CHAPTER FIVE — I WANT YOU TO NEVER STAND AGAIN
Su Ying stood rigidly, head bowed so low her chin nearly touched her chest. She didn't dare breathe. The hall's silence pressed down like a weight, and the Old Madam's irritation simmered visibly.
Useless girl.
Couldn't even manage a simple scheme without tripping over her own feet.
The Old Madam's gaze lingered on Su Ying with thinly veiled contempt. A rotten piece of wood—no matter how much one carved, it would never become anything worthwhile. But the Fang family's influence was vast, and their support invaluable. So she swallowed her anger, smoothed her expression, and forced a conciliatory tone.
"This Lyu Qiao was truly audacious," she said, voice dripping with false sympathy. "She held a grudge against Ruolin for years. Who would have thought she'd take revenge by framing Zijin? Thank heavens Mother saw through it, or Zijin would have suffered an injustice today."
With a few carefully chosen words, she swept suspicion away from Su Ying and dumped the entire mess onto a convenient scapegoat. It was flimsy, but plausible enough. And everyone in the room knew the truth: even if Lyu Qiao had shouted Su Ying's name until her throat bled, no one would dare convict a daughter of the Fang family.
Great‑Grandmother said nothing, but her eyes flicked briefly toward Su Zijin—calm, composed, unreadable. After a long moment, she rose.
"Since the truth has been revealed, let us end this matter here. I am tired. I will return."
"Mother, allow me to escort you," the Old Madam said quickly, stepping forward.
But Great‑Grandmother shook her off and looked directly at Su Zijin.
"Let little Zijin accompany me. It has been too long since we last spoke."
Without waiting for agreement, she turned and walked out, Qin's Mother supporting her arm.
Su Zijin followed, her steps steady.
Behind them, Su Ying's face drained of colour. The sunlight spilling through the doorway seemed to burn her skin.
---
They walked in silence through the courtyard, past carved railings and sun‑drenched stone paths. Only when they reached the lotus pond—its surface a sea of green leaves—did Great‑Grandmother stop.
She gazed at the water, her voice soft but pointed.
"Are you satisfied with today's outcome?"
"Yes," Su Zijin replied.
"Only a maidservant?" Great‑Grandmother turned, studying her closely. "Is that enough for you?"
Su Zijin met her gaze without flinching. Her eyes were calm—too calm for a girl of fourteen.
"I am satisfied to have cleared my name and remained in the manor. And Lyu Qiao's punishment was a bonus."
Great‑Grandmother's heart tightened. Those eyes… they were far too steady, far too old. What had this child endured to become like this?
She sighed.
"That pearl—Wei Zi—you may take it back. I heard your grandmother found it especially for you."
"Grandmother did come," Su Zijin said, "but I know nothing of flowers or plants. It would be wasted in my room."
"I will keep it for you," Great‑Grandmother said gently. "If you ever want it, you may take it back."
She turned her gaze once more to the lotus pond, the leaves rustling softly in the breeze.
"Go on. I wish to sit here a while."
Su Zijin bowed and left, her small figure disappearing along the winding corridor.
Qin's Mother watched her go, a sigh escaping her lips.
"This young miss is pitiful. Without Old Madame today, she would not have had a chance to defend herself."
"Who in the inner courtyard isn't pitiful?" Great‑Grandmother murmured.
The two women exchanged a look and fell silent.
---
Elsewhere in the Su Mansion, peace had returned—everywhere except Su Ying's room.
Inside, porcelain shattered against the floor in violent bursts. Maidservants huddled outside the door, trembling, praying they wouldn't be dragged inside to suffer her wrath.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
"You useless wretches!" Su Ying screamed. "You only know how to make things worse! Was today not disastrous enough?"
The door slammed open.
Concubine Fang swept in, her expression thunderous. She marched to the black wooden chair and sat heavily, glaring at Su Ying as though she were something foul stuck to her shoe.
"You've made a complete mess of things," she snapped. "Do you feel proud? Do you feel clever?"
Su Ying's eyes filled with tears. "Aunt, how is this my fault? How was I supposed to know Su Zijin knew about the powder? We finally got rid of that little demon Su Lingshan, and now this—this Su Zijin refuses to be removed!"
Her voice cracked with frustration. She had worked so hard—schemed, plotted, whispered—to send Su Lingshan and Concubine Liu to the nunnery. And now, just when she thought she could sweep Su Zijin aside with a simple trick, everything had collapsed.
"Powder?" Concubine Fang scoffed. "It's nothing but a parlour trick to fool that idiot Lyu Qiao. The powder rubs off after a few hours. How could it still be on her hands after a day? That girl panicked and exposed herself."
Su Ying clenched her fists. "Su Zijin is too cunning!"
"She's not cunning," Concubine Fang said coldly. "You're simply too stupid. I told you to speak to Lyu Qiao discreetly, yet you let half the household see you together."
She shuddered, remembering the way Great‑Grandmother had looked at Su Ying earlier. If this jeopardised her own plans, she would never forgive the girl.
"Aunt, forget that. What do we do now?" Su Ying asked desperately. "We must get rid of Su Zijin. Floral Feast is coming soon."
At the mention of Floral Feast, Concubine Fang's expression tightened. They had worked for years to reach this point. Nothing could go wrong now.
"Su Zijin must be removed," she said, voice low and venomous. "I have a plan. This time, she and Madame Xu will never be able to stand again."
Su Ying's eyes lit up. She rushed forward eagerly.
"How? Tell me! How can we make sure they never rise again?"
Concubine Fang leaned in and whispered.
As Su Ying listened, her smile grew, her earlier fear melting into smug delight.
"Aunt, this will ruin Su Zijin completely. She won't even be able to show her face, let alone attend Floral Feast!"
"Floral Feast?" Concubine Fang sneered. "She'll be lucky if she isn't hiding in her room, weeping for the rest of her life."
She stroked Su Ying's cheek, pride gleaming in her eyes.
After all these years, their moment had finally come.
This time, Madame Xu and her daughter would never rise again.