Liu Yiran, filled with anger, lost control of his words and directly revealed that Su Pingping had bribed him to seduce Su An'an and planned to lure her away.
He spitefully added that Su Pingping had promised that once An'an was taken away, all her money, including that silver note of five hundred liang, and even An'an herself, would belong to him, to be mistreated as cruelly as possible.
Su Pingping instantly collapsed to the ground.
Upon hearing this, Master Su was infuriated. So, she intended to harm An'an.
If An'an was truly deceived, then how could he explain matters to Liu Shi? Despite Liu Shi's jovial appearance, she was actually quite narrow-minded. If anything happened to An'an, it would definitely implicate the Su Family, and the business he had painstakingly built would be ruined.
Nearly destroyed by this rebellious daughter.
"Silence, all of you!"
Master Su was so angry that even his fingertips trembled, "Someone, take the second miss to the ancestral hall and privately hand this shameless scoundrel over to Head Constable Li."
He gave a secret sign, "Instruct him never to reveal anything about the Su Family from this man's mouth again."
Sending him to the public office was impossible; given his loose tongue, he could truly ruin the reputation of his family daughter. The only option was to privately hand him over to Head Constable Li for punishment.
Head Constable Li frequently received favors from Master Su, and handling such matters was second nature to him, immediately assuring Master Su to rest easy.
Su Pingping was dragged to the ancestral hall, and Father Su brought out the ruler, a hand's width, and one meter long, frightening Su Pingping to crawl over, clutching his leg and pleading, "Father, father, I'm innocent, surely that man conspired with Su An'an to frame me, I don't know him well, truly unfamiliar, the one who has relations with him is Su An'an."
At this moment, she didn't even call sister anymore, directly using Su An'an's name.
Heh, Father Su sneered angrily, and said, "Fine, you keep saying you're innocent, then why were you the one bribing the servant to empty out the rear gate just for a moment, why were you at the rear gate at midnight, and why, when this man was pulling you, you didn't scream immediately, tell me."
Su Pingping was momentarily rendered speechless, unable to say that those arrangements were for Su An'an, yet appearing there was her.
Why not scream, for fear of Liu Yiran being discovered, and Su An'an unable to escape.
She had absolutely no grounds for defense.
Father Su's expression was dark and sinister, suddenly swung the ruler, slicing through the air with a fierce sound, "Do you truly think your father has gone senile?"
The daughters' little schemes at home, a bit of competition for favor was harmless, but if those schemes affected the Su Family's reputation and business, that wouldn't be acceptable.
Especially with this vicious plan of Su Pingping, causing him even more anger.
Really a pig brain, only considering her own benefits, completely neglecting family interests; raising her was all in vain.
In a fit of rage, Su Sheng's hand did not hold back, beating Su Pingping until her skin was raw, her body stained with blood, only stopping when she fell unconscious, then ordered her confinement, without his permission, no one was allowed to visit or let her leave the ancestral hall.
Outside, Su Mother who rushed over was blocked, crying and howling, Su Sheng in his anger, furiously reprimanded her as well, after all she was raised by an outside chamber, just brainless, unable to properly educate her daughter, confined together for reflection.
As he walked out of the courtyard, he glanced in the direction of Zilan Courtyard, hesitated for a moment, then instructed the steward to secretly add extra servants to guard Su An'an's boudoir, tomorrow's grand wedding must proceed flawlessly.
He knew An'an was unwilling to marry, but what of it, under parental dictate, she had no choice, having been raised for so long, it was time for her to repay the family.
The main bedroom in Zilan Courtyard had already been extinguished, Su An'an merely turned over in bed hearing the faint rustling outside.
She sighed, the sound dispersed into the mildly cold night.
The drama in the deep night ended, a shadow on the willow tree in the courtyard blended quietly into the night.
Yuxiu Village, Shen Family Manor.
The study room door was knocked.
"Enter."
The door opened, allowing a shadow clad in darkness to step in.
Shen Juncheng leisurely read a book, his eyes didn't lift, casually asked, "Did she run away?"
Chao Sheng bowed in respect, "Reporting to Young Master, that Su An'an did not run, not only did she not run, but suddenly schemed against her second sister who had helped her."
Chao Sheng narrated the earlier drama.
Shen Juncheng raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised, a hint of cunning, originally thought she'd fail to grasp the situation.
After a moment, he waved his hand, "I understand, you may leave."
Chao Sheng hesitated, intending to inquire whether the Young Master truly intended to marry that woman, but seeing the Young Master's indifferent demeanor, remained silent, finishing the report, then withdrew.
With the door closed, Shen Juncheng slowly laid down the book, gazing out the window at the moon, his pupils a peculiar pale color, almost cool, with long, narrow eye ends, and thick long lashes, extraordinarily beautiful eyes.
Yet within his gaze was a touch of playfulness, casual, but captivating.
The next day.
The Su Mansion was adorned with lanterns and decorations, jubilant with cheer, none mentioned last night's event.
The Shen Family bridal sedan arrived, Su An'an had long changed into the bridal crown of red silk, supported by the elder of joys, she proceeded to the front hall to bid farewell to her father.
The front hall lacked the presence of Su Pingping and Liu Shi, Su An'an was neither surprised nor inquired, dutifully spoke farewell words to her father.
Yesterday's commotion, Father Su suppressed it, did not publicize or inform people, yet how could Su An'an be unaware.
Just observed the extra house servants guarding the door, Su An'an understood.
Cui Yan even comforted her saying, "Miss, listen, master surely knows the second miss intended harm upon you, giving you revenge."
Listen to Su Pingping's cries, which even echoed to her Zilan courtyard.
Su An'an merely lowered her lashes, without any joy on her face, did father hit Su Pingping so harshly just to vent for her?
She knew, that wasn't the case.
It was merely because Su Pingping violated his taboo.
He did not mind daughters vying for favor with little tricks, yet cared about those tricks' ultimate consequences; if touching upon reputation and interests, a beating was light.
In her father's eyes, interests and reputation outweighed daughters.
Just like past lives, she drifted to this place, believing herself to still be father's daughter, realizing her mistakes, repented, made efforts to escape stealthily to return home to the Su Family, seeking father with joyous intent.
The outcome, was being harshly thrown out by servants, father's cold declaration of severance of ties, removed from the family registry, afterward Su An'an ceased to exist in the Su Family.
At the time, Su An'an sat in daze at the Su Mansion entrance for a long, long time, staring at the back of father embracing obedient smart Su Pingping, finally burst into laughter.
Turns out, the father who always adored her, merely wanted an obedient daughter, not a blemished one.
Once she had blemishes, firstly abandoned was her father.
No wonder, after her departure, father never sent anyone to find her, nor inquired, since from the moment she foolishly left, Su An'an lost the value, destined that Su Family had no use for her anymore.
She clambered up and walked away, never returning to the Su Family, until freezing to death on the streets never turned back.