bring the family law punishment; I want to discipline her properly.”

Su Liluo no longer wished to kneel. She sprang to her feet, glaring at the surrounding servants. “Who dares?”

No one stepped forward. Qingyi and Qingyao stood protectively by Su Liluo. Since she had broken ties with the matriarch, she had no intention to plead anymore. If she continued to be oppressed, one day even Su Hong would betray her without her knowledge.

Covering her mouth, Su Liluo yawned widely, her eyes misty. “Qingyi, Qingyao, I’m tired. If anyone tries to stop us, teach them a lesson. If anything happens, I will take responsibility. Let’s go back.”

The matriarch, furious at her audacity, shouted at the servants cowering behind, “Are you all dead men? Hurry and stop her!”

Su Liluo was already heading out. Some servants, biting their lips and clenching fists, charged forward but were kicked aside mercilessly by Qingyi.

The matriarch, never expecting Su Liluo’s attendants to fight back, pointed at Su Liluo and wanted to curse but could not catch her breath. She closed her eyes and collapsed onto her chair.

Yao Ruoshui screamed, “Mother, you’ve fainted from that little shameless girl’s anger! Someone stop her at once! Nurse Ping, go quickly and fetch Master Xiang to see how disrespectful Su Liluo is to her elders.”

No one moved after Yao Ruoshui’s words. The crowd exchanged glances. Yao Ruoshui shouted hoarsely, “Everyone, get up! What are you waiting for? If you don’t obey me, you don’t belong in the Prime Minister’s residence. Sell you all into slavery!”

No one dared to delay any longer. Being sold off meant no chance of survival. Gritting their teeth, they charged.

Seeing so many willing to risk it all, Su Liluo whispered, “Qingyi, Qingyao, no mercy. Let’s finish this quickly so we can leave.”

“Yes, mistress.” Qingyi and Qingyao cracked their knuckles and easily took down several opponents. Surrounded, Su Liluo remained untouched; anyone who reached her fell immediately.

Su Baizhi watched, her face draining of color. Su Liluo clearly held the upper hand now. What was going on today? Usually, Su Liluo never acted so hostile. A few scoldings would usually soften her. Today was truly unusual.

By the end, only a few scattered servants remained standing. Su Liluo and her protectors were almost at the door. Su Baizhi anxiously looked toward the ancestral hall’s entrance, silently praying, “Father, why aren’t you here yet?”

When she saw a tall figure approaching, her eyes lit up with joy. “Father, you finally came!”

Yao Ruoshui also spotted Su Hong’s figure and tearfully complained, “Master, please stand up for me! The eldest miss is always shouting for punishment. Look at these servants on the ground—all injured by her maids. Is there any discipline left?”

Su Baizhi spoke softly, “Father, today big sister disobeyed Mother’s advice and left the mansion without permission, even making Grandmother faint. No matter how much she misbehaves, I rarely say anything, but today she has gone too far and disregarded Grandmother.”

Su Baihan nodded in agreement. “Yes, Father. Who spoiled her temper like this? She doesn’t listen to Mother or Grandmother. You must speak to her seriously.”

Su Hong looked at the chaotic mess and then at Su Liluo’s unapologetic face. He roared, “Su Liluo, what do you think you’re doing? Tell your people to stop this at once!”

Qingyi and Qingyao fought fiercely but these servants were too weak to pose any real threat.

Su Liluo signaled them to cease and stared fearlessly at Su Hong, her face full of coldness. Su Hong’s face darkened as he glared at his unruly daughter and shouted, “What is this attitude? Kneel down immediately! You don’t even listen to me anymore?”

Su Liluo did not move. Looking straight at Su Hong, she explained softly, “Father, I opened Xuexiu with the Empress’s permission. Since the shop is open, why can’t I go out to manage it? I did nothing wrong by leaving. As for Grandmother, I only had my servants protect me. Should I just wait for them to bully me one by one?”