Dongfang Yi was touched by Helian Qi's words and nodded excitedly. "Yes, only when there is no war can the common people do what they want and stay with their families."
The four of them were all excited looking at the prosperous city in front of them. After strolling around for a while, they returned to the inn.
After returning to the inn, Dongfang Yi washed up and played with Xiaoweiba. She didn't even notice when Helian Qi sat down beside her.
"What are you doing? It tickles." Dongfang Yi's ears turned red from Helian Qi's gentle breath. She quickly pushed him away and said.
"Has my lady forgotten the promise you made today?" Helian Qi kindly reminded her.
"What promise? I don't know." Dongfang Yi remembered what Helian Qi had said before they left the palace. Her eyes shifted uneasily to other places.
Helian Qi smiled and put Xiaoweiba on the floor of the room, letting it play on its own. Then he returned to the bed and pulled Dongfang Yi into his arms.
"It doesn't matter if my lady can't remember. Your husband remembers." After saying that, he kissed Dongfang Yi on the lips. He then casually pulled down the bed curtain. It was another night of passion.
The next day, there was quite a commotion in the inn. Dongfang Yi was woken up before she had enough sleep.
Helian Qi was originally sitting at the table reading a scroll. Seeing Dongfang Yi wake up, he put down the scroll and walked back to the bed. He tapped Dongfang Yi on the forehead and said, "Are you awake?"
Dongfang Yi nodded.
"My lady worked hard last night. Why don't you sleep a little longer?" Helian Qi said playfully in a good mood.
Dongfang Yi shyly punched Helian Qi on the chest. Looking outside the door, she said, "Is there anything going on today? Why is it so lively?"
Helian Qi helped Dongfang Yi get her clothes and said, "I don't know which young lady from a noble family is throwing a marriage ball. These people are probably going to watch the fun."
Hearing about the marriage ball, Dongfang Yi instantly lost her drowsiness. She looked at Helian Qi curiously and asked, "Can we go and have a look?"
Helian Qi nodded with a smile. "We can go and watch after we finish our meal."
"Okay." Dongfang Yi put on her clothes and walked out of the room to have her meal.
The people downstairs were all discussing the young lady who was throwing the marriage ball today. A scholar dressed in traditional clothes said, "The Su Mansion is extremely wealthy. Whoever can become Mr. Su's son - in - law will surely have a blessed life."
"Too bad. I heard that although Miss Su is Mr. Su's beloved daughter, she is extremely ugly. It would be really uncomfortable to marry such a wife." Another young man said.
The scholar shook his head and said to the people around him, "You're wrong. Once you get the wealth, even the most famous courtesan next door can be yours."
The people around laughed heartily at the scholar's words.
Hearing what these people said, Dongfang Yi became even more curious about the protagonist of the day. She asked, "Do you know who she is?"
Donghua served porridge for Dongfang Yi and said, "The young lady throwing the marriage ball today is Miss Su, the youngest daughter of Mr. Su of the Su Mansion. The Su Mansion has always been a business family. Their ancestors were merchants and gradually developed to this day. They do business both on land and at sea. It is said that they are extremely wealthy."
Dongfang Yi, listening to Donghua's explanation, was so shocked that her mouth could fit a bun. Helian Qi added, "It's not exactly 'extremely wealthy', but they are really powerful. They also do business with the royal family."
"Is Miss Su really that ugly? I heard them say she is extremely ugly." Dongfang Yi asked curiously, looking at the three people around her.
They all shook their heads. Donghua continued, "No one knows what Miss Su looks like. People guess that Mr. Su doesn't allow her to go out because she is so ugly and he is afraid that the gossip will hurt her feelings."
"Such a grown - up girl, and no one has known what she looks like for so many years?" This point really intrigued Dongfang Yi. She turned to Helian Qi and asked, "Since they do business with the royal family, do you know?"
Helian Qi shook his head. "No outsider has ever seen her. The former dowager once wanted to arrange a marriage for Miss Su in order to bring the Su Mansion under the control of the royal family, but Mr. Su refused."
"Even daring to refuse the royal family. They're really something." Dongfang Yi became even more curious about the Su Mansion and Miss Su. She quickly filled her stomach and was ready to go and watch Miss Su throw the marriage ball.
The Su Mansion was hosting a banquet at the Yellow Crane Tower. Miss Su would throw the marriage ball from the third floor of the tower. When Dongfang Yi and her group arrived at the Yellow Crane Tower, the area was already surrounded by men.
"This is really ridiculous. They're all so money - crazy. Even if she is extremely ugly, they still scramble to come." Dongfang Yi looked at the scene in front of her and couldn't help but complain.
"Indeed. They would even want someone that ugly."
A strange voice came from beside her. Dongfang Yi turned around warily and saw the little girl who had snatched her dress yesterday. She said angrily, "What are you, a young girl, doing here to watch the fun?"
"If you, a married young woman, can come, why can't I?" The little girl's retort left Dongfang Yi speechless. She continued, "Besides, how do you know I'm not a man who likes to dress in women's clothes?"
Seeing that Dongfang Yi had nothing to say, the little girl left contentedly.
Dongfang Yi watched the little girl leave with a satisfied smile. The girl bowed to her before leaving. During this time, Dongfang Yi couldn't say a word. "This little girl is just too..."
Just as Dongfang Yi was about to complain further, she was interrupted by the noisy crowd around her. Everyone was looking at the third floor of the Yellow Crane Tower. A young girl in a turquoise ruffled dress slowly appeared in everyone's sight.
Wasn't this the little girl from before?
Everyone was stunned. Miss Su of the Su Mansion was not extremely ugly as people had said. On the contrary, she was extremely cute and charming.
"So she is Miss Su of the Su Mansion. No wonder." Dongfang Yi looked at the young girl on the third floor and sighed, "Judging from this, this little girl must often go out. No one has ever noticed that she is from the Su Mansion."
Not only Dongfang Yi but also Helian Qi was extremely shocked. He had once worried that the Su Mansion would betray the country for profit, so he had sent people to investigate, but they had never found out any information about Miss Su.
"Being able to hide someone so well, the Su Mansion is not simple." Helian Qi said to Liancheng.
Liancheng immediately understood what Helian Qi meant and left their sight.
The young girl on the third floor looked around at the people downstairs. Seeing the little puppy in Dongfang Yi's arms, she smiled and said, "I am Su Luo of the Su family. Since I have passed the appropriate age for marriage, I am here to throw the marriage ball to find a husband."
After saying that, she glanced at the restless people downstairs, smiled, and continued, "My father and elder brother have been extremely busy with business recently and are quite tired. So I have to come here alone. I hope you will forgive me."
Looking at the shrewd Su Luo on the third floor, Dongfang Yi stroked Xiaoweiba in her arms and said, "I'm afraid this little girl did something to prevent her family from coming."
Donghua was a bit confused. "Why would she do something to her own family for this marriage - seeking event?"