There were three people in the hall.
Su Yuru, as an outsider and an intruder, should have been the one with the most confidence. After all, to seek trouble at someone's doorstep, one needed to be self-assured and project a strong presence. Yet, she was the most flustered and out of place among them.
Seated opposite her was Du Yiyi, who was the most relaxed and at ease. After an initial outburst directed at Su Yuru, she had remained seated. Leaning back against the chair, she watched Su Xiaoqi and Su Yuru spar with great interest, finding the exchange highly amusing. Her attitude was clear: she was merely watching a play, a play designed to embarrass Su Yuru.
Su Xiaoqi was the most composed and calm of the three. Relying on a few guesses and numerous tests on Su Yuru, she was close to uncovering the truth behind the dramatic marriage between the Su family and Shen Yun. The entire affair stemmed from the jade pendant that Su Yuru constantly mentioned. That jade pendant, for reasons unknown, was of great importance to the Su family.
There appeared to be two such jade pendants. Since the two families had betrothed their children, each family held one as proof of their engagement. At that time, Shen Yun's father was still alive, and the Su family had not yet prospered. Both families were ordinary, well-off households in Mianzhou City.
However, as time passed, Shen Yun's father disappeared or died. Shen family, with a widowed mother and orphaned children, gradually lost their assets and, lacking protection, had to return to Zhaohua Village, becoming impoverished.
The Su family, however, was different. Setting aside the origins of their family's wealth, they later carved out an unusual path to riches through business. The affluent minor family, the Sus, transformed into 'millionaire' magnates in Mianzhou City, even becoming the richest family, controlling half the city.
The prosperous Su family no longer viewed the fallen Shen family favorably, and the children's betrothal naturally became void. However, the Su family desired the jade pendant held by Shen Yun, possibly resorting to clandestine methods to obtain it. It proved that Shen Yun was too clever; they couldn't find it. They then employed a strategy of substitution, reviving the betrothal to acquire the engagement jade pendant from Shen Yun.
By some unknown circumstance, that jade pendant ended up in Su Xiaoqi's possession. Even more remarkably, she married into the Shen family while carrying the pendant. This was why Su Yuru had been persistently chasing Su Xiaoqi to demand the jade pendant.
Su Xiaoqi voiced her conjectures in front of Su Yuru, whose complexion shifted from pale to red, then to green, and finally to dark. Su Xiaoqi curled her lips. She couldn't help but praise Su Yuru's mastery of changing facial expressions, comparing it to the modern Sichuan Opera's face-changing art.
"Tsk, it seems this eldest Miss Su is not only skilled at snatching men but also exceptional at seizing things. Regardless of who the person or thing belongs to, as long as she fancies it, she claims it as hers. She won't rest until she has it, and if she can't get it, she'll persistently demand it. Sister Xiaoqi, don't give it to her. I want to see how someone who broke off an engagement, secretly annulled a betrothal, and then, knowing the other party was already considering marriage, shamelessly inserted herself, engaging in clandestine meetings and private commitments without parental consent, marital rites, or the man's proposal, plans to establish herself."
"You... Du Yiyi, eldest Miss Du, this is my business, it has nothing to do with you. I know I've displeased you with my matters with the heir apparent, but, but he was the one who actively pursued me. I did not... I did not..." Su Yuru was about to explain.
Du Yiyi refused to listen, dismissively saying, "Hmph, why explain to me? Can you explain and can I hear it?" She didn't like Liang Jingning, that timid dog. Besides seducing women, what else could he do? Oh, no, besides seducing women, he could also seduce men. His illicit activities with Liang Jingyu in Chongming Garden might be hidden from ordinary citizens and the prince's mansion staff, but not from Du Yiyi, who relied on the intelligence network of Yan Yu Pavilion. Especially after Xiao Ran developed feelings for her, worried she would proceed with the engagement to Liang Jingning, he had always sent people to investigate Liang Jingning without reservation. Knowing he was indiscriminate in his affections made her despise him even more. She constantly felt fortunate that she had discovered his true nature early on; otherwise, she would have hated herself.
"I'm sorry, Miss Du, I know I shouldn't have. I... but there's truly nothing between me and the Prince of Duan's heir apparent." Su Yuru began to employ her "white lotus" tactic, feigning helplessness and shedding tears. Unfortunately, her audience was Su Xiaoqi and Du Yiyi. Although both women possessed empathy, they had already seen through Su Yuru. Seeing her performance, they exchanged glances and remained seated.
Su Yuru's performance was met with no audience participation, naturally making her bored. She secretly cursed them for being difficult, wiped away her tears, and denied Su Xiaoqi's claims.
"You don't need to deny it. You aren't the only ones in the Su family who know about this. My mother-in-law knows quite a bit, and my husband likely knows too. Moreover, I recall there is one other person who is most important. He should know the entire story. Shall I go and bring him here to confront you all?"
Su Yuru froze. She understood everything Su Xiaoqi said, except for the last sentence: "What? Who is he?" Apart from her father and Shen Yun's deceased father, no one else should have known about the events of that year. Why would she say that? But Su Xiaoqi's expression was serious and solemn, not like she was lying. Su Yuru panicked. She realized that if she dared to utter a single word of refusal, Su Xiaoqi might bring that person to her in the next moment. Her heart clenched into a knot. Her self-proclaimed intelligence seemed utterly useless in front of Su Xiaoqi. She finally began to abandon her sense of superiority and, for the first time, truly faced Su Xiaoqi. This woman was definitely not the woman her brother had described. The original her was dark and thin, knowing nothing, her eyes widening at ten taels of silver, showing a greedy expression. The current her was fair-skinned and beautiful, with exquisite features. She seemed to have undergone a complete transformation, or rather, she was like a completely different person. She wasn't the Su Yuru who married in her place, nor was she Su Xiaoqi! Su Yuru's heart began to flutter with unease again. She felt that coming to find Su Xiaoqi today was a mistake. Now, this mistake had to be ended. She stood up, forgetting even basic guest etiquette, and quickly ran out.
Running all the way to the door, Su Jiamo was leaning against the carriage, anxiously waiting for her. The cold wind blew, chilling her to the bone. Su Jiamo's nose was red from the cold. He rubbed his hands vigorously, looking at Su Yuru, who ran out looking utterly distraught.
"Sister!" Su Jiamo hurried to meet her.
Su Yuru felt an unsettling premonition. Seeing him, she was startled and suddenly pushed him away.
"Ah... Ah, Second Brother, Second Brother, is Su Xiaoqi a ghost? She's not Su Xiaoqi, is she? Just like Zhao Xiaohua is no longer the former Zhao Xiaohua."
Su Yuru spoke in such a horrifying manner that Su Jiamo, having trained in the imperial court for a period, was no longer the same as before. He knew what to say and what not to say. He immediately roared, "Shut up, Yuru, what nonsense are you talking about?"