The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits
Chapter 277 - 281: The Struggle in the Back House (Part 7)

Chapter 277: Chapter 281: The Struggle in the Back House (Part 7)

"Miss Su Ying, receive the decree." The eunuch, pinching his throaty voice, held a roll of bright yellow silk and bowed towards Duke Ying.

Su Ying’s whole body nearly fainted, her lips trembling, shaking her head in disbelief, she pleaded to the announcing eunuch, "Eunuch, could there be a mistake? Why would His Majesty grant me a marriage?"

Su Ying’s demeanor was quite rude. The eunuch, who had just been smiling while congratulating Su Shi, frowned and looked at Su Ying, his sharp voice ringing in everyone’s ears, "It is said that Miss Su is of virtuous nature and outstanding in rituals and literature..."

Seeing that things were not going well, Su Shi quickly pulled out several silver notes from his sleeve and stuffed them into the eunuch’s embrace, "Please forgive my daughter’s rudeness, Eunuch."

The eunuch discreetly pinched the thickness of the silver notes, and his previously gloomy expression immediately brightened.

Su Shi then pulled the eunuch aside and slipped a jade ring off his finger into the eunuch’s palm, the meaning clear without words.

The eunuch whispered into Su Shi’s ear, "This royal decree was personally sought by the Second Prince from His Majesty. He is fond of your esteemed mansion’s young lady and wishes to forge a lifelong union with her."

The wrinkles between Su Shi’s brows deepened, yet he still thanked the eunuch.

The announcing eunuch seemed to have noticed something and said with a profound meaning, "Lord, if there were no imperial decree, everything would be negotiable. But now that His Majesty has decreed, you might as well prepare early."

After the people from the Imperial Palace left, Su Ying’s repressed expression suddenly could not hold, and tears hung on her brow and eyelids.

With a thud, she knelt down in front of Su Shi, "Father, I—I do not wish to marry the Second Prince."

Faintly visible was the repulsion in her eyes towards the Second Prince mentioned.

Zhu Liusha, who was always most sympathetic to her eldest daughter, seeing her terrified and unwilling appearance, also felt utterly heartbroken.

Similarly, she looked imploringly at Duke Ying, "Husband, the Second Prince’s status and temperament, I fear, do not suit Ah Yin."

Even confined within the deep courtyards, Zhu Liusha had heard of the Second Prince’s brutal reputation.

In Zhu Liusha’s heart, her eldest daughter’s appearance, character, and status were flawless; even matching the Crown Prince would be fitting.

A prince not favored by divine will, how dare he...

Although this was what Zhu Liusha thought, she would not voice it.

Duke Ying, however, did not think this way; no matter how unworthy the Second Prince was, he was still a son of His Majesty and not for them to critique.

But facing his wife and daughter’s pitiable gazes, his thoughts slightly shifted.

"But the imperial decree has been issued..."

Su Ying blurted out, "The decree only mentions seeking a bride from Duke Ying’s mansion, but it did not specify whom..."

"Sister..." Two voices spoke simultaneously, both carrying a tone of astonishment.

Those two voices belonged to her half-brother and half-sister.

Zhu Liusha was also in disbelief, and similarly, Su Shi’s expression turned solemn.

Besides Su Ying herself, the young lady of Duke Ying’s mansion was none other than Su Xue.

Su Xue, currently only fourteen, though her reputation was not as great as her sister’s, being Su Shi’s own cherished daughter, she was even more favored in the eyes of noble families than Su Ying.

Su Shi was very fond of this daughter, and seeing the young men of similar age, there were few who could match her, let alone the Second Prince.

Su Ying belatedly realized that something was wrong with everyone’s expressions, especially with her stepfather’s face, dark and stormy like an impending blizzard.

Her heart was filled with bitterness; no matter how careful she was, in her stepfather’s heart she could never measure up to her younger sister.

However, she dared not let the misunderstanding continue and immediately began to explain, "I, I was just thinking of a young lady in the mansion... not just Su Xue and me."

Su Ming and Su Xue, the dragon-phoenix twins, were very puzzled, but Zhu Liusha and Su Shi’s faces drastically changed.

Su Shi said sternly, "How do you know that? Who has been gossiping to you?"

Su Shi had never told Su Ying that she was not his biological daughter, nor did he allow the servants to discuss it.

But Su Ying had known about her stepdaughter status from a very young age.

After all, the old madam of the mansion was so kind and pleasant to her siblings, and so harsh and indifferent to her.

Seeing her father’s thunderous fury, Su Ying was also somewhat scared; she stepped back, looked defiantly towards her mother, and remained silent.

Zhu Liusha stepped forward and gently took Su Shi’s hand, softly comforting, "It’s my fault for not managing the household strictly; it must have been some gossiping servant who spoke to Ah Yin."

Su Shi’s anger visibly began to dissipate, and instead, he turned to comfort Zhu Liusha, "Don’t blame yourself, Madam."

Zhu Liusha glanced at her daughter and persuasively said, "My husband, you also know Ah Yin’s nature; no one knows a daughter like a mother. She once told me that she adores the Crown Prince... ’Your Majesty’ being like this, I fear she will suffer in the future."

"Ah Yin is not like me; she does not have such good fortune to meet another man as good as you, my husband. For a woman, marriage is a lifelong affair, especially with someone from the Royal Family. It truly pains my heart..."

Su Ying was shocked, completely unaware that her mother had seen through her careful thoughts.

Zhu Liusha, truly a person capable of enchanting Su Shi’s soul, had remained beloved by Duke Ying throughout their many years of marriage.

Every word she said struck right at Su Shi’s heart.

Compared to Gai Yinyin’s sickly daughter, Su Shi obviously favored the stepdaughter he raised more.

It didn’t take much thought, and even without Zhu Liusha spelling it out, Su Shi had made his decision.

"Alright, Ah Yin, no need to kneel any longer; please get up. Soon we will have Tianran Inn prepared for your sister to move into."

Although there had been no prior interaction, as long as they were residing in the Capital, Su Shi merely needed to send someone to inquire and he would know where Gai Yinyin and her daughter were.

In his heart, there was simply no thought of discussing this with anyone else; it was also thanks to Su Ying, otherwise he wouldn’t have agreed to let the mother and daughter enter the mansion.

A smile spread across Su Ying’s face as she bowed toward Su Shi, "Thank you, father, for making this happen."

After Su Shi left with the dragon-phoenix twins, Zhu Liusha, who had stayed back, waved her hands to dismiss the surrounding servants.

Su Ying’s previously joyous mood began to slowly sink.

"Do you know where you went wrong?"

Su Ying said somewhat aggrievedly, "I should not have involved other innocent people."

"But I am also innocent; I hardly have any interactions with the Second Prince. Who knew he would act so irrationally?"

Zhu Liusha shook her head in disappointment, "I’m not saying you were wrong in your actions. You can gradually strategize, but today’s approach... how does it make your father see you?"