Old Madam Su said, "Jue'er is not old, but he is already a fourth-grade alchemist, and you are only a second-grade alchemist. Do you think there is any comparison between the two of you?"
Su Lingshan bit her lip and said nothing.
"Do you think I am very biased?" Old Madam Su asked.
Su Lingshan quickly shook her head, "No, you treat me very well. How could I think that!"
"But I don't think you and Jue'er are suitable at all!"
"I... I..."
Su Lingshan lowered her head, saying nothing.
In her heart, she felt an urge to cry.
"If you were truly our daughter, and if you were willing to marry Jue'er, then everything would be for the best."
Old Madam Su looked at Su Lingshan and sighed, "But you are not."
"Lingshan, Grandmother will not hide it from you. Although Jue'er has extraordinary talent, his disposition is not good. I discovered this long ago."
"..."
Su Lingshan remained silent.
"So, you should still go with Grandmother. Grandmother will find a way to help you recover your memory and then make you Jue'er's concubine."
"Grandmother, I..."
Su Lingshan looked up, tears welling in her eyes.
Seeing this, Old Madam Su sighed and said, "Fine. Since you cannot understand, then I will not force you."
"Grandmother." Su Lingshan threw herself into Old Madam Su's arms and began to cry loudly.
Old Madam Su gently patted her back, "Good child, don't cry. In the future, I will find you a man more outstanding than Jue'er to take good care of you."
"No... Grandmother, please don't send me away. I... I..." Su Lingshan cried.
"Silly girl, stop crying. Your crying makes my heart ache. Please stop crying."
Old Madam Su said with heartache.
For years, Old Madam Su had wanted a great-grandchild, but...
But...
Her health was not good!
"Grandmother, please let me stay and keep you company. I don't want to marry Brother Jue..." Su Lingshan said, sobbing.
Old Madam Su sighed helplessly and said, "I will try my best to make Jue'er not mention this matter again."
Hearing this, Su Lingshan finally stopped crying.
After Old Madam Su sent her away, she sat on a chair, closed her eyes, and inwardly resented Su Shijie, the shame of the Su family!
"Old Madam Su, you should give the antidote to Young Marquis first," said a maid beside her.
Old Madam Su opened her eyes, "There's no rush. I'll give it to him after Jue'er marries Su Lingshan."
"Su Lingshan is a good-for-nothing. If Young Marquis marries her, won't it ruin his future?"
"What do you know? Jue'er is the future Crown Prince. The position of Crown Princess will be his sooner or later. Our Su family only needs to rely on His Highness the Crown Prince."
The maid said nothing.
As the night deepened, darkness fell.
A carriage slowly drove towards the Huangfu residence and stopped in front of its gates.
The carriage door was opened, and a guard in a green robe alighted. He walked to the front of the carriage, placed a pill into a box inside the carriage, then lifted the carriage curtain and said respectfully, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, please alight, Your Highness the Crown Princess."
Inside the carriage, Su Lingshan slowly extended a fair, slender leg and stepped out.
"Your Highness the Crown Princess, please," the guard bowed again.
"Mm."
Su Lingshan responded and walked with small steps to the guard's side, wrapping her arms around his lean waist.
The guard was slightly stunned, then reached out to steady Su Lingshan's shoulders.
"Let's go," Su Lingshan said, her voice sweet and a little coquettish.
"Your Highness the Crown Princess, please."
They walked forward together. Many passersby cast surprised glances at them. Su Lingshan's appearance was beautiful, and her noble and elegant aura was particularly striking.
"Is that the Crown Princess?"
"I heard she looks like a fairy."
"Who do you say looks like a fairy?"
"Uh... I mean, her beauty is comparable to a fairy's."
"Haha, that's hilarious!"
A group of people chattered, but Su Lingshan seemed oblivious. Linking arms with the guard, she walked towards Huangfu Jue's courtyard.
"Brother Jue." As soon as Su Lingshan entered, she saw Huangfu Jue lying on the bed, his face as pale as paper. She exclaimed in alarm, "Brother Jue, what happened to you?"
Hearing Su Lingshan's voice, Huangfu Jue opened his eyes.
He stared at Su Lingshan, his dark, ink-like phoenix eyes carrying a hint of coldness.
"Brother Jue, you... what's wrong?" Seeing the murderous intent in Huangfu Jue's eyes, Su Lingshan instinctively took a few steps back in fear.
"You vicious woman!"
Just then, an angry shout came from the side.
Su Lingshan turned around and saw Su Shijie standing beside her, glaring at her with eyes full of resentment.
"Father, what... what's wrong?" Su Lingshan was terrified, her voice trembling.
"Hmph! You dare ask me what's wrong? Su Lingshan, I was truly blind to have raised you for so many years, and you wanted to kill Jue'er?" Su Shijie roared angrily.
"I... Father..." Su Lingshan's face turned deathly pale, "I truly didn't want to kill him. It was... it was Brother Jue who wanted to harm me."
Su Shijie was furious and said, "He wanted to harm you? Su Lingshan, you are truly audacious! Everyone in the capital knows Jue'er's feelings for you. How dare you frame him?"
Su Lingshan's heart pounded. She looked at Huangfu Jue and found that he had already closed his eyes, clearly unwilling to pay them any more attention.
"Brother Jue, I'm not framing him! Truly not!" Su Lingshan shouted.
Su Shijie sneered, "You are not? You say Jue'er wanted to kill you? Do you think I'm a senile old man who can't see?"
Su Shijie was so angry that his chest heaved violently. Su Lingshan noticed that the veins on his forehead were bulging, clearly indicating his rising temper.
Su Lingshan couldn't help but regret speaking so carelessly just now.
"Father..."
Su Lingshan opened her mouth, about to refute, when Su Shijie suddenly raised his foot and kicked her.
Caught off guard, Su Lingshan fell to the ground.
"You... what are you doing!" Su Lingshan's eyes widened as she shouted angrily.
"Slap—!"
The crisp sound of a slap echoed in the room.
Su Shijie berated, "You unfilial wretch! How dare you slander Jue'er? I will teach you a lesson today!"
He finished speaking and raised his hand again, preparing to strike Su Lingshan.
Just then, a white figure flashed out of the room and stood in front of Su Lingshan.
"Father, you cannot harm my sister!"
Su Lingshan stood in front of Su Lingshan, shielding her protectively.
"Lingshan!" Su Shijie roared angrily.
"Father..." Su Lingshan looked at Su Shijie with a pleading gaze.
"Get out!" Su Shijie roared.
"I won't let you hurt my sister! Father, you are my only family. If even you abandon me, what is the meaning of my life!" Su Lingshan said, tears glistening in her clear, bright eyes.
"You..."
Looking at the tears in Su Lingshan's eyes, Su Shijie paused, then hardened his heart.
"Su Lingshan, from today onwards, don't call me Father. I don't have an unfilial daughter like you."
"I don't believe it! Father, you love me!" Su Lingshan said, throwing herself into Su Shijie's arms and sobbing uncontrollably.
"Father, please forgive your daughter..."
"Wuwu... Father, please..."
Su Lingshan sobbed, her face streaked with tears, as she lay on Su Shijie's chest.
"I... I don't blame you anymore..." Su Shijie sighed.
"Wuwu... Father, thank you!" Su Lingshan's sobs turned into a tearful smile.
"Get out of the way!" Su Shijie pushed Su Lingshan away and shouted angrily.
"Father, don't be angry with me. It's my fault. From now on, I will absolutely not do such a foolish thing again," Su Lingshan said softly.
"Alright, you must be tired too. Go back to your room and rest early," Su Shijie sighed.
"En."
Su Lingshan left.