Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 144: Truly Distant Family Bonds

Su Juan recalled Li Ruohua. Because she wasn’t really a child, she remembered everything about Li Ruohua, who often taught her, a girl of only a few years, that women are not weak and can do what men do.

Even in her dying words to her, she instructed her to be a carefree and happy person, not to be trapped by rigid dogma for a lifetime.

Li Ruohua, unlike Madam Su, who carefully calculated for Su Lingling, lived proudly and did not want to bow down, always wanting to live a different life. On closer thought, her character was truly like the Old Emperor’s and very much like the Empress’s.

If she had been born in the Imperial City, it would have been a different story.

Su Juan sighed, lamenting that fate plays tricks on people...

The wedding party from the Xin Family finally arrived. Although it was a bit impoverished, the Su Family was, after all, the foremost merchant family, and with the dowry prepared for Su Lingling, they barely managed to keep up appearances.

Standing at a distance, Su Juan watched Su Lingling sit in the bridal sedan chair, then turned her gaze to Xin Zhang. She had seen him two or three times before; once a minister of loyalty, now even before entering the court, he already showed signs of future greatness.

Xie Xun had no good feelings towards the Su Family. He came this time just to accompany Su Juan, and now watching the ostentation of Su Lingling’s wedding, he felt even more that the Su Family was biased.

Clearly, Su Juan was also a legitimate daughter, yet when Su Lingling was pampered in the Capital, she was sent to the countryside to be raised. Now, this ceremony looked more grand than when Su Juan married.

In recent years, in the Capital, the custom at such joyous events was that Old Master Su and many guests would go to the Xin Family to drink wine.

On the way, Xie Xun and Su Juan shared a carriage, listening to Su Juan’s innermost thoughts. Amazingly, she still had the mind to observe the groom, and Xie Xun said with displeasure, "Your father is truly biased beyond belief."

When had the Xie Family ever suffered such grievances?

Su Juan laughed, "What father?"

Xie Xun: "?"

[They say with a stepmother, there’s no father. Where do I have a father? I was long buried alongside my mother in the grave.]

Xie Xun was a little taken aback, looking at Su Juan’s indifferent demeanor, but found himself feeling a bit sorry for her.

Su Juan, however, felt nothing, [Perhaps it’s truly due to weak familial ties.]

So even coming here, there was no sense of kinship.

Xie Xun patted her shoulder, "It’s okay, the Su Family might not treat you well, but my Xie Family does. Look at the old man, he treats you like his daughter, even more important than his own son."

"The Su Family is too small to contain you; our Duke Mansion is much larger."

Su Juan looked at Xie Xun, staring a few more times, [He really knows how to comfort people.]

Xie Xun: "I’m telling you, the Xin Family, although now in decline, are snobbish. They always look down on merchants, claiming they’re full of the stench of money. Although this marriage was sought by the Xin Family, it’s clear to anyone that it’s directed at you, seeing how you’re now an official favored by the Emperor..."

"Just wait and see, there will surely be drama today."

This Xin Family might make things difficult for Old Master Su and his people.

Su Lingling marrying into the Xin Family was like entering a wolf’s den, and the Xin people were not easy to deal with, especially since Xin Zhang, the second son, was weak. How could Su Lingling live a good life?

What he said, Su Juan naturally understood. She looked at Xie Xun with a puzzled gaze, "What do you mean by favored by the Emperor?"

[It’s true that I’m an official, but when was I favored by the Emperor? How would I not know?]

[Where did Xie Xun hear this rumor?]

Xie Xun waved the fan in his hand, "That day during the spring hunt, you spoke disrespectfully to Your Majesty in front of all the civil and military officials, yet he didn’t punish you. Instead, he allowed you to divorce. Isn’t that favor enough?"

The Emperor already showed favoritism before knowing Su Juan’s background. Once he finds out, who knows how he might favor her.

But with the current situation, with Prince Han and Prince Jing as troubles ahead, Song Qianfan repeatedly acting against Su Juan, once her background is revealed, even Prince Han might not let it go. No matter how much the Emperor protects, it’s hard to guard against hidden threats, so before his Xie Family has a seventy to eighty percent certainty, Su Juan’s background must not be exposed.

Even the Empress, who longs to see Su Juan, has restrained herself, fearing that being discovered would bring disaster to Su Juan.

Su Juan was silent, [Wasn’t the Old Emperor just guilty?]

Xie Xun: "..." Only you would dare say that.

If anyone else said that and the Old Emperor found out, who knows how many times they’d die.

He even suspected that the person secretly helping Su Juan before was sent by the Old Emperor. Otherwise, even when drinking in the Duke Mansion, something not even the old man knew, people from the palace arrived so quickly.

The two entered the Xin Mansion, with many guests present. Indeed, the Xin Mansion was snobbish. As soon as Su Juan and Xie Xun revealed their identities, they quickly elevated the Princely Heir of the Duke Mansion, arranging for his seat at the main table.

Whereas Old Master Su and others were seated at a table in the corner, quite inconspicuous. The contrast was far too obvious.

"I had heard of the great daughter of the Su Family, and now seeing her, she is indeed different from ordinary girls. No wonder she can serve as an official in the court," Mrs. Xin approached with her daughter-in-law to converse with Su Juan.

After all, Xie Xun was from the Duke Mansion, and scenes like this were numerous for him from childhood. The Xin family’s ingratiating intentions were clear, knowing Su Juan was not close with the Su Family and thus repressing the Su Family today, hoping to curry favor with Su Juan.

They say not to hit a smiling face. Although Su Juan didn’t like the Xin family’s approach, she didn’t want to confront them directly. After all, she was there just to attend a banquet.

But she didn’t wish to establish deep ties with them either, "Madam, you’re too kind."

Then she fell silent.

Quite a few guests came forward to converse, as they were there for Su Juan. Otherwise, given Xin Family’s current state, they wouldn’t attract so many guests.

For a time, Su Juan had to deal with many people, but Xie Xun, accustomed to such occasions, managed it well.

Old Master Su watched the scene unfold and it was impossible not to be angry. A fellow guest exclaimed, "Brother Su, your eldest daughter is truly something."

It seemed the future prosperity of the Su Family depended on this eldest daughter.

However, it was said that the Su Family didn’t treat this eldest daughter well in the past, which is why she seldom returned to the Su Mansion, residing outside most days. It’s hard to say if the Su Family could share in this future wealth.

Old Master Su, being a man of great pride, even if his eldest daughter was not close to the family now, kept up appearances outside.

"After all, she’s my daughter, naturally extraordinary."

Someone chuckled under their breath, "The Su Family, after all, is a merchant family, not suited for high society."

"And yet, how did they produce such an extraordinary daughter who doesn’t seem at all like a Su Family member."

"I once saw the original Madam Su, Li Ruohua, the birth mother of the eldest daughter. Their character is exactly the same."

Old Master Su also heard these whispers, feeling both anger and shame. But at this occasion, he could not act out.

Looking at his eldest daughter surrounded by guests not far away, he seemed to see the image of Li Ruohua years ago, feeling startled and guilty. He only regretted not treating this daughter well.