"We knew you were coming yesterday, and we were wondering why you didn't come to visit us." Yunfang, being the most straightforward, asked with concern, "I only found out from Mother Consort that your carriage had some kind of accident. What happened? Are you alright?"
An Ran quickly waved her hand and smiled, "Thank you for your concern. I'm as lively as ever, do I look like something's wrong?"
Yunlan also said, "Then you should be more careful. Since the imperial physician prescribed the medicine for you, you should take it properly and rest well for a few days."
An Ran simply smiled and nodded.
A flicker of doubt crossed her mind. She hadn't mentioned whether the imperial physician had left behind an ointment or prescribed a formula after the examination, nor that the medicine had been prepared in the small kitchen. How did Yunlan know? Was it unintentional or deliberate?
Or was Yunlan merely exchanging polite greetings?
An Ran found herself increasingly lost in thought. Ever since being placed next to Third Sister, her anxieties had only grown heavier. She gave a bitter smile to herself, thinking that perhaps she was overreacting.
“Yes, Ninth Sister.” Yunrui stood affectionately beside Anran, looking up at her and said, “My sisters and I were saying we were going to visit you after lunch. We didn’t expect you to come first.”
“I knew you’d miss me, so here I am,” An Ran said readily.
She knew very well that the three Yunlan sisters were only close to her because of their third sister. The third sister was the future mistress of the Prince's mansion, while they were only concubine's daughters. Even if they were favored for a time, they would still have to rely on their maternal family after marriage. If they wanted their elder brother Yun Shen to support them in the future, they first had to cultivate a good relationship with their third sister.
Third Sister was generous and easygoing, and treated her half-sisters quite well. Having such a sister-in-law was a blessing for them!
These days, they had all noticed how much Third Sister cared for An Ran. As Third Sister's most beloved half-sister, An Ran was naturally someone they wanted to cultivate a good relationship with.
They hadn't yet considered that An Ran was being sent to Yun Shen as a concubine. After all, they knew San Niang's temperament well; she couldn't tolerate any injustice. If that were the case, could the sisters still be so close?
“In a few days it will be Dongge’er’s full moon celebration. My sister said she wants to hold a big celebration and invite all our relatives and friends.” After exchanging a few pleasantries with them, Anran told them the main purpose of her visit: “My sister said that we should each have a new set of clothes made for that day.”
Yunlan and her two sisters weren't too surprised by what their third sister-in-law said; their second sister-in-law had always been generous. After taking over some of the household affairs, their food, clothing, and daily necessities actually improved.
“Dong-ge’er is my sister and brother-in-law’s first child, so naturally they value him more,” An Ran added, adding a few words to San Niang’s defense. She smiled and said, “We should also dress up nicely.”
Yunfang and Yunrui were fine, but before Anran could finish speaking, a strange light flashed in Yunlan's eyes, which quickly disappeared.
"That's perfect, we were just looking at flower patterns." Yunfang was quite straightforward, much like Third Sister. She had her maid bring over the flower patterns the three of them had been looking at and said to Anran, "These are the most fashionable styles in the capital in the last two months, let's pick some together."
Yunrui, being young, said rather innocently, "How about we choose the same color? It'll look so neat and tidy!"
An Ran smiled slightly but didn't reply.
“If we all make the same color, we’ll inevitably be restricted in choosing the pattern.” Yunlan, being older, felt that Yunrui’s words were inappropriate and quickly changed the subject, saying, “You and Jiu Niang have fair skin, so you look good in blue. Fang Niang and I don’t look as good in blue as you do.”
If Anran and Yunlan had made clothes of the same color, it wouldn't matter if they didn't wear them together on ordinary days. But on the day of the full moon banquet, Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister would also be attending. What would it look like if Anran wore the same clothes as the girls from Prince Yi's mansion?
Yunrui puffed out her cheeks, thinking that Yunlan's words made sense, so she didn't insist anymore.
The four of them huddled together, chattering about which style and material looked best. Since it was the transition between spring and summer, they naturally wanted something light, cool, and yet elegant and dignified.
"Let's call the seamstress tomorrow to take our measurements before we decide," Yunlan finally decided. "Let them help us decide as well."
The remaining three all agreed.
I've seen so many things that I'm a bit overwhelmed.
It was almost lunchtime, and Yunlan and her two sisters wanted Anran to stay for lunch. They said they would order special dishes to treat her properly.
Although she couldn't refuse such hospitality, Anran was still worried about what was happening in San Niang's courtyard, fearing that Li Shi might cause some trouble again.
"To tell you the truth, Miss Jiu has been taking medicine these past few days and has to be careful about what she eats," Yinping said at the right moment. She smiled and said, "You ladies don't know this, but Miss Jiu is most afraid of bitter medicine. The Princess Consort is worried about her and always watches her take her medicine."
Having said all that, the Yunlan sisters could no longer keep Anran, so they had no choice but to let her go.
They escorted Anran all the way to the gate of the courtyard.
Once they were out of their sight, An Ran finally breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't used to being treated so warmly, especially since they were only doing it because of Third Sister, and it had nothing to do with her.
On the way back, Anran quickened her pace, fearing that something might have gone wrong with Third Sister during this time.
She deliberately had Yinping lead her around Li's Luoyue Pavilion.
To everyone's surprise, the door of Luoyue Pavilion was wide open, and the faint sounds of a baby crying and San Niang's increasingly loud voice could be heard from inside.
An Ran's head suddenly felt huge.
Just what I feared most came to pass.
An Ran didn't care about anything else and rushed inside.
Li was seen kneeling on the cold stone slab, dressed in thin clothes, while San Niang stood angrily to the side. Suddenly, the sound of a baby crying louder and louder came from the inner room.
"It's all my fault, please don't be angry, Madam," Li said, tears streaming down her face. "It was my inappropriate words that offended you, it's all my fault!"
Third Sister despised her weak, tearful appearance the most, and her "pleading" manner only made Third Sister angrier. Third Sister glared and was about to speak when An Ran's voice suddenly rang out.
"Third Sister, what's wrong with Dong-ge'er?" An Ran asked anxiously. "I noticed the child was crying strangely when I passed by. Has something happened?"
The moment An Ran entered, Madam Li saw her. She had calculated that An Ran would definitely join Third Sister in bullying her. After all, An Ran had just won a victory yesterday and was still gloating. Wouldn't it be perfect to kick her while she was down?
Madam Li was already prepared to question An Ran about how she had angered Third Sister. She had already prepared her answer in her mind and was just waiting for An Ran, the Heir Apparent, or the Princess Consort to come.
She was about to burst into tears when An Ran ignored her and focused on Dong Ge'er instead. She almost choked.
An Ran dragged San Niang into the inner room to see the child.
Li was caught in a dilemma, kneeling or standing up. If something happened to her child, it would be inexcusable for her, as the child's mother, not to go and see him; but if she went, wouldn't all that kneeling have been for nothing?
Dongge'er was naturally fine. It was she who deliberately made the wet nurse make him cry so that when the heir and the princess would arrive, they would think that the third mistress disliked and mistreated the illegitimate son.
Li's hatred for An Ran deepened.