Chapter 286: My Child, You Need Not Envy Others
Chapter 286: My Child, You Need Not Envy Others
Due to the presence of outsiders, Princess Chang referred to Su Su by her formal name.
A child's nickname is only for the family to know; why would it be publicized for all to hear?
Princess Qi expressed her gratitude to the Grand Princess and greeted Madam Lu before taking her seat.
Lu Lianrong had intended to quietly follow, but Madam Lu called out to her, "Rong Jie'er, come over here to your aunt."
At that moment, the Grand Princess was seated with Ying Zhi and a young child.
The child was adorable and petite, and her voice was loud and cheerful as she said, "Rong Jie'jie, come over here quickly! It's so much fun here!"
Feng Youdan spoke with a cute little lilt at the end of her sentence.
Since she had spoken, Lu Lianrong didn't feel it was appropriate to continue following Su Su, so she said to Princess Qi, "Aunt, I'll head over first."
Princess Qi nodded gently.
Feng Youdan, having succeeded in calling Lu Lianrong over, proudly glanced in Su Su's direction.
When Su Su looked at her curiously, Feng Youdan smiled, revealing her small white teeth. However, she soon realized that she was missing a front tooth as she was in the process of losing her baby teeth.
This made Feng Youdan slightly annoyed, and she closed her mouth, shooting Su Su a glare.
Su Su, nestled in her mother's embrace, had done nothing, yet she was glared at several times by a sister who looked like a steamed bun.
Su Su: ?
The little child didn't understand at all and tilted her cute little head, full of confusion.
Seeing this, Feng Youdan became even angrier. "She's provoking me! She must be provoking me!"
Feng Youdan's unhappiness caused her to turn to Ying Zhi and grumble.
Ying Zhi had just waved at Su Su, and hearing Feng Youdan's words, she quickly shook her head. "No, Su Su is very cute. She doesn't even resist when pinched and is as soft as a little dough ball. How could she provoke you? You must have misunderstood."
Upon hearing this, Feng Youdan became even more upset.
She placed her hands on her waist, a small gesture that didn't seem out of place even while sitting. "Are you on her side or mine?"
Ying Zhi was an expert at being a people-pleaser, and she pondered this question briefly, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly before she clapped her hands and said, "Oh, we can all be friends! The more, the merrier."
Feng Youdan: ?
"You... you... you..." Feng Youdan's face turned red with anger.
She looked like a little dough ball that had been suddenly dyed red, and it was absolutely adorable.
Even the Grand Princess found her expression amusing and chuckled.
Feeling embarrassed by the Grand Princess's laughter, Feng Youdan turned away, pouting. "I'm not talking to you anymore! I don't want to be friends with you! I want to be friends with Rong Jie'jie!"
As she spoke, she took Lu Lianrong's hand.
Lu Lianrong: ?
She was already a little adult and didn't usually play such childish games.
She felt so wronged.
After Su Su took her seat with her mother, she continued to crane her neck to look in their direction.
Although she didn't understand why the white steamed bun sister had glared at her, she did spot Jie Jie.
Jie Jie looked so pretty today.
Su Su gazed at her with envy in her eyes.
Princess Qi had been paying attention to Su Su's actions and noticed that the child was staring at Ying Zhi. She leaned down and whispered, "Do you want to play with Jie Jie?"
Su Su was an honest child and first nodded obediently before whispering, "Jie Jie's shoes are so pretty."
Hearing this, Princess Qi subconsciously glanced in Ying Zhi's direction.
It was a pair of exquisite embroidered shoes with a row of bright rubies adorning the front. The rubies graduated in size, with the largest in the center and smaller ones on the sides, creating a noticeable sense of depth.
The shoes of Su Su's older cousin, Sui Sui, were also adorned with a few embellishments. After all, Jinxiu Fang had been rushing to finish their work, so they hadn't had time to add too many decorations.
Princess Qi, being a mother herself, understood that children loved shiny, glittering things, especially those with a golden luster.
In response to Sui Sui's longing, Princess Qi quickly smiled and said, "Don't worry, Sui Sui. I'll ask someone to prepare a similar pair for you, how about that?"
As she spoke, she gently caressed Sui Sui's little tassels and continued, "My child, you need not envy others. Whatever you desire, your mother will find a way to make it happen. So, rest assured."
Whether or not Sui Sui received the shoes afterward, her mother's words truly reassured her.
Sui Sui felt a bit embarrassed, but she didn't refuse. Instead, she allowed her mother to continue caressing her tassels and nodded gently, saying, "Okay, Mother. Thank you, I love you the most!"
Le Le had taught her that when you like something, you should express it loudly.
And so, Sui Sui thought, she loved her mother the most.
Therefore, she had to say it.
If she didn't, her mother might guess, but she wouldn't truly know for sure.
The soft and tender voice of the little child melted Princess Qi's heart.
As she continued to caress Sui Sui's tassels, she turned her head and asked Aunt Qiu in a low voice, "Where are Xiao Liu and the others?"
With the two children missing and Ying Junzhi, who had come with the Grand Princess, nowhere to be seen, Princess Qi wanted to ensure their whereabouts.
Although they were in the Lu Mansion, it was still prudent to keep an eye on the children.
Aunt Qiu, always vigilant, immediately provided an answer: "They followed the young master of Ying Manor to the front yard to find the king."
Perhaps they had found the fragrance in the back garden too overwhelming and preferred the fresher air in the front yard, so they had all run off together.
Knowing the children's whereabouts, Princess Qi felt much more at ease.
The banquet had already begun, and with Princess Qi's late arrival, the hall had momentarily fallen quiet.
Soon enough, though, Lady Lu struck up a conversation with someone, and everyone naturally began chatting with those around them, creating a lively atmosphere.
No matter what they discussed, the important thing was to keep the conversation flowing and not let the atmosphere turn cold.
After all, the Grand Princess was still present.
Regarding the incident with Wei Mingqiao in the back garden, Lady Lu hadn't wanted to bring it up with the Grand Princess, as she knew it would only cause her concern.
However, having left abruptly and returned in a hurry, Lady Lu felt she owed the Grand Princess an explanation.
Upon hearing the news, the Grand Princess's face turned cold, and she immediately instructed the aunt beside her.
Although Lady Lu couldn't make out the exact words, she felt it inappropriate to ask.
Seeing that the banquet proceeded without incident, Lady Lu assumed that everything was under control.
As the banquet progressed, Madam Zhen, also known as Mrs. Qiao, smiled and turned to the Huayang Marquis Manor, asking, "In the past, Madam Wei would bring her eldest daughter to events like this. Why haven't we seen the young lady from your manor today?"
Madam Qiao was a cheerful and amiable woman, though she had a tendency to be relentless when she felt she was in the right.
As she spoke, many guests lowered their voices and shifted their gazes toward the Wei Manor.
Lady Lu felt a sense of...
Relief, as if a blade that had been hanging over her head had finally fallen, bringing a sense of solid ground beneath her feet.
She knew that her mother's cold expression earlier meant that she would not let the matter rest.
Thinking of this, Lady Lu glanced discreetly at the Grand Princess, only to be met with an unsparing glare.
Lady Lu: ...
Weak, pitiful, and helpless.
The second update will be at 7 PM.
(End of Chapter)
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