Su Xuerong didn't know what Chen Siyi was saying to Cui Yun'er, she only heard the first half of her sentence, and she sneered inwardly.
That Xiao Yuan actually told his cousin about wanting to take her as a concubine. What a shameless scoundrel!
But soon she noticed that something was off about the way the two of them were talking.
Chen Siyi's gentle smile froze, while Cui Yun'er wore a cold sneer.
Just then, lunch was prepared, and maids brought various dishes to the guests one after another.
Everyone returned to their seats. Cui Yun'er rolled her eyes at Chen Siyi, sat down, and ignored her completely.
Chen Siyi's face was a little stiff as she sat down next to Su Xuerong.
Su Xuerong pretended not to have seen the little incident just now, and lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.
Outside the cabin, the water shimmered, the scenery was delightful, and the various foods on the table were exquisitely prepared and looked very appetizing.
But Su Xuerong was somewhat troubled.
Although she was invited in the name of the Cui family, they just made it clear that it was Chen Siyi who arranged it.
If everyone is sitting around a round table for a meal, Su Xuerong can at least pick up her chopsticks.
However, the food in front of us was only one serving per person.
It is easy for someone to tamper with it.
"Arong, why aren't you eating?" Chen Siyi suddenly turned to look at her, a half-smile on her face. "I saw you went out for a walk earlier, you must be hungry now, right? Or is it that this food isn't to your liking?"
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but it was just enough for Cui and the others sitting in the seats of honor to hear.
Madam Cui smiled and said, "Madam Su, today's lunch was all prepared with great care by the cooks in our household. All the dishes were made with today's lotus flowers as the main ingredient. Would you like to try them?"
Hearing what Cui said, Su Xuerong had no choice but to bite the bullet and slowly eat a piece of lotus seed cake.
She couldn't not eat, so she could only pretend to eat less.
Chen Siyi watched coldly as she slowly ate half a piece of lotus seed cake, a cold smile appearing on her lips.
Su Xuerong didn't notice Chen Siyi's fleeting cold smile. After carefully tasting the food in her mouth, she didn't find any strange smell and was slightly relieved.
Cui seemed to glance at her a few more times, so Su Xuerong could only pick up some other dishes and eat a few more bites.
Throughout the lunch, almost no one spoke. The young ladies from noble families ate their food in silence, with only the soft sounds of the maids moving back and forth.
Su Xuerong felt extremely tormented, to the point that even the delicious food in front of her tasted like cardboard.
After enduring the grueling lunch, Cui felt somewhat exhausted and instructed that the guests be allowed to rest in the guest quarters until evening before returning to the pleasure boat.
Su Xuerong, however, was about to leave. After Cui and the others had left first, she said to Chen Siyi, "Princess, I have some matters to attend to at home, so I will take my leave now..."
Chen Siyi exclaimed in surprise, "You're leaving so soon? The main event today is tonight; there will be fireworks on the lake after dusk."
Su Xuerong smiled and said, "No, I'd better take my leave now..."
Chen Siyi suddenly laughed and said, "Could it be that you're worried about your daughter who's not even a year old yet?"
For some reason, her voice rose, causing many people to stop in their tracks.
Cui, who was walking at the front, also heard Chen Siyi's words, and suddenly stopped and turned to look at Su Xuerong.
That's amazing.
Isn't this stunningly beautiful young woman Mr. Ling's fiancée?
How did I end up with a daughter who was less than a year old?
When all around her turned to look at her in shock, Su Xuerong seemed to understand why Chen Siyi had invited her here today.
First, lift her up high so everyone knows she's Ling Qingxue's fiancée, then find an opportunity to kick her down hard!
Those present almost represented the upper echelons of Hangzhou's officials. After hearing this news, what good reputation would Su Xuerong have left in Hangzhou?
Chen Siyi, feigning kindness, said, "Is your daughter usually well-behaved? Why don't you just leave her with the wet nurse?"
Su Xuerong's face darkened as she glanced around at the disdainful and astonished looks directed at her.
"What's going on? How dare a woman with a child try to climb up to Mr. Ling? Doesn't she have any self-awareness?"
"Exactly! I don't know where she got the courage, a commoner woman actually dares to covet Mr. Ling!"
"How ridiculous! She probably doesn't know about Mr. Ling's family background."
"It's really like a toad trying to eat swan meat..."
...
At this moment, Su Xuerong felt as if she had returned to her previous life, being pointed at and whispered about by people at the banquet, her contempt and disdain pouring down on her like a torrential downpour.
"You guys are really meddling in other people's business!"
Suddenly, Cui Yun'er's voice rang out as she walked to Su Xuerong's side and angrily said, "Madam Su never said she didn't have children. Mr. Ling just likes them, so what? You're just meddling in other people's business!"
As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Chen Siyi.
I knew this woman would cause trouble!
It's all Ming Shu's fault for not telling her cousin, Ling Qingxue, and Su Niangzi about their affair sooner!
I'll give him a good beating when I get back!
Regardless, she still hoped that her cousin could marry the woman he truly loved, rather than these scheming women at the banquet, especially Chen Siyi!
Cui Yun'er didn't know why she fell in love with Su Xuerong the moment she saw her.
This proves that both my cousin and Mr. Ling are very discerning people.
She didn't want her cousin's house to be full of women like Fang Mingzhu, Chen Siyi, and Liu Qiao'er; the thought was terrifying.
Madam Cui suddenly frowned: "Yun'er, don't be rude!"
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