"Sister-in-law, why haven't you come to play with me? I've found quite a few interesting things these days. Later..."
Chen Mingzhu beamed, chattering non-stop.
Su Nansheng glanced at the attic, lost in thought.
This Chen Mingzhu must be the young miss Chen mentioned by those two people just now.
But in her previous life, until Chen Xuan was convicted and left the capital, there was no news that Chen Mingzhu had an engagement with any family. Why was there suddenly talk of a marriage negotiation now?
"Do you think it's good?"
Chen Mingzhu suddenly leaned in, interrupting Su Nansheng's train of thought.
Looking at Chen Mingzhu with a beaming face, Su Nansheng also smiled: "Sure."
She paused and then said, "Mingzhu, about today's banquet..."
Su Nansheng chose her words carefully. She couldn't just ask if this was a matchmaking banquet for her.
"Oh, my mother was bored staying at home, so she invited a group of sisters over to keep her company. There's nothing important," Chen Mingzhu replied casually.
Su Nansheng: Well...
Even if it wasn't a matchmaking banquet, there was no need to be so blunt.
"You've been going out to play a lot recently, hasn't Auntie restricted you?" Su Nansheng tried to approach the topic from a different angle.
"She has. That's why she wants to marry me off so she won't have to see me," Chen Mingzhu crossed her arms and kicked a small pebble on the ground into the lake, creating ripples.
Su Nansheng stopped. This was a direct hit.
"Do you have anyone in mind? What did Auntie say?" Su Nansheng decided to be bold and ask directly. Hinting didn't work with Chen Mingzhu.
Chen Mingzhu tilted her head and looked at her: "Why are you asking the same question?"
Su Nansheng stopped again: "Who else asked?"
Did that person notice something too?
"Princess Huici. She rushed to pull me out just now and asked me a bunch of strange questions. She refused to come in. She's so odd," Chen Mingzhu tilted her head, looking puzzled.
Su Nansheng was also a bit confused. Princess Huici?
She was on good terms with Chen Mingzhu and had great power. If she noticed something, she should have told Chen Mingzhu directly. Why was she beating around the bush?
So, Su Nansheng and Chen Mingzhu stood on the bridge, both looking puzzled and motionless.
Just then, a young maid came over:
"Miss, Madam Su, the banquet is about to start. Please follow me."
...
In the side hall of the Chen Mansion, the young ladies from various noble families took their seats one by one. Only Su Hele stood there arrogantly, ignoring the embarrassed young maid beside her.
"Second Young Mistress, please take your seat first," Nanny Du whispered.
Su Hele smiled faintly:
"I'll sit with Nansheng. I won't feel at ease if I'm not watching her."
Chang Yi and the other ladies were feasting in another place. Without the restraint of the elders, the young ladies were naturally unrestrained.
Who knew where she would be seated? What if some tactless maid seated her at the same table as Xie Yao?
It was definitely safer to sit with Su Nansheng.
Nanny Du forced a smile: "Guests should follow the host's arrangements..."
"A Sheng, where did you go? Don't keep everyone waiting next time and delay the meal," Su Hele interrupted Nanny Du, took a few steps quickly towards Su Nansheng.
Su Nansheng was about to ask Chen Mingzhu about the person for the marriage negotiation when she heard Su Hele calling her.
She looked up and saw Su Hele standing in front of her.
For a moment, the only words in Su Nansheng's mind were "a persistent nuisance".
"Second Young Mistress, what are you saying? Everyone here is well-mannered. How could everyone rush to eat before the young host arrives?"
Su Nansheng smiled and walked around Su Hele without even looking at her.
Chen Mingzhu glanced at Su Hele and said:
"It seems that cousin-in-law thinks I'm late."
After saying that, she pulled Su Nansheng to sit down: "Sister-in-law, sit with me."
Su Hele's expression froze for a moment, then she raised her head and sat down next to Su Nansheng.
Seeing this, Chen Mingzhu rolled her eyes silently but said nothing.
After Chen Mingzhu took her seat, the servants began to serve the dishes.
"It's midsummer now, extremely hot. Fortunately, all the young ladies have graciously come. Therefore, we've specially prepared some seasonal vegetables and small dishes to show our respect. Let this plum soup replace wine. I'd like to toast all the beautiful young ladies. Cheers!"
Although she usually acted like a child, at this moment, Chen Mingzhu had a certain dignity, like a mistress of the house.
As her voice faded, everyone fell silent. Only the sounds of chopsticks and bowls could be heard.
After a few rounds of drinks and several courses of food, everyone gradually relaxed. The young ladies began to whisper to each other.
Just then, a servant served a dish of crystal fish slices and placed it in the middle of the table.
The fish slices were as thin as cicada wings, crystal clear, and looked extremely delicious.
However, Su Hele covered her nose with her hand and said disdainfully:
"How can such a fishy dish be served during a gathering? Someone, take this dish away."
Chen Mingzhu, who had just reached out her chopsticks: "???"
The young maid serving beside them was also stunned. She quickly looked at Chen Mingzhu, who took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and nodded.
Forget it, forget it. Mother said that as the host, one should have grace.
Su Nansheng just smiled faintly and said nothing.
Then, a dish of roasted young pigeons was served. The pigeons were bright red in color and smelled extremely fragrant.
"This pigeon is only the size of a palm. It's still a young pigeon. How could you be so cruel? I really can't bring myself to eat it," Su Hele frowned, looking full of pity.
Chen Mingzhu frowned and was about to throw down her chopsticks, but was stopped by Su Nansheng:
"If Second Young Mistress has no appetite, she might as well go outside for a walk."
Su Nansheng glanced at Nanny Du standing beside them, signaling her to take Su Hele out.
Su Hele looked at Xie Yao beside her. At this moment, Xie Yao was happily eating a slice of fish.
"Eating raw fish slices and roasting young pigeons. How vulgar and cruel. Naturally, I have no appetite. But some people just like this kind of thing," she said in a low voice, but it was clearly heard in the quiet hall.
So, besides Xie Yao, another young lady in gorgeous clothes, Cao Wening, glared at Su Hele angrily:
"Madam Su is so compassionate. I wonder if she's a vegetarian?"
"Humph, look at the oil on her lips. She's definitely not a vegetarian," Xie Yao said with a gloomy face and a sharp voice.
"Please calm down, ladies. It's all a misunderstanding. Our madam has indigestion after eating and is about to go outside for a walk," Nanny Du said with a smile. She reached out to hold Su Hele's wrist and pulled her up from the table with a bit of force.
She really wanted to slap herself. Why was she just a step too late and didn't cover Su Hele's mouth?
Everyone watched Su Hele leave the hall. Their expressions were a bit unpleasant.
"I think this fish is very delicious. Someone, bring me another plate, and another serving of the roasted young pigeons too," Chen Mingzhu said without batting an eye, signaling everyone not to take it to heart.
Since she had spoken, everyone didn't say anything more. The atmosphere became harmonious again.
"How did you manage not to hit her?" Chen Mingzhu lowered her head and whispered.
Su Nansheng whispered back: "We don't usually see each other."
Hearing this, Chen Mingzhu gave her a thumbs up.