The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits
Chapter 292 - 296: The Struggle of the Inner Courtyard (22)

Chapter 292: Chapter 296: The Struggle of the Inner Courtyard (22)

"My mother certainly didn’t give birth to a brother for me," Su Li seriously corrected.

Hearing Su Li’s words, Gai Yinyin’s smile gradually faded, her gaze carefully lingering on Zhu Liusha for a while before she lowered her head in silence, her mood not high, apparently deep in thought.

Zhu Liusha forced a smile, still speaking softly, "Su Li, don’t say such things, regardless of the previous generation’s grudges, the blood flowing in your veins is the same as that of Su Ming..."

These days, Su Ming had heard many rumors outside. Hearing his own mother’s words, he immediately realized that the person before him was his half-sister by the same father, the recent talk of the town, Dowager An.

"Mother, I don’t have such an unfilial sister who doesn’t recognize her ancestors," Su Ming said hatefully, looking at Su Li and Gai Yinyin.

"Su Ming, how can you say such things? Apologize to your sister right now."

Zhu Liusha looked apologetically at Su Li, "Your brother is young; don’t take it to heart."

Su Li was nearly driven to laughter by the mother and son duo, "Madam, the old lady from your mansion came to my door spouting nonsense, insisting on acknowledging me back into the Su Family. My mother explained it at the time, I am her only child, so why are you saying such things today..."

"Although I know I am outstanding and beautiful, the Duke Ying Mansion can’t just want to snatch someone else’s daughter into their own family by force."

"I don’t know how such a unique hobby runs in your mansion...the old lady is like this, the Family Head Madam is like this too..."

Seeing Su Li’s blunt words, Zhu Liusha’s face turned ashen, and both Su Ming and Su Xue were furious as well.

Su Ming clenched his fists, wanting to rush over and hit someone.

"They’re nothing more than my father’s discarded woman and unwanted bastard, what’s there to be proud of..."

Su Ming’s words truly angered Su Li.

She didn’t move an inch, but with two slaps, she sent the clueless youth flying through the air.

The clerk and the manager, who had been like transparent people just standing aside, suddenly looked at Su Li with eyes shining in appreciation.

They inwardly shouted, "Great kung fu."

No one knew that Dowager An’s daughter was also a martial arts expert.

Zhu Liusha and Su Xue were terrified, hurried to Su Ming to inspect him from head to toe.

Zhu Liusha, with a cold face and angry, pointed at Su Li, "You’re too vicious; you resort to violence at the drop of a hat." Then she turned her gaze towards Gai Yinyin, "Sister, are you really going to let your daughter behave so arrogantly?"

Su Li snorted, "Who are you calling ’sister’? My mother is the Dowager An, personally titled by the Emperor. According to protocol, everyone beneath the first rank must greet her with a bow."

"Madam, as the Family Head Madam of the Duke Ying Mansion, don’t you understand etiquette?"

"It seems that someone from Chu Building just doesn’t understand the rules. Maybe you should go back and let Duke Ying teach you properly, so you don’t offend any other nobles out here."

"The other nobles are not as lenient as we are."

"Don’t just focus your thoughts on men; you should spend more effort teaching your son too. Otherwise, the next time he offends someone outside, it won’t end with just a light slap or two."

Su Ming was defiant, but his mother held him down, not allowing him to speak.

With eyes filled with humiliation, Zhu Liusha hurriedly bowed to Gai Yinyin and quickly took her leave.

It wasn’t that she was unwilling to argue, but that there was no ground for her to argue on.

If she stayed any longer, she feared she might as well find a rope to hang herself with.

The grievance she cared about was pointed out glaringly by a junior; there was no place left for her to save her dignity.

Wanting to lose her temper, she still had to consider the other’s status.

She hadn’t suffered such grievances in many years; the Su Family had protected her well, even in the face of her mother-in-law, she rarely encountered such things. Yet, recently she seemed to experience a lifetime’s worth of grievances all at once.

Watching Zhu Liusha’s expressionless face, fleeing in utter disarray, Gai Yinyin suddenly found relief.

The greatest revenge was simply to watch one’s enemies suffer from a lofty position.

Exhilarating...

Zhu Liusha fell sick after returning, Su Ming and Su Xue indeed wanted to avenge their mother, but they were confined at home by the aware Su Shi, forbidden from taking even half a step outside.

This was but an interlude; Gai Yinyin, with a clear mind, quickly tossed those people to the back of her mind, and continued to stroll around with Su Li for a while longer before they reluctantly returned to the mansion.

Soon, the items purchased from various shops were delivered to their doorstep.

Most of them were for Gai Yinyin’s wedding preparations.

For Gai Yinyin’s sake, Su Li visited the palace again, and after agreeing to the Emperor’s terms to guard the Royal Family’s offsprings for a few more years, secured an imperial edict for a bestowed marriage.

Lin Ge, more anxious than all others, spent a big sum of money to buy the courtyard next to the Ancient Mansion.

He specifically had it emptied so that Gai Yinyin could return and live with her daughter whenever she wished.

The marriage of Lin Ge, who had been promoted to General Lin, and the Dowager An, gained the Holy Emperor’s attention, and not a few came to offer congratulatory gifts.

The court’s powerful ministers and high-ranking generals were almost all present; the ladies and young misses from various families offered congratulatory words without repetition, amusing Gai Yinyin to no end with their wit.

Everyone said it was a match made in heaven, as if Gai Yinyin was a bride marrying for the first time.

No one was gauche enough to raise the issue of Gai Yinyin’s remarriage status.

The entire Capital was abuzz with talk, the marriage of the Dowager An being sent off by her daughter was a first in history, truly a novel event.

However, there was no lack of scornful voices from pedantic scholars. With the Emperor having issued the imperial edict, they only grumbled in private and maintained cheerful faces when congratulated outdoors.

The lavish wedding trousseau prepared by the Dowager An’s daughter for her mother was also a much-discussed topic amongst the citizens of the Capital.

It was even more extensive than that of the Right Minister’s daughter who married off earlier.

Paintings and books were not valued for their price, and a whole array of precious and rare items were included; gold and silver became the least noteworthy things.

Gai Yinyin surely made many noblewomen turn green with envy. Hearing that General Lin had preserved his chastity for her for over ten years, and his public vow to not take concubines or female servants, made the women eye-green with jealousy.

Not to mention the rich dowry her daughter had prepared for her.

By now, Su Li’s status as a Great Grandmaster was no longer a secret amongst the noble families.

Seeing the Holy Emperor granting titles and arranging marriages, one could guess a thing or two.

The Holy Emperor wasn’t a foolish benefactor. Would he do something without benefit?

Behind closed doors, everyone speculated about the Holy Emperor’s royal favor towards Dowager An and General Lin, but contrary to their expectations, the Holy Emperor did even more than they imagined.

The witness for the marriage banquet was unexpectedly the Crown Prince himself.

The Family Heads of each clan hastened to instruct their wives to add another layer to the congratulatory gifts already sent.