“I just want to look at the peony in the Third Aunt’s house.” Sister Zhuang acted like a baby to Yin Hui, and then sat behind her, with her head facing outward, pretending to look at the flowers.
Xiao Ning also came to her side, took off her shoes and stepped on the back, leaning on the back of the chair with both hands to look out.
Xiao Zhuang caught a glimpse of her mother still looking at her, as she might come up with a new excuse to send her away at any time. Xiao Zhuang blinked her eyes, came up with an idea, and said to Xiao Ning, “Let me help you braid your hair; it doesn’t look good. I’ll help you tie it again.”
Xiao Ning believed it and sat obediently in front of her sister.
Xiao Zhuang carried a small ox horn comb in her purse at all times, and it happened to come in handy at that moment, so she helped her comb her hair first with great care.
Yin Hui looked back and saw her daughter’s happy smiling face.
She knew that Xiao Ning didn’t like Xiao Zhuang very much, but at the moment when her sister was willing to braid her hair, the little girl enjoyed it very much.
In fact, the relationship between the little sisters was very similar to when she and Ji Xianxian were together.
Ji Xianxian would say something deliberately to make her feel uncomfortable. She didn’t really like Wei Ying and Fu Shan. But as a sister-in-law, it was inevitable to stay together often. Yin Hui was also often amused by her words and deeds. As long as she could feel happy most of the time, there was no need to create a distance between them.
Taking the new life as an example, since she regained her original nature after her rebirth, she didn’t care about Ji Xianxian’s mention of Wei Luo and Wen Ruyue’s old affairs at all.
Xiao Zhuang refused to leave, so Ji Xianxian naturally had a way. She deliberately pulled Yin Hui to sit next to her and whispered, “I heard that a cousin girl came to your house. Is it Miss Wen?”
Yin Hui nodded.
Ji Xianxian asked curiously, “Is she not in Shaoxing? Why did she come to the capital?”
Yin Hui sighed and said in a sympathetic tone, “Xue Huan died suddenly. The Prince went to Shaoxing to investigate a case, just in time for the Xue family to finish the funeral. She was helpless there, and the house was about to be handed over to the new guard, so the Prince brought her over.”
Ji Xianxian was shocked, “Xue Huan is about the same age as the Prince, right? How did he die?”
Yin Hui replied, “It’s not uncommon. They say that drinking hurts the body. He couldn’t make it through.”
Ji Xianxian looked at her expression, saying “Anyway, she is also your cousin, but you don’t seem to be sad at all.”
Yin Hui took a deep look at her, “There are some inside stories, but the Prince told me not to talk nonsense, and you should stop inquiring.”
Ji Xianxian’s curiosity climbed to the extreme at that moment. However, no matter how coquettishly she begged, Yin Hui refused to reveal the truth.
Ji Xianxian was helpless. When she thought of something, she looked around and asked strangely, “Why isn’t she with you?”
Leaving the guests alone to enjoy the flowers in the garden was not in line with the way of hospitality.
Yin Hui explained, “Cousin just lost her husband and felt uncomfortable. Today I took her out with great difficulty to relax. When she just heard that the Second Sister-in-law was here, she wanted to leave because she was not ready to meet guests. She is afraid that with the Second Sister-in-law’s care, she will cry sadly. So she went back to the room first.”
Ji Xianxian was a little disappointed, and Yin Hui kept her mouth tight. If she asked Wen Ruyue directly, maybe she would find out.
Just when she was about to propose to visit Wen Ruyue, Yin Hui looked over and said in a low voice, “At first, I thought you two are good sisters who have been together for many years, and the Second Sister-in-law knows my cousin better than I do. So I thought it would be up to you to come to comfort her. It may be more effective than me. But who would have thought that my cousin would not dare to see you?”
Hearing that, Ji Xianxian frowned initially, attempting to refute the notion that she and Wen Ruyue were good sisters, questioning whether Wen Ruyue was truly worthy of such a claim.
Then, Ji Xianxian suddenly realized that when Yin Hui first married into the Yan Mansion, she had fabricated a bunch of nonsense to embarrass her. She had even deliberately arranged for the maid next to her to tell Yin Hui secretly, aiming to prove her point.
Back then, Ji Xianxian hadn’t thought much of it. Both Yin Hui and Wen Ruyue, hailing from merchant families, seemed like worthless things in her eyes, and she played with them. Even now, Ji Xianxian considered Wen Ruyue to be of little worth.
However, Yin Hui was different now.
Ji Xianxian didn’t want to get into trouble with Yin Hui. So, considering that Wen Ruyue was in the Shu Mansion, Ji Xianxian realized her past nonsense might be exposed at any time. When she looked at Yin Hui again, Ji Xianxian felt a sense of shame.
Pretending not to notice Ji Xianxian’s blushing face, Yin Hui took the opportunity to check on her daughter. She saw that Xiao Zhuang had indeed tied a beautiful bun for Xiao Ning, and it was almost finished.
Curious, Ji Xianxian inquired again, “Then, will Miss Wen live with you all the time?”
Yin Hui nodded, “Probably so. When she wants to marry, the Prince and I will choose a good husband for her.”
Ji Xianxian pursed her lips and offered a caution, “Then you should be careful, lest she doesn’t want to leave.”
Her nonsense was not entirely fabricated. Wei Luo’s affection for Wen Ruyue was false, but Wen Ruyue’s thoughts towards Wei Luo couldn’t be more genuine. If it weren’t for the marriage arranged by King Yan halfway, Wen Ruyue would not be willing to leave the Yan Palace. That woman was very ambitious.
Ji Xianxian harbored a deep disdain for Wen Ruyue. Despite occasionally feeling envious of Yin Hui’s comfortable life and entertaining thoughts of the Shu Mansion adding two concubines, she never wished for the newcomer to be Wen Ruyue. Seeing someone she deeply disliked, relying on her cousin’s identity and scheming to bully Yin Hui, who had been accepted as a good sister by Ji Xianxian, irked her.
While she felt entitled to bully Yin Hui, Ji Xianxian believed that other women shouldn’t have the same privilege.
Surprised by Ji Xianxian’s apparent change in attitude, Yin Hui looked at her with surprise.
Ji Xianxian glared at Yin Hui and remarked, “Don’t you believe me? You just said it yourself, that I know this cousin girl better than you.”
Yin Hui smiled, “Yes, of course I believe you.”
At that moment, Xiao Ning ran over, her bright eyes looking at the elders, asking, “Mother, Second Aunt, do I look good?”
Ji Xianxian glanced at her absent-mindedly and smiled, “Looks good, Xiao Ning is the most beautiful.”
Girl, go, I have to talk to your mother!