An Ran recalled how the servants in the mansion always looked proud when they mentioned the Third Aunt.
Their third sister must have married the best among the sisters! Although luck played a big part, the other four were all illegitimate daughters, and no one would marry them above the eldest legitimate daughter.
Why did Third Sister suddenly return to her parents' home?
Clearly, Zhao knew something; the fleeting expression on her face was definitely not one of joy, but rather a hint of worry. An Ran's curiosity was immediately piqued.
The old lady smiled and nodded.
As they were talking, the sounds of maids and servants greeting each other came from outside the hall. A fragrant breeze swept by, and the tinkling of jade pendants followed the sound of hurried footsteps.
That must be An San Niang!
Passing by the eight-panel screen inlaid with mica in black lacquer, a graceful figure comes into view.
An Ran looked up and saw a beautiful young woman in her early twenties walking in gracefully. She wore a sapphire blue jacket with silver peony patterns on the upper body, and a brocade skirt with colorful embroidery on the lower body. Her dark blue hair was neatly combed, and she wore a complete set of pearl headdresses.
The row of pearls on the headband were each the size of a lotus seed, shimmering with a warm glow in the hair. The fact that each pearl was so small and indistinguishable to the naked eye was truly remarkable.
The two pearl earrings were large and lustrous, perfectly complementing her flawless skin and noble demeanor.
An San Niang looked quite like Zhao Shi, except that her almond-shaped eyes were exactly the same as those of An Ran and her sister. Although she couldn't be called a stunning beauty, she was still quite pretty. Her overall demeanor was very much like that of a prince's wife, however... An Ran was stunned. There seemed to be a hint of exasperation in her expression?
"Granddaughter greets Grandmother." Without looking to the side, An San Niang walked straight to the Grand Madam and gracefully bowed. Before she finished speaking, the Grand Madam had already gone to greet her, smiling broadly as she helped San Niang up.
Before she could even greet Zhao, Zhao hurriedly pushed Anran forward, frantically winking at An San Niang, and said anxiously, "San Niang, this is your ninth sister. Haven't you been thinking about this sister all this time, rushing back to see her?"
An San Niang was slightly taken aback.
She seemed a bit out of sorts, but An Ran couldn't be tactless.
"Greetings to Third Sister." An Ran stepped forward obediently and bowed, saying sweetly, "Thank you for your concern, Sister."
Only then did An San Niang give her a proper look, scrutinizing An Ran from head to toe.
She wore a pale yellow jacket embroidered with scallion green persimmon calyx patterns, paired with a pale white silk skirt with subtle patterns. Her thick, black hair was styled into two buns, adorned only with a few small beaded flowers. Although her outfit was somewhat childish and simple, she was extremely pretty and charming.
An San Niang couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.
She hadn't expected Jiu Niang to be so beautiful. Perhaps in a couple of years, when Jiu Niang had fully blossomed, she would be breathtakingly beautiful! She would be even more beautiful than that vixen and slut by the Prince's side!
Thinking of that vile woman, An San Niang's brows furrowed with hatred.
An Ran, who was waiting to the side, had no idea what An San Niang was thinking, and couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
She hadn't been in a good mood when she entered, and now, upon seeing me, she first showed some surprise, then quickly revealed a gloomy expression. An Ran had no idea what she had done to offend her elder sister.
She was going to have to make a living under the Zhao family in the future. If she offended the Zhao family's darling on their very first meeting, how could she expect to have a good life in the future?
While An Ran was still lost in thought, An San Niang had already come to her senses and took off a bracelet from her wrist.
"I was in such a hurry today that I forgot to let them take the gift I prepared for you." As someone who had become the Crown Prince's wife, Third Sister smiled and said, "Please accept this bracelet for now, and I will have someone send it to you another day."
The words were clearly just empty words coming from the Third Sister, who was already the Princess Consort of the Prince of the County, so everyone had no choice but to pretend to believe them. Besides, everyone's attention was drawn to the bracelet she was handing over.
It was a jadeite bangle with excellent clarity and translucency, its vibrant green color almost dripping with moisture, shimmering with a soft glow. Even An Ran, who had seen countless fine things in her previous life, couldn't help but admire the bangle presented to her.
However, An Ran did not answer immediately.
She noticed that Third Sister only had this one bracelet on her wrist. Today, Third Sister was wearing a complete set of pearl jewelry, but she only had a jade bracelet with her, which was obviously a personal item of Third Sister's.
“This…” An Ran blushed slightly, as if she were a little shy, and said, “It’s too precious, I can’t accept it…”
"Since it's from your sister, just accept it," the old lady said with a smile. "Don't let your sister's good intentions go to waste."
Third Sister was initially a little heartbroken, but seeing that An Ran wouldn't accept it and insisted on giving it away, she forced the bracelet into An Ran's hand and put it on her.
"Thank you, Third Sister!" Despite the fleeting look of pain in Zhao's eyes and the envious gazes from behind, An Ran could only bow and express her gratitude.
Third Sister waved her hand.
“Ninth Sister must be tired after her long journey,” the Grand Madam said at the opportune moment. “Let her rest first, and you sisters can get together another day.” This last sentence was clearly addressed to Third Sister.
Sixth Sister, Seventh Sister, and Tenth Sister naturally noticed that Third Sister's return today was unusual. After greeting Third Sister, they went out together.
Third Sister was preoccupied and treated her half-sisters very perfunctorily. After they left, she pulled Zhao Shi aside to bid farewell to the Grand Madam.
******
Jinlan Courtyard.
As soon as Zhao and her daughter San Niang returned, they dismissed all the servants and had a private talk in the inner room.
"Mother, you don't know, Yun Shen has gone too far!" When it was just the two of them, the third mother no longer hid her emotions. Her almond-shaped eyes widened, almost spitting fire: "So he still has his eye on that little bitch Li!"
Madam Zhao quickly comforted her daughter: "Don't be hasty. Your son-in-law's status is different now, you can't always be so impulsive. My child, you'll be the one who suffers in the end."
San Niang was already seething with anger, and hearing Zhao's words made her feel both wronged and furious. "Of course I want to live well with him! He's the one who went back on his word!" San Niang's eyes reddened with anger as she said this. "I only had a few months of peace after finally sending that wretched Li to the estate outside the capital!"
"Who knows, who knows—" Tears welled up in Third Sister's eyes. "A few days ago, Yun Shen said he was on imperial orders to leave the capital on business, but who knew he went to the estate to see that damned bitch Li! He clearly promised me he'd broken off with Li—"
Seeing her daughter on the verge of tears, Zhao was heartbroken.
"I told you long ago that now that Li Shi has been taken as a concubine by the young master, it will be difficult for you to touch her again," Zhao Shi advised. "Sending her away is not a foolproof plan. Besides, she is still related to your mother-in-law in some way. Do you think your mother-in-law would just sit idly by?"
Third Sister was both angry and furious, but mostly she felt wronged.
Back then, when she first married into the family, she and Yun Shen had enjoyed a period of tender and sweet affection. She even thought that she could be like the current Empress, who was the sole favorite in the harem, and have the exclusive favor of her husband.