Chapter 46: The Handle

"Yun'er... What do you mean by that?" Su Yun's mind quickly caught up.

Luo Yun'er nodded. "Husband, that is precisely what Yun'er means. Although you are the son-in-law of the marquis's estate, you have to walk on eggshells around Song Xirui all day long. Every time she is the least bit displeased, she runs back to her maiden home, using her marquis father to hold you under her thumb. It is truly infuriating."

Lowering her voice, she coaxed temptingly:

"Does my husband not wish to hold a leverage over her as well, so that she will be obedient in all things and bend to your will?"

Su Yun's heart immediately fluttered with restless desire.

Yun'er was entirely right!

When was there ever a time he didn't have to lower himself and plead for Song Xirui to return home?

The most outrageous thing was the last time, when she actually forced him to swear an oath before the plaque!

Luo Yun'er was right. He must get a firm grip on something to hold over Song Xirui!

Nearby, Madam Li immediately fanned the flames as well: "My son! Yun'er's words are spot on! Every time that Song Xirui speaks to me, she looks at me with bared teeth and glaring eyes. I simply cannot stand it!"

In truth, the real reason Madam Li couldn't stand Song Xirui was too embarrassing to utter.

Back in the days when she used to do odd jobs for official households, she had been kicked out after stealing a few needles and threads!

She still remembered it to this day!

Why should different people have such different fates?

At last, the three of them reached a consensus and marched aggressively toward Song Xirui's courtyard.

---

Begonia Court.

Song Xirui and Hongdou each ate some pastries and drank some tea, restoring their energy.

They quietly waited for their visitors.

A commotion arose in the front yard, and Hongdou immediately called out, "Mistress! They are here!"

Song Xirui promptly checked herself in the bronze mirror. Excellent, this look was quite convincing—she looked just like someone who was ill, with pale shadows even beneath her eyes!

As the three of them reached Song Xirui's door, they heard the sound of retching coming from inside.

"Ugh... Hongdou! I can't take it, go fetch a physician quickly!"

Su Yun was instantly consumed by a raging fire of fury.

It was a settled matter! Song Xirui must have been sneaking around behind his back and taking a lover!

"Bang!" With a loud crash, Su Yun kicked the door open and barged in.

Upon seeing the three of them, Song Xirui immediately put on a look of panic, stood up, and stammered, "Husband... Mother, why have you come?"

She looked every bit the picture of a guilty conscience.

At this sight, how could the three people opposite her possibly misunderstand anything?

This Song Xirui had committed adultery, was carrying the illegitimate child of some paramour, had cuckolded Su Yun, and even wanted to cover it up!

"Just look at that guilty look on your face!" Madam Li barked coldly. "Speak, just who have you been having an affair with?!"

In an instant, Song Xirui's already pale face turned as ashen as death, and she hurriedly said, "Mother-in-law, I am wronged! This daughter-in-law stays within the estate every single day, how could I possibly go out to rendezvous with outsiders?"

As she said this, the face of Xiao Yunci flashed through her mind, inadvertently bringing a trace of genuine guilt to her expression.

"You're lying!" Before Song Xirui could finish explaining, Luo Yun'er shouted angrily, "You simply took advantage of my cousin's gentle nature to deceive him like this!"

She could not allow Su Yun to continue being manipulated by this woman!

Unexpectedly, before Song Xirui could speak, Hongdou flared up with indignation and snapped, "Does any ivory ever come out of your mouth, Miss Cousin? You actually dare to slander my mistress, you heartless little vixen! You foul creature!"

At these words, Madam Li froze in place.

Song Xirui stared wide-eyed at Hongdou, only to see Hongdou scratch her head sheepishly and offer an embarrassed smile.

Hehe, these were the words Old Woman Wang had taught her, and she had remembered every single one!

Song Xirui: What a clever little sprite!

Right then, Luo Yun'er rushed forward, raising her hand to slap Hongdou across the face!

"Smack!"

With quick eyes and swift hands, Song Xirui struck first the moment Luo Yun'er raised her arm!

She sent Luo Yun'er spinning around with the force of the blow, staggering off to the side!

Su Yun and Madam Li hurried forward to support her!

"Song Xirui, you are in the wrong, yet you still dare to strike Yun'er. What kind of logic is this? Are you truly not afraid of being thrown into a pig cage?! Su Yun roared angrily at Song Xirui.

Song Xirui shielded Hongdou behind her and said coldly, "Husband, what wrong has Hongdou committed? Why must all of you refuse to spare her!"

Clutching her swollen cheek, Luo Yun'er shot a venomous glare at Song Xirui and shouted, "If she hadn't acted as the go-between, how could you have carried on a clandestine affair with that adulterer and even gotten pregnant with his bastard seed?!"

"Piss off!" Hongdou's mouth was far faster than hers!

Indignant and huffing, she retorted, "Our mistress is pure and innocent, and has never had secret trysts with any man. You haven't even stepped through a proper threshold yet you go around producing wild babies for people—you are the wicked woman here!"

Old Woman Wang had taught her quite a lot indeed!

Hearing this, Luo Yun'er was fit to burst with rage and turned directly to Madam Li, crying, "Old Madam, if you don't tear this girl's mouth apart, how will you ever bring the young mistress to heel?"

Madam Li had watched the drama for a while before entering the fray, and now she nodded. "Well said!"

She made as if to lunge toward Hongdou.

At that very moment, Shijiu came running in from outside, shouting, "Young Master! Princess Changning has arrived!"

In an instant, everyone in the room was struck dumb with astonishment.

Princess Changning?

Madam Li was baffled: "We're in the middle of catching an adulteress, what is a princess coming here to join the excitement for?"

Su Yun's mind raced as he recalled that this princess was most fond of talented scholars.

Perhaps she held him in high regard?

Thinking of this, he cast everything else aside and hurriedly straightened his robes and crown.

"Let's go! Quickly to the front courtyard to welcome the Princess."

Who would have thought that at this moment, Shijiu stammered, "Young Master, the Princess is already heading toward Begonia Court!"

"What?" Su Yun was taken aback.

Shijiu explained, "The Princess said that on her way here, she noticed the begonia flowers in our estate stretching out over the wall, and since only Begonia Court has them in our residence, she wanted to come in and take a look. We didn't dare to stop her, so..."

Before he could finish his sentence—

"Her Highness the Princess has arrived!"

Following a solemn and majestic announcement, the several people in the room snapped out of their daze.

They rushed out of the house one after another and dropped to their knees in unison.

Princess Changning's gaze swept over each of their faces in turn, and she smiled faintly. "I have made an unannounced visit and am certainly intruding."

Her appearance was peerless and her demeanor poised, yet her words carried a faint, natural authority.

Su Yun hastily said, "How can the Princess speak of an intrusion? Your August Presence honors our humble dwelling."

The others chimed in with agreement.

At this point, Luo Yun'er gritted her teeth, turned her swollen cheek toward the Princess, and said with a pitiful expression, "Your Highness, I beg you to dispense justice. Song Xirui has committed adultery with an outsider, bringing utter ruin to my cousin! Now that she is carrying that criminal's child, she even dares to deceive the Su family—she is utterly vile!"

Everyone's eyes converged upon her.

At these words, the Princess frowned.

She glanced toward Song Xirui.

Though she and Song Xirui were not particularly close, they were both noble ladies of the capital and had met on several occasions.

How could such a dignified and refined young lady of a noble house commit such a scandalous deed?

Coupled with the rumors circulating in the capital—

Could it be that because Song Xirui was unloved by her husband's family, she was being maliciously splashed with dirty water?

Song Xirui remained silent.

She could not be certain whether the Princess would take Su Yun's side, but fortunately, she had already sent someone to fetch her father. For now, she only needed to stall for time.

Princess Changning had arrived at a remarkably opportune moment.

Was it a coincidence, or was it intentional?

The Princess withdrew her gaze, and the next moment, it fell upon Su Yun. "Scholar Su, what do you have to say about this matter?"