However, both Jinping and Cuiping noticed that their young lady's eyes were already glistening with tears.
Seeing this, the two also said a few auspicious words. In their hearts, they were even more determined to follow the Ninth Miss. Putting aside the fact that the Ninth Miss had been betrothed to the Marquis of Pingyuan, what was even more rare was that the Ninth Miss was a person who cherished old friendships very much.
She had deep affection for the servants who raised her. She treated the children like her own siblings; in fact, the two of them seemed to show her far more genuine affection than they did for the three young ladies in the Marquis's mansion. Although they couldn't see each other often, she frequently asked them to find ways to send money and gifts to them.
The sixth young lady was also raised by servants, but she and Liu Mama were not very close. According to the maid in the sixth young lady's room, it seemed that the two had been arguing a lot lately.
Jinping and Cuiping couldn't help but feel fortunate that they were following the Ninth Sister.
“Sister, my embroidery skills have improved recently!” Anxi also thought of what she had said that day. Not wanting Anran to be sad, she quickly took out a big red purse from her sleeve. On it was embroidered a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water.
Although the needlework technique is still somewhat immature, it looks quite professional.
"I asked Aunt Wu to teach me this, what do you think, sister?" An Xi looked at An Ran expectantly, as if seeking praise: "When you get married, I'll embroider an even better pair of handkerchiefs for you!"
Anxi then handed the purse to Jinping and Cuiping, hoping to gain their approval.
The two looked over and realized that An tide's embroidery skills seemed even better than their own daughter's. They couldn't help but praise her, exchanging a few compliments.
Mother Wu had already happily told the two children about An Ran's betrothal to the Marquis of Pingyuan.
She had noticed An Ran's usual care for the two children, and seeing that An Ran was now the future Lady of Pingyuan, she was extremely happy. An Mu and An Xi's future was bright, and her own son and daughter would probably benefit from this relationship as well.
Therefore, she treated An Mu and An tide even better than usual.
Hearing An tide's words, a blush crept onto An Ran's cheeks. She blushed and said, "Your two older sisters are both extremely capable, and you're still showing off in front of them."
An tide, however, said without a care in the world, "That would be even better. I can take this opportunity to learn a lot from my two elder sisters."
Jinping and Cuiping got to know Anran well after spending time with her and figured out her temperament. They knew that she was a very easy-going person in daily life, so they smiled and said, "Miss, you know what, we think Xi'er's embroidery is quite good, it seems to be even better than yours!"
An Ran widened her eyes, trying to put on airs as a young lady from a noble family. Ultimately, however, she lacked the necessary intimidation and succumbed to the three men's suppressed laughter, shaking her head and laughing involuntarily.
The four of them chatted and laughed along the way, and didn't find the time difficult to pass.
Just before lunchtime, the carriage finally arrived at the estate on the outskirts of the capital. This time, they would stay at Third Sister's place again. The room that Third Sister had bought for her had not yet been properly furnished, and Anran had arrived in a hurry, so Third Sister did not let her go.
Since arriving in the capital, Anxi and Anmu had never experienced such freedom and joy.
An Ran was still changing clothes and washing up in the room. An tide was able to sit still and wait for her, but An Mu informed An Ran and ran out to play.
An tide wanted to stop him, but An Ran stopped her.
“Let him go play for a while. There are plenty of children around his age here.” An Ran said nonchalantly, “He’s been confined for so long, it’s quite pitiful. Now that he has a chance, it’s fine for him to be a little more lively here.”
Even at Wu's mother's house, where there were similar playmates, she always had to remember that she was in someone else's home and always had many things to consider.
Once they arrived at the estate, there was no one else around, and An Ran was the only one who could be considered the master, so they naturally felt more relaxed.
“Let’s go out for a walk later. There’s a pavilion at the foot of the mountain with a nice view.” An Ran smiled at An tide and said, “I’ll tell you where I found the snowball.”
When Anran went out today, she had someone put Xue Tuan'er in a basket and bring her along. She wouldn't feel safe leaving her at the Marquis's residence; who knows, someone with ill intentions might harm Xue Tuan'er, and she couldn't very well make someone pay for the cat's death.
It was fate that she found the snowball; she had to take good care of it.
No child dislikes this adorable little animal. Xue Tuan'er had slept the whole way, and An Xi hadn't dared to tease her. Now that Xue Tuan'er was awake, An Ran had someone bring her out. Xue Tuan'er seemed to be very intelligent, rushing straight towards An Ran, wanting to snuggle into her arms and be held.
An Ran reached out and stroked Xue Tuan'er's back, shaking her head helplessly and smiling, "Xue Tuan'er, be good, this is also an older sister, go and say hello to her."
Only then did Xue Tuan'er allow An tide to get closer and touch it.
"It's so beautiful!" Anxi exclaimed excitedly, looking at the snowball that wasn't stained with any other color. "Are all the stray cats outside this beautiful?"
As Jinping combed An Ran's hair again, she smiled and said, "This is a purebred Linqing lion cat, not a stray. It just so happens that the young lady found it; it must be fate."
An tide carefully took the snowball and held it in her arms, stroking it gently.
After An Ran changed her clothes and neatly combed her hair, An tide stared at her sister, momentarily stunned. In the months since her sister returned to the Marquis's mansion, she seemed even more beautiful, and there was something else about her that she couldn't quite describe.
"Let's go." An Ran had someone take Xue Tuan'er away, without taking it with her.
An Ran told them to wait until they returned before setting out lunch, as there was no rush. She took An tide out for a walk first, and they would be back in a while.
An Ran's status was now even more different than before. She was still being received by Zhang Zhuangtou's wife, but following the instructions of her third sister, she served her with even greater care. She was not only the younger sister of the Crown Prince's wife and the ninth daughter of the Marquis's mansion, but also the future Lady of Pingyuan Marquis.
Therefore, when An Ran saw that there were more people accompanying her today than usual, she could only smile helplessly and didn't say anything more.
An Ran didn't rush to send someone to find An Mu, but instead took An tide to the small pavilion at the foot of the mountain.
Although it was a bit hot, the tall, dense tree canopy provided shade, and the area was near water, with occasional breezes bringing a touch of coolness.
Cuiping and Jinping took out the snacks and hot tea from the food box and arranged them, inviting Anran and Anxi to sit down.
At first, An tide felt a little uncomfortable, but seeing that her sister was smiling and nodding, she thought that since they were outside and her sister's people were around, it should be fine, so she obediently sat down.
The two sisters chatted in the pavilion about what had happened since they parted more than two months ago, but it felt like a lifetime had passed.
"Big sister, sister!" An Mu's voice came from afar. An Ran looked up and saw that An Mu had come looking for her. An Ran smiled and replied, "Slow down, don't fall!"
Only then did An Ran realize that there was a boy, even younger than him, with him.
When they arrived, Anran recognized the little boy as the one she had stood up for when she last visited the manor.
What was his name again?
An Mu ran happily to An Ran and An tide's side, but the little boy hesitated and stopped outside the pavilion.
"Sili, come in and have some snacks." An Ran smiled and waved to the little boy.