I made a hysterical scene, only to be coldly abandoned and ridiculed.
That's so stupid, so incredibly stupid!
An Ran closed her eyes and took a long breath.
She needed to think carefully about how to calm San Niang down as quickly as possible. Most importantly, she couldn't damage the relationship between San Niang and the young master. She couldn't let this cause a rift between them, lest Li Shi become smug.
Although the idea of a harmonious marriage is just a joke, it still needs to be maintained. Even if there are wounds in one's heart, one must pretend that nothing has happened.
An Ran couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
Were all the mistakes she made back then, including the numerous domestic disputes, actually lessons learned to help Third Sister?
Anran leaned against the large cushion on the carriage, her mind racing.
Upon seeing this, Nan's mother and Su's mother exchanged a glance, marveling at the sight. They had initially thought that Ninth Miss was just a thirteen-year-old girl, but since all the other young ladies in the manor were absent today, they had no choice but to bring her over. The two women were prepared with how to persuade Ninth Miss if she asked any questions, and how they would answer.
To everyone's surprise, Ninth Sister seemed to be preoccupied with her own thoughts, and later she simply stopped saying a word.
The two were very uneasy.
Can Ninth Sister really persuade Third Aunt, who has always been temperamental, spoiled, and willful since she was a young girl?
An Ran was equally unsure.
When she stepped into the main courtyard of the Third Sister again, she felt a sense of impending doom.
Third Sister's maid, Qingyue, was anxiously waiting under the eaves in front of the main room. When she saw Anran and her party enter, Qingyue's face, which had been filled with joy, dimmed a little.
How did the Ninth Sister, who seemed to be the least useful among the girls, end up here?
Even if Fifth Aunt can't come, it would be good if Tenth Sister came.
An Ran didn't notice all that; she had already vaguely heard the sound of porcelain breaking coming from the room in the row of main houses, which was probably Third Sister's bedroom.
Third Sister must know by now!
"Ninth Miss, Yinping and Huaping are embracing the Crown Princess and trying to persuade her." Although Qingyue didn't quite believe Anran, she had no choice but to try anything. "I'm afraid it won't last much longer!"
An Ran nodded and walked towards San Niang's bedroom without stopping.
The closer they got, the clearer the sound of the porcelain breaking became, mixed with the cries and curses of Third Sister.
An Ran didn't care about anything else and pushed the door open to go in.
The ground was a mess, littered with shards of porcelain, fragments of jade ornaments, and even several exquisite bonsai trees scattered haphazardly. Yinping and Huaping knelt before Third Sister, preventing her from leaving.
"Yinping, Huaping, you two go out." An Ran took a deep breath and said calmly, "I have something to talk to Third Sister about."
"Close the door and stand guard outside. Don't let a single word get out. Otherwise, you'll be held responsible!" An Ran looked at the two of them with a sharp gaze, which momentarily intimidated the furious Third Sister.
Upon seeing this, Yinping and Huaping quickly got up, but they were secretly puzzled.
Why is Ninth Sister, who tries to persuade people, even fiercer than her own daughter?
Chapter 23 Persuasion (Part 2)
After the two left, only Anran and San Niang remained in the bedroom.
Standing amidst the chaos, Third Sister's hair was disheveled, a red-gold tassel hairpin dangling precariously from her temple; tear stains still clung to her face, and her exquisite makeup was mostly ruined. In An Ran's memory, Third Sister had always been aloof, beautiful, and proud; An Ran had never seen her in such a wretched state.
"What does Third Sister want to do?" An Ran sighed inwardly and preemptively asked, "Go and kill Li Shi? Or go and fight her brother-in-law to the death?"
"I'm going to find Yun Shen and get to the bottom of this!" Third Sister's eyes widened in anger. Her anger hadn't subsided, and her chest was still heaving violently. She said fiercely, "I don't need your concern. An Jiu, get out of my way!"
"Why do you need your brother-in-law to say it? I think it's quite clear." An Ran remained unmoved. She said coolly, "It's just that your brother-in-law kept Li Shi outside without your knowledge. Now that Li Shi is about to give birth, it's inappropriate for her to still be outside. We just need to bring her back to the manor. What else is there to ask?"
Third Sister was enraged by An Ran's attitude.
"An Jiu, you!" Third Sister was already furious and filled with hatred, with nowhere to vent her anger. Now that An Ran dared to speak sarcastically to her, she naturally wouldn't get away with it. "Who do you think you are? How dare you interfere in my affairs? Get out of here!"
An Ran showed no fear whatsoever.
"Third sister, don't be impatient. You know perfectly well whether what I'm saying is right or not, you just don't want to admit it."
"Get out of my way!" Third Sister was so angry that she raised an old official kiln porcelain vase and was about to hit An Ran.
Before she could make a move, An Ran swiftly grabbed the famille rose tea set from the round table; the water in the teapot had already gone cold. Because they were sisters, Third Sister paused for a moment, but An Ran continued her work without stopping.
An Ran poured a whole pot of cooled tea onto Third Sister.
At the same time, An Ran dodged, and the porcelain bottle crashed into the floor cover behind her, shattering into a pile of fragments.
"Third Sister, are you more awake now?" An Ran steadily picked up the teapot and placed it back on the round table.
At this moment, Third Sister was soaked from head to toe with tea, and there were even a few broken tea leaves stuck to her cheeks. Her pear-white silk skirt was stained with tea, making it look dirty. Third Sister, who was originally furious, now looked somewhat comical.
"You, you—" Third Sister was so angry that she trembled all over and couldn't speak.
"If you're not fully awake..." An Ran glanced around and spotted a long-necked, white porcelain vase with peach blossoms. She snatched it first, a smile playing on her lips, and said, "Shall I help you wake up again?"
Third Sister hadn't expected that An Ran, who seemed so honest and gentle, would have such a formidable side. She believed that An Ran could keep her word. Having been splashed and left in a terrible state, Third Sister reluctantly gave in.
An Ran smiled slightly and put down the vase.
"If you've calmed down, Third Sister, please listen to what I have to say."
Upon hearing this, Third Sister still maintained a cold expression.