The sun, already slanting low, cast elongated shadows as it filtered through the tall ginkgo trees outside. Golden rays, like scattered fragments of light, enveloped Su Xiaoqi, who sat by the doorway, lending her an almost ethereal glow.
Just as she was about to speak, her lips parting slightly, Yu Shi, seated beside her, grasped her hand and exclaimed, "Who says Xiaoqi's maternal family hasn't come? Mr. Gu and I are her maternal family."
Yu Shi's gentle voice resonated, striking each listener's heart like a falling jade stone.
"Maternal family... that doesn't seem right," Qian Shi, who had been unable to interject during Su Yurou and Shen Yun's conversation, snapped. Still irked by Su Xiaoqi's refusal to let her daughter learn pastry making from Xiao Mei, she raised her voice. She clearly remembered that Su Xiaoqi's surname was Su, while Mr. Gu was surnamed Gu, and Madam Gu was surnamed Yu.
Yu Shi smiled serenely. "You only need to know that we are Xiaoqi's maternal family. With us backing her, no one will dare to bully her." Her voice remained soft, but her words were spoken deliberately, each syllable a gentle yet firm warning that resonated in their hearts.
These people were all relatives of the Shen family. Strictly speaking, they could have been informed of Su Xiaoqi's godmother. However, due to Yu Shi's noble background, she preferred not to make their connection too conspicuous, thus not introducing it with emphasis, merely revealing it in their address. Those with keen minds had understood. Others, however, who weren't paying close attention, had dismissed it. Qian Shi was clearly the latter.
Stunned by Yu Shi's commanding presence, Qian Shi felt a tremor of apprehension. Her small, bean-like eyes darted between Su Xiaoqi, Shen Yun, and finally Yu Shi. She finally confirmed that these were people she could not afford to offend. She lowered her head and mumbled an "Oh." Just then, her father-in-law's warning gaze fell upon her, prompting her to quickly retract. She recalled her father-in-law's words before they left the house: based on her previous actions, she wasn't supposed to be here today, lest she cause more trouble. However, seeing her recent improved behavior, she had been allowed to come. This did not, however, mean she had free rein. Qian Shi, realizing her mistake, lowered her head and fell silent.
Su Yurou, who had been targeted by Yu Shi, immediately seized the opportunity. She was so overwhelmed by the revelation that she remained stunned for a while. "How is it possible? Su Xiaoqi is Madam Gu's daughter?" she stammered, disbelief etched on her fair face. "She, she's just a..."
Yu Shi let out a cold snort, interrupting her. "I've told you, never mind what my daughter's status is. All you need to know now is that she is my daughter, and I will protect her." As she spoke, she looked at Su Xiaoqi, feeling pity for the poor girl whose fate had already been unfair enough. To finally marry a suitable husband, only to be bullied by these avaricious members of the Su family, as if they in the Gu family feared the Su family.
Yu Shi's protection was genuine and heartfelt, deeply moving Su Xiaoqi. She quietly moved closer to Yu Shi and whispered, "Godmother, I don't care if she reveals my identity in public." Yu Shi felt even more sympathy for her. Both were women; if not forced by circumstances, who would want their past of begging on the streets to be brought up? She clasped Su Xiaoqi's hand, shot Su Yurou a cold glance, her eyes glinting with frost. "She won't get to reveal it. You'll say it only when you wish to. Xiaoqi is my daughter now, the one I've declared I will protect. How can I allow them to humiliate her at will?"
"Madam Gu, what, what do you mean by that?" Su Yurou, having been repeatedly rebuffed by Yu Shi, was beginning to grasp the implication. Yu Shi, without hesitation, delivered another heavy blow. "Exactly what I said. Your Su family reeks of a merchant's air, only concerned with petty matters. This is the Shen residence, and you are not permitted to be so presumptuous. Quickly put away your sordid, dirty thoughts and get out." Yu Shi's reprimand was refined yet sharp, but it didn't come across as unpleasant; rather, it made her seem unusually forthright. Su Xiaoqi felt a surge of exhilaration. She wasn't a weakling either. Leaning on Yu Shi's support, she raised her chin defiantly at Su Yurou, as if to say, "Bring it on, I'm not afraid of you." She, a young lady of noble birth, had been insulted to such an extent; how would she conduct herself in the future?
"You, you old... you, Madam Gu, you have a silver tongue indeed. Yurou has learned a great deal. I shall not disturb you further. We shall meet again." Su Yurou wished to retaliate, but recalling her carefully cultivated image of a cultured and amiable lady, she gritted her teeth, swallowed her unseemly words, pushed the tray before her, and turned to leave.
Ye Cao, who was following behind her carrying gifts, was unsure whether to return the gifts or continue carrying them. It was only when Su Yurou reached the doorway and didn't hear Ye Cao following that she looked back. Seeing her still standing there in a daze, her anger erupted. She quickly strode over, grabbed Ye Cao, and ran. Only after leaving the courtyard, passing through the noisy front yard where the banquet was being held, and getting into the carriage did she finally lose control, slapping the tray from Ye Cao's hands. The stationery items clattered to the ground. The Xuan paper landed silently, and the Hu brush bounced twice. The She inkstone and Hui ink, however, hit the ground with a heavy thud. Startled, Ye Cao jumped, and her gaze inadvertently fell upon the inkstone that had landed on her mistress's embroidered shoes. "Ah... it hurts, it hurts so much!" Su Yurou's cry of pain rang out. Enraged, she stomped on the inkstone and ink block several times. Still not appeased, she even stomped heavily on Ye Cao's feet, which were nearby. Ye Cao seemed to have anticipated this, looking down at the embroidered shoe uppers and a flicker of coldness crossing her eyes. Soon, the carriage drove onto the main road. A small figure followed behind the carriage, shouting loudly, "Miss Su, Miss Su." The carriage stopped, and Ye Cao, having regained her timid demeanor, called out to the person running after them, "My lady invites Miss Zhao to come up into the carriage to talk." Zhao Xiaohua quickly climbed in. As the carriage curtain fell, the voices of the two women could be heard chattering amidst the rhythmic pounding of the horses' hooves.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of Li Zhuang, Su Xiaoqi and her companions' atmosphere remained undisturbed by Su Yurou's arrival. In fact, Yu Shi's words had made the Zhao family view Su Xiaoqi with even greater respect. If Su Xiaoqi were merely from the Su family, it would signify wealth. But now that Madam Gu had publicly declared her intention to protect her, her status was undeniably different. After all, in the Great Liang Dynasty, scholars were held in high esteem, while merchants were looked down upon. Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants – merchants were the lowest. Although wealth could purchase many things, it could not buy the heartfelt respect of the common people. Mr. Gu, however, was different. He was a renowned scholar in the Great Liang Dynasty. When he was the Libationer at the Imperial Academy, his students were found throughout the courts of Great Liang, and he was always highly respected by scholars across the land. Furthermore, he had received numerous imperial honors and awards during his tenure as an official. Even though he had retired and returned to his hometown, his status was still respected, far more so than the merchant Su family.