Chapter 132: Standoff

Yao Ruoshui pointed at Su Liluo and berated her, "Where did you throw away the manners you were taught? To think you would dare engage in illicit affairs with a man outside these walls! Confess immediately—who is that man?" If she could secure proof of Su Liluo’s adultery, being drowned in a pig basket would be the least of her punishments.

Su Liluo dared not admit to any of it. She shook her head desperately, "I truly do not understand where my younger sister found these people to slander me. I have never stepped foot in a brothel. Sister, what is your intention? To corner me like this—are you trying to drive me to my death?"

Su Liluo stared blankly at Su Baizhi. Her aggressive aura forced Su Baizhi to take two steps back. Realizing she was now a consort to the Crown Prince and could not afford to be intimidated, Su Baizhi feigned injury and said, "Sister, you misunderstand. I only learned of this girl named Yanhong by chance. I did not want to believe you were capable of such things, but her account was so vivid that I had no choice but to trust her."

Seeing that neither would back down, the Old Madam of the Su family spoke in a deep, cold voice: "What is difficult about this? Send someone to the brothel to bring back two of the girls for questioning. If it is proven that you were framed, Liluo, your name will be cleared. But if it is proven true..." The Old Madam’s clouded eyes turned toward her. Su Liluo shuddered, but steadying her nerves, she replied gently, "Grandmother is right. This is indeed a good way."

"Mother, I shall send someone to the brothel immediately," Yao Ruoshui interjected, and the Old Madam nodded.

Watching Yao Ruoshui intervene, Su Liluo felt her heart in chaos. She let out a frustrated breath. Although she did not believe teaching dance in a brothel was particularly scandalous, the era was harsh on women. Coupled with the rumors of her involvement with Yun Yanyi being spread by Yanhong, if the truth came out, she would likely face a drowning death.

Sitting nearby, Su Baizhi saw that Su Liluo no longer looked as calm as before, which further convinced her that Yanhong’s words were true. The thought of finally defeating Su Liluo eased some of the grievances she had suffered at the Eastern Palace.

"Sister, do not worry. If you are truly innocent, a little waiting will do no harm," Su Baizhi said, eyebrows raised in a triumphant smirk, as if she could already see Su Liluo struck dumb by the evidence.

Su Liluo forced a smile. "Sister, you went out of your way to find someone to frame me today. Naturally, I am not afraid. The innocent will always be cleared." Internally, she was trembling, but she had to maintain a composed front, fearing Su Baizhi might find a true opening.

Su Baizhi stopped bickering; she believed Su Liluo was merely putting on a brave face, and once the people from the brothel arrived, her lies would crumble.

Su Liluo sat quietly in the corner, feigning ease while feeling as if her heart were being roasted over a fire. She sat rigidly, not daring to let her guard down for a single moment.

Yun Yanyi had been keeping a close watch on the Prime Minister’s residence. Upon learning of the situation, he pondered for a moment and ordered: "Send two men to follow the servants from the residence. Let them figure out for themselves what should and should not be said."

"As you command, Your Highness," the guard, Leng Feng, replied, bowing as he retreated. A flicker of cold light shone in Yun Yanyi’s eyes. It seemed his previous measures had been too lenient, allowing someone to expose Su Liluo’s affairs.

The servants sent by Yao Ruoshui soon returned with two young maids from the brothel. They knelt quietly. Yao Ruoshui pointed at Su Liluo and demanded, "Speak the truth! Do you recognize her?"

The two maids glanced at Su Liluo and replied in unison, "We do not know her."

Su Liluo let out a silent sigh of relief. With her confidence restored, she turned on Su Baizhi, "Sister, what is the meaning of this? They have both denied it. You slandered me so viciously—don't you owe me an explanation?"

Su Baizhi’s face darkened, and she remained silent. Su Liluo pressed her harder: "Sister, say something! You were so eager earlier, but now that the people are here, you’ve lost your tongue. Is it guilt?"

Su Baizhi looked at the two maids and demanded sharply, "Tell the truth! Do you really not know her? Yanhong told us everything; don't you dare lie!" She preferred to believe Yanhong’s testimony over these two maids, whom she suspected were lying.

"We truly do not know this young lady. Besides, Yanhong committed an offense at the house and was sold to another brothel by the Madam. She is simply slandering people, and we cannot believe you actually trusted her." The two maids looked at them with thinly veiled contempt, leaving Su Baizhi and the others choked with frustration.

Having secured this confirmation, Su Liluo felt a surge of joy. She did not want to waste such an opportunity and pointed at Su Baizhi, lamenting, "Sister, the truth is out. You were willing to believe an outsider rather than listen to my explanation. Do you truly consider me a sister at all?"

Su Baizhi was left speechless. The Old Madam, watching the farce, felt her recent patience with the chaotic state of the household evaporate. She turned to Su Baizhi and scolded, "Zhier, you have been far too reckless this time. You accused your sister based on outside rumors without gathering complete evidence."

"Grandmother, I didn't..." Su Baizhi shook her head, terrified of letting Su Liluo pin this disgrace on her.

The Old Madam, simmering with anger, would not listen to any more excuses. She said coldly, "There is no need for further explanation; the facts are before us. You are a consort to the Crown Prince, yet you act with such thoughtlessness. How can you justify the teachings of this house? Can I still count on you to assist your father?"

Reduced to nothing by the Old Madam’s words, Su Baizhi looked pained. Seeing Yao Ruoshui wanting to interject, she shook her head at her mother. It was only a few scoldings; she had miscalculated this time, but she would ensure Su Liluo did not escape so easily next time. She bowed her head, "Grandmother, today’s events were my lack of judgment. I will apologize to my sister now."

Seeing that the Old Madam remained silent, implying her consent, Su Baizhi bowed to Su Liluo and said apologetically, "Sister, it was my mistake. You have a generous heart; surely you will not hold this against me, right?"

Su Baizhi was capable of bending when necessary, hiding her humiliation deep within to seek revenge when the time was right.

Su Liluo looked at her fragile appearance. With the fuming Yao Ruoshui nearby, she decided not to make things more difficult and gently helped her up. "Sister, what are you saying? You were merely misled by slanderous words. I will not take it to heart."

Su Baizhi offered a relieved smile and took Su Liluo’s hand intimately. "That is good. I was worried you might blame me. It seems your magnanimity is something I cannot match; I still have much to learn from you."

The words were polished, the smile shallow. Su Liluo gently withdrew her hand, maintaining a polite facade, unwilling to continue the charade with Su Baizhi. "You are too kind, Sister."

Su Baizhi watched her, thinking that the earlier tension could not have been faked—Su Liluo had definitely been to the brothel and done something suspicious. But without hard evidence, and with Yanhong alone being insufficient, Su Baizhi kept her thoughts hidden behind a faint, inscrutable smile.

Su Liluo averted her gaze to the two maids still kneeling on the floor. "Grandmother, since the matter is cleared, these girls should be sent back, lest their house comes looking for them. As for this girl, Yanhong..."

Yanhong trembled, all eyes turning toward her. Su Baizhi looked at her with feigned hesitation and said softly, "Perhaps she should be sent away as well. She is but a weak woman; she must have simply remembered things incorrectly."