Chapter 97: The Silver Dwindles

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The two arrived in the garden, deliberately choosing a secluded path where no one was around. Su Liluo and Yuxin searched for a long while and finally found a good spot in a corner where several bamboo baskets were stacked. The two looked around; there was not a soul in sight.

Su Liluo reached out and carried one basket over, urging Yuxin, "Quick, help me move another one over. Pile up a few more."

Yuxin had no choice but to obey. Together they stacked six baskets into a tower shape. Su Liluo lifted her long skirt, gripped the baskets with both hands, and easily climbed to the very top. Only half a body's length separated her from the top of the wall. With a slight push of her knee, she was soon lying flat on the wall. Looking at the ground outside, she suddenly realized—how exactly was she supposed to get down?

"Yuxin, go find me a ladder, or I'll never be able to get out." Only then did Su Liluo realize she had miscalculated. She sat straddling the wall and waited for Yuxin to fetch a ladder.

Yuxin hurried away, searched for a while, then came back with a long face. "Miss, I can't find one. Maybe you should come down? The Prince won't blame you."

"No. How about this: hand me the baskets and I'll toss them out, then I can borrow them for leverage to climb down." Su Liluo's eyes lit up at the baskets. This wasn't a bad idea.

Yuxin had no choice but to follow orders. She raised a basket high overhead, and Su Liluo leaned down to take it, just one finger's width away. She hooked her feet tightly around the wall, pressed her upper body down as far as she could, and stretched her arm out with effort. The moment she touched the basket, she said joyfully, "Got it!"

But the next moment, joy turned to sorrow. Her whole body pitched forward and she fell toward the ground. In that moment of danger, all she could think to do was hug her head. When she hit the ground, it felt as if she heard the sound of her body cracking.

Yuxin let out a wail. "Miss..."

Seeing Su Liluo lying motionless on the ground, Yuxin rushed over and called anxiously, "Miss, are you all right? Where does it hurt?"

Only then did Su Liluo snap back to her senses. She drew in a sharp breath. "Yuxin, I hurt all over." Her face was twisted with pain.

"Miss, can you get up? Let me help you back and have someone fetch a doctor to take a proper look." Yuxin was so distressed she was nearly in tears. Su Liluo's forehead was covered in cold sweats and her lips had gone pale, but she consoled her, "I'm fine. It doesn't hurt that much. Let's go back first, or it'll be terrible if someone finds out."

Su Liluo could barely lift one arm, let alone stand up straight. She had no choice but to grimace and call out, "Yuxin, go find someone to carry me back. I really can't move."

Yuxin nodded frantically. "Miss, wait here. I'll bring someone right away."

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Afraid that the longer Su Liluo remained there, the worse her condition might become, Yuxin ran back to the courtyard. Fortunately, Su Liluo's courtyard was not far from the garden, and soon Yuxin returned with a sturdy matron in tow. "Hurry, carry Miss back."

The matron carefully helped Su Liluo up, then squatted slightly. Yuxin helped Su Liluo drape her arms over the matron's shoulders, then nodded. "All right, take Miss back to the courtyard at once."

The matron carried Su Liluo as if she were weightless, walking briskly. Before leaving, Su Liluo glanced at the baskets and instructed Yuxin, "Yuxin, put those things back in their original place before you come back."

Yuxin acknowledged the order. Su Liluo lay on the matron's back, eyes half-closed, resting a little.

Soon they returned to the courtyard. When Liuzhu and Liuying saw Su Liluo being carried back, they asked in alarm, "What happened to Miss? Carry her into the room."

The maid spread the bed, and the matron gently laid Su Liluo down. The moment her hips touched the bed, Su Liluo cried out, "It hurts! Turn me over, quickly."

Not until she was lying on her stomach on the bed did Su Liluo feel a little better. She caught her breath and noticed that the two maids beside her had red eyes and were looking at her with concern. Su Liluo offered a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. I just took a fall. It's only a bit painful."

Liuzhu's tears fell immediately. "Miss... it must hurt so badly. Why did you fall like this?"

Su Liluo didn't dare reveal the real reason. She could only moan, "Liuzhu, it hurts. Don't ask. My whole body hurts right now."

"Shall I go fetch a doctor..." Liuzhu turned to run out, but Su Liluo hurriedly stopped her. "No need. I just need to lie down for a while. Don't make a fuss. I want to sleep a little; I'll be fine in a while."

When Su Liluo had hit the ground, she had protected her head. Apart from the pain in her body, she felt nothing else unusual. Yao Ruoshui disliked the sight of her, and she might as well just rest. Perhaps she would be fine soon. Thinking this, she closed her eyes and soon fell asleep, though her brows were tightly knit—her body was still somewhat uncomfortable.

Yun Yanyi had already arrived at the brothel. When he asked the madam, he learned that Su Liluo still had not shown up. He said coldly, "Send someone immediately to fetch the eldest Miss Su. Ask her whether she needs me to come in person, or if she will hurry here of her own accord."

Leng Feng walked outside, raised a hand, and called over a man. The man bowed and went on his way. Su Liluo was gently awakened by Yuxin. Groggy, she asked, "Yuxin, what is it?"

Yuxin whispered into her ear, "Miss, the Prince has sent someone to urge you."

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Su Liluo thought of how she had ended up in this miserable state all because of Yun Yanyi. Her whole body ached terribly, yet he was rushing her without caring about her condition. She said angrily, "Whatever. I'm not feeling well, so I'm not going. He might as well just kill me and spare me this suffering."

She spoke heatedly and accidentally moved her body, freezing at once. She lay back into her original position and only then felt a bit more comfortable.

Yuxin relayed Su Liluo's words to the messenger. Su Liluo, now awake and unable to fall back asleep, had Liuzhu and Liuying rub her body. The maids massaged her gently, asking from time to time in a soft voice, "Miss, is this pressure alright?"

"Mm, good. Keep going." Su Liluo closed her eyes, enjoying the moderate pressure.

As the massage continued, Su Liluo gradually grew drowsy. Hearing a commotion outside, she frowned and asked, "Go and see what's happening out there. Why is it so noisy?"

A moment later, Liuzhu rushed back and exclaimed, "Miss, Prince Yi has come to the mansion. He seems to be heading toward your courtyard."

"Impossible. Why would he come at this time? It must be fake. He's someone who values his own reputation; why would he come to see me? That stingy man, always threatening me at every turn..." As she dredged up old grievances, Su Liluo found many complaints against Yun Yanyi. She couldn't help venting, wishing she could pour out all the resentment in her heart.

"Oh? It seems Miss Su holds quite a grudge against me. I wonder what I have done to offend Miss Su, so much that she despises me and has not one kind word to say." A cold male voice suddenly sounded by Su Liluo's ear. She looked up and found that Yun Yanyi really was standing in her room. She was so frightened she did not dare speak.

A cold smile in his eyes, Yun Yanyi looked at her without warmth and asked, "I hear that Miss Su is unwell. Yet you still have the energy to curse at me, which I find rather strange. Could Miss Su be feigning illness?"

Su Liluo immediately waved her hands. "How could I? I am truly ill. Otherwise, how would I dare break an appointment with Your Highness? Even with a hundred times the courage, I would not dare slight you. My mind was muddled just now and I spoke without thinking. Your Highness is generous; please do not take offense at me."

Although Yun Yanyi knew that Su Liluo might not truly believe what she said, the pleading tone of her voice improved his mood considerably. But he was still somewhat annoyed that she had treated a moneymaking opportunity so lightly. "Su Liluo, do you realize that with your habit of refusing to teach whenever you please, the brothel's earnings will decrease, and your share will naturally be reduced accordingly."

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