Chapter 283: Chapter 255: Prosper Together, Suffer Together (3rd Update)
Hao Yun returned to his own courtyard and saw Su Yu sitting under the eaves, half-squinting and cooling herself, with two maidservants fanning her on either side.
Hao Yun was not surprised at all.
Due to being the ringleader who exposed the coal mine case, Su Yu had been cooped up in the courtyard without going out these days.
The little maid saw the master approaching and hurriedly moved to kneel and pay regards. Hao Yun stopped her with a gesture of silence, took the fan from one of the maids, sent them away, and gently fanned Su Yu twice, then curled his lips and asked her, "Madam, how do you find your husbandâs strength?"
Hearing the manâs voice, a visible trace of disgust flashed across Su Yuâs face. She did not open her eyes and replied coldly, "Unprovoked attentiveness. What do you want this time?"
"The Prime Minister already knows that Little Fourâs beloved is Miss Song Wen."
While Hao Yun spoke, his hand, fanning Su Yu, did not stop, moving in a leisurely sway.
Having been the Su familyâs live-in son-in-law for so long, he had long since honed his patience.
No matter who he was dealing with, Hao Yun was accustomed to concealing all emotions with a smile.
Hearing him mention this suddenly, a bit of panic quickly surged in Su Yuâs heart, but she didnât want to show it in front of this scoundrel.
"What does that have to do with me?" She sat up straight and pushed him away with distaste.
Even if it was just fanning, she did not wish for him to have the slightest contact with her.
Hao Yun placed the fan aside and did not get angry, "I was just informing you. Whether it has anything to do with you or not, doesnât it all depend on you?"
This indifferent-to-everything attitude succeeded in angering Su Yu. "Hao Yun, donât act like youâre above it all. If Iâm severely punished by the Prime Minister for this matter, Iâm going to say you instigated me for personal vengeance against Song Wei. Do you think you can escape the blame?"
Hao Yun blandly picked up the conversation, "I never said I wanted to stay out of it."
In Su Yuâs astonished gaze, he continued, "I know you hate me, but donât forget, we are husband and wife. Even if you donât want to see me, youâll still have to spend the decades ahead with me. You canât possibly spend that time and energy bickering with me every day, can you?"
Su Yu said nothing.
Hao Yun cast his gaze on her cold face, "When the scandal breaks, you know to drag me down with you. In your daily life, why donât you think of me as your husband?"
"Husband?" Su Yu finally couldnât stand it, "You despicable opportunist, dare claim such a title?"
Hearing this, Hao Yunâs smile faded, veins bulging on his forehead, but he ultimately didnât lash out, "Canât you be normal even once when you talk to me?"
Su Yu sneered, "Are you sure you can understand human language, you beast?"
Hao Yun heard this, clenching his fist tightly. Just when Su Yu thought he was going to lose his temper, he suddenly laughed, "As long as youâre willing to be a beastâs wife, I have no particular concern."
"Shameless!" Su Yu suddenly stood up, her palm raised, only to have it caught by Hao Yunâs hand. A warning filled his eyes, "As I said, we are a couple; our wins and losses are tied. If you think your little illegitimate daughter status can overturn the heavens, then strike. Afterward, outwardly weâll be a couple, but inwardly, I wonât care about your life or death."
His hand released, he stood there without moving, as if waiting for her to really strike.
Su Yuâs hand froze in mid-air, her gaze toward Hao Yun burning with anger, "You think threats can absolve your previous despicable acts?"
Hao Yun didnât care, "If you want to hold onto that messy business from that day for the rest of your life, go ahead. Excuse me, for I wonât join you."
With these words, he turned to leave.
Su Yu did not stop him; after the man left, she kicked over the chair behind her.
Proud as she was, she had fallen so low as to be threatened by a beast.
These days, she often visited her birth mother, Aunt Qiu, and more frequently suggested packing up and leaving. She didnât want to stay in that freedomless place for another moment.
However, whenever the topic of leaving arose, Aunt Qiu remained firm in her stance, resolutely refusing to go.
Su Yu couldnât understand it and asked why her mother had willingly come to suffer in the first place. Aunt Qiu simply replied to Su Yu that she was a child of the Su family and would eventually need to acknowledge her roots, even if not now, then in the future.
Still, Su Yu couldnât understand. If she hadnât come to the Su family, she could still live carefree like before. The two of them could run a small business; though not as well-off as now, they wouldnât have to worry about much, and she would still subconsciously think she was just a fatherless child. Now, instead, recognizing a father had turned her into an illegitimate daughter with no status or favor, trapped in this large estate unable to leave.
In the eyes of ordinary people, she was a well-dressed and well-fed Prime Ministerâs daughter, but in reality, only she knew how her life truly was.
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When Song Yuanbao finished school, Wen Wan had been waiting in the carriage for a long time. He lifted the curtain and entered, sitting beside Wen Wan, feeling guilty about what he had said to Su Yaoqi earlier that day.
Wen Wan noticed something unusual and asked him what was wrong.
Song Yuanbao didnât answer directly, looking at Wen Wan, "Mother, do you know that person from earlier today?"
Wen Wan realized who he was talking about and nodded, "Weâve met once."
"Just once?" If it was only once, why did that person seem so distraught upon learning the "truth"?
Moreover, it seemed like he had admired Wen Wan for a long time.
Wen Wan raised an eyebrow, "What, you donât believe me?"
Song Yuanbao didnât quite believe it, but he felt Wen Wan wouldnât lie.
After thinking, he decided to speak the truth, "I told him you are my aunt."
Wen Wan merely smiled, evidently seeing nothing wrong.
In her ladyâs attire, if Song Yuanbao addressed her as "mother" in front of outsiders, that would be truly startling.
"I also told him you are particularly extravagant." As Song Yuanbao said this, he subtly lifted his eyes to watch Wen Wanâs reaction, and seeing she didnât get mad, he continued, "And I told him not to disturb you if he couldnât make decisions for himself. As a result, he seemed unable to accept it and was really frustrated at the time.
Later, I inquired, and a classmate said he had already taken leave to go back. I was just thinking, maybe my words hit him hard."
"Could it be?" Wen Wan said, "Iâm not familiar with him; I just know his identity one-sidedly. He only met me once; thereâs no way heâd do something for me."
Song Yuanbao feared she wouldnât believe and recounted verbatim the words Su Yaoqi had spoken.
After listening, Wen Wan fell silent.
She couldnât help but recall when she first entered school, not long in, Uncle Lin mentioned there was often a young man across from Hongwen Academy looking in this direction, as if observing her.
At that time, because she didnât sense any ill-intent, she hadnât thought much of it. Now pondering over it, she could guess who the person was.
But what puzzled her was what exactly had caught Su Yaoqiâs eye about her, and at what point did she catch his attention, causing him to become this infatuated?
"Anyway, no matter what happens, heâs bound not to dare look at you again, Mother," Song Yuanbao said.
There had been too long a gap since they last met, and today, speaking from behind the curtain without seeing him visibly, Wen Wan had almost forgotten what that young man looked like, only vaguely feeling he was overly innocent.
However, she didnât want to waste time on unimportant people, turned to Song Yuanbao, "Today was your first day at school, how was it?"
"Everything went smoothly," Song Yuanbao replied, "The Imperial College isnât quite what I imagined."
Wen Wan, intrigued, asked him, "What did you imagine it would be, and how was reality different?"
"In my imagination, the Imperial College should be a sacred and solemn institution, with scholars being extremely solemn, yet in reality, the scholars were all quite amiable, and the classmates I met were also pleasant."
"So, you are satisfied with the Imperial College?"
"Itâs the countryâs top academic institution, a place students dream of entering. Having waited more than half a year for the opportunity to enter, Iâm certainly satisfied!" His tone conveyed his love for the new environment.
Wen Wan smiled along with him, "Since you are satisfied, henceforth focus on your studies inside and strive to achieve success as your father did."
Having previously learned from the lessons of arrogance, Song Yuanbao dared not boast and nodded repeatedly, indicating his commitment to doing his best.
The carriage was only halfway when Wen Wan suddenly felt a bad premonition and immediately instructed Uncle Lin to stop.