Remembering how Yun Shen and Madam Li held their child together, as if they were the real family and she was just an outsider... she realized that Yun Shen could smile so heartily at other women...
"I agree," Third Sister said through gritted teeth. "Have Ninth Sister enter the manor on a chosen day."
While Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, she couldn't help but feel extremely heartbroken.
Third Sister wiped away her tears and smiled.
The smile grew thinner and thinner, but the crystalline tears in his eyes shimmered faintly, revealing a layer of moisture.
She once had a beautiful dream, a dream she hadn't yet awakened from, but the other person who shared that dream had already changed. Outside the window, the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, startling her from her deep sleep and shattering her sweet dream.
******
"Your Highness, Ninth Miss's carriage has arrived." Yinping and Huaping both knew that Anran was coming to the manor, but they also knew that Third Sister was unhappy and had been careful not to mention it in front of her these days.
The two men had a good impression of An Ran; the Ninth Miss had helped their young lady a lot in the past and was also intelligent and sensible. However, the Ninth Miss's arrival this time made her position rather awkward.
"I understand." Third Sister seemed to have just come to her senses, and the scroll in her hand fell onto the couch. "Take some men and go greet Ninth Miss."
Huaping hurriedly agreed and went, while Yinping stayed behind to help San Niang tidy her clothes and smooth her hair again.
Third Sister sat upright in the round-backed chair, looking quite ready for battle.
Thinking of An Ran, San Niang's feelings were very complicated. Before Zhao Shi mentioned letting her enter the manor, San Niang had once liked this half-sister very much. She had helped her deal with Li Shi and protected her in every way, showing a maturity far beyond her years.
Third Sister had even thought of finding a good marriage for Ninth Sister, as a way of repaying her.
But now, she's coming to take away her husband's affection, and perhaps even bear his child... Thinking of this, San Niang felt as if someone was choking her, making it hard to even breathe. As a wife, she hated it.
It can only be said that fate has played a cruel trick on us to get to this point.
San Niang was still lost in her thoughts when she heard a cacophony of voices from the corridor.
Soon, a young maid lifted the curtain and announced in a clear voice, "Ninth Miss has arrived."
San Niang, who had originally intended to greet Jiu Niang, sat back down as if possessed the moment she was about to get up. Her back straightened even more, and San Niang turned her head to look at herself in the mirror.
Today she wore a bright red brocade jacket with colorful floral patterns, and her neatly combed peony bun was adorned with a complete set of pearl headdresses, making her look incredibly noble.
The footsteps grew closer.
San Niang found herself somewhat nervous; she didn't know how to face An Ran. She thought of her bright and beautiful half-sister, as lovely as spring flowers in March, and her heart felt like it was stuffed with cotton, unable to breathe.
After bypassing the rising floor-to-ceiling canopy, Hua Ping and several others escorted An Ran as she entered.
"Third Sister!" A soft, sweet voice called out. Third Sister turned around and saw a figure in light blue gracefully walking in.
An Ran was wearing a sky-blue jacket and a pear-blossom white skirt, with her hair styled in two buns... She was indeed very pretty and likable, but... she looked like a little girl of eleven or twelve years old!
It looks noticeably smaller than usual.
However, it must be admitted that this sense of peace made Third Sister feel more comfortable.
"Ninth Sister!" Third Sister responded with a somewhat stiff smile.
An Ran seemed oblivious to the Third Sister's cold attitude. She remained composed and greeted the Third Sister with grace and poise, just as she always had, timid and hesitant due to the sudden change in her status.
"Your Highness, Ninth Miss had an accident on her way here!" Yinping leaned close to Third Sister's ear and briefly told her about the accident that Ninth Miss had encountered on the way.
Today, Yinping waited for Anran's carriage at the East Corner Gate, but found that there was only one carriage, and Anran was accompanied by only a little maid, Su Mama, and Zhou Mama, without even a trunk or bundle.
That's so strange!
At this point, Su's mother explained the accident on the way to Yinping, omitting the thrilling scene. She only mentioned that Qingxing was still watching the trunk and hadn't arrived yet.
Upon hearing this, Third Sister was immediately alarmed.
She had ridden horses with Yun Shen in the countryside and witnessed how dangerous a frightened horse could be. Just now, Jiu Niang had actually ridden in a frightened carriage in the bustling city... San Niang glanced at An Ran and realized that she had noticed An Ran's pale complexion since she came in.
Fortunately, someone came to their rescue.
"Are you alright?" Although Third Sister felt awkward, she softened when she saw An Ran, who looked increasingly young and delicate. She was just a little girl who hadn't grown up yet! She called An Ran to her side and looked her up and down carefully.
Fortunately, it's not obvious from the outside that he was injured.
"Third Sister, I'm fine!" An Ran comforted her third sister with a smile, "Although the horse was startled, Zhuque Street is so lively, and there are many stalls around. The horse couldn't run that fast, and I wasn't jolted at all!"
Third Sister nodded.
Seeing that she was no longer pursuing the matter, An Ran breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Just as she was about to sit down, Third Sister suddenly called out to Anran.
"Ninth Sister, come here." Third Sister said firmly, "Roll up your sleeves so I can see!"
An Ran couldn't help but shrink back.
She said she was fine, but she was indeed injured. The carriage had been jolting for quite a while. Although there were many soft cushions and large headrests in the carriage, when the carriage was running wildly, there was no time to worry about them. She did bump into some hard objects on the edges and corners.
The more she hesitated, the more resolute Third Sister's attitude became.
Seeing that An Ran was still standing still, Third Sister simply got up, pulled An Ran in front of her, and personally rolled up her sleeves to take a look.
Sure enough, several bluish-purple marks appeared on her fair and delicate skin, which was as smooth as fine porcelain. An Ran's skin was already fair, so these marks, which were not serious to begin with, were particularly noticeable on her arm.
Third Sister immediately understood that An Ran had indeed been injured on the bumpy ride.
"You child, why didn't you say so sooner!" Third Sister was both angry and distressed. She said somewhat irritably, "Since you were injured, what was there to hide?"