Chapter 18 - Strike While You're Down

Behind Su Li, the maids Mo Hua and Si Qin were so excited their eyes sparkled with joy.

They remembered every single item belonging to their mistress clearly. Without hesitation, they began directing the servants to start moving the items.

Concubine Xia immediately tried to stop them. "First Miss, weren't these things gifts you gave to the Second Miss? How can you take them back now? If this gets out, won't people say that the First Miss is stingy?"

Su Li smiled calmly and replied, "Concubine Xia, these were indeed things my sister borrowed. She promised to return them after a while, but I think she must have been too busy and forgotten. Since we're here today, there's no need for my sister to trouble herself with returning them—I'll just take them back myself. Don't worry, my maids know my belongings very well. They won't take anything extra." And they won't miss a single piece either.

Su Yue tried to struggle and get up to stop them, but the movement caused her so much pain that she inhaled sharply and collapsed back onto the bed.

"Su Li! You're robbing me! I'll tell Father about this!"

Su Li maintained her smile, unfazed.

Wei Yuanyao sneered. "My cousin is simply taking back what's hers. What grounds do you have to complain? Many of these items were part of my aunt's dowry—did you really think you could just take them?"

Su Mother added coldly, "I've never treated you unfairly, yet you dare to covet what doesn't belong to you? Look around your room—does this look like the room of a concubine's daughter? It's better furnished than Li'er's! You won't need to complain to your father, for I'll be sure to let him know myself!"

Concubine Xia watched helplessly as the servants carried item after item out of the room, her heart aching.

Those were all precious treasures! She regretted not having taken them a few days earlier to sell for silver.

She had recently pawned much of her own jewelry to scrape together 400,000 taels for Xia Jiang, leaving even her daughter's possessions nearly emptied, and now this? It felt like someone was stabbing her straight in the chest.

But when she heard Su Mother mention informing the master of the house, she quickly interjected, "Madam, the Second Miss is still young and doesn't fully understand. Haven't all the borrowed items been returned already? Let's not trouble the master with this matter."

If the master found out, Yue'er would surely face yet another punishment.

Su Yue looked around at her now-bare room, so angry she nearly spat blood. Su Li was taking advantage of her weakened state to completely ruin her!

She glared at Su Li with hatred.

Seeing her expression, Su Li smiled and asked, "Sister, what kind of look is that? Are you upset with Mother's decision? Do you want Father to intervene and make a judgment?"

Through gritted teeth, Su Yue replied, "You're joking, Sister!"

Why does Su Li seem like a completely different person? She was never like this before.

Glancing at Wei Yuanyao behind Su Li, Su Yue's eyes flickered with suspicion.

It must be Wei Yuanyao's doing! Just wait! I'll endure this for now, but we'll see who laughs last!

Mo Hua stepped forward excitedly. "Madam, we've finished moving everything."

Su Mother looked at the nearly emptied room and asked, "Are you sure you didn't remember wrong? Could there really have been so many of Li'er's things here?"

Mo Hua shook her head, then suddenly exclaimed with a sparkle in her eyes, "Oh, I forgot something! The brocade quilt with gold threads on the Second Miss's bed also came from the First Miss's room!"

Hearing this, Wei Yuanyao burst into laughter. "Cousin, your maids are absolutely delightful."

Infuriated, Su Yue shouted, "Take it! Take everything!"

Su Li replied lightly, "No need to take the quilt—it's been stained with blood."

This remark made Su Yue's chest heave with fury, but she was powerless to do anything.

Seeing how bare the room had become, Su Mother remarked that it was inappropriate and instructed Su Yue's maid, "Later, speak with the steward and get some new furnishings."

"Yes," Liu'er replied cautiously, stealing a glance at her mistress and lowering her voice.

Su Li took her mother's arm and said, "Mother, let's leave. I'll escort you back. My sister needs rest to recover, so we shouldn't disturb her any longer."

Su Mother nodded.

With Wei Yuanyao and Su Li flanking her, Su Mother left.

Watching their retreating figures, Su Yue's eyes glinted with venom.

Concubine Xia tried to calm her daughter. "Yue'er, just lie down and don't think too much. Focus on recovering first."

To Su Yue, the past few days had been an unending string of misfortunes.

First, she broke out in rashes that hadn't yet subsided. Then the Qionghua Banquet turned into a disaster, branding her a laughingstock among the noble ladies.

Now her body ached all over, and that mother-daughter duo had taken back every single item she had painstakingly acquired from Su Li.

"Mother, don't you think Su Li has changed?" Su Yue asked.

Concubine Xia paused, considering the question.

It was true. Her brother had mentioned that Su Li had been the one to uncover those secret accounts, and the once-affectionate girl hadn't spared her a single glance today.

Sitting at the bedside, Concubine Xia mused, "People don't just suddenly become enlightened. She's been foolish for over a decade—how could she suddenly become so clever?"

Su Yue narrowed her eyes in anger. "It must be Wei Yuanyao! How hateful! Just wait until I recover—I'll make her pay!"

Outside Su Yue's courtyard, Wei Yuanyao burst into laughter.

"Cousin, did you see Su Yue's expression just now? It was hilarious!"

Su Li smiled softly but didn't reply.

The group returned to the main courtyard, where the servants brought out fruits, snacks, and tea.

Looking at her daughter, Su Mother said, "Li'er, you've been far too careless, letting Su Yue take so many of your belongings."

She sighed inwardly. Her daughter had always said she felt distant from her, but wasn't it true the other way around too? The past two years, she had been so busy managing the household and the shop that she hadn't noticed someone plundering her daughter's room right under her nose.

Su Li took her mother's arm and said playfully, "Mother, I was foolish in the past, but I won't let it happen again."

Wei Yuanyao nodded in agreement. "Cousin really has changed a lot. Su Yue is so greedy—she even set her sights on the Jadeite Twelve-Piece Set. And despite how kind Cousin has been to her, she still tried to smear Cousin's name today. Fortunately, Her Majesty the Empress saw through her schemes!"

Su Mother frowned. "What happened?"

She only knew that Su Yue had been punished by the Empress but didn't know the details.

Wei Yuanyao recounted everything that had transpired at the Qionghua Banquet, leaving nothing out.

When Su Mother finished listening, she slammed her hand on the table in anger, causing the teacups to clatter.

"Outrageous!"

Su Li held her mother's hand and said, "Mother, don't be angry. Didn't her plan fail in the end?"

Su Mother's tone remained stern. "This time, your cousin was present to expose her. But what if she hadn't been? Wouldn't her dirty deeds have fallen on your shoulders instead? Foolish Li'er, you've treated her so well, yet she has such a wicked heart. Don't be so naive in the future."

That mother-daughter duo is no good! How blind I've been all these years!

Su Li nodded earnestly. She had already resolved to never let Su Yue gain the upper hand again.

After venting her anger, Su Mother noticed the late hour and turned to Wei Yuanyao. "Yuanyao, why don't you stay over tonight? I remember how close the two of you used to be when you were little. You can stay in Li'er's courtyard."

Su Li beamed. "That's wonderful—I've been wanting to chat with Cousin more!"

Seeing the two girls so cheerful, Su Mother instructed a servant, "Go inform the kitchen to prepare extra dishes for tonight. Make sure to include some sweet-and-sour ones."

Wei Yuanyao laughed. "Aunt still remembers my favorite flavors?"

Su Mother smiled. "Of course, I do. You love sweet-and-sour, while Li'er loves spicy."

The three of them continued chatting happily in the main courtyard, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

Later, after Su Shangshu issued his instructions, they had dinner together. Su Li and Wei Yuanyao then retired to rest, arm in arm.

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