Chapter Three: I Was Blind, and I Deserved It

The one riding up on horseback was none other than Yu Shengsheng’s second elder brother.

The second young master of the Su family, the current Crown Prince’s companion and tutor, a renowned scholar in the capital—Su Yanshu.

Su Yanshu swung himself off his horse, lowered his head to look at Yu Shengsheng kneeling on the ground, furrowed his brows, and stepped forward to help her up.

“Shengsheng? Why are you kneeling on the ground? Get up quickly.”

He grasped Yu Shengsheng’s right arm. She let out a muffled groan from the pain and instinctively struggled and pushed him away.

Su Yanshu was pushed aside, his expression shocked. “Shengsheng, you…”

When she was found again, this little sister of his was as rough as a stone at first sight—she could barely recognize a few characters and didn’t even know how to hold a brush properly.

It was he who held her hand, stroke by stroke, teaching her to write her own name and the names of their entire family.

And now, she wouldn’t let him touch her and even pushed him away?

Su Yanshu’s expression darkened slightly. He pursued a civil official’s path and, though not as imposing as Su Dingqin, the second son of the General’s residence and constant companion to the Crown Prince exuded a commanding aura that was enough to intimidate.

“Su Shengsheng, are you blaming me for hitting you back then?”

Yu Shengsheng held her right arm with her left hand, biting her lip tightly, refusing to cry out in pain.

Blame? Yu Shengsheng felt it wasn’t really blame but rather a deep sense of grievance.

She wasn’t afraid of being beaten—over the past thirteen years, she had no idea how many times she had been struck—but that time was different. It was the second brother who held her hand and solemnly promised that he would never let her suffer any injustice again!

Second brother was gentle and elegant, literate, recited beautiful poems, and taught her how to write.

When she was punished by their hateful stepmother in her childhood, no matter how much she explained, the beatings only grew harsher. Yet, the second brother, who was learned and understanding, also refused to listen to her explanations that day. Using the same hand that had taught her to write, he grasped the whip and struck her until her skin bled.

He shattered her heart as well.

Su Yanshu slowly straightened up. “Fine, you really are blaming me. Then let me ask you—if you hadn’t harmed A Yi, would I have hit you?”

Yu Shengsheng lifted her eyes; her dark pupils were as deep and cold as a frozen pond. Her voice was soft yet chilling, like tender snowflakes settling coldly on the back of one’s neck.

“May I ask, Second Master Su, back then, wasn’t it my arrow that injured Su Zhiyi? Are you not fully aware of that?”

A tumultuous storm flashed across Su Yanshu’s handsome face before swiftly subsiding into dead silence.

“Shengsheng,” Mrs. Su hurried forward upon hearing this, gently taking her hand. “Good child, let’s not bring up the past anymore. Your mother knows you must have suffered greatlyI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.