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The lights in the main hall were still on when Li Lingfeng pushed the door open.
Su Wan'er sat at the desk, her needle and thread suspended in mid-air. A sudden tremor ran through her heart as she thought of what was to come.
Li Lingfeng's expression was cold, the warmth that once graced his brow now replaced by an air of hostility and repression.
"Su Wan'er, do you have something to say to me?" His voice was low, laced with barely contained anger.
Su Wan'er looked up to meet his gaze. For a fleeting moment, panic flickered in her eyes, but she quickly masked it, leaving only a gentle demeanor.
"Does my husband have something urgent to discuss?"
Li Lingfeng's knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists, his voice nearly a growl. "Do you think I am completely unaware?"
At that moment, Su Wan'er's heart nearly stopped.
She forced herself to remain calm, her tone soft. "If Li Lingfeng has doubts, please speak them plainly. I will provide answers."
Li Lingfeng let out a cold laugh and stepped closer, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "Zhao Ziming just reported that I am already aware of the situation in Jiangnan. You secretly sent people to buy silver and hire men, coercing Ruo Lan into the manor—all for the sake of the Li family's lineage. Have you ever considered my dignity? Did you ever ask me even once?"
Su Wan'er's fingers trembled slightly on her knees as she could not help but lower her head.
She bit her lip tightly, her voice barely audible. "I only..."
"Only acted on your own!" Li Lingfeng's voice suddenly rose sharply. "You think you are doing this for my sake? Do you know that everyone in the Li household is discussing me today and laughing at me tomorrow? Even my own wife dares to scheme against me in private!"
Su Wan'er shot her head up, tears glistening in her almond-shaped eyes. "I never intended to hurt my husband! But the rumors in the manor are relentless, and I cannot bear to see you humiliated, so I..."
"You cannot bear to see me humiliated?" Li Lingfeng's voice dripped with mockery. "Did you ever consider that this method is what truly brings shame? You brought Ruo Lan into the manor—what do you expect me to do? Do you take me, Li Lingfeng, for some incompetent fool who cannot even understand his own wife's intentions?"
Su Wan'er clenched her sleeves tightly, her knuckles turning white.
She wanted to argue, but found herself choked up and unable to speak.
Tears swirled in her eyes, yet she stubbornly held them back.
The room fell into a brief silence.
Li Lingfeng's breath was heavy, each word striking the air like a hammer. "You know I despise being manipulated by others, yet you still choose to act this way. Do you realize how Zhao Ziming looks at me? How Ruo Lan looks at me? Everything has changed! How am I supposed to face myself?"
Su Wan'er finally trembled as she spoke, "I only... only wanted to protect this family, to protect you..."
"Protect me?" Li Lingfeng scoffed. "The way you're protecting me is worse than killing me outright!"
He turned away, violently shaking off his sleeves, standing with his back to her by the window.
Su Wan'er's heart felt as if it had been sliced by a knife.
She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Her voice quivered but held a hint of defiance. "I know what I did was wrong, but I endure those rumors every day, my heart aching. I fear not for myself but for your suffering. If you blame me, I have no words to defend myself."
Li Lingfeng did not turn around. After a long silence, he finally spoke softly, "You always do this—bearing everything alone without sharing any burden with me. Do you think that will make me grateful?"
Su Wan'er choked back a sob, her voice trembling. "I just don't want you to be troubled. You carry the fate of the Li Family on your shoulders; as your rightful wife, I should share your worries."
"But have you ever thought about yourself?" Li Lingfeng laughed bitterly in anger. "You think that by enduring humiliation and hardship for me, I will feel relieved? The more you do this, the more I feel powerless and incapable of even protecting my own wife!"
Su Wan'er raised her hand to wipe away her tears, her gaze finally firming up. "As for Ruo Lan, that was my own stubbornness. If you are angry with me, I am willing to accept punishment. I only ask that you understand—I never intended to hurt you in any way."
Li Lingfeng suddenly turned around, his eyes filled with pain and anger. "Do you think I blame you? Do you think I'm just upset about your unilateral decisions? Su Wan'er, have I ever treated you poorly over the years? Yet you would rather conspire with outsiders than discuss things with me. What position do you place me in?"
Su Wan'er gazed at him with tear-filled eyes, her voice heavy with sorrow. "My dear husband, have you ever considered that I am also helpless? I hear the rumors in the manor every day. Relatives outside, servants within the household, even the old women on the streets point at me, saying that the Li family has no children and that I am an ill-fated person. Do you think I don't care? But what I fear more is that you will suffer!"
Li Lingfeng's chest heaved violently as he stared at her for a long time, his expression complex before he finally spoke coldly. "Since you care so much about others' opinions, why not relinquish your position as the mistress today? It might free you as well."
Upon hearing this, Su Wan'er swayed slightly, nearly losing her balance, her face turning as pale as paper.
Her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a single word.
The room fell into another heavy silence.
Seeing her like this, Li Lingfeng's anger crumbled in an instant, leaving only a sense of helplessness.
They sat quietly together, neither willing to speak again.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Lingfeng finally stood up and said softly, "It's late; you should rest early."
Su Wan'er nodded and watched him walk out the door.
She returned to the couch, her fingers unconsciously tracing the embroidered handkerchief.
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