Chapter 28 Our young lady is the legitimate daughter of the Grand Tutor
Xiao Lingxi was already impatient with banquets where one had to maintain composure at all times. When she turned around, she caught sight of Su Xiaoyu staring intently at the pastries on the long table, her nose twitching slightly like a hamster's, looking like a gluttonous cat ready to pounce on them.
Xiao Lingxi immediately felt embarrassed.
This Su Xiaoyu is too blunt! She's practically bringing shame to the Yongning Marquis's mansion!
She glared at Su Xiaoyu, annoyed, and said, "Look at you, so pathetic! Your eyes are practically popping into the plate!"
Startled, Su Xiaoyu quickly looked away, lowered her head, and dared not speak.
Xiao Lingxi's eyes lit up, and she had an idea.
The banquet had just begun, and she didn't want to have such an embarrassing figure by her side, lest she be secretly laughed at by the other ladies as well.
"Alright, look at how greedy you are. I'm going to the pavilion over there to find Miss Wang and Miss Li to talk to. It's inconvenient to bring you along."
She pointed to a relatively quiet corner at the edge of the banquet hall, where several small stone tables and benches were set up, and there were flowering trees nearby for shade.
"You can take some food and eat it over there at your leisure."
Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoyu's eyes lit up instantly!
Is there really such a good thing? I don't have to be on edge with the second young lady and I can eat in peace?
"But!" Xiao Lingxi emphasized, warning, "You're only allowed to eat there. You're not allowed to run around, and you're absolutely not allowed to cause trouble. If I find out you've gotten into trouble, you'll see how I deal with you when we get back. Do you understand?"
"Understood! Understood! Thank you, Second Miss. I will stay here obediently and will not run away!" Su Xiaoyu promised repeatedly.
Xiao Lingxi waved her hand dismissively, telling her to go: "Go away, don't get in my way."
Then, accompanied by her maid Zisu, she walked towards the pavilion where a group of noble ladies were chatting and laughing not far away, and instantly blended into their circle.
Su Xiaoyu felt like she had been granted a pardon. She ran to the long table, picked up the food, and went to that corner.
[Long live the Second Miss! Although she has a bad temper, she's still very loyal when it counts. This spot is perfect—food and drink, and I can even sneak a peek at the excitement!]
Just as Su Xiaoyu was enjoying her meal, she suddenly felt a shadow fall over her, accompanied by a faint, cool fragrance.
Su Xiaoyu looked up in confusion and saw a young woman in a moon-white silk dress with cloud patterns standing in front of her. She was slender and graceful, with a cool and aloof temperament like a rare orchid in a secluded valley. Her eyebrows and eyes were delicate, and a perfectly placed smile played on her lips as she quietly looked at her.
It was Lin Wan'er!
Su Xiaoyu's heart skipped a beat, and she almost choked on the pastry.
She quickly stood up, gave a proper bow, and her face showed just the right amount of bewilderment and respect:
"This servant greets Miss."
I had seen Lin Wan'er once before at Zuixianlou, but at that time she was dressed as a man, a servant.
So in reality, she probably hadn't met Lin Wan'er before, and could only pretend she hadn't.
Lin Wan'er's voice was gentle, carrying a soothing quality.
"No need for formalities. You must be Miss Xiaoyu, the maidservant by Prince Xiao's side?"
Su Xiaoyu was surprised.
"It is indeed I, Miss. Do you recognize me?"
Wow, the future Crown Princess, the mistress of the Marquis's mansion! She must cling tightly to this golden thigh and strive to live a life of ease as soon as possible!!
Su Xiaoyu was extremely excited.
At this moment, Qingdai stepped forward and introduced, "Our young lady is the eldest daughter of the Grand Tutor, surnamed Lin, of noble status. It is your honor to remember your name."
"Qingdai, you must not be rude to Miss Xiaoyu," Lin Wan'er said gently at the right moment.
Su Xiaoyu appropriately showed a shocked expression, with just the right amount of admiration in her eyes.
"So it's Miss Lin. Please forgive me for not recognizing you earlier."
"It's alright." Lin Wan'er said with a light smile, "I guessed it was you when I saw you and Lingxi come in together. I heard that the young master has a clever maidservant by his side. Seeing her today, she is indeed clever and lovely."
"Miss Lin, you flatter me. I am too foolish to accept such praise." Su Xiaoyu waved her hands repeatedly, though she was actually incredibly excited inside.
Wow, the big shot actually praised me! Does this mean I'm about to latch onto this big shot? (*^▽^*)
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with her, Lin Wan'er suddenly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, Prince Xiao is exceptionally talented and famous throughout the capital. However, it is rumored that he is somewhat aloof and not easy to approach. Miss Xiaoyu serves by his side. Do you know what his hobbies are? Or perhaps, is there a woman he admires?"
She asked the question tactfully, but her purpose was clear.
The purpose was to find out Xiao Jingheng's personal preferences and relationship status.
Su Xiaoyu put on an honest and simple look and tried hard to remember:
"This servant has not served the young master for long. The young master is busy with official duties and spends most of his free time reading books, such as classics, histories, philosophical works, and legal articles."
"As for whether there are any women I admire, I dare not speculate."
Lin Wan'er listened with a smile that remained unchanged, but her brows furrowed slightly in her heart.
Is this little maid really stupid, or is she pretending?
However, judging from her simple and honest appearance, she doesn't seem to be scheming.
She didn't press further, but gave Qingdai a wink. Qingdai immediately brought over a brocade box, which Lin Wan'er took and opened. Inside was a fine mutton-fat jade bracelet, warm and translucent.
“I get along very well with Miss Xiaoyu, so please accept this bracelet as a gift for our first meeting.”
"The Lin family and the Marquis's family may have frequent exchanges in the future, and I hope that Miss Xiaoyu will take good care of them."
The word 'to correspond' carries a strong implication.
Su Xiaoyu's eyes lit up when she saw the valuable bracelet.
Wow! What a beautiful bracelet! It looks so valuable. The female lead is so generous! How many roast geese could she buy with that?!
However, Su Xiaoyu remembered that in the original book, it seemed that Lin Wan'er would shine at this banquet and then have an encounter with the male lead, Xiao Jingheng.
After that, their relationship will develop steadily, and Lin Wan'er will successfully win the hearts of the heir, Lady Liu, and others in a short period of time. In the end, she will also help the Marquis's mansion resolve a major crisis. The male lead, Xiao Jingheng, will eventually fall completely in love with Lin Wan'er and be moved by her.
However, she and Lin Wan'er had only just met, and she shouldn't accept such a valuable gift without having done anything for them.
They say that if you eat someone's food, you're obligated to eat it; if you take someone's gift, you're obligated to give them something in return. Now that Lin Wan'er has given her such an expensive bracelet, what if she's expected to say good things about the prince or act as his spy?
Besides, what if the young master finds out? Wouldn't that be like betraying his own people?
In the blink of an eye, Su Xiaoyu had weighed the pros and cons, and her face instantly showed a look of being flattered.
She waved her hands repeatedly and took a small step back:
"Miss Lin, this is far too precious! This servant is utterly unworthy of such an honor!"
Lin Wan'er was surprised that she would refuse, and the smile on her face faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered.
"It's just a little trinket, but I truly feel it's meant for you. Please keep it, and I won't tell anyone else."
Su Xiaoyu shook her head vigorously, a simple yet troubled smile on her face.
“Miss Lin, you are so kind! But... such a beautiful and precious bracelet is such a waste for me! I work all day, serving tea and water. If I were to accidentally bump or scratch it, I would be heartbroken, and I wouldn't be able to explain it to you! I... really cannot bear this kindness!”
Her words were sincere, her eyes open and honest, showing no greed or scheming whatsoever, leaving Lin Wan'er with no leverage for her attempts to bribe her.
Lin Wan'er gave Su Xiaoyu a deep look, finally stopping herself from pressuring him, her tone still elegant:
"Since you insist on this, then so be it. I only hope that in the future, when we are in the manor, we can still talk like this."
"Yes, yes, thank you for your understanding, Miss Lin. You are such a kind person!" Su Xiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief.
Not long after Lin Wan'er left, a faint commotion could be heard coming from the pavilion where Xiao Lingxi had just been.
Su Xiaoyu's heart tightened, and she suddenly remembered: In the original book, it was here that Xiao Lingxi had a conflict with Du Tingting, which ruined her reputation in front of the princess and jeopardized her marriage.
Judging from this noise, disaster is probably imminent!
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