Win Him Over First

Su Li looked at Su Sanyun's conflicted expression, sighed, and nodded.

Her third uncle wanted to take care of everyone—his daughter Lanxiang on one hand, and his niece Su Li on the other. He didn't want to make things difficult for Su Li.

So, all the grievances and bitterness, Su Sanyun would rather swallow himself than trouble Su Li with them.

Su Sanyun got up and walked toward the door. Yuan Jie, worried about his third brother, followed after him.

Seeing this, Mrs. Chen hurriedly stood up. "A-Li, I'll go take a look too. Mrs. Sun is pretty fierce—I'm afraid the two men will suffer."

"Alright, Fourth Aunt, go ahead. Lingdang, you go with Fourth Old Madam." Su Li sent the skilled and bold Lingdang along. With the gatekeepers of Prince Qin's Manor at the door, surely they wouldn't be at a disadvantage.

Lingdang accompanied Mrs. Chen, and the two hurried after Su Sanyun.

Su Sanyun kept his head down and walked quickly in front, while Yuan Jie, out of breath, chased after him all the way to the gate of Prince Qin's Manor.

They were said to be waiting outside, but with a grand estate like Prince Qin's Manor, visitors wouldn't be left standing out on the street. There was usually a gatehouse at the entrance, where guests could rest, drink tea, and wait for the servants to announce them.

At this moment, Su Sanyun entered the gatehouse and saw Mrs. Sun, Su Lanxiang, and Cheng Jin sitting inside.

Cheng Jin looked around the gatehouse like a country bumpkin visiting the city, eyes full of envy. "Wow, Prince Qin's Manor is so grand! This drawing room is as big as my whole courtyard!"

Su Lanxiang and Mrs. Sun were also visiting Prince Qin's Manor for the first time. Su Lanxiang quickly boasted to Cheng Jin, "See? My cousin lives here in Prince Qin's Manor. She's really favored!"

Cheng Jin's gaze toward Su Lanxiang was now full of eagerness.

As Su Lanxiang said this, Lingdang happened to help Mrs. Chen into the room and overheard. She quietly rolled her eyes.

She thought to herself, Su Lanxiang, weren't you furious with our Princess Consort when you first returned, desperate to cut all ties? Now you're clinging on and using her to boost your own status?

Truly shameless!

Mrs. Sun looked up and saw Su Sanyun and the others arrive, her expression instantly changed. "Old Third, why are you here? Where's Su Li?"

Su Sanyun glared at Mrs. Sun and snapped, "You expect A-Li to come in person for you? Didn't I tell you not to come to Prince Qin's Manor? Why don't you ever listen!"

Mrs. Sun retorted, "It's New Year's—can't we visit relatives? Why is it okay for you to visit, but not us?"

Su Sanyun shot Mrs. Sun a fierce look. "You call that being relatives? Do you see A-Li acknowledging you? Now get out!"

Because Mrs. Sun supported Su Lanxiang's marriage, the relationship between Su Sanyun and Mrs. Sun had hit rock bottom—they argued every time they met.

Mrs. Sun quickly nudged Su Lanxiang and whispered, "Lanxiang, do you remember what I told you at home? Your father responds to kindness, not force. You have to coax him first if you want him to help you."

Su Lanxiang bit her lip, clearly reluctant. Seeing this, Cheng Jin pinched her waist hard from behind and threatened in a low voice, "What's wrong with you? If you don't cozy up to your father, how will your husband ever get ahead? Go on, hurry up!"

Urged by both her mother and husband, Su Lanxiang had no choice but to force herself to take a few stiff steps toward Su Sanyun and awkwardly called out, "Dad..."

That call of "Dad" made Su Sanyun's heart tremble—he nearly burst into tears.

Ever since Su Lanxiang returned, she treated him like an enemy, even saying she wanted to sever their relationship. Su Sanyun thought he'd never hear her call him 'Dad' again in this lifetime.