The story of a bullied daughter's rise to power

Chapter 36 Guilt

General Situ had originally felt somewhat guilty towards Situ Yaorao, but upon hearing Madam Situ's forceful questioning, he immediately became furious: "This rebellious girl brought her own death upon herself by taking a piece of withered grass to the Empress Dowager. If I hadn't used a knife and pretended to kill her, I'm afraid my entire Situ family would be in trouble now. Besides, she grabbed it herself."

"Withered grass?" Madam Situ laughed, looking at General Situ sarcastically. "I personally chose this gift. I asked Hong Lei's uncle to bring a purple peony from out of town. It's called Shengle. How did it become withered grass?"

General Situ's expression changed when he heard this: "What did you say?"

"General, think about what I said. However, I hope you don't forget one thing. Honglei is your daughter, but so is my Yaorao. Honglei has been wronged, but Yaorao has never been wronged. If birth is a mistake, then my husband, why don't you fight against this ridiculous system? Instead, you bully Yaorao? Bully me, a woman?"

Madam Situ sneered.

"What are you talking about? The situation was urgent at the time, and I really didn't know what was going on." General Situ was embarrassed. However, Madam Situ didn't even listen, and pulled Situ Yaorao's arm and walked towards the courtyard.

Madam Situ dragged Situ Yaorao to her yard. She pulled her to sit beside her with a distressed look on her face, and said, "My Yaorao, does your hand hurt?"

Situ Yaorao shook her head. "The pain in my hand is much better than the pain in my heart. Mother, my father really wants to kill me." Situ Yaorao put on an expression of grievance. Upon hearing this, Madam Situ's face darkened and she gritted her teeth, "Ah, mother knows that man has always disliked us. Yaorao, don't worry, mother will definitely not let him hurt you. But you, have you bandaged your hand properly?"

"Yes, the imperial physician in the palace has bandaged it. He also gave pain-relieving powder to my daughter, but she didn't want it." Situ Yaorao said.

"Why not? What will happen?" Mrs. Situ asked worriedly.

"My daughter wants to remember these injuries and this pain forever. This is because it is proof that my father treats us badly. Mother, today I seem to understand that in this house, apart from you, no one else will be good to me." Situ Yaorao looked enlightened. Upon hearing this, Mrs. Situ was so excited that she almost cried. She touched Situ Yaorao's head and said, "Okay, it's good that you understand. Yaorao, you must know that in this Situ family, everyone is afraid of us and everyone hates us. To the people of the Situ family, we are not family members because our status is more noble. Look? Your father hates you so much, but he doesn't dare to divorce you. This is because he doesn't dare. And Yaorao, you don't have to be afraid of anyone." Mrs. Situ said in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Situ Yaorao nodded and said, "Yes, mother. I understand."

"Well, now that we know, let's talk about another thing." Madam Situ looked at Situ Yaorao and said seriously. Situ Yaorao was puzzled when she heard this: "What is it?"

"Recently, the kitchen has reported that the people in your place seem to be particularly voracious eaters. But if I remember correctly, there were only you and Lian'er there. How could there be a man's appetite?" Madam Situ's explanation was clear, and Situ Yaorao was well aware of what she was asking. Given Madam Situ's cautious nature and the degree to which she cherished her daughter, she would never have come to her to ask if she hadn't been completely certain that she was hiding a man. So, it was probably already exposed. There was no point in hiding it now!

Thinking in her heart, Situ Yaorao straightened her expression and knelt on the ground: "Mother, I want to keep him here for the time being."

"Daughter, are you attracted to him?" Madam Situ asked worriedly. Hearing this, Situ Yaorao shook her head and said, "Daughter, I just don't want him to die. Besides, he does look very pleasing to the eye. Don't you think so, mother?"

Haha! Not at all!

Madam Situ was almost going crazy. How could it be pleasing to the eye?

That man, those eyes. Thinking about it, Madam Situ felt like she was going to faint from anger. But her daughter was still watching. So, Madam Situ looked at Situ Yaorao and said earnestly: "Yaorao, if you want to keep him, I will allow you. But remember, you can't let your father see him. Also, you are not allowed to fall in love with him."

"Why? Does he have a grudge against my father?" Situ Yaorao asked curiously.

"He has a feud with everyone in the world. As for falling in love with him... Yaorao, that kind of man is heartless. So, don't get too involved with him, otherwise, you will be the only one who gets hurt in the end." Madam Situ looked at Situ Yaorao with heartache. Hearing this, Situ Yaorao nodded blankly: "Yes, daughter, I understand."

"Yes. I'm glad to know." Madam Situ nodded in satisfaction. Then, looking at Situ Yaorao's hand, she felt distressed, so she said, "Go back and have a good rest. I'll ask the kitchen to make bird's nest porridge for you later."

"Yes, I'll go back first." Situ Yaorao said, winked at Madam Situ, and left. Returning to the room, the first thing Situ Yaorao did was to see if the incredibly beautiful man was safe and sound.

When Situ Yaorao rushed into the room, Cang was reading a book on the bed, turning the pages gracefully. He became quiet, like a beautiful cat.

The moment she saw him, Situ Yaorao was speechless.

After hearing the sound of Situ Yaorao pushing the door, Cang ignored it until he finished reading the page of the book. Then he put the book away and looked at Situ Yaorao, laughing so hard that the world turned pale: "Miss, are you back?"

"Well, are you... okay?" Situ Yaorao asked worriedly. Hearing this, Cang shook his head, but when his eyes fell on Situ Yaorao's hand, his expression changed: "Your hand?"

"Oh, nothing, just a little accident." After saying that, Situ Yaorao began to look at the beauty closely. She really didn't love this man, but she liked this beautiful face.

In this world, there are always people who are pleasing to the eye. And the man in front of me is one of them.

"Cang, wait until you feel better, I'll take you out to play, okay?" Situ Yaorao asked inexplicably. Cang was also stunned when he heard this. After a while, he smiled and said, "Miss, are you disgusted with me and want me to get better quickly so that you can drive me away?"

"How is that possible? I don't mind if you live here for the rest of your life. With someone as beautiful as you by my side, I can probably live ten more years." Situ Yaorao said with a smile.

"Then why do you hope I get better soon?" The man stared at Situ Yaorao, as if trying to tell if she was lying. However, to his disappointment, Situ Yaorao had never lied from beginning to end.

"It's worrying that you always lie down like this. So I thought, it would be great if you could get better. Then, we can ride horses together, play together, hunt together. Even... I can take you to a brothel." Situ Yaorao said.

"Flower House?" Cang was a little dazed.

"Yes, let me tell you, I know a courtesan named Ruyi. Actually, this Ruyi is played by a man. It's funny that no one knows it." Situ Yaorao said, and couldn't help laughing.

Hearing this, Cang also chuckled. His blood-red eyes stared at Situ Yaorao, looking a little strange. After a while, he reached out and touched Situ Yaorao's face, muttering, "If a man gets a beauty like Miss, he probably won't want to go to a brothel in his life, right?"