Then I completely understood. The little one could sense the good and evil in people’s hearts from a young age, so she naturally knew this elderly man had no ill intent.
Plus… My gaze paused on the red envelope. Presumably, the items inside were of significant weight.
The Great Elder ignored a certain jealous True Dragon girl. From the moment Zhizhi and I entered the courtyard, he didn’t look at Su Liumeng again.
His heart had long since tilted toward the mother and daughter who had married into the Su family.
“Come, let Grandpa see. Look at these big eyes, they’re truly beautiful, just like little stars.” The Great Elder was already playing with the child when he suddenly said to me, “Open the red envelopes; there might be a surprise.”
I had been eager for a while. With permission, I immediately opened the two red envelopes. Inside lay two pieces of yellow paper with obscure Daoist patterns I didn’t understand.
“This is?” Su Liumeng couldn’t bother being sour anymore.
She flashed to my side, picked up one of the yellow papers, and said in surprise, “Isn’t this a talisman that has long been extinct? If I’m not mistaken, these are two high-grade talismans with a hint of Source-level power. They can unleash an attack comparable to the full-strength strike of a First Source expert.”
“This is too precious.”
I was also surprised. I saw the little one pinching my palm and giggling. Mama was a normal person now.
This was the most suitable gift. She was very happy, so of course, she looked upon the Great Elder with more favor.
The Great Elder stroked his white beard, appearing calm and wise.
“Take them. In these chaotic times, others may not always be able to protect you properly. With these two talismans, Su Liumeng can also be much more at ease.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely.
The Great Elder didn’t mention it again, as if he had only done something trivial.
“You must have said it last time. Blame me for being old; my memory is fading and I can’t quite remember. What is this little girl’s name again?”
I gave an embarrassed smile. In the next second, I heard my daughter’s milky response, “Elder Grandpa, my name is Si Tongyu, my style name is Zhiruo, and my nickname is Zhizhi.”
The Great Elder was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.
“Good, that’s a good name. Taking the birth mother’s surname is also quite good; it’s not something that needs to be hidden. I, an old man, can’t interfere with you young people’s decisions anymore. This Elder Grandpa isn’t some feudal remnant who insists on the Su family’s naming rights. I will fully respect your thoughts. You are all good children with love and loyalty; you aren’t the type to abandon the Su family.”
Su Liumeng and I looked at each other. Si Zhiruo didn’t voice any opinion.
Whatever her mama told her to do, she did. Other than that, she wouldn’t express any view. This was the highest level of being a “mama’s girl”—completely giving up independent thought.
As for the Su Family Head, theoretically, he was also someone I needed to give New Year’s greetings to.
“Are you going?” Su Liumeng looked at me and said considerately, “If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. In a few more days, I’ll be the Great Elder, and I won’t need to act based on his mood anymore.”
The daughter was already wanting some milk, and I wanted to go straight home, but then I thought of the misunderstanding regarding Su Luo.
The Su Family Head was Su Luo’s father. Behind the several things that had happened before, there was certainly his tacit approval.
Regardless of the process—whether he disagreed himself or couldn’t win against his daughter’s persistence—the result was that he had helped me. I should give him at least the most basic level of etiquette and face.
“Wait, I’ll go too.”
“Don’t you always hate the Family Head?” Su Liumeng chuckled, rubbing my head. Si Zhiruo watched as Su Liumeng rubbed her mama’s head. Her eyes widened bit by bit, about to turn into a fierce expression.
“Don’t touch my mama’s head. She’ll turn stupid.”
“…”
“…”
“Where did you hear such things?” I pinched her little hand, preventing her from looking around.
“Doesn’t Mama usually rub your head too? Isn’t this proof that close people like each other?”
“Little Bean told me.” Si Zhiruo bit her finger, noticed my changing expression, and suddenly pulled her hand back. Oh no, she accidentally sucked her thumb in front of Mama again. She explained stutteringly,
“My mouth is very itchy. I didn’t mean to bite my finger.”
I didn’t take it to heart. “Open your mouth, let me see how many baby teeth you have.”
Si Zhiruo obediently opened her mouth.
“One, two, three, four, five, six…”
“Not bad, half of your baby teeth have come in. In a few more months, they should all be out. Mama will prepare a pacifier for you, okay? When you’re uncomfortable, you can bite the pacifier yourself.”
Si Zhiruo’s eyes went blank, and she said with some disdain, “Eww, isn’t that something only babies use?
Zhizhi wants to be a big kid. How can I use a pacifier? No, I refuse.” In this matter, she found her autonomy again.
“If it’s someone you don’t know, you can’t let them touch your head. If it’s someone close, it’s fine,” I explained seriously again. The little one nodded thoughtfully.
“Zhizhi understands.”
Then, she suddenly said to Su Liumeng, “Even if Mama allows you to touch her head, I won’t let you touch mine.”
Su Liumeng: “…”
Was it necessary to single her out for execution? She actually really wanted to get along with Si Zhiruo and treat her as her own biological daughter.
Then she thought about how the girl called the Great Elder “Grandpa,” and the sour feeling in her heart grew even stronger.
I looked at Su Liumeng’s twitching eyelid, secretly sighed, and hurried to catch up. Both were precious to me, making it hard to mediate.
The place where the Family Head lived was quite far from the Great Elder.
“Are you still uncomfortable?”
Su Liumeng asked with concern. I followed her gaze downward, and my face flushed with an unnatural hue. I suddenly slapped the back of her hand. Keep it down; our daughter is right here. What are you implying?
“Mama, are you unwell? I remember now, Su Liumeng said you slept in this morning because you were uncomfortable.”
Si Zhiruo tilted her innocent little head, her tone also innocent and bright. I directly pressed her curiosity down along with her head.
“No such thing. I’ve recovered many times over.”
Su Liumeng noticed my still unnatural gait, and a trace of heartache appeared in her eyes. Next time, she really needed to be gentler.
Xinyan was a girl whose endurance wasn’t particularly strong, and her physical senses were exceptionally sensitive. It was completely different from her own adaptability. She couldn’t be so reckless…
A quarter-hour later, the group appeared in front of a palace. A girl in palace attire walked out of the palace with great grace. Upon seeing the other girl in front of her, the joy in her eyes was unconcealed.
Then she returned to an expressionless state, her gaze sweeping subtly over Su Liumeng’s face before finally resting on the adorable baby in the girl’s arms. A flash of unwillingness in the depths of her eyes was caught by Su Liumeng, which earned a disdainful snort in return.
“Su Luo.” I held my daughter and stepped forward quickly, greeting Su Luo warmly.
“Regarding the last time, many thanks. If there’s anything you need in the future, just give me the word, and I’ll certainly do it. Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year.”
“Zhizhi, long time no see. Did you miss Auntie?” Su Luo’s gaze fell on Si Zhiruo. Like a magic trick, she pulled out a red envelope from thin air.
“This is your New Year’s gift. As an elder, I must give New Year money to the younger generation.”
Si Zhiruo looked at me, waiting for my instruction.
“Take it.”
She grabbed the red envelope with her little hand, not saying a word from beginning to end. She could feel that this auntie had no ill intent toward Mama.
Su Liumeng’s jealousy was overflowing. She stepped over quickly, precisely blocking Su Luo’s gaze.
“That’s enough. Catch-up time is over. We need to go give New Year’s greetings to the Family Head.”
“Ah. Zhizhi, aren’t you going to say thank you to Auntie?”
Si Zhiruo bit her lip, but still didn’t speak.
She wasn’t used to talking to girls the same age as her mama.
I gave Su Luo an apologetic smile, and saw her wave it off dismissively.
“Go ahead. It just so happens no one is in the room right now.”
Su Luo watched the three of them walk away.
She stared at the figures of Su Liumeng and the young woman walking side by side, her fists tightening unnaturally. Like a real family of three, the harmonious sound of their conversation lingered in her ears.
At this moment, it felt like a knife, cutting into her heart. She could no longer lie to herself with the excuse that she had only found an interesting toy.
“Miss, are you staring at the Young Madam?” a maid beside her suddenly asked.
A trace of gloom appeared in Su Luo’s eyes.
“Peach Blossom, do you think I’m a step late in everything I do?”
“Ah, Miss. Didn’t you say you didn’t like the Young Madam? It’s not okay to like someone else’s wife.”
The maid chattered on. Su Luo felt a bit irritated and gave her a direct punch. The usually gentle little princess of the Su family had a rare moment of breaking down and hitting someone.
“Who said I liked someone else’s wife? I just find her interesting and want to get closer, that’s all.”
The maid watched Su Luo walk away.
She muttered to herself, half-believing and half-doubting, repeating the words she had just heard. Why did it feel… like her lady didn’t have as much conviction when saying that as she used to?
Inside the palace, we were met with a very spacious hall. At the very front were ninety-nine steps, and atop those steps was a single golden chair inlaid with nine true dragons. Above the hall was an ancient plaque that read “Eternal Prosperity.”
What was the Su family trying to do with a palace like this? Could it be they intended to ascend the throne?
I was startled by my own thought. This was a bit too terrifying.
Although the Su family and the Nine Dragons were deeply bound, what normal person would build a palace in their ancestral home that looked like a place for officials to hold court?
In a dark corner, a middle-aged man in a cyan robe, elegant as a scholar, heard the footsteps from behind and slowly turned around.
“It’s the Heir Apparent and the Madam. Traveling together, you are truly rare guests. Sit down and have a cup of tea.”