Chapter 38: Rejection

Seeing her pestering like this, Song Xirui knew she must have discovered something, and a look of vigilance flickered in her eyes. Su Yun was a vile man, but this Luo Yun'er was far more formidable than him. If it hadn't been for her faking her death in their previous life, she herself would never have ended up in such a miserable state.

At the thought of this, Song Xirui pursed her lips, her tone dripping with sarcasm: "I heard my husband had a fright yesterday. I must go and find a physician and a master for him."

"In that case, Yun'er will accompany you, Sister-in-law!" Luo Yun'er immediately chimed in. The physician she had brought in yesterday had fled in a panic, claiming he could not treat this malady. Fortunately, Mother Li had been drinking last night and was still unaware of the situation. If she could use Song Xirui's influence to resolve Su Yun's condition, the mother and son of the Su family would surely value her even more.

Seeing Song Xirui remain silent, she urged with a beaming smile, "What is it, Cousin-in-law? Could it be that you were lying to me, and you aren't going to find medicine for my cousin, but rather—" She glanced at the servants filling the courtyard and stopped, leaving the rest unsaid. She wanted to see if Song Xirui dared to disregard her own reputation.

Song Xirui’s expression turned cold, though she smiled as she replied, "It is not that I refuse to take you, it is simply that there is no precedent for such a thing."

"Since when do we women need reasons to go out?" Luo Yun'er persisted relentlessly.

Song Xirui sighed softly, offering some well-intentioned advice: "Yun'er, are you not aware that it is improper for a concubine to follow the legitimate wife when she goes out? To flout the rules would only invite gossip. People in the capital are already whispering about my husband favoring a concubine over his wife; to be seen like this would only bring him trouble, wouldn't it?"

Luo Yun'er was struck as if by lightning, her face cycling through shades of green and white. "I am not yet married to him; how could I be a concubine!" she retorted furiously. She could not bear the word "concubine" in the slightest.

"Oh my!" Song Xirui covered her mouth, feigning shock. "Then does that mean you are even less than a concubine?" She immediately added, "In that case, I certainly cannot take you with me, don't you agree?" Mimicking Luo Yun'er's earlier behavior, she cast a glance across the courtyard of servants and said softly, "Sister, there are too many prying eyes here. You should return to your room early, lest you become a laughingstock."

She spoke the last two words with extreme lightness, but their impact was devastating. Luo Yun'er stood frozen, her face deathly pale and her eyes filled with humiliation. Seeing her like this, Song Xirui sighed inwardly. Why must women make things so difficult for one another, all for the sake of a worthless man?

Just then, a maid came to report: "The Old Madam has awakened, and she is furious about the young master's situation!"

Taking advantage of Luo Yun'er’s daze, Song Xirui quickly said, "My husband is the apple of the Old Madam's eye; they share a mother-son bond. You should go and check on the Old Madam; I am off to find the physician." With that, she took Hongdou and left the Su residence immediately. Luo Yun'er was unwilling to give up, but remembering Song Xirui’s words and wanting to curry favor with Mother Li, she had no choice but to follow the maid to Mother Li’s quarters.

***

Inside the room, Mother Li was weeping bitterly as she looked at Su Yun. "Oh, my poor Yun'er! How could you end up in such a miserable state? You were supposed to climb the ranks and achieve great success! How did it come to this?" She looked at Su Yun, who was bound hand and foot on the bed with a cloth stuffed in his mouth, struggling incessantly. Her heart as a mother was nearly shattered.

Luo Yun'er stood outside the door, listening for a while, before walking inside after a moment of contemplation.

"How have you been looking after your husband? Look at him now, while you remain perfectly fine!" Mother Li’s anger flared the moment she saw her.

"Old Madam, you have wronged me." Luo Yun'er shook her head gently. "Last night, I went out to find a physician for him, and he said that this is not a sickness, but a demonic possession!"

Mother Li was stunned. "Possessed?" How could that be? But she thought of the strange occurrences surrounding Su Yun over the years, and the prophecy given by a rambling, mad old man when he was a child—that he was a lone star of ill omen, destined for a life of misfortune. Could it actually be true?

"W-what should we do? Yun'er, we must go and invite a master!" she said urgently.

Luo Yun'er sighed, "Old Madam, this illness is likely far from ordinary. I suspect it has something to do with the Young Madam."

"Song Xirui? Why would she want to harm Yun'er?" Mother Li’s mind struggled to process this. She looked at Luo Yun'er with suspicion. "Are you not just being jealous again and intentionally throwing dirt on her name?" This Luo Yun'er lacked the grace and composure of the Song girl.

"She only does what pleases my son!"

Luo Yun'er’s eyes filled with tears, her voice sounding pitiful. "Mother-in-law, I serve my husband with a pure heart; why would I be pointlessly jealous? The Young Madam possesses certain means. Whether she helps my husband change his fortune for the better or the worse depends entirely on her whim."

Mother Li nodded. "What you say has some merit. However, do you have any proof?" The question left Luo Yun'er silent.

Mother Li glanced at her coldly. "You had better focus on taking care of him for now, and stop thinking about other things."

***

At Hongfu Restaurant, after a brief exchange, Song Xirui frowned deeply. She set her teacup down heavily on the table and spat two words at Xiao Yunci: "Impossible!"

This Xiao Yunci actually wanted the Song family to help him target the Third Prince in the imperial examination scandal! It was sheer delusion!

Xiao Yunci knew he had touched a nerve and said gently, "The Song family has a protégé who is a censor; his involvement would be the most discreet. Since you have already decided to cooperate with me, why be so timid?"

Before he had even finished speaking, Song Xirui let out a contemptuous sneer, her eyes burning with anger as she looked at him. "Timid? You use such a light word, General, yet you wish to use the lives and reputation of my entire family as your stake? You are far too arrogant!"

"Song Xirui," Xiao Yunci called out coldly, "It was you who insisted on cooperating with me."

"And what if I stop?" Song Xirui stood her ground, her voice icy. "All I seek is for Su Yun to never be able to rise again, but I do not necessarily need you, Xiao Yunci, to walk that path. You want me to drag the entire Song family into this? Not a chance. I was coerced into the case of the southern officials, but now, I will not take another step back."

This scoundrel Xiao Yunci kept challenging her bottom line again and again! If it came to it, she would rather watch him die. Was he the only capable official in this world?

"The Song family passed the point of no return long ago," Xiao Yunci’s voice softened as he saw her agitation. "From the moment you sought me out, you had already entangled the entire Song family."

"There are only two paths now. Either we cooperate, and I will ensure the survival of the Song family, or we part ways. But everything that has happened before has likely already aroused suspicion; there is no turning back now."

This was the truth. Song Xirui was not an ordinary woman; she would not be swayed by emotion. However, she simply stared at him coldly, remaining silent.

After a long while, Xiao Yunci backed down. "Very well, as you wish, Madam. This matter need not involve the Song family." He did not want to push her too far and make an enemy of her.