Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Conflict Arises

The birthday banquet of Madam Su was held at the Ning'an Hall, with about forty to fifty tables set up, creating an atmosphere of extraordinary liveliness. A stage was placed in the center, where a performance of the Changsheng Palace play was being beautifully rendered. This troupe, known as the Shuangxi Opera Troupe, was renowned in Shengjing for its superb singing skills, frequently invited by the nobility and elite. However, Su Yuxin didn't have a penchant for operas; instead, she preferred the folk tales. Being Madam Su's legitimate granddaughter, she naturally sat at the table closest to her grandmother, among the peers and several sisters. Aside from Su Yuxin and Su Yuxiang, the Su family consisted of four other sisters. The fifth sister, Su Yumo, and the sixth sister, Su Yuqing, were daughters of the second branch, with Yumo being born out of wedlock and Yuqing being the legitimate one. They had returned with their father to celebrate Madam Su's birthday. The third sister, Su Yuxuan, and the fourth sister, Su Yuruo, were illegitimate daughters of the eldest branch. Yuxuan was born to the housemaid Geng, while Yuruo was born to the maid Liu, who was named Liu Yan and had been extremely loyal since childhood to Lu Shiyin. Because Lu Shiyin had not conceived for two years after marrying into the Su family, she raised Liu Yan's status to that of a maid. Liu Yan, despite giving birth to the first legitimate son of the eldest branch, Su Yulin, at the very first year, prioritized taking care of Su Yuxin after Lu Shiyin's demise, neglecting even her own son. Yet, after Lu Shiyan entered the household, she constantly suppressed Liu Yan, speaking ill of her in front of Su Yuxin. She even attributed Lu Shiyin's death to Liu Yan. Therefore, Su Yuxin held an intense grudge against Liu Yan. Over the years, she had troubled both Liu Yan and Su Yulin. Later on, when Liu Yan became pregnant, Lu Shiyan used Su Yuxin to push Liu Yan into the water. Liu Yan almost lost her life but fortunately, the child remained safe, and she gave birth to twins, Su Yuhao and Su Yuruo, now twelve years old. Su Yuxin treated these siblings with extreme harshness; it was her doing that left a thumb-sized scar on Su Yuruo's forehead. Despite this, neither Liu Yan nor the three children ever harbored resentment towards Su Yuxin. In the previous life, when Su Yuxin was wrongly confined to a woodshed, Liu Yan knelt in the heavy snow to plead with Madam Su and Su Mingzhe to spare Su Yuxin. Sadly, she froze to death. Su Yulin visited the General's residence several times to confront Su Yuxiang but was beaten out by her each time, forcing him to rush to the border at night to seek Wind Ye. All of these details were secretly conveyed to her when the Purple Sparrow and the Crimson Kite brought her food and drink. Su Yuxin didn't know that Su Yulin, a mere scholar with a frail constitution, couldn't withstand the bumpy journey and fell critically ill upon seeing Wind Ye, laying the foundation for his illness, leading to his demise within a year. Every time she recalled her previous life, Su Yuxin wished she could end her own life. Her arrogance only caused trouble within her own circle; the more kindness she showed, the worse her outcome, and the faster her demise. She was blind and foolish, deserving her lack of a proper burial. Su Yuxin was deeply immersed in self-reproach and remorse when a timid voice pulled her out of her thoughts: "Elder sister." Su Yuxin regained her focus to find Su Yuruo, raising her face with pursed lips, and a trace of apprehension in her eyes. She feared Su Yuxin. However, her aunt said that Elder sister was a good person, temporarily blinded by bad people, so she shouldn't harbor hatred or distance herself but should be respectful. Su Yuxin felt a pang in her heart and took the initiative to hold Su Yuruo's hand, smiling warmly and kindly, "Fourth sister, come sit here." Su Yuruo, swayed by Su Yuxin's gentle smile, soon found herself sitting beside Su Yuxin. "Half a year later, the fourth sister has grown taller and even more beautiful," Su Yuxin said tenderly, stroking Su Yuruo's hair. Su Yuruo widened her eyes in surprise, somewhat at a loss as she looked at Su Yuxin. "Is having a scar on the forehead considered beautiful?" Su Yuxuan sneered. Su Yuxin felt a slight tremble in the hand she held, and Su Yuxuan's pretty face turned a bit pale. "Say that again," Su Yuxin raised her gaze, looking coldly at Su Yuxuan. "Even if you repeat it, having a scar on her forehead is ugly and will hinder her future marriage," Su Yuxuan replied, her waist pinched, unwilling to appear weak. Su Yuxin narrowed her eyes, patted Su Yuxuan's shoulder, her voice as chilling as ice, "Ruo'er will be better than you in the future." Su Yuxuan's face suddenly changed color. Because the spot on her shoulder where Su Yuxin had patted her felt a sharp, cold pain. In fact, Su Yuxin had only lightly patted her and had no martial arts skill or internal energy to harm someone. However, when she touched Su Yuxuan, she made a gesture they had agreed upon with Chiflame; by making this gesture, Chiflame used her icy inner strength to strike the person remotely. Su Yuxuan's forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain, losing her rationality momentarily, her voice escalating by eight degrees, "You despicable person, how dare you hit me!" Saying this, she lunged towards Su Yuxin. Unprepared, she was kicked in the head and legs by Su Yuxin. Losing her balance, she fell heavily to the ground, embarrassing herself in front of the onlookers. Su Yuxin remained seated, a hint of mockery at her lips, coolly adding, "If the third sister acknowledges her mistake and changes her ways, there's no need for such a grand display." "Xinxin, today is your grandmother's sixty-sixth birthday; don't cause trouble," said Lushiyan immediately. She wanted to see if Su Yuxin was really as formidable as Xiang'er had described her. Su Yuxin looked at Lushiyan, her eyes deep, making it impossible for anyone to read her intentions. "If Sister Three falls by herself, how is it my fault? Why would it be considered causing trouble by me? Stepmother, I can't wear such a big hat." Su Yuxin's mention of "stepmother" made Lushiyan's face change completely. However, it was only momentary, quickly returning to normal. Having crawled and struggled for decades to reach her current position, her mental strength and methods were incomparable to SuYuxiang's. "You, this child..." Lushiyan smiled helplessly, yet within that smile, there was a trace of tender affection. She truly embodied the image of a good mother. "Quickly, have a seat; the birthday banquet is about to begin." Lushiyan casually brushed aside the matter. Watching this, Su Yuxin couldn't help but feel anger surge within her. She especially wanted to rush forward, rip off Lushiyan's facade, and show everyone her ugly face. "This General also wants to ask properly, who is causing trouble here." At some point, Feng Yao arrived by Su Yuxin's side, casting a condescending glance at Su Yuxuan. Su Yuxuan trembled all over, her voice quivering as she said, "I fell by accident; it has nothing to do with Elder sister."