Chapter 013: The Cause of the Incident

"Artificial respiration?" Mrs. Liu looked at her son with a face full of confusion, not understanding what he meant.

Xue Rui gestured with his hands, "It's mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, a method to save someone who has fallen into water."

"Don't talk nonsense, there's no such thing!" Mrs. Liu was clearly stunned.

She understood the proprieties between men and women; if her son did such a thing, even if Su Su woke up, she'd surely faint from shame.

"Mother, it's an emergency. As long as we can save her, you won't tell, I won't tell, how would she ever know? Let's not delay, saving her is most important!" Xue Rui bent down, opening his mouth wide.

"Cough, cough..."

Before he could get close, Su Su beneath him suddenly began to cough.

Xue Rui was left frozen in embarrassment.

Hearing the commotion, Mrs. Liu hurriedly pushed her son aside and excitedly patted Su Su’s cheeks, "Su Su, you’re awake!"

Under Mrs. Liu’s constant calling, Su Su slowly opened her eyes.

"Madam, I thought I’d never see you again..."

Struggling to sit up, Su Su cried as she threw herself into Mrs. Liu’s arms.

"My child, as long as you’re awake, heaven has truly blessed us." Mrs. Liu hugged Su Su tightly, tears falling from her eyes in distress.

Mistress and servant sobbed in each other’s arms, leaving Xue Rui feeling like an outsider.

Worried the commotion might attract attention, Xue Rui urged, "Mother, let’s talk inside. It’s not good for others to see us at the door."

Together, they helped Su Su onto the bed.

Mrs. Liu asked, "Su Su, tell me honestly, why did you think of jumping into the well?"

Su Su wiped her tears, sneaking a glance at Xue Rui, biting her lip, "I can’t say..."

Her demeanor clearly showed she didn’t want Xue Rui to hear.

Mrs. Liu caught on and ordered Xue Rui, "Rui’er, I need to talk privately with Su Su. Go out and close the door."

Her tone allowed no refusal.

"As if I care to listen!"

Xue Rui pouted disdainfully and left the room.

Once the door was shut, he immediately pressed himself against it like a gecko, eavesdropping.

Inside, Su Su began to recount her story.

Since Xue Rui and his mother had been expelled from the family home, Su Su had been assigned to work in the main house, serving Xue Rui’s uncle and aunt.

Madam Zhao, the uncle’s wife, was harsh and, due to the strained relationship between the two branches, had little affection for Su Su. She often found excuses to scold her.

Su Su was, after all, just a maid. When wronged, she could only shed tears in secret, unwilling to let others see.

Days passed, and she thought things would continue like this.

But a few days ago, Madam Zhao suddenly told Su Su she wanted her to become her son’s concubine.

Su Su’s mind went blank; it felt as if the sky were collapsing.

Among the Xue family’s two branches, only Xue Rui and his cousin Xue Yan were male heirs, yet neither was promising.

Xue Yan, the eldest son of the main branch, was doted on by the old lady, Madam Li. Pampered since childhood, he’d developed a host of bad habits.

In recent years, Xue Yan had learned the ways of pleasure from disreputable friends, often staying out all night.

Xue Rui, a little older now, liked to follow his cousin, picking up many bad habits.

Not long ago, Xue Rui even stole something from his father to pawn for a bit of silver, so he could visit the top courtesan at Spring Pavilion with his cousin.

Unexpectedly, the two collided with Gu Chun, the grandson of Marquis Zhenyuan, on the street and were chased for two blocks.

Xue Yan, familiar with the pleasure quarters, slipped away quickly, leaving Xue Rui behind. Xue Rui accidentally ran into a dead-end alley, and before he could react, his head was struck, and he passed out.

Afterward, Xue Yuanhao reported to the authorities. Wanping County sent officers to inquire at the Marquis’s household, but Gu Chun flatly denied everything, claiming Xue Rui fell by himself!

Worse still, the uncle’s family, afraid of offending the Marquis, refused to let Xue Yan testify.

With no witnesses or evidence, and the county magistrate unwilling to antagonize the Marquis, he persuaded Xue Yuanhao to withdraw the case, suppressing the matter.

With such a despicable family, Su Su felt no affection. Now that Madam Zhao wanted her to become Xue Yan’s concubine, Su Su immediately refused.

Later, she learned the reason from other servants.

Xue Yan, increasingly unruly, was beyond Mrs. Liu’s control.

After Su Su arrived at the main house, Xue Yan noticed her beauty surpassing that of the courtesans at Spring Pavilion, and became obsessed, pestering Madam Zhao to grant Su Su to him as a concubine.

Madam Zhao believed her son’s late nights were due to his unmarried state. If he took a concubine, perhaps he would settle down, so she agreed.

Unexpectedly, Su Su refused, leaving Madam Zhao in a bind.

Though the maids had signed indenture contracts and could be beaten or scolded at will, becoming a concubine required mutual consent.

If forced, and word reached the old lady, Madam Zhao would surely suffer consequences.

Therefore, Madam Zhao advised her son to wait until she convinced Su Su.

Xue Yan agreed outwardly but was furious inside, cursing Su Su for not knowing her place.

Last night, Xue Yan visited a brothel again, returning home still drunk.

Passing the back wing, he remembered Su Su lived there, desire flaring. He wanted to force himself on her, making her his by default.

Su Su, accustomed to rising early, was combing her hair when Xue Yan barged in. She immediately understood his intent and threatened to report him to Madam Zhao.

Xue Yan, drunk and heedless, lunged at her.

Fortunately, he was a bit tipsy and stumbled, allowing Su Su to escape.

Humiliated and angry, Su Su knew that once Xue Yan had his eye on her, it was only a matter of time before she fell into his clutches.

The thought of her pure body being defiled by such a scoundrel filled her with despair.

Seeing Xue Yan approaching again, Su Su steeled herself, fled the room, and threw herself into the well, seeking death to escape.

...

Outside, Xue Rui’s rage nearly boiled over. If Su Su had been harmed, he would have stormed the uncle’s house, blade in hand, to confront them.

Inside, Su Su’s eyes were swollen red from crying, “Actually, I woke up long ago, but I was so afraid I didn’t dare open my eyes. When I heard I’d be sent to Madam, I finally relaxed. Just now at the gate, I wanted to get up, but hadn’t thought how to explain, so I kept lying there until... until...”

Xue Rui was speechless. If he hadn’t mentioned artificial respiration, Su Su might have remained there for much longer.

After listening for a while, hearing the mistress and maid discuss trivial household matters, Xue Rui lost interest and went to the kitchen.

After all the commotion, nearly half an hour had passed, and mealtime was long overdue.

He found the kitchen cold and empty.

Left with no choice, Xue Rui began cooking.

By the time the mistress and maid emerged, the fragrant aroma of steamed rice filled the room.

Watching Xue Rui skillfully stir-fry, Su Su was stunned.

Was this still the unreliable Second Young Master she remembered?