Chapter 22: The Portrait

The fury in Su Yanshu’s eyes was like a violent tempest, ready to swallow Yu Shengsheng whole at any moment. His face was ashen, cast in a cold pallor that even the candlelight could not warm.

"Because of this identity, you keep driving daggers into us. Could it be that you won't be satisfied unless the entire Su family is buried along with you because of who you are?"

Yu Shengsheng no longer wished to explain herself; this had nothing to do with identity. Since the moment she returned, she had said that her status did not matter, as long as the family was together. But the words she had spoken back then could no longer be uttered; she was nothing but a joke now.

"The one who cares about status has never been me," Yu Shengsheng said, her voice flowing calmly through his rage. "It is you, and it is the Su family."

"When you didn't need me, you called me the cousin; when you need me, you demand I sacrifice for the Su family."

"I can tell you clearly, Second Young Master: I will not marry the Heir of Prince Nanshun."

Su Yanshu stared at her fixedly, his gaze like a rain of arrows whistling through her heart and body. After a long silence, he gave a slow, thin smile. "I had originally thought that if you married, I would let Old Mother Wu go with you as your dowry servant. Since that is how you feel..."

He drew out his tone, his voice like a fine, sharp thread, designed to make Yu Shengsheng suffer until she couldn't bear it and begged for mercy.

Yu Shengsheng’s face turned pale, her heart bleeding. On one end of the thread was Grandma Wu, and on the other, Qi Mubai. Su Yanshu knew her best; he had easily seized her softest weakness.

Seeing her reaction, Su Yanshu stood up with satisfaction. He pressed a small dish of candied fruits into her hands, leaving no room for refusal.

"Eat them slowly, eat them all. I will send more tomorrow. Think carefully about what I said."

Yu Shengsheng gripped the dish, her knuckles turning white. Nanny Zhou stepped over gently and tried to take it from her, but couldn't move it. Her heart ached for her. "Miss, please, do not harm your own body."

Yu Shengsheng lifted her eyes, the darkness within them devoid of light. "Nanny, I cannot do anything. What use is a healthy body?"

"It is useful, of course," Nanny Zhou said, a warm smile blooming on her face. "Only when you are healthy will there be hope, and only with hope can you find a way to act."

"...Hope? Will there still be any?"

Jin Baobao strode in. "Of course there will, Miss! I just went to the kitchen for dinner, and I heard that the so-called Heir is still a long way from the capital."

"The road is long and treacherous. Who knows what might go wrong? What if there are bandits, or a capsized boat, or falling rocks?"

Nanny Zhou glanced anxiously at the window and lowered her voice. "Oh, hush! You truly are bold."

Jin Baobao took the candied fruits from the dish one by one and ate them. "What’s there to be afraid of? The wicked deserve to be punished by heaven."

Yu Shengsheng’s voice trembled. "The wicked?"

"I heard from my brother that the Heir is a devil. He is bloodthirsty and cruel. He even built a beast garden filled with ferocious creatures, and he often forces people to fight the beasts. Who knows how many have died there?"

"They say he even eats the hearts and livers of the living..."

Yu Shengsheng’s ears buzzed. At the mention of "ferocious beasts," her innards seemed to shrink, and her entire body turned stiff and cold.

"Stop it! What if you frighten the Miss?" Nanny Zhou quickly covered Jin Baobao’s mouth.

Jin Baobao thought to herself that this was nothing—just idle talk. If this wasn't allowed, how would they survive if she actually married him? Seeing Yu Shengsheng’s pale face, empty eyes, and trembling lips, she quickly swallowed the rest of her words and the candied fruit in her mouth.

She asked with concern, "Miss, are you alright? Did I really scare you?"

Nanny Zhou chided her softly, "Stop talking. Go boil some hot water for the Miss."

"Oh," Jin Baobao replied, hanging her head as she walked out. Suddenly remembering Hao Mengye's instructions, she rolled her eyes and hurried off to boil the water.

Just as she reached the door, she heard Yu Shengsheng say, "Baobao, stay."

Yu Shengsheng let out a long breath, digging her nails into her palms to force herself to remain calm. She could not be crushed by fear. She could not just surrender; if there was no hope, she would create it. She had to ask about the Heir of Prince Nanshun. Only by knowing the enemy could she find a way to cope.

"Baobao, how do you know about the Heir?"

Jin Baobao licked her lips. "I heard it from my brother. He knows some martial arts and often acts as an informant for the soldiers, delivering messages."

The members of the Red Dragon Guard were masters of their craft, specializing in covert investigations and assassinations. Jin Baobao thought to herself that this wasn't exactly a lie.

Yu Shengsheng nodded. "Then tell me everything you know about the Heir. The more, the better."

...

Su Yanshu walked faster and faster. The warm night breeze failed to calm his mood, adding only more irritability. Passing through a moon gate, he collided head-on with a guard.

"Presumptuous!" His face was as dark as water. "Why are you rushing about?"

"Forgive me, Second Young Master. I was in a hurry and accidentally bumped into you."

Su Yanshu suppressed his anger, recognizing the man as his eldest brother’s personal bodyguard. "What happened? Why the rush?"

"Reporting to the Second Young Master," the guard hesitated, lowering his voice, "two men were sent out, but they haven't returned yet. The Young General is waiting for their report, but no one knows where they went."

Su Yanshu immediately sensed something unusual. "What were they sent to do?"

"They were tasked with watching the new maid to see if she had any contact with the third son of the Lu family."

Su Yanshu stood in the light of a lantern, his eyes turning cold. He waved his hand, dismissing the guard.

The third son of the Lu family. Shengsheng’s attitude was firm in her refusal to marry the Heir; could it be because of him? The Lu family were the heads of the civil officials and the family of the only noble consort in the palace—the bitterest enemies of the Empress and the Crown Prince.

In any case, he could not allow Shengsheng to have any involvement with the Lu family.

As he walked, lost in thought, he reached the gates of the estate just as Shen Zhiyuan arrived, carrying a jar of wine.

"Second Brother!"

Shen Zhiyuan’s voice was cheerful. He was the same age as Su Yanshu, just two months younger, and usually followed Su Zhiyi, calling Su Yanshu "Second Brother."

Su Yanshu was indifferent. "Why are you here?"

"My father just obtained some fine wine, and I came specifically to share it with you."

Su Yanshu didn't think much of Shen Zhiyuan, but the man’s father was the Vice Minister of War. Since General Su was away, the Vice Minister had provided many conveniences, never delaying or cutting corners on military supplies.

Su Yanshu’s thoughts were tangled. "Just as well. I was planning to go out for a drink."

Shen Zhiyuan happily draped an arm over his shoulder. "It seems we share the same mind."

Su Yanshu’s brow twitched imperceptibly, and he brushed the arm away without a trace.

The two returned to the courtyard. After three cups, Shen Zhiyuan became tipsy and accidentally knocked over a scroll basket. Su Yanshu loved calligraphy and painting and was quite skilled himself; his works were stored in that basket.

Two scrolls rolled out, one of them unfurling halfway.

The figure in the painting was a woman.

Su Yanshu’s heart skipped a beat, and he reached to pick it up, but Shen Zhiyuan was faster, pressing his hand onto the scroll.

"Don't move. Wait a moment."

He blinked his eyes hard. "This woman..."