Yin Jiao'e's beautiful face was covered in frost, her phoenix eyes fixed on Su Yunying, who was sitting in the chief seat.
She felt extremely displeased and irritated whenever she saw Su Yunying comfortable.
In her mind, Su Yunying, who had grown up in the Jianghu, should be a down-and-out, humble, and dejected figure. Only then could she, as a mother, feel a strong sense of superiority.
Liang Hao couldn't stand seeing Su Yunying being scolded and immediately stood up to retort, "Old hag, what are you yelling about? Isn't it your fault that Younger Sister doesn't want to go back?
I've never seen a mother like you. You finally find your own daughter, and instead of caring for her and giving her proper treatment,
you don't even let her call you 'Mother'. If that's the case, there must be some unspeakable secret behind you finding Younger Sister.
It's best if I'm overthinking it, otherwise, the small Su Clan won't be able to bear the wrath of my Public Tribunal."
Yin Jiao'e's expression immediately became flustered when Liang Hao hit the nail on the head. She hurriedly explained, "What secrets could I have? I just want my daughter to come home with me. Is there a problem with her not being with the wrong kind of people?"
Liang Hao's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that? Who are you calling the wrong kind of people?"
"Alright, brother, don't say anymore." Su Yunying stopped Liang Hao's next words in time.
Then, she turned to Yin Jiao'e and her son and said, "Madam Su, Young Master Su, it's getting late. You should both go back. I've seen everything in these past few days.
The Su Clan can't tolerate me, and there's no need for me to stay there and look at your faces. So, let's pretend we never met and go our separate ways."
Yin Jiao'e couldn't believe it.
"What are you saying? We went through so much trouble to finally find you, and you want to just cut ties?
Su Yunying, you are the flesh and blood I carried for ten months. I am your biological mother."
She tried to use moral coercion to force Su Yunying to go home with her.
But Su Yunying wasn't one of those inexplicably naive, real daughters from those female-centric novels who, despite having heaven-defying strength, insisted on seeking out the trashy drama of "family affection," only to finally realize the truth after being reborn with her memories.
"Don't you only have Su Xuejiao as your daughter? This was the first day I returned to the estate, and you said it yourself in front of everyone in the Su Clan. How can you now suddenly remember that I'm also a piece of flesh you carried for ten months?"
Yin Jiao'e was stunned, then immediately defended herself, "At that time, I was afraid of hurting Xuejiao's feelings, so I said that..."
"So you were afraid of hurting Su Xuejiao's feelings, and you didn't care about my emotions?" Su Yunying retorted, "Then why did you bring me back? To watch your family be happily reunited?"
Yin Jiao'e was momentarily at a loss, then changed her tone, a sneer on her face, "In the end, aren't you just jealous of Su Xuejiao? Jealous that she took the life that should have been yours, jealous that everyone in the entire estate treats her well..."
"But you should be clear. It was also Xuejiao who smoothed over the issues that have troubled us for years, and it was her who took care of us for so many years.
You can't treat her poorly just because you've returned. You understand this, right?"
"To reiterate, if that's the case, then why did you ask me to come back?" Su Yunying continued to question. "What is the purpose of bringing me back?
Don't give me any of that sentimental talk about family. I've been back in the Su Clan for over a month, and I haven't experienced any of this so-called family affection.
Since you think I'm jealous of Su Xuejiao, then consider me jealous. So, can I sever all ties with the Su Clan?"
Hearing this, Su Jinhao immediately flew into a rage: "So the fox's tail is finally showing! You're just jealous of your little sister; you're just jealous that we treat her well.
If you want us to treat you like we treat Xuejiao, you need to change."
"Change? Change what?" Su Yunying was amused. "Change to be like Su Xuejiao, a saintly white lotus in front of others, acting pitiful and seeking sympathy from you?"
"I'm sorry, but from the moment I understood things, I knew this kind of boring charade only wastes time," Su Yunying said.
"Besides, I don't care for your cheap sibling act. You should stick with your real younger sister."
Su Jinhao was speechless, not expecting his own sister to be immune to his tricks.
Yin Jiao'e was clearly anxious: "Su Yunying, I'm asking you one last time, are you coming back with me?"
"Going back to do what? To look at your faces and follow your lead again? To eat the leftovers you don't want?" Su Yunying pointed at the pastries on the table.
"The food I've eaten at your Su Clan in the past month isn't even as good as the pastries on this table. What right do you have to ask me to go back?"
Yin Jiao'e was furious: "You shameless woman, Su Yunying! I've given you a chance, you'd better not be ungrateful."
"Enough!"
Originally watching with amusement, Shen Zhao directly roared, interrupting Yin Jiao'e's words.
"Madam Su, right? Considering you're the little girl's birth mother, I haven't spoken up until now, but your behavior is truly unbearable to watch."
"And who are you?"
Yin Jiao'e sized up Shen Zhao, feeling an indescribable sharpness emanating from him.
"Who I am isn't important. What's important is I want to ask you a question: Are you really Su Yunying's birth mother?"
Yin Jiao'e's pupils contracted, a flicker of unease flashing across her face, but it quickly vanished. Then, she raised her head and said directly, "Of course. It's absolutely true; she is my own daughter."
Shen Zhao had already seen through her facial expressions, but he didn't expose her on the spot, "Since she's your own daughter, why are you treating her like this? Have you ever given her any of the warmth a mother should?"
"I already said, that was to take care of..."
"Yes, to take care of your adopted daughter's feelings, you don't need to consider your own biological daughter's feelings. That's a truly unique way of being a mother."
Shen Zhao's mocking words immediately silenced Yin Jiao'e.
"As her biological mother, finding a daughter who was lost for so long, you should, according to common sense, compensate her for what she's been lacking all these years. After all, it was your Su Clan that lost her back then.
I also know that the bond between you and your adopted daughter is extraordinary. As the saying goes, raising someone is more important than giving birth, and it's hard to be fair to both. I understand that.
But the problem is, you didn't even think about balancing the scales. Instead, you schemed to use your biological daughter to pave the way for your adopted daughter's future. That's a bit too much."
Yin Jiao'e and Su Jinhao both widened their eyes upon hearing this.
From Shen Zhao's words, it seemed as if he knew something.
But how could that be? This secret was only known by Yin Jiao'e, Su Lingzhang, and Su Jinhao, and it had never been mentioned to anyone else. How could Su Yunying possibly know?
Shen Zhao silently watched the expressions of the two, and had already roughly figured out that the purpose of bringing Su Yunying back to the Su Clan was definitely not simple.
And also…
Su Yunying's background was probably not so simple.
"So, the main reason the little girl doesn't want to go back to the Su Clan is because of yourselves. Don't even think about shirking responsibility.
But then again, with the little girl's future achievements, your small Su Clan probably won't be able to contain her, this great Buddha.
So, Madam Su, go back. I think the little girl is a thousand times better off with me than with your Su Clan."
Su Jinhao immediately replied, "Su Yunying is a member of our Su Clan. How could she follow an outsider and mess around?"
Then, he said to Su Yunying, "Su Yunying, as long as you promise to listen to your mother and return to the Su Residence, I'll allow you to call me Big Brother."
As a result, Liang Hao spoke up first: "You? You think you're worthy of being Little Sister's big brother?
What a bunch of riffraff, all pushing to the front. You don't even know what you're worth.
A good-for-nothing who gets beaten up twice a day dares to come out and act like a big brother?
The locksmith next door charges ten coins a lock; let me ask you, are you even worthy!"
Su Jinhao didn't dare to argue with Liang Hao and could only look towards Su Yunying.
However, Su Yunying didn't even spare him a glance.
Shen Zhao laughed: "Alright, clown, you should take a rest. This isn't your place. Stand aside."
Yin Jiao'e gnashed her teeth, staring fixedly at Shen Zhao: "But no matter what, I am her mother."
"So, may I ask this woman who claims to be her mother, do you know anything about how your daughter has been living all these years?"
"Do you know that when your daughter was six years old, she was almost made into Buxian Sheep and eaten by her foster parents?"
"Do you know how much hardship and suffering your daughter has endured while wandering the jianghu?"
"She began to walk the jianghu alone at the age of seven, and it has been almost eleven years since then. Without any support, she had to bear all the pressure herself. What have you, her birth mother, done?"
"I…"
Yin Jiao'e felt her heart race, and when she looked at Su Yunying again, her eyes darted away.
However, Shen Zhao didn't intend to let her off, and continued, "Some things, the little girl isn't comfortable saying, but I have no scruples.
You always say the little girl lacks manners and doesn't understand education, so I ask you, during her growth, what did you, her birth mother, do?"
"What have you done now? You haven't taught her anything, yet you expect her to be a well-behaved girl, as outstanding as your adopted daughter?
What makes you think you can have such a preposterous idea? You won't even acknowledge your own daughter in front of you; what kind of mother are you?
Since you gave birth to that little girl, have you ever fulfilled a mother's responsibility for even a single day? Don't act as if the little girl owes your family anything.
In fact, the ones who truly owe the little girl are you, her birth mother, and her birth father. You're simply not qualified to be her parents, because you're utterly unworthy!
The real reason you treat the little girl this way is because you want to have your cake and eat it too, just wanting to shirk off the mistakes you made back then."
Shen Zhao's words stung Yin Jiao'e so badly that she just wanted to flee. Every sentence was like a knife twisting in her heart.
Yin Jiao'e, fearing she would expose herself if she continued to question further, just wanted to escape this place of conflict quickly.
If she had known it would be like this, she wouldn't have come to Pinyue Residence in the first place.
But Shen Zhao didn't intend to let her off the hook, continuing to press, "So, you neither taught her nor raised her, yet you demand that a young girl who understands nothing must meet your standards,
and you give her the cold shoulder if she doesn't? I can't imagine what kind of mother would make such a preposterous decision."
Yin Jiao'e was drenched in cold sweat, feeling guilty and uneasy. Afraid that Shen Zhao would continue, she felt she couldn't withstand the pressure any longer.
So, she turned the tables and said loudly, "That's right, I accidentally lost her back then, but do you know how difficult my life has been all these years she was gone?
I even considered dying, hating myself for being so careless, that I couldn't even keep an eye on my own daughter.
If I hadn't adopted Xuejiao later, I wouldn't have survived. Xuejiao is a gift from heaven sent to compensate me. What else can I do but treat her well?
I brought Yunying back, originally wanting to make up for the years of owing her, but, after so many years, when I think of the Su Clan's experiences during the time she was gone,
I really can't feel any affection for her. I'm even afraid that she'll take everything that should belong to Xuejiao. Even the name Xuejiao should have belonged to Yunying, it's very ridiculous, isn't it?"
After all, when I lost Yunying, she was not even two years old. I shouldn't blame her. But I couldn't help it. I just couldn't bring myself to love her.
But now I understand. She is, after all, my daughter. As long as she can come back,
I will try to accept her and cherish her. So, give me a chance. Can I change?"
Yin Jiao'e vented her grievances and emotions with red eyes.
After she finished speaking, she saw Shen Zhao looking at her without any expression.
Then, he clapped his hands and slowly said, "Your performance is wonderful, but it lacks logic. So, you're lying!"
-----------------------
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