The restaurant was decorated with a fresh and elegant style. Long tables were covered with brocade tablecloths edged with silver thread. On the leftmost side, a variety of beverages were displayed: tea, wine, milk tea, coconut milk, and more.
The middle row featured rows of beautiful tableware, topped with pastries arranged in various attractive patterns. All of them were the most famous pastries from Chen Jin Ji. There were cakes, slices of bread, tiramisu, mini burgers, croissants – all sorts of Western pastries, each with a different, unparalleled beauty.
On the table against the wall on the far right, several copper pots held hot food, including prepared steamed crabs, boiled prawns, and various hot dishes. The wall facing the entrance was adorned with fruits: golden loquats, bright red watermelons, plump, juicy lychees, as well as peaches, plums, and apricots – all the fruits that existed in this era were present.
The tableware was neatly stored in cabinets beneath the tables.
"This is a buffet. Take whatever you like," Su Xiaoqi said, pointing to the tables and chairs. She explained that they could get their own trays, walk around, and take whatever they wanted. Eat to your heart's content.
This format was incredibly novel, even astonishing the Grand Princess. Looking at the dazzling array of food, her shock lingered for a long time. However, the exquisite and delicious food quickly captured everyone's attention. They began, with the help of the restaurant maids, to get their trays and food.
People gathered in small groups, talking and eating, completely breaking the rule of silence during meals at home. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and by tacit agreement, no one spoke unnecessarily.
This went on for a full hour, from midday until the late afternoon. Those who had finished eating returned to the previous game room to play. Once everyone had finished eating, Su Xiaoqi began to usher them to the inner courtyard to enjoy the hot springs. Due to the large number of people, they were naturally divided into groups. One group went to the hot springs, another went for hair washing and massages, and yet another for face masks.
In addition to these activities, Su Xiaoqi had arranged for barbecues, entertainment, boating, and fishing – all sorts of fun activities. In short, no one would be bored, nor would they need to wait.
At this point, they were automatically divided into three groups based on age. The oldest group went to soak in the hot springs with the Old Matriarch and others. The middle-aged ladies went with the Grand Princess and her entourage for spa massages. The young ladies followed Su Xiaoqi and Du Yiyi to go boating, fishing, and barbecuing, getting a taste of dragon boat racing in advance.
Boating was enjoyable. The previous owner of the estate was a man of refined tastes, and he had artificially constructed a lake behind the estate, spanning three mu. Yuan River water was diverted into it, with willow trees planted on both banks and lotuses grown within. The spring breeze was gentle, blowing on their faces, with birds singing and the scenery bright and clear – very pleasant.
Su Xiaoqi had prepared ten small boats in total, each with two boatwomen, capable of carrying four distinguished guests. She had specifically instructed people to keep an eye on Zhao Xiaohua, Su Yuru, and Princess Qionghua, fearing they might cause trouble in such a setting. If anything happened, regardless of her involvement, as the host, she would be unable to escape blame.
Su Xiaoqi noticed that as Zhao Xiaohua and her group boarded the boat, one person seemed to be missing. A person who had been inseparable from Zhao Xiaohua. She looked around, trying to find that person on other boats, but to no avail. Her heart tightened, thinking, "Could it be that I've really been outmaneuvered?"
Just then, Du Yiyi arrived with her maids. Su Xiaoqi gave her a meaningful look. Du Yiyi blinked her eyes. Just as she was about to board a boat, a young maid approached and whispered something in her ear. She waved at Su Xiaoqi and headed directly towards the east side of the lake.
Su Xiaoqi glanced in that direction, seeing a rockery obstructing her view, making it impossible to see if anyone was there. Feeling concerned, she hurried to catch up and cautioned Du Yiyi to be careful, not to be deceived as she had been last time. Du Yiyi quickly nodded, saying that what happened last time was due to her carelessness and that this time, they were the ones leading the way, and no one could deceive her. Moreover, she had been particularly observant this time and might even catch someone red-handed. It just so happened that her grandaunt was soaking in the hot springs with her maternal grandmother, and if this matter were brought to their attention, she believed her granduncle would be informed upon their return.
Su Xiaoqi shook her head helplessly. She couldn't leave her current position, so she signaled Zhang Yu to follow. Zhao Xiaohua had already boarded the boat, and she needed to follow and see if she caused any trouble. Du Yiyi agreed and then headed towards the rockery with the maids beside her. The person who had delivered the message earlier had said that person was waiting for her behind the rockery.
She walked along the pebble path. Just as she was looking around to find the person, she saw a corner of clothing flash near the rockery ahead. She immediately stopped the maid following her, who was fluttering about like a headless fly. This maid was called Pu'er, not the one Du Yiyi usually used. Instead, she was a first-class maid serving her grandaunt. Du Yiyi had deliberately sent her own main maid elsewhere, leaving herself vulnerable, to trick her grandaunt's capable maid into serving her. This was all for the scene that unfolded, which, as expected, did not disappoint her.
What had happened in the Zen courtyard of Gan Quan Temple last time was now happening here.
"Yuru, look at me, I specifically came to see you today. You must know my sincere feelings for you now!"
"My Lord, you, you mustn't be like this. We are destined to have no outcome. I heard you are already engaged to the Du family. I know that eldest daughter of the Du family, she has a very fiery temper and will surely not tolerate me."
"Hmph, if such a shrew like her cannot tolerate you, then I cannot tolerate her either," the Heir Apparent of Prince Duan said indignantly. He hugged Su Yuru, who was crying and trembling and couldn't stand steady, feeling extremely distressed.
Du Yiyi's skin crawled. She thought that she had seen this Su Yuru before and didn't know she was like this. Now she had become like this. Was she still a respectable virtuous woman? What was the difference between this behavior and that of the women serving people in Misty Rain Tower? The crucial point was that the Heir Apparent of Prince Duan, whom her father and granduncle spoke of as gentle and humble, actually enjoyed this kind of thing.
"Pah..." Du Yiyi couldn't help but spit. She was too angry and didn't consider suppressing her voice. As a result, the sound was quite loud, startling the young lovers who were embracing and whispering sweet nothings amidst the rockery.
"Who is it?" The Heir Apparent of Prince Duan hid Su Yuru in his arms, turned his head, and looked. Pu'er wanted to pull Du Yiyi away, but Du Yiyi insisted on not doing so. She pulled away from her hand and rushed to the gap in the rockery, glaring coldly at the Heir Apparent of Prince Duan and Su Yuru, who was trembling in his arms, and sternly shouted, "Hmph, what a pair of lovebirds you are."
"Who are you? Do you know who I am?" The Heir Apparent of Prince Duan looked at the young girl in the light green pleated skirt with a face full of confusion. A hint of astonishment flashed in his eyes. He was inwardly wondering who this woman was, as she was so beautiful. Her features were regular and refined, her eyes flashing with anger, yet full of spirit, possessing a beauty and a spiritedness that was entirely different from Su Yuru's delicate weakness. It made people want to look at her more.