Chapter 359 - 327: That Miss Song Who Resembles Fanghua

Chapter 359: Chapter 327: That Miss Song Who Resembles Fanghua

When Third Aunt was taken away, she screamed for justice, her eyes red.

Duke Su did not give her any opportunity to defend or explain, directly ordering someone to gag her mouth.

Su Yaoqi was the son he had painstakingly nurtured for eighteen years. Anything involving Little Four, not to mention a mere concubine, even if his own parents came, they’d have to stand aside.

——

The matter of people from the Duke Mansion rushing to the Imperial Hospital overnight to request Dean Wang quickly reached Empress Su’s ears. She asked the spy, "Who in the Su Family had an accident?"

The spy replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, there was a fire at the main hall of the Su Family, and Fourth Young Master was burned."

"What?" Empress Su’s face turned very gloomy.

She had long lost the naive ignorance of her early days in the palace. For some things, she didn’t even need to investigate to guess eight or nine parts out of ten.

The last time she suggested Little Four become the companion to the Eldest Prince, within half a month, Little Four fell from horseback, sustaining serious injuries that kept him bedridden for months without recovery.

This time, she had just set the stage to eliminate the Second Prince and Song Wei in one strike, but her plan was foiled prematurely. Shortly after, something happened in the Su Family, and the most innocent Little Four was injured once again.

Tonight’s incident in the Su Family wasn’t an accidental fire, it was someone using this to warn her; if there’s a next time, they’ll take Little Four’s life directly.

Thinking of this, Empress Su closed her eyes, a surge of guilt for that innocent nephew overwhelmed her heart.

——

Hao Yun and his wife came out from the main hall, not rushing back to their room, but heading to Aunt Qiu’s Wutong Garden.

Both were completely shocked by Aunt Qiu’s performance that night.

When the door was knocked on, Aunt Qiu spoke to them through the door panel, saying it was too late, she had already gone to sleep, and suggested the young couple return first and talk another day.

Su Yu glanced at Hao Yun, "Since my mother has gone to rest, how about we go back first?"

Hao Yun said nothing and turned with Su Yu, his mind replaying the night’s events over and over.

First, there was the unexpected fire in the main hall, then Aunt Qiu approached them, suggesting the young couple might have caused trouble, and the three of them sat down to devise a plan.

Afterward, Su Yu personally escorted Aunt Qiu out. Upon returning, he shared his strategy intending to drag Third Aunt into the mess.

An original plan to exploit the chaos in the Su Family ended up being completely negated by Aunt Qiu.

Then it turned into Aunt Qiu leading, with the young couple following her plan.

Everything, whether it was the words Aunt Qiu had him say in front of the Duke, the sudden silencing of the servants, or the coincidental appearance of the plum blossom hairpin in the bushes, was too perfect, seamless to the point that if he didn’t know the fire was his own mistake, Hao Yun almost believed it was truly Third Aunt’s revenge against Su Yaoqi.

"Su Yu." Hao Yun suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"What’s the matter?" Su Yu turned back, looking at him puzzled.

"Don’t you think something’s off with your mother-in-law?" Hao Yun voiced his suspicion.

Su Yu frowned instantly, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Hao Yun said, "In such a huge frame-up tonight, she led us through it effortlessly. Don’t you find it strange how Aunt Qiu, usually so weak and indecisive, crying at every turn, could have such capability?"

"So what? My mother toughened up, knowing we caused trouble, and acted quickly to bail us out, didn’t she?"

"But do you believe your mother could have the nerve to kill?"

Hao Yun thought she was probably not suspicious of Aunt Qiu, but just unwilling to face reality.

Sure enough, after listening, Su Yu curled her lip, "It’s not like she hasn’t killed before."

Before coming to the Su Family, a thug tried to violate her. Her mother fiercely picked up a rock and, biting her teeth, smashed it down on the back of the man’s head.

Su Yu still remembered the bright red blood flowing from that scoundrel’s skull when he fell to the ground.

At the time, she didn’t think of anything like murder charges, only feeling satisfied.

Her mother said they killed someone, and without a patron, when the government investigates and finds out, they’d be imprisoned and sentenced.

So, the mother and daughter came to the Su Family to acknowledge kin.

...

"Didn’t you notice just now when we went to Wutong Garden that my mother was trembling when she spoke?" Su Yu tried to convince Hao Yun, "Whenever she kills, she scares herself into hiding, not even daring to see me, her own daughter."

Hao Yun gave Su Yu a meaningful look and finally relented, "I hope she really did it for our sake." Rather than what he suspected, that everything tonight was orchestrated by Aunt Qiu, including the fire in the main hall.

If that’s true, then this woman is truly terrifying.

Su Yu recognized the implication in his words and immediately furrowed her brows, "Are you suspecting my mother?"

"No, don’t overthink it." Hao Yun’s voice was very calm.

Su Yu clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, "The reason the main courtyard caught fire tonight is all because of your mistake. My mother is your savior. It’s one thing if you’re not grateful, but you actually dare to suspect her. Hao Yun, believe it or not, I’ll go tell the Duke right now, mmm..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a man’s hand covered her mouth.

Hao Yun’s face darkened, his eyes beneath the moonlight cold and sharp as he stared at her, "We’re in the same boat now. If you’re not afraid of dying, go ahead and spill the beans. Anyway, if I’m not happy, don’t expect a good outcome for yourself either."

Su Yu couldn’t speak, she could only glare at him.

Hao Yun moved his hand away, afraid she might go crazy, and added, "Don’t forget, you were the one who asked me to make the lantern."

Su Yu was choked with anger.

In the next moment, her hand was enveloped by the man’s palm. Su Yu was momentarily stunned and turned back to see him looking "deeply affectionate," "Husband and wife are like birds in the same forest. Even if a great disaster strikes, we should fly away together, don’t you think so, my dear?"

Su Yu inexplicably felt a fear towards him, withdrew her hand, stepped back half a pace, and lowered her eyelashes, "Anyway, as long as you don’t suspect my mother, everything else can be discussed."

——

When Dean Wang arrived, Su Yaoqi refused to let anyone in to treat him. He lay on the bed unable to move, yet his attitude was firm, telling everyone in the room to get out.

He didn’t want more people to see him in such a state.

The Duchess was frightened by his behavior, trying to persuade him repeatedly, but Su Yaoqi wouldn’t listen and kept throwing tantrums.

In the end, there was no choice but for Duke Su to call the Duchess out and have someone blow some confusing smoke into the room. Only after their son was unconscious did they let Dean Wang in to examine him.

After examining him, Dean Wang said it was treatable, and there was hope for recovery, but Su Yaoqi must cooperate obediently; otherwise, there’s a high chance of scarring.

After all, the Imperial Hospital gathers the world’s most talented physicians, and a mere burn isn’t considered highly difficult compared to other complex illnesses.

Duke Su was relieved and asked how long it would take to heal.

Dean Wang said, "The treatment will take some time, so it’s best for the Duke to communicate with the Fourth Young Master in advance. Emotions are very important during the treatment."

...

When Su Yaoqi woke up again, Duke Su sent everyone out and stayed to talk with his son.

Su Yaoqi wouldn’t listen. He had been shattered mentally by this unexpected event, and no one could make any difference.

The Duke pondered for a moment and told him directly, "If you don’t cooperate with the treatment, your face won’t be able to recover. Without recovery, how will you have the courage to speak to that young lady surnamed Wen in the future?"

"..." Su Yaoqi compromised.

——

Aunt Qiu successfully stirred up turmoil in the Su Family, and after completing her mission, sent a secret note back to the palace.

Shou’an Palace.

After the Empress Dowager finished reading the secret note and burned it, Nanny Qiu reported that the Empress had come to pay respects.

"Let her in!" The Empress Dowager masked any excess emotions on her face and sat poised and dignified.

Empress Su stepped lightly into the grand hall and curtsied graciously.

The Empress Dowager granted her a seat, her gaze sweeping over her face, "It’s been only a few days since we last met, and the Empress seems to have lost some color. Could it be that you were truly frightened by that floating corpse in the lotus pond the other day?"

Empress Su sighed, "That palace maid once served in Xianfu Palace. She was accidentally kicked by the master and hit a pillar, leading to her unfortunate death and later being hidden in the lotus pond. Rather than saying I was scared, I feel more pity. After all, it was a living life that ended so miserably, and even in death, she found no peace. It’s truly pitiful."

The Empress Dowager’s smile deepened, "Finding no peace in death, hasn’t the Empress considered it might be due to her many sins in life?"

These words, veiled with insinuation, were not lost on Empress Su, whose face momentarily stiffened.

After a long pause, she regained her smile, "It’s a pity, though, that you weren’t present at the Second Prince’s full-month banquet. Otherwise, you would have certainly seen Miss Song, resembling Fanghua."

She was Fanghua’s biological daughter, so how could she not resemble her?

The Empress Dowager didn’t attend that day for fear that seeing her would remind her of Fanghua and lead to an emotional outburst that might be noticed, hence she deliberately skipped the banquet.

Now that Empress Su brought it up, even if the Empress Dowager appeared calm, there was a slight disturbance in her heart.

"Oh? Miss Song?"

"She is the daughter of the Song Hanlin family, recently favored by the Emperor," Empress Su explained. "I wasn’t the only one who saw her at the banquet. Afterward, I also heard palace attendants remarking how much she resembled Fanghua!"

The Empress Dowager smiled slightly, "What a coincidence. I’ve also heard that someone, on a certain night by the floating corpse lotus pond, saw a person who looked very much like the Empress. It’s a strange world, indeed. Living to my age, I’ve finally witnessed it all."