Su Yu went to the Nuan Pavilion and felt uneasy upon seeing Anning.
She was so fearful that she almost moved with her hands and feet in sync.
Mrs. i saw this and laughed, "This child is becoming more and more unruly."
Anning smiled and beckoned Su Yu to sit next to her, "This spot is closer to the stove, you can sit here and stay warm."
Su Yu sat down cautiously, and Anning asked her, "How is your ti in the Southern Yi? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? What do you usually do at ho now? If you feel bored, co over and play with Huihui and the others. Wait awhile, and then let Huihui and Fufu introduce you to so girlfriends. You young ones shouldn’t be cooped up at ho all the ti; it’s better to play and have fun."
"Thank you for your concern. I find the Southern Yi quite nice."
Su Yu murmured softly with her head down.
Anning smiled kindly at her, speaking gently, yet Su Yu felt deeply afraid. She always sensed a malicious intent behind Anning’s smile, like a smiling tiger ready to strike.
Su Yu thought to herself, indeed, she truly lives up to her historical reputation as the renowned Worthy Empress. Her patience and cunning are unmatched.
Even though Anning knew she had previously tried to seduce Xiao Yuan, she harbored no grudge upon eting. Instead of making her lose face, Anning was attentive and courteous. Those unaware might believe Anning genuinely cared about the younger generation.
Mrs. i laughed and said to Anning, "We’ve just arrived at the Southern Yi and aren’t familiar here. This child, Yu’er, has nowhere to go and always complains about being cooped up at ho, which stresses . We should definitely let her go out with Huihui and the others."
"Exactly."
Anning poured more tea for Mrs. i, "Seeing them reminds of my own ti before marriage; I was quite wild in the countryside, always running off, up mountains and down rivers like a mischievous monkey. My grandmother, too old to manage, would sigh at , lanting that I was born wrong, in that I ought to have been a boy."
Her words made Mrs. i laugh as well, "I still rember how your grandmother would angrily scold you. So many years have passed, and now your daughter is even older than you were then."
Su Yu sat there with a forced smile, hating how slowly ti passed. She wished she could hasten the end of the day to quickly return to the i Mansion. She resolved never to visit the Xiao Family again if she could avoid it.
After watching the play and having dinner, Mrs. i finally took Su Yu ho.
On the carriage ride, Su Yu clung closely to Mrs. i, tightly clutching her hand, "Grand-aunt, I’m... I’m so scared now. I swear I won’t have any more sches. Do you think the Third Madam will hold a grudge against ? If she truly wants to deal with , I’m helpless."
Hearing this, Mrs. i’s expression softened sowhat, "You child, who do you think Anning is? She wouldn’t bother with a child like you. I took you over today to apologize, and we’ve already made our stance clear. You behaved so well at the event, she’s surely noticed you’re scared. She won’t trouble you. Don’t worry, from now on, interact more with her, get to know the Xiao Family girls; it will be good for you. Also, by staying close to her, you’ll learn shrewdness, and if you gain even a fraction of her tactics, I’d be reassured."
Su Yu lowered her head, tears dripping down, "I understand. I did make mistakes before, but I won’t do it again."
Even though tears rolled down, Su Yu couldn’t help but think that there were still many notable figures in the Dajing Dynasty. Aside from Xiao Yuan, nurous future important courtiers were quite handso, too. She refused to believe she couldn’t win over one she liked. Anning and her raised daughters were formidable and untouchable, but others... This ti, she’ll find an unmarried one and, with the i Family’s backing, surely succeed.
Seeing Su Yu’s sincere remorse, Mrs. i felt sowhat moved, "Alright, everyone errs in their youth; what matters is correcting them once you realize."
anwhile, at the Xiao Family, Xiao Yin too discerned that Su Yu was rather harmless, just one to make a fuss.
The day’s events likely terrified Su Yu; she’d surely not dare have designs on her father again.
Yet despite this, Xiao Yin no longer held a favorable impression of Su Yu and wouldn’t befriend her in the future, only maintaining formal politeness.
Anning spent the entire day hosting Mrs. i and Su Yu, while Xiao Yuan visited the Dong Family residence.
Dong Da had recovered since last year and was mostly fine now.
Xiao Yuan, finding so free ti today, decided to visit Dong Da.
Seeing Xiao Yuan delighted Dong Da.
He imdiately had the cook prepare so drinks and dishes, insisting on sharing drinks with Xiao Yuan.
Li Chenshu, Yuan Wei, and several generals under Dong Da’s command were also present; with a lively crowd, they all gathered for drinks.
It had been a while since Xiao Yuan sat drinking with both civil servants and military generals, so he took this chance to enjoy it.
He initially intended to stop Dong Da from drinking too much, but Dong Da, determined in his efforts, was unappeasable, soon over-indulging.
Dong Da harbored so discontent. Rembering the matters with Ms. Chen aggravated him, so he naturally vented once drunk.
"What nonsense!"
An inebriated Dong Da banged the table, cursing, "She clung desperately to during tough tis, but once she found her family, she acted as if I forced her into it. That woman is heartless... Oh, Third Young Master, I feel wronged. How could I have been blind enough to marry such a woman? Even if she doesn’t acknowledge , those two children are mine; I cared for them like my own eyes. How can they not recognize as their father? If I had wronged them, it’d be understandable, but I truly cherished them."
"Don’t dwell on it. Our future will only improve."
Xiao Yuan comforted Dong Da with a pat on his shoulder.
Li Chenshu and the others consoled Dong Da as well.
With his face flushed and neck red, Dong Da drank a few more cups and began crying, "Third Young Master, how did I end up like this? No wife, no children, everything’s gone. I’m left alone. I’m so wronged, so sad. No wife..."
By now, Xiao Yuan was also quite inebriated. Annoyed, he said, "Look at your lack of ambition. She’s just a woman. You’re hung up on her, but she doesn’t care about you. We won’t think about her moving forward. No wife? I’ll find you one."
Yuan Wei laughed, "Exactly. The Third Young Master has great taste; let him find you a wife. Let’s live well going forward. She was heartless, so don’t think of her."
Xiao Yuan’s face was rosy with drink, and his tongue a bit unresponsive—he was truly drunk. "Brother Dong, you’re... a loyal and righteous man. Sha I don’t have a sister, otherwise, I’d have her marry you."
Yuan Wei chid in, "Too bad my sister is already married."
Li Chenshu chuckled softly, "Too bad my daughter is young. If she were older, I’d have you as my son-in-law."
Xiao Yuan slapped the table, standing up unsteadily, feeling even more muddled, "Brother Li, your daughter’s young but mine is grown. Brother Dong, isn’t my daughter lovely? My daughter is impeccable, beautiful, caring. Don’t be sad; how about I give her to you as a wife?"
The lot, all drunken and confused, joined in cheering, "Great idea! Great idea! Dong Da, beco the Third Young Master’s son-in-law. His daughter is excellently raised; you’d be lucky."
Xiao Yuan laughed, "Indeed, my Huihui is exceptional. But when it cos to finding a son-in-law, I worry about her being wronged. Dong Da, I trust you; my daughter being with you is reassuring. Let’s settle it. Tomorrow you can propose, and I’ll give you my daughter."
Yuan Wei, eyes reddened from drinking, forgot everything but urged on, "The Third Young Master agreed. Dong Da, toast him and call him father-in-law."
Even Dong Da got confused, doing exactly as told.
He knelt with a cup and toasted Xiao Yuan, "Father-in-law, it’s settled. From now on, you’re my dad. Dad, drink up."
The old steward of the Dong residence watched anxiously but dared not intervene, rely fretting internally.
He thought, what’s this madness? A group of drunks causing this ss. The Third Young Master’s daughter is outstanding, yet Dong Da isn’t fit. Drunk now, it might be easy; once sobered, they’d surely regret it. If the Third Young Master retracts, how embarrassed would his master be?
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