Walking on the covered walkway, she felt her steps were lighter, and the flowers in the courtyard seemed to be blooming even better.
When they arrived at the door, they found that the maids were all standing there and had not gone in to serve them. Even Jinzhi was standing under the eaves.
An Ran found it strange. She had been talking to Third Sister about everything last night, and was going to the Marquis's residence early this morning. Why wasn't Third Sister prepared yet?
"Ninth Miss has arrived?" The curtain in front of the door was lifted, revealing a painted screen. "The Crown Princess invites you in."
An Ran nodded, and as she walked inside, she asked in a low voice, "Why are all the maids outside?"
"The maid who serves in Consort Li's courtyard has come to report to the Crown Princess." Huaping also whispered to Anran, "The Crown Princess is in a bad mood."
The servants in the Li family's courtyard were either obtained from the Princess Consort or sent by the Third Sister. If they were to anger the Third Sister, there is only one possibility: they have not noticed anything unusual in the Li family's courtyard in the past few days.
And regarding the small kitchen, Third Sister must also be extremely angry.
Right under her nose, both of these places had loopholes, and they even easily passed messages and drugged her and An Ran.
An Ran could understand San Niang, but unfortunately, San Niang couldn't lash out at this moment.
"Is that Ninth Sister?" Before even entering the inner room, the voice of Third Sister could be heard coming from there.
Hua Ping lifted the curtain for An Ran, and An Ran's beautiful face appeared before San Niang. She smiled and bowed, saying, "Third Sister."
Seeing An Ran's outfit today, Third Sister finally showed a smile.
“A young lady should dress up in bright colors to look her best.” Third Sister momentarily ignored the steward mother who was still standing aside replying, beckoned Anran to sit down next to her, and approved, “I think your outfit today is very nice.”
Because she was returning to the Marquis's residence today, An Ran wore a "Drunken Immortal's Beauty" jacket, paired with a pear-blossom white silk skirt. The jewelry on her head was a brand-new set of red gold and ruby headdresses given to her by Third Sister. In short, she dressed up in an air of nobility today.
"It's all thanks to your good taste, sister," An Ran said with a flattering smile. "If we go back today and Grandmother and Mother praise my clothes as beautiful, it's all thanks to you, sister."
Third Sister couldn't help but laugh and said, "You're the most clever one!"
"Third Sister, if you have something to attend to here, I'll head back now." An Ran glanced at the head housekeeper standing there and was about to stand up when she said, "I'll come back later."
Third Sister didn't let her leave. "You don't have to go," she said, raising her chin. "Just keep talking."
The head maid was secretly taken aback. It seemed the rumors were true; the Crown Princess valued this younger sister highly, not even keeping such matters from Ninth Miss. It seemed the Crown Princess had complete trust in Ninth Miss.
“Aunt Li hasn’t been in contact with anyone these days. She just takes care of Dong-ge’er every day, and spends the rest of her time alone in her room.” She thought for a moment and then added, “Only Xiao-hong serves her; she doesn’t allow anyone else to get close.”
After hearing this, Third Sister's face grew even uglier.
In this mansion, the only one who wants to harm her the most is Li Shi. How could she not see any clues at all?
"Has that maid named Xiaohong gone out?" Anran asked after thinking for a moment, noticing that Third Sister's expression was not good.
The head housekeeper first shook her head, then nodded and said, "She did go out once, but I had someone go with her, and we didn't encounter anyone along the way."
"Where are we going?" An Ran asked urgently.
"In the main kitchen. That day, Aunt Li said she didn't have a good appetite and wanted to eat something sour. She asked Xiao Hong to go to the kitchen and see what dishes were available." The head housekeeper was already sweating profusely. She said, "She said she didn't want to trouble anyone and just asked Xiao Hong to make whatever was available."
Before she could finish speaking, Third Sister stared intently at her, her gaze turning slightly cold. "She said so, and you actually agreed?"
"I thought this request wasn't excessive, so I sent someone to follow Xiao Hong..." The head maid's voice trailed off. She dared not tell Third Sister that Li Shi had said these words to her while holding her eldest son in her arms.
After all, Aunt Li was the birth mother of the eldest son born out of wedlock, and they didn't want to offend her too much. If Aunt Li ever rose to prominence, or if the eldest son became successful, he might hold a grudge about what happened today.
Third Sister's eyes suddenly darkened.
She remembered clearly that after her mother, Zhao, gave birth to two legitimate daughters, the old lady became anxious. Later, no matter how strong her mother was, she couldn't hold on any longer, and with the Nan'an Marquis's mansion gradually gaining power, her father had more servants around him.
Especially when the concubines were pregnant, the servants dared not make any moves openly, but secretly they flattered them. It seemed that they felt that since the mistress could not give birth to a son, the concubines' sons would inherit the family business in the future, so they might as well curry favor with them first.
Unexpectedly, her mother's methods were simple and brutal. After the concubine gave birth to the legitimate son, she planned to kill the mother and keep the child. In the end, it was the Grand Madam who intervened, saying that both of them should go to the family temple to cultivate and never return.
Things gradually calmed down after that.
I'm afraid the servants in the Li family's courtyard also had such thoughts!
"I understand. You may leave now." Third Sister said indifferently, "No word of what happened today is to be leaked out."
The head maid was already on tenterhooks because she had displeased Third Sister, but seeing that Third Sister had let it go so easily, she quickly agreed and hurriedly retreated.
"Third Sister—" An Ran saw that Third Sister's expression was getting worse and worse, and wanted to say a few words of comfort, but Third Sister waved her hand.
Third Sister let out a long sigh of relief.
“I know this can’t be blamed on anyone else.” Third Sister’s tone was calm and gentle, but there was a strange sadness in it. “In the end, it’s because I’m not a good enough Crown Princess. People feel like there’s no hope for them if they follow me.”
Upon hearing this, An Ran felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart.
Third Sister finally realized the problem, and she should have been happy for her. But she could clearly feel her disappointment and sadness washing over her like a tide.
No one can promise anyone a carefree life. You make your own life. If Third Sister wants to live well in the Prince's Mansion, she has to be strong, establish herself first, and secure her position as the Princess Consort.
I just hope that Third Sister can give birth to a legitimate son soon; having something else to rely on will make me feel better.
"Let's go once we're all packed." Third Sister went to pay her respects to the Princess Consort early this morning, saying she wanted to take Anran back to visit her grandmother. "We've already sent word back; Grandmother and Mother are waiting for us at home."
Anran obediently followed San Niang out the door.
As she passed by the east wing where she was temporarily staying, An Ran glanced at it silently, then walked past without a trace of lingering affection. She hoped that such days would never come again.
Once on the carriage, An Ran said to Third Sister, "Third Sister, I'll stay at the Marquis's residence after we go back today."
Third Sister looked up at her in surprise.