Su Yunmo's eyes lit up, then she looked at him with a hint of suspicion, "Why is Second Brother helping me so proactively this time?"
Su Siqi patted her small head, his face gentle, "Does a brother need a reason to help his sister?"
"Don't worry, Second Brother isn't that petty. I won't hold grudges about what happened last time."
Su Yunmo thought about it and agreed. Those were past events. What brother would be so narrow-minded?
She raised her hands and hugged Su Siqi, affectionately cooing, "Second Brother is the best~ Mo Mo likes you the most~"
Su Siqi smiled with narrowed eyes, "Good girl, Second Brother likes Mo Mo the most too."
The carriage was quickly prepared. Su Siqi sent someone to deliver the invitation and took Su Yunmo to the Princess's mansion.
All guests had arrived at the Princess's mansion.
Su Siqi didn't escort her inside. After reaching the entrance, he told her he had something to attend to and needed to leave for a while.
"Mo Mo, play here obediently. Someone will come to pick you up later."
Su Yunmo didn't mind, as long as she could get into the Princess's mansion, so she nodded in agreement.
The Princess was entertaining guests in the back courtyard.
A maid first reported her arrival and then led Su Yunmo over. As they crossed the garden, someone approached from the opposite direction.
It was the Third Concubine.
Seeing Su Yunmo, her entire face contorted, "You wretched girl! How did you get here?!"
After being slapped by Lin Yuning's people last time, the Third Concubine had been confined to bed for nearly a month. All her teeth had fallen out and could not be restored, so she had to wear dentures.
Her mouth lacked firmness when she spoke, and her cheeks were still swollen, making her tone sound strange.
Su Yunmo was also taken aback when she saw her, then remembered that Lin Yuning was now the Princess of Lian, and she could only represent the Lian Prince's mansion at various banquets.
Therefore, the movements within the Marquis's mansion naturally fell to the Third Concubine.
"It's important, don't block the way." Su Yunmo bypassed her and walked on.
The Third Concubine, however, blocked her path sideways and pushed Su Yunmo.
"You little slut, you brought people to cause trouble at the Marquis's mansion last time and made me suffer so much. Do you think I'll let this go when I see you today?"
She had been worried and anxious for the past half month, and her old bones were almost broken from recuperating.
Lin Yuning was now a Princess, so she couldn't do anything to her. But a mere girl, she could handle her however she pleased!
Seeing that the two were about to quarrel, the Princess's mansion maid quickly sent someone to report and stepped forward to mediate.
"Madam, please calm down. This young lady is also a young miss from a household that received the Princess's invitation."
"Since you are both guests, it would be best not to clash. If there are any grievances to resolve, perhaps wait until the Princess arrives."
"Get out of my way!" The Third Concubine shoved her aside and raised her hand to slap Su Yunmo's face. "No matter when the Princess arrives, I'll vent my anger first!"
The palm descended towards Su Yunmo, but before it could touch her, it was caught by Gui Sha.
Gui Sha's chilling gaze fixed on the Third Concubine. The Third Concubine's heart jolted.
She was no stranger to this feeling.
Su Yunmo sighed, "Actually, I just wanted to come and leave quietly."
But it seemed that was not to be.
Gui Sha backhanded her.
The Third Concubine's dentures were knocked out, and she let out a scream.
Gui Sha raised her hand and lifted the Third Concubine, intending to throw her onto the rocks opposite.
This throw would either kill her or leave her half-dead.
"Stop! What's going on?" Ye Yuanlin arrived with a group of people.
The guests also followed, wanting to see what had happened.
Lin Yuning was among them.
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes and raised her hand to signal.
Gui Sha released her grip, letting the Third Concubine fall to the ground.
A maid stepped forward and whispered a few words into Ye Yuanlin's ear.
Ye Yuanlin's expression turned somewhat displeased, "I've always heard that the Marquis's mansion has strict household discipline. Today, this Princess is hosting a banquet and has specially invited the Third Madam of the Marquis's mansion. What is the reason for the Third Madam to disrupt the banquet?"
She had painstakingly prepared this banquet, and if it was ruined by these people before the important guests even arrived, she would never forgive them!
The crowd began to whisper.
Lin Yuning, also from the Marquis's mansion, couldn't help but be the subject of gossip.
Lin Yuning's face turned cold, and she stared at the Third Concubine with a sinister gaze.
The Third Concubine, who was wailing on the ground, felt Lin Yuning's stare and looked up, a sense of dread instantly dawning upon her.
"It's not like that, Your Highness Princess. I did not deliberately disrupt your banquet. It's this girl! She has a personal grudge against me and deliberately provoked me!"
Su Yunmo sneered.
This woman truly never changed. She still had the habit of shifting blame to others whenever something happened.
However, seeing how terrified she was of Lin Yuning, which was completely different from before, Su Yunmo wondered what Lin Yuning had done to her.
Ye Yuanlin frowned and looked at the small child opposite, "I didn't invite you. Where did you come from? Why are you causing trouble at the Princess's mansion?"
"I'm not causing trouble, I'm here to attend the banquet." Su Yunmo flicked the dust off her clothes.
Her gaze was sharp, her tone calm and very serious.
But the crowd couldn't help but laugh.
A little child coming to attend a banquet by herself?
Ye Yuanlin was also displeased, her eyes filled with contempt.
Su Yunmo sighed inwardly, realizing that such occasions required someone to escort her.
"Princess, don't underestimate this child. She is the youngest daughter of General Su." Lin Yuning suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention.
Ye Yuanlin was startled, a glimmer of light suddenly appearing in her eyes, "You mean..."
Lin Yuning glanced at Su Yunmo, her tone subtle.
"Miss Su is distressed today. Why wouldn't the Princess let her in for some tea? As for General Su, he will likely come to pick her up soon and won't keep the Princess waiting too long."
Su Yunmo frowned, her heart stirred.
Logically, Lin Yuning wouldn't speak in her favor.
Ye Yuanlin's expression became noticeably more excited, "Princess Lian's consort speaks wisely. As for the Third Madam... she is recovering from a serious illness and is prone to emotional outbursts, so I will not pursue the matter."
Although she said this, her displeasure at the interruption of the banquet was not entirely gone.
Lin Yuning bowed, "Thank you, Princess."
The Third Concubine also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that although Lin Yuning was now the Princess of Lian, she was still a member of the Lin family.
At such a time, she would protect her, even if only to maintain appearances.
Ye Yuanlin waved her hand, her gaze on Su Yunmo growing brighter, "The banquet today concludes here. Everyone, please feel free to enjoy yourselves."
Su Yunmo's eyelids twitched. She had a feeling something was not right about today's events.
The guests soon departed, and Su Yunmo was led to the front hall.
Ye Yuanlin didn't do anything out of the ordinary. She didn't even inquire about the unpleasantness that had just occurred.
She merely went out to say she would send someone to the General's mansion to inform them and have them pick her up. She also instructed a servant to prepare tea and pastries for Su Yunmo.
"Your name is Mo Mo? I've heard about you for a long time. Brother Su must like you a lot."
Su Yunmo paused her finger, which was holding a pastry, and raised her eyebrows.
Brother Su?
"You might not know this, but your father and I are old acquaintances. When he was young, we were... in contact." Ye Yuanlin paused, using a more discreet word.
Su Yunmo's eyelids twitched.
She now understood why her Second Brother had been so proactive in bringing her here today.