Chapter 783: Mercy, Heroine

Gu Taohua grabbed an iron rod and started hitting the clerk at the front.

She beat him until he cried out for his parents.

Lu Yiner and her maid held onto their iron rods, too scared to know what to do.

Too violent!

The clerks saw that Tong Huaqiong had a hold of Su Chengji and were hesitant to advance, fearing the consequences.

They could withstand the young master’s fury, but if they provoked the other side into killing or maiming the young master, they would be doomed.

But Gu Taohua didn’t spare them, swinging her iron rod wildly at them.

These lackeys had it coming.

When Su Chengji harassed women, not only did they not stop him, they grinned obscenely.

The group begged for mercy under Gu Taohua’s attack, calling her a hero.

Lu Yiner was dumbfounded, her eyes filled with admiration for Gu Taohua.

So cool!

So powerful!

So charming!

No wonder my cousin likes her!

Tong Huaqiong looked at Lu Yiner starry-eyed over Gu Taohua and was speechless.

Useless! Doesn’t even think to swing the iron rod and help Gu Taohua?

Is it really the time to express admiration?

Even the maid next to her is better, inspired by Gu Taohua’s fierce momentum, she charged at the clerks waving her iron rod.

She aimed her rod at the youngest clerk, the one who had sneered lecherously when Su Chengji harassed the young mistress, looking at her as if she were a lamb fallen into a tiger’s den.

She knew exactly what that gaze meant.

When else should revenge be taken if not now?

At this moment, an older clerk saw Tong Huaqiong holding Su Chengji and had a moment of inspiration, seizing the opportunity to grab the still awe-struck Lu Yiner.

Lu Yiner screamed, her hand holding the iron rod trembling.

"Release our young master, or the young miss won’t fare well either," the clerk shouted to Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong rolled her eyes at Lu Yiner, saying bluntly, "You’re really useless."

Each side held a hostage.

Neither side giving way.

The other side pulled out a knife to threaten Lu Yiner, who was so scared she closed her eyes and screamed loudly.

"Shut up, you’re driving me crazy," Gu Taohua roared.

During the standoff, the sound of horse hooves echoed down the alley.

In an instant, something swung towards the clerk’s face, making him scream and release Lu Yiner.

Lu Yiner crawled and rolled to Tong Huaqiong’s side.

Soon, Su Chengmin and Gao Ming jumped down from their horses.

The Imperial Guard, during their patrol, heard sounds of fighting in the alley, and Su Chengmin had brought Gao Ming along to investigate.

As soon as they entered, they heard Lu Yiner’s screams.

"Husband," Lu Yiner cried endlessly in Gao Ming’s arms.

"What’s going on?"

Su Chengmin looked at the injured clerk and Su Chengji at Tong Huaqiong’s feet, and knew it was definitely Su Chengji’s doing.

Yet he still asked.

Lu Yiner’s maid, while crying, clearly articulated the entire situation of Su Chengji’s harassment and threats to Lu Yiner.

Gao Ming, holding Lu Yiner, was so furious he wanted to personally deal with Su Chengji.

Su Chengmin, with a livid face, stopped Gao Ming.

If Gao Ming crippled Su Chengji, Su Shihang would find ways to retaliate against Gao Ming, but it’s different for him; Su Shihang and he shared a bit of a mutually utilitarian "father-son relationship."

Su Chengmin stood over Su Chengji, looking down at him.

"Big Brother," Su Chengji’s voice trembled.

He saw strong killing intent in Su Chengmin’s eyes.

"Why do you enjoy making a spectacle of yourself on the streets? You’re simply disgracing the Su Family. It’s said an elder brother is like a father, so as your elder brother, it’s my duty to educate and punish you, to prevent you from causing greater trouble in the future."

"Today you dared to provoke an Imperial Guard’s wife; tomorrow, you’ll provoke the family members of a court official, or perhaps even a Royal Princess. To prevent you from bringing greater disaster to the Su Family, I’ll resolve this at the root today."

With that, Su Chengmin kicked Su Chengji in the crotch.

Su Chengji’s vision went dark, and he passed out.

Su Chengmin wore a cold smile on his lips.

Su Chengji had been unruly since childhood.

As young as thirteen, he forced himself on a maid in the mansion.

The Lu Family instead claimed the maid was a lowlife who seduced Su Chengji and had her beaten and expelled from the house.

The maid’s reputation ruined, with nowhere to go, she committed suicide by hanging.

Over the years, Su Chengji harmed numerous women, and he should atone for it.

Letting him die quickly would be too easy.

A person like him should be deprived of what he treasures most and be tormented bit by bit.

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua exchanged a glance.

Now that Su Chengji has been crippled, Su Chengmin doesn’t acknowledge the Su Family. Who knows how Su Shihang will react when he finds out about his second son’s condition being ruined.

"Scram," Su Chengmin looked coldly at Su Chengji’s clerks.

The clerks wanted to leave but couldn’t.

They were covered in injuries inflicted by Gu Taohua.

Eventually, supporting each other, they dragged Su Chengji back to Su Mansion.

"Thanks to Aunt Tong and Taohua, I might have died here today," Lu Yiner said to Gao Ming after Su Chengji was dragged away.

Gao Ming expressed his gratitude to Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua.

Tong Huaqiong waved her hand. She didn’t care for Lu Yiner; she simply couldn’t stand Su Chengji’s evil deeds. Even if it wasn’t Lu Yiner being harassed, she and Taohua would have stepped in.

After the fierce fight, Gu Taohua was exhausted too.

Su Chengmin took Gu Taohua and Tong Huaqiong home. With the early winter dusk, Su Chengmin lit two lamps fixed to the front of the carriage.

In the dim light, Tong Huaqiong watched the fine snowflakes descend.

The first snow in Shengjing came earlier than in Qinghe Bay.

...

Su Mansion.

After being dragged home, Su Chengji regained consciousness after the doctor’s treatment.

Old Mrs. Su and Su Shihang were watching by his side.

Upon learning that Su Chengji was crippled, Old Mrs. Su nearly fainted.

Even though she knew Su Chengji was not as good as Su Chengmin, he was still a descendant of the Su Mansion. Now, crippled, how would he carry on the family name?

Her eldest grandson, Su Chengmin, doesn’t recognize the Su Mansion. Even if he bears the surname Su, he might start a new family line after marriage.

She worried deeply that Su Chengmin’s descendants would have nothing to do with the Su Family, and he wouldn’t carry on the family name.

But Old Mrs. Su was overthinking; even if Su Chengji wasn’t crippled, he would never continue the family line for the Su Mansion.

The harshest thing Min Baozhen did in her lifetime, among others, was sterilizing Su Chengji.

But only Mrs. Min knew this.

"How heartless of him, aiming to cut off my Su Family completely. When the Su Family’s descendants dwindle in the future, how will I face our ancestors after my time?"

Old Mrs. Su wept, cursing Su Chengmin thoroughly.

"Father, seeing how ruthless Big Brother is, can you just stand by?"

Su Chengji was in utter despair, hoping Su Shihang would avenge him.

"Father, Big Brother has treated me like this; you must seek justice for me. I don’t ask for his life, only that you punish him according to family law so that I can exact the same from him," Su Chengji cried in despair.

Su Shihang’s face was dark.

If he could, he wished to deal with Su Chengmin himself.

"Rebellious son."

It was uncertain whether this rebuke was for Su Chengmin or Su Chengji.

"Your current reckless ways are all because of your mother’s spoiling. Even if I punish your brother, I can’t restore your body to its former state. Now that things are like this, stay put at home. Don’t think about retaliating against your brother; even I can’t protect you if you do," Su Shihang said to his youngest son.

"Father..." Su Chengji cried in rage, his voice cracking.

Su Shihang walked out expressionlessly.