Chapter 131: Denial

Su Baihan wept for a while, then shook her head and pushed Yao Ruoshui away. "Mother, please return first. Your daughter is fine."

Seeing her complexion was rosy and she appeared to have no further ailments, Yao Ruoshui pinched the corner of her quilt. "Very well, Han'er, get plenty of rest. If you need anything, send someone to tell Mother."

"Mm, I understand." Su Baihan replied in a low voice, her lowered face hiding her expression. Yao Ruoshui sighed and walked out reluctantly.

Once the room was empty, Su Baihan gripped her silk quilt and bit her lower lip so hard that blood soon appeared. A flash of malice crossed her eyes.

When Su Liluo learned of the rumors outside, she felt a sense of panic. She wanted to ask Prince Yi how he had handled things, and why the news of her teaching in a brothel had become such a hot topic in the capital.

Before she could take action, however, the head maid from Yao Ruoshui’s side arrived to summon her. "Mother Ping, what brings you here today?"

Su Liluo treated Mother Ping with great respect. One must respect the servant to honor the master; since she was Yao Ruoshui’s most capable aide, it was best not to offend her.

Mother Ping said gently, "The Madam asks for the Eldest Miss to come over."

"Mother? Did she say what for?" Su Liluo frowned. Yao Ruoshui never bothered with her unless necessary; what wind had blown in today?

"This servant does not know. The Eldest Miss will find out once she arrives." Mother Ping’s lips were sealed tight. Su Liluo watched her lie through her teeth, but could do nothing. A hint of coldness flickered in her eyes; she was truly a faithful dog to the Yao woman.

"Since Mother is looking for me, I naturally dare not delay. Let us go." Su Liluo followed Mother Ping directly into Yao Ruoshui’s main courtyard. Seeing the noble woman sitting in the seat of honor, dressed in a long gown embroidered with gold thread, Su Liluo looked away, lowered her head, and bowed softly. "Greetings, Mother."

"You’re here. I called you today to ask about a certain matter." Yao Ruoshui’s cold voice rang out. Su Liluo’s heart sank; this was clearly a confrontation. She would have to tread carefully.

"I do not know what has troubled Mother, so please enlighten me." Su Liluo thought to herself that it must be related to the rumors; that was the only major issue lately. However, she feigned confusion and looked at Yao Ruoshui with an innocent expression.

"You truly don't know? Su Liluo, who gave you the courage to visit a brothel? Do you still remember that you are the Eldest Miss of the Prime Minister’s residence? Is there no sense of propriety left in you? Is that base place somewhere a maiden of your status should ever set foot?" Yao Ruoshui’s words were filled with accusations, convicting her before even conducting an inquiry.

Su Liluo shook her head in panic and defended herself weakly. "Mother, I have never been to any such brothel. Who would dare spread such lies? Those are merely rumors outside. How can you blame your daughter without distinguishing right from wrong? Does Father know about this?"

Yao Ruoshui gave a cold snort. "Is that so? Then let us go to the Old Madam and discuss this properly to see what good deeds you have truly done." Seeing Mother Ping shake her head, Yao Ruoshui immediately devised a stalling tactic; once witnesses arrived, she would see what else Su Liluo had to say.

"I am innocent and upright. I have no fear even if we go to Grandmother." Su Liluo felt it was surreal that Yao Ruoshui was letting her off so easily.

Yao Ruoshui brought her before the Old Madam and laid out the matter piece by piece. The Old Madam roared immediately, "Su Liluo, you restless child! Every day it is one thing after another. Do you still hold the Prime Minister’s residence in your eyes? You have brought total shame upon me!"

If she hadn't been so frail, the Old Madam would likely have pounded the table and taught her a lesson. Su Liluo kept her head down and curled her lip, not taking the scolding to heart at all. The others, unaware of the chaotic thoughts running through her mind, assumed she was too intimidated by the lecture to speak.

Su Liluo’s silence made the Old Madam’s rage feel meaningless. Her blank expression only fueled the woman's anger. "Are you a fool? Can you not say a single word?" She was truly useless. Her father had actually hoped to rely on her to win over Prince Jin, but her previous wit seemed to have vanished.

Su Liluo wore a bitter smile; she was truly trapped between a rock and a hard place. She cried out in grievance, "I have truly never been to a brothel. I do not know where Mother got this information. I am being wronged, and I hope Mother and Grandmother will believe me. Can an outsider’s word really outweigh my own explanation?"

Seeing the genuine emotion on her face, the Old Madam began to waver, as she had only heard Yao Ruoshui’s side of the story. Just then, Mother Ping entered to report, "Old Madam, Madam, the Consort has returned."

"Hurry, invite her in!" Yao Ruoshui was overjoyed to hear that her daughter had returned; she had been waiting for this moment.

The Old Madam was also delighted to hear that Su Baizhi had come back, though she whispered in confusion, "Why has Zhier returned? Could something have happened at the Eastern Palace?"

"Old Madam, perhaps the child is just missing you," Yao Ruoshui said, her heart steadying as she found the right words to please the Old Madam.

The Old Madam laughed heartily. Su Liluo’s body stiffened; she had a premonition that Su Baizhi’s return boded no good. Was she here specifically to deal with her? Her guard immediately went up.

A short while later, Su Baizhi entered, supported by servants, dressed in a peony-patterned silk palace gown with a golden phoenix hairpin tilted in her hair and two red agate bracelets on her wrists. She wore a beaming smile, carrying herself with the unmistakable air of a Prince's consort.

As the people in the room prepared to bow, Su Baizhi caught the Old Madam’s wrist. "Grandmother, you are killing me with such formalities. Mother, you too. I am merely your granddaughter and daughter in this house; there is no need for you to bow to me."

Su Baizhi spoke only to Yao Ruoshui and the Old Madam, ignoring everyone else. Su Liluo, acting with wisdom, bowed and lowered herself. "Liluo greets the Consort."

Su Baizhi chatted enthusiastically with the Old Madam for a while before looking at Su Liluo with surprise. "Oh, my memory is failing me. I forgot my sister was still bowing. Please, rise, sister. We are family, why stand on such ceremony?"

Su Liluo forced a stiff smile. "You are the Crown Prince’s Consort, so I must naturally observe the proper status." A simple bow was nothing, and Su Liluo could afford to lose that much face.

Watching Su Liluo lower her head before her, Su Baizhi felt a sense of satisfaction. She helped the Old Madam and Yao Ruoshui sit down and then commanded the servants, "You may all leave."

Once the servants had retreated, Su Baizhi beckoned to a woman in a pink embroidered gown standing to the side. "Come here and explain everything you know."

Su Liluo looked over in shock. When she saw who it was, her heart tightened and her hands clenched. Her expression darkened. How could it be her? Hadn't Yun Yanyi promised it was handled?

Seeing Su Liluo’s face change, Su Baizhi asked with feigned concern, "Sister, are you feeling unwell? You look so pale. You should be quite familiar with this lady, shouldn't you?"

The triumphant sneer on Su Baizhi’s lips did not escape Su Liluo. With Yanhong’s arrival, she understood exactly who was behind the rumors, but she could not admit it. She shook her head slightly and asked in confusion, "I do not understand. Why has the Consort brought this lady here?"

"Miss Yanhong, please tell everyone what my good sister has been up to." Su Baizhi hadn't expected such an unexpected harvest. Seeing Yanhong nod, she knew that once the words were spoken, Su Liluo would have no place left to hide.

Yanhong knelt on the floor, casting a venomous glare at Su Liluo, and spat out everything she knew. "I am a courtesan from the brothel. Previously, Miss Su came every month to teach us how to dance, and she even had physical contact with a man. This is something I witnessed with my own eyes."