Main courtyard.
Seeing that Anran was injured today, San Niang's wariness towards her lessened considerably, and she couldn't help but feel more pity for her.
"Your Highness, the young lady said she's tired and wants to rest for a while, so she won't be coming over for lunch." Huaping lifted the curtain and came in, saying to the Third Sister, "How about I have some delicate dishes prepared and sent to the Ninth Miss separately later?"
Third Sister couldn't help but feel a little worried.
An Ran is a well-behaved and sensible girl, but she can't come to have dinner with her right now, so she must be seriously injured.
"I'll go check on her!" Third Sister got up and headed to the east wing.
Huaping remembered Anran's instructions and hurriedly said, "Ninth Miss said you don't need to worry, she's fine! If you go, Ninth Miss will be uneasy and won't be able to rest well. Perhaps Ninth Miss is just tired and might take a nap first."
Upon hearing this, Third Sister frowned. Although Hua Ping's words made a lot of sense, she still felt that something was amiss.
"Then let her rest for now." Third Sister sat back down. She was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Why hasn't Yinping brought the ointment back yet?"
Speechless.
The distance from the main courtyard to the outer study wasn't too far; Yinping could make a round trip in the time it took. But she couldn't very well say that Yinping was waiting until the young master finished his official duties to go, wanting him to know in front of him…
Although the Crown Princess might have guessed it in her heart, it wouldn't be good if she said it and the Crown Prince didn't come.
Just as Huaping was hesitating about how to speak, a bright and cheerful announcement came from outside the door: "The young master has arrived!"
A look of joy appeared on Third Sister's face, and she immediately stood up.
Then she realized that she shouldn't let Yun Shen affect her emotions so much, so she slowly sat back down.
"Third Sister, what happened?" Yun Shen strode in, looking worried. "Where are you hurt?"
Third Sister looked up at Yun Shen.
The coldness on Yun Shen's face from a few days ago has disappeared, replaced by anxiety and worry; his handsome face is filled with concern.
Suddenly, San Niang's eyes reddened. A layer of tears welled up in her eyes, brimming with emotion.
"What happened?" Yun Shen's heart skipped a beat when he saw Yinping and Mosong getting the wound ointment, saying that Third Sister needed it. Before he could ask Yinping for details, he urged Mosong to find it and brought the ointment over himself. Seeing Third Sister in this state, he became even more worried.
"Where are you injured? Have you called a doctor?" Yun Sheng asked repeatedly. Seeing that San Niang did not speak, he turned to Hua Ping and the others and said, "Are you all mute? What happened to the Princess Consort? How have you been taking care of her?"
Hua Ping and the others hurriedly knelt on the ground.
"I'm fine, you don't need to scare them!" Third Sister said slowly, suppressing her sobs as she spoke. "It was Ninth Sister who had a few scratches, and I found them for her."
Yun Shen let out a long sigh of relief.
"Is Ninth Sister injured? Is she alright?" After receiving an affirmative answer, Yun Shen stopped worrying about it.
Seeing that Yun Shen didn't seem to care much about An Ran, Third Sister secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then she found her own anxiety laughable. Although only if Ninth Sister gained Yun Shen's favor could it benefit her and completely strike at Li Shi, she didn't want another person by her husband's side…
Even when she was heartbroken and angry, there was still a faint, inexplicable expectation in her heart.
"I'm so glad you're alright!" Yun Shen didn't mind Yin Ping's unclear words. He looked at San Niang with gentle and focused eyes: "When I heard what Yin Ping said just now, I thought something had happened to you. I was so worried about you!"
Third Sister couldn't help but shed tears.
"Third Sister, I've been so bad these past few days!" Yun Shen couldn't bear to see Third Sister in such a vulnerable state, and he couldn't help but sigh, "I've neglected your feelings!"
Today, Third Sister wore a bright red jacket, but the bright red color only made her face look even more haggard and pale.
Yun Shen felt a pang of sadness as he recalled the Third Sister, who used to hold her head high with a proud expression. It seemed like he hadn't seen that bright, radiant smile on the Third Sister's face in a long time.
When did it begin? The warmth between him and Third Sister had long since vanished, leaving only endless arguments and cold wars...
The tears welling up in San Niang's eyes finally burst forth.
Yun Shen couldn't help but step forward and take Third Sister's hand.
"Third Sister, let's make up!"
******
Anran stayed in the east wing and did not come out.
Huaping had been having her maidservant "keep informed" of things, so she knew a little about what was happening at San Niang's place.
As expected, the Crown Prince arrived immediately after receiving the news. After the Crown Prince went in, there was no argument between Third Sister and the Crown Prince. When the Crown Prince called them in to help Third Sister with her washing and dressing, although Third Sister's eyes were red and swollen, she was in much better spirits.
The atmosphere between the two was harmonious, a stark contrast to their previous cold silence.
Huaping and Yinping couldn't help but silently think that Ninth Miss was truly the Crown Princess's lucky star. She had only just arrived and had already eased the tension between the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince.
After hearing this, An Ran finally relaxed a little, but she didn't dare to slack off.
The biggest disagreement between the two is that Li is still alive, and it's inevitable that Li might take new actions because of her arrival.
"Ninth Miss, Qingxing is here." Zhimo entered, followed by Qingxing.
"Miss!" Qingxing curtsied and bowed to Anran.
An Ran couldn't help but smile. She beckoned Qing Xing to her side and asked, "Let me see if you have any injuries."
Before she saw San Niang, An Ran only felt some pain in her body and didn't think about being injured. At that time, she and Qingmei and Qingxing were both in the frightened carriage, and she was afraid that Qingmei and Qingxing were also injured.
She had already checked on Qingmei; she also had several bruises on her body, but fortunately, they weren't very serious.
"Girl, I'm fine!" Qingxing quickly waved her hand and said, "I'm tough, I'm alright!"