Su Qiao was Marquis Su's only legitimate son.
Even if his health prevented him from staying in the capital and enjoying a life of comfort, he should still have been carefully provided for with the most precious medicinal herbs, the finest food and silk, and a whole household of maids and old servants. How could they possibly have ignored him so completely?
This looked more like a younger relative who had made a mistake, been utterly abandoned, and exiled.
Whether he lived or died no longer mattered to them.
The trace of gloom in Long Jingyuan's heart suddenly vanished. He narrowed his dark eyes. "Investigate further!"
"Yes." The hidden guard received the order and vanished.
Su Qiao had no idea that her entire background was about to be uncovered. She slept comfortably until noon before waking.
After getting up, she ate lunch, then practiced a sword routine in the courtyard. Only afterward did she leisurely sip tea and read in the pavilion.
Seeing how carefree she looked, 444 sighed worriedly. Host, avoiding him like this isn't a solution either.
"If I don't avoid him, do you want to watch me smash that bastard's head?"
She had been abandoned, so couldn't she at least make herself comfortable?
Where was the justice in that?
444: "..."
Fine. Compared to smashing the emperor's head, pretending to be ill and hiding in the courtyard was still a little better.
Unfortunately, wishes were beautiful.
That afternoon, people from the palace arrived, and they came with great fanfare. Steward Quan, the emperor's trusted man, personally brought a large pile of gifts and supplies.
At the same time, he brought the emperor's verbal decree, ordering Su Qiao to attend the evening's Qionglin Banquet.
Su Qiao felt a breath lodge in her chest. She could neither swallow it