Chapter 295 Striving for Herself

Chapter 295 Striving for Herself

Su Youyue's face instantly flushed.

She grabbed Su Rong's face and rubbed it several times before her mood calmed down.

This little girl actually peeked at her.

Su Rong giggled at her eldest sister for a while and then reached out to pinch Su Youyue's face as well.

The two sisters played happily until the carriage arrived at the Su residence, still holding hands affectionately.

As soon as they entered the gate of the Su residence, a servant boy rushed over, shouting, "Eldest Miss, Third Miss, wait for me!"

Su Youyue turned around and, seeing an unfamiliar face, stopped to wait.

The servant boy smiled ingratiatingly and waved a food box. "Eldest Miss, Third Miss, Young Master Xiao Silang said you both had a scare today, so he sent some snacks to calm your nerves."

Hearing that it was from Xiao Silang's attendant, Su Rong gave him a few more glances.

After Su Youyue nodded, Chunya stepped forward to take the food box and gave the servant some gratuity.

"Please thank your young master on my behalf," she said, then looked at Su Rong. "Does Third Sister have anything to say?"

Caught off guard, Su Rong paused, unsure why her eldest sister asked if she had anything to say. After a moment, she told the servant, "Thank your young master on my behalf too, and tell him to be careful."

These days are not peaceful; there have been two assassination attempts in just a few days under the emperor's nose. That's all Su Rong could think to say.

The servant immediately agreed, happily pocketing the gratuity and left.

Su Youyue and Su Rong continued walking into the residence. Along the way, Su Youyue asked Chunya to open the food box.

Inside, there was a large box of red bean pastries, shiny roasted pine nuts and chestnuts, and below them were apricot pastes and chestnut pastries.

Taking one look, Su Youyue understood. "Rong'er, I'm not feeling very hungry today, so take these back with you."

Everything in the box was what Su Rong liked to eat. Clearly, Xiao Silang was sending these to her, not to Su Youyue.

Unexpectedly, without even trying to matchmake them, Xiao Silang had already taken an interest.

Now that the new year has passed, Su Rong is thirteen, and it's time to start considering suitors for her. If they decide now, she can marry in two or three years.

After all, there are limited eligible bachelors and maidens in the capital, and the best ones are even fewer. Families need to choose early to avoid missing out when the time comes.

Su Rong hadn't realized this yet. Seeing the layers filled with her favorite foods, she was delighted but then noticed Su Youyue saying she wasn't feeling well. She immediately looked concerned.

But Su Youyue smiled gently. "Xiao Silang is quite thoughtful. He must have noticed what Rong'er likes to eat."

With that, she led Chunya and Jin'er towards Wisteria Garden.

Left behind, Su Rong finally understood something, her face turning red.

Xiao Xing, however, was even more confused. "Third Miss, why does Xiao Silang know what Miss likes to eat?"

Snapping back to reality, Su Rong covered her face and ran away. "I... I don't know. Let's go back."

As she ran, her heart pounded.

Now that she had her eldest sister's love and a profitable shop, she no longer worried about her marriage prospects. This sudden development made her blush and feel flustered.

Once back home, she became restless, feeling overwhelmed by this unexpected good fortune.

Xiao Silang was the son of the Jinghai Marquis, with capable father and brothers, and he himself was outstanding and handsome. She, on the other hand, was just a concubine-born daughter with neither exceptional beauty nor talent. How could she possibly match him?

Su Rong knew that although being a concubine-born daughter was less desirable, in Great Shen, a woman's status depended on the man she relied on—unmarried daughters followed their fathers, married daughters their husbands. Thus, her father being a high-ranking official mattered far more than her birth status.

Throughout Great Shen's history, there have been empresses born from concubines, let alone princess consorts and duchesses.

However, such concubine-born daughters usually possessed remarkable talents or virtues that set them apart.

If a lady were choosing a wife for her son, she would naturally prefer a legitimate daughter, who generally received better upbringing and support from her mother.

Even having a concubine was better than none, as a concubine could influence the father.

And she, a concubine-born daughter, lacked any such advantages...

She had once hoped for a kind and considerate husband, but quickly dismissed the idea, believing herself unworthy.

Now, suddenly receiving Xiao Silang's attention, Su Rong felt unrealistically hopeful yet anxious. But thinking of his spirited demeanor, her heart fluttered like a lamb.

Watching her mistress, Xiao Xing finally understood Xiao Silang's intentions.

Seeing her mistress troubled, she suggested, "Since Xiao Silang has feelings for you, you should seize the opportunity. Don't let it slip away. Even Eldest Miss seemed to be matchmaking. If Eldest Miss thinks it's a good match, it definitely is!"

Hearing Xiao Xing's words, Su Rong's eyes brightened. "You're right. If Eldest Sister thinks it's a good match, it definitely is! I must strive for myself!"

With newfound resolve, her cheeks flushed as she lay in bed, rolling around in excitement.

Under the moonlight above the Su residence, in another garden, Lu Shuangshuang threw pebbles into the lake, frustrated.

"I knew they deliberately didn't invite me. What nonsense about not making plans! Su Youyue and Su Rong clearly went to the outing fair. They must have planned it in advance to exclude me!"

Xiao Wangshi comforted her daughter, "It's okay, Shuangshuang. You didn't hear that there were assassins at the fair, and many people died!"

Lu Shuangshuang pouted. "It wasn't that dangerous. They didn't leave their lives there."

Xiao Wangshi was startled and quickly glanced around, then tugged at her sleeve. "Shuangshuang, don't talk nonsense!"

Knowing that she had gone too far with her words, Lu Shuangshuang reluctantly turned back: "I understand, Mother. But Cousin and I are still related by blood. What is Su Rong to me? Just you wait. If I can't deal with Cousin, can't I deal with her?"