Chapter 7: Requesting Leave from the Estate

Yu Shengsheng felt no joy. At this moment, she had no heart. The eager longing she had held to return home and see her blood relatives had long since turned cold. Just now, her only remaining spark of happiness and expectation had been shattered into pieces the moment she saw Grandma Wu forced to crawl on her knees.

Grandma Wu suffered from an old injury in her legs; whenever the rainy season or winter arrived, they would ache and swell. It had always been Shengsheng who went into the mountains to gather herbs, carefully applying them for days until the old woman could walk slowly again. Yet, only a few days ago, the capital had been drenched in a heavy downpour. How could Grandma Wu’s legs endure this?

Yu Shengsheng subconsciously took two steps forward. Su Zhiyi’s smiling voice blended with the sound of her wheelchair rolling. "Grandmother is kind. Knowing that my sister was cared for by the Wu family while in the countryside, she specially brought her here before you returned to the manor, keeping her by her side as a casual servant."

Yu Shengsheng dug her fingernails into her palms, forcing a voice out of her strained throat. "Many thanks, Grandmother. Since I have just returned to the manor and have no one by my side, would you mind letting her serve me instead?"

Su Yanshu glanced at Yu Shengsheng’s clenched hands; they felt as though they were clutching at his very heart. Since meeting her yesterday, he had never seen her show such concern for anyone. And now, she was doing this for a coarse, elderly woman from the countryside!

Su Yanshu let out a faint, mocking laugh. "Shengsheng, if you need someone to serve you, there are plenty of clever maids in the manor. Why snatch someone from Grandmother’s side? She’s new here and doesn’t know the rules; I wouldn't want her to lead you astray."

Yu Shengsheng turned her head to look at him, her eyes as dark and cold as a bottomless pool. Su Yanshu’s heart skipped a beat, and he involuntarily bit down on his molars. "She knows nothing, just like you when you first arrived—she is utterly useless by your side!"

*Just like when she first arrived, utterly useless.* Yu Shengsheng’s gaze deepened and dimmed. This was likely the true opinion of the Su family. Because she was useless, she had been easily discarded; because she was useless, she had been wantonly humiliated.

The Old Madam cast a fleeting glance and spoke at the opportune moment: "Enough. Why are you arguing? Over a servant? It’s unseemly. Let’s eat."

Yu Shengsheng suppressed the myriad emotions in her heart and followed at the back of the group as they headed toward the outer room. Catching a glimpse of Grandma Wu carefully putting down a jewelry box and bracing herself against a table to catch her breath before she could manage to stand, Yu Shengsheng felt her heart being constricted by invisible, taut threads, tightening with every passing second. She fought the urge to rush over and help the old woman—she could not; to help her would only bring more harm to Grandma Wu.

In the outer room, Su Zhiyi pushed her wheelchair to the lower end of the table. Su Yanshu frowned. "Why sit there today? Your favorite dishes are over here."

Su Zhiyi’s eyes curved into crescents. "My sister has returned; it is only right that she sits by Mother. It doesn't matter where I sit."

The Old Madam beckoned to Su Zhiyi. "Come, Zhiyi, sit by Grandmother."

Su Zhiyi hesitated for a moment before pushing her wheelchair over. The Old Madam patted her hand gently. "You were raised by us; with your status as a Princess, there will always be a seat for you at our table." She gestured toward the fish soup in the center. "This white fish is the freshest; your eldest brother caught it from the Cold Pool yesterday. It was kept overnight, and the kitchen began simmering it before dawn."

Su Zhiyi’s eyes lit up. "Thank you, Grandmother. Thank you, Eldest Brother." She turned to Shengsheng. "I remember that my sister also loves fish soup. Sister, please sit and let’s have some together!"

Madam Su pulled Yu Shengsheng to a seat. "Zhiyi still remembers Shengsheng’s preferences. Sisters should have such deep affection for one another."

As she spoke, Grandma Wu began to scoop the soup. Su Zhiyi, chatting with the Old Madam and paying no heed, gestured with her hand mid-sentence and knocked over the bowl Grandma Wu was handing her, splashing soup all over herself.

"Ah!" she cried out in surprise.

Everyone at the table turned pale and immediately rose to surround her. Yu Shengsheng rushed to Grandma Wu’s side and whispered, "Are you hurt?" Grandma Wu shook her head.

Su Yanshu looked back and saw this scene; the light in his handsome eyes turned as sharp as a poison-tipped arrow. Look at his "dear" sister—instead of worrying about her own family, she was busy fussing over an old peasant woman. He lunged forward, intending to strike, but Yu Shengsheng stepped in front of Grandma Wu.

"Move aside."

Yu Shengsheng’s legs were trembling slightly. "Second Young Master, Grandma Wu is elderly and did not do this on purpose. Please, do not hurt her."

This was the first time she had spoken in such a soft, pleading tone since her return. Hearing the tremor in her voice, Su Yanshu’s own heart gave a jolt. It was as if he had been transported back to the day they first met; he had been holding a puppy he intended to give to his new sister, but the puppy ran off. He had chased it all the way to Yu Shengsheng’s feet. Back then, thinking he meant to harm the puppy, she had been just as nervous, her voice trembling as she clutched the dog to her chest, begging him not to hurt it.

Su Yanshu’s throat bobbed, and he slowly pulled back his hand.

Suddenly, Su Zhiyi cried out in a tearful voice, "It hurts! It’s so hot!"

It was as if oil had been poured onto a fire for Su Yanshu. Zhiyi was always strong and never cried out in pain; she must have been severely scalded. Furious, he glared at Yu Shengsheng, shoved her aside, and kicked Grandma Wu in the leg with the tip of his boot.

Grandma Wu fell to her knees with a thud, beads of sweat instantly breaking out on her forehead.

"Grandma Wu!" Yu Shengsheng lunged toward her.

Su Yanshu laughed with rage. "You are still protecting this old hag? If it weren't for your sake, would a base, low-born creature like her ever be allowed into the Su Manor? Do you know what kind of noble house the Su family is..."

*Base, low-born creature.* She and Grandma Wu were the same; if not for the blood in her veins, she would never have had the chance to enter the Su Manor either. Had she known this would be a despair as deep as the abyss, she never should have hoped for anything. That would have been better than having her hopes shattered, leaving nothing behind.

Yu Shengsheng lifted her head, her cold, sharp gaze piercing straight into his eyes. "What kind of noble house is the Su family? The Great General guards the borders, the Young General has achieved great military merit, and even the young Princess has her own honors."

"As for you, Second Young Master, there is no need to mention it—a scholar of the capital, a companion to the Crown Prince, surely destined for the Hanlin Academy, and perhaps the youngest Chief Councilor, unparalleled in glory."

"As for people like Grandma Wu and me, who are no better than weeds, we should have stayed in the wilderness to live out our lives."

Yu Shengsheng knelt beside Grandma Wu and bowed her head. "Yu Shengsheng here begs you: let Grandma Wu and me leave."

"We shall have no further connection with the Su Manor."

The room, which had been noisy, fell silent. Even Su Zhiyi stopped crying out in pain. Flames flickered in the depths of Su Yanshu’s eyes, as if he wished to burn Yu Shengsheng to ash. What had she said? For the sake of this old woman from the countryside, she wanted to leave the Su family and sever ties with them? Listen to that—what kind of nonsense was this! She had clearly said that the happiest thing in her life was to find her parents and brother, to be a member of the Su family. Now, for the sake of a servant, she wanted to leave?

"Do you know what you are saying?"

Yu Shengsheng pressed her forehead against her hands in the most standard posture of a kowtow. "I beg you, Grandmother, grant this request!"

Madam Su collapsed weakly into the arms of her nanny, tears welling in her eyes. "Shengsheng, why must you pierce your mother’s heart like this?"

Su Zhiyi gripped the armrests of her wheelchair, trying to stand. "Sister, don’t go. It was my fault—it doesn't hurt anymore!"

Su Yanshu grabbed Yu Shengsheng by the collar, forcing her to look up. "Take back what you just said."

Yu Shengsheng turned her gaze toward the Old Madam. The Old Madam’s face was dark and grim; she threw the handkerchief in her hand to the floor and spoke in a heavy, low voice.