In contrast, An Ran was much calmer.
"Seventh Sister, you and Sixth Sister should go back first!" Tenth Sister said with a smile. "Everyone is tired today, so go back and rest early. You still have to go to your master's to study early tomorrow morning!"
Sixth Sister also advised, "If we attract people's attention later, what will we say when Grandmother and Mother ask?"
Fortunately, Seventh Sister wasn't completely blinded by her emotions. She shook off Sixth Sister's hand and strode forward. Of course, before leaving, she didn't forget to glare fiercely at An Ran one last time.
Sixth Sister gave a helpless smile, nodded to An Ran and Tenth Sister, and quickly followed.
"Ninth Sister, don't be angry, Seventh Sister meant no harm." Tenth Sister had never seen An Ran so sharp-tongued and blunt before. She cautiously advised, "Seventh Sister is good in every way, except she has a bit of a temper. That's just how she is; she's never forgiving when she's right..."
An Ran curled the corners of her lips slightly but didn't say anything.
Unforgiving when one is in the right.
Ten-Niang was a formidable woman; with her casual remark, she made it seem as if An Ran was unreasonable and Seven-Niang was domineering.
If things are generally acceptable, An Ran won't bother arguing with her.
"Tenth Sister is right." An Ran replied somewhat irrelevantly, "Go back and rest early. Tomorrow, Master He will test your knowledge. It would be really embarrassing if you couldn't answer!"
After saying that, Anran walked side by side with Shi Niang toward Ningxue Courtyard with a normal expression.
Shi Niang wanted to say something more, but perhaps intimidated by An Ran's earlier "powerful" words, she remained silent and obediently went back with her.
Ningxue Courtyard.
After Anran and Shi Niang parted ways, Anran returned to her own room without rushing to wash up or change into her usual clothes.
She sat down on the soft couch by the window, took out the jade clasp given to her by Princess Yunyang, and gazed at it intently. The quality and luster of the mutton-fat jade were beyond question, and the intricately patterned knot was neatly and meticulously crafted. In that instant, Anran seemed to see the heartbreak and despair Princess Yunyang must have felt when she made this for her daughter.
May the jade protect you and bring you peace.
Although she didn't know the complicated reasons why Yue'er went missing, Anran sincerely hoped that the mother and daughter could be reunited.
"Jinping, please put this away for me." Anran stared at it for a long time before putting the jade clasp back into her purse. "It'll be more appropriate to put it together with the bracelet that Third Sister gave me."
Jinping took the purse, agreed, and went.
Cuiping brought Qingmei and Qingxing to help Anran change into casual clothes and let her hair down, only tying it loosely.
Wearing only a light blue long jacket, An Ran looked several years younger. Her fair face was like a lotus flower emerging from clear water, elegant and refined, unforgettable and captivating.
After getting ready, Anran leaned back on the large cushion, lost in thought.
Perhaps I should be more composed today; there's no need to stoop to Seventh Sister's level. The reason I retorted to Seventh Sister was probably due to the influence of seeing Ding Shi! An Ran gave a bitter smile, regretting that she still hadn't cultivated a calm and composed demeanor.
Thinking about it carefully, why would Lady Ding appear at Prince Yi's residence? Did she know the Prince's wife or Third Sister?
If I know San Niang... then is there any connection between the Chen family and the Marquis's mansion? And perhaps my marriage to Chen Qian in my previous life wasn't so simple?
wrong.
An Ran shook her head inwardly. If Madam Ding knew that she was a daughter of a marquis, even if she was an illegitimate daughter, Madam Ding would probably have to treat her with respect and would not dare to mistreat her.
The crux of the problem lies in why An Ran returned to the Marquis's mansion in this life.
An Ran's head throbbed with worry as she pondered the situation. Just as she was getting frustrated, she noticed Cui Ping looking hesitant, and she stopped her rambling thoughts. If only she could avoid meeting Chen Qian again in this life, everything else would be alright.
"Cuiping, do you have something to say?"
Seeing her mistress ask the question, Cuiping quickly replied, "Yes, Miss. Today, two maids from the Madam's courtyard, named Zhimo and Rulan, also traveled with us to the Prince's mansion." She then lowered her voice and said, "When we returned, the two of them disappeared."
No wonder they made the girls bring a personal attendant with them! They probably wanted to blend the two of them in with the maids so they wouldn't stand out.
"Third Aunt has been married for four years without a child. When I was serving Madam, I heard Madam advise Third Aunt to let her husband take a concubine. I also heard that Third Aunt and Third Husband had a big argument a few days ago over the concubines in the mansion. They used to be very loving." Cuiping said, "Now it seems that Madam is serious."
Anran nodded.
No wonder Third Sister came back in such a rage that day; it must have been about this!
There's no such thing as fidelity in this world; sweet words spoken in the past are nothing more than things you'll find disgusting to think about later.
She only understood the truth she had to die for in her previous life, and she only hoped that Third Sister would see through it sooner.
******
Hanshuang Courtyard.
When Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister returned, Sixth Sister saw that Seventh Sister had once again angrily flung the curtain up, causing it to fly up halfway. Sixth Sister couldn't help but curl her lips slightly.
"Miss is back." Mama Liu hurriedly came forward, helping Sixth Sister change her clothes while inquiring about what happened at the Prince's mansion that day.
Sixth Sister then spoke briefly, her tone tinged with jealousy when she mentioned that An Ran seemed to be particularly favored by Princess Yunyang. "Back then, she was sent away by the Grand Madam, so why is it that by fabricating a good background for her, she can gain special treatment from a noblewoman?"
"It's just a coincidence, young lady, don't worry," Madam Liu comforted her. "The nobleman's affections have only shifted temporarily. I'm afraid he'll be heartbroken when he sees Miss Jiu again in the future! Does the nobleman's special treatment of her mean that Marquis Pingyuan will marry Miss Jiu?"
Sixth Sister finally cheered a little. When she talked about the argument between Anran and Seventh Sister on the way back, she couldn't help but sigh, "I only realized today that Ninth Sister is also quite sharp-tongued."
"She just grew up in the countryside, so it's natural for her to use some vulgar language." Mrs. Liu didn't seem to care. She had always looked down on Qiu Sui, and now that An Ran was back, she didn't think much of Qiu Sui's upbringing of An Ran. "What good is being quick-witted? If word gets out, people will just say she's a gossip!"
"Seventh Miss was angry about this!" Living close by has its advantages and disadvantages; if there's any commotion in the house, it's hard for others not to know. Mother Liu sighed, "She's been spoiled since childhood, so naturally she can't stand this. Aside from her two elder sisters whom she respects, who do she care about among her half-sisters?"
Sixth Sister remained silent.
Suddenly, Liu Niang curled her lips into a smile.
"I have a plan in mind. Mother, please listen and see if it's appropriate." Sixth Sister whispered a few words to Mother Liu. Mother Liu first frowned, and then nodded repeatedly.