Chapter 19: Marriage as a Transaction?

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Yu Shengsheng looked up, eyes wide open, and without hesitation began searching in the fire pit. It was a hairpin given to her by Granny Wu, who had personally placed it in her hair during her coming-of-age ceremony, offering her blessings.

"Miss!" Granny Zhou called softly.

Yu Shengsheng seemed not to hear, her hands digging through the thick ashes. After burning paper offerings all night, the ashes still held embers, and the heat scalded her delicate fingertips, causing blisters to form instantly. She appeared unaware of the pain, gripping the hairpin tightly.

Rujian frowned. "That is the murder weapon used against Xueqiu; it should be buried with her."

Yu Shengsheng’s fingers tightened, knuckles whitening. "I beg Your Highness to show mercy and let me keep the hairpin. I promise I won’t wear it or ever let it appear before Your Highness again."

Su Zhiyi clasped her hands lightly on her lap. "Then, young lady, what do you intend to offer in exchange?"

Yu Shengsheng pondered briefly. "Anything in my room—or rather, the courtyard—anything Your Highness fancies is yours."

"I remember you have several carved rabbits: jade, sandalwood, and one white jade inlaid with rubies."

Yu Shengsheng counted the rabbits. When she returned, she had casually mentioned that she had never celebrated a birthday in thirteen years. Su Yanshu, feeling sorry, had gathered every kind of rabbit from across the capital the next day, including more than a dozen live rabbits of different breeds.

If it weren’t for the matriarch’s firm objection—claiming the rabbits’ smell was too strong and made her head ache, forbidding keeping them—perhaps she could have raised several litters.

Since live rabbits were not allowed, there were carvings and sculptures made from wood, stone, gold, and silver—all gifts from Su Yanshu, totaling thirteen rabbits.

Among them was one crafted by a master sculptor: pure white jade with a pair of ruby eyes, lifelike and vivid.

Yu Shengsheng loved them dearly, arranging them by her bedside, playing with them every night before sleep.

Su Zhiyi also counted the rabbits and had once asked Yu Shengsheng for the white jade one, but Yu Shengsheng refused.

Su Zhiyi then offered a bolt of fine moonlight brocade in exchange, but Yu Shengsheng declined, saying it was a precious birthday gift from her second brother, invaluable and irreplaceable.

Later, Su Yanshu gave Su Zhiyi a set of gold-inlaid jade zodiac figurines, and Su Dingqin gifted her a riding outfit and deer leather boots, after which the matter was dropped.

Now, Su Zhiyi brought it up again.

Outside the courtyard gate, Su Yanshu’s footsteps halted. He recalled the past, the white jade rabbit that had caused trouble between the two younger sisters, and Yu Shengsheng clutching it tightly, timid yet resolute.

A small voice had said it was a gift from second brother, priceless and not for sale.

He couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth in a faint smile.

"Fine."

His smile froze; thinking he had misheard, he listened again to Yu Shengsheng’s voice from the courtyard.

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Clear and every word struck his heart.

"Fine, including the white jade rabbit, all thirteen—Your Highness may choose as you please, or take them all, as long as you leave this plain silver hairpin to me."

Su Zhiyi was slightly surprised. "You truly are willing? You once said it was second brother’s gift, priceless and irreplaceable."

"Now, all for this plain silver hairpin once worn by a servant?"

"I beg Your Highness to grant me this."

Yu Shengsheng’s words hit Su Yanshu like a slap.

He found it hard to believe such words could come from her. How could she? How dare she!

"Rujian, fetch them."

Rujian entered, with Zhu leading the way, helping to find all the rabbits for Rujian to take away.

Unable to bear it any longer, Su Yanshu strode into the courtyard and caught sight of the white jade rabbit in Rujian’s hands. The ruby eyes seemed to mock him.

He snatched it and slammed it heavily onto the ground.

With a crisp crack, the white jade rabbit shattered into pieces!

"Su Shengsheng, you don’t deserve it."

He looked at her blistered fingers and paused, but still reached out. "Hand it over."

Yu Shengsheng’s face was haggard, gripping the hairpin tightly.

Su Zhiyi pursed her lips, watching silently.

Having trained in martial arts since childhood, Su Zhiyi had sharp hearing and had already heard Su Yanshu arrive as she asked her question earlier.

"I said, hand it over."

"Second Young Master, why persist over a mere hairpin?" Yu Shengsheng bowed. "I beg you to show mercy."

Su Yanshu sneered, snatched the hairpin, and the tip cut through the blisters on her hand, causing her to tremble with pain.

Without stopping, he lifted the coffin lid and threw the hairpin inside. "It belongs with Xueqiu in burial."

"If you are dissatisfied, Granny Wu may join her."

Yu Shengsheng pressed her lips tightly, swallowing the words back.

Su Yanshu glanced at her hand. "Remember, you brought this upon yourself."

Turning to Su Zhiyi, he knelt softly. "Ayi, don’t be afraid. Second brother will give you more beautiful and playful rabbits."

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Su Zhiyi nodded. "I’ll listen to second brother."

Su Yanshu’s heart felt deeply satisfied. Indeed, a sister raised from childhood was truly different.

"Zhiyi!"

A voice rang from the courtyard entrance, and before anyone could see clearly, a swift shadow rushed in like wind and lightning.

Before seeing clearly, Yu Shengsheng instinctively stepped back, pale and bloodless, ignoring the pain in her hand as she clutched Granny Zhou’s arm tightly, her entire body tense, goosebumps rising on every inch of skin.

A large dog charged before Su Zhiyi, powerful paws planted firmly, coat sleek and glossy, fangs sharp enough to pierce a throat.

"Frostwhite? Why is it you?" Su Zhiyi exclaimed joyfully, patting the dog’s head.

After several pats, the dog seemed to receive a command and turned to look at Yu Shengsheng.

Frightened, Yu Shengsheng retreated, stiff and frozen, while Golden Leopard stood protectively before her.

"Miss, don’t be afraid. I can kill two of these beasts by myself."

Shen Zhiyuan growled angrily, "How dare you! Yu Shengsheng, killing Xueqiu wasn’t enough, and now you’d tolerate this girl’s insolence toward Frostwhite?"

Seeing Yu Shengsheng stunned and trembling, unable to speak, Su Yanshu frowned slightly.

"Shen Zhiyuan, Yu Shengsheng killed Xueqiu, but I have already made her keep vigil over Xueqiu’s spirit overnight. That matter is settled."

Shen Zhiyuan was momentarily stunned, surprised by such a punishment.

He glanced at the dog’s spirit hall and coffin, snorted coldly, "That’s more like it."

"Your bloodthirsty nature suits Kong Dezhao well."

Su Yanshu’s expression darkened. "What nonsense are you spouting? Kong Dezhao is the heir prince of Nanshun. What does he have to do with Yu Shengsheng?"

"I heard from my father that Kong Dezhao is coming to the capital to receive this season’s military pay, provisions, and arms. But why would an heir prince personally come for that?"

Shen Zhiyuan glanced at Yu Shengsheng. "He’s coming for a matchmaking."

Yu Shengsheng’s face turned as white as paper, dressed in white, her black hair lightly tied, stunningly beautiful.

Suppressing a faint, unspoken tremor in his heart, Shen Zhiyuan thought that Kong Dezhao was truly fortunate.

Yu Shengsheng’s reason pulled her back from terror: "Matchmaking? What does that have to do with me?"

How could she marry another?

She had someone she cherished and loved, and she still planned to escape from the Su family to be with him.