"You dare curse me? You have quite the nerve."
The beautiful woman stared at Su Youqing, her voice chilling.
Beside her stood a handsome, fair-faced young man.
At this moment, he too was looking at Su Youqing.
In his eyes, there was a flicker of disgust and anger.
Su Youqing, under their combined gaze, couldn't help but pause.
"Hmph! This princess doesn't care if you are Miss Su or not! In any case, you have angered me! Today, you must come with me!"
The beautiful woman declared, reaching out to grab Su Youqing. "Guards! Seize her for me!"
Following her command, several guards immediately emerged, surrounding Su Youqing.
Seeing this, Su Youqing's mind cleared.
This beautiful woman must be Huangfu Aofeng's mother, Madam Huangfu, the same one she had seen on the street that day in the restaurant.
Madam Huangfu was a formidable figure. Her noble status and stunning beauty naturally earned her the adoration of men. As the Emperor's only wife, her position in the capital was unmatched.
Su Youqing felt a surge of annoyance.
To think that upon her return, she would immediately encounter such misfortune!
With this thought, Su Youqing began to survey her surroundings.
She noticed that this estate housed at least two to three hundred servants, all of them elite. Many were martial artists, and several were experts at the Xiantian realm or above.
Su Youqing's pupils contracted slightly.
She hadn't expected to face such a situation after being away for only a few days.
No, she had to leave here quickly.
As Su Youqing was contemplating this, a voice from outside the main hall suddenly echoed, "Madam, the person has arrived."
Su Youqing turned towards the entrance and saw a young man standing there.
The young man appeared to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, with a handsome face that bore a slight resemblance to her father.
[System: Host, this is your elder brother. Your father's name is Su Shijie, and your mother's name is Li Mengyao.]
Su Youqing:
Su Youqing looked at the man with a hint of surprise.
She hadn't expected her father to have such an elder son.
And her mother was married to Huangfu Aofeng.
How melodramatic.
"Father!"
The man bowed to Su Shijie. "Daughter pays her respects to Father."
Upon seeing Su Youqing's arrival, Su Shijie's expression became slightly displeased. He then looked up and said to the man, "You may leave for now."
"Yes."
The man bowed and withdrew.
After he left, Su Shijie walked towards Su Youqing.
"Father!"
Su Youqing bowed to Su Shijie.
"Mm."
Su Shijie responded indifferently, then instructed a maidservant behind him, "Quickly, serve Miss Su some tea."
"Yes."
The maidservant curtsied and approached Su Youqing with a tray.
"You must be Miss Su? Please, have a seat. Don't be shy."
This time, Su Shijie was extremely warm towards Su Youqing, which even surprised her.
Su Youqing was unsure of Madam Su's intentions and did not sit down immediately, choosing instead to stand and observe her quietly.
"May I ask why Madam Su has summoned me today?"
After a long moment, Su Youqing smiled and inquired.
Hearing this, Su Shijie chuckled and said, "There's no particular reason."
He then turned back to his chair and gracefully resumed sipping his tea.
Su Youqing:
"Father, I have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave."
Seeing that Su Shijie was unwilling to state his purpose, Su Youqing decided to forgo pleasantries and announced, "If there is nothing else, I shall depart."
Without waiting for Su Shijie's consent, she turned and walked towards the exit.
Su Shijie: ""
He watched Su Youqing's retreating figure, his face darkening.
Just as Su Youqing left, a charming voice drifted from behind Su Shijie.
"Father, who is this Miss Su? Why is she so arrogant and overbearing?" a young and beautiful woman asked, approaching and standing behind Su Shijie.
"Her? You all know her. She's the good-for-nothing from the Su family," Su Shijie turned to his daughter, "What's wrong?"
"Oh."
The girl nodded. "Since Father said so, I am relieved."
"Relieved?"
Su Shijie raised an eyebrow. "I instructed you to deal with that ugly disgrace from the Su family, yet you didn't. Instead, you sent her to the Prime Minister's mansion? Have you forgotten how she bullied you?"
He spoke with an air of disappointment.
The news of Su Youqing being a cripple had reached him days ago, and he had already spread the word, yet no one dared to lay a hand on that ugly thing!
"This..."
Su Lingshan glanced at Su Shijie, then at Su Youqing, "Father, the Miss Su you are referring to, is she very beautiful, with a classical beauty about her?"
As Su Lingshan spoke, she gestured with her hands.
As soon as her words fell, she saw Su Shijie shoot her a sharp glance.
Startled, Su Lingshan flinched and quickly fell silent.
Su Shijie glanced at her before shifting his gaze away.
Su Lingshan's words sparked a trace of doubt in Su Youqing's mind.
She recalled the young man from earlier.
Could it be that the man was the son of Su Shijie whom she had met at the Prime Minister's mansion previously?
Su Youqing harbored her suspicions.
"Miss Su, this is our eldest young master, Su Wenhao. You two should get acquainted?" Just then, a woman dressed in red, with a seductive appearance, emerged from behind Su Shijie.
The woman approached Su Youqing and bowed to her.
Her demeanor was as if she were addressing a princess.
"So, it's Second Concubine." Su Youqing bowed to her.
"You girl, you're becoming quite eloquent."
The woman, known as Second Concubine, revealed a pleased expression upon hearing Su Youqing's words.
She then gave Su Wenhao a subtle nod.
Su Wenhao, understanding her signal, took out a jade pendant from his sleeve and offered it to Su Youqing.
"This jade pendant is something my father left for you. Please accept it."
Su Wenhao said with a smile to Su Youqing.
Su Youqing accepted it.
It was a dark green jade pendant, with a smooth texture, appearing to be priceless. On the inner side, two lifelike flying dragons were carved.
"Thank you, Second Young Master."
Su Youqing bowed to him and then hung the jade pendant on her waist.