The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits
Chapter 489 - 493: Unrivaled in the World (Part 5)

Chapter 489: Chapter 493: Unrivaled in the World (Part 5)

"I will discuss it with your father tonight," Mrs. Su did not explicitly agree, nor did she refuse outright.

Su Li was so delighted that he took it as an affirmative. "Huang Ying, pack up, we’ll move to Baihua Pavilion tomorrow...."

Mrs. Su: "..."

Not even a face caked in layers of powder could hide her increasingly darkening complexion.

The servants trailing behind, each one eyes on their work and minds on their business, tried to minimize their presence as much as possible.

These shrewd people could naturally tell that the housekeeper’s kindness towards Lady Su was just for appearances.

No matter how lovely the rumors were on the outside, claiming that Lady Su treated the two children left by the former madam exceptionally well, even better than her own blood.

Especially for Lady Su, born frail and raised with great care under Mrs. Su’s dedicated attention.

Throughout Miss Su’s upbringing, who knows how many precious medicines were wasted.

Other ladies secretly thought themselves incapable of such generosity as Mrs. Su.

Many had laughed behind Mrs. Su’s back for foolishly diluting her own children’s share of resources.

But when they met her in person and the impression was good, they spared no effort to offer a smiling face.

The men of other households, even more so, admired her, for a wife should be virtuous, and marrying one was for the sake of teaching the children and managing household affairs.

To treat all the children in the house equally was precisely what these men hoped for.

No matter what Mrs. Su was like inside the household, once outside, her image was absolutely excellent.

Even the Second Young Lady and the young master, whom she personally tutored, were also highly esteemed by others.

With such a well-behaved mother, it was expected that the sibling pair would be just as commendable.

Indeed, Su Qingqing, only fourteen, had already had matchmakers inspecting her on behalf of potential suitors, whereas the nearly two-years-older Miss Su received no such inquiries.

After all, who would want to marry a sickly wife?

Even the marriage engagement previously settled for Miss Su with Young Master Liu of the Liu Family had initially been inquired for Second Miss Su.

But somehow, it got intercepted along the way.

It wasn’t until the two families exchanged birth certificates that they realized the bride-to-be was actually Miss Su.

The Liu Family had thought of backing out, but for some unknown reason, they had held their noses and agreed.

Rumors had it that Second Miss Su considered her sisterly affection for Miss Su and had a talk with Young Master Liu, after which he personally agreed to the match.

The exact details remained unknown, but outsiders guessed that surely Miss Su had used some tactics, otherwise the outcome would not have been what it was.

Compared to the less understood, lavishly pampered Miss Su, people preferred the always well-regarded Second Miss Su.

In contrast to Miss Su, who was merely a symbol like a talisman on paper, Second Miss Su was a vivid girl they could jest and banter with.

In any case, the original owner never knew her reputation was so poor on the outside.

Relying on her frail health, behaving capriciously was just the kind of behavior people disliked the most.

If not for Su Qingqing’s intervention, well-meaning men and women ready to act righteously would have already come knocking to scold Miss Su severely.

Su Qingqing’s generous behavior towards her sisters only further improved her reputation outside.

Su Qingqing consequently became one of the most favored prospective brides among the ladies of various households.

Of course, the people of Su Residence knew the truth was not so.

One could only say the masters in the residence had a very strange attitude toward Miss Su.

To say they did not value her was not quite right, as they were willing to spend a great sum of money to prolong her life.

Yet to say they valued her wasn’t exactly as outsiders had said either.

Otherwise, Miss Su, who was nearly sixteen and naive as a child, would truly believe she was the most beloved by her father and stepmother.

However, they were all servants bound by indentures held by the stepmother; even if they had doubts, they dared not discuss them further.

After a session of insincere words of comfort, Lady Su quickly left with Su Qingqing and Su Zhi, leaving a pensive Su Yao to face Su Li, both looking at each other, exchanging glances.

Su Zhi’s inquisitive gaze appeared gentle but was actually quite oppressive. "Sister, just a few days ago you were not like this, why did you speak to mother in such a manner today?"

"Did someone tell you something?"

Su Yao seemed to want to read something from Su Li’s face, but to his disappointment.

Su Li’s face was still sickly, and her voice was weak, yet the words she spoke were clear to anyone who listened.

They were enough to choke a person.

Inadvertently, Su Yao moved closer to Su Li, close enough to hear each other’s breathing.

He looked as if he were helping to tuck a strand of her fallen hair behind her ear, but his fingers lightly caressed a pale red birthmark behind Su Li’s ear.

Su Li did not dodge or evade, directly pointing out Su Yao’s thoughts, "Big brother, could it be that you think I’ve become someone else?"

Su Yao withdrew his hand in a calm manner, "Sister jests."

Su Li had no intention of maintaining the charade of the original owner, thus she was not afraid and worried about being suspected by Su Yao.

"Furthermore, it’s strange to say, by blood, brother is closer to me than anyone; yet in reality, you are closer to Su Qingqing and Su Zhi..."

After testing whether the person before him was indeed his biological sister, Su Yao relieved himself and couldn’t help but start to conspire.

The rise of the Su Family was happening too fast, it would be impossible not to have enemies.

Could it be the Qi Family, the Si Family, or the Nangong Family?

"Sister, you mustn’t listen to others’ nonsense."

"You, Qingqing, and Xiao Zhi are all my closest family, there’s no distinction, and besides, besides being our stepmother, she is also our aunt, a bond of blood... Speaking of who is closer, such words should not be mentioned anymore."

"Whether it’s you, Qingqing or Xiao Zhi, you must know we are all Su Family, as one cannot write the character ’Su’ with a single stroke..."

After sending off this so-called big brother, Su Li alone in her room couldn’t help but ponder.

The memories of the original owner were tainted by strong personal bias, which also disturbed Su Li’s judgment.

Only after meeting these so-called family members today did her ball of doubts grow bigger.

Lady Su did not look like one to take a loss willingly, but she still suppressed her dissatisfaction with her children and contrarily maintained an appearance of motherly love and filial piety.

Although it was superficial and insincere, it would suffice to deal with the naive and innocent original owner.

What was the reason for her endurance, and that too for nearly sixteen years?

Putting aside Lady Su for now, the strangest of all was Su Yao, the elder brother.

He seemed gentle and refined, the epitome of a graceful gentleman, yet Su Li could see through this person as someone with profound thoughts.

He was measured in his conduct, and even Su Qingqing and Su Zhi, who had issues with him, were obedient to Su Yao, showing that his strategies and methods were plentiful—he was certainly not fooled by Lady Su’s superficial maternal kindness.

Precisely because of this, he turned a blind eye to the plight of his own sister, and even in the memories of the original owner, the original owner felt loved and valued by everyone in the Su Residence partly due to this elder brother’s guidance.