A moment later, cheers erupted from the venue.
"The General's youngest daughter actually won, a genius! She's a genius!"
Everyone's eyes widened as they looked at Su Yunmo, their previous disdain replaced by cheers.
The three adults beside her were even more astonished; they hadn't expected Su Yunmo to win from the start.
Su Qingtian, overcome with excitement, scooped up the little dumpling, tossed her into the air and caught her, then planted a fierce kiss on her cheek: "Truly my daughter!"
She brought so much honor to her father!
Ye Yuanlin stumbled back in disbelief, her voice rising several octaves: "This is impossible! You must have cheated! They helped you just now, didn't they!"
She had practiced day and night for months to achieve this result; how could this girl succeed on her first try!
This wasn't a genius, it was clearly a monster!
Su Yunmo, her face covered in spit, raised a naive smile: "Losing is losing. Making excuses is not good, you should go now."
The latter part of her sentence carried a hint of sharpness.
Ye Yuanlin suddenly felt a powerful force pressing down on her, her legs weakened, and she almost fell to her knees.
Su Yunmo's aura gathered around her, making it difficult to breathe.
Ye Yuanlin's face instantly turned pale.
She had always felt something was off about this girl, and now she thought perhaps this child truly was a monster!
"Who says the General's wife doesn't know martial arts? The General's mansion's young lady has been taught by the wife since she arrived in the capital. This move might very well have been taught by the wife."
"That's right, I think the General's wife is a hidden master who didn't want to embarrass the Princess by showing her hand. Now the Princess has lost face."
The crowd's opinions shifted with the wind.
Ye Yuanlin's face flushed with humiliation. She clenched her fists, her face full of unwillingness: "I lost this time, but we'll compete again next time!"
"There will be no next time," Su Qingtian said, his eyes cold, his tone carrying a threat only the two of them could understand.
"My words are never false, Princess, you'd best remember them, and I hope you will abide by our agreement."
Appear less often before You'er, lest you be an annoyance.
Xie Zhengping remained silent but stepped forward to stand in front of Zhou Wanyou.
The two men clearly adopted a protective stance.
Ye Yuanlin's aura diminished. She gritted her teeth: "You wait!"
This matter was not over!
She threw her bow to the ground, stomped on it twice in anger, and turned to leave.
The onlookers in the stands let out mocking sighs.
Zhou Wanyou took the little dumpling from Su Qingtian's arms and wiped the spit from her face with a handkerchief: "Mother didn't even know, our Momo knows so much."
Su Yunmo proudly tilted her head: "Momo is Mother's child, of course she's smart, she's self-taught!"
The three adults chuckled.
This little one was certainly not modest.
Su Qingtian, pleased, rubbed the little dumpling's face, unable to let go: "Then Father must reward his precious Momo properly today and take her to eat something delicious!"
Su Yunmo beamed: "I want chicken legs!"
Xitian prepared a carriage and booked a premium private room at the Cang Gui Lou.
The three adults took the little girl to Cang Gui Lou and ordered a table full of dishes.
Su Yunmo, having been forced by Su Sizhuo to memorize books for days and barely eating, and then running around all day yesterday, was now so hungry her stomach was stuck to her back.
As soon as the food arrived, she reached out with her small hands, tore off two chicken legs, and stuffed them into her mouth.
The adults talked amongst themselves, discussing the Duke of Ying.
Zhou Wanyou: "So many years have passed in a blink of an eye, I wonder how that child is doing. Ying Zhao committed suicide in prison, and the Duke of Ying's mansion was confiscated. His Majesty intended to spare his life."
"Yes, it's a pity the decree came too late. The Duke of Ying's mansion's servants were all scattered, and his only son's whereabouts are unknown," Su Qingtian sighed.
If Ying Zhao hadn't died that year, he and You'er wouldn't have met. After so many years, he still couldn't believe Ying Zhao had betrayed the country. If he had the chance, he would definitely clear his name.
"Since His Highness Prince Yu has intervened, this matter should be resolved soon," Xie Zhengping peeled a shrimp for the little dumpling beside him.
Su Qingtian, displeased with Prince Yu's impure intentions towards his daughter, sneered: "It's different when a monarch has support."
Every word he spoke seemed to be directed at Ye Jingyu.
Zhou Wanyou did not interfere in court affairs and spoke factually: "Prince Yu has always stayed out of others' affairs. The previous message was directed at Prince Lian, so I doubt he will continue to be involved."
Xie Zhengping took a sip of tea: "How do you know this is others' affairs, and how can you be sure Prince Yu is an outsider?"
The couple exchanged a glance, their expressions deepening in thought.
The little dumpling swung her feet, oblivious, and continued to stuff her mouth with delicious food.
There was a commotion outside the door, and suddenly an old beggar stumbled in.
His clothes were ragged, and the smell of alcohol and filth mixed together, creating a pungent odor.
The old beggar burst through the door, interrupting the conversation of the three inside.
"Kind sirs, please be charitable. This old man hasn't eaten for several days."
Su Qingtian instinctively picked up the little dumpling, shielding Zhou Wanyou with his body, and roared: "What is going on here!"
The waiter from outside entered with two men who subdued the old beggar, apologizing profusely.
"We sincerely apologize, honored guests. He is a beggar from this street. He used to beg at the entrance, but today, somehow, he managed to break in when we weren't paying attention."
Xie Zhengping frowned: "Get him out of here. What if he scares the child?"
He spoke and turned to look at the little dumpling, only to see the little one tilting her head, observing the beggar intently, her expression somewhat troubled.
Xie Zhengping asked curiously: "Momo, what's wrong?"
The little dumpling shook her head, looking at the old beggar with pity: "Godfather, this person is so pitiful. Starving is very hard. Let's have someone give him some food." xxs
The old beggar suddenly froze, slowly raised his head, and upon seeing Su Yunmo, quickly lowered it again, secretly clicking his tongue.
"Oh no, oh no, why didn't I look carefully before coming in? It's a narrow path, and I've run into this little girl! I hope her father doesn't recognize me."
"Our Momo is just kind. Since that's the case, let's do as Momo wishes," Su Qingtian bit the little dumpling's face in his arms and instructed the waiter to prepare more food.
The old beggar acted as if he had found a gold ingot: "Thank you, sir and madam, this old man wishes you both boundless fortune and peace."
"And what about Momo?" the little dumpling tilted her head and chuckled.
The old beggar's eyelids twitched, and his gaze darted around: "Young lady, your benevolence is a good thing. As the saying goes, good people are rewarded."
Su Yunmo jumped down from her stool, walked to the old beggar, squatted down, cupped her cheeks with both hands, and smiled sweetly: "No, Momo is asking you, can Momo also have boundless fortune and peace?"
"Before, Father took Momo to a temple, and a fortune teller said Momo is a lucky star and wanted to take Momo as a disciple. So Momo thinks, since you are as old as him, you might also be able to tell fortunes."
The old beggar's lips twitched.
The little girl had recognized him!