C18 Come on Let's Hurt Each Other!

"Sir, I suggest you think carefully about the relationships involved before you start insulting people. Otherwise, you might end up insulting yourself and looking foolish," Bai Liyuv said nonchalantly, as if oblivious to the darkening expression on the South Suppressing King's face. She maintained a faint smile, though her words made his chest ache with anger.

"You... you! You're just as lowly as your mother!" he sputtered, pointing at her, his face flushed with rage.

"Disrespecting your parents, dishonoring your elders, harming your own sister—today, I'll beat this wicked daughter to death!" the South Suppressing King roared.

Bai Liyuv's smile faded as she stared at him coolly. "My mother, lowly? How so? She was living peacefully at the Su residence, waiting to marry her childhood sweetheart and live a happy life. And what happened? You went to the Emperor and requested a marriage decree, forcing her into this household. You married her but treated her poorly, leading to her early death. What did she do wrong? Lowly? How can you even say that with a straight face?"

"Enough!" Su Que glared at Bai Liyuv, a flash of hatred crossing his eyes before he quickly masked it with a look of deep sorrow. "How can you speak to him like that? He's your father! How did you become like this?"

Bai Liyuv looked at her, a slight smirk on his lips. "What should I call you? Princess? Or... Aunt?"

"If I called you Aunt, would you even dare to respond?" Bai Liyuv asked with a mischievous glint in his eye, watching as Su Que's face grew more troubled. She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off, "You wouldn't dare, would you? After all, you haven't had your fill of that princess title yet, have you?"

"Liyuv! How could you..." Su Que stammered, her anger barely contained as she pointed a trembling finger at Bai Liyuv. Her heart was a mix of rage and unease. She was certain that the secret from years ago was well-hidden, that Bai Liyuv knew nothing of it. But what did he mean by his words today?

"How could I what?" Bai Liyuv retorted without hesitation. "How could I be so disrespectful to an elder? Or how could I just spill the dirty deeds you did back then?"

"You insolent child!" The South Suppressing King was so furious his face twisted. Even though his affection for Su Que had waned over the years, the bond they shared still lingered. He had turned a blind eye to that incident back then, understanding the situation. But now, Bai Liyuv had exposed it in front of all the servants, leaving him, a dignified lord, in a difficult position.

Bai Liyuv chuckled, casually cleaning her ears and blowing on her fingertips. "Can't you come up with something new? You keep using the same old insults."

"Your Grace!" Su Que cried, throwing herself into the arms of the South Suppressing King. "Please don't be angry, it's not good for your health! Liyuv didn't mean it; it's all my fault. I failed to teach her properly. Please don't blame her; she's still young and doesn't understand. If I hadn't been so worried about upsetting her with too much discipline, she wouldn't have turned out so unruly. It's my fault!" With that, she dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly pitiful.

Bai Liyuv watched the South Suppressing King's face turn from blue to white, stifling a laugh. Su Que's words seemed to defend her, taking the blame upon herself, but every sentence subtly accused Liyuv of being ill-mannered and unruly, while implying that as a stepmother, she didn't dare discipline her too much.