Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 58 - 57: The Old Emperor’s Only Remaining Bloodline
Old Master Su was startled, even wondering if he had misheard. His first wife, Li Ruohua, was merely an orphan. How could she be connected to the Empress?
He composed himself, forced a laugh, and said, "When I met your birth mother, she was running a cloth shop, doing some fabric business. She preferred to work alone and didn’t have many friends."
"Later, I found out she was an orphan, with unknown parents. As a child, she survived by begging, then worked as a helper in a fabric shop. After saving a little money, she started her own business."
"We became close in our youth, developed feelings, and then got married."
What Old Master Su didn’t say was that back then, he admired Li Ruohua. However, she was already engaged, and her fiancé, his friend, offended a nobleman in business and was wrongfully killed, embroiling her in a lawsuit.
He helped avenge his friend and, taking advantage of the situation, asked her to repay him, which led to their marriage.
Recalling his first wife, Old Master Su looked somewhat wistful. He had never seen such a woman, different from anyone else, exceptionally strong-willed... Yet it was precisely because she was overly strong-willed that, in the end, no affection remained between them as husband and wife.
Su Juan gazed at him with suspicion. [This old man’s words seem half-true, concealing something.]
Old Master Su felt guilty because before their wedding, he promised Li Ruohua he would never take a concubine, yet a year after their marriage, when she was pregnant, he took in Lingling’s mother. Only then did their relationship begin to sour.
At that time, she was pregnant and wanted a divorce, but how could he agree? After Su Juan was born, she wanted to leave the Su Mansion to manage her business outside, but he prevented it. He didn’t think too much then, only considering that since she was now the lady of the Su Mansion, she should manage the household affairs instead of showing her face outside.
But he didn’t expect that after giving birth to a daughter, Li Ruohua would develop heartache and pass away in melancholy.
Every time he saw this daughter, he would think of Li Ruohua, causing a turmoil in his heart, which led him to send her to the country estate to be raised.
Old Master Su knew that Li Ruohua’s daughter never regarded him as a father, and he couldn’t tell Su Juan these things in his life, or else even the slight remaining bond might collapse.
Su Juan was merely here to inquire about her origins, uninterested in Old Master Su’s past betrayals and love affairs. They were just tales of love and hate that went around and around.
She took out a jade pendant, placed it in front of Old Master Su, and asked, "Do you know where this jade pendant comes from?"
Old Master Su nodded. He had seen this jade pendant with Li Ruohua a couple of times before. "It’s your mother’s. She said it has been with her since childhood..."
As the words fell, his eyes flickered. Could this jade pendant that Li Ruohua had carried be connected to the current Empress?
Before he could take a closer look, Su Juan had already put the jade pendant away.
However, Old Master Su had discerned its design, having done ample business in jade. Remembering a pattern wasn’t difficult, especially since this was only half of the pendant.
Su Juan likely guessed some answers, resolving some doubts in her heart, but after Old Master Su pressed further, she remained silent.
Upon leaving the study, Su Juan walked to the front yard, ready to leave.
The Empress once had a daughter who got lost in her childhood. Only the older generation in the capital knew of this because she was never found, and now no one mentioned it anymore.
That lost daughter might be her birth mother, Li Ruohua.
Su Juan knew Old Master Su too well. The current Emperor struggled with not having an heir. If he found out that his late wife was the Emperor’s lost daughter, and that the daughter was the Old Emperor’s only remaining bloodline, equivalent to a closer tie to the Royal Family, the benefits he would seek would likely make the news public.
Although doing so could conveniently end her marriage with Song Qianfan, the current political situation was chaotic, with ongoing factional battles. If Prince Han or Song Qianfan found out that the Old Emperor had a living descendant, even if a woman, they would swiftly move to eradicate any possible threats.
At this moment, the jade pendant was like a hot potato.
Su Juan darkened her gaze. This jade pendant must be kept hidden.
While Su Juan was pondering this, she ran into Su Lingling head-on.
Su Lingling appeared awkward and, after a moment, uttered, "Sister, thank you for today."
Su Juan raised an eyebrow. [It’s rare for someone like Su Lingling to apologize.]
Su Lingling became somewhat embarrassed.
Su Juan knew that she only thanked her because of the marriage, but she hadn’t done much, merely spoke the truth. "Nothing to thank me for."
Though Su Lingling was foolish, always coveting others’ things, she had never done anything harmful.
Su Juan didn’t like her but knew well enough not to send her into a fire pit when she was to marry a known brute who beat several household servants and concubines to death. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
As a fellow woman, she gave a word of caution. Should the Su Family not listen, Su Lingling could be beaten to death after marriage, something she couldn’t prevent.
Su Lingling, however, had realized that her marriage was thanks to Su Juan. She wasn’t foolish enough to continue opposing her.
Just as her mother had said, maintaining a good relationship with Su Juan would mean a better life ahead.
She took a deep breath and, with sincerity, said to Su Juan, "Elder sister, everything before was due to my young age and lack of understanding, always fearing you’d return to take things from me... it was my fault. I won’t act this way anymore. We’re sisters, and I won’t be willful anymore. Please don’t hold a grudge against me."
Su Juan’s demeanor remained indifferent. "Let’s not talk about sisterhood. I’ve lost my mother young and was never favored by my father. I fear I’m a jinxed star, destined to lack familial bonds. It’s better for Miss Su the Second to keep her distance, lest my misfortune afflicts her."
Su Lingling’s face turned pale, jinxed star...
[Ha, this scared her. Truly someone with schemes but no guts.]
Su Juan chuckled, shook her head, walked past Su Lingling, and left the Su Mansion.
Looking at each other only breeds weariness. She had no interest in acting out a sisterly affection drama.
Su Lingling bit her lip tightly, feeling belittled by Su Juan, stamping her foot in frustration, yet unclear on what to do next.
...
After Su Juan left, Old Master Su sketched the jade pendant and gave the drawing to his confidant to investigate for any clues.
After leaving the Su Mansion, Su Juan returned to the Prince Jing Mansion. People in the mansion looked at her strangely, and even Princess Jing, who hadn’t been treating her well recently, was suddenly attentive, showing concern with a few questions.
Dongdong tried to speak several times but was silenced by Princess Jing’s glare.
Su Juan felt suspicious and decided to ask Dongdong more after changing her clothes, but on the way back to her courtyard, she encountered a preoccupied Song Qianhang.
"Sister-in-law, Liang Yin is pregnant."
He observed Su Juan’s reaction as he spoke.
Hearing this, Su Juan turned to look at Dongdong and, seeing Dongdong’s expression, understood why everyone in the mansion had been acting so oddly today.
Only then did Dongdong whisper, "Master, this servant wanted to tell you earlier. Liang Yin has been pregnant for several months. The Prince only found out today and scolded the Princely Heir for a long time. The Princess Consort ordered us not to tell you and to temporarily keep it from the rest of the mansion."
Su Juan smiled, unsurprised by this, and waved her hand, saying, "It’s all right."
[Finally, this matter is being addressed!]
[So much time has passed, I almost forgot about Liang Yin. Looks like there’s another good show to watch—it’s worth the wait!]
Song Qianhang was slightly taken aback: "?"
