Chapter 107 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 107

“Here already?”

The moment the family of three stepped through the door, Madam Su’s cool voice sounded.

Looking up, they saw Madam Su standing in the center of the main hall, her expression cold and annoyed as she looked at Su Xiangyu.

Su Xiangyu opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

Before she could speak, Madam Su’s gaze shifted to Ji Xiu. Her expression changed, turning somewhat strange and subtle, and her tone softened. “The son-in-law is here as well.”

Su Xiangyu: “……”

Su Xiangyu widened her eyes and looked at Madam Su as if she were seeing a stranger for the first time.

Since when had Mother become so blatantly snobbish, flattering the strong and stepping on the weak?

“Ahem!” A light cough came from the seat of honor, Master Su making his presence known.

Madam Su came back to her senses, turned around, and sat back down beside Master Su. She cleared her throat and said with a neutral expression, “Sit down and talk.”

Su Xiangyu sat down together with her husband and daughter, her mood complicated, unsure what to say for a moment.

Madam Su, however, spoke as if nothing were amiss, looking at Su Xiangyu. “Yuer, your son-in-law passing the examination is good news. Why did you hide it from us? If I had known earlier, I would not have been so shocked.” As she spoke, she grew angry again. Mindful of Ji Xiu’s presence, she did not stand up to vent her anger, only suppressed her emotions, her face turning slightly cold. “You even isolated Xinghua Courtyard from the rest of the Su household. If not for servants hearing the news and reporting back, your father and I would still be kept in the dark. Do you still have even a bit of respect for us?”

Su Xiangyu froze and suddenly understood something.

What Madam Su was angry about was not Ji Xiu passing the examination, but that she had restricted Xinghua Courtyard’s contact with the outside.

But why?

Confusion filled her heart, and she suddenly thought of something, a chill rising within.

Could it be that she had exposed her control over Xinghua Courtyard, making them angry and afraid?

This was a guess Su Xiangyu did not want to believe, yet it was the most likely one.

When Master Su and Madam Su moved to Xinghua Courtyard back then, it was not because they were advanced in years and wanted to live quietly in retirement, but because Master Su was gravely ill and wished to live a few more years. Left with no choice, he handed over power.

After Master Su stepped down, Madam Su, as an ordinary woman of the inner quarters who had never weathered storms, was afraid she could not shoulder the Su household. Thus, following Old Master Ji’s request, she handed the Su family over to Su Xiangyu and retreated into Xinghua Courtyard to care for Master Su.

They had not left willingly.

Therefore, before leaving the center of power, Madam Su altered the Su family’s rules and made thorough preparations, ensuring the rights and status of Xinghua Courtyard. Even if they managed nothing, they could still be the invisible heads of the family.

But now, Su Xiangyu had, without discussion, directly sealed off Xinghua Courtyard’s channels of information…

She had grown up, and that frightened them.

Su Xiangyu blinked, her heart wavering. No, she could not think that way. Perhaps they were simply angry that she hid the news, and it had nothing to do with anything else?

Her parents had only her as their daughter. They had personally handed the Su family to her and treated her so well.

If they were truly on guard against her, they would not have arranged a uxorilocal marriage for her or established a female household.

Su Xiangyu slowly calmed down and explained, “The news was brought back by others. I did not see the official government bulletin, so I did not dare believe it fully. I was worried Father and Mother would be anxious, so I suppressed the matter. It was not until last night, when my husband returned, that I confirmed the truth.”

As she spoke, she looked a little embarrassed. “Last night I talked with my husband until late, and it was not appropriate to disturb Father and Mother. Today, I accompanied my husband to the Ji family to pay respects to his elders, so I did not have time to tell you.”

Madam Su was half-believing, staring at Su Xiangyu for a long while before accepting the explanation. “Fine, that makes sense.”

She sighed and spoke in a calm, joking tone, knocking Su Xiangyu lightly. “Yuer, don’t do this again next time. I almost misunderstood and thought you wanted to lock your father and me in Xinghua Courtyard and not let us go out.”

A sharp pain rose in Su Xiangyu’s heart. She tried hard to ignore Madam Su’s words, smiled, and changed the subject. “Father, Mother, my husband is now the provincial examination’s top graduate. This is a great joy for the whole clan. What do you think, should we celebrate?”

Madam Su brightened immediately and nodded repeatedly. “Of course we should celebrate! In the past, those collateral scoundrels always said we had no eye for talent, that we picked such a son-in-law for you. Now let them see how good your father’s and my judgment is.”

Master Su coughed dryly and slowly spoke his first words of the day. “Yes, celebrate properly. Let them see clearly who is the blind one.”

With someone backing her up, Madam Su beamed, leaning over to whisper to Master Su.

Her parents had always been loving toward each other, but today, whether because her state of mind had changed or for some other reason, Su Xiangyu felt complicated watching this familiar scene.

She softly agreed, telling Madam Su to discuss the celebration with the steward. She still needed to go over accounts, so she stood up to take her leave.

Seeing her about to leave, Ji Xiu and Su Ling’er also stood.

Madam Su looked up at Ji Xiu, wanting to keep him to talk more, but thinking of past scenes, she ultimately did not speak, somewhat awkwardly seeing them out.

……

After leaving Xinghua Courtyard, Su Xiangyu’s expression turned low and lost.

Su Ling’er tugged at her sleeve. “Mother, what are you thinking about?”

Su Xiangyu lowered her head and looked at her daughter’s innocent, confused face. Her heart stirred. She put herself in her parents’ position. If one day she had to recuperate due to illness and handed the Su family to Su Ling’er, would she worry that Su Ling’er would no longer have her in her eyes?

Her face went pale, because she realized she was the same kind of person as her parents.

She, too, would fear losing power and being abandoned by her daughter.

If there truly came a day when she had to let go of power, she might make the same choice as Madam Su.

This made Su Xiangyu feel afraid.

Since when had she changed from that naïve and carefree young miss into a merchant obsessed with power?

Ji Xiu suddenly spoke, “Your complexion doesn’t look very good. Are you tired? How about I send you back to rest first?”

Su Xiangyu came back to her senses and looked up at Ji Xiu. She had originally wanted to confide in him, but seeing Ji Xiu and Su Ling’er standing together and looking over at the same time, the words stuck in her throat.

If it were Ji Xiu, would he fear that Su Ling’er would not have him in her eyes?

Probably not. After all, their father-daughter relationship was so good. Every day they studied together, ate together, and sneaked out to play together.

When Ji Xiu went to Jiujiang Prefecture to take the provincial examination, just that short month, Su Ling’er missed him constantly, asking every day when he would return…

Su Xiangyu suddenly did not want to speak. She felt a bit jealous of Ji Xiu.

Ji Xiu and Su Ling’er saw her strange expression and asked her again.

Su Xiangyu replied coldly, “No need to send me. I will go back to the main courtyard myself to rest. You two go back as well.”

Ji Xiu raised his eyebrows.

Su Xiangyu noticed it, her heart jumping suddenly. She quickly added, “Remember to come to the main courtyard in the evening. We will have dinner together.”

“All right.” Only then was Ji Xiu satisfied. He nodded with a smile and waved at Su Xiangyu. “See you then.”

Su Xiangyu replied, “See you then.”

She stood where she was, watching Ji Xiu turn around and leave with an easy stride. Su Ling’er hopped along beside him, the two of them close like an ordinary, intimate father and daughter.

Wait. She blinked. She seemed to suddenly understand something.

……

That evening, Ji Xiu and Su Ling’er went together to the main courtyard. Seeing the table filled with sumptuous dishes, they were both a little surprised.

“Is this to celebrate me, or to welcome me back?”

“Both.” Su Xiangyu adjusted her mood and showed a rare smile. “Sit down. Let’s have a good meal together as a family.”

Ji Xiu and Su Ling’er exchanged a glance in mild surprise before sitting down.

Su Xiangyu was no longer as cold and taciturn as usual. She took the initiative to ask whether Ji Xiu was used to living in Songtao Courtyard, whether he needed a few more servants.

Ji Xiu raised his brows and looked at her, his gaze assessing. Seeing Su Xiangyu adjust her posture a little uneasily, he let out a light laugh and nodded. “That would be fine. In the past there were only Huang Hu and Xu An. They had to clean Songtao Courtyard and attend to my daily needs. It was indeed too tiring. Assign a few rough servants.”

He withdrew his gaze. Su Xiangyu felt more at ease and agreed.

Then she spoke again, asking about her daughter’s courtyard, whether there were servants she disliked, whether her monthly allowance was enough. After Su Ling’er answered, full of surprise, that everything was fine, she asked again about Su Ling’er’s studies, whether she felt too busy and whether she wanted to slow down.

Su Ling’er cut in, puzzled. “Mother, no need. Did you forget I’m studying with Father now? What Father teaches is very interesting. I don’t feel tired or busy.”

Su Xiangyu’s expression stiffened. She glanced at Ji Xiu and received his half-smiling gaze in return. She smiled awkwardly and changed the topic, turning her concern elsewhere.

Su Ling’er was confused but tilted her head and answered everything one by one.

By the end of the meal, Su Xiangyu had almost asked after every aspect of Ji Xiu’s and Su Ling’er’s lives.

After leaving the main courtyard, Su Ling’er asked Ji Xiu, “Father, don’t you think Mother was a bit strange today?”

Ji Xiu nodded. “Indeed, a bit.”

Su Ling’er’s expression dimmed slightly. She lowered her head. “Is it because you passed the examination?”

Ji Xiu was taken aback. He stopped, squatted down to her eye level, and explained seriously. “Ling’er must be wrong. Your mother is acting unusually for some other reason. If it were because of the examination, she would have sent servants yesterday.”

“Then why is she so strange?” Su Ling’er pouted. “She looked like she was trying to please us today…”

The little girl seemed carefree, but her temperament was actually very sensitive.

Ji Xiu also sensed something odd about Su Xiangyu, but he had not figured out the reason. After thinking for a moment, he probed, “Perhaps she feels Ling’er has grown up and needs more care, so she talked more with you.”

Su Ling’er pursed her lips, not quite accepting the explanation. But since neither father nor daughter could figure it out, they could only temporarily believe it.

Over the next few days, Madam Su and the steward discussed holding a grand banquet, inviting clan elders and business friends to celebrate Ji Xiu passing the examination. The Su household was lively for quite some time.

Countless guests came to offer congratulations. From guests to hosts, everyone seemed to have lost their memories, completely forgetting their past disdain for Ji Xiu. They chatted and laughed with him as if nothing had happened.

Ji Xiu also dealt with them calmly, accepting gifts and tributes without missing any, while ignoring all apologies.

If he ran into one or two clueless ones who felt uneasy and insisted on dragging him to accept their apologies and forgive them, before he could get angry, Su Xiangyu would step forward, her face cold, asking what they meant and whether they thought the Su family was easy to bully.

They could not save face on the spot and could only laugh awkwardly and retreat in shame.

And Ji Xiu stood to the side, still that upright, refined, and noble top graduate.

To outsiders, there was no choice but praise.

Such was the world. Everyone knew that with Ji Xiu’s current achievements, he would go farther than the Su family in the future. If they could not afford to offend the Su family, how could they afford to offend Ji Xiu?

The Yin family and several teachers from the county school also received the Su family’s invitation and came to the banquet.

Ji Xiu demonstrated on the spot what double standards meant.

Toward other outsiders, his attitude was indifferent and distant. Toward these friends with whom he had ties, he became gentle and smiling, making people feel as if bathed in spring breeze.

Yet outsiders could not complain. After all, they had a guilty conscience. Even if they had not mocked Ji Xiu back then, they had not lent a helping hand either.

Halfway through the banquet, Yin Xiang presented his gift, avoided the crowd, and congratulated Ji Xiu again.

Ji Xiu smiled. “I still have to thank Mingrui and Uncle Yin for your help.”

Yin Xiang smiled subtly and waved his hand. “You are too modest. A few annotated books cannot produce a top graduate. You have talent yourself.”

“There is no talent, only diligence.” Ji Xiu did not wish for the original owner’s efforts to be reduced to a few words of talent. He slightly raised his chin. “It is recorded in Han Feizi that there was once a bird that for three years did not fly or sing, remaining silent. When the time came, it soared into the sky and sang in astonishment. It was not because of innate talent, but mostly due to accumulation over time.”

Yin Xiang was startled, then nodded. “Right, what you say makes sense. It was my prejudice.”

Ji Xiu had studied diligently for years and failed four times. Where was any talent? It was all diligence and accumulation. When the time came, he could finally display his ability.

Yin Xiang could not help but sigh softly.

Before coming to the Su household, he had still harbored a bit of jealousy. Now it seemed he was not open-minded enough and had misunderstood Ji Xiu.

As a fellow student, he should have known best how diligent Ji Xiu was.

Fortunately, Ji Xiu had woken him up, not letting him continue down a dead end.

With the knot untied, Yin Xiang’s mindset became calm. When he looked at Ji Xiu again, it was no longer the envy and sourness of looking at a genius, but the recognition of looking at a fellow traveler.

On this long imperial examination road, they would both need to work even harder.

……

After several rounds of wine, dusk fell and the banquet ended.

Ji Xiu and Su Xiangyu saw the guests out.

Yin Xiang and his father were the last to leave. Before going, they made plans with Ji Xiu for a poetry gathering a few days later, to go on an autumn outing among flowers.

Ji Xiu nodded and agreed, his expression calm and smiling.

Yin Xiang’s subtle change had not escaped his eyes. He had already seen through Yin Xiang’s mindset, which was why he spoke earlier. Now that it was resolved, it was naturally for the best.

However, what left the deepest impression on him at this banquet was not Yin Xiang’s change, but Su Xiangyu’s odd behavior.

After seeing off all the guests, he looked at Su Xiangyu beside him.

From standing up for him at the start, to later greeting guests with him, to urging him to eat during the banquet and caring about his health, and finally accompanying him to see guests off, staying by his side the whole time…

Although this behavior was somewhat clumsy and appeared deliberate and awkward, it was undeniable that she seemed to truly be trying to please him.

And there was also Su Ling’er. During the banquet, she had taken special care of Su Ling’er as well.

What had happened?

Ji Xiu could not figure it out.

Su Xiangyu was a qualified wife, no doubt. But she was busy managing the family business and did not possess the gentle tenderness of ordinary women. All her thoughts were placed on business. She lacked normal care and patience toward her family, whether toward Ji Xiu, Su Ling’er, or the Su elders in Xinghua Courtyard. Everything was lukewarm. They only met at night and exchanged a sentence or two.

What was going on with her now? The diligent workhorse of the past did not go out to inspect shops, but instead stayed home for several consecutive days, accompanying him and Su Ling’er for three meals a day. On the day of the banquet, she even acted as the hostess, receiving guests with him…

The only thing Ji Xiu could think of was that something had happened to Su Xiangyu, causing such a change.

And the day she changed seemed to be after leaving Xinghua Courtyard.

Ji Xiu fell into thought.

Unfortunately, no matter how meticulous Ji Xiu was, he could not guess Su Xiangyu’s thoughts.

What Madam Su said that day was something only the person who had grown up under parental love could perceive in its change and subtlety.

However, although Ji Xiu did not think of the reason, he did guess that Su Xiangyu was trying to please them.

It all had to start from the beginning.

That day, after leaving Xinghua Courtyard, when Su Xiangyu realized that Master Su and Madam Su were guarding against her, she looked calm on the surface, but her inner peace had long been shattered, her heart filled with sorrow.

But when she placed herself in Master Su’s and Madam Su’s position, she felt it was quite normal. The future her would very likely do the same.

That brief imagination made her aware of the darkness in her own heart.

For the first time, she clearly recognized her inner self and felt fear toward this cold and gloomy version of herself.

She did not want to be like that.

She did not want, decades later, after retreating to the second line, to still scheme against Su Ling’er, ensuring her own status and power in the Su family.

If possible, she hoped she could have more confidence in Su Ling’er and not let the future Su Ling’er suffer the same heartbreak she had.

But how could she avoid mother and daughter repeating the same path?

She saw Ji Xiu.

Su Ling’er was that close to Ji Xiu.

Decades later, when Ji Xiu grew old and lived in a remote courtyard, would Su Ling’er only visit him once a month?

Su Xiangyu felt she would not. Because their father-daughter bond was so deep, even if Su Ling’er became thirty or forty, became the head of the Su family, she would still act coquettishly and complain before Ji Xiu…

Imagining that scene, Su Xiangyu felt both jealous and envious, and could not help but search for the differences between herself and Ji Xiu.

Why did she lack confidence in Su Ling’er?

Or rather, why did she feel Su Ling’er would ignore her?

Because of unfamiliarity.

She was Su Ling’er’s mother, yet in twelve years, aside from the first three years when she and the wet nurse cared for Su Ling’er together, the other nine years, Su Ling’er lived with the wet nurse.

They were clearly mother and daughter, yet had never lived in close intimacy, never spoken heart to heart.

She only cared about Su Ling’er’s studies and etiquette, never once asking, “Are you hungry?” or “Are you thirsty?”

She loved this daughter, but she never showed it. She had never even cared for her once.

With such a self, it was no wonder Su Ling’er was not that close to her.

Su Xiangyu once thought she was a responsible mother compared to Ji Xiu, but looking back, she and Ji Xiu were actually the same.

Ji Xiu was busy studying. She was busy with business. Half a jin to eight liang, same level.

But Ji Xiu had awakened earlier than her. Two months ago, he had already begun to truly care about Su Ling’er…

Now, the person Su Ling’er cared about most was probably Ji Xiu.

Su Xiangyu was unconvinced. If Ji Xiu could do it, she could definitely do it too.

After seriously communicating with the wet nurse, she decided to start from the small details and build a good relationship with Su Ling’er.

Of course, during this process, she also discovered that she was not only cold toward Su Ling’er, but toward Ji Xiu as well.

Every time, it was Ji Xiu and Su Ling’er who took the initiative to go to the main courtyard to find her, the family of three eating dinner together. She had never thought of taking the initiative herself…

Since she wanted to change for the better, she might as well handle both at once. The two of them together.

That was the reason for Su Xiangyu’s changes these past few days.

In the past, what she cared about most was the Su family’s business. After experiencing Madam Su’s hurtful words, what she cared about most was her daughter, and second was Ji Xiu.

Seeing Ji Xiu stare at her without speaking, Su Xiangyu felt a little uncomfortable.

Although she wanted to improve their relationship, she did not know whether what she was doing would be noticed by Ji Xiu and Su Ling’er, so she felt quite uneasy.

Of course, no matter how uneasy she felt inside, her outward appearance remained calm. “What are you looking at me for?”

Ji Xiu shook his head, his gaze subtly sweeping over Su Xiangyu, and smiled as he spoke. “You seem to have changed quite a bit.”

Su Xiangyu’s heart stirred. “Do you think this change is good, or bad?”

“Of course it’s good!” Ji Xiu laughed. “Haven’t you noticed? These past few days, Ling’er has been much closer to you.”

Su Xiangyu pressed her lips together, suppressing the urge for the corners of her mouth to rise. She put on a nonchalant look and said lightly, “Ling’er has always been close to me.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

Seeing the proud expression on her face, like that of a young girl, Ji Xiu finally understood what she was doing.

She wanted to be closer to him and Su Ling’er.

This was not impossible.

Ji Xiu pondered.

Between him and Su Xiangyu, they were like unfamiliar friends. Growing closer little by little each day, becoming more familiar little by little. Although love had not yet arisen, it was a fact that their relationship was getting better and closer.

If some feelings could arise, that would not be bad.

In this world, Su Xiangyu was one of the only two people the original owner felt guilty toward.

Having lived another life, he had replaced the original owner in caring for Su Ling’er, and he could also replace the original owner in caring for Su Xiangyu.

……

As Ji Xiu and Su Xiangyu tacitly drew closer to each other, their relationship gradually improved, becoming that of friends who had topics to talk about.

Do not underestimate this. Many couples are polite and respectful toward each other, yet may have no topics for a lifetime, only household chatter, never touching each other’s hearts.

Now, Ji Xiu and Su Xiangyu had already begun to make contact, little by little.

However, while the two were getting to know each other, they did not forget Su Ling’er either.