Chapter 27: No Rules

Su Baizhi noticed the impatience on the old matron’s face. Seeing that Susannah was still being stubborn, she scolded, “Susannah, what are you saying? Your grandmother is present—hold your tongue.”

Susannah still harbored resentment. Chided by Su Baizhi and feeling all the maids and old servants watching her, her eyes reddened. “Second Sister, why are you scolding me? I wasn’t wrong. Su Lilu is hardly better than a maid herself.”

Susannah’s thoughtless words nearly made Su Baizhi faint with anger. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Susannah, if you don’t keep quiet, don’t blame Mother for punishing you later.” As Yao Ruoshui’s favorite daughter, Su Baizhi had authority in such matters.

The Prime Minister doted on Concubine Shu, and Yao Ruoshui had long been displeased with Susannah. If not for Su Baizhi’s intervention, Susannah’s days of running wild in the household would have ended long ago.

Yao Ruoshui cast a cold, threatening look at Susannah. However Susannah might act, she didn’t care, but when it concerned her daughter… a ruthless glint flashed in her eyes. She would not allow anyone to tarnish her daughter's reputation.

Susannah shot Su Lilu a hateful glance but was finally persuaded to stop using Su Lilu as a target. The old matron’s expression softened considerably.

Seeing that Susannah was subdued and the old matron was in a good mood, Yao Ruoshui voiced her thoughts: “Madam, Baizhi is soon to be the Crown Prince’s secondary consort. The girls in our family must learn to respect rules and propriety. Perhaps it’s time to invite a governess to instruct them in proper conduct, so they all can understand discipline and decorum. It’s not right for Susannah to speak so recklessly.”

The old matron nodded in agreement. “You’re right—there must be order in the household. If she goes on speaking out of turn like she did today, she’ll bring shame to the Su family. Outsiders will think all Su ladies are so unrefined, and the girls’ futures will be ruined.”

Her words elevated Susannah’s behavior into a family issue. Yao Ruoshui’s face stiffened, a trace of resentment in her eyes. The old matron was sending her a warning, after all, as she was Susannah’s legal mother in name.

“Madam, you are right. Shall we invite a governess from the palace, or…?” Yao Ruoshui merely broached the subject; the final decision rested with the old matron.

The old matron narrowed her eyes in thought. After a moment, she replied, “I’ve heard there’s a governess in the capital who’s especially skilled at teaching etiquette. She’s just left her previous family. I’ll send someone to invite her. All the girls except for Baizhi, who’s preparing for marriage, must learn from her in earnest. If I discover anyone shirking their lessons, I won’t let it pass lightly.”

“You all heard the matron? Study the rules well; don’t give outsiders reason to laugh at you,” Yao Ruoshui instructed, a trace of delight on her face at the thought of using these rules to deal with those who vexed her.

When Susannah heard that a governess was coming, she was displeased, but with the old matron and Yao Ruoshui having made up their minds, she could only submit quietly, not daring to utter a word of protest and risk punishment.

Su Lilu didn’t take it to heart. She accepted the arrangement calmly. The old matron, seeing no one objected, continued, “I’ll send for her tomorrow. She should arrive within two or three days. You must all apply yourselves to your lessons.”

“Yes, Grandmother, we will,” the girls replied in unison.

Su Baizhi’s injury required rest. Night had fallen, and after everyone had comforted her, they withdrew from her courtyard.

The old matron, looking weary, was helped back to her room by Granny Hua. Yao Ruoshui lingered to reassure her daughter, waving Susannah and Su Lilu away first. Only after Su Baizhi had fallen asleep did she instruct the maids to take good care of her daughter before leaving.

Back in her own quarters, Su Lilu still didn’t feel sleepy. She had Liuzhu and Liuying help her freshen up. Dressed in a white inner robe and a pea-green outer garment, she sat on the heated kang bed. Liuzhu adjusted the lamp, brightening the room, and urged, “Miss, it’s late. You should rest. The book will wait until tomorrow.”

“I napped too much during the day; I feel wide awake. You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll rest after a while,” Su Lilu replied, unused to having people watch over her. Liuzhu brought her a cup of tea, then quietly closed the door.

The only sound in the room was the gentle rustle of pages as Su Lilu leafed through her medical book. She read it cover to cover, her heart stirred, a smile on her lips as she murmured, “Who would have thought there’d be a recipe for detoxifying and beautifying here? The ingredients are expensive, though… I really need to earn more silver.”

Treating the recipe as a treasure, she studied it carefully. Thinking of the costly herbs, she felt a surge of motivation. Clenching her fists, she vowed, “I must make good money soon. I can’t stand another moment in this wretched place.”

The more she thought, the more excited she became. Her eyes sparkled with hope for the future.

Taking up a brush and paper, she began jotting down her plans and arrangements for the days ahead. Before she knew it, half an hour had passed. Looking at the densely written page, her gaze grew distant. She murmured, “What am I thinking? If someone were to find this, it would only bring trouble.”

She crumpled the paper and tossed it to the floor, but after a moment’s thought, sighed, retrieved it herself, and folded it carefully to tuck into her sleeve.

Looking at the medical book on her desk, she recalled its mysterious origins, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “Who placed it there? Why was it never discovered before?”

But then she smiled to herself. The ancestral hall likely expected her to be there for the long haul—unlike the others, who had protectors. Only she was left kneeling for hours. The thought brought a pang of sorrow.

Yet the feeling passed quickly. Su Lilu collected herself and pulled another book from beneath her pillow, gazing at it for a long time. She had only skimmed it before, but its contents had shocked her—strategies and deployments that even she, an outsider, found marvelous. What would a true military mind make of it?

After pondering for a long while without an answer, she stuffed the book back under her pillow and resumed studying the medical text, focusing on the recipe for beauty and detoxification. She still longed to be beautiful; who would want to live each day with an ugly face and endure others’ scorn?

Whenever Susannah mocked her looks, a cold gleam shone in Su Lilu’s eyes. One day, she would break free from the Prime Minister’s household and reclaim her own life.

Liuzhu saw that her lady’s room was still lit, although it was already late. She gently knocked on the door. “Miss, it’s time to rest.”

“What time is it?”

“It’s nearly midnight. If you don’t rest soon, how will you have energy for tomorrow?”

“I understand.” As soon as she spoke, Su Lilu extinguished the lamp and lay down alone. Before long, she drifted into a deep and peaceful sleep.