Chapter 128: Humiliation

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Susan had waited outside for quite some time, assuming that the two of them must already be entangled in bed. She stood outside the room and pushed open the door, only to hear a familiar voice calling from nearby.

“Third Sister, why did it take you so long to fetch the tea? The maids finished brewing it ages ago.”

Susan turned toward her in astonishment and pointed at her as she cried, “Eldest Sister, weren’t you inside the room?”

“Oh, it was too stuffy in there, so I came out for some air. Since you’re back, come inside with me, Sister, and let’s enjoy the tea together.”

The moment Su Lilu finished speaking, she shoved the door open with all her strength—and the absurd scene inside came into view.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Su Lilu roared.

The maids behind her took in the sight of the two people in the room. Li Ming had never imagined that anyone would appear so suddenly. Startled, he immediately released Su Baihan. She was already unconscious, and when she collapsed onto the floor, she did not make the slightest sound.

Su Lilu glared viciously at Li Ming. “Someone bind Young Master Li! All of you, listen carefully: no one is to speak of what happened today. Anyone who does will be severely punished. Hurry and send for Grandmother and Mother.”

At her string of orders, the maids and older servants sprang into action. Li Ming lowered his head in shame. Su Lilu did not even spare him a glance before going directly to Su Baihan’s side. She patted the girl’s cheek and called, “Fourth Sister? Wake up.”

When Susan heard that Su Lilu had ordered Grandmother and Yao Ruoshui to be summoned, her face turned deathly pale. She furtively glanced at the incense burner in the corner. Not a wisp of smoke remained. Only then did she finally breathe a sigh of relief, waiting for a chance to dispose of it when no one was paying attention.

“Third Sister, why are you still standing there? Hurry and send the servants away. Do you really want them to keep watching Fourth Sister make a spectacle of herself?”

Forced to obey Su Lilu’s commands, Susan watched as the maids helped Su Baihan up. Su Lilu noticed the ice in the corner of the room.

“Go. Bring me a piece of ice.”

A maid quickly placed a clean block of ice in a bowl and brought it over. Su Lilu first fed Su Baihan a little water, then pressed the ice against her palms and cheeks. The sudden chill startled Su Baihan awake, and she cried out, “Ah!”

After regaining consciousness, she noticed that her clothes showed signs of having been loosened. Su Lilu was watching her with concern. Tears of grievance streamed down her face, and when she saw Li Ming kneeling in the corner, they fell even faster.

Su Lilu did not wait for her to begin cursing, and, even more wary of Susan interrupting, asked first, “Fourth Sister, what happened to you?”

She turned a cold gaze on Susan, raising a brow as she asked, “Third Sister, what is the meaning of this? Li Ming is your cousin. Why was he in the room—and why today of all days?”

Susan denied everything at once. “Eldest Sister, you must investigate this properly. I am innocent, and I know nothing about it. Cousin only came to return a book. How could I have known he would commit such a disgraceful act? More importantly, why was Third Sister in the room?”

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Susan looked at Su Baihan as though she wanted to speak but was too apprehensive to do so. Su Baihan glared furiously at her.

“Susan, what are you implying? I am the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence. Why would I demean myself by committing such an indecent act with a penniless wretch? If not for your mother having such poor relations and keeping him in the Prime Minister’s residence, how could this have happened today?”

Su Baihan was so enraged that her body trembled. She loathed Li Ming, and her hatred extended to Susan as well. If Aunt Shu had not kept him in the residence, how could such a thing have happened?

“Fourth Sister, calm down. Don’t let this ruin your health. That man is not worth upsetting yourself over.”

Su Lilu supported Su Baihan’s trembling body and gently patted her chest to help her catch her breath.

Su Baihan gritted her teeth and glared at Susan. Thinking of the humiliation she had suffered that day—all because of the woman standing before her—she could no longer contain herself and burst into tears, her heart filled with grievances she had nowhere to express.

Susan stood awkwardly to one side. Nothing she said could make Su Baihan listen. Afraid that Li Ming might say something reckless, she decided to strike first.

“Eldest Sister, Fourth Sister, I truly know nothing about this. Cousin, why did you hurt Fourth Sister?”

Susan looked at Li Ming with tearful eyes, appearing deeply aggrieved. Li Ming himself did not know what had possessed him in that moment. He lowered his head in shame and remained silent for a long while.

Su Baihan glared at Susan in hatred. “Susan, spare me your false concern. This is your territory. Do you dare claim that you have nothing to do with it? If anything happens to me, I swear I will never let you off.”

“That’s enough, Fourth Sister. Stop saying such pointless things. Rest assured—Eldest Sister has already ordered the servants to keep quiet. This matter will not get out, unless someone deliberately wishes to use it for some ulterior purpose.”

As she spoke, Su Lilu glanced at Susan, the implication unmistakable.

She then patted Su Baihan’s shoulder comfortingly. “As long as you can get past this, Sister, Young Master Li can also…”

Su Lilu drew a finger across her throat.

Li Ming shrank back in terror, afraid that Su Lilu might have his head removed the very next moment.

Su Baihan stared at her in stunned disbelief. No matter how angry she was, she had never truly intended to have Li Ming killed. Though she often spoke harshly, Yao Ruoshui had protected her too well. If she were actually asked to take a life, she would not be able to bring herself to do it.

Susan had not expected Su Lilu to be so ruthless, actually contemplating murder to silence the matter. Her body shuddered, and her face went pale. When she saw Su Lilu looking at her, she immediately turned her eyes away.

“What is it? Is Third Sister feeling guilty?” Su Lilu raised a brow and mocked her unease.

Susan remembered that the incense had already dissipated. There was no need to fear an investigation, and her confidence returned.

“Of course not. I was merely worried about Sister Baihan. Eldest Sister, surely you wouldn’t misunderstand me and make wild accusations.”

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Su Baihan leaned against Su Lilu’s embrace, glaring fiercely at Susan. She wished she could bite her several times, so that Susan might taste the same heart-rending agony she was suffering.

Yao Ruoshui arrived soon afterward. Seeing the disorder in the room—and a man kneeling inside—her eyes immediately fell on Su Baihan’s disheveled hair and soiled, disarranged clothes. The girl looked so wretched that Yao Ruoshui’s heart ached.

“Baihan, what happened to you?”

When Su Baihan saw Yao Ruoshui, she finally found someone she could rely on. She threw herself into her mother’s arms and sobbed, “Mother, you must seek justice for your daughter!”

“All right, all right. Mother will seek justice for you. Tell me slowly, Baihan. Mother will never spare the person who harmed you.”

Seeing her daughter’s appearance, as though she had been violated, Yao Ruoshui felt a dull ache in her heart. She feared that the outcome was exactly what she had imagined.

Su Lilu stepped aside after Yao Ruoshui took Su Baihan into her arms. Between sobs, Su Baihan cried, “Mother, it was her. She was the one who let this man in. He… he assaulted me, Mother…”

Pointing at Susan, Su Baihan shouted loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear.

Grandmother Su entered just afterward and happened to hear the accusation. Seeing her granddaughter suffering such grievous humiliation, she struck the floor with her cane, each blow resounding sharply.

“What are you waiting for? Bring Second Aunt here at once. I want to see how she raised her daughter. How dare she help an outsider scheme against her own sisters!”

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Yao Ruoshui held Su Baihan close, checking her complexion from time to time. Su Baihan glared viciously at Susan, while Susan stood trembling at the side, biting her lip. The pain helped her steady her mind.

Shu Mei was soon brought in by the servants. When she saw the stern expression on Grandmother Su’s face, her heart jolted. Then she noticed Li Ming being forced to kneel nearby and asked in confusion, “Old Madam, what happened? Did Ming do something wrong? I beg you to forgive him this once.”

Shu Mei thought that admitting fault would be enough. But when Grandmother Su heard her attempting to brush the matter aside with a few apologetic words, she slammed her palm heavily against the table and shouted, “Lady Shu, kneel down!”

Shu Mei looked at Grandmother Su with an innocent expression. Seeing that she refused to obey, Granny Hua exchanged a glance with one of the older servants. The woman pressed down on Shu Mei’s shoulder, forcing her helplessly to bend her knees.

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