If someone were to actually marry the Marquis of Pingyuan, who would be the most likely candidate?
The answer is self-evident. (JustL)
Chapter 31 The Situation
After returning to the Marquis's residence yesterday, An Ran felt a vague unease in her heart.
It wasn't that she cared about the secret hostility her Sixth Sister, Seventh Sister, and Tenth Sister harbored towards her. At this moment, she had long forgotten about the Marquis of Pingyuan, and she couldn't believe that the three sisters would hate her for it.
What she couldn't let go of was Third Sister.
When Anran left the Marquis's residence yesterday, she noticed that Third Sister had reapplied her makeup, and her eyelids were slightly swollen and translucent, clearly indicating that she had been crying. In front of her, Third Sister would still maintain the airs of an elder sister, refusing to back down even when she was hysterically throwing a tantrum. But in front of Zhao Shi, Third Sister was just a child, and she would naturally pour out her sorrows and grievances.
Zhao's expression was not good either, but she was still forcing a smile.
An Ran knew very well that the situation was still developing, and Li's entry into the family was just the beginning; the more difficult things were yet to come.
Li and her unborn child were like a thorn stuck in San Niang's throat; every movement was painful, yet she couldn't pull it out.
"Miss, look at these things, are they for Sixth Miss and the others?" Jinping came over carrying a bundle. Seeing Anran sitting by the window lost in thought again, she couldn't help but ask with concern, "Miss, are you feeling unwell?"
Ever since returning from Prince Yi's mansion, my young lady has always seemed preoccupied.
"I'm fine." An Ran came to her senses and beckoned Jinping over. "Let me see it."
Anran had all the gifts that her third sister had given her brought out, and divided the materials into three portions, all of similar quality and color. The styles of the hairpins and the gemstones they were inlaid with were different, and in order not to show favoritism among the sisters, Anran tried to distribute them in portions of similar value.
Seeing this, Qingmei, who was embroidering nearby, couldn't help but mutter, "Why did you give the things to Seventh Miss? It's one thing for others, but Seventh Miss has been bullying you quite a bit!"
"Don't talk nonsense in front of the young ladies!" Jinping quickly stopped her, saying, "What right do you have to interfere in the affairs between young ladies?"
Qingmei pouted and didn't say anything more.
"Go to the kitchen and serve the young lady some pear soup. Don't talk nonsense outside," Jinping instructed her before sending her out.
Anran smiled gently.
As they spent more time together, Qingmei and Qingxing became less reserved in her presence. Qingmei, in particular, was more lively and always spoke and laughed freely in her company, which Anran liked very much. However, when it came to being thoughtful and considerate, she was still far inferior to Cuiping and Jinping.
Ultimately, the two are still young and lack experience.
“Miss, Qingmei is actually not wrong!” Seeing Qingmei leave, Jinping couldn’t help but say, “Giving the things to Seventh Miss might not be a good thing. Perhaps Seventh Miss will think that the things you gave her must be things you don’t like, or things that other girls have rejected. Perhaps it will give her a reason to find fault, wouldn’t that be a loss?”
An Ran shook her head.
“Even if that’s what she thinks, I still have to distribute the things.” An Ran said, “Today when I returned from the Prince Yi’s residence, the clothes I was wearing were different from those I wore at the Marquis’s residence. It was obvious that they were given to me by my third sister. I am my third sister’s half-sister, and so are they. Such favoritism would not be good for my third sister’s reputation.”
“If I honestly keep them all, what will Sixth Sister and the others think? Wouldn’t I be too greedy!” Anran gestured to Jinping to wrap up the portions she had just divided. “From now on, all the sisters will be living in the Marquis’s mansion, so we can’t really let things fall apart.”
If An Ran were to cause a scene, even if she wasn't at fault, the elders would still feel it wasn't good.
After all, it takes two to tango, doesn't it?
She'll likely be living in the Marquis's residence for a long time, and it's best to get along peacefully with her other sisters. Besides, Seventh Sister, Tenth Sister, and the concubine are serving their stepmother; even if Zhao Shi doesn't like them, she might still listen to their opinions. Anyway, she doesn't want to marry the Marquis of Pingyuan, so the fundamental conflict doesn't really exist. It shouldn't be difficult, right?
“Send these to the girls separately.” An Ran thought for a moment and said, “Send peach branches and peach leaves to the sixth and seventh girls, and green apricots to the tenth girl.”
Jinping, carrying the things, agreed and went.
Tao Zhi and Tao Ye were from the Grand Madam's household, so even if Seventh Sister was unhappy, she wouldn't dare to show them any disrespect. Letting the three of them leave at the same time would prevent Seventh Sister from saying anything about picking and choosing. If Seventh Sister were to nag An Ran about how some gifts were less than good, or how the ones given to her weren't good enough, and that these were given by Third Sister, and if An Ran complained, her stepmother, Zhao Shi, would naturally deal with her.
If you're smart, don't cause any more trouble at this juncture.
“Miss, yesterday Xi’er and Mu’er came. Although you went to the Prince’s mansion, the Grand Madam saw them in person and even gave them gifts.” Cuiping lifted the curtain and came in, holding a purse in her hand. “I also gave Xi’er the things you asked for. This is what she left for you.”
An Ran quickly took it.
The simple purse was embroidered with a plum blossom. The needlework was still a bit immature, but it was clear that a lot of thought had been put into it.
Inside, there was a thin piece of paper, with the four corners glued shut.
"This child!" An Ran smiled and shook her head, carefully tearing open all four corners to reveal dozens of crooked words inside.
Seeing this, Cuiping wisely withdrew.
The moment she lowered the curtain, she saw An Ran with a slight smile on her face, looking tenderly at the contents of the letter.
An Mu had only been in school for a short time, and his handwriting was still not very good; he didn't know many characters. To express what he wanted to say using the few characters he could write, he and An tide probably put a lot of thought into writing this letter.
At the end of the letter, An Mu also drew a fluffy little chick pecking at grains of rice on the ground.
An Ran's eyes immediately reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes.
The children still remember her words and are waiting for the day when they can go home again.
*****
When Taozhi arrived at Qiniang's courtyard with the gifts, Aunt Li happened to be there to visit Qiniang.
After putting the things down, Taozhi explained the reason for them clearly.
Seventh Sister raised an eyebrow, ready to cause trouble, but Aunt Li quickly gave her a meaningful look, stopping her.
"Thank you for making this trip," Aunt Li said with a smile. "Baixiang, give your sister a hundred coins to buy some candy."
Peach Branch thanked her gracefully and then followed Bai Xiang out.
"Auntie, why won't you let me speak?" Seventh Sister said somewhat discontentedly, "If I can't deal with Ninth Sister right now, am I afraid of even the maidservant beside her?"