The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits
Chapter 293 - 297: Struggle in the Inner House (23)

Chapter 293: Chapter 297: Struggle in the Inner House (23)

Gai Yinyin’s wedding was most embarrassing for Su Shi of Duke Ying Mansion.

Outside, the endless sound of gongs and drums filled the air, and Lin Ge, with mischief in mind, deliberately rode ahead on horseback, leading the bridal procession past the Duke Ying Mansion’s front doors.

Despite the noisy exterior, the servants inside Duke Ying Mansion were even more careful, treading on tiptoes as they walked.

The masters of the house had been attended to repeatedly.

Broken porcelain could have been framed and mounted.

But no one dared to offer consolation, for who would want to involve themselves in such a thorny issue?

The Old Madam’s health had deteriorated further; she lay in bed, unable to get up, with incessant coughing.

Even so, this did not seal the stream of curses from her lips.

At that moment, she resembled a foul-mouthed old rural woman by the hearth, spewing all manner of obscenities at the slightest opportunity, showing none of her past grace and composure.

"How dare she, how dare she do such a thing?"

"Such an immodest woman deserves to be drowned in a pig cage."

"Did she learn her womanly virtues from a dog’s stomach? I pitied her loneliness and wanted to take her into my home... I never expected her to bring such shame upon my son..."

Even from a distance, Su Shi could hear the vitriolic voice of his mother.

As soon as he appeared, the Old Madam gripped Su Shi’s hand, shouting and yelling until his expression grew increasingly grim, yet she failed to notice, preoccupied with venting her own inner rage.

The Old Madam neglected the fact that in this episode, the most embarrassed was Su Shi himself.

Despite his distaste, even repulsion for Gai Yinyin, as a man, he could not bear to see his former wife now at the side of another man.

It was not about love, but a matter of a man’s dignity.

Upon hearing the news of Gai Yinyin’s impending wedding, he could not bear to think of the looks he would receive from his peers and friends.

He even considered confronting Su Li to frankly ask how she could be so utterly defiant, personally orchestrating his mother’s marriage to another man.

Deep down, Su Shi knew well that if not for Su Li taking the initiative to speak with the Emperor, the Emperor would not have concerned himself with these matters.

Only what remained of his rationality suppressed the desire to create an uproar, but the anger in his heart could not be dispelled.

In the presence of the Old Madam, he was constantly reminded of her provocations, her words poking at his wounds, inciting his ire.

"Enough... stop talking," Su Shi said with an ashen face, hands trembling.

Having such insults to a man’s pride and self-regard repeated, even a Saint would become angered.

The Old Madam was taken aback, her rant cut short abruptly.

It took her a moment to realize that in her eagerness to vent, she had neglected her son’s feelings.

Trying to please, the Old Madam said, "Alright, alright, I will speak no more."

"You look so much thinner lately. How about I ask your wife to come over and brew you a nourishing soup...?"

The Old Madam took the initiative to mention Zhu Liusha, whom she despised most, thinking that by mentioning her son’s beloved Zhu Liusha, she might relieve some of his distress.

The result was worse than if she had remained silent.

Su Shi left abruptly, sleeves flapping, leaving behind the Old Madam, standing there dumbfounded.

Su Shi had not visited his wife’s courtyard in a long time; recently, he had been staying in his study.

When Zhu Liusha was mentioned, his feelings were complex, hard to discern.

To blame her felt unjustified; after all, everything was a consequence of his own decisions.

But to say he didn’t blame her... Su Shi could not, in good conscience, say there was no resentment.

Unconsciously, he found himself walking towards the main courtyard.

Upon seeing Su Shi, the maid guarding the entrance was overjoyed.

"Lord, you’ve come. Hurry and see Madam, she hasn’t had a bite to eat or drink for several days."

Su Shi was startled and quickly stepped inside, "What has happened? How have you been taking care of Madam?"

Inside the bedroom, a silk thread stretched out from behind a light gauze curtain, the doctor from the medical hall had his hand gently resting upon the thread.

"Madam is overly worried, which has led to excessive internal heat. I will write a prescription later, so someone can prepare a few doses of medicine and we will see after that."

After the doctor packed up his medical chest, and when he was alone with Su Shi, he added another line, "Your wife is suffering from an ailment of the heart."

"If this emotional knot isn’t untied, no amount of medicine will be effective, and remember, every medicine has its toxicity."

Su Shi: "....."

In fact, Zhu Liusha was also aware that hers was an ailment of the heart. No matter how much medicine she took, as long as she saw Gai Yinyin getting better and better, she could not find relief.

This was someone whom she once had under her heel.

She couldn’t understand, couldn’t fathom...

As for Su Ying, she wasn’t released from the courtyard until several days before her wedding and was allowed to move around within the mansion.

Even so, she was always accompanied by two strong old women.

Wherever she went, they followed, watching her more closely than they would their own eyes.

Su Ying had thought about running away, even pleading with Su Ming and Su Xue for help.

But the result of such actions was only to infuriate Su Shi; even Zhu Liusha pleading on her behalf was to no avail.

Originally, at Zhu Liusha’s behest, Su Shi had agreed to let his stepdaughter take away the money her mother had started saving for her from a young age.

After all, she was about to become a Princess Consort; being too frugal would be slapping his own face.

Su Shi gritted his teeth and pawned off many of his recent private collections.

He never expected his stepdaughter to take such a desperate stance, even using her own sister and brother.

In a rage, Su Shi directly forbade Zhu Liusha from providing any more support to her. Several chests filled with cheap, miscellaneous items were sent off to fill her trousseau, and that was that.

The money that was close at hand, saved at the bottom of the chest, was certainly not included.

Even when Zhu Liusha made a scene, once a man was determined, there was nothing she could do.

"Don’t forget, you still have another daughter and son... won’t you think about them?"

Through this series of actions by Su Ying, Su Shi came to see clearly that the daughter he had raised as his own was actually a thankless wretch.

Just because the marriage arrangements didn’t go her way, she completely disregarded the kindness he had shown her over the years.

Which daughter’s marriage isn’t the command of her parents? Besides, this was a marriage bestowed by the Emperor, not easily refused.

Su Shi’s mind was made up, not intending to release her until the day of Su Ying’s grand wedding.

Zhu Liusha harbored great grievances toward Su Shi, but this time her tears could not sway his decision.

Su Shi believed that once his stepdaughter’s wedding was over, he would coax his wife and the matter would pass.

He had discussed priorities and urgencies with Zhu Liusha in detail and believed that she would understand him.

But to his surprise, his wife had given him a tremendous shock.

Su Ying had escaped...

She took the silver note Zhu Liusha had stuffed her with, had her sister help as a distraction, and slipped away into the night.

It wasn’t until two or three days later, on the eve of the wedding, that they discovered she was missing.

Su Xue and Zhu Liusha each grabbed one of Su Shi’s hands, tears streaming continuously.

"Husband, Ah Yin has been gone for two days. It’s too late to chase after her now, why not speak to the Emperor and switch her with someone else? We can pick a similar girl from among the relatives?"

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