The Eldest Daughter Returns with Power

"Miss, today is New Year's Eve. Are you going to the palace for a banquet tonight?" Luo Chun asked as she combed Su Yunruo's hair.

Su Yunruo frowned slightly and sighed softly, saying, "I have to go, but this palace banquet is probably going to be quite boring."

Luo Chun smiled and said, "Miss, don't think like that. You might meet many noble people at the palace banquet, and perhaps we can find you a good marriage."

Su Yunruo gave Luo Chun a reproachful look: "You're so glib. I don't want to use this palace banquet to curry favor with any powerful or wealthy people."

As they spoke, Su Yunruo had finished dressing up. Her face in the mirror was stunningly beautiful, yet she possessed a touch of aloofness.

"Prepare a good meal tonight, and we'll stay up all night to celebrate the New Year together," Su Yunruo instructed.

Luo Chun replied, "Don't worry, Miss, everything is ready. We're just waiting for you to return from the palace banquet so you can pay your respects to the Old Madam, and then we can celebrate the New Year by ourselves."

Su Yunruo nodded, got up, and walked out of the room. The sunlight outside was bright, spilling into the courtyard and giving people a warm and peaceful feeling.

"By the way, Ren Dong and Ying Qi will accompany me to the palace for the banquet. You, Aunt Rou, and Tang Qiu will stay home and prepare. I guess my eldest and second eldest brothers will come over tonight," Su Yunruo said, looking at the people in the room.

“Miss, the palace banquet is in the evening, so please wear thicker clothes today and bring a hand warmer. I know you know martial arts and are not afraid of the cold, but it’s still better for girls to keep warm. Put a hand warmer in the carriage as well,” Aunt Rou said from the side.

"Aunt Rou, you've become quite the housekeeper these past six months," Su Yunruo said with a grin.

"My dear young lady, what can I do? I'm just destined to worry." Aunt Rou looked at Su Yunruo with gentle eyes.

"Okay, Aunt Rou, I know, I'll make sure to keep warm," Su Yunruo replied with a smile.

"Miss, let's get ready now." Tang Qiu said, and began to pack her things.

"Okay, you guys go ahead, I should change my clothes too." Su Yunruo said and went into the inner room.

After a while, Su Yunruo came out of the inner room, wearing a light purple brocade robe with a white fox fur cloak over it, and a white jade hairpin in her hair. She looked very elegant and graceful.

"Miss, you are so beautiful!" Honeysuckle couldn't help but exclaim.

“Yes, Miss, you’re sure to be the center of attention tonight,” Yingqi chimed in.

"Haha, you two are getting sweeter and sweeter with your words." Su Yunruo laughed happily.

Just then, there was a knock on the door: "Miss, the carriage is ready, we can depart."

"Alright, let's go." Su Yunruo said as she walked out of the room, got into the carriage, and headed towards the palace.

…………

They traveled in silence and soon arrived at the palace gates. Su Yunruo alighted from the carriage, and a gust of cold wind made her shiver.

"Miss, please put on this cloak." Yingqi handed over a white fox fur cloak.

Honeysuckle took the cloak and gently draped it over the young lady's shoulders, and then the group walked into the palace together.

The palace was brightly lit, filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and the continuous music of string and wind instruments.

Su Yunruo found a corner to sit down and quietly observed the crowd on the field.

Suddenly, a richly dressed young man walked towards Su Yunruo. He had a faint smile on his lips and his eyes sparkled with curiosity and admiration. He said softly, "Miss Su, I have long admired your name. Seeing you today, you are indeed as beautiful as a fairy."

Su Yunruo nodded slightly and replied politely, "You flatter me, young master."

The young master, however, refused to give up. He seemed to be very interested in Su Yunruo and continued to find topics to talk about with her.

"I've heard that Miss Su is exceptionally talented. Would you have the chance to witness it for me?" The young master's eyes were filled with anticipation.

Su Yunruo smiled slightly and gently shook her head: "This humble woman is not very knowledgeable and may not meet your standards, sir."

A hint of disappointment flashed in the young man's eyes, but he was still unwilling to give up and continued, "Miss Su, why be so modest? With your talent, you will surely amaze everyone."

Su Yunruo remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Young master, you flatter me. I am merely dabbling in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

Upon hearing this, the young master's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "Then what is Miss Su's specialty?"

Su Yunruo was troubled. She knew she had to find a way to escape as soon as possible, or the consequences would be unimaginable. Just then, the Empress spoke up, "I have heard that Miss Su is talented in both arts and sciences. Would you be willing to demonstrate your talents for everyone today?" All eyes immediately focused on Su Yunruo. She knew that the Empress was giving her an opportunity.

So Su Yunruo rose and bowed, calmly saying, "Your Majesty flatters me. I have made a fool of myself." With that, she walked to the center of the hall and gracefully began to play a guzheng piece. The music was melodious, like heavenly music, captivating all who heard it. After the performance, Su Yunruo returned to her seat. As soon as she sat down, several young ladies surrounded her, their faces beaming with smiles, uttering flattering words.

Su Yunruo suppressed her disgust and forced herself to put on those fake smiles, hoping the palace banquet would end soon. Finally, the long and agonizing banquet came to an end.

Su Yunruo breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly left the palace with Rendong and Yingqi. Once in the carriage, she let out a long sigh and exclaimed, "This palace banquet is truly exhausting! But today is quite unusual; Su Ning'er didn't cause any trouble." Back at her residence, Su Yunruo first went to pay her respects to the old lady, and then went to her own courtyard.

As soon as Su Yunruo entered the door, she saw that Aunt Rou and the others had been waiting for a long time, and the table was full of various delicacies. "Miss, you're finally back," Aunt Rou greeted her.

Su Yunruo smiled and sat down at the table. "Alright, let's start staying up late to welcome the New Year." Then she turned to Aunt Rou and said, "Aunt, bring up the New Year's gifts I prepared for them and give them all to them. We'll give them red envelopes tomorrow morning." Su Yunruo smiled at Aunt Rou.

Aunt Rou brought out the gifts as instructed, and everyone happily accepted them, thanking Su Yunruo profusely.

Just then, a soft knocking sound came from the window. "Luo Chun, go check it out." Su Yunruo immediately became alert upon hearing the sound and looked at Luo Chun. Luo Chun nodded and cautiously walked to the window. She opened it and looked out, but it was pitch black outside; she couldn't see anything.

Luo Chun frowned, wondering who it could be in the middle of the night. Just as she was wondering, she suddenly saw two figures hidden in the darkness. Startled, she was about to call out when one of them whispered, "Don't make a sound, it's us." Luo Chun looked closely and saw that it was her eldest and second senior brothers. She quickly ushered them into the house.

Upon seeing them, Su Yunruo's face immediately lit up with joy, and she quickly stood up to greet them: "Senior brothers, you've arrived. I thought you would be even later."

The eldest brother replied with a smile, "We heard that you went to the palace for a banquet today, and we were worried that you might be tired, so we came to see you." His eyes revealed his concern.

The second senior brother chimed in, "Yes, that's right. We even brought you some little trinkets." As he spoke, he took out several exquisite little items from his pocket and handed them to Su Yunruo.

Su Yunruo happily accepted the small gifts, her eyes sparkling with gratitude: "Thank you, senior brothers." She knew that although these little trinkets were not worth much money, they contained her senior brothers' care and love for her.

Everyone sat around the table, chatting and laughing, in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.