Chapter Nineteen: Interrogation

Su Lilu nodded repeatedly, following Su Shan’er’s lead and saying, “Then I must thank you, little sister. Your maid is already awake—why not let her help you back to your quarters for a rest? You’ve had a tiring day.”

Su Shan’er considered this and nodded. Su Lilu immediately instructed Liuying to bring Su Shan’er’s maid over. “Hurry, help Third Miss back to her courtyard.”

The maid stood by the beauty couch, carefully slipped shoes onto Su Shan’er’s feet, and helped her up, though her mind remained clouded and unsteady.

Su Lilu supported Su Shan’er on one side, escorting her to the courtyard gate. Only after watching her vanish from sight did she return inside and instruct Liuying, “Close the gate. Gather all the servants in the courtyard.”

Liuying worked quickly, and soon, all the servants from Su Lilu’s courtyard assembled, standing in two neat rows. Su Lilu regarded them for a long moment, then spoke: “Today, Third Miss fainted near our courtyard and was saved by me. Remember this well.”

“We remember,” the servants replied in unison.

Satisfied that she had intimidated them, Su Lilu nodded. “Since you understand, get back to your work. But if I find anyone with a loose tongue, don’t blame me for using harsh measures. If anything happens to me, none of you will survive either.”

She meant to warn them, and when she noticed several timid servants trembling, she did not press further. “If you understood what I said today, answer ‘yes.’ If not, and you choose to betray your mistress, your fate will be no better than this flower.”

Su Lilu plucked a vibrant peony from a pot, and with a slight squeeze, the bloom wilted, a few drops of red seeping between her fingers. When she released her grip, the flower fell apart, lifeless.

Su Shan’er, having been tricked out of the courtyard by Su Lilu, walked for the time it takes incense to burn. Nearing her own gate, a sudden flash of memory struck—a sense that something was amiss. “Meixiang, did you faint as well?”

“Miss, after you collapsed, I too lost consciousness,” Meixiang replied nervously, afraid of displeasing Su Shan’er with any misstep.

Su Shan’er walked a few more steps, frowning deeply and stopping so abruptly Meixiang nearly bumped into her. “Miss, what’s wrong?”

“If you fainted after me, you should have seen how I was rendered unconscious. Was it Su Lilu’s doing?” Su Shan’er tried to piece together her scrambled memories, rubbing her head in frustration, but it was futile.

“I… I can’t recall clearly now…” Meixiang fell into deep thought, a vague suspicion lurking in her mind, but she dared not voice it and pressed her lips tightly together, not daring to let anything slip.

The more Su Shan’er thought about it, the more suspicious she became. “Let’s not return to our courtyard. We’re going to Second Miss’s place.” With that, she turned and marched toward Su Baizhi’s quarters, Meixiang hurrying after her.

At the entrance, they encountered Jinling. “Is your mistress awake?”

The head maid Jinling curtseyed. “She is, Third Miss. Do you need something? Allow me to announce your arrival.” With that, she slipped inside, and soon invited Su Shan’er in.

Su Baizhi reclined on a beauty couch by the window, a book of poetry in hand but her gaze wandering outside, a hint of melancholy in her expression, troubled by some unspoken worry.

Upon seeing Su Shan’er, Su Baizhi straightened slightly and greeted her warmly. “Sister, come sit. What brings you here today?”

Su Shan’er was silent for a long while. Su Baizhi waited quietly. At last, Su Shan’er spoke: “Sister Baizhi, I woke up today in Su Lilu’s room, but I distinctly remember strolling in the garden with Meixiang. I think I even saw Su Lilu hurrying from the garden into her courtyard, carrying something.”

Now clear-headed, Su Shan’er pieced everything together, anger simmering in her chest, her eyes blazing. Su Lilu dared to deceive and manipulate her—her days of good fortune were over.

“Are you certain?” Su Baizhi, suddenly energized, had Jinling help her sit upright, placing her book aside. Her eyes grew cold.

Yinling refilled Su Shan’er’s tea and stood beside Su Baizhi. Su Shan’er nodded firmly. “Second Sister, I’m sure. I saw Su Lilu carrying something, as if she’d just come from the garden. I don’t know what she was up to.”

Su Baizhi grabbed Su Shan’er’s hand, speaking urgently, “Good sister, you’ve truly helped me. You’ve suffered enough today. I’ll go to Eldest Sister’s courtyard now and get to the bottom of this. I will see that justice is done for you.”

Su Baizhi instructed Jinling to do her hair and gazed at her own pale reflection in the mirror, a glint of hatred in her eyes. She’d been searching for evidence against Su Lilu, and now it had presented itself.

Once dressed, Su Baizhi led a retinue of matrons and maids in grand procession to Su Lilu’s courtyard. Su Shan’er, unwilling to miss the show, followed close behind, her eyes brimming with resentment.

Su Lilu, upon hearing that Su Baizhi was approaching with an entourage, remained calm, sitting in the parlor to await them—thankful for her earlier preparations.

“Second Miss, what brings you here? Allow me to announce you—hey, Second Miss, you can’t just barge in!” Liu Zhu and Liuying tried to block Su Baizhi’s path but were swiftly restrained by two matrons in her party, leaving them anxious and raising their voices.

Su Baizhi and her followers surged into the room, finding Su Lilu composed, seated on a stool as though watching a spectacle. Su Baizhi’s gaze darkened. She ordered her chief maid to gather all of Su Lilu’s servants.

“Sister, you won’t blame me, will you? I heard there were servants in your courtyard bold enough to steal, so naturally I must investigate.” Su Baizhi had prepared her excuse in advance. She glanced at the excited Su Shan’er behind her, then turned a languid gaze on Su Lilu. Words alone would not suffice as evidence—she would need to pry it from the servants.

Su Lilu said nothing, presenting an air of indifference. Su Baizhi shot her a hateful look and ordered, “Keep the servants under watch. I’ll question them one by one.”

Su Baizhi selected a side room, where Jinling had prepared tea and snacks. A grand armchair with a dark red cushion stood in the center. Su Baizhi sat and instructed Jinling to bring Liuying in.

“Kneel. Answer my questions truthfully, or Mother will have you sold.” But Liuying was not intimidated by such threats; she knelt without a word, answering each question in accordance with what Su Lilu had taught her.

Questioning over a dozen servants proved time-consuming. The further she went, the darker Su Baizhi’s expression became and the more restless she felt.