"Liu," he said in a low voice, but with an undeniable authority, "please stand up and speak."
Liu stood up sobbing, wiping her nonexistent tears with a handkerchief. "Master, the Wang family said that if Jinli isn't punished, they... they will jointly file a petition to accuse you of lax family management!"
Prime Minister Su said, "Oh," and twirled the Buddhist beads between his fingers. "Is that so? Then tell me, what is the legal punishment for the young master of the Wang family molesting the daughter of an imperial official in public?"
Liu was stunned: "I..."
"Jinli, as the daughter of the prime minister, defended her own reputation, but was instead targeted by the evildoers," Prime Minister Su's voice deepened. "Liu, you keep speaking up for the Wang family. What is your real intention? Have you forgotten that your niece is still hoping to climb up the Wang family ladder?"
Liu's expression suddenly changed, and she knelt down again with a thud: "Master, please understand! I'm just... just worried about the reputation of the Prime Minister's Mansion..."
"The reputation of the Prime Minister's Mansion wasn't earned by currying favor with the Wang family." Prime Minister Su walked to the desk and picked up a wolf-hair brush. "Jinli did the right thing. As my daughter, you should have this kind of character and not allow yourself to be bullied."
He paused, his brush swishing across the rice paper, ink trails flowing like a dragon. "Go tell the Wang family and tell them that I, the minister, have said my daughter is innocent. If they dare harass us again or spread any rumors, don't blame me for being merciless. I will present the details of the young master Wang's gambling debts, as well as his absurd behavior in the brothels, to His Majesty for his perusal!"
Liu was so frightened that her face turned pale and she collapsed on the ground: "Master, you..."
"Go out." Prime Minister Su stopped looking at her. "From today on, the monthly allowance for the legitimate daughter's courtyard will be withdrawn directly from the account office, without having to go through you. Also, don't bring your niece from your mother's side to the Prime Minister's residence anymore."
Liu was struck by lightning. She opened her mouth but could not say anything. She could only crawl out.
Su Xiang and I were the only ones left in the study. He put down his pen, walked over to me, and his eyes softened. "Are you okay?"
I shook my head and looked at the few new strands of silver on his temples. My heart warmed: "My daughter is fine. Thank you, father, for your protection."
Su Xiang sighed and reached out to touch my head, but stopped mid-air. In the end, he just patted my shoulder and said, "Silly child, why don't you thank your father? Your mother passed away early, and your father... your father didn't care about you enough, and you suffered."
He took out a brocade box from his sleeve and handed it to me: "Here, keep it."
When I opened it, I found a mutton-fat jade longevity lock inside, with the words "peace and success" engraved on it. The jade was warm and smooth, and it was obvious that it was worth a lot of money.
"This is what your mother left for you," Su Xiang's voice was a little hoarse, "I have kept it here all this time, and now it's time to return it to its original owner."
I gripped the longevity locket tightly. The cool jade against my palm felt like a mother's warmth. In my previous life, I had never seen my mother's belongings. It turned out that they had always been treasured by my father.
"Father..." I raised my head, my eyes a little wet.
Su Xiang waved his hand and turned to look out the window: "Okay, go and get busy. Remember, if you have any problems in the future, come directly to me, don't try to handle it yourself."
In the evening, my eldest sister, Su Qingyao, walked into my yard in the setting sun, followed by four maids carrying boxes. She was wearing a pomegranate-red bodice, her hair done up in a high bun, topped with a red gold and kingfisher phoenix hairpin, which swayed gracefully as she walked.
"Here, this is for you." She slammed a list on the table, her tone still arrogant, "Don't think I don't know that your monthly allowance has been almost completely deducted by Liu. You can't even afford a decent paintbrush, right?"
I unfolded the list and was stunned. It listed:
- A set of twelve red gold and oriental pearl headpieces
- Two pairs of glass jadeite bracelets
- One South Sea pearl necklace (perfectly round and flawless)
- A Hetian white jade Ruyi lock
- ...
There are more than twenty items listed, each of which is a priceless treasure.
"Sister, this... this is too expensive, I can't accept it." I quickly declined.
Su Qingyao rolled her eyes and personally opened a vermilion lacquer box. The pearl hairpins inside shone with a gentle light in the twilight. "Just take them if I tell you to. Why are you talking so much nonsense? I'm telling you, these are all from the warehouse. They're just sitting there anyway, so I might as well give them to you to decorate."
She picked up a filigree, jewel-inlaid peony hairpin and thrust it into my hair without further ado. "You're now a renowned 'witty beauty' in the capital. If you dress too plainly, won't people laugh at you? Wear this, and when you go to the poetry club tomorrow, I guarantee you'll outshine Miss Li and the others!"
I looked at my radiant self in the mirror, then at my elder sister's profile, which pretended to be indifferent. My heart softened as if it had been soaked in warm water. "Elder sister, thank you."
"Who asked you to thank me!" Su Qingyao's cheeks flushed slightly as she turned to look at the other boxes. "I just think that old hag Liu must have been talking about you being poor behind your back again recently. I want to show her that the daughter of the Prime Minister's family, even if she has to beg for food, she has to wear a golden bowl!"
I was amused by her and started to laugh. I walked up to her and held her hand: "Eldest sister, it's great to have you."
Su Qingyao struggled but couldn't break free, so she let me pull her, her voice lowered: "Alright, alright, stop being so cheesy. By the way, my father asked the accountant to allocate five thousand taels of silver to you, saying that it's for you to buy things for the school. Don't be stingy, spend it when you need to, and don't let yourself down."
The golden glow of the setting sun shone through the window lattice, onto our clasped hands and the sparkling jewelry. I looked into my eldest sister's bright eyes and suddenly felt how wonderful it was to have such a family in my life.
The haze of my past life seemed to be slowly dissipating. And I knew this was just the beginning. With my father's support, my elder sister's help, and my younger brother's protection, I, Su Jinli, was determined to live a prosperous life in this life!
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