Chapter 98: Meeting at the Residence

Su Liluo cried out in alarm, "No, you absolutely must not reduce my share of the silver!"

Seeing how agitated she was, Yun Yanyi realized that holding her silver was as good as holding her lifeblood. He glanced at the maids around them, and Su Liluo caught his meaning, coughing twice. "Liuzhu, you all may leave for now. If I need anything, I will call for you."

"But... Miss..." Liuzhu looked at Yun Yanyi, feeling uneasy. If the young lady stayed alone in the room with Prince Yi, what would happen if rumors spread?

Liuzhu seemed to have forgotten that rumors about Su Liluo and Yun Yanyi had already been circulating for some time—one more would hardly matter. Seeing Liuzhu hesitate, Su Liluo's tone turned cold. "Liuzhu, are you not following my orders now?"

Liuzhu hurriedly bowed her head, replying in quick succession, "I wouldn't dare... If you need anything, Miss, please call for me. I'll wait outside."

Liuzhu left, glancing back with every step. Once all the maids had gone, Su Liluo quickly asked, "Prince Yi, as soon as I'm well, I'll go back to teaching right away. I won't delay the brothel's profits, so please don't reduce my share."

"But Miss Su, you often can't leave the manor—that's a real problem. Why not marry quickly? Best to choose a man you can control. Then you can do as you please, and your silver will not be reduced."

Su Liluo considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Your Highness, that's indeed a good idea, but as for my father..." This was a real issue—Su Hong would never agree to a husband so easily controlled, and such a choice would hardly have an illustrious background. Would her father consent?

"That's for you to sort out," Yun Yanyi said indifferently. "I only know that if you can't resolve this, your share will be reduced. If you end up with nothing, don't blame me for not warning you."

Su Liluo grew anxious. That silver was her lifeblood; she counted the days, waiting for the brothel's profits—how could she lose such a lucrative source of income? At last, she steeled herself, her gaze turning resolute. Through gritted teeth she asked, "Your Highness, does your promise before His Majesty to marry me still hold?"

Yun Yanyi looked at Su Liluo in surprise and after a pause, nodded. "A prince's word is his bond. That promise still stands."

He studied her intently. He had delayed choosing a princess for so long, yet none of the noble ladies in the capital intrigued him as Su Liluo did.

Relieved, Su Liluo beamed. "With your word, Your Highness, I am at ease. I have a plan—as long as you keep your promise to marry me, everything will work out."

"Oh? Then tell me, let me hear this plan of yours and see what clever idea you've come up with." Yun Yanyi was amused by her delight at gaining a small advantage, thinking to himself that she truly cared nothing for her image in his presence.

Su Liluo cleared her throat and declared, "Your Highness, I intend to make every man unwilling to marry me. It will take some doing, but if every prospective suitor is scared off, then when Your Highness steps forward, I'll have no choice but to marry you. The key is, Your Highness, your health is... not an issue, so I can be completely at ease."

As the last words left her lips, Su Liluo realized what she had just implied. She covered her mouth in horror, shaking her head and stammering, "Your Highness, I didn't mean—"

"I know what you meant," Yun Yanyi replied, her tactless words about his supposed impotence echoing in his mind. He clenched his fists, wishing he could seize her by the throat to teach her a lesson about what could and could not be said.

Su Liluo was nearly in tears. How could she forget that no man liked to be called impotent to his face? She had made such a blunder that she could only plead softly, "Your Highness, please don't take offense. I truly... truly only meant..."

Looking into Yun Yanyi's murderous gaze, she could not finish, swallowing her words. Yun Yanyi took a slow, deep breath, his eyes sharp as knives. "Su Liluo, since you have a plan, you'd better act quickly. Otherwise, I may not be able to stop myself from changing my mind."

"Of course, of course—Your Highness is indeed a man of great ambition. I am ashamed by comparison." Su Liluo flattered him, hoping to appease his anger. She truly could not endure that fierce look in his eyes.

"If you are not adept at flattery, then say nothing. The more you speak, the angrier I get." Yun Yanyi warned coldly. Su Liluo immediately clapped her hands over her mouth, promising not to utter another word, which finally softened his expression somewhat.

Meanwhile, when Su Hong heard from a servant that Prince Yi had come to the prime minister's residence, he was puzzled. "Prince Yi and I have never been close—why would he come here?"

He turned to the steward. "Did Prince Yi say why he came to the manor?"

The steward glanced at Su Hong and answered respectfully, "Master, he said he was here to visit the eldest young miss. He is already in her courtyard."

Su Hong threw his brush down in fury. "What are you all doing? Such a major event, and you wait until now to report it?"

Fuming, Su Hong still made his way to Su Liluo's courtyard. As for the unfortunate steward, he endured a fierce scolding in silence.

Arriving at Su Liluo's room, Su Hong found no sign of Yun Yanyi; instead, Su Liluo lay in bed in a most unseemly manner. Pointing at her, he scolded, "Su Liluo, what kind of behavior is this? Were you like this the whole time you were with Prince Yi? You have truly disappointed me."

Su Liluo found her father's arrival odd, but upon hearing his every word a criticism of her, her heart turned cold. She listened to his scolding in silence.

Seeing her unmoved, Su Hong's words grew harsher. "Su Liluo, when you go out, don't say you're a young lady of the prime minister's household. You're just like your mother—unvirtuous, shameless, utterly lacking in propriety and upbringing..."

Su Liluo was unfazed by his attacks on her, but the moment he insulted her late mother, the general, rage flared in her eyes. "Ha! Father, perhaps you should scold the gatekeepers instead. How could they fail to stop Prince Yi from entering my chambers? How does it concern me if a strange man can just walk in?"

Su Hong bristled with anger, but Su Liluo continued, "As for my upbringing, isn't it the responsibility of this household? If I am lacking in virtue, does that not reflect poorly on you, Father? After all, a father's failure is in failing to teach. Do you agree?"

Seeing how sharp-tongued she was, Su Hong, after only a few words of his own, found himself being rebutted at length. Lifting his hand, he prepared to strike her.

Su Liluo dared not linger; she leaped from the bed and made for the door. She ran straight into Yao Ruoshui and her group, and immediately shouted, "Restrain the young miss!"

A crowd of maids and matrons blocked Su Liluo's way. Outnumbered, she was soon overpowered and tied up, left in a humiliating heap on the floor.

Su Hong, breathing heavily, glared at her defiant stance, his rage peaking. "Tie her up and lock her in the woodshed—let's see where she runs to next!"

Yao Ruoshui, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, coaxed gently, "Master, there's no need to be so angry. If the young miss is in the wrong, just lock her up. It's not worth damaging your health over her."

Hearing Yao Ruoshui belittle her, Su Liluo shot her a hateful glare, but Yao Ruoshui scolded, "It seems the young miss still hasn't learned her lesson—no sooner has she angered Master than she's forgetting herself again."

Seeing Su Liluo's defiant expression, Su Hong clutched his chest and shouted, "What's wrong with you servants? Don't you understand your orders? Take her to the woodshed and keep her there—her presence here is an eyesore."

The servants dared not delay further. Two matrons seized Su Liluo by the arms, dragging her toward the woodshed.