Chapter 286: My child, there's no need to envy others

Because there were outsiders present, when the Eldest Princess mentioned Sui Sui, she used her formal name.

A child's nickname only needs to be known by family; how could it be made known to everyone?

Princess Consort of Qi thanked the Eldest Princess, then greeted Lady Lu, and only then went to her own seat.

Lu Lian Rong originally wanted to follow quietly, but Lady Lu stopped her: "Rong'er, come here to Auntie."

At that moment, beside the Eldest Princess sat Ying Zhi and a young child.

The little child was lovely and exquisite, and when she spoke, her voice was loud and bright: "Rong sister, come quickly, I'm doing great here!"

When Feng You Tan spoke, she had a cute little lilt at the end of her words.

Since she had already spoken, Lu Lian Rong felt it wouldn't be right to keep following Sui Sui, so she could only say to Princess Consort of Qi: "Auntie, I'm going over first."

Princess Consort of Qi nodded gently.

Seeing that she had called Lu Lian Rong over, Feng You Tan proudly looked in Sui Sui's direction.

While Sui Sui curiously looked at her, Feng You Tan smiled and revealed her little white teeth, but soon she realized she was recently losing her baby teeth, and a front tooth was missing.

This made Feng You Tan slightly annoyed, she closed her mouth and glared angrily at Sui Sui.

Sui Sui was nestled in Mother Consort's arms, doing nothing, when a sister who looked like a steamed bun stared at her several times.

Sui Sui:?

The little child didn't understand at all, tilting her cute little head, utterly puzzled.

Seeing this, Feng You Tan became even angrier: "She's provoking me, she must be provoking me!"

Feng You Tan, dissatisfied, turned her head and muttered to Ying Zhi.

Ying Zhi had just been waving at Sui Sui, and upon hearing Feng You Tan's words, she immediately shook her head: "No way, Sui Sui is very cute; even if you pinch her she won't resist, she's soft like a little dough ball—how could she be provoking you? You're mistaken."

As soon as those words were spoken, Feng You Tan became even angrier.

She put her hands on her hips, and even while sitting it didn't stop this little gesture: "Do you side with me, or with her?"

Ying Zhi was a qualified master of balancing water; for this question she thought a bit, her brows slightly furrowed for a moment, then she clapped and said: "Ah, can't we all just get along? More people, more liveliness."

Feng You Tan:?

"You-you-you..." Feng You Tan's little face turned red with anger.

Like a little dough ball suddenly dyed, she looked extremely cute.

The Eldest Princess also laughed at her little appearance.

After being laughed at by the Eldest Princess, Feng You Tan felt embarrassed, turned away sulkily, and said: "I'm ignoring you now, I won't be nice to you—I'll be nice to Rong sister!"

While speaking, she also linked arms with Lu Lian Rong.

Lu Lian Rong:?

She had already become a little adult and didn't really play such games with little kids anymore.

She seemed so innocent.

After Sui Sui followed Mother Consort to take her seat, she still craned her neck to look over there.

Although she didn't know why that steamed‑bun‑looking sister was glaring at her.

But Sui Sui saw Qiaoqiao Jiejie.

Qiaoqiao Jiejie looked truly lovely in her outfit today.

Sui Sui looked, her eyes showing envy.

Princess Consort of Qi had been watching Sui Sui's movements; noticing the child kept staring toward Ying Zhi, she leaned in slightly and whispered: "Do you want to play with Qiaoqiao Jiejie?"

Sui Sui wouldn't lie to Mother Consort; she first nodded obediently, then whispered softly: "Qiaoqiao Jiejie's shoes are so pretty."

Hearing this, Princess Consort of Qi instinctively glanced toward Ying Zhi.

They were a pair of exquisitely embroidered shoes, with a row of beautiful rubies decorating the front—starting with a large one in the middle, gradually getting smaller toward the sides, giving a clear sense of layering.

They weren't flashy, only showing nobility.

Sui Sui's shoes also had a little decoration, just not much.

Because the JinXiuFang workshop was rushing production, there weren't many decorations.

Princess Consort of Qi naturally understood that children like things that sparkle and shine with a golden glow.

Regarding Sui Sui's wish, she quickly smiled and replied: "Later, Mother Consort will have someone help prepare these for Sui Sui, okay?"

While speaking, she again raised her hand and gently stroked Sui Sui's little tassel: "My child, you don't need to envy others; whatever you want, Mother Consort will find a way—just stay at ease, Sui Sui."

No matter whether there will be anything later, Mother Consort's words truly put Sui Sui at ease.

She felt a little embarrassed, but she didn't refuse, letting Mother Consort stroke her little tassel openly, and she gently nodded: "Mm, I'll listen to Mother Consort, thank you Mother Consort, I like Mother Consort the most!"

Le Le said, if you like something you should express it loudly.

Sui Sui thought, she liked Mother Consort the most.

So, she definitely had to say it.

If she didn't say it, Mother Consort might guess, but she wouldn't know for sure.

The little child's tender and soft voice made Princess Consort of Qi's heart feel like it would melt.

While stroking Sui Sui's tassel, she turned her head and softly asked Aunt Qiu: "Where are Xiao Liu and the others?"

The two children weren't there, and even those who had come with the Eldest Princess—Ying Junzhi and company—were nowhere to be seen.

Although we're at the Lu residence, there's actually no need to worry too much.

But as for our own children, we should still pay a bit more attention.

Aunt Qiu obviously had been keeping an eye on these things: "Following the young master of the Ying household, they went to the front courtyard to look for the Prince."

Probably they thought the rear courtyard's fragrance was too strong and didn't like it, so with many kids they simply all ran forward together.

Knowing where the children had gone, Princess Consort of Qi felt much more relieved.

The banquet had already begun; because Princess Consort of Qi took her seat late, it became a little quieter for a moment.

Soon, Lù Fūrén laughed and chatted with people, and everyone naturally began conversing left and right, making the scene look lively.

Don't worry about what to talk about now; don't let the cold noodles get cold.

The Grand Princess is still here.

Regarding the matter of Wei Mingqiao in the rear courtyard, Lù Fūrén didn't want to tell the Grand Princess, lest she worry.

But having left temporarily and then rushed back, she ought to give an explanation.

Lù Fūrén thought it better to speak frankly than to hide it, and she didn't want to worry her mother.

After hearing this, the Grand Princess's face turned cold, and she then instructed the aunt beside her.

She didn't catch what was specifically said, and she felt too embarrassed to ask.

Seeing that everything at the banquet was normal, Lù Fūrén thought, There shouldn't be any problem, right?

When the banquet was halfway through, Lady Zhen and Qiao Shi smiled and looked toward the Huaiyang Hou Fu residence: "Lady Wei always brings her eldest daughter; why don't we see the eldest daughter of the residence today?"

Qiao Shi is someone who loves to talk and laugh; her temperament is fairly decent, except that occasionally she can be unreasonable when she feels she's in the right.

At that moment, as soon as she spoke, many people unconsciously lowered their voices and turned their gazes toward the Wei Residence.

Lù Fūrén had a kind of…

It was either the blade hanging over her head, or the down-to-earth feeling after it fell.

She knew that her mother had turned cold-faced then and would certainly not let it go.

Thinking of this, Lù Fūrén furtively glanced at the Grand Princess, only to meet her blatant eye-roll.

Lù Fūrén: ……

Weak, pitiful, and helpless.

The second watch is at 7 PM.