Chapter 801: Chapter 683, Drifted Away Chapter 801: Chapter 683, Drifted Away Yan Residence, Flower Chamber.
“I had my eye on that pot of Junzi Orchid before,” sighed Yan Yishuang, after tiring of reading. She brought her maid to admire the flowers in the flower chamber and walked around, but could not spot her beloved orchids, prompting her to inquire with the gardener.
Bowing, the gardener replied, “Lady Gan Tang, close to Madam, took that pot of Junzi Orchid.”
Yan Yishuang furrowed her brows. “I rember my elder sister-in-law does not even like orchids.”
It was then that Liuyun, the maid at her side, spoke up, “It must be the third and fourth young ladies from the Han Family visiting again—they really don’t hold back. This is the second ti.”
“Last ti when you liked the Chunju, because the third young lady from Han said she liked it, your elder sister-in-law gave it to her without a second thought. I wonder if it was the third or the fourth young lady from Han who liked that pot of Junzi Orchid this ti?” The tone carried a hint of complaint.
Hearing this, Yan Yishuang’s expression darkened, but she still scolded Liuyun, “Is my elder sister-in-law soone you can gossip about? Be mindful of what is appropriate to say and what is not.”
Liuyun quickly admitted her mistake and, noticing the displeasure on Yan Yishuang’s face regarding the Han sisters, was not very afraid and smilingly changed the topic, “Miss, let’s look at other flowers.”
Yan Yishuang wandered around the flower chamber and, seeing her favored Junzi Orchid was gone, lost interest in admiring the flowers. She glanced around a few tis before leaving. On her way back, she passed by Yan Wenxiu’s yard and heard laughter coming from inside.
“Miss, would you like to go in and see the third young lady from Han and the others?”
Yan Yishuang replied indifferently, “No need.”
The Han Family prided themselves as being from the Earl Family, and the air of superiority occasionally shown by the Han won during her family’s initial visit had greatly irritated her.
Seeing her young mistress wear a sullen look, Liuyun thought for a mont and suggested, “Miss, shall I go and tell your elder sister-in-law that you had reserved that pot of Junzi Orchid first? Perhaps then, she might not give it to the third young lady from Han.”
Yan Yishuang shook her head, a trace of sarcasm playing at her lips, “I am but a concubine’s daughter. How could my elder sister-in-law possibly displease her own sisters for my sake? Even if she retrieved it, it would only cause more trouble. Don’t bother.”
Liuyun fell silent.
At that mont, the two saw Madam Li’s senior maid, Ping Tong, leading a group of people hastily toward the Chuihua Gate.
Liuyun quickly grabbed a maid who was close at hand and asked, “What’s going on?”
The maid laughed, “The eldest young miss has returned; her carriage has just arrived at the gate, and Madam has sent us to welco her.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Yishuang’s eyes brightened and her face lit up with joy, “Elder sister has returned!” Her tone unintentionally carried a hint of eagerness.
“Let’s go and wait at grandmother’s courtyard.”
Seeing her young mistress smile, Liuyun imdiately laughed, “Miss, you must have missed your elder sister too, haven’t you?”
Yan Yishuang paused, lost in thought. Did she miss her? Her expression grew distant. All she knew was that when her elder sister was ho, the Han girls could never overshadow the Yan girls.
…
Yan Wenxiu’s Yard.
Han Xinran, upon hearing Daohua’s news of the eldest daughter’s return, quickly handed over her son to the wet nurse and proceeded to change her clothes.
The third young Han lady, seeing this, curiously asked, “Second sister, why are you in such a hurry?”
Han Xinran smiled, “Our eldest sister has co back; you’ll co with to et her later.”
The fourth young Han lady’s eyes sparkled, “The sa one who was bestowed the title of Countess of Shengping by the emperor?”
Han Xinran nodded, still smiling, “Yes, that’s her.”
The third young Han lady swiftly inquired, “Second sister, I heard rumors that the emperor granted the Four Seasons Manor to the Countess of Shengping. Is that true?”
Han Xinran confird, “It’s true.”
The third young Han lady’s eyes brightened instantly, and she leaned closer to Han Xinran, “Second sister, I heard that the Four Seasons Manor has hot springs and a waterfall. We haven’t tried them yet; maybe you could talk to the Countess of Shengping and ask her to invite us over.”
Han Xinran tapped the third young Han sister’s head and chuckled, “If you want to enjoy the hot springs, you’d better get along well with our elder sister. That’s not sothing I can decide for her.”
The fourth young Han sister tilted her head and queried, “Aren’t you her elder sister-in-law? If an elder sister-in-law speaks up, wouldn’t a younger sister-in-law comply?”
Han Xinran paused, her expression changing. Normally, a younger sister-in-law would indeed listen if another family’s elder sister-in-law spoke, but in their case, she was not so sure.
“Enough, let’s not talk about this anymore; let’s hurry to grandmother’s courtyard.”
With that, she signaled the wet nurse to follow along with her son.
“`
…
When Han Xinran arrived with the two young ladies of the Han Family, the grandmother’s room was bustling with activity, laughter echoing from afar.
As the third and fourth young ladies of the Han Family followed Han Xinran inside, their eyes imdiately landed on the lively, smiling girl in green sitting next to Old Madam Yan.
Her skin was as delicate as white jade, her figure graceful, and her smile charming and her gaze captivating; it seed as if all the light in the room gathered on her alone.
“Big sister!”
While the third and fourth young ladies of the Han Family were still in a state of surprise, Han Xinran had already joyfully approached Daohua and grasped her hand, exchanging warm pleasantries.
“These are my uncle’s two younger sisters.”
Han Xinran smiled as he introduced Daohua to the third and fourth young ladies of the Han Family: “This is Xin Rong, ranked third in our family; this is Xin i, ranked fourth. They’re both a bit younger than you and could be considered your younger sisters.”
Following Han Xinran’s words, the third and fourth young ladies of the Han Family imdiately smiled and greeted, “Yan elder sister!”
Daohua returned the greeting with a smile: “Han third young lady, Han fourth young lady!”
Hearing Daohua’s address, a brief mont of stiffness crossed Han Xinran’s face, while Yan Yishuang, Yan Yihuan, and Yan Yile quickly shared a knowing smile.
Daohua’s attention had already shifted to the little nephew in the nurse’s arms, whom she approached with a smile and shook his little hand: “Little Mingyuan, do you rember your auntie?”
Seeing her daughter’s cherished behavior, Mada Li said with a laugh, “Mingyuan is still too young; you’ve been away for a few months, and he definitely doesn’t rember you. Hold him for a bit, so he gets familiar with you.”
Daohua imdiately nodded with a smile, took her little nephew into her arms, and sat down next to the old lady.
Before long, the little one burst into giggles.
Old Madam Yan imdiately laughed, “Mingyuan likes his big auntie.”
Then, a maid brought freshly washed cherries and strawberries.
Mada Li invited the third and fourth young ladies of the Han Family to eat.
Seeing plates of cherries and strawberries laid out before everyone in the room, the third young lady of the Han Family laughed and said, “Cherries and strawberries are rare fruits. Recently, grandmother ntioned she wanted cherries, and father looked for a long ti but couldn’t find any. It seems the second sister is lucky, able to eat them whenever she wants.”
Hearing this, Daohua paused montarily while playing with her little nephew, quickly glanced at the third young lady of the Han Family, then imdiately heard her sister-in-law urgently say,
“Why didn’t you tell about this? Since grandmother wants them, I will take the portion assigned to back to her.”
Since marrying into the Yan Family, Daohua had never lacked seasonal fruits to eat, even ones not available elsewhere.
Hearing this, Mada Li frowned slightly, “It’s just so cherries. Since Old Madam Han wants them, when the two young ladies leave later, I’ll prepare a portion to send over.”
Sending produce intended for family use was akin to slapping the Yan Family’s face, wasn’t it?
Han Xinran imdiately laughed, “Thank you, mother.”
Daohua glanced at Han Xinran, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes—she could tell her mother was upset; how could her sister-in-law seem so pleased?
After lunch, Daohua returned to her courtyard.
Guyu and Lixia had arrived with Mada Li earlier, having already tidied up the courtyard, arranging everything just the way Daohua liked.
Daohua strolled around, satisfied, and after bathing and freshening up, she called Guyu and asked, “During the ti I was away, did anything happen at ho?”
Guyu replied with a smile, “Our family just arrived in Beijing, other than inviting relatives and friends for a al once, and the old lady and mada taking the ladies of our house to the Han Family, nothing much happened.”
Daohua nodded, thought for a mont, and asked, “Did my sister-in-law upset my mother?”
Guyu hesitated for a mont, “I’m not sure about that. But ever since the big mada returned to Beijing, she often goes back to the Han Family, and the two young ladies of the Han Family often co to our house.”
Daohua raised an eyebrow, “Often?”
Guyu nodded, “Sotis the Han Family sends soone to fetch the big mada, and everyti she would leave and most of the ti only co back in the evening. Once, she even stayed overnight at the Han Family before returning.”
Daohua’s frown deepened, “Did my sister-in-law inform my mother beforehand?”
Guyu shook her head, “She just sent soone at the last minute to inform.”
Daohua scoffed, “Seems like my sister-in-law is having too good a ti; has she started to feel she’s above others?”
“`
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