Chapter 109: Origins

Su Lilu looked at the nun before her, feeling no particular closeness despite the woman being her mother’s maid. She was unaware of the past events, and with only the nun’s words to go by, she could only believe half of what was said.

“Thank you, Sister, for telling me all this today. I will give it careful thought,” Su Lilu said. She needed to think deeply about the path she should take.

The nun understood that Su Lilu was overwhelmed by so much information at once and refrained from asking further. Rising, she said, “I shall take my leave now. Miss, please rest well.”

Su Lilu nodded lightly and accompanied the nun to the door. Only when the figure was out of sight did she return inside.

She instructed Liuzhu to quickly pack their belongings. After washing up, Su Lilu lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, murmuring, “The military token is truly a double-edged sword. It’s like holding something burning in my hand, yet it has invisibly saved my life. It’s such a dilemma.”

She tapped her forehead, her head aching badly. Pressing her face into the quilt, she let out a low wail and closed her eyes, temporarily setting aside her worries. At worst, she would act according to the situation as it arose.

The next day, Liuzhu had already packed their things neatly. Su Lilu went to bid farewell to the abbot of the temple. The other servants tidied the belongings and prepared the carriage. After a light breakfast, Su Lilu made a respectful bow in the main hall before boarding the carriage to return.

After passing through the city gate and leaving the main road toward the Prime Minister’s residence, the coachman suddenly shouted, causing Su Lilu’s body to lurch forward uncontrollably, nearly striking the carriage wall. Liuzhu cried out angrily, “How are you driving? You almost hit Miss! Why did you suddenly stop?”

The coachman immediately begged for mercy. “Please forgive me, Miss. Someone suddenly collapsed, so I had no choice but to stop the carriage.”

“Give her some silver,” Su Lilu said, glancing at Liuzhu. Liuzhu promptly handed ten taels of silver to the coachman. “Miss says this money is for the young woman who fell.”

The young woman accepted the silver from the coachman’s hand, moved, and asked, “May I come to the carriage to thank Miss personally? Would that be allowed?”

The coachman hesitated but, seeing the young woman’s delicate and pitiful appearance, his heart softened, and he nodded. “Go quickly, but don’t say I allowed it.”

“Thank you, brother,” the young woman said gratefully, clutching the silver as she approached the carriage and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Miss.”

“No need to thank me. Let him drive on so we don’t waste time,” Su Lilu’s gentle voice whispered into the young woman’s ear, evoking an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

The coachman quickly ushered the young woman aside, shouting to the horses to proceed gently forward. The young woman glanced at the emblem on the carriage and murmured, “So this is a lady from the Prime Minister’s household.”

Recalling the familiar voice, she felt she had heard it somewhere before but could not quite place it. Curious, she asked a passerby, “Sir, do you know if the lady just now is from the Prime Minister’s household? She saved my life, and I want to thank her personally.”

“Oh, so that’s it. She’s the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s household, just returned from offering prayers at the temple,” the vendor of small trinkets replied warmly.

“Thank you, sir.” The young woman bought some blush and face powder from his stall, knowing she would need them.

As she walked back, her brow furrowed. That voice was so familiar, yet she could not recall who it belonged to.

Upon entering the brothel, Yan Hong saw the young woman’s distracted state and laughed. “What’s the matter? Lost your soul on an outing? Oh dear, little sister, you bought quite a lot. Where did you get all this silver?”

“Today, a lady saved me and gave me some silver. Ah! I finally remembered—her voice is just like our tutor’s! How could I be so foolish to remember so late?” The young woman exclaimed excitedly, tugging at Yan Hong’s sleeve.

Upon hearing Su Lilu’s name, Yan Hong hurriedly inquired, “What do you mean she sounds like the tutor? What happened to you today, little sister?”

“It was the lady who saved me today. Our tutor is actually the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s household! No wonder she’s so elegant.” The young woman understood the connection and was no longer worried. She then asked with surprise, “Yan Hong sister, why are you here?”

Yan Hong was snapped out of her reverie, waving her hands as she said absentmindedly, “Nothing, nothing.”

“Why does she look so lost?” The young woman shook her head in confusion before heading upstairs, pleased to examine the blush and powder she had bought.

The day of the Crown Prince’s wedding arrived swiftly. Every street in the capital was draped with red silk banners—a spectacle rarely seen except at the emperor’s own wedding. The Crown Prince marrying the Crown Princess with such festive red banners was certainly fitting.

Lady Huo had long been designated Crown Princess, and the Huo residence was the most bustling mansion today. Due to Su Baizhi’s involvement, Su Lilu did not visit personally to offer congratulations but sent her gift through a messenger.

Upon receiving the brocade box and opening it, Lady Huo exclaimed, “Su Lilu truly is generous.”

Lady Huo immediately recognized the high-end products from Snow Elegance, having once seen them at the Empress’s residence. They were said to be worth a fortune. She had never expected Su Lilu to present such a gift—women cared most about their appearance, and those who used Snow Elegance products praised them endlessly. Lady Huo felt a newfound warmth toward Su Lilu. She instructed her maid to store the gift carefully, then sat gracefully at her dressing table, awaiting the ceremonial official to escort her to the wedding rites with the Crown Prince.

When Su Baizhi heard from her maid that Su Lilu had given such a fine gift to the Crown Princess, she was furious. Yet upon learning the value and efficacy of the gift, she quickly suppressed her anger and began scheming for her own benefit.

“Eldest sister, I truly admire you. To give such a grand gift to the Crown Princess—who knows if I’ll be so fortunate when I marry?” Su Baizhi could not ask directly, so she hinted, hoping Su Lilu would catch on.

Before Su Lilu could respond, Su Baizhi, fearing refusal, quickly added, “Eldest sister, I am your younger sister. You can’t favor others over me. Since even the Crown Princess is treated so well by you, naturally I cannot be neglected. I trust you will treat me just as kindly.”

Su Lilu smiled at Su Baizhi’s ambitious attitude and nodded. “Of course, sister. Rest assured.”

Receiving Su Lilu’s confirmation, Su Baizhi nearly screamed with joy but suppressed it, replying, “You truly have a magnanimous heart. I admire you deeply. I’ll take my leave now.”

Having gained what she wanted, Su Baizhi no longer lingered and went to welcome the Crown Princess into the residence. Soon after came Su Baizhi’s own wedding.

Several days after the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s marriage, word spread throughout the capital that everyone in the palace was very pleased with the Crown Princess, especially the Crown Prince, who was harmonious with her like phoenix and dragon.

When Su Lilu heard this news, she was not surprised. Lady Huo was the legitimate eldest daughter, nurtured with excellent education and grace. During her previous encounters with Lady Huo, Su Lilu sensed the young woman was no ordinary petulant girl. Her aristocratic background made her strong-willed. Now hearing that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess got along well, Su Lilu felt a stirring of interest.

“Liuzhu, I have a task for you,” Su Lilu said, thinking of the news she had just received. There was still someone in this residence connected to the Crown Prince—if that person found out, she would surely be furious. The thought made her smile.

She whispered a few words into Liuzhu’s ear. Liuzhu nodded repeatedly and soon left the courtyard with Su Lilu’s instructions, heading toward her close circle of confidantes.

Liuzhu got along well with the third-rank maids in Su Baizhi’s household and often invited them to chat. This time was no exception.