Chapter 126: Donating Silver

Su Shan’er looked deeply dissatisfied after hearing the proposal. She had already met Li Ming; he was from the countryside, knew nothing, and his appearance suggested he had no money. If she married him, would she not be sentencing herself to a life of suffering? Thinking of this, Su Shan’er shook her head vigorously.

Concubine Shu had not expected her daughter to reject her well-meaning intentions, stubborn and refusing to budge. Concubine Shu’s temper began to flare. "I do not care. I am the one who decides your marriage. If I say you are to marry, then you will marry."

Su Shan’er felt aggrieved. No matter what candidates Yao Ruoshui might suggest, they could not be as bad as Li Ming, who could not even produce a single copper coin. She despised him from the bottom of her heart. For the sake of her future happiness, she retorted bluntly, "Concubine Mother, are you trying to give me away like a gift? I refuse. I would rather marry someone else as a second wife."

Concubine Shu, in a fit of rage, raised her hand to strike her. Her hand remained high in the air for a long time before falling. Seeing such cruelty, Su Shan’er shouted, "Go ahead and hit me! Even if you beat me to death, I will never marry him."

Having said this, she stormed out. Concubine Shu clutched her chest, thinking of her daughter’s lack of understanding, while tears like falling pearls dropped to the floor.

The loud argument quickly spread through the gossiping servants. When Su Liluo heard about it from Liuzhu, she learned it was over a marriage arrangement and chuckled bitterly. "A parent's heart is always full of pity; Concubine Shu is doing this for her own good, but how could she possibly see it that way?"

On this point, Su Liluo envied Su Shan’er; at least her mother was by her side, always considering her interests. Thinking of her own situation, Su Liluo smiled wryly and had no heart to concern herself with others.

Lady Huo’s initiative to donate silver spread throughout the capital. The Emperor specifically praised the Crown Princess as a model for the women of the capital. When Su Liluo heard the news from her maid, she frowned and said, "Even the Crown Princess is taking the lead in donating silver. It seems this drought is very serious; I fear it will not be easily resolved."

Su Liluo’s brow furrowed tightly as she thought of the people in the south suffering, and now riots were breaking out. No matter what, it was always the common people who suffered the most.

Following Lady Huo’s lead, many noble ladies donated silver. Looking at the account books of Xuexiu, Su Liluo hardened her heart and donated all the available cash she had. The capital was in an uproar.

The news spread quickly through the teahouses. Storytellers painted Su Liluo as a fairy descended from heaven. The people of the capital only remembered that Su Liluo had donated silver for disaster relief. "The eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence truly has a compassionate heart, donating so much silver at once. She is not even married yet; where did she get the money?"

"You don't know? The Empress bestowed a shop upon her, and she turned it into the famous Xuexiu. How could she lack money? I admire her for donating it all; how many people could manage that?" Su Liluo took a casual walk outside and heard nothing but praise, a smile playing on her lips, her heart feeling quite pleased.

When the Emperor learned of the significant amount Su Liluo had donated, and seeing the increase in disaster relief funds, he specifically called Su Hong to the imperial court. He praised, "The Prime Minister has truly raised a fine daughter. Su Liluo is worthy of being the eldest legitimate daughter; she is pure of heart, intelligent, and gifted. Her act of donating silver is a model for all noble ladies."

The Emperor’s words in court immediately reached everyone in the capital, elevating Su Liluo’s status to great heights. Many people began to harbor certain intentions.

Many ladies began sending people to inquire about Su Liluo. When they learned she had donated all the profits from Xuexiu, and considering that massive sum, they began to scheme. "As an eldest daughter-in-law, she might be out of reach, but as a second daughter-in-law, she is worth considering."

The more the ladies thought about it, the better it seemed. Su Liluo had family status and a dowry; marrying her into the family would be like marrying a god of wealth. That Xuexiu was a very profitable shop.

Su Liluo was unaware of the unusual interest people had developed in her. It was time for her monthly visit to the brothel. Upon arriving, she found it quieter than usual. The girls stood in a group, looking listless and lacking spirit.

Su Liluo knew that summer brought fatigue, so she taught for a while before letting them rest. During the break, Su Liluo went to the latrine. The girls immediately grew restless, and someone mentioned Yanhong, sparking everyone’s interest in chatting.

"Sisters, why did Sister Yanhong leave so suddenly? The madam didn’t give an explanation. If she were redeemed by someone, we should have been able to celebrate with her," one girl said, sounding puzzled.

Another added, "Indeed, it’s as if she vanished into thin air. If I hadn’t spent so much time with Sister Yanhong, I would think I was hallucinating and that she never existed."

These words pained many in the room. Just as they were about to say more, someone with sharp eyes saw Su Liluo approaching and whispered, "Stand up straight, the teacher is back."

Su Liluo saw that the room, which had been so lively a moment ago, fell silent upon her arrival. She asked with a smile, "What good news were you discussing? Why did you stop as soon as I arrived?"

"It was nothing, just mentioning Sister Yanhong. The business in the house has been much colder without her." Hearing this, Su Liluo forced a stiff smile and comforted them, "Perhaps it is just the heat, which keeps the guests away. What does that have to do with Yanhong? Now that you have rested enough, let us continue with the lesson."

The group stopped mentioning Yanhong and focused on their work, with several of them hoping to learn enough from Su Liluo to become the next top courtesan.

A clean-looking servant boy was out running errands when his gaze accidentally fell upon a side alley. He saw a woman walking out from it and blinked, fearing he had seen wrong. He pinched himself hard, but the person was still there. The boy realized he hadn't misjudged and whispered in shock, "Eldest Miss Su." Wasn't that the back entrance to the brothel?

When Su Baizhi heard the servant’s report, she was alarmed. "Su Liluo actually came out of a brothel?"

"This servant would never be mistaken. That alley only leads to the back entrance of the brothel. If she hadn't come out of there, why would the Eldest Miss appear at the mouth of that alley?" The servant patted his chest in assurance.

Su Baizhi frowned in confusion. "Why would she go to a brothel? Go and inquire further, and see what exactly is going on."

The servant bowed and withdrew. Su Baizhi felt there was something suspicious and sent him to investigate thoroughly to see what game Su Liluo was playing.

That evening, before dinner, Su Baizhi received a letter from the servant. Upon opening it, one detail struck her as strange: "Why did the top courtesan of the brothel leave so suddenly?"

"Did they say why?" Su Baizhi asked Jinling, who had brought the letter in.

"No, and she disappeared without a trace. The girls in the brothel don't know where she went. It is truly strange, and the madam doesn't seem sad; she has already begun selecting another girl to become the lead courtesan," Jinling reported everything she had gathered.

Su Baizhi latched onto this point. "Have someone keep watching that brothel. If there are any irregularities, send someone to report."

"This servant will do it immediately." Sensing the importance Su Baizhi placed on the matter, Jinling personally spoke to the servant to ensure the task was handled with care.

Su Shan’er happened to meet Li Ming in the garden. Seeing his destitute appearance, she felt nothing but dislike. Why was she destined to marry a penniless scholar? Thinking of her own plans, she gave him a gentle smile. "Cousin, are you here to enjoy the flowers? The sun is getting strong; you must take care of your health."

Li Ming was flattered. From the first day he arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence, this cousin had never shown him a pleasant face. Today was truly abnormal. Li Ming replied modestly, "Thank you for your concern, Cousin. You should also take care of yourself, or your aunt will be worried about you."

Su Shan’er wore a smile, but it did not reach her eyes. Thinking of Su Liluo’s rising fame while she was destined to marry a mere scholar, jealousy and hatred consumed her heart.

"Cousin, you have been here for so long, but you haven't properly seen the Prime Minister’s residence yet. Would you like me to take you around today?" Li Ming did not decline Su Shan’er’s friendly proposal.