"The Hua Clan?"
Shui Yihe murmured the two words after hearing them.
"Yes, it's about the Hua Clan."
Leng Ruo Li nodded lightly.
There was indeed a reclusive prominent family surnamed Hua in the East Sea, but they never interacted with outsiders, and I don't know much about them.
"Then just tell me everything you know."
Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mo Han had already guessed this when they came to Bailin Island.
"The Hua Clan is the most mysterious prominent family in our East Sea City. The people of this clan are skilled in medicine, formations, and secret arts. It is said that their residences are hidden by formations or secret arts, and very few people in this world know the exact location of the Hua Clan."
Shui Yihe earnestly told them both.
"Don't they need to go out to purchase daily necessities? Or are they self-sufficient in everything within their clan?"
After hearing Shui Yihe's words, Leng Ruo Li immediately asked.
"I'm not too sure about that. Our East Sea City is so vast, and there are so many merchants coming and going. Even if they came out to buy things, we wouldn't be able to distinguish who is from the Hua Clan."
"That's true!"
What Shui Yihe said made sense.
"However, my father might know more about the Hua Clan than I do."
He then smiled and continued, "Today happens to be my grandmother's 60th birthday celebration. Tonight, Your Highness and Consort, please join me for the banquet."
"Uh, this... it's not very good."
Although she and Jun Mo Han had indeed used the excuse of wishing Mrs. Shui a happy birthday to get onto the island, they were not actually here to freeload.
"Oh, Your Highness, Consort, you've come to East Sea City so rarely, and you are currently here as merchants. I, Shui Yihe, consider you my good friends. As long as you don't mind, there's nothing wrong with it."
Shui Yihe said earnestly, a pleasant curve forming at the corners of his thin lips.
Leng Ruo Li did not respond directly to Shui Yihe but turned to look at Jun Mo Han.
"Your Highness, what are your plans?"
"Whatever you wish!"
After receiving Jun Mo Han's response, Leng Ruo Li turned back to Shui Yihe.
"Then we will join you for the banquet. Taking this opportunity, I would like to inquire more about the Hua Clan from your father."
Leng Ruo Li directly stated her reason.
"Alright, after the banquet, I'll invite my father out, and you can ask him in private."
In fact, the reason Shui Yihe wanted them to attend the birthday banquet was to help the two of them find an opportunity to be alone with his father and get the information they wanted.
The three of them chatted for a long time in Shui Yihe's large courtyard. As it was nearing noon, a servant suddenly came to remind Shui Yihe to go to the main courtyard to wish Mrs. Shui a happy birthday.
Thus, Shui Yihe led Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mo Han to the main courtyard.
At this moment, an elderly woman with a kind smile was seated in the main seat of the main hall. She was wearing a bright red celebratory dress, and her hair was styled into an exquisite and luxurious noblewoman's bun, adorned with a golden hairpin in the shape of a peacock spreading its tail. A light layer of rouge was applied to her face, effectively concealing Mrs. Shui's sickly appearance and fatigue, while also highlighting her nobility.
The hall was already crowded with guests celebrating Mrs. Shui's birthday. Each person held a gift and walked towards Mrs. Shui, offering well wishes. Then, these guests, one after another, placed their gifts on the table to the right of Mrs. Shui.
After the first round, the table piled with gifts was full. It was then the turn of the Shui family descendants.
The Shui family head and Madam Shui led the way, walking in front of the guests to wish Mrs. Shui a happy birthday and present their gifts.
The Shui family head bore a strong resemblance to Shui Yihe, possessing a handsome appearance and a straight posture. His sharp eyes conveyed determination and confidence. He wore a black, wide-sleeved long robe, displaying his coldness and aloofness, along with an exceptionally elegant aura. Judging by the Shui family head's demeanor and appearance, he would have been a "killer" of countless young maidens and married women in his youth. In short, the Shui family head made a good first impression on the Leng King and Consort.
His wife was tall, with fair skin, beautiful, expressive eyes, and a smiling, rosy cheek. Her words and actions were also very appropriate, and she appeared gentle and dignified, a perfect match for the Shui family head.
The Shui family head and his wife knelt before Mrs. Shui. With beaming smiles, they offered three auspicious blessings to Mrs. Shui. Mrs. Shui was very pleased to hear them and repeatedly said "good." Then it was the turn of the Shui family's second branch... Finally, it was Shui Yihe's turn.
At this moment, Shui Yihe stood with his hands behind his back, grinning, and ran to Mrs. Shui. He mysteriously took out a bright red peony from his sleeve.
The people around were instantly in an uproar.
"Hahaha..."
The guests present almost burst into laughter.
"Could it be that the eldest young master of the Shui family is only giving his grandmother a red peony?"
"Yes! Giving a scroll with the character 'Shou' would be better than giving a red flower!"
"Alas, could this eldest young master of the Shui family have become foolish from pregnancy?"
"Exactly, this eldest young master of the Shui family is too ill-mannered."
"..."
In short, none of the people present celebrating Mrs. Shui's birthday did not criticize Shui Yihe for his lack of etiquette.
Even the Shui family head and Madam Shui frowned.
"My lord, what new trick is this child Yihe playing?"
"How would I know? Ever since he went to the capital and had his stomach treated, he seems to have become a different person. He's always coming up with strange and peculiar things. I don't know what has possessed him."
But just as the Shui family head and Madam Shui were speaking, Shui Yihe actually placed the large red flower in his hand on Mrs. Shui's head. Mrs. Shui allowed him to act as he pleased.
Then, Shui Yihe said with a smile, "Grandmother, your grandson is giving you a red flower, wishing you to live as if you were eighteen!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Mrs. Shui burst into laughter on the spot.
After all, everyone likes to hear such words.
"You child, you only know how to please your grandmother. I am sixty years old now, and I don't know how many days I have left to live. How can I live like an eighteen-year-old? You're just being playful, and you even put such a red flower on my head, making me a laughingstock."
Although Mrs. Shui reprimanded her eldest grandson in a perfunctory manner in front of everyone, she was very happy in her heart.
Among all her descendants, it was her eldest grandson who knew best how to amuse her. The other grandchildren were unwilling to approach her, so no matter what gift Shui Yihe wanted to give her, she would be very pleased.
And as Mrs. Shui was happy, Shui Yihe took out a tattered book from his sleeve pocket. The crowd immediately erupted again, discussing it privately.
But Shui Yihe paid them no mind...
He said with a smile to Mrs. Shui, "Grandmother, this old book is the gift your grandson is giving you. Take a look?"
As Shui Yihe spoke, he carefully opened the old book in his hand.