Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

“I, I…”

Gan Miaoruo dodged Liu Sisi’s gaze and suddenly sat back down in the chair, unable to regain her composure for a long time.

After sorting out her thoughts, she spoke in a low, soft voice.

“Actually, the rumor that I went back to my hometown to recover from illness is completely false. The truth is, I couldn’t stand my Second Sister, whom my dad dotes on, showing off in front of me and scolded her. But I didn’t even touch her, and she fell into the lotus pond by herself. Her concubine mother went to my dad and cried that I pushed her into the pond. My dad didn’t care about right or wrong and directly punished me to copy scriptures in the Ancestral Hall. I naturally didn’t want to and started arguing with my dad…”

“Hmph! You didn’t use your brain when in that position and got framed by others. Can’t blame anyone but yourself! I think the punishment from your dad to copy scriptures in Ancestral Hall is too light!”

Liu Sisi directly added fuel to the fire.

“You!… I can’t believe you would say that too!”

Gan Miaoruo’s eyes began to redden.

“Did I scold you wrongly? She is merely your concubine’s sister. As a Lineal Elder Sister, if your sister does something wrong, you should punish her directly, give her 10 planks first, then make her reflect in the courtyard with the door closed. If any servant dares to resist secretly, just grab them, give them 20 hits of boards and sell them off. I want to see which concubine’s sister dares to show off in front of you!”

Liu Sisi said with disappointment, “But instead, you let a concubine’s sister frame you and use such a trivial matter to trouble your dad. If it were me, I would definitely beat you with five planks and starve you for a few days to see if you learn your lesson!”

Isn’t this the punishment my dad first decided on?

“You, bastard! I hate you, I despise you!”

Gan Miaoruo suddenly started crying, covering her face while sobbing and arguing, “What do you know, she caught the seventh prince’s favor and plans to marry her as a Secondary Concubine when she comes of age…”

“There are only a few types of prominent marriages. Either this woman is genuinely loved by him, or the woman he wants to marry can benefit his career.”

Liu Sisi took a few steps forward, “The other party is the Seventh Prince, and the woman he wants to marry is an underage concubine’s daughter. Logically speaking, the most reasonable person for him to marry would be you, right? Hehe, I’m afraid this is nothing more than a scheme for their mutual interests.”

“It’s not like that! He already has a Principal Princess Consort, and my dad wouldn’t let me marry him as a Secondary Concubine. So…” Gan Miaoruo wiped her tears and retorted.

“So you see, your dad is the one that loves you the most and doesn’t want you to marry as a Secondary Concubine and suffer, isn’t he?”

Liu Sisi softened her tone, “Speaking of which, who was the one who always wanted to marry Brother Nan?”

“He won’t have me…”

With those words, both of them fell silent, tears streaming down their faces.

Liu Sisi didn’t comfort her, just sat quietly beside her. After a while, she wiped her tears and whispered.

“You’re really annoying. You don’t coax me or go along with me like they do, but I feel closer to you, which is strange.”

Liu Sisi’s mouth twitched, feeling like she had nothing to say.

Gan Miaoruo wiped her tears and said, “After the New Year, probably on Lunar February 2nd, I will have to leave with my dad to enter the capital. I heard that this time the palace plans to choose a few age-appropriate studying companions for the two princesses, and the candidates will be selected among the ministers’ daughters. My dad’s idea is for me to try my best and secure a spot. Even if I fail this time, I’m afraid I’ll stay in the capital to find a husband and won’t have a chance to return to Liuping Town.”

She didn’t finish her words, but sobbed and cried.

“Silly girl, this is a happy event! When a girl grows up, doesn’t this day always come?”

She’s still just a little girl, and yet she has to face such hardship! Liu Sisi sighed silently, holding her gently and patting her back, “When you settle down in the capital city, remember to send me a letter to let me know you’re safe.”

“Yes, I… I will…”

Gan Miaoruo nodded heavily in her arms, crying uncontrollably. Only the fiery red lantern emitted a flickering red light.

It wasn’t until an hour later that Gan Miaoruo finally calmed down. The two returned to the front hall hand in hand, where most of the guests had already left. Seeing the pair return, there was another round of farewells. Seeing that it was getting late, Liu Sisi decided to say her goodbyes as well.”

Gan Miaoruo insisted on sending her to the doorway.

Her personal maid brought a large package of items and handed them to Liu Sisi, “These are all the things I’ve prepared for you, and they represent my heartfelt wishes. Please keep them.”

“How coincidental, I have something to give you as well.”

Liu Sisi smiled and took out a piece of patterned paper from her bosom and handed it to Gan Miaoruo. Written on the paper was Li Qingzhao’s “To the Tune ‘As If In a Dream’: Often Remembered Pavilion,” which Liu Sisi had prepared on a whim before coming here. Unexpectedly, it turned into a parting gift.

Gan Miaoruo took it and held on tightly to Liu Sisi’s hand, unable to keep herself from crying again, causing Liu Sisi’s tears to fall as well.

“Don’t cry! Silly girl, if we’re meant to be, we will definitely meet again in a foreign land. Trust me!”

As Liu Sisi spoke, she squeezed Gan Miaoruo’s hand before saying goodbye tearfully.

It wasn’t until Liu Sisi and Di Yelei mounted their jujube red horse and rode off into the distance that Gan Miaoruo finally turned back, looking lost and disoriented.

“What’s that in your hand?”

A voice came from the side, and Gan Miaoruo looked up to see her father, Gan Jiayou, staring at her with red eyes. She quickly lowered her head again.

“It’s patterned paper, a parting gift from my elder sister.”

A look of surprise flashed across Gan Jiayou’s eyes, and he reached out his hand, “Oh? It’s even patterned paper. Let me see!”

“But…”

Gan Miaoruo wanted to object, but in the end, she couldn’t resist her father’s authority and handed over the patterned paper.

He casually took the patterned paper, and the contents written on it immediately caught his eye: “Often remember the twilight by the stream pavilion, intoxicated with no knowledge of the way back. The fun ends as the boat returns late, drifting into the depth of the lotus flowers, struggling to cross the waters, startling a flock of egrets. Haha, I can’t believe that Sisi is actually a talented woman! I must have picked up a treasure.”

As he spoke, he stroked his short beard.

It seemed that Liu Sisi’s background was indeed problematic, and she might have a promising future after all!

“Dad, this patterned paper is a gift from Elder Sister… ”

Gan Miaoruo stretched out her hand, trying to take back the patterned paper from Gan Jiayou. However, he casually tucked it into his pocket.

“I’ll keep this for now and give it back to you later. It’s getting late, you’d better go back to your room and rest. From now on, you’re a grown-up, and you can’t be as immature as you used to be. Understand?” Gan Jiayou lectured sternly.

The light of hope in Gan Miaoruo’s eyes dimmed, “I know, Dad.”