Chapter 343: Chapter 343
While the two sisters were catching up, a familiar young eunuch's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"This servant pays respects to Consort Chen! May Your Highness be auspicious! Knowing that Madam Wei arrived this morning, His Majesty specially bestowed a meal. His Majesty also specifically instructed that he still has official duties to attend to and will come later, so Your Highness need not wait for him..."
It had to be said that although he was suspicious and petty-minded, at certain times he could still be somewhat considerate.
On the soft couch, An Ning nodded at the newcomer as if it were routine, indicating she understood.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the young eunuch left with a beaming smile, followed by a stream of palace servants filing in. Before long, the space before the two women was filled with all kinds of delicacies.
After everyone had withdrawn, An Ning quickly smiled and pulled her sister to the table, very naturally picking up a piece of braised mutton for her:
"I remember you used to love this the most."
"You remember that quite clearly. I wonder who it was that, as a child during every festival, would cling around the kitchen like a little greedy cat."
Though she said this, looking at her younger sister before her, Wei Yun couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in her eyes.
With no mother to manage things and their father being incompetent, the family's affairs fell into complete chaos, and their situation suddenly became difficult.
Later, when she finally took over, things improved somewhat, but within a few years, their unlucky father had to go and cause trouble.
And now she was trapped in a place ...
"Elder Sister, what's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Eldest Sister Wei shook her head sharply, suppressing the fleeting bitterness in her eyes, and quickly picked up her chopsticks:
"Honestly, the culinary skills in the palace really are different."
Well, at least her younger sister wasn't suffering much in this aspect. Her gaze swept over the obviously expensive clothing and accessories on the other, and that stunningly beautiful face that even she, as a woman, found utterly captivating.
Since learning that her younger sister had entered the imperial harem, the stifling resentment in Wei Yun's heart had dissipated.
She knew deep down that even if she had managed to leave the palace back then, her younger sister's outcome might not have been any better than it was now.
What good was peerless beauty without other value? If she had truly married into the household of some low-ranking official, whether she could even be protected was another matter entirely.
The lower the social status, the more desperately they schemed to climb higher—they would only grow to despise a wife who offered no support or connections...
In such situations, beauty instead wasn't all that important.
No one understood this better than Eldest Sister Wei, who had lived through it herself.
Recalling the past, something flickered in Wei Yun's eyes but quickly vanished without a trace.
An Ning pretended not to notice, continuing to chat casually as if nothing was wrong, though she couldn't help sighing inwardly.
The relationship between these two sisters was truly good.
In her previous life, this sister of the original host probably regretted most not finding a way to get her younger sister out of the palace sooner!
After lunch filled with laughter and conversation, An Ning then brought her to the bedchamber and took out several jeweled headdress sets she had specially prepared for the two of them, along with some medicinal ingredients for nourishing the body.
"This is specially from her aunt to her little niece—sister, you're not allowed to refuse on Baozhu's behalf."
Pushing the sandalwood box into the other's hands, An Ning adopted a rarely seen willful tone.
Baozhu was Eldest Sister Wei's daughter, just seven or eight years old this year.
It was said that the name Lu Baozhu was personally chosen by Eldest Sister Wei. Everyone said that daughters of Banner families were the most honored, but back when the Wei family first encountered trouble, that family couldn't even be bothered to put thought into the name of their legitimate eldest daughter.
This showed just how cold and indifferent they were.
Knowing that her sister wasn't lacking in these things, Eldest Sister Wei didn't refuse. She only advised her not to be too extravagant and to save more private funds while times were good.
"You don't need to worry about me either. Before, it was because your brother-in-law was useless—a minor official with no capable people in the family. But now, because of you, those people in the Lu family don't dare say anything."
Adopting an heir? Bullshit!
She had her own daughter—why would she adopt an outsider?
Patting her younger sister's hand lightly, Eldest Sister Wei raised her eyebrows confidently:
"In a while, I'll acquire another estate, and the family's shops can be properly utilized too. Don't worry, your sister and your niece won't be living poorly."
"Of course! Who do you think you are, sister!"
Curled up on the couch, An Ning instinctively covered her mouth with a light laugh, not doubting a word of what the other said.
After all, even when her eldest sister's husband had been like that before, this one had still managed to support the family business—and in the capital swarming with nobility and influential people at that. That spoke volumes about her capability.
Now with backing and without those unnecessary expenses for greasing palms, life could only get better.
The only thing—while holding hands earlier, An Ning had deliberately and casually touched the other's wrist.
According to her pulse condition, the other's health seemed quite good, and she usually took care of herself well. So in her previous life, her early death—was it an accident, or something else?
Unfortunately, the original host had been stuck in the palace in her previous life, and this Eldest Sister Wei was the type who usually only reported good news to avoid worrying her younger sister.
Unable to do much, An Ning could only repeatedly emphasize that if anything happened, she must find a way to notify her, and not be afraid of causing trouble.
"Elder Sister, you need to know... you're the only family I have left..."
"At most, plus Baozhu!"
Seeing her younger sister , Eldest Sister Wei naturally agreed to everything.
By the time the imperial carriage arrived, it was already quite late. According to regulations, external relatives could not overstay their welcome in the palace, and it was time for Wei Yun to leave...
"Your two sisters are quite similar!"
Although it was just one meeting, from her behavior and demeanor, combined with previously obtained information, it was enough for a shrewd judge of character like Kangxi to grasp about eighty to ninety percent of her nature.
No wonder she dared to plan stealing someone from the palace!
Just as audacious as a certain someone!
His gaze lingered for a moment on the noticeably red-rimmed eyes and somewhat dispirited expression of the person in his arms. Kangxi only snorted, ultimately not saying much more.
An Ning knew that his comment about them being similar definitely didn't refer solely to their appearances.
After all, in terms of looks alone, they were only about thirty percent similar—far from being exceptionally alike.
Not bothering to guess what he meant by that, An Ning just lazily nodded.
Seeing her , the newcomer was momentarily speechless.
This habitual attitude of burning bridges immediately after crossing them—recalling everything that happened yesterday—Kangxi was unusually amused with anger for a moment. He was about to say something but paused when he felt distinct dampness against his shoulder.
In the end, he only took a silent sip of clear tea:
"By the way, I heard you also have an elder brother? How come after all this time, I haven't heard you mention him, A-Ning?"
As if she had heard something extremely ridiculous, An Ning instinctively looked up:
"Your Majesty, are you referring to that so-called 'dear elder brother' who stood by watching his own younger sister suffer in the palace for nearly over ten years, not even trying to help or support her, without so much as sending a single letter?"