Chapter 50: The Dismal Ploy of Sacrifice

"Should the Su Residence not accommodate you, then you shall depart from it. I vouch for your safety, do you agree?" Su Yuxin asked calmly.

"But the contract of my indenture remains with the Su Residence," the servant's eyes still held a sense of despair.

"If you distrust me, then be prepared for the poison to take your life," Su Yuxin scoffed. "Even without your testimony, I have ways to compel Peach Blossom to speak. Do you think that by abstaining from implicating me, Su Yuxiang would spare you?"

The servant's complexion grew even paler.

Though Miss Second ordinarily appeared genteel and refined, who would conceive such a malicious scheme if not someone harboring ill intentions?

"Can the young master truly ensure my safety?" the servant inquired, fingers entwined.

"You are not in a position to negotiate with me right now," Su Yuxin glanced at the servant. "I do not have the leisure to linger with you."

"I...," the servant closed their eyes, gritted their teeth, and said, "I am willing to testify."

Survival - no one willingly seeks death.

Let's take a gamble.

There isn't a worse outcome anyway.

The feast at Ning'an Hall continued, everyone exchanging toasts, the atmosphere lively.

Jin Ling entered by the wall and whispered a few words in Feng Yao's ear.

In an instant, a tumultuous storm brewed in Feng Yao's gaze.

His eyes swept over Su Yuxiang, frigid and indifferent, as though gazing at a dead person.

Unnoticed by Su Yuxiang, her entire focus fixed on the entrance to Ningfeng Hall.

She waited.

Awaiting news of Su Yuxin's defilement.

Then she could lead the general and others to 'catch them in the act.'

In the midst of public scrutiny, even if she jumped into the Yellow River, she wouldn't be able to wash away the guilt, and the general would surely divorce her in anger.

Just thinking about it, Su Yuxiang found solace.

Yet, her dream had just begun and was shattered abruptly.

Because she saw Su Yuxin entering from outside.

Adorned in a long, graceful azure gown, radiating grace and nobility.

Behind Su Yuxin were two others besides Qingque Ziyuan, one in red and one in orange.

Individuals she had never encountered before.

The woman in red held a grey-clad servant.

Su Yuxiang caught sight of the servant, and her face instantly drained of color.

How could this be...?

Her mind was in disarray, desiring to intervene but failing to find an excuse.

She could only watch helplessly as Su Yuxin led the group towards Madam Su.

"Kneel!" Chi Yan kicked the servant's knees, who immediately knelt down.

Once again, all eyes were drawn towards them.

"Xinxin, what are you up to now?" Lu Shiyuan's furrowed brow betrayed her increasing unease, prompting her to preemptively act.

"This servant, carrying aphrodisiacs, sneaked into the women's quarters and was caught red-handed by my guards," Su Yuxin's words caused a stir among the women present, their gazes turning hostile towards Madam Su and Lu Shiyuan.

In this era, a woman's chastity held immense importance.

If a woman's honor was besmirched, she had only two paths to choose from.

Either suicide or a life with the stigma of a fallen woman.

Therefore, everyone despised such clandestine actions in the inner quarters.

Su Yuxin's statement successfully placed the Su Residence in a precarious position.

Consider this, if it weren't for the General's household, which lady from another house attending a feast would bring female bodyguards?

If it were not the General's wife attending to freshen up, but someone else, wouldn't that servant have succeeded?

Just the thought sent shivers down their spines.

"Nonsense!" Lu Shiyuan frowned and rebuked, "Only maids and servants serve in the inner quarters. Where did this servant come from?"

"My stepmother asked me; I have no idea. Better to ask Second Sister," Su Yuxin glanced meaningfully at Su Yuxiang.

Instantly, all eyes turned to Su Yuxiang.

Somewhat nervous, Su Yuxiang pursed her lips, trying to appear innocent. "Ask me what? What does this have to do with me?"

"Why wouldn't it concern you? He claims to act on your orders," Su Yuxin squinted.

"Su Yuxin, don't falsely accuse me. I've never seen this servant before. If he harbors malicious intent, he should be immediately taken away and not brought here to disrupt grandmother's celebration," Su Yuxiang, feeling agitated, struggled to clear her name, her youthfulness causing her to lose composure at this critical moment.

The servant, sensing Su Yuxiang's immediate intent to kill, became infuriated. Without waiting for anyone to inquire further, he confessed fully, "Second Miss, it was at your behest that I carried the aphrodisiac. Peach Blossom, your attendant, had rehearsed with me for several days."

"Outrageous!" Su Yuxiang exploded, her once poised and refined demeanor vanishing. "I have no grievances with you! Why would you wrongly accuse me? Speak! Who instructed you? Was it Su Yuxin?"

Su Yuxin regarded Su Yuxiang as if she were a fool. In her previous life, she was indeed foolish to have been manipulated by such an imbecile and ultimately lost her life.

"Xiang'er!" Lu Shiyuan shouted. Su Yuxiang finally regained her senses. Her fair complexion turned crimson in an instant, then became deathly pale, covering her face and sobbing uncontrollably.

"Without doing anything, without knowing anything, she is accused so baselessly in public," Su Yuxiang's tears were truly heart-wrenching. Finally, she dashed towards a nearby pillar, shouting, "Better to die than endure disgrace! I'd rather die..."

"Xiang'er..." Lu Shiyuan called out desperately.

Because Su Yuxiang's actions were too sudden, even her fellow young ladies failed to react in time.

Even Peach Blossom, preoccupied with guilt, didn't immediately notice Su Yuxiang's move and thus failed to stop her in time.

Consequently, everyone watched helplessly as Su Yuxiang rushed towards the pillar.

Just as it seemed she would collide with it, Su Yuxiang abruptly halted her steps.

Due to the sudden halt, she stumbled and fell to the ground.

It was a pitiful sight.

"I thought Second Sister had the courage. Turns out it was all a farce," Su Yuxin said coolly.

Su Yuxiang's face flushed like a pig's liver and she nearly fainted from the humiliation.

She had intended to employ the feigned self-harm tactic.

She had reckoned with the number of people around her, especially with Peach Blossom standing right behind her. Surely, someone would stop her if she attempted self-harm.

That would be the turning point for her act of self-sacrifice, wouldn't it?

However, amidst the crowd, no one stepped forward to intervene for her. Initially, she had considered a gentle collision as a last resort. Yet, upon reaching the pillar, she realized she couldn't bring herself to harm her own face. Even in this stratagem of sacrifice, she couldn't bear the thought of marring her visage, potentially dealing with a lifelong consequence of a scar. "Xiang'er..." Lu Shiyuan rushed over, helping Su Yuxiang up, then turned to Su Yuxin, "She's your own sister. How could you speak this way?"