The cousin's family is extremely wealthy; she deserves to be a concubine.

Hua Sirong returned to Qingwu Courtyard and told Wang Mama about the lawsuit in detail.

Madam Wang: "Wouldn't the shop in the west of the city be in danger?"

They're like hungry wolves, almost as fierce as the Hua family from Xishan. How could her daughter have such a miserable life?

Hua Sirong was naturally worried as well. "It's hard to say. I think my aunt doesn't care much about face, so I'm afraid she won't let this go easily."

Wang's mother went out to find out more information, looking worried.

In the evening, I returned home after overhearing some gossip from the old woman guarding the gate.

Hua Sirong's brows furrowed with joy, "Our shop has probably been saved for the time being."

Madam Wang: "Young lady, do you perhaps know how to calculate? She didn't say anything just now."

Hua Sirong smiled bitterly. If she could predict the future, she wouldn't have ended up like this. "From now on, our days in the manor are probably not going to be easy."

Although Wang's mother did not know the specific reason, she always believed what the girl said without question.

For several days in a row, nothing happened in the mansion, and Hua Sirong thought she was overthinking things.

That day, a maid from Yimei Garden came to deliver a message: the day after tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and everyone in the Marquis's mansion will have a reunion feast that evening.

The young lady was in mourning, so she couldn't go out with the young men and women of the manor to join in the fun and guess riddles on the street. However, it wouldn't be appropriate to leave Hua Sirong out alone at the family banquet.

"My aunt felt sorry for me and was worried that I would be lonely spending the holiday alone, so I shouldn't have refused."

On such a joyous occasion of family reunion, my presence at the manor is already a great inconvenience. If I were to share a meal with the masters of the manor, I would be failing my aunt's good intentions.

If that affects the appetite of the masters in the mansion, wouldn't that ruin their reunion banquet?

Knowing that Hua Sirong would refuse, Wen Hua's eyes revealed a pity that she herself did not realize. "Miss Rong is beautiful and kind-hearted. My wife is also very insightful."

My wife said that if Miss Rong does not wish to sit at the same table as the other ladies in the household, then we will arrange a separate table for you at the pavilion opposite the waterside pavilion.

The two sides are close together, so the young lady can hear the lively sounds from inside the mansion and won't feel lonely.

Hua Sirong was about to refuse again, but Wen Hua wouldn't let it go, saying, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is a joyous occasion, Miss Rong, please don't refuse anymore."

The host family had considered everything, and Hua Sirong repeatedly refused, but she just didn't know what was good for her.

Then Wenhua said, "Miss Rong lives in our mansion. My lady treats you like her own daughter."

"Your health isn't convenient right now, so I'm sorry to have to make things difficult for you. My wife said that once your mourning period is over, she'll prepare a big feast for you, a lively celebration, to make up for the loneliness of these past few years."

Hua Sirong bowed and said, "Please thank your aunt for me. She must have been very busy these past few days preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet."

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, I will definitely go to Yimei Garden in person to thank my aunt.

Wen Hua said, "Yes, this servant will definitely report the truth when I get back."

On the fifteenth of August, the Muqing Marquis's family banquet was held in the waterside pavilion in the garden. Everyone from the three branches of the family, from the oldest to the youngest, was present. Even the concubines in the mansion were given two tables to enjoy the festivities.

The pavilion where Hua Sirong was located was to the west of the waterside pavilion. To get around it, one had to pass a rockery. Although Hua Sirong rarely walked around the mansion, she was still aware of these rare and exquisite details.

Hua Sirong felt bad that her aunt had chosen such a nice place for her. Standing in the center of the pavilion, she bowed respectfully towards the waterside pavilion, as a way of thanking the Muqing Marquis's family for their kindness to her, an orphan.

The maids and servants of the Marquis's mansion waited until Hua Sirong had bowed before inviting her to take her seat.

Maid A: "Today, the manor has also invited an opera troupe to perform at the pavilion in the middle of the lake. Miss Rong's position is also advantageous; she can hear the sounds and join in the fun."

Hua Sirong maintained a faint smile throughout, and upon hearing this, she nodded, "I'm in for a treat."

The meal was all vegetarian; regardless of any aunt's ulterior motives, she had done her best in this regard.

Sometimes Hua Sirong really wanted to sigh and say, "What has she done to deserve this?!"

"I can't finish all these dishes. I'll only leave a few of my favorites on the table. You can take the rest and share them. Because of my status, I can't eat meat, so please don't mind."

Maid A spoke on behalf of the servants, saying, "We would never dare to refuse Miss Xie Rong's gift." Most of these dishes were prepared by the old lady's personal chef, and those of them who served on the margins rarely had the chance to eat them.

Hua Sirong left Wang Mama and a servant from the Marquis's residence to serve her, while the other maids and servants found a place to eat outside the pavilion.

After Hua Sirong finished her meal, the maids and servants tidied up the pavilion, set out mooncakes and teacups, and the waterside pavilion was still bustling with activity.

From afar, one could almost hear toasts, a scene of harmony and joy. Hua Sirong wasn't envious; it wasn't the first time she had felt lonely during a festival of reunion.

In the past, when Hua's father was still alive, he wouldn't rush home every Mid-Autumn Festival.

Sometimes when he goes out on business and is too far away to come back, he will still send Hua Sirong gifts.

Hua Sirong leaned against the railing, tilting her head to look at the full moon overhead, lost in thought.

Someone at the other end of the waterside pavilion pointed towards the pavilion, asking, "Is someone in that pavilion?"

That's a good question. In a large mansion, there's no place without people, especially today, which is a big day. The whole household will be in an uproar. Even the laziest servants will have to be alert and prepared today.

Those who served at Yimei Garden naturally knew, and seeing their master looking in that direction, they quickly stepped forward to reply, "It seems that Miss Rong is admiring the moon there."

At the table of the young masters in the manor, someone asked, "Miss Rong? Which Miss Rong? I've never seen her before."

After speaking, he stole a glance at the table where the patriarch was sitting, thinking to himself that perhaps his uncles had brought back some courtesans from outside the mansion. But they were spoiling them too much, even letting them roam freely on that side of the table.

The second young lady was delighted to hear this, "Sister Rong has actually gone out to get married, then I'll go and see her in a bit."

Only then did the young master realize that he had misunderstood, and he quickly put a sip of tea into his mouth.

Fourth Sister couldn't help but nudge He Er, "You'll have to come with us out of the manor to guess lantern riddles later."

Upon hearing this, all the younger sisters in the manor stared at the Second Miss.

In terms of talent, no one can compare to the second son. The most beautiful lantern must be matched with the most difficult riddle. If they don't release He Er now, are they going to wait until the Lantern Festival?

He Er was unaware that she was being given such high expectations, and she was filled with emotion. She originally did not want to leave the manor, as the fourth young master of the Meng family was waiting to invite her to a pre-wedding date.

She had originally thought that since her cousin Rong was at the pavilion over there, she could find an excuse not to leave the mansion to deal with her. Little did she know that her sisters would extend such a warm invitation and refuse to let her go.

Not wanting to disappoint her sisters, she had no choice but to reluctantly agree, hoping that she could keep up with them and prevent Young Master Meng from spending time alone with her.