Chapter Thirty-One: Injury

"Mother, please do not be angry." Seeing her mother-in-law stir up trouble, Song Xirui sat down gracefully, a beaming smile on her face. "That tea set of yours was worth five hundred taels of silver. Since the household had several sets, and I thought you were a generous person who would not sit idly by while we faced financial difficulties, I sold one. I never expected it would provoke you, Mother."

"What do you know!" Madam Li’s face was darker than ink. "Each set is useful! Even if they aren't used, what is wrong with just having them on display? Why are you so set on going against me?"

Her heart ached terribly! And to think it only sold for five hundred taels. She had spent a full thousand taels when she bought it! She stood up abruptly, slamming her hand onto the table with a loud bang. "Tell me, where is the money? Is it with you? Hand it over!"

She was determined to redeem the items!

Song Xirui pursed her lips lightly, her voice soft. "But... the money has already been given to my husband..."

"You’re talking nonsense!" Madam Li stomped her feet in a rage. "Song Xirui, would you really be that kind? The money must have been pocketed by you!"

This accusation made Song Xirui’s expression shift. She no longer felt the need to keep up the charade. She said coldly, "Mother, you are wronging me."

"I don't believe it! I don't believe a single word you say!" Madam Li was so furious that her teeth ached; she wanted nothing more than to tear Song Xirui to pieces.

Song Xirui cast her a sidelong glance and handed her the receipt written by Su Yun. "Mother, you should recognize your son's handwriting. I did not lie; it was indeed all given to him. You may go ask him yourself."

Madam Li took one look and felt a wave of dizziness wash over her! It really was Su Yun's handwriting! Veins bulged on her forehead as she stomped her foot hard. "Consider yourself clever!"

***

Su Yun was in his study, contemplating how to properly present the funds to the Third Prince, when the door was suddenly flung open. Madam Li stormed in, fuming.

He frowned. "Mother, how many times must I tell you? Times have changed; you cannot continue to act like a village woman."

Hearing this only added fuel to the fire. "Son, it hasn't been easy for me raising you all these years—even in the dead of winter, I had to kneel to beg for a bite to eat for you. Why did you let that Song Xirui sell off the things in the manor? My life is only getting worse!" Madam Li complained indignantly.

Su Yun frowned. "I did not tell her to sell them. This was entirely Song Xirui's own doing."

"So that's how it is!" Madam Li narrowed her eyes. "That little vixen dared to lie to me! I’ll tear her mouth apart!"

"Mother!" Su Yun’s face darkened. "Do not act rashly. Though she is reckless, she has actually helped me in this instance."

Madam Li looked bewildered. "Yun'er, I don't understand what you mean..."

Knowing Madam Li’s temperament, Su Yun realized that if he did not tell her the truth, she would never stop pestering him. He closed the door tightly and briefly explained his dealings with the Third Prince.

Though she was just a woman, Madam Li understood that this was a way to find a backer for their family. She jumped for joy, "Since you’ve aligned yourself with the Third Prince, we can finally hold our heads high. His manor is powerful—surely it is stronger than the Imperial family?"

Su Yun nodded with a smile. "That is the logic, of course!"

"Wonderful! From now on, I won't have to look at Song Xirui's face ever again. Whatever she wants to do, I will make sure she cannot." Madam Li was determined to make Song Xirui miserable.

Su Yun frowned. "Mother, we cannot be hasty. Song Xirui is, after all, the only daughter of the Su family; we must still afford her some semblance of respect."

Madam Li glared at him. "Why are you being so cautious? Just focus on managing your relationship with the Third Prince." Ever since Su Yun achieved the rank of Top Scholar, she had become accustomed to acting without restraint; she was in no mood to be held back now.

In the days that followed, banking on Su Yun’s connection to the Third Prince, Madam Li threw her weight around the manor. The Su residence, which had finally found some peace, was once again turned upside down. She tried to make things difficult for Song Xirui several times, but Song Xirui deflected them all with gentle, soft-spoken responses. Striking her was like punching cotton; Madam Li found it incredibly frustrating.

***

That night, Song Xirui was sitting at her table, reading a storybook. Just as she was absorbed in the plot, the book was snatched from her hands! She let out a cry of surprise, only to look up and see the slightly pale face of Xiao Yunci.

Hongdou, who had been dozing off nearby, quickly ran over and blocked the space between them. It was this bad man again!

Xiao Yunci chuckled softly. "Madam, your little maid treats me like a scoundrel. Please, mediate for us so that we may speak in private."

Song Xirui glanced at him and said softly to Hongdou, "You may leave first. General Xiao needs me to handle something for him; he will not make things difficult for me."

Only then did Hongdou leave, albeit reluctantly.

"General, sit." Song Xirui was anxious to know about Su Yun’s situation, so her attitude toward him softened slightly. She asked, "General, have you found out what Su Yun and the Third Prince are plotting?"

Xiao Yunci played with a teacup with his slender fingers and nodded slightly. "Your husband has been quite active lately. Jumping around so much—it would be difficult for anyone not to notice him." His tone carried a hint of mockery as he added, "I have discovered that they are trying to get their hands on the Imperial Examinations."

The Third Prince’s audacity was even greater than the Crown Prince’s.

Song Xirui’s gaze turned cold. "The Imperial Examinations are for the nation to recruit talent. The Third Prince is trying to boil a frog in lukewarm water; once most of the officials in the court are his men, the Crown Prince will naturally have no power to resist." Recalling the Crown Prince’s penchant for using officials’ secrets to force them into submission, this Third Prince was clearly better at winning hearts.

"Madam is correct. They are currently bribing officials. The few thousand taels you emptied from the Su family coffers have also been funneled into the Third Prince's pockets by Su Yun. Though it is but a drop in the bucket, it is better than nothing, and it shows his sincerity." Xiao Yunci’s dark eyes flashed with cold light, his voice indifferent.

"The wool comes from the sheep's back." Song Xirui’s eyes curved as she smiled faintly. "Those three thousand taels were well spent."

Suddenly, a drop of blood trickled down Xiao Yunci’s arm and onto the table. Song Xirui froze. "You’re injured?"

"Mm." Xiao Yunci responded indifferently, frowning as he looked at his arm. "I asked Zhou Wen to bandage it, but that fellow couldn't even handle such a small task. I will certainly punish him when we return."

Song Xirui pursed her lips lightly. "General, let me bandage it for you." Though she knew Xiao Yunci was not poisoned, it was unclear whether his constitution was truly weak or strong; she could not afford for him to die just yet and ruin her plans.

"No need." Xiao Yunci shook his head. He feigned a refusal, turning to watch her reaction. But he only saw her give a soft "Oh," and say nothing more.

Just an "oh" and that was it! Why was she so cold?

Thinking of this, he said with stifled irritation, "I’ve changed my mind. Madam, please do bandage it for me."