Hongli didn't listen to what was said next and headed straight for Huatang Pavilion. Li Yu couldn't help but remind him, "Master, weren't you going out of the manor?"
The master just came out of the palace, and was supposed to go to the Six Ministries. He was just about to leave the mansion when he suddenly turned to Huatang Pavilion. What if this delays his important business?
Li Yu followed closely behind, but Hongli ignored him. At this moment, he only wanted to find Su Yushan and ask her some questions!
Su Yushan had just gotten up and was waiting for Yunfang to have breakfast together when she realized that Yunfang had disappeared. She asked Changyue and learned that Yunfang had gone to inquire about Hongli's whereabouts.
Su Yushan felt a pang of melancholy. "I told you not to ask or interfere. Why are you all asking about this? What good will it do to know which princess he's staying with? There will be other princesses like Zhao and Li in the future. How can we possibly manage them all?"
"You six women are already giving me enough of a headache, and you're planning to add new ones?"
A voice tinged with slight anger suddenly rang out from the doorway, startling Su Yushan into turning around. Upon seeing who it was, her heart skipped a beat.
"Fourth Master? You... what brings you here?"
Hongli entered, standing with his hands behind his back and his chin slightly raised. "Weren't you asking around about my whereabouts? I'm right here. What do you want to ask?"
Su Yushan shifted her gaze to the back and saw Yunfang hiding by the door, timidly sticking out her little tongue, not daring to come in.
Su Yushan knew the rules of the manor. Although many people would inquire about them in private, it was no small matter if Hongli caught them.
Worried that Yunfang would be punished, Su Yushan did not deny it and took the initiative to take the blame for her, saying, "It was indeed me who sent her. Please don't blame her, Fourth Master. If you want to punish someone, then punish me."
Approaching slowly, Hongli raised a finger to lift her chin and chuckled, "You're quite the righteous one, actually lying for Yunfang!"
Yunfang, who was outside the door, beckoned to Changyue inside, signaling her to come out quickly and not get in the way.
Chang Yue then understood and, using the excuse of needing to get more bowls and chopsticks, immediately slipped out.
Before leaving, she made sure to close the door behind her.
He coldly released his grip on her chin, sat down at the table, and said with a stern face, "I'll give you one more chance. Tell the truth!"
Su Yushan was puzzled. "What truth?"
She was still feigning ignorance, her sharp, eagle-like eyes fixed on her. Hongli asked bluntly, "What exactly happened yesterday? Why were you suddenly sent to another maid's quarters?"
She had already explained, and he believed her, so why was he suddenly asking again? Su Yushan was unaware of the details, so she could only patiently repeat herself, "Seeing how hard you're trying to endure it, and since I can't help you, I can only have others serve you."
Hongli was tired of hearing these high-sounding words again and again. He sneered and mocked, "Is that so? I didn't expect my beloved concubine to be so understanding. Why didn't you say these words earlier, but only after the Fujin came to see you?"
Upon hearing him mention the Fujin (wife), Su Yushan was greatly alarmed. Recalling Yunfang's expression just now, she realized what had happened. "What did Yunfang say to you?"
“She said---this was not your intention, but only because the Princess Consort ordered it, so you were forced to say those things against your will to me. Actually, you mind me going to the other maids, don’t you?”
Su Yushan, exposed, was speechless. Hongli was certain, but he felt no relief; instead, he felt a lump in his throat.
"Why don't you speak? The Fujin came to see you, why didn't you tell me? Why did you say those hurtful things according to her wishes? Didn't you think about how painful it was for me to hear those words?"
When questioned, Su Yushan, her eyes red, retorted, "Then what do you think I should say? Should I just tell you that the Fujin came to see me, and then go and argue with the Fujin? What would the Fujin think? She would definitely think that I was the one who complained behind her back."
"I am your man, the one you can rely on. Don't worry about what others think, just hold on to me tightly."
He made it sound so easy, but had he considered her situation? "She is the Fujin, the mistress of the inner court. You can't stay at home forever. In the future, I will have to pay my respects to the Fujin and meet with her. I am of lowly status and resentful. Apart from Xilan, no one can stand me. I don't want to make enemies all the time. Do you understand?"
“Just tell me the truth, how to solve it is my business. But you didn’t say a word. If Yunfang hadn’t revealed the truth, you were still planning to keep it a secret. You never consider my feelings. Do you know how hurtful your words were yesterday? I really am planning to find another woman, do you know that? Am I really that untrustworthy to you?”
She used to trust him completely, telling him everything, big and small, her joy and anger. But what was the result? "What's the point of telling him? Have you resolved Kim Min-jung's matter?"
This one sentence left Hongli speechless, unable to utter a word for a long time.
With a soft sigh, Su Yushan continued, "I know very well that your status is what it is, and you also have your own helplessness. I don't resent you, I just don't want to always cause you trouble. I don't want you to think that I'm so meddlesome, always causing trouble, making enemies with this person, and creating grudges with that person, making your life uneasy."
He thought that Yu Shan still held a grudge against him for that incident, but it turned out that she also had her concerns, and was so humbly trying to survive in the mansion in her own way.
Feeling pity for her, Hongli could no longer bear to blame her. He gently embraced her and spoke softly to her:
“I never find your affairs troublesome, because I know you are not the kind of person who causes trouble. Those troubles were all ignited by their jealousy. You are just a victim, you did nothing wrong!”
Yushan, what I want is your trust, your support. You don't need to be overly sensible, you don't need to compromise yourself. I just want you to be yourself. Leave everything else to me; I won't let you down again.
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