Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

That evening, in the Jade Dining Hall, all the masters of the Marquis's mansion gathered, numbering over twenty people. They were divided into four tables, two for men and two for women. Moreover, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate sons was clear. Only legitimate sons like Su Mingxuan and Su Haoyu were qualified to sit at the same table as the old Marquis and the others, while illegitimate sons could only sit to the side, as could the women.

Currently, the Marquis's mansion has four legitimate sons and two legitimate daughters: the eldest son Su Mingxuan, the second son Su Hongyi, the third son Su Haoyan, the fifth son Su Haoyu, and the eldest daughter Su Ziyao and the third daughter Su Qianrou. Among them, Su Hongyi and Su Ziyao are from the first branch of the family, while Su Haoyan is from the third branch.

In addition, there are two sons born out of wedlock and five daughters born out of wedlock: the fourth son Su Mingcheng, the sixth son Su Jianzhi, the second daughter Su Huaizhu, the fourth daughter Su Wanshan, the fifth daughter Su Jiarui, the sixth daughter Su Yiyun, and the seventh daughter Su Jialing. Among them, Su Jianzhi, Su Huaizhu, and Su Jiarui are born to the first wife, while Su Mingcheng, Su Yiyun, and Su Jialing are born to the third wife.

Since Su Ziyao has already married, Su Qianrou is now the only legitimate daughter in the Marquis's mansion. Therefore, she is sitting next to Song Shiyu, while Song Shiyu is sitting next to Lin Rong, and the old lady is to Lin Rong's left.

Su Qianrou felt as if the world had fallen silent. Before they even had their meal, Lin Xiaoran and Liu Meng had been making sarcastic remarks about Lin Rong. Several times she wanted to speak up, but Lin Rong stopped her each time.

Unintentionally, Su Qianrou noticed that Song Shiyu's complexion seemed a little off, so she asked with concern, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong? Is the food not to your liking?"

Before Song Shiyu could answer, the old lady sneered, "This isn't to your liking? What else do you want to eat?"

“Exactly, these are things that other people want to eat but can’t get,” Lin Xiaoran chimed in.

"No, I am..." Song Shiyu tried to explain, but Lin Rong beat her to it.

“Mother and sister-in-law misunderstood. Shiyu didn’t mean that. It’s just that she is pregnant now, only a little over a month along, so her tastes are inevitably a bit picky.”

"She's pregnant!" The old lady, Lin Xiaoran, and Liu Meng exclaimed in unison. After thinking about it, they realized it made sense, since she and Su Mingxuan had been married for three months and it was perfectly normal for her to be pregnant.

The old Marquis was overjoyed upon hearing the news. "Excellent! Our Su family is about to have another member! This is a joyous occasion. Bring wine! We must celebrate properly today!"

"Second brother, congratulations!"

"Thank you, brother."

"Second Brother, congratulations! I'd like to toast you."

"Thank you, Third Brother."

At this moment, the old lady, Lin Xiaoran, and Liu Meng also came to their senses. Even though they were unhappy, they still had to put on a show.

Therefore, the old lady said, "Since you are not feeling well, you should go back and rest first."

Song Shiyu glanced at Lin Rong, and seeing her nod, she slowly stood up and said, "Thank you, Grandmother. I'll take my leave now."

Su Qianrou also stood up, "Grandmother, I'll go back with my sister-in-law."

The old lady glanced at her and responded with a faint "Mm".

Then, Su Qianrou helped Song Shiyu leave the Jade Food Hall.

After they came out, the two strolled leisurely down the road.

Su Qianrou asked with concern, "How are you feeling, sister-in-law? Are you still feeling unwell?"

"I feel much better. Just now, all sorts of cosmetics and face powders were mixed together in the room, and the smell was a bit unpleasant, so I felt a little nauseous. I feel better now that I'm out." Then she added, "Actually, you don't need to come out with me. I can go back by myself."

"I've wanted to leave for a long time, but I just had no excuse."

"You'll get used to it."

"It's a good thing we don't have to eat together every day, otherwise I really couldn't stand it."

Although they do not need to dine together, they must go to Fuxi Courtyard to pay their respects every day.

"Sister-in-law, please don't bring up such sad things," Su Qianrou said with a bitter face.

Song Shiyu smiled but didn't say anything.

The next day, before dawn, Su Qianrou was fast asleep when Chunzhu came in, went straight to the bedside, and softly called out, "Miss, it's time to get up."

Su Qianrou did not react.

Helpless, Chunzhu could only continue to call out, "Miss, you need to go and pay your respects to the old lady. If you don't get up soon, you'll be late."

Su Qianrou found it noisy, so she turned to her side and continued to sleep.

Chunzhu gently nudged her, "Miss."

"Chunzhu, don't make noise, I'm sleepy," Su Qianrou murmured.

"Miss, please get up first, and go back to sleep after you've finished paying your respects," Chunzhu coaxed softly.

Su Qianrou did not respond.

At this moment, Juxia came in carrying a basin of water. Seeing that Su Qianrou had not yet gotten up, she asked, "Is Miss still not awake?"

"I'm awake, but I don't want to get up."

Juxia prepared the water, then walked to the bedside and said, "Miss, today is the first time you've come back to pay your respects. If you're late, the old lady might be angry."

Su Qianrou knew this, but she was too sleepy and really didn't want to get up. In the end, she dawdled for a while before finally getting up.

However, although she was awake, her mind was still foggy. She sat in front of the dressing table in a daze, letting Chunzhu and Juxia do whatever they wanted to her.

"Miss, what kind of hairstyle would you like to have today?"

Su Qianrou closed her eyes, lowered her head, and said drowsily, "Whatever you want."

Seeing that she was still asleep, Chunzhu didn't ask any more questions and instead combed her hair into three strands.

Juxia then drew her eyebrows and applied rouge.

Finally, after half an hour, I was able to go out.

Meanwhile, everyone had arrived at Fuxi Courtyard. Lin Rong was getting anxious when she saw that Su Qianrou hadn't arrived yet, so she whispered to Qinghui, "Go and see where Rou'er is and tell her to hurry up."

"Yes," Qinghui replied, and was about to leave when the old lady went out, so she couldn't leave.

Lin Rong was also helpless about this, so she could only stand up and bow to greet her mother, saying, "Greetings to Mother, may Mother be blessed with good health and longevity."

The others also stood up and bowed.

Greetings to my mother, may she be blessed with good health and happiness.

"Greetings to my grandmother, may she be blessed with good health and longevity."

"Well, sit down."

After sitting down, the old lady looked around and noticed that Su Qianrou was not there. She frowned and asked, "Where is Qianrou? Why didn't she come?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Rong stood up and explained, "Mother, Rou'er recently fell seriously ill, which has weakened her. Coupled with the long journey, she is feeling unwell. Please forgive her."

"He's not feeling well, I think he doesn't respect this old woman at all. He can even be late for his greetings, he has no manners at all."

“Mother knows that Qianrou grew up in Yangzhou and is a bit unruly, which is normal. Why should you hold it against her?” Lin Xiaoran seemed to be pleading for Su Qianrou, but in reality, she was mocking her.

Seeing this, Su Wanshan couldn't help but say, "Grandmother, you don't know this, but in the past in Yangzhou, Mother doted on my sister and never made her pay her respects."

Lin Rong glared at her, warning her to shut up.

Su Wanshan, however, didn't take it to heart and was completely unconcerned.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaoran, looking considerate, said, "Second sister-in-law, things are different now. Now that you have returned to the capital, you still need to learn the proper etiquette. Otherwise, if Qianrou is still like this after she gets married, she will inevitably be laughed at, and it may even implicate our Marquis's Mansion, making people say that our Marquis's Mansion does not know the rules."

“Sister-in-law is right. Qianrou is already fifteen and has reached the age to get married. If she doesn’t learn proper manners, I’m afraid no one will want her,” Liu Meng chimed in.