Chapter 130: The Living Witness

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“My lord may not believe me, but surely you must believe Mother. She witnessed the entire matter from beginning to end. How could I ever dare deceive you? Liluo saw it all clearly as well. Hanyi was so frightened that now she does not even respond when I speak to her.”

As she spoke, tears began to fall from Yao Ruoshui’s eyes once more. Su Hong hurried to comfort her. “Enough. I merely asked another question. Why must you become so agitated, Madam? Now that the matter has been investigated and clarified, I certainly will not allow her to behave recklessly.”

Yao Ruoshui curved her lips, then put on a worried expression. “My lord, Hanyi must have been badly frightened by what happened. I would like you to summon an imperial physician from the palace to examine her.”

“Very well. I’ll have someone deliver a petition to the palace at once. Once I have dealt with Concubine Shu’s affair, I’ll go see Hanyi.”

Moved, Yao Ruoshui threw herself into Su Hong’s arms. “With your affection, my lord, Hanyi will surely recover soon.”

An incense stick later, Yao Ruoshui left Su Hong’s study with deep satisfaction and immediately went to Su Baihan’s room. She saw Nanny Ping tending closely to Su Baihan, who lay sleeping on the bed.

“Nanny, is Hanyi feeling any better?”

“Fourth Miss has fallen asleep. She simply could not come to terms with what happened for a while. Once she awakens, Madam need only comfort her properly, and Miss will surely understand your concern.”

Nanny Ping sighed. Yao Ruoshui could only nod in agreement, then sat blankly beside Su Baihan’s bed for quite some time.

Su Hong arrived at the woodshed and ordered his men to bring Shu Mei out. The moment Concubine Shu saw him, she cried out in protest.

“My lord, I have been wronged! Shaner would never do such a thing. My lord, please do not believe the words of petty people so easily.”

“Beat her. Hard.”

Su Hong’s face was cold, and he showed not the slightest trace of pity for Concubine Shu. Shu Mei screamed, “My lord, it hurts! Please, my lord, spare me—”

So long as Su Hong did not order them to stop, the servants’ rods continued to fall upon Shu Mei. Her cries grew weaker and weaker until they ceased altogether. The servants stopped and checked her breathing.

“My lord, the concubine has fainted.”

“Throw water on her and wake her.”

Su Hong’s expression remained grim.

A basin of cold water was poured over Shu Mei.

“Mm… my lord…”

“Shu, you raised a fine daughter. Today’s beating will teach you a lesson. Prepare a carriage and send the concubine to the country estate. Without my order, she is not to take a single step outside.”

Su Hong cast Shu Mei a look of disgust and turned away.

Watching the disheveled Concubine Shu, one of the servants sighed. “Second Concubine’s good days are over. She has completely fallen from the master’s favor.”

Shu Mei’s lips were pale, and her body was covered in bruises and wounds. She lay sprawled on the ground, unable to recover for a long while. When someone pulled her up, the pain caused her to faint once more.

Concubine Shu soon vanished from the Prime Minister’s residence. When Yao Ruoshui heard that Shu Mei had been sent to the country estate, she said with satisfaction, “Good! That wretched woman finally has her comeuppance. My poor Hanyi…”

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“Madam, there is no need to worry. With your care, Fourth Miss will gradually recover.”

Nanny Ping was still offering words of comfort when Su Hong strode inside.

“How is Hanyi now?”

Yao Ruoshui ushered Su Hong to a seat on the raised platform. His brows were tightly furrowed as he asked the question.

“She is asleep.”

Yao Ruoshui had just received the latest news, and a trace of joy appeared on her face. Afraid of provoking Su Hong’s anger at such a moment, she quickly suppressed it.

Thinking of Su Shan’er, Su Hong said in a deep voice, “I must trouble you with one more matter, Madam. Find someone suitable and marry Shan’er off as soon as possible. She cannot remain in the household any longer.”

Hearing this, Yao Ruoshui knew that both mother and daughter, the Shu family, had lost Su Hong’s favor. She replied with practiced gentleness, “Rest assured, my lord. I shall devote myself to the matter. Will you be dining here later?”

“Another time. Today’s affair still needs to be dealt with thoroughly. Make arrangements for Shan’er’s marriage as soon as possible.”

Su Hong repeated himself again and again, clearly hoping that Su Shan’er would be married off without delay.

Yao Ruoshui nodded. “Rest assured, my lord. I will send people to inquire about suitable candidates immediately.”

This time, she would make certain that Su Shan’er found no one willing to answer her cries, whether to Heaven or Earth.

Yao Ruoshui took out the small booklet she had used earlier and selected one of the names listed inside.

“Nanny Ping, this family will do. Go and investigate them at once. Exchange the betrothal documents as soon as possible and choose an auspicious date so that Third Miss may be married off quickly.”

“Madam certainly has a discerning eye. This family now has only one son. I have heard that the master of the household is no longer capable of fathering children. He and Third Miss are truly a match made in Heaven. Once she marries into the family, she will become a mother immediately.”

Nanny Ping had learned of this by chance. The family had concealed the matter very carefully, and it was not easy to uncover.

Yao Ruoshui had not expected such an unexpected gain. She nodded. “That is even better. I was afraid Su Shan’er might suffer a disadvantage. Since that is the case, let it be him.”

Thinking of Li Ming, Su Hong ordered, “Steward, Li Ming’s family cannot be allowed to remain. Send people to deal with them quietly. Be clean and efficient. Leave no trace behind.”

The steward’s face was cold as he answered softly, “Rest assured, my lord. It will be done.”

After visiting Su Baihan, Su Hong ordered the servants to care for her properly and help her recover as soon as possible. He still needed Su Baihan to win people over for him.

When Su Hong received word that Li Ming was dead, he finally felt that one burden had been lifted from his heart. He never imagined that a survivor had slipped through the net.

Su Liluo walked to a modest courtyard with only one row of rooms and surveyed her surroundings. She knocked on the door. Someone opened it, and she entered.

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“How is she?” Su Liluo asked, looking at the man.

She had persuaded Jiangnan to send this man over to care for the patient for several days. The man shook his head.

“She is still unconscious. She will need another two days before she wakes.”

“That is fine. Once she awakens, your task will be complete. Do not stop her from doing whatever she wishes.”

Su Liluo did not enter the room. After giving him his instructions, she put on her veil once more and left.

A woman went before Shuntian Prefecture and beat the grievance drum. Once the court convened, she accused the Su family in open court.

“I beg Your Honor to uphold justice! The daughter of Prime Minister Su deliberately seduced my son, yet the Prime Minister’s residence turned around and blamed us instead. My son died a miserable death. I beg Your Honor to give us justice!”

She was Li Ming’s mother. She had been rescued by chance, but her husband and son had both died horribly, leaving her no choice but to seek help from the authorities.

Upon learning of the matter, Su Hong’s political enemies spread the news through every street and alley. In less than a day, rumors that the Prime Minister treated human lives as weeds and that the young ladies of the Su household were shameless had spread throughout the capital.

When Su Hong heard, he was consumed with rage. He berated the steward, “Did I not order you to handle the matter cleanly? How is it that there is still a survivor?”

The steward was equally baffled. “This servant does not know. Shall we send someone to silence that woman as well?”

“If we do that now, will you have the entire capital witness the Prime Minister’s residence murdering people? Forget it. We will have to think of another solution.”

After attending court that day, Su Hong could only grit his teeth and endure the barbs hurled at him by his political enemies.

When Su Baizhi learned of the matter, she sent people to investigate why Su Liluo had gone to the brothel. The moment she discovered the connection between the two incidents, a vicious smile touched her lips.

“This is perfect. Once the news is released, only Su Liluo’s reputation will be damaged.”

Su Baizhi had people spread the story in teahouses. Within two days, rumors that Su Liluo frequented brothels and shamelessly taught the women there had spread through every street and alley. Her formerly spotless reputation was completely buried beneath the new scandal.

Hearing the people outside mock Su Liluo, Su Baizhi felt immensely pleased and wished she could spread even more rumors.

Recently, the Prime Minister’s residence had become the subject of the capital’s fiercest gossip. In the teahouses, one could constantly hear people discussing the several young ladies of the Su family. Without exception, not a single word spoken about them was favorable. Su Liluo, in particular, was subjected to the harshest abuse.

After being treated by the imperial physician and comforted by Yao Ruoshui, Su Baihan returned to her former appearance. Yet the incident had still changed her in small ways. At times, she would sit alone in a daze. Even when she heard the rumors about herself outside, she no longer cursed and demanded to go out and strike people. She would simply listen in silence, and then tears would stream from her eyes.

Yao Ruoshui dabbed them away with a pained expression.

“Hanyi, everyone outside is speaking nonsense. Do not take it to heart.”

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