"Momo, this is your second aunt," Zhou Wan You introduced, pointing to the woman.
Su Yun Mo raised an eyebrow. No wonder the girl resembled that old man from yesterday; they were family.
"She was raised by an outside consort, after all. She doesn't even know how to greet people," Dou Ying said, glancing disdainfully at Su Yun Mo, and then to Zhou Wan You with feigned pity.
"Sister-in-law number four also makes mistakes in judgment. A person of this caliber, once she enters the General's manor, can only be kept like a pet cat or dog. How could she possibly be considered a legitimate daughter?"
The hall fell silent, and everyone's expressions turned peculiar.
The girl beside Dou Ying stepped forward, bowed, and said softly, "Yin Yin pays her respects to Fourth Aunt."
Elegant, educated, and sensible.
Su Yun Mo frowned slightly, observing the mother and daughter's synchronized performance.
Noble families naturally valued lineage. It was understandable for the Su family to object to an outside consort's child being recognized as legitimate. But wasn't the second branch's family overdoing it?
Was she going to steal their gold or silver by entering the manor?
Zhou Wan You shot a cold glance at Su Yin Yin. "Sister-in-law number two is right. I did initially intend to adopt a daughter from our main family, but unfortunately, her character was too poor, and I feared she would corrupt the family's reputation."
A muffled chuckle rippled through the crowd.
Dou Ying had three children. Her eldest son was a dissolute wastrel, and her second son, though studious, was pedantic and had been caught cheating on an exam.
The youngest, Su Yin Yin, was the one these two were constantly trying to get the General's manor to adopt, dreaming of her becoming a legitimate daughter. Looking at it this way, it truly seemed like a case of poor family upbringing.
Su Yin Yin looked at Dou Ying with a wronged expression, her eyes brimming with tears.
Dou Ying, displeased, said, "What do you mean, Sister-in-law number four? We are all members of the Su family. Which one of us has poor character?"
"As long as second brother doesn't come to my manor every other day to force me to adopt your daughter, I believe the atmosphere will improve," Zhou Wan You said, stepping past them.
Su Yun Mo clicked her tongue. So, this mother and daughter duo were here to fight for custody. No wonder.
Dou Ying's face soured, darkening like rain clouds. She glared at Zhou Wan You's retreating back and raised her voice, "The General's manor isn't the only powerful family in the capital. My Yin Yin doesn't care for it!"
Zhou Wan You, now holding Su Yun Mo, had already moved out of earshot, but that didn't stop her from making threats.
Su Yun Mo, hugging Zhou Wan You's neck, saw the mother and daughter storming off hand-in-hand from a distance and sighed inwardly.
It wasn't easy being a mother these days, and it was even harder being someone else's daughter.
With the mother and daughter gone, the others didn't seem to feel much. The atmosphere actually became more cheerful than before.
Zhou Wan You introduced Su Yun Mo to a few more people.
The Su family had three branches. The elders hadn't come this time; only those of Zhou Wan You's generation were present.
The eldest son of the first branch, Su Cheng An, was not an official. He ran a business in the capital and had only one daughter. His life was colorful.
The second branch had two sons. Su Yun Mo had met the family of her second uncle these past two days.
Her third uncle had gone out to do business many years ago and never returned. There were rumors that he had died abroad, leaving behind only a six-year-old daughter who was being raised by the old madam.
The third branch consisted only of Su Qing Tian, that is, this family of the General's manor. She had three older brothers above her, and she had already met Su Si Yuan.
The academy was not on holiday for the next two days, so she wouldn't be able to see her other two brothers for now.
After being introduced to a string of aunts and cousins, Su Yun Mo felt a bit tired.
"Mama, Momo needs to pee," she tugged at Zhou Wan You's collar with her small hand.
Zhou Wan You, calculating that the banquet was about to begin, put her down. "Let Luòluò take you. Don't wander off."
"Mm," Su Yun Mo replied obediently, taking Luòluò's hand.
Luòluò led her out of the front courtyard towards the back garden.
Not long after they left, a young maidservant ran up from behind, saying a young lady had dropped her sachet and asked Luòluò to help her look for it.
Luòluò glanced at Su Yun Mo, about to refuse.
Su Yun Mo let go of her hand. "You go. I'll wait here."
Luòluò looked hesitant, but the maidservant forcibly pulled her away.
Luòluò then turned back and repeatedly instructed, "Miss, please don't wander off. I'll be back soon."
Seeing them leave, Su Yun Mo casually found a rock by the lake and sat down. She didn't actually need to go to the restroom; she just wanted to get some fresh air.
"Hey, you dirty beggar, is this a place you should be sitting?"
A small stone hit Su Yun Mo. She looked up and saw Su Yin Yin emerging from behind the rockery.
Hadn't this mother and daughter left?
Su Yun Mo asked, "Is there something?"
"I'm warning you, I am the legitimate daughter of the General's manor, and I will marry a prince. Hurry up and get lost, or I'll have someone sell you to a brothel!"
Su Yin Yin pointed at her. She looked about seven years old, but her words were certainly not those of a child.
At least, a girl this age shouldn't know what a 'brothel' was.
"Go back and tell your grown-ups that entering the General's manor is impossible. Find another way," Su Yun Mo said, standing up and dusting off her clothes.
"How dare you disobey me? Believe it or not, I'll have someone push you into the water."
Su Yun Mo narrowed her eyes. "You can try."
"Damn little beggar, let me show you some real power." A maidservant walked out from behind Su Yin Yin.
The maidservant, obeying the order, rushed towards Su Yun Mo.
A cold glint flashed in Su Yun Mo's eyes. She stood still, not moving.
Su Yin Yin, seeing her seemingly frozen in fear, snorted proudly.
Anyone who dared to snatch her things would have to pay the price.
The maidservant got closer.
Su Yun Mo flashed in front of her.
The maidservant was startled. Before she could even see her movements clearly, her calves were struck twice, and she was sent tumbling into the lake.
Su Yun Mo rotated her fists and walked straight towards Su Yin Yin. "Actually, I didn't plan to deal with you at first. It would have been fine if you had just left directly."
"How could you possibly defeat an adult?" Su Yin Yin looked at her in disbelief.
A faint glow appeared in Su Yun Mo's eyes.
This scared Su Yin Yin into screaming, "Don't come any closer!"
Su Yin Yin tried to run, but her feet felt glued to the ground, unable to move.
Su Yun Mo quickly reached her, grabbed her collar, and tossed her into the lake.
A gasp of surprise came from behind the rockery.
Xie Hong Fei's eyes widened, and he covered his mouth, looking at the person beside him in shock. "Is this the little beggar your mother picked up? She's so powerful."
Su Si Yuan was also a bit stunned. Her movements were indeed similar, but her appearance was different.
Had he mistaken her?
He needed to get closer.
He hunched his body and moved forward, Xie Hong Fei following beside him.
At this moment, Su Yun Mo was sitting on a rock by the lake, resting her feet. She held a twig in her hand, and as soon as she saw Su Yin Yin climbing up, she poked her back down, finding it endlessly amusing.
From this angle, Su Si Yuan could see her entire face.
The little one was wrapped in a sky-blue dress and underskirt made of fine silk, with two small buns on her head, tied with red ribbons.
The silk ribbons dangled by her earlobes. Her large eyes were cute and lively, yet held a hint of cunning. Her cheeks were puffed out like a glutinous rice ball.
Su Si Yuan swallowed hard. He really wanted to take a bite. She was just too adorable!
Xie Hong Fei said gloatingly, "This girl pushed Su Yin Yin into the lake. When the adults come later, they'll surely punish her. If you testify, she'll definitely be sent away."
Sent away?
Su Si Yuan glanced at the little glutinous rice ball not far away and slapped Xie Hong Fei across the face. "Nonsense! That's my sister!"