Chapter Thirty-Five: Uproar

Song Xinrui frowned slightly, offering only a brief, calm response: "It is of no consequence. Let us see what kind of scene she wishes to make."

No sooner had she spoken than Luo Yun'er stepped inside.

Seeing Song Xinrui sitting there looking perfectly fine, Luo Yun'er was struck by the memory of being turned away from their door that day. Not only had she failed to gain the upper hand, but she had also been neglected by Su Yun for several days since. The frustration boiled over in her.

"Cousin-in-law, are you feeling better today?" Luo Yun'er asked with a bright, saccharine smile, which quickly soured into a sneer. "I am surprised to see you actually out of bed."

She had known all along that this wretch was just faking it!

Song Xinrui raised her eyes and gave her a cold, indifferent look. "Yes, I am recovered."

This airy, nonchalant attitude caused Luo Yun'er to clench her fingers until they turned white. Song Xinrui’s arrogance toward her was infuriating! Yet, who was to say she, Luo Yun'er, was some low-born, vulgar creature? If not for being driven to a dead end, she never would have surrendered herself to Su Yun, nor would she have to endure the pointed fingers of others, mocking her for being a mere mistress who had the audacity to force her way into the main household! It was the height of humiliation!

She let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "The Master has recently been highly favored by a person of status and is on the verge of rising rapidly in his career. Is Cousin-in-law aware of this?"

Su Yun detested Song Xinrui; surely he wouldn't have bothered to tell her such things! She must still be completely in the dark!

Song Xinrui suppressed the disgust in her eyes and feigned surprise. "Oh? Is that so? Then I must offer my husband my warmest congratulations. After all, as the legitimate wife of this Top Scholar's mansion, it would be a laughingstock for others to say that my husband favors a concubine over his own wife." She curled her lips into a smile. "You are quite sharp, Yun'er, for thinking to inform me."

With that, she calmly swallowed a chestnut and took a sip of tea, appearing perfectly content.

Luo Yun'er was so angry her lungs ached. Song Xinrui was completely oblivious to her own precarious position in Su Yun’s heart, still believing she could sit securely in the seat of the Scholar’s wife! Never! Not a chance!

"Has Cousin-in-law never considered that the Master might have set his heart elsewhere?" Luo Yun'er couldn't help but blurt out.

"Luo Yun'er." Song Xinrui interrupted her. She set her teacup down gently, raised her eyes to meet the other woman’s venomous gaze, and said slowly, "Which woman my husband favors in his heart is not something I can dictate. However, there is one thing that others cannot change. Do you know what that is, Yun'er?"

Seeing Luo Yun'er remain silent, she offered a faint smile. "It is my status. I am the only daughter of the Marquis’s mansion; my standing is noble. Even if my husband detests me, he would never dare risk the condemnation of the world to divorce me."

"I am sitting firmly in the seat of power. What is there for me to be anxious about?"

Looking at her again, Luo Yun'er’s face had turned a sickly shade of green.

However, even after this encounter, Luo Yun'er returned to her quarters and spent the entire night obsessing over how to undermine Song Xinrui. Each time she devised a new scheme, she would return to the fray, only to be defeated and sent away, before plotting to return once more.

"Madam, the young miss is..." Hongdou began, her mouth hanging open, unable to find the words.

Song Xinrui understood immediately and glanced at her. "More annoying than a fly in an outhouse, isn't she?"

Hongdou nodded vigorously. "A fly at least takes a break sometimes! The young miss has practically started treating our Begonia Court as if it were her own!"

Song Xinrui’s cold eyes narrowed slightly. "You are right. It is time to find a way to properly discipline her, lest she forget who she is."

Closing the door, she had Hongdou retrieve a box from under the bed. She removed a pearl hairpin from her hair and inserted it into the lock. With a crisp click, the box sprang open. Inside lay an array of red, green, and white jade vials.

Her slender fingers rummaged through the collection until she found a vibrant red vial. She held it up and shook it toward Hongdou. "Let the young miss have a taste of what this medicine can do."

Hongdou blinked at the vial, then flashed a brilliant smile. "Agreed!"

—

The next morning.

Luo Yun'er helped Su Yun dress and smiled softly. "I heard the Old Madam slept in late today and isn't coming out for breakfast, so you and I can dine together, Master. I heard the kitchen bought some fresh pickled bamboo shoots; let’s see if they suit your appetite."

"Very well. You are always so thoughtful, Yun'er. I cannot help but dote on you."

Su Yun was incredibly susceptible to Luo Yun'er’s charm. He wished he could spend every day in her gentle embrace rather than facing the cold shoulder from Song Xinrui.

As they spoke, a maid served two bowls of chicken soup, porridge, and several plates of delicate side dishes.

"Here, Master, try these pickled bamboo shoots."

"Yun'er, you have some as well."

The two were so lovey-dovey that, were their relationship unknown, they would have seemed like a pair of enviable lovebirds. The maids in the room dared not make a sound. The bamboo shoots were indeed delicious, and both Luo Yun'er and Su Yun could not help but eat their fill.

After finishing, Su Yun prepared to put on his official hat to head to the morning court.

*Pfft!*

A thunderous fart echoed through the room, startling him so much he jumped!

The servants in the room bit their lips hard, forcing their laughter back into their bellies. *Hahaha, the Scholar actually farted early in the morning!*

Luo Yun'er’s mouth twitched as she tried to comfort him. "Master, it is nothing. It is only human nature. Please, hurry to the court." *Ugh!* She was about to retch; Su Yun’s fart was both deafening and foul! Truly extraordinary!

Su Yun’s face turned a deep red, and he nodded as if nothing had happened. "Right, I am off."

However, he hadn't taken more than a few steps when another massive blast echoed.

*Pfft!*

?

He turned back in confusion. "I didn't fart!"

He saw that Luo Yun'er’s face had turned as red as a beet. The previous awkwardness vanished, and he laughed. "Yun'er, don't take it to heart; it is only natural!"

*Ha!* At least he wasn't the only one losing face!

Luo Yun'er gritted her teeth and forced a fake smile, nodding. "Indeed. It seems I must have eaten something that disagreed with me as well."

Su Yun was just about to offer her some comfort when a sharp pain hit his stomach.

Then:

*Pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft—pfft!*

A rapid-fire volley of farts erupted from within him, blowing the hem of his official robes into the air. Just as Luo Yun'er was about to mock him, she began to *pfft-pfft-pfft* herself!

Suddenly realizing something was wrong, they both stared at each other, eyes wide, and shouted in unison: "The outhouse!"

For the entire morning, Su Yun and Luo Yun'er lived in the outhouse. Even when their stomachs were completely empty, they still couldn't stop running back and forth!

Elsewhere, Hongdou recounted the miserable state of the two to Song Xinrui. Both women burst into hearty laughter.

Hongdou’s eyes crinkled into thin slits as she laughed. "Madam, I heard that when the Young Master and the young miss came out of the outhouse, neither of them could walk—they had to be carried back to their rooms!"

"They deserve it." Song Xinrui popped a chestnut into her mouth and added, "Eat less of this; it is hard to digest."

Hongdou nodded obediently.

Just as they were talking, Madam Li stormed in from the front courtyard, looking furious.

"Song Xinrui, Yun'er is lying in bed unable to rise, and you have the leisure to sit here and eat!"

"What?" Song Xinrui stood up immediately, looking wronged. "The Master has been in Yun'er’s room for these past days; I have barely seen him in a week. I truly knew nothing of this!"