Chapter 69: Worry
The Jasper Flower Banquet was held once a year and was a traditional event of the south boundary. The imperial households, nobility, and aristocracy of all three nations would participate. The so-called Jasper Flower Banquet was basically a beauty contest for people to also find their spouses, so all single men and women had the right to participate.
During the banquet, a talented man and woman would be picked out and crowned.
The people picked out would become famous and wouldn’t have to worry about their marriage anymore—it was guaranteed to be a extremely good marriage.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhu’s worries weren’t without reason.
From the start, the Xiao family had already declined a lot. If it weren’t for the fact that Old Madame Xiao had kept a tight grip on military power, the Xiao residence would’ve already vanished.
If Xiao Susu added to this and embarrassed herself in front of all the nations, the emperor probably wouldn’t tolerate the Xiao family anymore.
However, there was nothing they could do about this.
They could only try to proceed carefully.
There was no way to learn much talents within a month.
“Little Sis, Grandma didn’t tell you about the emperor’s decree, did she? About the Jasper Flower Banquet…” Xiao En—Xiao Yan’s eldest son—was currently sitting next to Xiao Susu.
His face contained worry.
They all treated this younger sister who had suddenly woken up as like a pearl that they had to protect carefully.
The men in Hundred Flowers Nation weren’t as competitive and full of schemes as women.
Xiao En especially was very docile and courteous. The older generation liked him a lot, but in the end, he was still a boy and had no way of becoming a pillar of the Xiao family.
He seemed to like Xiao Susu even more than the others. He’d be next to her everyday, asking about the weather, how she liked the food, whether she had enough clothes…
Xiao Susu lowered the book she was reading and looked up. “Jasper Flower Banquet?”
Upon seeing Xiao Susu’s bright eyes and delicate face, a trace of light flashed through Xiao En’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. The women of Hundred Flowers Nation didn’t take petiteness to be beauty, but Xiao Susu was precisely the definition of dainty and petite. This gave Xiao En, who had gotten used to seeing valiant and tall beauties, a very fresh sensation of aesthetics.
In the past, Xiao Susu was dumb and just stayed in her courtyard all day, so no one paid attention to her.
However, now she was the pearl in the Xiao family’s palm, so it was natural for her to attract attention.
Of course, Xiao Susu’s looks were absolutely magnificent and devastatingly beautiful. Even the greatest beauty of great Yan, Su Mengru, would pale in color standing next to her.
However, in Hundred Flowers Nation, her figure and facial features couldn’t be called beautiful.
The people of Hundred Flowers Nation viewed height as the main measure of beauty.
Fortunately, this Jasper Flower Banquet was hosted jointly by the three nations and the most beautiful wouldn’t be chosen solely based on Hundred Flowers Nation’s standards.
“That’s right. The emperor decreed that you are to participate in Jasper Flower Banquet with the rest of us in a month. She was saying that since the imperial household of Unyielding Clouds Nation has already broken off the engagement, why not choose another companion on that day.” Xiao En was also aware that this was a complete excuse. She had definitely done this because that Ninth Prince had given her some sort of benefit.
After all, the current emperor didn’t have a good impression of the Xiao family.
Xiao Susu smiled coldly with no trace of unease or panic on her face. She didn’t seem angry either and just nodded slightly in acceptance.
“Little Sis, aren’t you worried? The emperor is purposefully…” Xiao En stopped in the middle of his words, not wanting to hurt this younger sister.
“She’s purposefully humiliating the Xiao family.” However, Xiao Susu finished his words with a cold smile.
She wasn’t concerned.
In regards to talent, she, Su Qiqi, had been alive for nearly twenty years and studied the four arts most of those years. She was confident that even if she wasn’t able to obtained the flower crown, she wouldn’t make the Xiao family lose face.
Xiao En had thought that his younger sister would become depressed or fearful because of his words. After all, there was a lot of pressure to perform well at the Jasper Flower Banquet and Xiao Susu had been pushed onto that stage so suddenly.
A trace of frost flashed through Xiao Susu’s eyes. “Who would’ve thought that the ninth prince was this vicious? In that case, he shouldn’t blame me for not being polite.”
She wasn’t the kind to be virtuous.
In this lifetime, she refused to let anyone trample her under their feet.
Although Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhu were purposefully scheming against her, in times of crucial importance, they still stood behind her and supported her.
Everyone in the Xiao family carefully protected her.
So this time, for the sake of the Xiao family as well, she had to stand out and win splendidly.
Humph, Baili Mo, just wait and see.
Xiao En was stunned for a moment by Xiao Susu’s words. He didn’t know how this younger sister was so confident in her ability to make the ninth prince regret, but he could sense her strength and confidence from the aura around her.
As he watched Xiao Susu, he suddenly felt confident as well.
When Old Madame Xiao heard about Xiao Susu’s reaction, she was also very satisfied. However, because of the Jasper Flower Banquet and the fact that she was in control of massive military power, she was very busy as well. The aristocracy of all three nations were coming to Hundred Flowers Nation, so she couldn’t be careless.
She had to set in place all the preventative measures.
“Has the Xiao family made any moves?” Ninth Prince took a sip of tea, then he glanced over at Nangong Mo.
He was still very annoyed with Xiao Susu’s behavior from that day. If it weren’t for the fact that Hundred Flowers Nation’s power was no longer as strong as Unyielding Clouds Nation’s, their marriage would’ve already occurred.
Just the thought of marrying a fool and making her his imperial consort made his heart burn with anger.
Disgust flashed through his eyes.
A fool was a match for him, the grand Ninth Prince? What a joke!
“Not even a normal person would be capable of learning anything in just a month, much less a fool. We can just wait for the show.” Nangong Mo also smiled darkly.
However, that woman’s face flashed through his mind.
He didn’t believe that she was Xiao Susu, but he also had no way of forgetting her due to that unique aura of hers.
“Hahaha…” Baili Mo laughed loudly.
His intention was to make the Xiao family lose so much face that they would never be able to lift their heads again.
Every day was the same. Xiao Susu would quietly read while enjoying the sunshine in the courtyard. However, now she no longer felt lonely, because Xiao En was always with her.
And her uncles would also often ask her how she was doing.
It was completely different from when she was in the Su residence. There, no one spoke to her.
Nor was it like when she had been in the Marquis of Nord’s residence. There, she had been humiliated and used.
Every time when she dreamed about the past, she would feel fear. She couldn’t shake off the shadow in her heart, the stifling feeling of dying, that pain, helplessness, and despair. She would probably never be able to forget those feelings.
This was all bestowed by Hua Qianzi but the one she hated more was Mo Wenchen.
He had stabbed that blade into her heart himself.
That was the same day she had found out about the gamble.
“Susu, the Jasper Flower Banquet is tomorrow. Do you have any plans?” Her aunt, Xiao Yan, walked over with a stern expression. “The Xiao family cannot withstand any more hardships.”
Xiao Susu’s gaze was calm as she met Xiao Yan’s eyes. “Aunt, don’t worry. Susu won’t let you guys down.”
Xiao Yan knew that her question was pointless, but she actually felt relieved when she saw Xiao Susu’s firm gaze.
She actually had a lot of faith in Xiao Susu.
She felt that there was nothing that would be too difficult for this niece.
All the schemes she had been making before now vanished without a trace.
If the Xiao family was gone, everything they had been competing over would disappear as well.
__________
Credits: Translated by Chiyomira
Chapter 69: Worry
The Jasper Flower Banquet was held once a year and was a traditional event of the south boundary. The imperial households, nobility, and aristocracy of all three nations would participate. The so-called Jasper Flower Banquet was basically a beauty contest for people to also find their spouses, so all single men and women had the right to participate.
During the banquet, a talented man and woman would be picked out and crowned.
The people picked out would become famous and wouldn’t have to worry about their marriage anymore—it was guaranteed to be a extremely good marriage.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhu’s worries weren’t without reason.
From the start, the Xiao family had already declined a lot. If it weren’t for the fact that Old Madame Xiao had kept a tight grip on military power, the Xiao residence would’ve already vanished.
If Xiao Susu added to this and embarrassed herself in front of all the nations, the emperor probably wouldn’t tolerate the Xiao family anymore.
However, there was nothing they could do about this.
They could only try to proceed carefully.
There was no way to learn much talents within a month.
“Little Sis, Grandma didn’t tell you about the emperor’s decree, did she? About the Jasper Flower Banquet…” Xiao En—Xiao Yan’s eldest son—was currently sitting next to Xiao Susu.
His face contained worry.
They all treated this younger sister who had suddenly woken up as like a pearl that they had to protect carefully.
The men in Hundred Flowers Nation weren’t as competitive and full of schemes as women.
Xiao En especially was very docile and courteous. The older generation liked him a lot, but in the end, he was still a boy and had no way of becoming a pillar of the Xiao family.
He seemed to like Xiao Susu even more than the others. He’d be next to her everyday, asking about the weather, how she liked the food, whether she had enough clothes…
Xiao Susu lowered the book she was reading and looked up. “Jasper Flower Banquet?”
Upon seeing Xiao Susu’s bright eyes and delicate face, a trace of light flashed through Xiao En’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. The women of Hundred Flowers Nation didn’t take petiteness to be beauty, but Xiao Susu was precisely the definition of dainty and petite. This gave Xiao En, who had gotten used to seeing valiant and tall beauties, a very fresh sensation of aesthetics.
In the past, Xiao Susu was dumb and just stayed in her courtyard all day, so no one paid attention to her.
However, now she was the pearl in the Xiao family’s palm, so it was natural for her to attract attention.
Of course, Xiao Susu’s looks were absolutely magnificent and devastatingly beautiful. Even the greatest beauty of great Yan, Su Mengru, would pale in color standing next to her.
However, in Hundred Flowers Nation, her figure and facial features couldn’t be called beautiful.
The people of Hundred Flowers Nation viewed height as the main measure of beauty.
Fortunately, this Jasper Flower Banquet was hosted jointly by the three nations and the most beautiful wouldn’t be chosen solely based on Hundred Flowers Nation’s standards.
“That’s right. The emperor decreed that you are to participate in Jasper Flower Banquet with the rest of us in a month. She was saying that since the imperial household of Unyielding Clouds Nation has already broken off the engagement, why not choose another companion on that day.” Xiao En was also aware that this was a complete excuse. She had definitely done this because that Ninth Prince had given her some sort of benefit.
After all, the current emperor didn’t have a good impression of the Xiao family.
Xiao Susu smiled coldly with no trace of unease or panic on her face. She didn’t seem angry either and just nodded slightly in acceptance.
“Little Sis, aren’t you worried? The emperor is purposefully…” Xiao En stopped in the middle of his words, not wanting to hurt this younger sister.
“She’s purposefully humiliating the Xiao family.” However, Xiao Susu finished his words with a cold smile.
She wasn’t concerned.
In regards to talent, she, Su Qiqi, had been alive for nearly twenty years and studied the four arts most of those years. She was confident that even if she wasn’t able to obtained the flower crown, she wouldn’t make the Xiao family lose face.
Xiao En had thought that his younger sister would become depressed or fearful because of his words. After all, there was a lot of pressure to perform well at the Jasper Flower Banquet and Xiao Susu had been pushed onto that stage so suddenly.
A trace of frost flashed through Xiao Susu’s eyes. “Who would’ve thought that the ninth prince was this vicious? In that case, he shouldn’t blame me for not being polite.”
She wasn’t the kind to be virtuous.
In this lifetime, she refused to let anyone trample her under their feet.
Although Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhu were purposefully scheming against her, in times of crucial importance, they still stood behind her and supported her.
Everyone in the Xiao family carefully protected her.
So this time, for the sake of the Xiao family as well, she had to stand out and win splendidly.
Humph, Baili Mo, just wait and see.
Xiao En was stunned for a moment by Xiao Susu’s words. He didn’t know how this younger sister was so confident in her ability to make the ninth prince regret, but he could sense her strength and confidence from the aura around her.
As he watched Xiao Susu, he suddenly felt confident as well.
When Old Madame Xiao heard about Xiao Susu’s reaction, she was also very satisfied. However, because of the Jasper Flower Banquet and the fact that she was in control of massive military power, she was very busy as well. The aristocracy of all three nations were coming to Hundred Flowers Nation, so she couldn’t be careless.
She had to set in place all the preventative measures.
“Has the Xiao family made any moves?” Ninth Prince took a sip of tea, then he glanced over at Nangong Mo.
He was still very annoyed with Xiao Susu’s behavior from that day. If it weren’t for the fact that Hundred Flowers Nation’s power was no longer as strong as Unyielding Clouds Nation’s, their marriage would’ve already occurred.
Just the thought of marrying a fool and making her his imperial consort made his heart burn with anger.
Disgust flashed through his eyes.
A fool was a match for him, the grand Ninth Prince? What a joke!
“Not even a normal person would be capable of learning anything in just a month, much less a fool. We can just wait for the show.” Nangong Mo also smiled darkly.
However, that woman’s face flashed through his mind.
He didn’t believe that she was Xiao Susu, but he also had no way of forgetting her due to that unique aura of hers.
“Hahaha…” Baili Mo laughed loudly.
His intention was to make the Xiao family lose so much face that they would never be able to lift their heads again.
Every day was the same. Xiao Susu would quietly read while enjoying the sunshine in the courtyard. However, now she no longer felt lonely, because Xiao En was always with her.
And her uncles would also often ask her how she was doing.
It was completely different from when she was in the Su residence. There, no one spoke to her.
Nor was it like when she had been in the Marquis of Nord’s residence. There, she had been humiliated and used.
Every time when she dreamed about the past, she would feel fear. She couldn’t shake off the shadow in her heart, the stifling feeling of dying, that pain, helplessness, and despair. She would probably never be able to forget those feelings.
This was all bestowed by Hua Qianzi but the one she hated more was Mo Wenchen.
He had stabbed that blade into her heart himself.
That was the same day she had found out about the gamble.
“Susu, the Jasper Flower Banquet is tomorrow. Do you have any plans?” Her aunt, Xiao Yan, walked over with a stern expression. “The Xiao family cannot withstand any more hardships.”
Xiao Susu’s gaze was calm as she met Xiao Yan’s eyes. “Aunt, don’t worry. Susu won’t let you guys down.”
Xiao Yan knew that her question was pointless, but she actually felt relieved when she saw Xiao Susu’s firm gaze.
She actually had a lot of faith in Xiao Susu.
She felt that there was nothing that would be too difficult for this niece.
All the schemes she had been making before now vanished without a trace.
If the Xiao family was gone, everything they had been competing over would disappear as well.
__________
Credits: Translated by Chiyomira
