Of course not. Although Xia Zheng’s martial arts skills might not be exceptional, he is certainly not a pushover who would let others take advantage of him.
Su Qiuyu slumped into her chair as if deflated, the light completely gone from her eyes, as she murmured repeatedly, "He gave this to you, he actually gave this to you."
Lin Yuan didn’t understand the meaning behind her words, but thinking back to what Xia Zheng once said about the significance of the Jade Pendant, she realized the truth. It was likely that Su Qiuyu had long set her sights on it, never expecting to see it with her today.
"Miss, don’t be ," Yaner said, consoling her, speaking softly into her ear.
Su Qiuyu’s eyes suddenly sparked back to life as she looked at Lin Yuan dangerously, "Lin Yuan, you’re just a village girl. As I’ve said before, even if Brother Zheng agrees, without the General and Madam’s consent, don’t even dream of marrying into the General Mansion. But I am different. I am the legitimate daughter of the current Prime Minister, and my status is barely lower than a princess. Lin Yuan, if you leave Brother Zheng, I can assure you, once I become his wife, I will have you taken into the mansion as a concubine. I can even speak to Madam about letting you join the mansion as a concubine of higher status."
Thinking she was being generous, Su Qiuyu dangled the bait before Lin Yuan once more, "Lin Yuan, you should know that you cannot match me, not in status or in looks. But if you want to stay by Brother Zheng’s side, becoming a concubine is the only path you can take. You are a smart woman, I hope you understand."
To be a concubine, Lin Yuan’s eyes dimmed. Could her relationship with Xia Zheng really be as Su Qiuyu described? She couldn’t believe it, nor could she accept it. She had come so far step by step, changing her family’s fate of suffering and hardship. Surely, she could also change her future with Xia Zheng, couldn’t she?
Realizing this, Lin Yuan knew she still had a long way to go, but she felt much better.
Facing Su Qiuyu’s relentless pressure, she let out a cold huff and retorted, "What, Miss Su, now that you know you’re no match for me, you start talking about status? Even being the Prime Minister Mansion’s daughter, I’ve never seen one who would leave home alone for a man and travel such a long distance! Not to mention the risk of encountering villains, if people come to know of this, it might tarnish Miss Su’s reputation. As a woman myself, I’m aware that the Capital city places great importance on the reputation of a young lady in her boudoir. If Miss Su’s reputation is damaged, I wonder if Xia Zheng’s parents will still consent to you marrying into their household, as you claim."
"What nonsense are you talking about! How dare you slander my mistress! Are you not afraid if our master learns of this, he will come and take your head?" Yaner was furious, never before had someone dared to speak to her mistress in such a manner. This Lin Yuan really didn’t want to live!
"Take my head?" Lin Yuan laughed as if she heard a joke, looking at Su Qiuyu mockingly, "Miss Su, if your father would take someone’s head over his daughter’s marriage affairs just like that, then he need not continue to serve as the Prime Minister."
"Lin Yuan! You lowly wench! Is my father someone you can fabricate stories about?" Su Qiuyu, red with rage, reached for the teacup in front of her, intending to smash it against Lin Yuan.
Just then, Xia Zheng’s returning footsteps sounded outside the door. Su Qiuyu quickly changed her mind, turning her hand to pour the tea all over herself.
"Ah, Miss! Are you all right? Did you burn yourself?" Yaner quickly grabbed a cloth to wipe the tea off Su Qiuyu’s skirt, and just as Xia Zheng’s hand touched the doorknob, Yaner, both aggrieved and indignant, shouted at Lin Yuan, "Miss Lin, even if you can’t stand the mistress visiting Young Master Xia, you shouldn’t bully her ! This is hot tea, what would we do if it burned my mistress?"