Su Qingtian glanced at the little dumpling in his arms and frowned.
Since they were already here, why not go see the elders first?
"Let Momo go," Su Siqi pleaded. "We have to see Mother first anyway, and it will be a while before we can see Grandmother."
Su Yunmo glanced at Su Xiayue, her eyes flickering slightly. She hugged Su Qingtian's neck and acted spoiled, "Daddy, just let me go. I'll be back soon."
"Alright, then you two go play. Don't play for too long," Su Qingtian put down the little dumpling in his arms and rubbed her head.
Su Siyuan ran over with bright eyes, "Momo, third brother will go play with you too."
"No! Girls' secrets are not for boys to hear!" Su Xiayue grabbed the little dumpling's hand and strode towards the courtyard, "We're leaving now."
Su Siyuan froze for a moment, then looked at the two figures disappearing into the distance, tilting his head up with a wronged expression, "Daddy, I've been rejected."
Su Qingtian glanced at him and walked away, "Good that you were rejected."
He himself was also rejected.
Su Siyuan felt greatly hurt and quickly turned to look at his two older brothers.
The two brothers exchanged a look and, with perfect默契, walked off in two different directions.
Su Siyuan burst into tears!
Meanwhile, Su Yunmo was pulled into a corner of the courtyard.
Su Xiayue, panting, pushed her further in, "Momo, something happened."
Su Yunmo crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, "Were you caught stealing candy yesterday?"
Su Xiayue's eyes widened in disbelief, "How did you know?"
Bah!
"No, I wasn't talking about that." She moved a small stool from the grass, "Get up there, there's a small window."
Su Yunmo raised an eyebrow.
So she had prepared this all along? What was she being so secretive about? What did she see?
She pulled up her little skirt with both hands and tried her best to step onto it with her short legs.
Su Xiayue supported her from behind, "Can you see?"
A glint flashed in Su Yunmo's eyes, "I can see."
This woman was truly relentless.
In the hall, Ye Yuanlin was sitting on a chair, talking to Old Madam Qian.
She was sitting very close to Old Madam Qian, appearing to be on very friendly terms.
Whatever she said, Old Madam Qian smiled and patted her hand.
In the center of the hall stood two maids who had accompanied her, each holding a tray covered with red silk.
Each tray held a jade ruyi scepter.
These jade ruyi scepters were exquisitely crafted, with warm and lustrous jade, making them rare treasures.
"We've given our gifts too. Although Grandmother likes them, they can't compare to hers," Su Xiayue tugged at Su Yunmo's sleeve, looking extremely worried.
"It seems Grandmother really likes her. What if she complains about us?"
Just then, Zhou Wanyou entered the room from outside and bowed to Old Madam Qian.
Upon seeing her, Ye Yuanlin immediately sat up straight, picked up a teacup with one hand, and cast a smug glance at the newcomer.
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes dangerously, "I'm afraid she's not here for us this time."
Su Xiayue asked, puzzled, "Then who is it for?"
Su Yunmo jumped off the stool and grabbed her, "Let's go. We need to greet Grandmother."
"Hey, hey, Momo, slow down~"
The two little ones circled around from behind the hall and entered the main hall.
The guests from the main family were still busy outside and hadn't arrived yet. There were only three people in the hall.
As Su Yunmo stepped through the doorway, she heard Ye Yuanlin's voice, filled with arrogance and a hint of sarcasm.
"Although in terms of rank, the General's wife is lower than me, she is a few years older than me. I should call her sister, so it's fine even if she doesn't pay her respects to me."
Zhou Wanyou stood in the hall, her eyes flickering slightly.
To bow would be to accept her condescending gesture, and not to bow would be to acknowledge the title of 'sister.'
She had already said it all.
"Mother, why are you here? Momo has been looking for you for a long time." The little dumpling ran in from the door, bumped into Zhou Wanyou's leg, and hugged her.
The glint in Zhou Wanyou's eyes softened slightly as she stroked her hair, "Where is Father?"
"Father is busy outside and will be here soon." The little dumpling nuzzled into her hand and looked up at Ye Yuanlin, "Hello, Auntie."
Ye Yuanlin's expression changed instantly.
Why did this darn girl always come to ruin things!
"Momo, why are you only arriving now? Grandmother has been waiting for you for quite some time," Old Madam Qian beckoned her.
The little dumpling ran over, bumped into her embrace, and sweetly called out "Grandmother." "Momo and Xia Yue were talking outside, and I was afraid you wouldn't like the gift I prepared for you."
"I like it, I like it. Grandmother likes whatever you give," Old Madam Qian pinched her little cheek and looked up at the doorway.
Su Xiayue hid behind Zhou Wanyou, peeking over, her eyes filled with a mix of envy and unease.
Old Madam Qian smiled kindly and beckoned her, "You must be the child from the third branch, aren't you? I know about your father's situation. Are you doing well at the eldest branch?"
Su Xiayue's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward to bow, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Yue'er is doing well."
Old Madam Qian then took some pastries from the tray and gestured to her, "Good child, you don't need to be so reserved when you're with Grandmother."
Su Xiayue, overwhelmed with gratitude, stepped forward and held out her hands.
Old Madam Qian placed the pastries in her palms, "Eat, eat. Grandmother doesn't have so many rules here. You can play however you want."
Now that she was getting old, seeing the young faces of these children made her happy.
Su Xiayue thanked her again, stood by, and cherished the moment, taking a small bite of the pastry, secretly delighted.
She hadn't expected Grandmother to be so kind. It was wonderful.
Ye Yuanlin looked at the harmonious scene of the grandmother and grandchildren, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.
She composed herself and said generously and gently, "So Grandmother likes children."
Old Madam Qian repeatedly said, "I like them, I like them. These children are all lovely."
"I also find children adorable. It's a pity that although the Su family has three branches, there aren't many children under them. Compared to other families, we are far behind," Ye Yuanlin sighed, her face full of regret.
She then changed the subject, "However, speaking of which, General Su is the youngest of the three branches. He has plenty of opportunities in the future."
The hall fell silent.
Even Su Xiayue stopped eating her pastries and looked up at her.
This kind of topic was really not suitable for a princess to discuss in this setting.
Old Madam Qian was happily stroking the little dumpling's face and didn't think much of it. She just looked up at Zhou Wanyou and said with a smile, "She's getting old now, and Grandmother can't even imagine holding grandchildren."
For a woman, giving birth was like walking through the gates of hell. The four children in the General's mansion were enough for her to dote on; there was no need to add more.
Zhou Wanyou smiled and remained silent.
Ye Yuanlin, picking up on her words, continued, "Grandmother is right. General's wife is delicate and frail, so she naturally can't. However, if the General's mansion were to take in a few more women, it wouldn't be difficult for you to hold grandchildren."
Su Yunmo's eyes instantly turned cold.
Old Madam Qian also stopped what she was doing and looked up at her, frowning, "What does Your Highness mean by that?"