Chapter Ninety-Nine: Biological Daughter

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Su Liluo was harshly shoved into the firewood room by two old maids, her ropes still binding her. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she found a clean corner to sit down.

She twisted her wrists, but the two maids showed no mercy. Her body throbbed faintly with pain. Su Hong’s ruthlessness today chilled her heart. What kind of father would treat his own daughter so cruelly?

“Own daughter…” Su Liluo stared blankly at a spot, growing ever more confused by Su Hong’s behavior. Why did he show no fatherly affection toward her, yet doted on Su Baizhi so tenderly? Even when Su Baizhi committed shameless acts, he never shouted or punished her. But what about her?

A bitter laugh escaped Su Liluo’s lips, her eyes cold and indifferent. The more she thought, the stranger it seemed. A suspicion arose in her mind as she muttered, “Could it be that I have no blood relation to him?”

She straightened her posture, frowning deeply. The more she pondered, the more likely it seemed. Her eyes were filled with irony. “No wonder he always scolded and punished me, as if he regretted ever having me.” Su Liluo blinked hard, forcing back the tears welling in her eyes.

Just then, Yun Yanyi had just returned to the prince’s mansion when he heard the report that Su Liluo had been locked in the firewood room. His footsteps paused briefly, then he coldly replied, “Don’t let her die, or else how much silver will we lose again?”

Leng Feng looked up in surprise at Yun Yanyi, who had already entered the study. Leng Feng could only let out a slow “Oh.”

Scratching his head, Leng Feng wondered if he had misheard. The prince had always cared deeply for Miss Su before, but now he sounded so indifferent upon hearing of her misfortune. Shaking his head, he gave up trying to understand and turned to relay the message.

The firewood room door was opened, and Su Liluo raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glaring light. After squinting for a while, she recognized the visitor and hoarsely called out, “Aunt Hua.”

“Miss, you have suffered. The old madam sent me to invite you to the main courtyard. She has some words to tell you,” Aunt Hua said with a respectful yet authoritative tone.

Su Liluo recalled the old madam’s name, but her body was stiff from being bound so long, her blood circulation blocked. As she tried to stand, she stumbled clumsily to the ground. Aunt Hua gasped, “Oh dear, Miss, are you alright? Someone, quickly untie the young lady!”

The two old maids lowered their heads and entered. Soon, the ropes binding Su Liluo were undone. She stretched weakly and gave Aunt Hua a faint smile. “Let’s go.”

Supported by a young maid, the group made their way to the old madam’s courtyard.

Aunt Hua lifted the curtain aside. “Miss, please enter. The old madam is inside.” Su Liluo listened carefully but heard nothing. Looking at Aunt Hua, who gave her an encouraging glance, she finally stepped inside.

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Su Liluo knelt respectfully at the foot of the old madam’s seat and bowed deeply. “Your granddaughter thanks grandmother for releasing her.”

“That’s enough. Don’t thank me too soon. Your release comes with conditions. What you did yesterday was outrageous. Your father is your parent—how could you speak back to the head of the family? It’s only right he punished you. Do you understand your mistake?”

Su Liluo performed a grand bow, choking back tears. “Liluo knows her mistake. She will never dare do it again. Begging grandmother not to lock her in the firewood room again.”

Tears streamed more fiercely, stirring a rare hint of pity in the old madam. Yet she swallowed her emotions and scolded sternly, “Stop crying! You have the nerve to cry after doing wrong? Your father's scolding is justified.”

Su Liluo silently let the tears fall, no longer daring to sob. The old madam began to scold in low tones, “As the eldest daughter of a prominent family, you should behave properly and follow the rules. If you cannot, then you needn’t think of being the eldest daughter of the chancellor’s household. It will be as if you never existed.”

Su Liluo’s tears flowed unheeded at her lips. What grandmother would treat her granddaughter this way? She was truly not Su Hong’s daughter.

The old madam frowned at her blank expression. Su Liluo then changed her demeanor and softly replied, “Your granddaughter understands and will speak carefully, never disappointing grandmother or father again.”

Satisfied with her promise, the old madam’s face softened considerably. She continued to warn her to remember her status and not disgrace the Su family. Su Liluo agreed to everything, and only then was she allowed to leave.

Outside the courtyard, Su Liluo took a deep breath of fresh air. The stifling atmosphere inside had made it hard to breathe, and she felt somewhat unwell. She quickened her pace toward her room.

Upon entering the courtyard, Liu Zhu and Liu Ying rushed over excitedly. “Miss, you’re finally back. Those maids didn’t mistreat you, did they?” They had waited anxiously for a long time before seeing her.

Su Liluo shook her head. “It’s nothing. Look, your miss is quite well now.”

But then she frowned deeply. “Liu Zhu, I’m terribly itchy all over. Quickly have someone prepare hot water for me to have a proper bath.” She had spent the entire night in the firewood room, with rats squeaking in the dark, sending chills down her spine.

Su Liluo had only managed some light sleep at dawn. Once awake, her nerves relaxed, but her whole body felt strange. Hearing this, Liu Zhu’s tears immediately fell. She hastily wiped them and hoarsely said, “Miss, please rest inside first. I will have it prepared at once.”

True to her word, Liu Zhu acted swiftly. Before long, Su Liluo was soaking in hot water, eyes half-closed in comfort, her entire being relaxed.

After bathing and changing clothes, Su Liluo called for Aunt Chang. She half-reclined on the couch, one hand propping her forehead, eyes closed in a brief rest.

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“Miss, you must take care of your health,” Aunt Chang said with concern, draping a coat over Su Liluo’s shoulders.

Su Liluo brightened and said, “Aunt Chang, you’re here! Please sit.” She pulled Aunt Chang to sit beside her. Aunt Chang hesitated but could not refuse, settling half onto the couch.

“What does your young lady wish to ask me for? You just returned and should be resting,” Aunt Chang said, stroking the stray hairs by Su Liluo’s ear. Noticing the dark circles under her eyes, she looked genuinely worried.

Su Liluo patted her hand gently. “Aunt Chang, don’t worry. I know my own body. The reason I called you is to ask if you remember when my mother married—is it true she married Father as soon as she returned to the court?”

Aunt Chang looked puzzled. “What do you mean by that, Miss?”

“I just suddenly wanted to ask… Did Mother marry Father right after coming back to the court?” Su Liluo cautiously asked.

Aunt Chang thought for a moment, as if recalling something. After a while, she nodded. “At that time, the general had just returned victorious from the battlefield. The Emperor was greatly pleased. Within a few days, the general was married into the chancellor’s household. You were born a month early.”

“Please say the last part again,” Su Liluo grabbed Aunt Chang’s arm anxiously.

“You were born prematurely. What’s wrong with that?” Aunt Chang frowned, confused by Su Liluo’s fixation on this detail.

“It’s nothing, nothing. Aunt Chang, I’m tired. You may go now,” Su Liluo said, both startled and delighted. Aunt Chang realized what she had said and wanted to ask more but seeing Su Liluo’s joyful expression, she shook her head and left.

Su Liluo stifled a cry from deep within and whispered to herself, “So I really am not his daughter…”

Biting her lip, tears suddenly fell. It seemed she had been pregnant before her mother entered the chancellor’s household—a pregnancy conceived during war. Su Liluo furrowed her brow in worry. Who could her real father be?