TEFSCBSS Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Are You Su Li?

As everyone entered the mansion in succession, the originally solemn banquet hall quickly became lively. Young boys and girls, who were friends, gathered together and started talking about recent events.

“Zhao Wen, our families live next to the Wang family’s. Do you know why their house has been so chaotic every night recently?” A young man in light green asked, confused. Not long ago, the Wang family had closed its doors, and none of the little bullies inside came out. No one knew what they were doing.

“Brother Qian Jin, I don’t know either, but as you know, my courtyard is closest to theirs, and I can always smell a foul odor, like a latrine,” Zhao Wen replied, waving his hand in front of his nose.

“You’re right. My courtyard is also near theirs, and recently, in the middle of the night, I heard loud shouting and even things being thrown around. It’s terrifying!”

“Ugh, could it be that Wang Taifu finally figured out what to do and is punishing Wang Bokao and the others? If that happens, he’ll be in for it! Hehe~”

The two looked at each other, pleased. After all, if Wang Bokao did poorly, they would be relieved, considering he always used to bully them when they were young. The Third Prince, Li Feng, Su Li, and Wang Bokao—they were all troublemakers. They appeared polite and adorable on the surface, but behind the scenes, they had tormented them without giving them any chance to fight back. Now, it was finally payback!

“Oh? If I get beaten, will you two be this happy?”

A cold voice came from behind them, and the two stiffly turned around, only to see Wang Bokao’s deadpan face, accompanied by the confused Su Li.

Su Li: So, Wang Bokao is such a spoiled brat? Everyone hates him? Just this? Does he still want to protect himself? He might want to watch out before the crowd gets so angry that they beat both of them to death.

At the sight of Wang Bokao, both of them felt a bit scared. It was no wonder—Wang Bokao had become even more sinister as he grew up. When he was younger, he only used sharp words, with Li Feng acting as his errand boy, rushing to hit people. The Third Prince would come up with plans, but now, Wang Bokao had grown and was even more outrageous. Anyone who offended him would find themselves facing all kinds of blackmail and humiliation the next day. People were so scared of him that they would avoid him at all costs.

However, when their gaze shifted, they saw Su Li.

“Hey, isn’t that Su Li? Why isn’t she with the Su family?”

“Zhao, don’t poke at her wounds. She’s no longer a lady of the Su family. Doesn’t she need to hold on to the thigh of her childhood friend?”

“Right, the Third Prince isn’t someone just anyone can marry. She knows the engagement is off, so doesn’t she have to grab onto Wang Gongzi?”

“Don’t say that, but now that Li Feng has come to his senses and reformed, doesn’t she have no choice but to cling to Wang Gongzi?”

“You!” Wang Bokao’s face turned red with anger. Su Li wasn’t like that at all!

However, Su Li wasn’t angry. She simply smiled brightly at Zhao Wen.

“小 Wen~”

“Damn, who are you calling 小 Wen?” Zhao Wen jumped up. She wasn’t even the lady of the Su family anymore, and she still dared to compete with him. Was she eating bear heart and leopard gall?!

Zhao Wen was the son of the Minister of Justice. Su Li thought about the collaboration with the Ministry of Justice to promote legal education, and Zhao Wen seemed to be the perfect candidate for the job.

Let you talk about me, hmph. You’ll be crying later.

The more Su Li thought about it, the happier she became, her smile growing even brighter. “Hey, the Minister of Justice recommended you to me, saying you’re well-versed in law and exceptionally talented…”

Before she could finish, Zhao Wen took three steps back in fright. “What! What are you scheming?! I’ll tell you—Su Li, no one wants you, but I’m wanted!”

“You better give up on this idea!”

Zhao Wen was in a panic. Although he knew that his father had liked Su Li’s “dark” personality when she was younger, how could he now want to help her? Recommend her? He, the great Zhao Gongzi, had many noble young ladies who admired him! He would never want Su Li!

Su Li: … What is he thinking?

Wang Bokao widened his eyes. Wait, what’s going on here? Wasn’t the engagement still unbroken? Han Yueyi didn’t seem to want to marry Su Li, so why was Su Li trying to marry Zhao Wen?

Has the world changed this quickly? When did these two have a relationship? Where had they gotten to?

No, Wang Bokao, what are you thinking? Han Yueyi is your brother, and Su Li is your childhood friend. They must be locked together, no one else can get in the way. It’s time to step up and protect Han Yueyi’s love!

“Su Li, about this matter… maybe you should reconsider? Actually, Han…”

“Oh, you’re Su Li?”

Before Wang Bokao could finish speaking, the commotion they were causing attracted a lot of attention. When a strange but beautiful voice rang out, the situation became even more lively.

In the crowd, a group of young girls surrounded a beautiful woman walking toward them. At the front was the recently famous true daughter of the Su family, Su Yao.

She was dressed in flowing feathered garments, and the sunlight made her graceful and ethereal figure even more enchanting.

With light steps, her face showed worry as she slowly walked up to Su Li.

“Little sister, Father, and Grandmother have been worrying about you day and night. We’ve searched everywhere for you, and you’ve lost so much weight. Why won’t you come home? And why are you still with strange men…” She stopped there, her lips trembling, eyes filled with tears, and instantly, everyone thought Su Li had done something wrong.

Behind her, a woman in an apricot yellow dress angrily spoke, “Su Li, you’re too much! You’re no longer the Su family’s daughter, and yet you act recklessly, repaying kindness with hatred. You’ve made the Su Chancellor’s heartache!”

“Exactly, the Su family raised you for over ten years! You’ve always had a bad temper, and it’s only because of the Su family’s goodwill that we didn’t argue with you. But now that you’re no longer part of the Su family, you’ve become so bold. Not only have you insulted Su Yao, but you’ve also tarnished the Su family’s reputation! How can there be such an ungrateful person like you?”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t even step into this banquet. Do you even know what your status is?”

“Even the Su Chancellor wanted to continue taking care of you, but look at you—how ungrateful you are, acting so arrogantly!”

The group of girls stood behind Su Yao, speaking up for her.

Su Li: …? What have I done wrong?

She looked confused at Wang Bokao, who also shook his head. Neither of them understood why these people were acting this way, but both could smell a strong scent of tea in the air.

More and more people were attracted by the noise.

Han Yueyi had been talking with Li Feng. When Han Yueyi went to the northern border for training, Li Feng was also sent to the military camp by his family. This was their first meeting in many years. They had been chatting happily until they overheard people insulting Su Li, and both came over.

Han Yueyi was in a hurry, while Li Feng frowned, thinking that Su Li must have bullied someone again. Though he had been foolish in the past and had been manipulated by Su Li, he had grown wiser now! Looking back at their childhood, he found it rather funny. Besides Han Yueyi, Wang Bokao and Su Li had only corrupted the royal city’s atmosphere. They weren’t good people!

Hmph, fortunately, he had been awakened by a master, or else he would have been used as a pawn by the two of them.

Su Li, seeing how everyone was getting more and more hostile, felt that although she didn’t want to get involved in the drama and didn’t want to offend any noble families, one must have a backbone, right? “Everyone, I…”

Before she could finish, someone interrupted.

“Su Li, why don’t you apologize to Miss Su Yao?