Chapter Thirteen: Su Zhentian's Fury

“Su Yunqing, how can you still have the nerve to speak up? Just look at what you’ve done—you’ve truly brought shame upon the Su family...” One of the elders stood up angrily, moving toward her with the intent to strike. But he stopped abruptly when he noticed several people standing behind her.

“Your Highness!” They all bowed to Xiao Jinghuai, no longer bothering with her.

“Everyone, please rise.” Xiao Jinghuai waved his hand and then took a seat, guided by members of the Su family.

“What brings Your Highness here today?” Su Zhentian asked, though he suspected it had to do with Su Yunqing. After all, the news about her assaulting someone had been reported by agents of the Third Prince.

“Head of the Su family, I believe you’ve heard about the incident at the academy. This is an internal matter of your family, and as an outsider, it’s not my place to interfere. I’m here today for a different reason.” Xiao Jinghuai’s eyes glanced toward Su Yunqing, who raised her eyes slightly but remained silent, causing his brow to furrow.

“Su Yunqing, what do you have to say?” He had no choice but to prompt her.

Su Yunqing stepped forward with a smile and said, “Your Highness, there’s no rush. Let’s discuss this after you agree to what I’m asking for.”

She then cast a glance over the Su family members and added, “First, let’s settle the matter of my hardship compensation.”

Hardship compensation?

The Su family looked puzzled, while Su Yunqi and Xiao Jinghuai exchanged glances fraught with unspoken meaning. Only Su Yun Yue, who had been covering her face in the back, suddenly stormed out in fury, pointing at Su Yunqing. “Su Yunqing! You actually have the nerve to ask me for hardship compensation? You hit me, and now you want me to pay you? Dream on!”

She was utterly enraged—never before had she heard of someone who had been beaten demanding money from the one they hit.

“That’s exactly what I deserve. You should know it hurt my hand to hit you!” Su Yunqing shot back with a disdainful eye roll.

“What! So you really did hit Xiaoyue!” Su Zhentian, overhearing their exchange, glared furiously at Su Yunqing.

“Grandfather, Xiaoyue is my sister. It’s only right for Yunqing to teach her a lesson!” Su Yunqi seized the opportunity to fan the flames, deliberately making it seem as if Su Yunqing was being unreasonable.

The elders of the Su family looked displeased, but Su Yunqing faced their accusations calmly and admitted, “Yes, I did hit her.”

“How dare you!” With that, a powerful spiritual pressure surged toward her.

Su Yunqing could clearly feel the overwhelming force pressing down on her, demanding she kneel in submission. Gritting her teeth, she straightened her back and fought not to bend her knees.

Veins bulging on her face from the effort, the intense spiritual pressure forced her to spit out a mouthful of blood, yet she remained defiant.

“Family head!”

“Grandfather!”

Two voices called out simultaneously—one from an elder of the Su family and the other from Su Yunqi. They both looked toward Xiao Jinghuai, unwilling for this incident to sully the Su family’s reputation.

Moreover, Su Yunqing was betrothed to Xiao Jinghuai. Even if he disliked her, treating her this way in his presence would be a direct affront to his dignity.

Su Zhentian, coming back to his senses from anger, withdrew the spiritual pressure. He had intended only to teach her a lesson, but her stubborn refusal to kneel infuriated him.

Realizing his own loss of composure, he apologized to Xiao Jinghuai, “Sorry, Your Highness, for the embarrassment.”

“No matter.” Xiao Jinghuai’s expression remained sour. Though he disliked Su Yunqing, she still bore the title of his fiancée. Her public defiance was a blatant insult to him.

Su Zhentian noticed the change in Xiao Jinghuai’s demeanor and understood that he had gone too far.

At this moment, Su Yunqing spoke again, “So, family head, you think I shouldn’t have hit her? Should I have let her severely injure me in front of everyone, and then let others criticize the Su family for poor discipline?”

“Or should I have allowed her to kill me, so that the Fengqi Academy would become a place where she acts with impunity, beating or even killing anyone who displeases her? How do you think others would view the Su family then?”

“Besides, I don’t believe I was wrong. She made a mistake, and as her elder cousin, I have the right to teach her to prevent future trouble. In fact, not only should she pay me hardship compensation, but Su Yunqi should as well, since this is what a true elder sister ought to have done. I took on the burden for her—shouldn’t I be compensated?”

She held back her resentment toward Su Zhentian and spoke firmly, cutting off their objections with her words.

Su Yunqi’s face darkened, eager to retort, but with Su Yun Yue being her own sister and having even threatened to kill Su Yunqing in front of Xiao Jinghuai, she found herself unable to argue and lowered her head in silence.

Su Zhentian’s expression also soured, disbelief coloring his tone. “Is what she says true?”

“It’s useless to ask us, family head. You can ask Your Highness or the students at Fengqi Academy. Many witnessed it. Su Yun Yue even declared in front of everyone that she wanted to kill me—and she actually laid hands on me, though she was stopped by Master Pei. If you don’t believe me, just ask.” Su Yunqing’s voice held a hint of mockery as she looked coldly at her grandfather, who was related to her by blood but showed no trace of familial affection.

The name “Pei” startled Su Zhentian; he hadn’t noticed the expression in her eyes.

There was only one Pei, and he was enrolled at Fengqi Academy—it had to be him!

He glanced at the silent Su Yunqi and the sheepish Su Yun Yue, suddenly understanding everything. With a grim face, he said, “The family will deal with this matter. As for the compensation you seek, I will make sure they pay. But from now on, when you discipline others outside, you must consider the family’s reputation—do not go too far.”

Seeing Su Yun Yue’s swollen, red face, Su Zhentian was displeased with Su Yunqing, but he swallowed his discontent.

Su Yunqi and Su Yun Yue knew the matter was settled for now, though both felt stifled and helpless.

Seeing their dispute resolved, Xiao Jinghuai grew impatient. “Su Yunqing, what you want, you’ll receive shortly. Now, shall we get down to business?”

Su Zhentian, who had intended to usher away this troublesome granddaughter, turned his head in surprise, eyes full of doubt.

Su Yunqing had long wished to annul the engagement. Having received his response, she said, “Family head, since I’m here today, I might as well settle my marriage as well.”

“Nonsense!” Su Zhentian assumed she wanted to hurry the wedding, and in front of Xiao Jinghuai, his face darkened. This made the Su family’s daughters seem overly eager, which would harm future marriage negotiations.

“How is it nonsense? Neither Your Highness nor I have feelings for each other, and you all know my situation. So why should I hold him back? I want to break off the engagement.” Originally, she intended to end the betrothal and insult Xiao Jinghuai’s dignity outright, but poverty forced her to accept money. After all, she needed to eat.

“Break off the engagement?” Not only Su Zhentian but the rest of the Su family were shocked.