Chapter 221: Chapter 221
While An Ning was still lost in her own thoughts, the group had already triumphantly returned to the main residence.
Leading the way, the head maid Linlang hurried forward with tea and snacks.
As the matriarch, Yu’s East Wing was naturally spacious beyond measure. Upon entering the bedroom, An Ning only glanced around briefly.
There was a red jade coral folding screen, a colorful butterfly seasonal flower kang screen, a zitan soft couch engraved with a Qingluan peony pattern, and on the small table stood several slender pink peony branches still dotted with water droplets...
This was exactly the same style as the original body’s siblings—bright, fresh, and exquisite to the extreme.
Hmm, it had to be said, the genetic inheritance was quite stable indeed!
On the soft couch, while the two sisters silently ate their snacks, behind the folding screen, Yu’s excited voice could be heard without restraint.
Soon after, two zitan wood and agate square boxes, each about half an adult forearm in length, were brought out.
Opening the boxes revealed complete sets of headwear and jewelry. One set was more lavish and bright with rubies, the other a bit more simple and elegant with amethyst beads...
“I knew you were the best, Mother!”
Holding a pair of red jade earrings in one hand, An Ning stepped forward and softly hugged her mother’s arm, her already moist eyes sparkling even brighter:
Ah, a child with a mother truly is a treasure!
“As long as our good girl likes them, that’s all that matters!”
Being hugged by her soft and precious daughter, Yu couldn’t help but feel even prouder; her naturally bright and charming face now shone with extra brilliance, lighting up the entire room.
“By the way, a few days ago Lady Yan from the Treasure Pavilion came by, saying there will be a new set arriving soon, crafted by Master Ru Yu himself. After some time, the two of us can...”
“Great, Mother, I also want to make a hairband with amber silk material, and it’d be best if it has some pearl beads added...”
“What’s wrong, A Wan? Are you feeling unwell?” Seeing her eldest daughter remain silent, Yu quickly put down what she was holding and asked with concern.
But the next moment, the voice from inside responded:
“Mother, did you ask Father for something again?”
The cheerful atmosphere in the inner chamber instantly vanished. Clutching her mother’s hand tightly, An Ning was the first to pout unhappily:
“Big sister, what are you saying? What’s wrong with Father’s money? Are we not allowed to spend Father’s money?”
“Besides, if Grandmother didn’t meddle in the housekeeper’s authority every day and control everything, Mother wouldn’t need to take Father’s private money.”
“That’s right!” Afraid these two who never got along would start quarreling again, Yu hurriedly intervened:
“Your sister is right. Your father is a grown man; he neither cares for vanity nor fusses over cosmetics. His clothes and jewelry come from public funds and are rarely used...”
Pouting, Yang Wan put down the wooden box in her hand. Looking at her unrepentant mother and sister before her, a solemn expression had already appeared on her face.
At that moment, she vaguely resembled the elderly Lady Yang from earlier.
Yu pursed her lips, and the joy she once had disappeared without a trace.
Meanwhile, Yang Wan continued earnestly:
“Father is a government official who works hard every day. Besides all kinds of social engagements and etiquette, he needs to manage countless affairs. As the matriarch, Mother should be more understanding...”
“Not like now, where your constant behavior causes Grandmother to worry all the time...”
“If Grandmother finds out about this...”
“Like you think Mother doesn’t buy things, and Grandmother would just rest easy!” An Ning couldn’t help but retort, snorting lightly as the red jade tassel earrings jingled at her ears.
“Don’t think I don’t know. That day when we paid respects, I overheard Grandmother telling Zhang Ma that once Big Sister delivers this child, whether it’s a boy or girl, the housekeeper’s authority will be fully handed to Big Sister...”
“Third Sister! Grandmother does this for the sake of this family...”
Fixing her gaze on her eldest daughter, Yu finally spoke slowly after a long pause:
“If you don’t set of jewelry, it’s fine. In the future, just consider it a gift for the child in your Big Sister’s belly—your future little niece...”
Even so, Yu’s voice was very pleasant, like pearls dropping on jade, with a slight feminine tenderness unique to women.
Yang Wan’s face instinctively paled, her fingers tightening around the zitan wood box.
Under the sunlight, the purple gemstones in the box glittered dazzlingly. After a long moment, she timidly murmured:
“Mother, daughter didn’t mean it like that...”
“Mother, mother, don’t be angry. Look, your precious daughter looks especially beautiful today!”
“Wearing these red jade earrings makes her look even better!”
Fortunately, Yu was the kind of person who was broad-minded, quick to get angry, and quick to calm down. Under An Ning’s various clever and affectionate advances, she soon became happy again:
Gently stroking her precious daughter’s little face, Yu’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
“When has our girl ever not been beautiful!”
“But really, what have you been using these past few days, my treasure? You look even more radiant and spirited!”
Mentioning beauty, Yu forgot all about being upset and eagerly blinked, pulling her precious daughter to share her secret.
Mother and daughter chatted happily for a long while. Just before leaving, An Ning heard Yu speak softly:
“Our Ning Ning is growing up and starting to understand things. There are some things you don’t have to listen to your sister about. Let me tell you, no matter what, Father’s money—if we don’t use it, someone else will. There’s no need to feel sorry for him...”
For some reason, Yu’s tone grew unusually low as she gently stroked her daughter’s silk-like thick hair:
“Your Big Sister is virtuous and usually takes care of you younger sisters, but after all, she’ll have children of her own in the future. Naturally, you younger sisters will fall a level below. Even though your brother... the housekeeper’s authority, I had originally hoped...”
She had hoped at least until the day when her two daughters were married off!
Holding the waist of the person before her lightly, An Ning silently added this thought in her heart. That’s why she spared no effort preparing things for her two daughters.
Just person, Yu’s embrace was fragrant and soft. No matter how disdainful or foolish she might be, when it came to her two daughters, her heart had a clarity that “clever people” could not match...
Unfortunately, this painstaking care could only be understood by the ignorant and naive, while the so-called clever people only became more disdainful.
The mother and daughter talked for a while longer. By the time An Ning returned to her room, it was already evening.
At night, after all the maids had left, An Ning slowly took out dozens of high-quality spirit stones she had prepared earlier from her space, arranging them into the shape of a spirit gathering formation...
However, an hour later, as the faint green spiritual light that was hard to detect with the naked eye slowly faded, An Ning barely sensed the slightest trace of energy on the bed.
Fine, she casually put away all the spirit stones.
In such an ordinary world where spiritual energy was almost nonexistent, this was not so surprising after all!
At least it was a little better than she had originally thought...