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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 her desk, her needle and thread frozen in midair. A sudden chill ran through her as she thought of what was to come.
Li Lingfeng's expression was cold, the warmth that once graced his brow had vanished, leaving only a sense of oppression and hostility.
"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 brief moment, panic flickered in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with 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 openly. I will provide answers."
Li Lingfeng scoffed, stepping closer, his voice dropping dangerously low. "Zhao Ziming just reported to me about the situation in Jiangnan. I am already aware that you secretly sent someone to buy silver and hire people to coerce Ruo Lan into the residence—all for the sake of the Li family's legacy. 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. "You think you are doing this for my sake, but do you realize that this is what truly brings shame? You brought Ruo Lan into the residence—what do you expect me to do? Do you think of me, Li Lingfeng, as someone incapable of understanding even 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 angry that you acted on your own? 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 looked 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 residence every day. Relatives outside, servants within the house, even the old women on the streets point at me and say that the Li Residence has no children, calling me an ill-fated person. Do you think I don't care about this? But what I fear more is that you will be wronged!"
Li Lingfeng's chest heaved violently as he gazed at her for a long time, his expression complex before he finally spoke coldly. "Since you care so much about what others think, why not give up your position as the mistress today? It might free you as well."
Upon hearing this, Su Wan'er swayed slightly, nearly unable to stand, her face as pale as paper.
Her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a single word.
The room fell into another silence.
Seeing her like this, Li Lingfeng's anger crumbled in an instant, leaving only helplessness.
They sat quietly together, neither of them speaking 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 stroking the embroidered handkerchief.
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