115. Little Puppy

Jiang Xiyue's expression softened slightly, but she still said calmly, "You two ladies are too kind. It's just that the children are playing, and we shouldn't involve them in such matters."

A noblewoman stepped in to smooth things over: "Madam of Beiding, please calm down. The banquet is in full swing; why spoil the mood with your children's quarrel?"

The aunt immediately chimed in, "That's right! The kitchen just made some fresh osmanthus cakes, and I'll have someone send them to the county princess right away."

After being persuaded by everyone, Jiang Xiyue's expression finally softened.

The little girl didn't understand much; she only knew that everyone was comforting her and her mother.

Someone stuffed a delicious osmanthus cake into my hand; one bite and it was fragrant and sweet.

The little dumpling had put her unhappiness behind her and started seriously munching on her pastries.

However, the adults around her were chattering and interacting with her from time to time, making it impossible for her to concentrate on eating her delicious food.

Seeing this, Jin Qizhi said softly, "Mother, let me take my sister to the garden for some fresh air."

Jiang Xiyue also felt that it was pointless to keep the children in the house listening to their chatter. It was nothing but gossip and trivial matters, which the children neither understood nor found interesting.

Since her eldest son was there, she felt at ease letting him take care of her younger daughter, so she agreed: "Okay. I remember there are a few of your classmates at this banquet? Your friends should all be quite nice, why don't you take Yue'er to play with them?"

"Okay." After receiving approval, Jin Qizhi took her younger sister's hand and walked out of the house.

After turning through several corridors, he indeed encountered several boys of similar age to him.

"Brother Qizhi!" a boy in blue called out, "We're just about to go play pitch-pot, would you like to join us?"

Jin Qizhi looked down at his younger sister: "Little sister, would you like to play pitch-pot?"

The little dumpling nodded while munching on an osmanthus cake, mumbling, "Delicious!"

"Then let's go have some fun."

The pitch-pot area is located next to the pavilion on the east side of the garden.

Several boys took turns throwing arrows, cheering occasionally.

Jin Qizhi's skill was superb; he hit the target three times in a row, drawing cheers from the crowd.

"Would you like to try, Yue'er?" Jin Qizhi handed a light bamboo arrow to his younger sister.

The little boy excitedly took it and, imitating his older brother, threw it with all his might.

The bamboo arrow flew off crookedly, not even touching the edge of the pot.

But she wasn't discouraged and tried a few more times with a giggle.

However, the game of pitch-pot is still a bit difficult for a three-year-old. The little dumpling tried several times but failed to hit the target, and his little arm got sore first.

So she stood next to her brother and watched them play.

Jin Qizhi was focused on aiming at the mouth of the pot, and the bamboo arrow in his hand flew out steadily, hitting the center of the pot.

A round of cheers immediately erupted from the crowd.

"Brother is so amazing!" The little dumpling clapped his hands and cheered, when suddenly he caught a glimpse of a yellow flash by.

She turned her head curiously and saw a small yellow puppy tilting its head and looking at her.

"Woof woof!" The puppy barked happily twice, its fluffy tail wagging like a windmill.

"Little puppy!" the little dumpling exclaimed excitedly. "Moon wants to play with the little puppy!"

It looks like Little White when it was little, but it's chubby and yellow.

Jin Qizhi turned his head and saw that it was a puppy that was only two or three months old, so he agreed.

The person and the dog immediately started having a great time.

Suddenly, the puppy seemed to hear a sound and moved a few steps in a certain direction.

"Hey, where are you going?" The little dumpling followed and took a few steps.

When the puppy saw her coming, it immediately hopped and skipped away, then stopped and looked back at her.

"Little puppy..." The little dumpling couldn't help but follow, completely forgetting her brother who was playing the game of pitch-pot.

The puppy led her through the garden, sometimes darting through flowerbeds, sometimes leaping over stone steps.

The little dumpling chased the puppy and unknowingly ran quite a distance.

"Wait, duck!" she called out breathlessly, then suddenly tripped and almost fell.

When I looked up again, the puppy had disappeared.

"Little puppy?" The little dumpling looked around and found itself standing at the edge of an unfamiliar bamboo forest.

A gentle breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, and the distant sounds of the pitch-pot game could be faintly heard.

"Sister Yue'er..." a voice came from behind.

The little dumpling turned around and saw Lin Fuman standing a few steps away, twisting his fingers and with red eyes.

"Sister Fufu?"

"I'm sorry..." Lin Fuman suddenly stepped forward, her voice trembling with tears, "I didn't mean to make Ba Ge say those things... I, I really want to be your friend..."

The little dumpling was stunned.

Lin Fuman bit her lip: "I'm sorry, my aunt has already scolded me. I know I was wrong and I will never do it again."

Before the Beiding Marquis's family arrived, Lin Fuman had already been given a serious talking-to by his aunt.

She knew that this Princess Fukang was a very popular figure, and she was highly regarded by princes, princesses, and even the emperor.

He has a very good relationship with His Majesty's confidant, Grand Tutor Qu, and with Minister Xie, who is recognized by everyone as having a promising future.

Her aunt repeatedly urged her to become good friends with this young county princess.

It is said that as long as this young county princess says a few good words for her, her reputation will be greatly improved, and she will have many benefits in the future.

Even her father, the Duke of Anguo, told her that she must cultivate a good relationship with the young county princess.

She messed things up at first... and it seems she even accidentally offended the Marquis of Beiding's mansion.

Lin Fuman panicked. She knew that Xiao Tuanzi's older brother would not allow her to get close to Xiao Tuanzi again.

Fortunately, she came up with another solution.

So, she used the puppy to lure the little dumpling over step by step, getting her away from her brother and coming to her alone.

This way, she would have a chance to repair the relationship.

Lin Fuman apologized to the little dumpling in a gentle and kind voice.

The little dumpling was naturally gentle and soft-hearted, and since she didn't really understand the situation, when she saw her apologize, she whispered, "Then...then Sister Fufu can't teach the birds to say bad things anymore."

"I promise!" Lin Fuman smiled through his tears, affectionately taking the little dumpling's hand. "Come on, let's go play with the puppy!"

Okay.

The two little girls became good friends again, and sat together by the pond playing with the puppy.

The little dumpling was having a good time when she suddenly heard Lin Fuman lower her voice and say, "Little Yue'er, do you know? Big sister is actually a bad person."

The little dumpling looked up in surprise: "Why did you say that, Sister Fufu?"

Lin Fuman leaned closer and said mysteriously, "She always bullies me and often steals my things. The gold lock that my father gave me for my birthday was stolen by her!"

"Really?" The little dumpling frowned, somewhat incredulous. "But big sister looks..."

"She's such a hypocrite!" Lin Fuman curled her lip. "She's just like her useless mother, all she does is play the victim to gain sympathy. Sooner or later I'll replace her as the legitimate daughter, and then I'll be the legitimate young lady."

"Ah..." the little dumpling said worriedly, "What should Sister Lin and her mother do then?"

Lin Fuman said nonchalantly, "Father already promised that he would make my mother his legal wife and me the legitimate daughter! When that happens, the first thing he'll do is kick them out! They can just wait to be homeless!"

The little dumpling never expected to hear such a terrible answer: "No, this is bad..."

“What’s wrong with that?” Lin Fuman said. “My mother keeps thinking about waiting for them to get a divorce, but that bitch is just hogging the spot and won’t leave. It’s better to just kick her out. How long would we have to wait?”

"Even though my mother was a concubine and I was an illegitimate daughter, Father still prefers my mother and me! My mother and I are more respectable than those two!"

The little dumpling suddenly stood up!