Jinping and Cuiping were immediately impressed by An Ran once again.
“That’s where things get complicated. It’s not a glorious thing that the marriage didn’t happen. Originally, the Grand Madam and the Marquis just wanted to pretend that it never happened and cover it up.” Jinping said, “I vaguely heard from the Madam that once the Marquis was out drinking too much and accidentally brought up the old story, and the Marquis of Pingyuan didn’t deny it.”
"From then on, the Dowager Lady and the Marquis began to have designs on it..."
Anran nodded.
This explains why there is no sisterly affection among the Sixth, Seventh, and Tenth Sisters. They are all illegitimate daughters, and if they could marry the Marquis of Pingyuan as his legitimate wife... it would be like rising to the top in one step! Such a temptation would be irresistible to anyone.
However, he eventually found out why he had returned to the Marquis's residence.
Although I didn't know about Marquis Pingyuan in my previous life, Yun Shu did indeed ascend the throne as emperor, so I suppose Lu Mingxiu's fate is similar to this one.
“Miss, I’m afraid the other three young ladies are all thinking about her,” Cuiping said. “The sixth young lady is good at needlework, the seventh young lady is good at painting, and the tenth young lady is good at studying… The Marquis has praised the tenth young lady, saying that she is even better at studying than the master!”
Currently, apart from An Ran, all the young ladies in the Marquis's mansion have a special skill.
After embarrassing themselves at school today, the three sisters, including Liu Niang, clearly breathed a sigh of relief...
Anran understood the unfinished words Cuiping had left unsaid.
She wasn't worried; instead, she let out a long sigh of relief. Now that she knew the crux of the problem, she could figure out a way to deal with it. An Ran even jokingly thought that she might have to rely on her looks to make a living...
"Alright, I understand." An Ran nodded slightly, looking completely calm and composed.
Cuiping and Jinping, who were standing to the side, were extremely anxious. They had been pouring their hearts out to Ninth Miss for a long time, but they didn't know how much of it the young lady had taken in.
"Miss—" Jinping was getting anxious, but she swallowed her words back. She couldn't very well say, "Miss, please put some effort into it. You should at least be proficient in one of the four arts: music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Even if you're not a master, you can't be too far off." After all, a Marquis's wife can't just rely on her looks; she needs to be well-educated and reasonable.
The girls, being born out of wedlock, were already at a disadvantage. The sixth girl and the others were putting in their best effort to learn, while the ninth girl, having a weaker foundation, suffered an additional setback.
Seeing that the two were getting anxious, An Ran stopped teasing them and said seriously, "I have just returned. Unlike the Seventh and Tenth Misses, who grew up in the mansion and were raised by the Madam and Madam, I am not as well off as the Sixth Miss, who has someone to guide me. Now I should keep a low profile. There is always something to learn from others, but I don't need to make a fuss about learning this and that."
After saying that, An Ran gave the two of them a meaningful look.
Jinping and Cuiping looked enlightened and nodded repeatedly.
“Miss, my embroidery is passable.” Cuiping said with an expression that said, “I understand.” “Although it is not as good as the embroidery masters in the manor, if you don’t mind, I may be able to help you.”
Jinping, fearing that Anran wouldn't believe her, added, "When Fifth Aunt got married, Cuiping helped with many of the embroidery tasks."
Fifth Sister was the second daughter of the legitimate wife and married the second son of the Marquis of Pingnan. Although Anran hadn't met her after returning to the manor, she received a gift from her the next day. She'd heard that Fifth Sister was extremely intelligent and ambitious; any job that caught her eye must be quite good.
Before she could finish speaking, An Ran had already smiled. "That would be perfect." After saying that, she looked at Jinping and smiled, "Sister Jinping, you don't need to hide anything anymore. Those who can be promoted to the Madam's side must be quite capable."
Jinping smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare say I have any special skills, I'm just a bit more diligent."
"Jinping's cooking skills are superb; the pastries she makes are just as good as those from Tianxian Pavilion outside!" Cuiping said proudly. "It's just that not many people know this. One day, I'll have her make some for you to try!"
“We don’t have a small kitchen in our yard…” Jinping reminded her, “It wouldn’t be right to borrow things from the main kitchen…”
Cuiping, who had been so excited just moments before, suddenly felt a little discouraged.
An Ran, however, felt very gratified.
The fact that he could say such thoughtful things to her proved that the scales in their hearts had already tipped in his favor.
“There will always be opportunities in the future,” An Ran said with a slight smile. “We can do whatever we want.”
In the candlelight, An Ran lost her striking brilliance; her features softened, making her appear gentle and serene. Yet, it was precisely this that gave Jinping and Cuiping a sudden sense of confidence.
What Ninth Sister said will definitely come true.
Chapter 12 Preparation
Since An Ran was widely regarded as a pretty but empty "vase," the three sisters, including Sixth Sister, became much friendlier towards her. Even Seventh Sister, who was usually quite rebellious, was mostly kind and gentle towards An Ran. Ninth Sister, always addressing everyone as Ninth Sister, presented a harmonious and loving image of sisters in front of the Grand Madam and Madam Zhao.
Enron expressed his pleasure at the outcome.
The matriarch cared deeply about her four granddaughters' knowledge and talents. Anran was naturally inferior to her three sisters, but fortunately she had a good attitude.
She diligently and earnestly learned whatever she was supposed to learn, without comparing herself to the other two girls. Secretly, Cuiping taught her some needlework, just so she wouldn't embarrass herself later. Anran was indifferent to the things the other three girls valued most, but she was quite interested in Jinping's cooking skills.
In her previous life, An Ran lived a life where she never lifted a finger. In this life, she reformed herself and took on the household chores herself, learning to cook for her younger siblings. Although her cooking skills haven't improved much, she's still as enthusiastic as ever.
Anran's daily routine consists of frequently and enthusiastically pulling Jinping aside to discuss topics such as how to remove the fishy smell from fried fish pieces and how to match the ingredients for assorted sweet soup.
Jinping and Cuiping were even more anxious than she was when they saw this.
In the month or so since arriving at the Marquis's residence, Anran's days have been quite leisurely.
Ningxue Courtyard.
An Ran was bending over on the kang table by the window, taking out a pen to draw flower patterns. They were all simple and elegant designs, which were easy for her to learn.
"Miss, Madam Shi is here," Qingxing announced as she lifted the curtain to enter.
As she spoke, Shi's mother had already stepped over the threshold and entered the house before Anran could say anything.
An Ran put down her pen and didn't go out to greet her. She just looked up and smiled, "Aunt Shi is here."
"Greetings, Ninth Miss," said Mama Shi, giving a perfunctory curtsy.
"Give Mama Shi a seat." An Ran had Cui Ping bring a small stool for Mama Shi to sit on. She wouldn't fawn over those around Madam Zhao, and conversely, she wouldn't allow anyone to find fault with her manners.
Only then did Mrs. Shi show a slight smile, thank her, and sit down.
"Madam asked me to come and see if the young lady needs anything new." Shi Mama said, "The young lady has just returned from outside, and she may be lacking something. If she needs any new clothes or jewelry, please just tell Madam."