Chapter 8: The Evil One Accuses First

"Miss, the master is calling for you to come over," the maid reported as Zhehe was writing in the room.

"What does he want?" Zhehe put down her pen, feeling puzzled. Before she could speak, Meier, who was beside her, asked the maid.

"Nothing in particular," the maid shook her head.

Upon hearing the maid's words, Meier, though not understanding why the master wanted to see Miss for no apparent reason, felt pleased. She thought that at least in the master's heart, there was still a place for Miss.

After a while, Zhehe finally spoke. "Before the messenger arrived, did you see anyone?" She knew her father too well to believe that he would call for her without reason.

The maid remained silent for a moment before saying, "Before that, the second miss went to bring some snacks to the master."

"Got it. Tell the messenger that I will change my clothes and then go," Zhehe's lips curled into a mocking smile. It was clear that the treatment of the two daughters was completely different, despite being sisters.

A quarter of an hour later, outside the study of the Prime Minister's residence.

"Please bring the person in."

Upon hearing Su Hu's voice again, Zhehe's eyes flashed with a moment of trance.

Zhehe had a love-hate relationship with Su Hu, her father. He had given her the dignity befitting a legitimate daughter but had lacked the affection of a father.

It was like the saying in the countryside, "With a stepmother, would the stepfather still be distant?"

"Father!" Although her impression of Su Hu had become blurry, she still recognized him as her father at first glance.

"Zhehe, you have disappointed me greatly," Su Hu said without much preamble, not intending to ask any further questions.

"Father, before condemning someone, shouldn't that person be given a chance to defend themselves?"

In this lifetime, Zhehe had long given up hope for Su Hu, her father. If Su Hu was willing to give her a chance to explain, she would be secretly pleased.

Looking at the face that resembled her deceased mother, Su Hu finally spoke. "Go ahead."

"Father, since you are so angry, you must have heard something. If I am to explain, that person must also be present. Otherwise, it may not be clear. I am worried that you may have misunderstood that person's words. It would be better to confront them face to face."

In her previous life, Su Manjing had managed to marry into the residence of the loyal and brave marquis as a royal widow and eventually replaced her. Zhehe knew that her good father must have played a significant role in this.

If she wanted to deal with Su Manjing, she had to first destroy her image as a good daughter.

Upon hearing this, Su Hu nodded and had Su Manjing brought in.

As soon as Su Manjing entered, she looked defeated, tears welling up as she looked at Su Hu.

Seeing this, Su Hu showed a hint of pity.

Seeing this father's affectionate scene, Zhehe's lips curled into a mocking smile. It seemed that a crying child would always find comfort.

"Second sister, although you are a concubine-born, you are still a young lady of the Prime Minister's residence. If you continue to cry like this every day, outsiders who don't know the truth might think that we are mistreating you in the Prime Minister's residence."

Upon hearing this, Su Manjing looked even more pitifully at Su Hu, hoping that he would help silence Zhehe.

But what she got was Su Hu's firm words. "Jing'er, as your sister said, you must not cry like this in the future."

Su Hu was a person who valued his reputation greatly. Moreover, this was his study, and there were occasional officials from the court coming and going. If they were to see this, they might get the wrong idea, as Zhehe had said.

"Second sister, Father seems very angry. You came in before me. Can you tell me why Father is so angry?" Zhehe pressed on. "Of course, second sister doesn't need to worry about my reputation. If I am truly wrong, I will apologize to you. You don't need to plead for me. I believe Father will be fair."

Zhehe was putting pressure on Su Hu, and even if he wanted to help Su Manjing, he couldn't do it too openly.

Su Manjing froze at Zhehe's words, and she looked to Su Hu for help, saying, "Father, let's forget it. I've said that I won't mind. After all, everything has passed."

"Second sister, how can you say that? As your elder sister, it is my duty to take care of you. If you have suffered in any way that I don't know about, it is my fault. If you don't want to tell me where you have been wronged, how can I call myself your sister?"

Zhehe's words put Su Hu in a difficult position. He felt that Zhehe, as the legitimate daughter, had a demeanor that Su Manjing couldn't match.

"Jing'er, as your elder sister said, if there is something, just say it. Don't let it affect the relationship between sisters."

"Father, I've already said that everything has passed. I don't blame my elder sister," Su Manjing looked at Su Hu again, holding onto Su Hu's arm and said softly.

Moye's lips curled into a faint smile, but there was a coldness in her eyes as she said:

"Sister Er, if you have any grievances, just speak up. After all, I am the one at fault, not you. If you continue to speak in such a roundabout way, I will think you are lying and deliberately slandering me in front of Father."

"What nonsense are you talking about? I didn't slander you." Upon hearing Moye's words, Su Manjing immediately retorted. Her words were half true and half false, but she couldn't withstand Moye's direct confrontation.

"Sister Er keeps saying that I'm talking nonsense, then why not speak out about the grievances you've suffered?" Moye lowered her eyes slightly and looked at Su Manjing with a cold gaze. She continued, "Since Sister Er is unwilling to speak, then let me do it."

After finishing her words, Moye looked at Su Hu and asked, "Dad, may I ask a question? Is our mansion lacking silver, or is it that Sister Er lacks clothing and food?"

"Nonsense! How could our mansion lack silver! Even if there were a shortage of silver, it wouldn't affect the food and clothing of you maids." Su Hu frowned and said discontentedly. Although the Su family had risen from him, as a prime minister, his salary was enough to cover the expenses, not to mention the industries he had acquired over the years.

"That's strange then. Why does Sister Er start begging as soon as she enters my courtyard?" Moye looked puzzled and said with a bitter face.

"What on earth is going on?" Su Hu, seeing that Moye's words were becoming more and more unpleasant, hurriedly asked.