Chapter 24: Slap Her Ten Times for Me

Lu Shengsheng pursed her lips, remaining silent.

It was not that she did not want to speak, but that she could not. The time was not yet right; she could not reveal a single word regarding Qi Mubai. The Su family held immense power, and she dared not gamble with Qi Mubai’s safety.

Seeing her silence, Su Yanshu mistook it for acquiescence. A trace of a smile flickered at the corners of his mouth, yet a great weight lifted from his heart. At least it was not the third son of the Lu family. As long as she remained under his control, all was well.

Su Yanshu’s tone softened slightly as he slowly loosened his grip and picked up the sheet of paper.

"Sheng-sheng, you are my own sister. In all fairness, in the two years since you returned home, how has your second brother treated you? This marriage is for your own good. The Prince of Nanshun dominates his own territory, and his heir is his only legitimate son. If you become the Princess Consort, you will one day be the Princess when he inherits the title. Is that not better than Shen Zhiyuan?"

Yu Shengsheng raised her eyes. She did not look at him but stared at the paper in his hand, watching as he crumpled it into a ball, causing the character "Lan" inscribed upon it to twist and vanish.

"If this is such a good marriage, why not let Su Zhiyi marry him? With your capabilities, Second Brother, it should not be difficult to beg the Crown Prince to swap the marriage for her." Her tone carried a faint sarcasm, sharp and pointed like a needle.

Su Yanshu chuckled, bringing the paper ball close to a candle flame. The fire flared momentarily, then reduced the paper to ash. He did not respond to her words but instead commanded with certainty, "I am hosting a lotus-viewing banquet the day after tomorrow. All the noble ladies and gentlemen of the capital will attend, and I will announce your marriage then."

"Don't you like beautiful clothes? Tomorrow, I will have the Golden Thread Pavilion come to take your measurements. Pick a few sets you like—no matter how expensive, I will buy them for you. You must dress beautifully for the day after tomorrow."

Yu Shengsheng felt as if her heart had been struck by a heavy hammer. "The day after tomorrow?"

Su Yanshu patted her head gently. "You don't have enough people around you. I will send Matron Wu over the day after tomorrow to help you dress."

Su Yanshu’s words were calm yet sharp, sounding just like a caring brother worried for his sister, considering every detail. If not for the trials of the past year, Yu Shengsheng might have truly believed him.

Even after Su Yanshu left, Yu Shengsheng could not recover her composure. Matron Zhou entered the room to find her deathly pale, sitting alone at the table, her hand gripping a calligraphy brush so tightly that it had snapped in two.

"Miss, what is wrong?"

Yu Shengsheng came to her senses, taking a deep breath. She looked at the broken brush in her hand, feeling as though the support in her heart had snapped along with it. She had thought she had less than a month and had been searching for every possible way to stall, but now, he intended to announce it in two days. Su Yanshu was not giving her even the slightest bit of time.

Jin Baobao, having finished cleaning the water room, entered and was shocked by Yu Shengsheng’s appearance.

"Miss, what happened? Who bullied you? Tell me, and I will go beat them up!"

Yu Shengsheng did not speak. Jin Baobao noticed the letter paper and the dripping ink. "Does Miss need to write a letter? Write it, and I will deliver it."

A glimmer of light appeared in Yu Shengsheng’s eyes. Could it still be delivered? She feared that after what had just happened, Su Yanshu would have people guarding the place strictly.

"Miss, don't worry, I can do it," Jin Baobao said, patting her chest confidently. She picked up a new brush and insisted on placing it into Yu Shengsheng’s hand. "Miss, write quickly!"

...

Early the next morning, Su Yanshu finished writing the invitations and handed them to a servant to deliver. Once the guests arrived tomorrow, he would drop a few hints. The guests were all shrewd people; he wouldn't need to say much more for the news of Shengsheng’s marriage to Kong Dezhao to become eighty percent certain. By the time Kong Dezhao arrived in the capital, the public opinion would be set, and he would not be able to refuse—partly because of the Emperor’s wishes, and partly because of Yu Shengsheng’s incomparable, stunning beauty.

The servant held the invitations and looked at one with surprise. "Young Master, why send one to the Lu family? The Third Young Master of the Lu family just had a conflict with the Young General. This..."

"Precisely because of that, it must be sent. My eldest brother was once detained because of him; if I overlook past grievances and he doesn't come, it will only show he lacks magnanimity."

The servant muttered, "In my opinion, the Third Master of the Lu family doesn't care about his reputation at all. I doubt he will come."

"Let it be." It didn't matter if he didn't come; it would be better if he did. If he heard the news with his own ears, he would cut off any lingering thoughts he might have had about Shengsheng, if any.

He let the servant deliver the invitations, but he had to go to the Eastern Palace himself. He needed to invite the Crown Prince to ensure the news carried more weight.

"Tell everyone in the estate to keep an eye on Miss Sheng’s courtyard. She is not allowed to leave the estate for even a step."

"Don't worry, Second Young Master. After your order last night, I have already arranged for men to keep watch."

Only then did Su Yanshu feel at ease enough to leave the estate for the Eastern Palace.

Yu Shengsheng ate a bit more breakfast. She had to keep her strength up; if she ever really had to run, she needed a healthy body.

"Miss," Matron Zhou entered the room and whispered, "there are people watching outside the courtyard."

Yu Shengsheng’s eyes narrowed slightly. Jin Baobao dismissed it, "Don't worry, Miss. Even if they are watching, I can still get the letter out." It was a joke; even if she couldn't leave, the Grand Leader would send someone to see her. Besides, those few men were nothing in her eyes.

"Be absolutely careful. If you cannot get out, do not force it. Preserving yourself comes first," Yu Shengsheng cautioned.

Jin Baobao was stunned—preserving herself? Shouldn't the mission be more important than anything? A warm, swelling sensation filled Jin Baobao’s heart. She patted the letter hidden in her secret pocket and nodded solemnly. "I will remember."

Jin Baobao left the courtyard carrying a food box and dishes. The men guarding the gate didn't pay her any mind. After delivering the items to the kitchen, she didn't head for the main gate but went straight to the side entrance used by the purchasing servants. Coincidentally, a vegetable cart was heading out. With no one around, she slipped under the cart, clung to the underside, and successfully left the estate.

Jin Baobao smiled cunningly: *A bunch of idiots.*

Once the cart turned a corner and reached the main road, seeing that there were few people around, Jin Baobao dropped lightly to the ground, crawled out from under the cart, brushed off the dust, and hurried toward the drop-off point.

Not long after she left, Ru Jian, standing in front of a small peddler's cart on the roadside, tilted her head slightly and watched the retreating figure with a silent, cold sneer. The Princess had guessed correctly. What was the use of the Second Young Master sending two servants to guard that slut's courtyard? The key was this damn maid.

Ru Jian lowered her bamboo hat and followed quickly. This time, she would catch Jin Baobao and break her hands to avenge the slap she had received.

Jin Baobao walked through the streets, wandering here and there. In front of a stall selling bronze mirrors, she picked one up with great interest. "How much is this?"

In the reflection of the bronze mirror, she saw Ru Jian behind her. Jin Baobao gave a light scoff. *Wearing a bamboo hat, are you afraid I won't see you?*

She put the mirror down and whispered quickly, "Do you see that person in the bamboo hat? Block her and slap her ten times on both sides of her face for me."

Jin Baobao walked off happily, buying a bowl of iced cream and eating as she walked. Now, she could go to the real destination to deliver the letter. Just as she saw the inn from afar and was about to enter, someone at a roadside tea stall asked in a calm voice, "It's hot, little girl. Care for a cup of herbal tea?"

Jin Baobao turned and saw Hao Mengye sitting at a table drinking tea, signaling for her to sit.

"What are you doing here?"

Jin Baobao whispered, "I'm here to deliver a letter for Miss."

Hao Mengye didn't even look up. "What letter? Do you know you're being followed?"