Concubine Li's voice was trembling. She was short of breath, but she didn't care at the moment. There was only one thought in her mind.
This banquet couldn't end up with no guests. They couldn't be laughed at!
Not to mention how much effort and money she had spent on this banquet, just thinking about the gossiping tongues of those peddlers waiting outside, she couldn't let this banquet have only a handful of guests.
If this banquet really ended in the current situation, they would become the laughingstock of the whole capital!
Concubine Li didn't even dare to imagine that scene.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as she wished. The maid sent to Qionghua Garden reported that they didn't know where Chen Wanrong had gone or when she would be back. There was no news from Su Nansheng either.
As for her several friends, only two came in a hurry. The rest were either not at home or had something to prevent them from coming.
So even though Concubine Li was extremely reluctant, by the end of the banquet, there were less than twenty guests in the mansion, fewer than the number of serving maids.
Concubine Li sat quietly in the main seat, looking at the dozens of empty tables in the yard. Her face grew darker and darker.
The maids around all shrank their necks, holding their breaths and not daring to make a sound.
Concubine Li swept the things on the table to the ground with one sweep of her hand:
"Call Su Hele to me!"
Immediately, a young maid ran out with her head down, not even caring about the etiquette.
Concubine Li stumbled and sat back on the round stool. The veins on her forehead throbbed, almost bursting through the flesh.
Seeing this, Nanny Wang immediately glanced at a young maid beside her: "Go and call Doctor Liu from the mansion. Hurry up."
Another young maid rushed out, escaping from this terrifying yard.
...
When Su Hele walked into the yard with her head held high, Concubine Li was leaning on the table, pinching her temples.
The maids around all had their heads down, almost burying their heads into their necks.
Su Hele walked closer. Before she could speak, a porcelain plate flew towards her face. But this time, she managed to dodge it.
Looking down at the porcelain plate shattered into pieces on the ground, Su Hele showed a look of displeasure.
All she knew was to use violence. How vulgar.
"Where's your banquet for a hundred people? Where are your distinguished guests!"
Concubine Li's voice was hoarse, like a wounded wolf howling, sending shivers down people's spines.
"Auntie, it's not my fault. They broke their promises and went back on their words."
Su Hele held her head high, her voice full of complaints.
They had clearly accepted the invitation cards, but they didn't come when the banquet started. They were all villains!
"Breaking their promises? How dare you blame them?"
Concubine Li's eyes widened roundly, as if her eyeballs were about to pop out of their sockets.
Su Hele took a step back in fright. She lowered her eyes and said:
"It must be Su Nansheng's doing. She must have stopped those noble ladies from coming. Otherwise, why would she be so guilty that she didn't even dare to attend the banquet."
Concubine Li took a quick step forward and slapped Su Hele several times on both sides of her face:
"You're still arguing at this moment. You still don't know your mistake!"
Because Concubine Li moved so fast, it was only after she had exhausted her strength and let her arms droop that Su Hele realized what had happened and covered her face.
"You hit me? How dare you hit me!"
And in front of so many servants.
Hearing this, Concubine Li lifted her foot to kick Su Hele, but was stopped by Nanny Wang:
"Auntie, don't be angry. It's not worth losing your dignity for this."
"Dignity? What dignity do I have now? How can I still have the face to talk about dignity!"
Concubine Li's finger that was pointing at Su Hele was trembling. If she hadn't been so weak, she really would have wanted to kill Su Hele with her own hands.
Su Hele was about to say something else when Su Mo grabbed her sleeve.
Seeing Su Mo's timid look, Su Hele raised her hand and slapped her:
"Mind your own business!"
Seeing this, Concubine Li's vision went black again. If it weren't for Nanny Wang supporting her, she might have fainted again.
Fortunately, Doctor Liu from the mansion arrived in time and immediately gave her an acupuncture treatment, which allowed Concubine Li to catch her breath.
"Beat her twenty boards. Right here!"
Concubine Li was too angry to reason anymore and directly gave the order.
"You don't have the right to do this. I..."
"Beat her!"
...
As soon as Su Nansheng returned to the Marquis of Anshun's Mansion, she felt that the atmosphere in the mansion was a bit strange. It was eerily quiet.
Bitao also felt it. She even unconsciously lightened her steps. After realizing it, she resumed her normal pace, but her voice was still inexplicably low:
"What's going on? What did I miss?"
Su Nansheng looked at the maids who didn't dare to look her in the eye. Her curiosity was piqued.
She quickened her steps and returned to Tingfeng Courtyard. As soon as she got there, she called Ruyi over.
"Concubine Li was really angry. Twenty boards. The second young mistress was beaten unconscious. Her back and waist were all covered in blood."
Ruyi still looked terrified. She regretted going to watch the commotion.
"Ah? Such a big thing happened, but I didn't even see it."
Bitao also felt regretful. Such a big show, and she had missed it.
If only she had known...
Thinking of the illusion show she had seen before, Bitao was a bit torn for a moment. It was like choosing between the left and right hands.
Su Nansheng was also a bit surprised. She had thought that some noble ladies might not come to the banquet, but she hadn't expected so many of them not to come.
Fortunately, she had left. Otherwise, this matter might have been blamed on her.
Just as she was thinking this, she heard Ruyi continue:
"The second young mistress was so stubborn. Even in such a state, she still refused to admit her mistake. She insisted that someone else was behind it."
As she said this, Ruyi looked at Su Nansheng. Obviously, this someone else was her.
Humph!
Su Nansheng was so angry that she laughed. It seemed that she really couldn't escape this.
"Bitao, come with me to visit the patient."
Su Nansheng stood up. Since they said she was behind it, then she, the culprit, had to go and show herself in front of Su Hele.
...
"Auntie Su, the mistress is still unconscious. Why don't you come another day?"
Su Mo's face was swollen. Her expression was numb.
Su Nansheng glanced at her face and sighed:
"Su Mo, I forgot a bottle of medicine for stopping bleeding and removing stasis in Tingfeng Courtyard. Could you go and get it from Ruyi for me?"
After a long while, two lines of clear tears slid down Su Mo's face and dripped onto her front, quickly disappearing.
Su Mo looked back at the door, curtsied, and said:
"I'll go and get the medicine for you right away, auntie."
Looking at Su Mo's thin back, Bitao said in a low voice:
"Mistress, I'll get a bottle of ointment for removing stasis and swelling for her later."
Su Nansheng nodded. Then she pushed open the door and stepped into the inner room.
A strong smell of herbs mixed with the smell of blood assailed her nostrils. Su Nansheng slowed down her breathing.
Through the thin bed curtain, she could see Su Hele lying on her side on the couch. Her waist and buttocks were covered with medicine, and there were still faint traces of blood on the white gauze.
Hearing the sound, Su Hele said:
"Have you driven her away?"
Her voice was very low, weak and feeble.
Su Nansheng didn't reply. She just sat down on her own and stared at Su Hele.