Chapter Fourteen: The Key

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Su Zhinian dared to threaten her with her status! When Su Zhinian loses everything, she’d probably end up begging her in tears.

“Xuan’er!” The matriarch and Gu Shijin scolded simultaneously.

But Gu Lingxuan couldn’t care less; Su Zhinian’s words had driven her nearly mad.

“Hurry up and hand over the authority of housekeeper and the keys to the storeroom!” As soon as Gu Lingxuan said this, Gu’s mother’s eyes lit up.

She thought this was the perfect moment to seize control of the housekeeper’s power!

“Xuan’er is right. Since you are no longer the general’s wife, hand over the housekeeper’s authority immediately, so that in the future no one will say our general’s household lets a concubine manage the affairs!” Gu’s mother sneered disdainfully.

“Madam, Second Miss, our lady is still the rightful general’s wife!” Yushu trembled with anger.

These wolves wanted nothing less than to devour their lady completely.

Gu Shijin glanced at Su Zhinian, who remained silent, looking deeply hurt; a pang of discomfort stirred within him.

“Enough of this nonsense. Until the imperial decree arrives, Nian Nian is still the general’s wife and the mistress of the household!” The elderly lady cleared her throat and spoke sternly.

Su Zhinian cursed the old hag inwardly; she had played along only because of the deception from this old woman.

She had entrusted the keys to the account room to her, but that room held her dowry—she must take it back!

That was the real purpose behind today’s ordeal.

“Oh, it sounds well and good, but nowadays even a servant dares to ignore me.”

“In the future, without the love of my husband or a child to rely on… ah…” A sigh revealed endless bitterness.

Su Zhinian’s pitiful and helpless demeanor instantly stirred some sympathy in Gu Shijin.

He opened his mouth to say something, but realized he could not fulfill her request.

If he did, it would mean betraying Xixi.

He had sworn never to betray Xixi.

Thus, his eyes were filled with complexity, but he made no move.

Gu Lingxuan, however, could not bear to see Su Zhinian feign weakness and mocked her without mercy.

“You love to threaten others, don’t you? Now that big brother is back, why are you playing the victim?”

She had seemed so proud just moments ago, yet now this act—how had she never noticed Su Zhinian’s two-faced nature?

But once she seized control of the household affairs, she would get whatever she wanted.

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Usually, whenever she wanted to buy something, she had to get Su Zhinian’s approval.

If it were in her mother’s hands, her dowry would surely be even more substantial.

Then she could use that money to buy Gu Heng an official post, and perhaps her parents would no longer look down on him.

Gu Lingxuan’s schemes were well thought out.

What she did not know was that Su Zhinian had long ago entrusted the storeroom keys to the matriarch for safekeeping.

So whenever she wanted anything, it wasn’t that Su Zhinian refused, but rather the matriarch withheld it.

The good were placed in the matriarch’s hands; the bad in Su Zhinian’s.

“The imperial decree should come down any day now; whether it’s handed over early or late makes no difference,” Gu’s mother muttered incessantly.

Listening to the surrounding accusations, Su Zhinian bit her lip, casting a complicated glance at the matriarch.

To maintain her image of kindness and magnanimity, the matriarch cleared her throat.

“Enough! Nian Nian is still the mistress of the general’s household. Previously, she kept the storeroom keys with me temporarily; now, she shall have them returned!”

Knowing Su Zhinian’s filial nature, the matriarch was certain she wouldn’t demand more, so she generously called for the keys to be brought out.

“Then Nian Nian thanks the matriarch,” Su Zhinian said plainly as she took the keys.

To outsiders, this appeared as if the matriarch was defending Su Zhinian.

Only Su Zhinian knew the matriarch’s true intention—to risk a small bet in hopes of winning her complete loyalty to the general’s household.

Now that she had the keys, she needed to plan how to transfer her dowry out.

This entire family was like bloodsucking lice; she had to make sure they gave up any thought of seizing her dowry.

Thinking this, Su Zhinian did not notice the matriarch’s displeased expression.

Today the girl was acting strange—first pretending to be naive, then not even bothering with formalities, and simply taking the storeroom keys away.

While the keys were in her hands, the matriarch had been ruthless about what she wanted from the storeroom.

She had also used them to benefit her maternal family significantly.

If Su Zhinian investigated, everything would be exposed.

The matriarch now felt some regret.

But then she thought, maybe Su Zhinian was right—because Gu Shijin did not like her and she lacked security, she needed these things for her own sense of safety.

Once she had the chance to play the victim again, Nian Nian, being so dutiful, would surely return the keys to her!

With this thought, the matriarch’s gaze softened toward Su Zhinian.

Having obtained what she wanted, Su Zhinian’s entire demeanor visibly brightened.

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Gu Shijin exhaled in relief, grateful that his grandmother could balance household affairs for him.

“Let Nian Nian continue managing the household affairs! Xixi has never been involved in these things; in the future, let Nian Nian guide her gradually.”

Hearing this, Su Zhinian felt nothing but disgust.

Yushu was covered in goosebumps.

“Big brother! Grandmother!!” Gu Lingxuan couldn’t understand why the matriarch was so biased toward Su Zhinian—who was truly her biological granddaughter?

Even her brother rarely sided with Su Zhinian.

Gu’s mother ground her teeth in frustration. Su Zhinian was truly cunning!

Yet she hadn’t realized that the matriarch was the true mastermind behind the household.

“Xuan’er is becoming more unruly! How can you shout in front of your elders?”

“Second Miss will be confined to the Water Pavilion for reflection!”

The matriarch’s voice was stern. If Gu Lingxuan had not provoked Su Zhinian repeatedly, she wouldn’t have returned the storeroom keys.

She needed to be taught a lesson!

“All right, if there’s nothing else, Shijin, come with me.”

Gu Jingyuan rose, signaling Gu Shijin to leave Songhe Residence with him.

“Lin, since there’s nothing else, you may go back. I’ll talk with Nian Nian.”

Once Gu Shijin left, the matriarch’s attitude toward Gu’s mother suddenly turned cold, and she ordered her to leave.

“Grandmother, Xuan’er knows her mistake, please don’t confine her,” Gu Lingxuan pouted, trying to coax her.

“You’re the general’s younger sister now. Many good families are watching us closely. If you don’t learn proper manners, you’ll suffer in your future home!”

Gu’s mother had wanted to plead for her daughter but wisely fell silent at those words.

“Yes…”

Before leaving, the mother and daughter cast a fierce glare at Su Zhinian.

“Fortunately, Grandmother has always cared for Nian Nian. Since the general doesn’t like me, I will stay with Grandmother—that’s also good.”

“Good child, it’s all Grandmother’s failing, ah…” The matriarch tried to play the victim, but Su Zhinian revealed the bruises inflicted by Gu Shijin, tears welling in her eyes, looking pitiful.

“This!!” The matriarch’s pupils contracted sharply; her grandson’s cruelty was too harsh.