Chapter 018
Chapter 18: Throwing Our Su Family’s Face into the Dirt
Yun Wan Ye drew in his neck and held his tongue. Hearing how grandly Father spoke, he learned something new today. Then, risking his life, he asked: “Should I also add the part where Father says Grand Commandant Su pretends to be noble?”
Yun Zheng’s temples throbbed as his face darkened. He growled: “You brat, are you begging for a kick?”
Seeing danger, Yun Wan Ye darted away at once and called over his shoulder: “Father, I still must go read their faces for you. Do not kick me now. If I am hurt, you will have to visit them yourself.”
Yun Zheng: “…”
At the Grand Commandant Manor, when Grand Commandant Su heard someone from Duke’s Manor had come to visit, he only nodded. Madam Su’s face, however, sank at once. She said with a sneer: “That Duke’s Manor has no shame. Yun Wan Chen’s legs are crippled, he is already a useless man. Do they still dream of marrying my Xue’er?”
Grand Commandant Su gave her a thin glance and said in calm: “Xue’er has a high fever and lies unconscious. What use is this talk? The most important thing is her recovery.”
At that, Madam Su’s heart tightened. She swallowed and fell silent. Ah, who knew when her Xue’er would wake?
Soon, a servant led a handsome youth of the Yun family inside. Madam Su eyed the elegant figure with a hint of regret. If only this boy were the heir apparent of Duke Ning Manor. Then their Su family would not be so embarrassed.
“This nephew, Yun Wan Ye, greets Uncle Su and Aunt Su,” Yun Wan Ye said with a proper bow. Grand Commandant Su lifted a hand and returned politeness.
After asking briefly about Su Qian Xue’s illness, Yun Wan Ye went to the point. He said with even tone: “Upon hearing that Miss Su is ill, my parents were deeply concerned. My mother has just given birth to my young sister and remains frail, unable to leave the house. My father is occupied with affairs. They therefore sent this nephew to visit on their behalf.”
The Su couple smiled without warmth and sneered in their hearts. Was Yun Zheng truly busy or simply unwilling to enter their gates? Everyone knew. Why dress it with fine words?
Seeing their cold manner, Yun Wan Ye felt no need to waste warmth on cold backs. He lifted his hand. Cang Xuan stepped in and presented a small potted evergreen.
“To protect Miss Su’s reputation, this nephew will not enter her room,” Yun Wan Ye said. “This evergreen was chosen by my father with care. In Great Wu, the evergreen symbolizes lasting vitality and peace. My father hopes Miss Su will be as steadfast and thriving as this tree, to overcome illness and enjoy long health. It is a small gift that bears deep sincerity. Uncle Su, known for elegant taste, will surely understand its meaning.”
Though he delivered the message, he chose his words with care, offering only praise. He lifted Su Jian so high that none could fault him, yet Madam Su’s face turned green.
Her displeasure had begun the moment the servant carried in that ridiculous evergreen. Though the symbol was fine, who in Great Wu brought a potted tree when visiting the sick? They came to humiliate the Su family, then hid behind lofty talk. Utterly shameless.
But she could not show rage. If she threw a fit, word would spread that she despised the gift and coveted riches, and her husband’s polished name would suffer along with her own.
Grinding her teeth, Madam Su forced a smile and ordered the servants to accept it. Inside, she felt as if she had swallowed a fly.
Yun Wan Ye did not care how the Su family felt. Once the gift was delivered, he excused himself at once and left.
“Good, very good. The Yun family, Duke Ning, truly excellent,” Madam Su exploded the instant he stepped outside. She slapped the evergreen off the table with a sharp snort.
Crack. The porcelain pot shattered. Dirt scattered. Servants flinched and dared not breathe.
“What are you doing?” Grand Commandant Su frowned at his furious wife.
“What am I doing?” Madam Su raised her chin and cried: “Our Xue’er is unconscious. It is one thing if Yun Zheng does not come, but to send that boy with an evergreen, they are stepping on our Su family’s face. They might as well have stayed home.”
“If neighbors learn they sent us a potted tree, will we not be a joke? How will our Su family face others? How will Xue’er meet noble girls in the capital?”
“Cancel the marriage. Since the Yun family cares nothing for my Xue’er, our daughter need not marry their crippled heir apparent. Our Su family is not worthy of Heir Apparent Yun anyway.”
“I would like to see which noble girl will marry that useless man once Xue’er breaks the match,” she said as anger shook her voice.
“Enough,” Grand Commandant Su said, eyes cold. “Do you know who Heir Apparent Yun is? He is the conquering frontier young general appointed by His Majesty, a hero of Great Wu. How dare you, an ignorant woman, call him useless again and again. Do you not fear the Emperor will hear and charge you with insulting a meritorious minister?”
“I…” At the word Emperor, Madam Su deflated, lips trembling, though she clung to her stance. She said in a lower voice: “Even if he is a hero, his legs are crippled. How can he match our Xue’er now? I am only stating facts. If the Emperor wishes to punish, then let him.”
Grand Commandant Su sighed, drained. “Enough. Your tongue will destroy our family one day.”
Others schemed with care and weighed each word, yet this foolish woman spoke without restraint and brought ruin to her own door. She would be the death of him.
After leaving Su Manor, Yun Wan Ye felt the long pressure in his chest ease at last. Thinking of Madam Su’s sour face, he was certain she was cursing the Yun family now. His mood was excellent.
Since his eldest brother’s injury, Madam Su had looked down on the match and schemed for advantage, forgetting that she had once begged Duke’s Manor for this engagement. As for Su Qian Xue, already betrothed, yet shameless enough to try to seduce Prince Qi and spread foul gossip about Yao’er, ignoring both his eldest brother and Duke’s Manor, what a disgrace.