PROOFREAD BY AFREANA

Chapter 29.2

After a moment of silence, she heard Mrs. Tan say. ”Hmm, it’s also a way to save face for Master Qian so we can discuss things later.” Not to mention her husband’s family, even her mother’s family in Fu’an County had to rely on Qian Pei.

An Ruoxi closed her eyes, felt her brain buzzing, and could not hear anything anymore. She turned her head and left.

She was in a trance and ignored her maid Mei Xiang, who was waiting for her outside in the courtyard. She just walked forward sullenly.

After a few steps, An Ruoxi turned around and stared at the old woman cowering in the corner of the courtyard wall. She was An Ruochen’s old nanny. She felt she saw someone from the corner of her eye, and it turned out that there really was someone.

The old nanny failed to hide and hurriedly went forward. She saluted and asked: “Second Miss, I heard the Master has returned. I wanted to inquire how my eldest girl is doing. What is her condition?”

An Ruoxi’s stomach was full of anger. When she saw An Ruochen’s person, she was even more furious and cursed loudly, “How is she? She’s fine! That bitch is the only one in the world who is well, but she ruined everyone else!”

An Ruoxi became furious as she spoke and wanted to slap the old nanny several times.

The old nanny saw her fierce expression and took a few steps back.

An Ruoxi clenched her fist and held back. She ignored the old nanny and brushed her sleeves away.

She remained secluded for two days, lying in bed, saying she was not feeling well. When Mrs. Tan came to visit, An Ruoxi hugged her and acted petulant. Mrs. Tan laughed at her pettiness and asked someone to invite a doctor over. The doctor took her pulse and saw nothing serious. He said her qi and blood were deficient and prescribed some medicine to replenish them.

Mrs. Tan hugged her daughter and laughed: “When you were a child, you couldn’t do housework well, so you became anxious. When you heard the teacher praise your third sister’s skillfulness, you stayed in bed like this, shouting about your headache. Mother knows you will get sick when you are worried about something in your heart. Silly child, Mother is here. There is no need to panic. Are you worried that your eldest sister will give you a hard time when you go to see her? You are a big girl now, you have a home, family, and mother, but she does not. She is off the family registry. How can she compare to you? Think of it this way. If you tolerate the anger for a while, you will have a good life in the future. Don’t panic. Just meet her and see how she is. If she speaks badly, you can just ignore her. I will take care of her later. Don’t aggravate yourself.”

An Ruoxi nestled in her mother’s arms and asked quietly, “Mother, you will protect me and won’t let others bully me, right?”

“Of course, you are my daughter.” Mrs. Tan stroked her hair, “Take care of your health and cheer up quickly. Your father has invited General Zong over, and he will come the day after tomorrow. You should ask him more about An Ruochen’s condition, say that you are very concerned about her and want to see her. Your father will then ask General Zong to help arrange it. Do you understand?”

“I understand.” An Ruoxi closed her eyes and answered softly.

Zong Zeqing came. An Zhifu hosted him attentively, setting up an excellent feast, and inviting musicians and singers to play music and sing songs. Mrs. Tan, An Ronggui, and An Ruoxi were all at the table as companions.

An Zhifu asked Zong Zeqing about An Ruochen’s condition at the Purple Cloud House. He asked the General about his previous attitude, saying he had been strict with his eldest daughter. After his fourth daughter disappeared, he punished An Ruochen severely. And now he was afraid she would hold a grudge and speak something inappropriate in front of the General or the Lord Governor.

Zong Zeqing assured them there is no need to worry. There is nothing serious, the Lord Governor and the General only ask Miss An about the case. Moreover, Miss An is an important witness and Zong Zeqing expressed concern that someone would kill her if she didn’t go to the Purple Cloud House, dragging down the whole An House. Now, she recuperates in the Purple Cloud House and suffers from being examined day after day but doesn’t speak about her family.

It sounded like An Ruochen was not doing very well. Mrs. Tan’s heart was slightly relieved. She glanced at her daughter. Then, An Ruoxi asked about An Ruochen’s trivial matters in the Purple Cloud House. She said her sister left in a hurry and had not taken her clothes with her. An Ruoxi was afraid she was not used to living outside and showed concern. She wanted to visit her and send her some clothes.

Mrs. Tan helped out by saying the sisters in the family always had good feelings towards each other. Now that the fourth girl was missing, and the eldest girl had left home, An Ruoxi became so worried that she fell ill. They intend to visit An Ruochen but are unsure if they can actually meet with her. The Purple Cloud House is not some place ordinary people could enter as they please. Mrs. Tan finished by saying they hope General Zong will help.

Zong Zeqing agreed smoothly.

Back in the Purple Cloud House, An Ruochen listened to Zong Zeqing and commented, “My second sister is not sincere in missing me. Maybe she has some plans.”

Zong Zeqing naturally understood this. “Then what are your plans?”

Plans? An Ruochen thought it would be good to go along with the flow and meet the second sister. Lu Daniang said her nanny did not wish to leave and wanted to stay in the An House to obtain information for her. If she could have a way to find things out for herself, her nanny could leave without worrying. Behind the second sister are Father and Mrs. Tan. The second sister’s mind was easy to guess, and according to her understanding of her, An Ruochen thought she could still hold her in her palm.

An Ruochen replied, ”I have to ask the General’s opinion ……”

Zong Zeqing readily agreed: ”Suit yourself. If you want to meet her, you can meet.”

“She means to ask me what I want.” A voice suddenly emerged from outside the window.

Zong Zeqing turned his head and looked over. The one standing outside the window was the Lord “General.”

Zong Zeqing crumpled his face and looked at An Ruochen. The “General” is not “this General”?

An Ruochen giggled at him. She indeed had left out the second part of the sentence: ‘When the General returns.’ But at this point, she couldn’t afford to disgrace Zong Zeqing’s face. It doesn’t matter which General she asks.

She smiled, and Zong Zeqing smiled back at Big Long. See? Miss An was indeed asking him. He was not wrong.