"Bi Tao, no one's here yet. Come back first," Su Nansheng said helplessly, looking at Bi Tao, who was peeping through the crack of the door.
Today was the day when Su Hele was going on a date with He Jin.
They had come to the Cloudtop Teahouse early and chosen a seat diagonally opposite for a better view.
However, Bi Tao was so excited that she kept pacing by the door, making Su Nansheng dizzy.
"I don't want to miss a thing. Once they're both here, we can carry out the plan," Bi Tao said, unable to suppress the grin on her face at the thought of what was to come.
Su Nansheng shook her head helplessly. Bi Tao was so eager to execute the task probably because she couldn't wait to see the fun.
"Here he comes, here he comes. It's Young Master He this time," Bi Tao whispered instinctively, even though she knew the other person couldn't hear her.
Seeing her caution, Su Nansheng also felt a bit nervous.
"Have you arranged everything as I said?"
This time, they had to strike a decisive blow and seize the initiative.
"Don't worry, Second Miss. It's guaranteed to be foolproof," Bi Tao replied.
Just then, Bi Tao suddenly turned her head. "They're all here."
Su Nansheng nodded. "Go."
Bi Tao quietly left the private room, while Su Nansheng stood at the door, taking over from Bi Tao to keep an eye on the closed door opposite.
...
When Su Hele entered the room, He Jin immediately asked, "A Le, did you ask me here for something?"
They had just met a few days ago, and Concubine Li was keeping a close eye on him. It had taken him a great deal of effort to sneak out of the mansion.
Su Hele didn't answer. Instead, she silently knelt in front of the tea table and looked at He Jin sorrowfully.
She was wearing a moon - white long dress embroidered with cloud patterns and had her hair styled in a flying fairy bun. There were not many hair ornaments in her bun, just a simple bamboo - shaped jade hairpin, making her look pure and elegant.
Her slender figure and teary eyes made her look extremely delicate and pitiful.
He Jin felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze. He poured himself a cup of tea before asking, "What on earth is going on?"
After a long while, Su Hele finally spoke, her voice full of resentment.
"Does the young master dislike me?"
"Of course not! A Le, I know you came to the mansion the other day. I was forced. There had to be someone in charge of the male guests. If I hadn't shown up, there would have been no one else," He Jin explained.
Su Hele gently shook her head, and her expression returned to calm.
"I don't care about that day. I asked you to meet this time not to question you about it."
"Then you must have got some new poems and want to appreciate them with me," He Jin said, relieved. As expected, she was understanding and knew her place.
Su Hele still shook her head. "I came this time to say goodbye to you, young master. I'm going to Fangzhou with my parents."
"What?" He Jin looked shocked.
"Recently, many people have come to the mansion to propose marriage. Father has ordered me to choose one of them and get engaged," Su Hele continued.
He Jin slammed the teacup on the tea table with a bang.
"No! Didn't I tell you to wait for me for a few more days? Once I persuade Concubine Li, I'll come to propose marriage."
Su Hele ignored him and went on.
"I don't want to marry someone against my will, but I also don't want to force you. So I'd rather go to Fangzhou with my parents."
Saying this, Su Hele slowly stood up, tears streaming down her face.
"Master He, let's just say we're destined to be apart. I hope you'll take good care of yourself in the future."
...
On a side street near the Cloudtop Teahouse, Xie Yao was about to get into the carriage after coming out of the jewelry store when she was surrounded by a group of beggar children.
"Miss, please have mercy on us and give us something to eat, miss," they pleaded.
Xie Yao covered her nose and stepped back. "Where did these dirty things come from?"
Her maid quickly joined in to shoo them away. "Get out of here, hurry up!"
"Humph, if you don't have anything to give, there's no need to curse at us," one of the beggar children said.
"Right! Miss Su from the Su family is so kind. She doesn't dislike us and even gives us things," another one chimed in.
Xie Yao, who had already been walking towards the carriage, suddenly stopped.
"Which Miss Su from the Su family?"
The little beggar child tilted his head defiantly. "Why should I tell you?"
Xie Yao sneered, took the purse from her maid's waist, and threw a few pieces of silver on the ground.
"Tell me now."
The beggar children cheered as they picked up the silver and said,
"We don't know her name. We only heard that her father was demoted from office."
"Hey, I just saw her go into the Cloudtop Teahouse on the street. We'll go and beg for food from her later."
Hearing this, a smug smile appeared on Xie Yao's face.
Good! She finally got her.
If her mother hadn't stopped her that day, she would have given Su Hele, that hypocritical woman, a good beating.
How dare she push her! She was just asking for trouble.
She had been looking for a chance to teach her a lesson, but Su Hele rarely went out, making it difficult to run into her. This time, she finally found her.
Xie Yao turned to the coachman. "Go to the Cloudtop Teahouse."
She was going to teach Su Hele a lesson today and let her know the consequences of angering her.
In a corner nearby, Bi Tao ran through the narrow alley and came to the door of the Cloudtop Teahouse. Then she walked up to the second floor at a leisurely pace.
She glanced at the still - closed door diagonally opposite and quickly slipped into the private room.
"Second Miss, the other party is coming. Are they still inside?"
Su Nansheng stroked Bi Tao's back to help her calm down. "No one has come out."
"Great!" Bi Tao exclaimed excitedly.
There was going to be a big show. Her efforts hadn't been in vain.
She kept going to the window to check if Xie Yao's carriage had arrived and then to the crack of the door to see if the people opposite had left, like a restless badger.
"She's here. It's about to start," Bi Tao said.
Su Nansheng followed Bi Tao's gaze and saw Xie Yao getting out of the carriage.
...
Xie Yao entered the teahouse and easily got the information about which room Su Hele was in from the waiter.
When she quickly made her way to the second floor, the waiters realized something was wrong and tried to stop her, but it was too late.
"Kick the door down!" Xie Yao ordered the coachman beside her.
She hadn't brought any guards because she was afraid she might not be able to defeat Su Hele. So she had brought the coachman along, and now he came in handy.
The coachman followed the order and gave the door a hard kick. With a loud bang, the door flew open.
"Su Hele, let's see where you can hide this time!"
After shouting this, instead of entering the room to fight, Xie Yao stood still at the door.
Some people had followed her when she came up in a rage. Seeing this, they all craned their necks to look inside.
Inside the private room, Su Hele and He Jin were hugging each other, both looking shocked.
"Oh, so she's here to catch an affair. I knew there must be something going on in here," someone said.
This remark was like pouring cold water into hot oil, causing an uproar.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. The morals of the world are declining," another person commented.
"Get out of the way. Let me have a look!"
The people inside quickly came to their senses and separated immediately.
Su Hele lowered her head and went into the inner room, while He Jin looked furious.
"Where did this crazy woman come from? So rude! How dare you kick the door! Get out!"
Saying this, He Jin stepped forward and was about to close the door.
But Xie Yao stepped into the room first.
"I was wondering who it was. So it's the second young master of the Marquis Mansion. You're having a tryst with someone here and yet you call me crazy. Is this your so - called propriety?"