Chapter 13: Who Killed Mother

In front of Madam Zhang, Shangguan Qiuyue dared not act recklessly. After all, she was the trusted aide of the old lady, who held the most prestigious position in the mansion. Not only did her mother have to show her respect, but her father was also extremely filial to her.

The old lady's family had officials serving in the imperial court, and she herself was always a noble lady. Although she held a prestigious position as a grandmother now, she rarely interfered in the affairs of the inner courtyard.

Now that she personally wanted to see Shangguan Liuyue, it must be to bring her to justice.

Thinking of this, a smug smile crept onto Shangguan Qiuyue's lips. "Just you wait, Shangguan Liuyue. You will soon have a taste of your own medicine."

Liuyue felt no fear of the impending storm. She disregarded a glance from Shangguan Qiuyue, and politely gestured to Madam Zhang, "Please lead the way."

Liuyue's voice was gentle and steady, carrying an unwavering dignity, causing Madam Zhang to raise her eyebrows in surprise. This young lady had truly changed, just as Second Miss had said.

But it was a change for the better. Madam Zhang rather liked this lady, who carried herself with dignity and respect.

Previously, the young lady had been very weak, but now she was not as arrogant and conceited as Fifth Miss. She showed great respect for Madam Zhang, and although Madam Zhang was a close aide to the old lady, she would not dare to compare herself with the legitimate daughters. She was, after all, just a servant.

But now, the young lady treated her with such respect that a warm feeling washed over Madam Zhang, and she started to see the young lady in a new light.

In fact, Liuyue felt that Madam Zhang's appearance was timely. She knew that Shangguan Qiuyue was skilled in poisons and antidotes, and Shangguan Di was also formidable in martial arts. If she were to continue fighting against them, she would surely suffer.

Even if someone were secretly assisting her, she dared not confront them head-on again. After all, while that person might protect her for a while, they couldn't protect her forever.

So, in the face of formidable enemies, she had to endure for now and not mind the small losses. She was certain that she would reclaim everything one day.

If they hadn't been so unbearably cruel, or insulted her mother, she wouldn't have laid a hand on Shangguan Di. There's a limit to patience, and as a daughter, she naturally had to uphold her mother's dignity. Faced with such insults, she believed no one could tolerate it.

Her mother had committed suicide by jumping into a well when she was eight years old. At that time, Su Yingshui was still her aunt, not the stepmother.

Rumors had it that it was because her mother had an affair outside, and since she wasn't her father's biological daughter, he accused and neglected her mother.

Her mother was then branded as an adulterer, living in agony and scorn every day, leading to her suicide.

But she didn't believe the rumors. From a young age, her mother had told her to cherish life, take care of herself, and remain strong no matter what. She had promised to protect her for her entire life.

How could such a life-loving mother commit suicide?

She had heard another rumor from outside, claiming that her mother wasn't killed by jumping into the well, but was murdered. The witness had seen her mother being controlled like a puppet, step by step walking toward the ancient well, with a bloodless face and a strange smile before quietly jumping in.

This person said that her mother's mind was completely under the influence of some sort of sorcery called "Soul-seizing Technique," a unique method of the Miao people. The user could control the thoughts of others, making them do whatever they wanted.

So her mother didn't jump into the well on her own - she was killed. But no one knew who this mysterious informant was.

In this mansion, besides the first lady, who else had this capability?

Without thinking, Liuyue knew who had killed her mother. The one who had once resented and aimed to usurp the position of the main lady was Su Yingshui. Leveraging her status as the daughter of a chancellor, she wished to bear sons and daughters for Shangguan Yun and refused to be a concubine.

When Shangguan Yun was just a general, he had fallen in love at first sight with her destitute mother, sympathizing with her lack of parents and protection, as well as her exceptional beauty. He had determined to marry and protect her.

However, after her mother became pregnant, his infidelity surfaced. As a young general, he was exceptionally outstanding and influential in the court. He then met the timid Su Yingshui at a banquet and became interested in her due to her noble lineage. Disgruntled with her mother's lack of benefit to the Shangguan family, he vowed to marry Su Yingshui and find a reason to divorce or dismiss her mother, using any means to promote Su Yingshui to the legitimate wife’s position.

Living alone with Shangguan Yun, the two of them became very close, and soon after, he married her. Yet after six or seven years, Su Yingshui had still not achieved legitimacy. Liuyue's mother had always held the position of the legitimate wife, following the conventions and not fighting or competing. Shangguan Yun couldn't find a reason to dismiss her.

Shangguan Yun, no matter how ruthless, would never kill his own wife. But Su Yingshu, filled with resentment and jealousy, cursed her mother to die every day and spread rumors outside about her mother having an affair with someone else. These rumors made Shangguan Yun believe them to be true, and he finally caught his mother's handle, and also crushed his mother.

In the end, she succeeded, her mother committed suicide by jumping into the well, and she finally took the position of the legitimate wife of the Shangguan family.

Thinking of all this, Liuyue felt hatred in her heart. She wished to make Su Yingshu taste the pain of the soul-capturing technique, and wished that she would die in the same way.

These are just the facts on the surface. Liuyue knows clearly that this is not the whole truth. The real truth has always troubled her. That is, before her mother jumped into the well, she gave birth to a son for Shangguan Yun, her younger brother.

That younger brother disappeared as soon as he was born, and no one knows where he was taken. Liuyue had asked the servants about it, but they all denied it, denied the existence of this younger brother.

She clearly saw her mother pregnant, her belly slowly swelling. She saw her mother's stunned expression and her gnashing teeth.

Her mother once smiled and said that her father looked down on her because, as the legitimate wife, she had not given birth to a legitimate son for him. She didn't care about such things at first, she just wanted to rely on each other with Liuyue, but who knew whether it was intentional or not, heaven actually let her get pregnant when she was disheartened by Shangguan Yun.