Madam Liu smiled. "Don't praise her anymore. The child is shy and can't handle too much flattery."
But Meng Shi took off the bracelet from her wrist and slipped it directly onto Liu Suisui's wrist.
"For our first meeting, this is your third aunt's gift. Don't refuse it. Come visit Wangyue Ge often in the future. I just adore pretty young ladies."
Liu Suisui looked at her aunt, Madam Liu.
Madam Liu said with a smile, "Aren't you going to thank your third aunt?"
Liu Suisui softly thanked Meng Shi, who then introduced the children of the third branch to her. Besides her own two young sons, there were also two daughters from concubines.
One was Shen Yutang, the fourth in the family, whom everyone called Shen Siniang.
She was tall and slender, with a gentle and captivating appearance, and her demeanor was as pure and elegant as an orchid.
Who doesn't like a pretty young lady?
Perhaps because their personalities were also similar, they quickly hit it off. In just the short walk, Liu Suisui and Shen Yutang became so close that they could talk about anything.
The third branch also had a sixth daughter, Shen Yutong, who was only eight years old, her hair styled in a yuanbao bun. At the moment, she was chasing after Shen Yuling, begging for candy.
The group arrived at Baiwei Hall, where the first branch had already gathered.
They exchanged greetings and took their seats according to the rules.
The masters and young gentlemen of the household sat on the left, while the women sat on the right. The second branch was next to the third branch, so Liu Suisui happened to sit beside Shen Yutang.
The Duke and the Old Madam had not yet arrived. Hot tea and pastries were placed on the table.
Shen Yutang added a pastry to Liu Suisui's plate. "Try this crab roe pastry. It's delicious."
Liu Suisui softly thanked her and picked up her chopsticks to eat. Just then, a disdainful snort came from the upper seats. "Look at Third Brother—his eyes are practically glued to her. How pathetic."
Liu Suisui instinctively looked up. Sitting across from her was the third son of the Shen family, Shen Shuxi.
Shen Shuxi was a year younger than Shen Shuyuan, seventeen this year, and also studied at the Royal Academy.
Upon returning home today, he had heard that there was an additional young lady in the household, said to be the niece of the second aunt's maiden family. He hadn't paid much attention at first, but when Liu Suisui walked in with the group earlier, his eyes had immediately been drawn to her.
Though she was the same age as the other girls in the family, aside from her face as delicate and charming as a begonia flower, her unique youthful charm had captivated him at first glance.
He had even forgotten proper etiquette until his third sister's dissatisfied voice snapped him back to reality. But then he met Liu Suisui's gaze—her eyes shimmering gently, rippling like water—and in an instant, the third son of the Shen family flushed red to the tips of his ears.
Madam Miao glanced at her blushing son and frowned slightly.
Her gaze shifted and fell upon Liu Suisui.
Compared to her hopeless son, the fourth daughter of the Liu family was calmly eating the pastry before her, as if she hadn't paid any attention to her son at all.
Seeing this, Madam Miao felt a twinge of displeasure.
But she said nothing, withdrew her gaze, and picked up her teacup to drink.
Shen Yurong glanced at her mother. Seeing her younger sister about to speak again, she quickly reached out to stop her, shaking her head slightly in warning.
Shen Yurou had always listened to her second sister. Seeing her reaction, she swallowed her discontent and kept quiet, though she was still seething.
She shot Liu Suisui a resentful glare.
A born seductress, showing up and bewitching everyone.
And this glare happened to be caught by Madam Liu.
Outwardly, she remained composed, but inwardly, she was deeply annoyed by Shen Yurou's noisy and unreasonable behavior.
Her Suisui was just peacefully eating her pastry, doing nothing at all. If the third son wanted to stare, what did that have to do with her Suisui?
Compared to Madam Liu's displeasure, Liu Suisui didn't mind at all.
She had long been accustomed to how others looked at her. If being too beautiful was a fault, then there were plenty of people in this world committing that fault.
As long as she hadn't done anything wrong, others could think whatever they liked.
Apart from her stunning beauty, Liu Suisui's greatest strength was that she never tormented herself to accommodate others.
After waiting a little longer, Duke Shen Chang and Old Madam Lin Shi arrived.
Everyone rose to greet them. The usually stern old duke looked at his gathered descendants and finally showed a smile.
"Today's family banquet, everyone need not be overly formal. Please sit."
They all took their seats in order.
Lin Shi glanced around and didn't see her youngest son, so she asked her eldest son Shen Gonghua sitting beside her: "For today's family banquet, did you send someone to notify your fourth brother?"
The eldest son smiled and replied: "We notified him early in the morning, Mother. Don't worry, Fourth Brother will be back soon."
The third son teased with a grin: "Mother only has Fourth Brother in her heart. Both eldest brother and second brother are here too, yet you don't spare us an extra glance."
Lin Shi scolded him playfully: "You're always hovering around me, making me dizzy. Who would want to look at you more?"
Third Madam Meng Shi also joined in the fun.
"Mother is still too kind-hearted. If I were you, I'd have kicked him out long ago. He wouldn't dare compete with Fourth Brother for your favor then."
Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere in the hall instantly became lively.
Just as everyone was laughing together, someone announced at the door: "Fourth Master has arrived."
Before the words finished, Shen Gongshen strode in wearing a black cloak, bringing with him a chill and an imposing aura. Yet as he approached Old Madam and the Duke, his sharpness completely vanished. It seemed in an instant, the feared Imperial Guard Commander transformed into Old Madam's favorite youngest son, Fourth Master Shen.
He stood in the center of the hall, slightly bowing with his hands clasped, his voice low and cool: "I have arrived late, Father and Mother, please forgive me."
Duke Shen Chang looked at his youngest son and waved his hand: "Take your seat."
Shen Gongshen turned and walked toward his place.
The Shen family's young gentlemen all rose to salute him: "Fourth Uncle."
Shen Gongshen stopped before them.
The Shen family had five young gentlemen. Except for the eldest Shen Shuhuai, who was serving as an official outside the capital, the other four were all in the residence.
Besides the second son Shen Shuyuan and the third son Shen Shuxi, the fourth and fifth sons were both from Third Madam Meng Shi's branch, still young—one eight years old, the other four.
The four-year-old Shen Shuchao was still nestled in his mother's arms being pampered, while the eight-year-old stood before him, imitating his older brothers by giving a proper, formal salute.
Shen Gongshen felt a softness in his heart and reached out to pat the little boy's head: "I heard you've started learning sword techniques with the martial arts instructor. I have a few days off soon; show me a few moves?"
Fourth Son Shen Shuyi nodded solemnly: "If I could receive some guidance from Fourth Uncle, it would be an honor for your nephew."
The little boy pretending to be mature like an adult amused everyone in the hall.
Shen Gongshen couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
Liu Suisui was seated diagonally across from him. Seeing him actually smile, she couldn't help but think inwardly: This cold-faced judge of hell also has tender moments—quite rare indeed.
Once everyone was seated, the family banquet began.
Maids entered in a procession, carrying various delicacies. Liu Suisui shared a table with Shen Yutang.
For each dish served, Shen Yutang urged her to taste it.
"This is salted steamed duck."
"Crab meat lion's head balls."
"Cumin lamb ribs."
"Emerald shrimp rolls…"
Liu Suisui ate bite by bite.
Her appetite was rather small, and she couldn't eat much more after just a few dishes.
When Shen Yutang was about to serve her more fish, she quickly stopped him softly: "Yutang, I'm really full."
"Already full?" Shen Yutang looked down on her a little. "You're too thin. You need to eat more. With your build, a gust of wind could blow you away."
As she spoke, she picked up the wine pot. "You haven't tried Qiong Hua Lu yet. It's my favorite flower wine. You must at least give it a taste."
Liu Suisui couldn't refuse, so she drank a cup.
It was mellow and fragrant upon entering her mouth, not intoxicating at all, very much like the peach blossom wine she used to brew.
Thus, she couldn't help but take a few more sips.
Halfway through the family banquet, the young ladies were all full.
Shen Yuling suggested, "Since we're just sitting here with nothing to do, why don't we go to the adjacent warm pavilion to play leaf cards?"