Su Jinhan frowned at the sound and glanced sideways toward the door.
Bai Zhi immediately understood and walked over to shout angrily.
"Delivering the message is enough. Since when is it your place as a maidservant to make arrangements for the masters? Get out of here at once!"
The maid turned pale. Although she was unwilling, she could only grit her teeth and retreat.
Xiao Sui An nimbly grabbed her outer jacket and said excitedly, "Mother, let's hurry and get ready. We mustn't miss out on the banquet."
Su Jinhan pulled her gaze back and looked at her daughter, but she felt a bit hesitant.
Xiao Sui An came over and rubbed against her neck, "Mother, what's wrong? Are you unhappy? Let me comfort you."
Su Jinhan smiled and shook her head, "Mother is fine, but today's banquet is merely a show they are putting on over there."
"Now, they have suddenly become so proactive, insisting that I bring you along. I fear... it may not be out of kindness."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Sui An immediately smiled slyly, "Hehe, Mother, don't worry. I have it all figured out."
"Besides, I heard there is so much delicious food over there today. Every table has a plate of meat this big! It would be a waste not to eat it!" Xiao Sui An gestured with her little hands while drooling.
Her soft, white cheeks puffed up like buns, looking just like a little greedy cat.
Su Jinhan was amused by her, and her mood improved instantly. She smiled and picked her up to get her dressed.
"Alright, alright, then let's go together. It just so happens that your aunt will be coming today. She is Mother's eldest sister, so it will be good for her to see you."
Su Jinhan had just picked up a comb, but then she had a thought and looked down in surprise.
"Wait? You just mentioned how sumptuous the banquet is—who did you hear that from? Mother remembers that no one from our courtyard went over there this morning."
Xiao Sui An stuck out her little tongue guiltily.
"Cough, cough... well, oh my, Mother, why does my tummy hurt a little? The latrine! I need to go to the latrine!"
She certainly couldn't say that the one who "tipped her off" wasn't human.
Wouldn't that just scare Mother again?
Fortunately, Su Jinhan didn't pay much attention to it; she was somewhat used to her daughter always being eccentric.
Thus, after a wasted trip to the latrine and some delay, the mother and daughter hurried to get ready.
Before long, with the help of Bai Zhi and Chaoyan, Xiao Sui An changed into an apricot-yellow short jacket with slightly flared sleeves and a hem embroidered with kittens chasing butterflies, looking graceful and lively.
Paired with a newly crafted gold-inlaid jade gourd lock, the whole outfit made her look adorable without losing any elegance.
Su Jinhan nodded with satisfaction, then took Xiao Sui An and Jing Zhao by the hand and left Yingyue Courtyard.
After walking through a misty corridor and crossing a short stone bridge built of white stone and carved with lotus patterns, Pine and Crane Hall appeared before them.
At this moment, Zhou Yuncai was waiting anxiously, scolding the messenger maid repeatedly.
"The screen has already been set up. If that girl doesn't come today, it will all be a waste of effort. I blame your incompetence..."
Seeing them arrive, Zhou Yuncai hurriedly stopped her scolding.
"Sister-in-law." Su Jinhan stepped over the threshold and glanced at the maid, "What are you scolding her for?"
Zhou Yuncai cleared her throat and covered up, "Cough, cough, it's nothing. It's good that you're here, sister-in-law. You really kept me waiting."
"You've been such a busy person that you haven't shown your face all morning. I've been the one handling the entire banquet for you. If people didn't know better, they'd think I was celebrating for my Jingping!" She added with a sarcastic tone.
Su Jinhan couldn't be bothered to pay her any mind.
But Xiao Sui An trotted forward, scratched her head, and asked, "Who are you? Are you my mother's maid? Otherwise, why would you be doing things for my mother?"
"You..." Zhou Yuncai paused.
Xiao Sui An immediately shrugged and sighed, "Sigh, that's not right. You have so many wrinkles on your face and look so old, how could you be a maid? You must be a nanny."
"What?" Zhou Yuncai was shocked and hurriedly reached up to touch her face.
She was only three years older than Su Jinhan, how could she be old? And... who was she calling a servant!
Shen Jingzhao couldn't hold it in and laughed out loud, then took Xiao Sui An by the hand and strode to their seats.
Zhou Yuncai twisted her handkerchief tightly, glaring at them from behind.
She would endure this brat for now. Let's see if she can still laugh when something happens later!
"Ping'er, did you tamper with that screen?!"
"Yes, I have already replaced the base. As long as it is touched lightly, it will surely fall to the ground and shatter."
On the other side, Su Jinhan had just reached the main seat when she sensed something was wrong.
Today, the screen placed on their side was actually that glazed tile wall screen bestowed by the Emperor?
This item was not only a gift from the Emperor to Old Master Shen several years ago, but it was also a tribute from Persia, symbolizing diplomatic friendship, and was exceptionally precious.
Xiao Sui An had just sat down when two little sparrows landed quickly at her feet.
Su Jinhan was suspicious and said, "Sui An, come here. Why don't you and Mother switch seats, and let Mother sit next to the screen?"
After petting the little sparrow's head, Xiao Sui An said loudly, "No, Mother, this screen is so pretty, I want to sit here!"
Su Jinhan couldn't sway her, and just then, the time arrived.
The banquet began.
The customs of the Great Xi Dynasty were not complicated, and since it was a family banquet, the male and female guests were only separated by a few semi-transparent gauze screens painted with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, and they were not far from each other.
The male guests toasted each other, and after some simple pleasantries, the female guests began to chat and laugh.
Just then, Zhou Yuncai seized the opportunity to stand up, raised her teacup, and said, "Everyone is happy today because of my nephew Jing Zhao."
"But I fear everyone might not know that our mansion has actually added a new little miss. It is truly a double celebration, don't you agree, sister-in-law?"
When these words were spoken, everyone was quite surprised.
The Marquis is away, so where did this little miss come from?
Su Jinhan had no choice but to stand up, take Xiao Sui An's hand, and smile as she explained to the guests.
"Today is a family banquet, and it is indeed time to tell everyone. A few days ago, I adopted Sui An. From now on in this mansion, Sui An is no different from Jing Zhao; both are considered the legitimate children of the Marquis and me."
Seeing this, Xiao Sui An hurriedly bent her chubby waist and bowed, imitating the adults.
"Greetings to all the uncles and aunts. I am Mother's daughter, Xiao Sui An. I am three and a half years old this year. It is a pleasure to meet you all."
Hearing that it was an adoption, the guests were initially uninterested.
But looking at the little milk ball before them, who was not only adorable but also well-mannered and had a smile that could sweeten one's heart, they couldn't help but brighten up and feel a sense of affection.
However, at this very moment.
Ping'er, the maid from Pine and Crane Hall, had already circled behind Xiao Sui An at Zhou Yuncai's signal.
Taking advantage of the little one bowing again, Ping'er narrowed her eyes, tripped her, and hooked her foot toward Sui An's leg!
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