Chapter Thirteen: Family Banquet

  It's so hard for a new book to climb up the charts~~~~(》_《)~~~~

  Ye Chengli glanced at Ye Qinglan, a hint of paternal pride flashing in his eyes. Then, as if remembering something, a hint of melancholy flashed across his face, and he let out an unconscious sigh.

  Xue's eyes flashed, and his smile faded.

  She naturally knew who her husband was thinking of.

  Ye Qinglan was born with a fair and delicate complexion, and over the past two years, her eyebrows and eyes had gradually opened up, becoming more and more like her mother Bi Rong. Especially those bright black eyes, which seemed to hold a hint of a smile even when she wasn't smiling, were almost identical to Bi Rong's.

  Ye Chengli was very fond of Bi Rong back then, but later Bi Rong died in a difficult childbirth and the baby boy also died prematurely. Ye Chengli became depressed for a long time. After a year, she took the initiative to introduce him to a beautiful and charming concubine. With new love, his mood gradually recovered, and he slowly forgot about Bi Rong.

  In recent years, Ye Chengli rarely mentioned Bi Rong and didn't pay much attention to his daughter Ye Qinglan either.

  At this moment, looking at his daughter Ye Qinglan who looked very similar to Bi Rong, Ye Chengli suddenly thought of his deceased concubine and couldn't help but take a few more glances at Ye Qinglan.

  The quiet and introverted little girl has grown into a beautiful young lady.

  Xue Yushu was even more staring intently, with obvious admiration in his eyes.

  At this moment, a red-clad Ye Qingfu floated in like a gust of wind. She had long since thrown the previous scolding to the back of her mind and was proudly showing off her new clothes to everyone: "How is it? Does it look good?"

  The bright red color is dazzling, and the leaves' green color sets off Qīng Fú's face, which looks particularly good. The youthful vigor unique to girls bursts forth.

  Xue Shi glanced at Ye Qingfu with a smile full of indulgence: "Of course, she looks good. My Fu'er looks good in anything."

  Ye Qing looked at Xue Yushu with a pleased smile, but found that Xue Yushu didn't notice her at all, his gaze was fixed on Ye Qinglan.

  Ye Qingfu gave Ye Qinglan a resentful glance, with a hint of jealousy flashing in her eyes.

  Ye Qinglan stood aside with a humble and obedient expression, as if she hadn't seen Ye Qingfu's suddenly gloomy face.

  Ye Chengli wouldn't normally pay attention to such minor details, and calmly instructed: "Although it's a family banquet, we still can't be rude. Our words and actions must be cautious." After pausing for a moment, he specifically added another sentence: "Furong, did you hear that?"

  Not mentioning others, just reminding her alone. Did Father also underestimate her?

  Ye Qingfu felt resentful in her heart, but she didn't dare to talk back and obediently nodded.

  The family banquet was set up in the flower hall of Changhe Hall. Many bright candlesticks were placed around, and the flower hall was as bright as daylight inside and out. The pretty maids either carried dishes back and forth or held warm wet towels to serve on one side, or stood elegantly with wine pots on one side.

  The family banquet is divided into four seats, with men and women sitting in two seats each, separated by a thin bamboo screen in the middle.

  According to etiquette, a concubine like her was not qualified to sit at the table. The women sitting in the hall were all the legitimate female relatives of the Ye family.

  All the girls who had not yet come of age, big and small, sat in a row. Sitting to Ye Qinglan's right was her six-year-old younger sister Ye Qingru, who kept lowering her head to play with her fingers.

  Ye Qingfu sat next to Ye Qinglan, but deliberately ignored her and instead chatted enthusiastically with her cousin Ye Qingrou beside her. Obviously still resentful of the earlier scene, she intentionally gave her the cold shoulder.

  Ye Qinglan didn't take these things to heart. A person is happy and carefree, looking around at will.

  At the next table, Zheng Shi sat in the upper seat, and Li Shi and Xue Shi sat on either side of her. A young woman, about twenty years old, dressed up and smiling, stood behind Zheng Shi.

  Ye Qinglan took a glance at her, and the identity of this woman quickly flashed into her mind. She was the wife of Ye Yuanhui, her elder male cousin, named Cui Wan. She had been married to the manor for four years and gave birth to a daughter last year, whose milk name was Fang Jie'er.

  To become the eldest daughter-in-law of the Changyuan Bo Fu is naturally not an ordinary woman.

  Choi Won was born into a prestigious family, the eldest daughter of the Cheonghae Choi clan. Her personality is not yet clear, but her appearance is elegant and beautiful, with a dignified demeanor that inspires good feelings in others.

  Choi Wan-jung was chatting with Jeong and others, seemingly aware that two gazes were sizing her up. She looked up to meet the eyes of the two people head-on.

  Ye Qinglan was completely unrepentant and flashed a shallow smile at Cui Wan.

  Cui Wanshao smiled and had a slightly better impression of this tenth young lady whom she had only heard of but never met before.

  Li's eyes scanned around and suddenly smiled: "It's about time, we should start the banquet." Unknowingly intentionally or unintentionally, he added another sentence: "Everyone should be here by now!"

  All the ladies from each house have indeed arrived, but there is no sign of Sixth Miss Ye Qingning.

  It's fine on ordinary days, but tonight is the He Manor family banquet. Ye Qingning still being late as usual would make her seem too arrogant.

  Zheng's eyes flashed, but she didn't make a sound.

  Cui Wan coughed softly and smiled tactfully, "It's still early, let's wait a little longer!" The mother-in-law didn't say anything, so she had to force herself to mediate.

  Li said with a seemingly smiling expression: "Waiting for a while is no big deal, but I don't know when to wait until. I'm not particular about it, however, you three aunties have come back from afar and are probably starving by now. Why not send someone to the Ringui Pavilion to take a look and ask Sixth Young Lady to come over earlier?"

  Xue was just standing by with his arms crossed watching the commotion, who would have thought that the flames would suddenly spread to himself, he hastily laughed and said: "No need, no need, let's wait a bit longer."

  Zheng was squeezed out of a few words, and naturally felt uncomfortable in her heart. However, she calmly instructed: "Cui, go take a look at what's going on with Ning'er."

  Before Cui Wan nodded, Ye Qingning appeared in front of everyone with a flourish.

  It's a coincidence that Ye Qingning also wore a red dress. Ye Qingning was originally born beautiful, with particularly white skin, and wearing red clothes made her look even more radiant and stunning.

  Ye Qingfu suddenly felt a bit unnatural.

  It just so happens that they are wearing the same color, but what's even more annoying is that their dresses are exactly the same style. What's even more depressing is that she obviously lost to Ye Qingning...

  Ye Qingning also seemed to notice the awkwardness of the collision, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she hummed softly in displeasure. She sat down as if nothing had happened, not even glancing at Ye Qingfu, but said lightly: "The style that just came out of the palace has spread to Zhengzhou so quickly."

  A hint of disdain was evident in his tone.

  Several sisters-in-law all smiled lightly.

  Ye Qingfu's face turned red and green. If it were someone else, she would have retorted long ago. But this Sixth Sister was a dignified eldest daughter of the main room, who had always been proud and couldn't be provoked.

  It's really not her style to swallow her breath and hold back.

  Ye Qingfu's eyes darted to Ye Qinglan, who was also smiling, and suddenly felt a surge of anger, glaring at Ye Qinglan fiercely: "What are you laughing at?"

  To vent one's anger on others.

  Everyone's gaze suddenly turned to Ye Qinglan...