Chapter Ninety: Reproach

Tears brimmed in Lady Su’s eyes as she looked at the old matriarch, and with a choked voice she murmured, “Grandmother…” The old matriarch glanced at Su Baihan beside her and let out a heavy sigh. “Remember to copy out the book as punishment when you get back.”

Su Baizhi hurriedly thanked her. “Thank you, Grandmother. Han’er, why are you still not thanking Grandmother?”

Su Baihan could only force a smile, lowering her head as she said in a pitifully small voice, “Thank you, Grandmother.”

“Grandmother, I will take Han’er back first.” Su Baizhi led Su Baihan away, and Su Liluo rose as well to take her leave. Just as she stepped out of the old matriarch’s courtyard, she heard a voice behind her call out, “Please wait, Eldest Sister.”

Su Liluo looked at Su Shaner in surprise. “Third Sister? How may I help you?”

“I have something I want to say to you alone.” Su Shaner glanced toward Su Baizhi and Su Baihan. Su Liluo smiled. “Second Sister, please take Han’er back.”

Su Shaner brought Su Liluo to one side. Looking around and seeing no one passing by, she said quickly, “Eldest Sister, that day it was Su Baizhi who told me to take you to the water’s edge. I hate her to death now. Since you and she can’t possibly be friends, why don’t the two of us join forces and deal with her? We can absolutely keep her completely suppressed.”

Su Liluo found this amusing in her heart, yet tears gathered at the corners of her eyes as she said, “Second Sister is now the Crown Prince’s consort. If anything were to happen, the palace would not let it rest. I would not dare make a move.”

Su Shaner had not expected Su Liluo to be so timid, and she snapped angrily, “Su Liluo, how can you be so useless? Truly a good-for-nothing. They bully you like this, and you still do not know how to fight back.”

Su Liluo let her scold her as she pleased, taking the words as though they were meant for someone else. As for Su Shaner treating her like a friend, Su Liluo only found it utterly ridiculous. A faint chill settled in her eyes. Su Shaner had pushed her into the lake—had she lost her memory? Not to mention Su Baizhi, even the woman before her was her enemy. How could she join hands with someone who meant her harm? One person was enough.

Su Shaner spoke for a long while, but Su Liluo did not utter a single word. Flustered, Su Shaner glanced at her, stamped her foot, and cursed, “Idiot.” Then she stormed off in a huff.

Su Liluo rubbed the area behind her ear and sighed. “At last, it’s quiet. I wonder who the idiot really is.”

Su Baizhi led Su Baihan away while soothing her. “Sister, do not be angry anymore. Although Grandmother punished you, your elder sister will help you. It will be over soon.”

“Sister, you do not know how vile that bitch Su Liluo is. She actually hit me. Even Mother never laid a hand on me—how dare she?” Su Baihan still felt a stinging pain on her right cheek, and she did not know whether a red mark had been left behind.

“Han’er, you were indeed at fault. Why did you go and provoke the county princess? Have you never heard of her temper?” Bai Yinnan’s foul temper was well known among the noble ladies of the capital, and anyone entangled with Yun Yanxi would never be spared by Bai Yinnan.

Su Baihan pressed her lips together and refused to say why. She only muttered resentfully, “It is all because of that bitch Su Liluo. She is nothing but a shameless wretch, a bastard with no mother to teach her. She was probably delighted to have the county princess punish me…”

Seeing Su Baihan grow more and more outrageous, Su Baizhi said angrily, “Han’er, she is still our elder sister after all. You should show her a little respect.”

Su Baihan exploded at that, shrieking, “I do not want to! What is she, that I should respect her? She should not dream of it. Sister, you do not need to persuade me anymore. I will be at odds with her for the rest of my life.”

With a cold snort, Su Baihan shook off Su Baizhi and returned to her own room. Su Baizhi could only shake her head and sigh before going back as well.

Once again, Su Baizhi had been pushed back by Su Shaner, and sensing that something was amiss, her expression turned somewhat cold. This Su Shaner seemed deliberately bent on opposing her.

Su Baizhi immediately had Jin Ling fetch several ornaments, including hairpins Su Shaner had once adored. Those were also once Su Baizhi’s favorites. Su Baizhi had given away only one before and had refused to part with the rest; today she had Jin Ling bring them all.

“Have you brought everything? Let us go see Third Sister.” With Jin Ling in tow, Su Baizhi entered Su Shaner’s room and immediately asked with a light smile, “Has Sister been angry with me these past few days? Is there something I have done poorly? I came specially today to apologize.”

Su Shaner shot her a cold look, but Su Baizhi did not mind. She signaled for Jin Ling to bring out the items, then pushed them toward Su Shaner and sighed, “Sister, today I am wearing several hairpins you like best, and I brought them specially for you. These days I have been busy preparing the things needed for my marriage, and have neglected Sister somewhat. Is that why you are angry with me?”

“Su Baizhi, don’t you find yourself disgusting?” Su Shaner could hardly wait to drink her blood and eat her flesh. Seeing the pile of things on the table, she suddenly laughed and picked them up.

Su Baizhi thought she intended to reconcile, and the vicious words Su Shaner had just spoken made her heart tighten, but she still held herself back, waiting only for a good opportunity to return the favor.

Su Shaner’s fingers brushed over each ornament. They were indeed exquisite, and once upon a time they had been among her favorites. But now Su Baizhi was the person she hated most. How could Su Shaner accept her goodwill? With a cold laugh, she flung the hairpin in her hand away and said icily, “I do not need your things.”

“What are you doing?” Su Hong was just about to enter the room when he saw a dark shadow hurtling toward him. He hurriedly dodged aside and asked with a darkened face.

Su Shaner had not expected Su Hong to witness it. In panic, she stammered, “Father, it is not what you think. I only…” She was momentarily tongue-tied. Looking at the aggrieved Su Baizhi beside her, her hatred deepened.

Seeing Su Hong grow angry, Su Baizhi felt nothing but satisfaction inside, yet on the surface she explained with tears in her eyes, “Father, Third Sister did not mean it. She merely lost hold of it for a moment.”

Su Hong looked at his second daughter and saw the injustice in her face, yet she was still speaking up for Su Shaner. He quickly comforted her in a gentle voice. “Zhi’er, do not cry. I have eyes; I saw clearly what happened.”

He then turned to Su Shaner and harshly scolded her, “You unfilial girl, who does not respect her elder sister! Your sister came kindly to see you, and you trample on her goodwill like this. Is this how I usually teach you?”

Seeing Su Baizhi looking pleased, Su Shaner could no longer contain her temper and retorted, “Father, you do not understand. She did it on purpose. She knew you were coming and deliberately provoked me.”

Su Baizhi hastily let tears fall. “Father, I did not. Third Sister has misunderstood me.” Her pearly tears and rain-washed blossoms look made Su Hong ache with pity.

Seeing that Su Shaner still wanted to belittle her legitimate elder sister, he coldly berated her, “You did wrong yourself, yet you still pin it on Zhi’er. You dare to lie before my very eyes—do you still regard me as your father at all?”

Su Hong vented all his anger, and Su Shaner could only grit her teeth and bear it. The moment she said half a word against Su Baizhi, even more scolding would rain down on her.

By the time Su Hong had finished venting his anger, Su Shaner had already lowered her head deeply. Su Baizhi continued to persuade him from the side, and he looked at Su Baizhi with softened features. “Zhi’er, come back with Father. If you stay here any longer, Father is afraid you will be hurt.”

Su Baizhi nodded gently. Looking at Su Shaner as if she had something to say, she advised, “Father, do not be angry anymore. Third Sister truly did not mean it. She is still young, and as her elder sister, I should yield to her.”

Seeing Su Hong’s expression turn even colder, Su Baizhi curved the corners of her mouth ever so slightly.

Su Hong looked at Su Shaner’s sullen, stubborn manner and reprimanded her, “Think carefully on your own in your room. Zhi’er, come with Father.”

After everyone had gone, Su Shaner’s eyes reddened with rage. Her lips were bitten until they bled, and with a sweep of her hand she sent the items on the table crashing to the floor in a clatter of shattering fragments. Her face was dark as she ground out, “Su Baizhi, you wretched woman.”

The maid, holding the box Su Baizhi had sent, asked fearfully, “Miss… this…”

“Get out!” Su Shaner roared.