Could it be that Gu Taohua doesn’t like Cousin?
If she liked him, her reaction shouldn’t be this indifferent.
Aunt often mentioned to her the achievements of defeating Min Baozhen.
Min Baozhen had a fiery personality, couldn’t tolerate even a grain of sand, and would explode with the slightest provocation.
Lu Family took advantage of this, often acting pitiful and provocatively in front of Su Shihang, and Min Baozhen was fooled every time.
Eventually, Min Baozhen became known throughout Shengjing as a "crazy" woman, completely garnering the disgust of Su Shihang, leading to a total breakdown in their relationship, and ultimately her fierce nature ended her life decisively.
Aunt truly won, becoming the legitimate hostess of Su Mansion.
Under Aunt’s guidance, Lu Yiner became thoroughly familiar with Aunt’s tactics but never got the chance to use them.
Now, using them for the first time, she found that Aunt’s tactics for eliminating romantic rivals were completely ineffective against Gu Taohua.
Gu Taohua was not enraged, instead, it provoked a strong disdain from Su Chengmin towards Lu Yiner.
Lu Yiner felt a bit flustered.
"Cousin." Lu Yiner said with reddened eyes, looking aggrieved, "Uncle and Aunt often think about you, Cousin, come home with me, your study is all tidied up for you."
She refused to believe it couldn’t provoke Gu Taohua.
Gu Taohua, however, burst into laughter.
Both came to take a man, yet Lu Yiner and Zhao Xiyue have such different styles.
Second sister-in-law’s description of Lu Yiner was accurate; she was indeed a delicate willow, enticing pity.
Lu Yiner felt somewhat embarrassed and angry amid the laughter.
Tears swirled in her eyes, making it seem like she was bullied by the two people in front of her.
Su Chengmin got angry and said, "I talked to you, and you don’t understand? Who’s your cousin, why are you randomly claiming relatives? Go tell your aunt, don’t bother unnecessarily."
Lu Yiner bit her lip, a sob escaped from her lips.
"Cousin."
Su Chengmin couldn’t stand her demeanor, reminding him of when his stepmother would always insert herself timidly between his parents with reddened eyes.
It made him feel terribly annoyed, and he coldly sneered, "I don’t know who you learned this brothel manner from, stop flaunting in front of me. If you want to show off, go two turns outside this door, there are people who like it there."
Lu Yiner’s face turned from green to white, her mind was thunderous from the words.
What did Cousin Su take her for?
Outside East Market Street, turning two corners, is where the famous brothels of Shengjing are located.
Su Chengmin continued, "You’re the daughter of a decent family, don’t learn these crooked skills from your aunt."
Lu Yiner’s tears instantly held back.
Her entire face burned like fire.
She staggered to the street, only realizing she didn’t know how she left Jufu Supermarket.
Su Chengmin’s words were too harsh a blow to her.
She felt she couldn’t face Su Chengmin anymore.
Lu Yiner cried all the way back to Su Mansion, not eating for an entire day.
Lu Family didn’t see Lu Yiner coming back from outside, nor knew if the food was delivered to Su Chengmin, so they sent a maid to bring Lu Yiner over.
Seeing Lu Yiner’s reddened eyes, they guessed Lu Yiner had been wronged by Su Chengmin.
They coldly scolded, "Why are you crying?"
Lu Yiner’s tears flowed even more profusely.
Lu Family frowned and asked, "Did Su Chengmin bully you?"
Hearing Aunt mention Su Chengmin, Lu Yiner’s tears flowed more fiercely.
Su Chengmin’s words felt like sharp blades, slicing her heart bit by bit.
"What happened? Speak, just crying doesn’t count." Lu Family raised their voice.
Lu Family looked impatiently at their niece.
This niece had a naturally seductive look, but never used her seductive skills.
Su Chengmin came back three times, and many opportunities were created for Lu Yiner, but she never succeeded in winning Su Chengmin over.
If not for the niece still having value, and the Lu Family having no other suitable girls, Lu Family would have given up on Lu Yiner long ago.
Lu Yiner, seeing Aunt was angry, sniffled and said, "Aunt, today I saw Cousin with the girl he likes."
Lu Family frowned, is there really such a girl?
Yesterday before the emperor, she thought this girl was made up by Su Chengmin.
Since there really is such a person, who is this girl?
Lu Family asked, "Do you know that girl?"
Lu Yiner said, "Yes, it’s Taohua."
Lu Family found the name very familiar.
Couldn’t place it, but she was sure it wasn’t the daughter of any prominent family or official, who would have such a rustic name in the big families of Shengjing.
Even Lu Yiner was originally called Lu Huahua as a child. After coming to Shengjing, Aunt found the name too rustic and changed it to Lu Yiner.
Lu Family asked, "Gu Taohua? Which family’s girl?"
Lu Yiner said, "Aunt knows Taohua Dessert, that’s her shop."
Lu Family suddenly understood, she had seen this girl, last month ordered a cake from Taohua Dessert for her mother-in-law’s birthday, it was Gu Taohua who personally served them.
She felt disdain inside, a rather pretty girl but showing her face as a shopkeeper.
Recently, because of Princess Ming Yue, Taohua Dessert once again came into the spotlight.
Thus, she learned the shop was backed by the Grandson.
This means, this girl named Gu Taohua was the civilian relative of the Grandson.
Lu Family’s expression became unpredictable.
Su Chengmin actually fell for Gu Taohua.
Thinking about it, their feelings probably developed while he was on the run and down-and-out in the countryside.
But Lu Family did not think such feelings could last.
Like Su Shihang, when a poor scholar developed feelings with her in the same village, later she understood, Su Shihang married her for a reason. She helped care for the widowed mother-in-law and managed the household, her family used all their farming resources to support Su Shihang’s studies in the county school, even borrowed money from relatives and friends to send him to the capital for the exam.
The moment Su Shihang swore if he betrayed her he’d never rest in peace after death was vivid, yet once he gained fame he indeed betrayed her.
Men are like this, seeking more when they have little, he chose her during his downfall because she was the best option in reach.
Once he succeeded, found a better choice, he abandoned their years of affection.
She believed Su Chengmin would do the same.
Thinking so, a bitterness arose, simultaneously deepening her hatred for Min Baozhen.
Lu Family glanced at Lu Yiner, and said coldly, "I thought it was a prominent lady from Shengjing, turns out to be a country girl merchant. So what if she has the Grandson as her backer, let alone the Grandson hasn’t matured, have you seen anyone gaining success still caring for rural relatives? The Grandson now sees civilian relatives as precious, but in time he’ll understand that those country ties won’t advance him, he’ll inevitably sever ties with the Tong Family and Gu Family."
On this point, Lu Family was firmly convinced, believing Su Chengmin’s entanglement with Gu Taohua was merely because of the Grandson.
Now the Grandson had greater support from the Emperor, then Su Chengmin had more options for marriage.
She had seen Gu Taohua’s spirited demeanor at Taohua Dessert, clearly an assertive girl, just like herself young.
Such girls are men’s strongest support during their downfall, but not their choice when successful.