When Su Shihang was carried back home, the Lu Family almost fainted from fright, thinking Su Shihang was no longer breathing.
"Master just fainted," the attendant explained.
"How did a simple visit to find our son end up like this?"
The Lu Family couldn’t believe it.
Without understanding what had happened, the blame was immediately placed on Su Chengmin.
Su Chengmin had always been impatient with the Su Family, and seeing Su Shihang with a head injury leading to unconsciousness, it was hard not to suspect that it was Su Chengmin who caused it.
"That traitor Su Chengmin dares to kill his father."
The Lu Family cursed Su Chengmin while ordering someone to call the family doctor.
At the same time, they felt somewhat pleased.
Su Chengmin dared to lay hands on his own father, if the Imperial Censor found out about this, even if the emperor liked him, Su Chengmin’s position as the Commander of the Imperial Guard wouldn’t be secure.
The Lu Family’s eyes sparkled with calculation, this incident could be used as leverage against Su Chengmin.
As long as he agreed to call off his engagement to Gu Taohua and marry Lu Yiner, the Su Family wouldn’t pursue the matter.
"Quick, call for the old lady, only she can reign in this unfilial son now."
The Lu Family ordered someone to bring the old lady, who was reciting scriptures in the temple.
"Madam, the master’s passing out has nothing to do with the young master."
The coachman who hurried back to the house explained what had happened.
Inside, the Lu Family felt quite disappointed.
The leverage to control her stepson had vanished.
Simultaneously, she gained new insight into the ferocity of the Sui Feng Village Lady.
Forming an alliance with the stubborn, troublesome Sui Feng Village Lady and the greatest troublemaker in Shengjing, Mrs. Min, just thinking about it gave her a headache.
Thus, the marriage between Su Chengmin and Gu Taohua was a no-go.
After treatment by the family doctor, Su Shihang gradually regained consciousness.
"...Master, how are you? You scared me to death," the Lu Family wept.
Su Shihang opened and then closed his eyes again.
He did not answer the Lu Family.
Following the humiliation at Min Baozhen’s funeral by the Mighty General, today was undoubtedly the most shameful day in recent years.
A second-ranking court official was knocked unconscious.
This incident wasn’t worthwhile to accuse the Sui Feng Village Lady or Nie Xiaofeng of wrongdoing because it was the withdrawal of the son’s engagement that led to this loss of control, which was utterly embarrassing if spread around.
Even though he threatened to withdraw the engagement with Tong Huaqiong, it was merely because he perceived Tong Huaqiong as an easy target in Shengjing due to her shallow roots, and therefore thought he could manipulate her. But since the engagement was decided by the Mighty General and even known to the emperor, he would surely be at a disadvantage if this matter got out.
"Master, you can’t let this slide. The Sui Feng Village Lady’s unreasonable behavior might be tolerable, but why should a mere military man like General Nie dare to be so insolent? Where did he get the courage? If not from someone behind him. Master, you can’t let him off; he merely wounded a second-ranking court official, and therefore deserves to be impeached before the emperor, potentially even losing his military command," the Lu Family said angrily.
Her words clearly hinted to Su Shihang that Nie Xiaofeng had backing from the Mighty General.
The last military general who dared to beat a second-ranking court official was the Imperial Concubine’s brother; his military command was stripped, and he was exiled to Lingnan.
Nie Xiaofeng, merely a businessman’s son, rose to prominence by associating with the Mighty General. If he dares to harm a court official, can he be fairing better than the Imperial Concubine’s brother?
The master should seize this opportunity to bring down Nie Xiaofeng and his supporters.
Su Shihang remained silent.
He understood the meaning behind the Lu Family’s words.
If he could relieve Min Han Niu of his military power, would he be lying here?
He would have been carried to the Jinluan Palace by now.
Seeing Su Shihang’s silence, the Lu Family thought he heeded her advice, and once again took the opportunity to severely criticize Su Chengmin.
"Ultimately, this matter stems from Chengmin’s marriage. As he failed to grow up in the Su Mansion, he is estranged from you, Master, and naturally doesn’t appreciate your intentions for him. He never considered the strength of familial ties and that you could never intend harm for him. I originally intended for him to eventually warm up, heartfully understanding that it’s the Su Family that’s his true kin. Yet never did I anticipate that for him to realize his mistakes, you, Master, would be injured."
"I refuse to believe that news of your injury hasn’t reached his ears, it’s been half a day, and he hasn’t come to visit you at the estate."
The Lu Family covered her face and cried, overwhelmed with heartache.
Su Shihang listened, feeling irritated and gritted his teeth, "That traitor, if he persists in his marriage, he can forget about setting foot in the Su Mansion."
Whether or not Su Chengmin enters the Su Mansion was of little concern, but his mother’s memorial tablet was in the Su Mansion, if he wanted to pay respects to Min Baozhen, he could never sever ties completely with the Su Family.
Su Shihang knew how to manipulate situations.
"You wretched women, forever inciting trouble and discord, my grandson bears the Su name, who dares to bar his entry into the Su Mansion."
Old Mrs. Su came out from the temple and headed straight to her son’s bedside.
Initially, upon hearing about her son being knocked unconscious, her heart wrenched with worry. However, upon entering and hearing his strong voice, she felt reassured that he was alright, and her worries were settled.
When she saw the Lu Family sitting by the bedside with tears and heard her son forbidding Su Chengmin from entering, she immediately began to scold the Lu Family.
While Old Mrs. Su didn’t like Min Baozhen, it didn’t mean that she didn’t like Su Chengmin.
Even if Su Chengmin had been taken away by Mrs. Min as a child, becoming part Min Family, as long as he bore the Su name, he was genuinely the eldest grandson of the Su Family, no one could take that away.
Within Old Mrs. Su’s heart, Su Chengmin, as a descendant of the Su Family, was always clever and talented, and now as a favored individual before the emperor and as the Imperial Guard Commander, he had achieved more than the playful younger grandson of the Lu Family.
Su Chengmin’s engagement wasn’t made public, and she believed that this was due to the fault of the mother-son pair of the Min Family and the Lu Family.
This had nothing to do with her eldest grandson.
"Your husband is knocked unconscious, and instead of taking good care of him, you’re rushing to disparage my grandson. Do you think that just because you’re now the mistress of the Su Mansion, you’re above it all? Let me tell you, just you? You are not worthy of becoming the true mistress of the Su Mansion," Old Mrs. Su pointed at the Lu Family and cursed.
The Lu Family lowered their head submissively, a flash of hatred in their eyes.
She had lived humbly for so many years, yet her mother-in-law still disdained her.
Back then in the countryside, it was clearly Su Shihang who actively sought her hand, yet Old Mrs. Su looked down upon her.
In Old Mrs. Su’s mind, her son was the only Scholar in ten miles, who as a child achieved a scholarly title, a Magistrate’s daughter would be worthy of him. If it weren’t for the poverty and the lack of a father, how could a daughter of a hunter like the Lu Family ever be a fitting match?
The Lu Family marrying into the Su Mansion was practically their ancestors’ graves emitting blue smoke.
Despite marrying into the Su family, and diligently taking care of household matters inside and out, serving her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Old Mrs. Su continued to despise the Lu Family.
When she heard of her son remarrying in Shengjing, Old Mrs. Su supported it with both hands.
While Old Mrs. Su looked down on the Lu Family, it didn’t mean she could accept Min Baozhen either.
When Su Shihang passed the imperial examination and took a new wife, and Old Mrs. Su arrived in Shengjing, she expressed dissatisfaction with Min Baozhen, disapproving of her lack of refinement as a noblewoman and her brother being a military general.
In essence, no woman in the world was fit to be her daughter-in-law.