An Ran fell silent, but she quickly smiled and said gently, "Before I came back, my childhood neighbor married a wealthy man. She was three years older than me."
"Originally, her family was just an ordinary family, while that wealthy merchant was one of the most prominent in our area. They were not a good match, but the young lady was as beautiful as a flower, and the only son of the wealthy merchant took a liking to her at first sight. Then came sweet words and vows of eternal love. So the young lady married him."
"But the good times didn't last long."
All that remains are stories from Anran's past life.
An Ran completely fabricated her past life experiences to portray herself as someone else, so that San Niang wouldn't suspect her.
No one can be completely magnanimous about sharing their husband with others; there are always various unavoidable reasons. If you want to make yourself feel better, you have to let yourself off the hook.
“She was listless and unhappy in the mansion, and often called me over to talk. That’s how I found out about everything. Later, she fell seriously ill and told me before she passed away that she regretted it so much. She regretted not cherishing her past life and her family, and forgot what was most important.”
She said she wanted to live a good life.
Before she could finish speaking, tears welled up in An Ran's eyes. She touched her eyes with a handkerchief, feeling a little embarrassed, and smiled, "Third sister, please forgive my embarrassment."
Only then did Third Sister realize what was happening, and she offered a few words of comfort to An Ran.
"I need to borrow the kitchen to make some snacks. I'll come back after you and your brother-in-law have talked things out." An Ran quickly changed the subject, "Does your brother-in-law prefer sweet or savory snacks?"
Third Sister replied with "sweet taste," somewhat puzzled by An Ran's intention.
"You'll find out soon enough," An Ran smiled. "I'll have Yin Ping and the others come in to help you bathe and change."
“…Princess Consort, Princess Consort?” Yinping’s worried voice rang in her ears. San Niang came back to her senses and responded.
Yinping breathed a sigh of relief. "Hot water is ready, please take a bath."
Third Sister nodded.
"Go find my bright blue jacket and my begonia-red skirt." Third Sister called out to Huaping, who was about to fetch her a change of clothes, a faint smile appearing on her lips. "And bring out that set of gold and kingfisher feather jewelry, the set that the prince gave me after we got married."
Hua Ping agreed and went.
After San Niang finished bathing, dried her hair, and changed her clothes, Yinping and Huaping vaguely guessed San Niang's intentions.
That bright and beautiful outfit was the one that Third Sister loved to wear when she first married Prince Yun Shen. The jewelry was also a gift from Yun Shen, which he had specially bought for her. Although it wasn't particularly expensive, it was exquisite and unique. Third Sister loved it very much and wore it almost every day back then.
At that time, Yun Shen was not yet the heir apparent, and neither Prince Yi nor his wife had much control over him.
The young couple were inseparable back then, their days filled with sweet intimacy.
Third Sister looked at herself in the full-length dressing mirror, and a smile appeared on her lips.
Just then, Qingyue rushed in to report.
"Princess Consort, the Prince has returned to the residence!"
Chapter 25 Easing
As An Ran followed Cui Zhi out of the main room, Su Mama and Nan Mama hurriedly came to greet her.
"Ninth Miss, how is Third Aunt?" Nan Mama asked anxiously.
Upon arriving at the Prince's residence, An Ran told them to wait under the eaves while she went in alone. She didn't come out for a long time, and didn't even let them in.
“My third sister is perfectly fine.” An Ran said calmly, “I just told my third sister about a kind of pastry from Jiangnan. She was very interested, so I’ll make it for her to try right away.”
Both Su's mother and Nan's mother were taken aback.
They could clearly feel the tense atmosphere that was brewing as soon as they entered Third Sister's main courtyard! Third Sister was currently consumed by anger and extremely annoyed, so she had no appetite for pastries!
His calm and relaxed expression seemed genuine.
Moreover… the two peeked out from the doorway and saw that the maids inside had begun tidying up, and some had even brought in hot water. Although they didn't know what An Ran had done, it seemed she had truly calmed Third Sister down.
"If you have urgent business to attend to at your grandmother's or mother's place, just say that your third sister kept me here a little longer." An Ran winked at the two of them, indicating that this was not the place to talk.
Nan's mother and Su's mother were so anxious that they didn't pay much attention to other things. Now that they saw that San Niang had indeed been persuaded by An Ran, and that she hadn't caused the worst-case scenario of turning the Prince's mansion upside down, they were relieved.
The two decided to let Su's mother go back, while Nan's mother stayed to wait for Anran.
To prevent Prince Yun Shen from suddenly returning, An Ran had Nan Mama go to the servants' quarters to rest with the head maid, while she herself went straight to the kitchen with Cui Zhi.
She was really going to make a dessert—mixed fruit honey cake.
An Ran wasn't good at cooking, but this dessert was the only one she could make. She had specially learned how to make it for Chen Qian when they were newlyweds, and she had put a lot of effort into making it sweet but not greasy, with a soft and fragrant texture.
Now they use it to play a little trick.
There was a small kitchen in the courtyard of Third Sister and Yun Shen. When An Ran arrived, two old women working on the stove and three maids were waiting for her.
"Ninth Miss, please tell us what you need and we will prepare it." They had already received word that the Crown Princess's sister was coming to use the small kitchen.
Anran skillfully announced the ingredients she wanted.
"Pitted dates, walnuts, glutinous rice flour, sugar, pine nuts, and melon seeds," Anran said. "And some rice flour as well."
These items were not hard to find, and they quickly gathered them all together.
Before they could even ask An Ran what to do, An Ran had already rolled up her sleeves herself.
“Ninth Miss, just tell us what you need, and we’ll do it!” The two old women hurriedly stopped An Ran, saying, “Getting burned is no laughing matter.”
An Ran shook her head, insisting on doing it herself. Before starting, An Ran called Cui Zhi over and whispered a few words in her ear. Cui Zhi nodded solemnly and left.
The old woman and the maid were left in the kitchen, looking at each other in bewilderment. Anran began to make the pastries herself.