Chapter Eight: Base and Troublesome

The matriarch cast a glance at Granny Wu, though her words were directed at Yu Shengsheng.

“Our Su family’s blood and bone cannot be scattered outside, nor can they be taken away with a few sweet words,” she said slowly, her gaze turning sharply toward Yu Shengsheng, as piercing as a blade. “The Su family does not have such base bones.”

Yu Shengsheng’s breath hitched slightly.

With just a few words, the matriarch had defined both her and Granny Wu’s characters: if she insisted now, she would be deemed deceived by Granny Wu, and she herself branded as base. She knew the weight of her own bones well enough; she didn’t care what others thought. But Granny Wu was different—if branded as the one who lured a young girl away from home, she would never survive.

“Go, fetch the medicine,” the matriarch ordered sternly, allowing no refusal.

Granny Wu struggled to her feet hurriedly. Yu Shengsheng tried to follow, but her collar was yanked tighter by Su Yanshu.

“Stop looking so worthless,” he snapped, his chest rising and falling with anger.

Su Yanshu’s father and elder brother were valiant on the battlefield. Ayi had also earned merit in battle. And he himself was the favored confidant of the Eastern Palace, trusted by the Crown Prince. Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he would surely become a key minister.

The entire family had no one who lagged behind—except this Shengsheng, his own sister, who was about to leave the Su family for the sake of an old servant, severing ties!

It was a joke.

“If I hear you say you want to leave the Su family one more time,” Su Yanshu’s eyes darkened like smoldering embers, “I won’t hesitate to break your legs and keep you confined in the courtyard—a useless cripple.”

Su Dingqin shouted, “Yanshu, watch your words!”

Suddenly realizing his outburst, Su Yanshu pushed Yu Shengsheng aside and turned to Su Zhiyi. “Ayi, second brother didn’t mean it that way.”

Su Zhiyi forced a bitter smile, slowly shaking her head as if the pain left her speechless.

Su Yanshu’s heart shattered. He looked at his once heroic sister, now as fragile as a delicate porcelain doll. His heart felt as if it were burning; clenching his fists, all his fury surged to the surface, consuming the last shreds of his reason.

Without warning, he stood and slapped Yu Shengsheng across the face.

“It’s all because of you!”

Yu Shengsheng had been holding herself together, but the blow made her stagger, nearly falling.

Granny Wu, who had just returned with medicine, rushed over to support her. “Shengsheng, are you alright?”

Yu Shengsheng wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, swallowed the metallic taste, and fought the dizzy ringing in her head.

Just as she was about to gently push Granny Wu away, the matriarch’s cold voice cut through: “Come here and let the princess apply the medicine.”

Granny Wu looked at Yu Shengsheng with concern, then knelt down to tend to Su Zhiyi.

Her hands were as pale as snow, with a faint blush that added a touch of vulnerability.

Once the ointment was applied, the matriarch waved her hand, and the others bowed their heads and returned to their seats.

Yu Shengsheng remained standing—her seat at the far end had been overturned by Su Yanshu’s kicked chair, leaving no place for her to sit.

Su Yanshu glanced at her sideways. “If you don’t want to eat, don’t. If you do, then stand and eat while you learn your lesson.”

Mrs. Su glared at him, about to beckon Yu Shengsheng, but the matriarch lightly cleared her throat.

Mrs. Su lowered her hand again.

Every part of Yu Shengsheng ached, her stomach twisted painfully from hunger.

For over a year, she had never eaten a full meal. Now back at the mansion, planning to take Granny Wu away, she needed to be in good health.

She stepped forward slowly and ate standing up.

Bite after bite, chewing and swallowing.

Mrs. Su, her eyes red, looked away in pain, unwilling to watch any longer.

Su Dingqin frowned silently. After sitting a while, he rose and said, “Grandmother, I have military affairs to attend to. I’ll take my leave.”

The matriarch nodded, continuing to coax Su Zhiyi to eat, occasionally casting dark glances at Yu Shengsheng.

She had never liked this granddaughter from the start.

When she first arrived from the countryside, rough and ill-mannered, with a wildness about her despite her frail frame and smiling eyes, the matriarch felt this girl was hard to manage.

When she heard about the trouble at the hunting grounds and that Yu Shengsheng had been taken away, she even felt a sense of relief—some confinement and discipline would do her good.

Now seeing her again, the matriarch was certain her initial judgment was right: this girl still bore the stubborn wildness that could not be uprooted, base yet thorny.

It seemed a year of confinement hadn’t broken that wild bone.

Then, she would have to handle it herself.

After the meal, Mrs. Su led the group away from the matriarch’s courtyard.

Yu Shengsheng did not look at Granny Wu again, nor did she speak. She knew well that she was not strong enough now; showing kindness would not help Granny Wu but only bring trouble.

She would need patience and must wait for the right moment.

With this resolve, she let Mrs. Su take her back to the courtyard where she had lived before.

She was the true daughter of the family, yet she had been placed in a remote courtyard.

Meanwhile, Su Zhiyi’s courtyard had remained untouched.

Like her position—solid as a mountain.

When Yu Shengsheng first arrived, she was joyful and carefree, caring little—it was still better than the dilapidated house in the countryside, and most importantly, she was with her parents and brothers.

Now, after a year, stepping back into the courtyard, her heart was dry and still as stone.

“Shengsheng, your courtyard has been kept just as it was. When you were away, your mother often came to sit here. Now that you’re back, it’s truly wonderful,” Mrs. Su said with red eyes. “Rest well.”

In the courtyard stood a maid and an old woman.

Seeing Yu Shengsheng’s gaze sweep over them, Mrs. Su’s expression flickered with awkwardness.

“These are the maid Ruzhu and Granny Zhou.”

Ruzhu’s movements carried a faint fragrance—likely expensive scented powder.

Granny Zhou bowed. Yu Shengsheng then noticed that Granny Zhou had a problem with her right leg. She looked fine standing still, but limped noticeably when she moved.

Mrs. Su said nothing, and Yu Shengsheng did not ask where the previous maid and nanny had gone.

The things inside the room had barely changed—the table surface still bore faint water stains from cleaning, the corner behind the vase in the treasure cabinet held thin layers of dust.

Yu Shengsheng withdrew her gaze indifferently and took off her outer garment.

Mrs. Su did not follow into the room; Ruzhu, who came to see her in, also did not enter.

Footsteps, one light and one heavy, stopped outside the inner room’s door.

“Miss, the hot water is ready. This old servant will help you change and bathe.”

“No need. You may rest.”

A moment of silence outside, then the footsteps faded away.

Yu Shengsheng trusted no one.

She did not want the ugly scars on her body to be seen.

After bathing, utterly exhausted and drowsy, she fell asleep immediately.

How long later, she was awakened by laughter and chatter.

She kept her eyes closed, listening to Ruzhu cracking sunflower seeds and chatting under the corridor.

“Granny Zhou, you’ll soon have a companion. You limp on your right leg, and she limps on her left—together you’ll be like the two generals guarding the gates!”

“Serving in the matriarch’s room, yet still so unruly—she deserves her punishment.”

Yu Shengsheng opened her eyes.

Ruzhu laughed so hard she was practically shaking. “Never seen such a stupid person. From the countryside, just hopeless.”

“Who are you talking about?” Yu Shengsheng asked coldly from behind her.

Ruzhu was startled, turned, and seeing it was her, tossed aside the sunflower seed shells and sneered, “I wouldn’t dare say it’s you, miss. I was talking about Granny Wu from the countryside.”