Anning combined what a few maids outside had said and ca to a conclusion.
Her current body’s original owner must have been a girl with quite a feisty temperant.
Moreover, her parents had both passed away, and as for whether she had any siblings, it was still unknown, but the Second Miss and Third Miss who had just visited were clearly not her blood sisters; they must be the daughters from her uncle’s family.
Besides, it seems that the original owner’s life hadn’t been all that great; her relationships with her uncle, aunt, Second Miss, and Third Miss were all just for appearances.
It looked like the situation in this household was rather complicated.
Anning then decided she could not recover too quickly, intending to prolong her illness and take this ti to understand the situation as quickly as possible.
With her resolve set, Anning truly fell into a deep sleep.
She slept soundly and sweetly, and when she woke up, the sky had already darkened.
Anning had barely stirred when Peony hurriedly lifted the mosquito net and lit a candle inside the room: "Miss has woken up, just in ti. Moli sister had soone bring so porridge from the kitchen, would you like so?"
Anning lifted her hand: "I’ll make do with so."
Peony promptly helped Anning sit up, and a young maid who hadn’t yet had her hair pinned up, knelt at the bedside with a silver basin, holding it up for Anning to wash her hands and face.
Peony held a rather large piece of fine cotton cloth over Anning’s clothes and carefully rolled up her sleeves, then stood aside holding the soap, waiting on her.
Anning bent down to wash her hands and then her face; after she finished, Peony brought over an ointnt.
Anning applied a bit to her face and hands, and the young maid also retreated with the silver basin.
On the other side, Chuntao ca over with a bowl of porridge.
Anning saw the porridge cooked into a green color with bits of lotus seeds and lily bulbs, and she knew it was made from green rice.
Feeling really hungry now, the aroma of the rice made her salivate even more; Anning beckoned Chuntao to co closer, took the bowl of porridge and delicately tasted it with a spoon.
She dared not move too quickly, fearing the maids would notice sothing amiss, and could only try her best to imitate the actions of a sick young lady of a noble family.
It took a good while to finish the bowl of porridge, and Anning was still very hungry, but since she was supposedly ill, it wouldn’t be proper to ask for more food, so she had to bear the hunger and lie down.
Peony ca to tuck her in, and Anning said, "I’ve slept all afternoon, and I can’t sleep now, co over and talk to ."
Peony smiled and took a seat on a stool, Chuntao went out briefly, and when she ca back, Moli also ca in with her.
Moli touched Anning’s forehead: "Thank goodness, Miss is finally not feverish anymore."
Chuntao smiled as well: "These past few days, Miss was fine during the day, but would get feverish at night, scaring us to death. And we didn’t dare to tell Madam, for fear of angering her."
Anning slightly narrowed her eyes, concealing the emotions within: "Have there been any matters at ho... during these days I have been sick?"
Moli tentatively asked: "Is Miss perhaps asking about the Eldest Son of the Cui Family?"
A flash of sadness crossed Anning’s eyes: "Why should I inquire about him? Now that the engagent has been called off, he has nothing to do with . I just thought that, with being sick these past days, uncle and aunt must have been anxious and upset."
Peony snorted coldly: "The master certainly was anxious, as for Madam, it’s hard to say. Madam is now busy arranging a marriage for Second Miss. Only Aunt had soone stop by, speaking so insincere pleasantries."
Moli looked at Peony and quickly tried to stop her: "Don’t talk nonsense, are these words for you to say?"
Peony turned her head away, her face showing so resentnt.
Anning could tell that Peony was straightforward and spoke her mind, presumably loyal to Anning’s original self.
"I know my sister is concerned about and afraid that I would not be able to take it, but having been sick to the point of almost losing my life, what is there left to fret about? Sister, please say whatever you have to say."
Anning spoke softly, the candlelight flickering across her face, casting shadows that made her look even smaller, her eyes slightly red, presenting a picture of pitiable loveliness.
Moli looked at her with a pang of sympathy.
She sighed a few tis and said, "These words are not ours to say. But seeing the young lady like this, we have gathered the courage to speak. Recently, the Cuis called off the engagent, and the Aunt sent soone over to return the engagent tokens and to retrieve those given by the Cuis. Afterwards, the Aunt and Madam were discussing, and it seems they plan to marry the Second Miss to the Cui family. But Mr. Cui did not agree; he seed to disdain both you and the Second Miss for your lack of literacy. It’s been said that Mr. Cui is dead set on marrying a girl from a family of scholars and that it seems he already has an arrangent with the Guan family."
Anning imdiately latched onto the key point: "What is the Aunt’s intention?"
Moli said, "The Aunt sent soone to persuade the young lady to let go of these thoughts, also ntioning that this is a matter of fate."
"Xiao family..."
Anning tried to ask another question.
Moli’s expression turned even more pained: "Of course, the Xiao family is willing. Their family is already in decline. If it weren’t for saving Miss this ti, even with the virtues of eight generations, he could not have hoped to be connected with you. Now that there is an opportunity to be related to soone like Miss, he is beyond thrilled. With our family’s foundation and status, and with the young lady’s grace and beauty, which family wouldn’t be suitable for marriage? Even the Cuis, because of the childhood engagent, would not dare to aspire to such a connection otherwise. It’s said that Miss could even beco the Empress if she wished."
Peony also said, "Miss, you are much prettier than the eldest Miss of the Cui family. If you were to enter the palace, what need would there be for the eldest Miss of the Cui family..."
She trailed off into mumbles, but Anning understood.
"Let’s not talk about this anymore."
Anning forced a smile: "Given the way things are, there’s nothing I can do. I can only wait to recover from my illness and discuss the marriage with the Xiao family. Right now, all I hope for is that Young Master Xiao is a decent person. I dare not ask for anything else."
Eldest branch of the Cui Family
Cui Yiran paced back and forth in the room.
A servant stood by his side, waiting.
Cui Yiran looked back and asked, "What’s going on with the Ji Family? Has the engagent between Miss Ji and the Xiao Family been settled?"
The servant bowed his head and replied, "Master, Miss Ji is still too ill to get up. Young Master Xiao has visited many tis, but Mr. Ji said that all matters will have to wait until Miss Ji has recovered."
Cui Yiran smirked, "They won’t be able to wait long. By now, everyone in the Capital knows that Miss Ji was saved by Young Master Xiao. Our family also called off the engagent because of this. Whether she likes it or not, she won’t have a choice but to marry into the Xiao Family."
Cui Yiran laughed smugly: "Second Mrs. thought she could use the engagent as leverage against . Unfortunately, she misjudged. I am not soone she can manipulate as she pleases. Our Cui family has already brought in a woman from the Ji Family; we can’t marry another. If Miss Ji were to enter our house, it would be uncertain whether this residence would be nad Cui or Ji in the future."
He waved his hand: "Keep an eye on the Ji family. Also, send so Silver Coin to Young Master Xiao so that he can proceed smoothly with the engagent, lest he is too poor to afford a bride."
The servant respectfully exited.
Cui Yiran clasped his hands together, feeling extrely exhilarated.
He finally got rid of the marriage arrangent with the Ji family, feeling as though a great weight had been lifted.
That Miss Ji was not an easy person to deal with—a woman who was arrogant and reckless. Despite not recognizing a single character, she was capable of causing all sorts of trouble.
If Miss Ji really beca his wife, he would face endless troubles in the future.
Moreover, Miss Ji was naturally close to Second Mrs. Ji of the second branch. If she entered the family, she would surely join forces with Second Mrs. Ji to stir up trouble, and eventually the eldest branch would end in ruin because of these two won.
Thinking of the scenarios described in the books, Cui Yiran felt that simply causing Miss Ji to fall into the water was letting her off too easy; she deserved to be outright eliminated.
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