Chapter 321: Turmoil arises at the Chrysanthemum Feast, with various forces gathering like the wind and clouds

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Liu Sisi led the two children into the backyard.

Even in such a cold winter, the garden was as warm as spring.

The garden was filled with colorful decorations, flowers, and green willow trees, creating a vibrant and lively scene as an unusual sight in the cold winter.

Noblewomen were walking around, surrounded by fragrant wind, chatting in groups of three or five, making lively conversations.

Liu Sisi did not disturb everyone’s leisure time, and she led the two children to a deserted spot to rest. This spot, close to the lakeside and sheltered from the wind by willow trees, was empty at the moment.

After just a moment, maids brought pastries and fragrant tea, arranging them in the pavilion before leaving.

Ying’er stared at the pastries on the stone table but didn’t eat. Instead, Liu Sisi urged the two children.

“You should hurry up and eat something to fill your stomachs. Just eat one or two pieces, too much can cause indigestion.”

“Alright, mom.”

Ying’er cheerfully picked up two osmanthus cakes, handed one to Xuan’er, and held the other in her hand: “Brother, you eat too. Mom, will there be more delicious food later?” Her big eyes sparkled, shining brightly.

Liu Sisi was overjoyed: “Yes! Later, there will be many more delicious foods.”

“Then Ying’er will eat less now and save room for the yummy food later!”

“Pfft! Look at you, little glutton!”

Liu Sisi affectionately picked up a snow pear from the table and took a slow bite. In this cold day, she thought it was generous for the County Magistrate to serve snow pears to the guests.

The three of them ate quietly, and Liu Sisi’s snow pear was not finished when she heard faint voices from the other side where they came, the words indistinct.

Liu Sisi turned to look, but her sight was blocked by the pine and cypress and willow branches behind her.

The speaking voice became closer, and the footsteps also gradually approached the pavilion.

“Luo Taining! Don’t think that just because the Fourth Prince has your back, you have nothing to worry about! I’m telling you, stay out of my business! We have different paths, and we should not conspire together. Don’t disgust me here!”

A crisp female voice rose.

Liu Sisi’s heart skipped a beat, and immediately recognized that this voice belonged to Prefecture Princess Thirteenth Luo!

Another voice followed: “Luo Thirteen! Don’t think that just because you’re the favorite of our grandfather, you can be overbearing! Do you really think the Fourteenth Prince truly values you? He just sees you as an obedient dog, that’s all!”

This was the voice of Heir Luo Taining.

Liu Sisi frowned, and as she thought, trouble found her! Should she avoid it? Or confront it head-on?

Her eyes scanned the surroundings, but the pavilion was situated by the lake. There were only two ways to leave; either walk back the way they came, which would expose her to the newcomers, or jump into the water. But it was the harsh winter now, and diving into the water was not a good choice.

As Liu Sisi was looking for an escape route, the voices from the other side continued to come.

“Bastard! What nonsense are you talking about?”

Luo Thirteenth’s voice was rapidly approaching the pavilion corridor: “Have you forgotten that the Fourteenth Prince is also our uncle! Instead of supporting your own family, you run off to support outsiders. I think it’s you who has lost your mind!”

As Luo Thirteenth spoke, she stepped onto the pavilion corridor.

In the pavilion, Ying’er and Xuan’er were still eating the osmanthus cake in their hands. Seeing someone coming, Di Xuan hurriedly put down the cake in his hand and stood up.

He hadn’t forgotten the accident at the Silver Pavilion last time, which had scared Ying’er terribly. Even though Luo Thirteenth had later shown enough goodwill, protective brother Di Xuan had already regarded her as his enemy, and he tensed up like an angry hedgehog whenever he saw her.

Ying’er, however, continued to devour the cake in her hand, savoring its sweetness, and seeming not to notice the sudden appearance of the two.

“Ah! So it’s Auntie Liu here. We siblings were careless not to have met you before, and we apologize for our rudeness.”

Luo Thirteenth chuckled as she bowed to Liu Sisi.

Today, Luo Thirteenth wore a large peony green cloud brocade long jacket, a powder-colored silver-threaded plum blossom pleated skirt, and a green silk ribbon around her slender waist. Her figure was graceful and curvaceous, with a perfect silhouette. The peony color around her cuffs and collar made her small face even more charming.

She wore a peacock hairpin with pearls and agate on her slanting hair, her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, her skin as fair and smooth as snow and pearls, and her face as delicate as a peach blossom. Although she was still young and lacked some maturity, it was not difficult to see how stunning she would be when she grew up!

“It turns out to be Prefecture Princess Luo and Heir Luo. Ms. Liu and her two children pay their respects to both of you.”

Liu Sisi let out a light sigh, as if she had just discovered the two people and stood up to pay her respects.

“Today, we left home too early and were quite hungry, so we were busy eating and did not have time to appreciate the scenery outside. We apologize for neglecting you both, and I hope you can forgive us.”

With that sentence, Liu Sisi smoothly sidestepped the conversation that the two of them had deliberately overhead.

Prefecture Princess Luo and Heir Luo exchanged glances, and a moment later, Prefecture Princess Luo hurriedly stepped forward to help Liu Sisi up.

“Auntie Liu, you are too modest. The other day, Thirteenth heard that Auntie Liu had acknowledged Old Madam Gan as her grandmother. Madam Gan Senior is a first-rank official in the court and the Crown Prince’s tutor. Although the Crown Prince’s position is now vacant, Lord Gan Senior’s reputation is still very good!”

Liu Sisi straightened up and hurriedly retreated two steps, subconsciously keeping a distance from Prefecture Princess Luo. With an expression of utter bewilderment, she asked innocently.

“Prefecture Princess Luo, you flatter me. How big an official is a first-rank official? This County Magistrate Su is a seventh-rank lord. Is the first rank lower than the rank of the County Magistrate?”

Heir Luo and Luo Taining’s lips twitched, not knowing how to respond.

Looking at the two faces that changed color, Liu Sisi secretly rejoiced in her heart and decided to put in some extra effort: “Ah! I remember Grandmother mentioned that I should speak less and observe more. You all know that I, Liu Sisi, am just a countrywoman. I don’t know many of the rules…”

As Liu Sisi continued to speak, she seemed embarrassed and lowered her head, slowly curling the corner of her dress with her fingers, appearing panicky and uneasy.

This was clearly a blatant lie!

Heir Luo’s mouth twitched! In comparison to Luo Thirteenth, the cunning and demon-like Heir Luo could see through her little trick.

Liu Sisi purposely blinked her eyes, with a frightened expression, showing no embarrassment about being exposed.

“Auntie Liu, you are wrong. In the future, you will be our elder, and you can go anywhere within the scope of Macheng County.”