Chapter 7: Su Manjing's Careful Thoughts

Upon hearing Suo He's words, Qiuhe thought that Suo He was willing to listen to her and let go of the previous matter. She immediately spoke up:

"I don't have many other requests, but at the very least, the person should have a clean background and know their roots. Although the young lady has been in our courtyard for a while, she is not a born member of the family. She should be more mindful of this."

In her past life, she had also noticed that the young lady was clever and loyal to her, so she had suggested keeping the young lady by her side. However, Qiuhe's words had refuted her, and she never expected that Qiuhe's stance would remain unchanged in this lifetime.

Thinking about this, a cold smile appeared on Suo He's lips as she said, "I remember the young lady's family resides in the outskirts of the city. From this perspective, the young lady also knows her roots quite well, doesn't she?"

Qiuhe's loyalty to Li Min and her daughter was truly unwavering. The Prime Minister's residence could be said to have risen to prominence through her father, and the entire household had the so-called "born into the family" status.

"But, young lady!" Qiuhe seemed to want to dissuade something. She was already troubled enough by a plum blossom, and she absolutely would not allow another loyal person to appear by Suo He's side. It wasn't just her; Madam Min probably wouldn't want to see such a situation arise either.

Thinking of Li Min, Qiuhe also thought that if she failed to stop Suo He from keeping the young lady by her side, Li Min would probably reprimand her severely. So she spoke even more earnestly, "Young lady, it's not that I intend to stop you from taking the young lady as a personal maid, but the young lady really isn't suitable..."

"Insolence! Who is the master in this room?" Before Qiuhe could finish her sentence, Suo He's stern voice stopped her.

"Someone, Qiuhe is disrespectful and overstepping her bounds. Take her out and give her twenty lashes." Suo He's gaze was icy as she looked at Qiuhe. If she didn't still have some use for her, she would have dismissed her long ago. There was no need for her to prance around in front of her.

As Suo He's words fell, Qiuhe was left dumbfounded. The young lady had always doted on her, so why would she suddenly punish her?

By the time Qiuhe came to her senses, someone had already come forward to take her away. After the earlier incident, they had understood who the true master in this courtyard was.

"You can't punish me, young lady. I am loyal to you. If you truly punish me, it will surely chill people's hearts." Perhaps because she was too agitated, Qiuhe forgot to address herself as a servant and directly spoke as "I" and "me."

"Refusing to accept discipline? Add another twenty lashes." Suo He gave Qiuhe a disdainful glance and then picked up her teacup. After taking a sip, she scanned the people in the room and said, "Qingyi, from now on, you will take over the young lady's tasks."

Qiuhe was close to Li Min and the others, and Qingyi was also on good terms with Qiuhe. How could she not know about Qiuhe's affairs? Failing to report what she knew was considered complicity.

"Young lady!" Qingyi immediately knelt in front of Suo He, wanting to explain herself, but after receiving Suo He's icy gaze, she swallowed her words and said, "Yes, young lady, I will comply."

She did indeed know about Qiuhe and Madam Min's attempts to control the young lady, and she had even been caught by Qiuhe once. Qiuhe had given her a hairpin, and the matter had been dropped. But how did the young lady find out about this?

Thinking about this, she felt hopeless, knowing that she no longer had a chance to turn the situation around. She silently accepted the fact that she had become a mere servant.

"Rules must not be disregarded. From now on, anyone who takes advantage of our household will receive twenty lashes and be sold off after punishment." Suo He stood in the room, completely ignoring Qiuhe's cries of pain.

Seeing the servants trembling in fear, Suo He's pent-up frustration eased a bit. She had been too indulgent with these servants in the past, which had led them to not take her seriously.

After re-entering the room, Suo He turned to the young lady who had been following her and said, "Go inform the steward and change your attire."

"Yes, young lady," the young lady acknowledged and left.

Li Min had always thought that Su Manjing would be fine in Suo He's courtyard with Qiuhe's support. Therefore, she was quite surprised to see Su Manjing return with a disgruntled expression.

"I told you to go see Suo He, why did you come back so early?" In Li Min's view, Su Manjing should have stayed at Suo He's place until dinnertime.

Su Manjing, however, had a stern expression as she said, "Mother, please don't ask me to go to that despicable woman's place again. I can't stand her attitude. She was acting crazy today for no reason. I was being so humble, but she was still putting on airs and relentlessly pursuing me. I just happened to like her Emei snow sprouts, and she scolded me for being shameless!

Mother, you have to stand up for me. I've never suffered such humiliation from anyone before. It's clearly her own pettiness, yet she's blaming me. Mother, you must help me get back at Suo He and let her know how it feels."

Even though she needed Suo He's support to become the legitimate daughter, she didn't want to be oppressed by Suo He.

As Su Manjing thought about this, she felt a surge of anger. Over the years, her grandfather, the current Grand Tutor, had often mentioned the idea of helping her mother's family rise in status. The despicable Yu family, however, refused to budge. Otherwise, she wouldn't have to lower herself to please that wretched Su Gehu.

"What... what do you want me to say about you?"

Even though Su Manjing didn't reveal all the details, Li Min probably understood that this time, Su Manjing not only failed to improve her relationship with Su Gehu, but also likely ruined all her efforts over the past few years.

"Mother, do you think I'm willing? You didn't see how arrogant that wretch was acting."

"Jing'er, Mother knows you've been wronged, but who asked us to rely on her for something?" After all, she was her own biological daughter. If she suffered, it was only natural for her mother to feel distressed.

"But that doesn't mean I have to endure this silently," Su Manjing said discontentedly.

"What can you do? The Yu family spoils her. If you want to be the legitimate daughter, you have to keep her happy. Only when she's happy will the Yu family relent. After I become the mistress of the Prime Minister's mansion, you can do whatever you want, but for now, no matter what happens, you have to endure it for me."

"Yes, Mother!" Su Manjing pouted and absentmindedly sipped her tea. The taste wasn't as enjoyable as she had expected. It seemed that luxury made things more comfortable.

She couldn't stand Su Gehu's haughty attitude. She was determined to make that wretched Su Gehu taste the same bitterness. If her mother wasn't willing to help, she still had her father.

If Li Min knew that her earnest advice hadn't been heeded and had instead given rise to other thoughts in Su Manjing's mind, she would probably be infuriated to the point of spitting blood.