Chapter 12 - Aunt Xia is Punished

The next morning, before Su Li had woken up, the noise outside startled her awake.

Su Li sat up and asked, "What's all the noise outside?"

Mo Hua lifted the curtain and said, "Miss, are you awake? The Second Miss is outside, causing a fuss and insisting on coming in. Sister Si Qin is stopping her, saying you haven't gotten up yet."

As Mo Hua helped her get dressed, Su Li asked, "Why has she come so early?"

"It seems the Old Master has punished her. I heard that last night, the Old Master went to the West Courtyard in a fit of rage, stripped Summer Niang of her managerial duties, confined her to her room for a month, and ordered the Second Miss to attend to the Madam every morning and evening. This has never happened before."

Hearing this, Su Li smirked. Was she really this unsettled by such a minor punishment?

Once she finished washing up, she signaled for Mo Hua to bring the person in.

"Big Sister, you're finally awake! It's already late morning!" As soon as Su Yue entered, she spoke with dissatisfaction.

Su Li, still eating her breakfast, did not respond.

Seeing Su Li's silence, Su Yue added, "Big Sister, your maidservants are getting more and more unruly. They actually made me wait outside for so long!"

Su Li looked up and asked, "Did you come all the way here this early for something?"

Su Yue noticed that Su Li wasn't engaging with her complaints, so she stopped pressing the issue.

"Big Sister, I don't know what happened, but Father was really angry last night in the West Courtyard. He even restricted my concubine's movements. Big Sister, please talk to Mother and ask her to plead with Father for my concubine's sake."

Su Li took a bite of her meal, not responding.

Upon hearing Su Yue's request, Su Li inwardly sneered. How bold, to ask her so confidently.

"Are you asking me to help? It doesn't sound like it."

Su Yue froze. Usually, whatever she said, Su Li would agree right away. Why was she acting this way lately?

Su Yue had originally planned to have Su Li speak to their mother, and maybe that would irritate her a little.

After all, her real daughter was always closer to her concubine.

"Big Sister, my concubine has always been kinder to you than she is to me. Can you really bear to see her suffer?"

Su Li put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and said slowly, "Father punished the concubine. Surely, she must have done something wrong. If we go to ask Father for mercy, wouldn't that be questioning his decision? Besides, it's not a very serious punishment. She doesn't have to manage the house now, which means she can take it easy. Isn't that better for her?"

Su Yue's face darkened in anger. This was the same argument she had used to deceive Su Li before, saying that their mother was overwhelmed managing the household and suggesting that the concubine be given the authority to ease her burden.

Now, Su Li was using the same words to counter her.

Su Yue gritted her teeth, then forced a smile. "Big Sister, you know how my concubine is. She's born with a hardworking nature. If she's left with nothing to do, she might fall ill from the boredom."

Su Li stood up and walked toward the courtyard, and Su Yue quickly followed.

She thought Su Li had listened to her words and was going to plead with their mother.

But when they reached the garden, Su Li picked up a pair of scissors and began leisurely tending to the flowers and plants.

"Big Sister! What are you doing…?"

"Little sister, look at how well these flowers are blooming. Here, take one with you to put in a vase."

Su Li casually cut off a flower and handed it to Su Yue.

Su Yue's face darkened as she reluctantly accepted it.

"Big Sister, I've said all of this. Have you listened?" Su Yue demanded in frustration.

Su Li glanced at the flower in her hand, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

She turned back to the flowers and said, "I'll bring it up with Mother at lunchtime."

Su Yue's face lit up. "I knew Big Sister would help! You really do care about my concubine."

Su Li smiled gently.

Care? Yes, she would definitely "care" for her concubine, but in her own way.

Su Yue, having completed the task her mother had assigned, felt much better. Looking at the flowers in Su Li's garden, she thought they seemed to be blooming even more beautifully than usual.

Yet, the more she looked at them, the more she thought that Su Li's ugly scar seemed to stand out even more, making her mood all the better.

She sniffed the flower in her hand. "This flower really smells wonderful."

Su Li smiled sweetly and kindly. "I'm glad you like it."

When Su Yue finally left with her maid, Si Qin approached Su Li. "Miss, are you really going to plead for the West Courtyard?"

Su Li smiled coldly. "Plead? Hah!"

Seeing Su Li's reaction, Si Qin relaxed.

She had been worried that Miss might act foolishly and harm the Madam's feelings just for the sake of a concubine.

Su Li put the scissors down and said, "Take care of the garden. Don't let anyone disturb me." She then entered the inner room.

She needed to finish preparing Jun Mo's medicine quickly.

However, this medicine was tricky to make and required some rare herbs. For now, she could only mix the basic ingredients and then figure out how to gather the remaining herbs.

Apart from meals at Madam's courtyard, Su Li spent all her time in the inner room.

Yu Qi had tried multiple times to approach and inquire, but each time, she was stopped by Si Qin and the other maids.

When she attempted to get closer to the inner room again, Zhi Shu quickly stepped forward to block her. "Yu Qi, the Miss said no one is allowed in this room."

Yu Qi gave a flattering smile. "I was just worried the Miss might be thirsty, so I wanted to bring her some tea."

Zhi Shu's expression was cold. "No need. If the Miss is hungry or thirsty, she will speak up."

Yu Qi glared at Zhi Shu, fuming in silence, before snorting and turning to leave.

Meanwhile, in the main room, Xia Shi had been anxiously waiting for news from her daughter. When she heard Su Yue had said Su Li would plead for the concubine, she had hoped that, even if the managerial duties couldn't be restored right away, at least her confinement might be lifted. But despite waiting and waiting, there was no sign of the Old Master softening his stance.

"Qiao He, go call the Second Miss over," Xia Shi said, growing impatient.

"Yes, I'll go at once."

Qiao He arrived at Su Yue's courtyard to find Liu'er standing by the door.

"Liu'er, is the Second Miss still taking her afternoon nap?" Qiao He asked.

Liu'er nodded. "Yes, Sister Qiao He. Is there something wrong with the concubine?"

Qiao He nodded and was about to speak when a voice came from inside the room.

"Liu'er, bring me some water."

Liu'er looked at Qiao He. "You're in luck, Sister Qiao He. The Second Miss has woken up. You may go in now."

Qiao He pushed the door open and entered, with Liu'er following behind her, holding a water basin. Liu'er placed the basin down and went to lift the curtain.

"Miss... your face…"

Qiao He gasped. "What happened to your face?"

Su Yue, confused, reached up to touch her face, feeling an itching sensation.

She had always taken great care of her appearance, so this sudden change alarmed her. She hurried to the copper mirror and gasped in horror.

"How could this happen?! Quick, fetch a doctor! My face must not be harmed! You wretched maid, go and call the doctor right away!"

Liu'er scrambled out of the room to fetch a doctor in a hurry.

Qiao He, trying to calm Su Yue, said, "Miss, don't panic. I'll go fetch the concubine."

Su Yue, however, was too frantic to listen to her words. She kept scratching at her face, her screams echoing in the room.

"My face! My face is so itchy!"

Xia Shi was waiting anxiously inside her room.

"Concubine, something's wrong with the Second Miss!" Qiao He burst in and exclaimed.

Xia Shi shot to her feet in anger. "What are you making such a fuss for? What happened to Yue'er?"

"Concubine, you need to see for yourself. The Second Miss's face is covered in rashes—so thick and dense, it looks terrifying!"

Before Qiao He had even finished speaking, Xia Shi, forgetting her confinement, rushed out of the room in a panic.

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