"Actually, the Shizi is quite a good person. He even fetched a physician for you in the middle of the night," Bao Chan chattered on. "I was truly frightened at the time. Your face was burning like fire, and your body was terribly hot. I was so worried that I went to Qiushui Garden, never expecting to run into the Shizi who had just come out."
"Just don't let it happen again," Xue Ning said. "In the future, even if I'm dying of illness, you must not beg the Shizi for help. Do you understand?"
Biting her lip, Bao Chan replied, "But your health is most important—"
Xue Ning raised her eyes and smiled faintly. "No matter how important, one must still have dignity. As he said, I'm now of age. After the new year, it will be time to discuss marriage. How can I remain so close to him, a brother with no blood relation?"
Bao Chan nodded, not fully understanding. "I understand."
Xue Ning seriously drank the bitter medicine, bathed, and then lay back down in bed.
Her body ached, and her head, chilled by the cold wind, throbbed painfully.
Unable to sleep, she simply stared at her flat abdomen for a long time without speaking.
No matter what, it was that child's fortune not to have come into this world.
Otherwise, with a father who didn't care and a mother without ability,
his life wouldn't have been much better.
He would have just come to suffer for nothing.
Only after thinking this through did she drift into a hazy sleep.
…
After falling ill, Xue Ning remained quietly in Qiyun Pavilion for a few more days.
Only when her health improved slightly did she resume her morning and evening visits to Wanshou Hall.
She was clever and dexterous, fond of delving into culinary arts, and skilled at making pastries.
Each time she went to Wanshou Hall, she brought a box of pastries she had made herself.
Xie Laofuren noticed her efforts to please and kept them in mind.
Gradually, she no longer treated Xue Ning with a cold face and showed a bit more patience toward her in daily life.
However, after that incident, Xue Ning never dared to rashly request to copy scriptures for the old lady again. Each time, she would carefully inquire first and only go to the Buddhist hall on her own initiative after confirming that Su Zhan was not there.
For every visit, she was the first to arrive and the last to leave.
Aside from joking with Su Man, she did not grow close to the other young ladies in the residence.
Moreover, she no longer clung to Su Zhan as she had before.
Several times, she avoided Su Zhan and left last.
The old lady pitied her for being sensible and discussed an auspicious date for her Acknowledgment Banquet with Madam Jiang.
Not too early, not too late—it was set for the end of October, saying they would wait for the Lu Family to return to the capital to witness it together.
Once she was acknowledged, she would be a young lady of the Xuanyi Marquis Mansion.
The following year, Madam Jiang would begin looking for a suitable match for her, and in the future, she would marry under the name of the Marquis's residence.
Xue Ning thanked the old lady for her kindness and then took pastries to Qiushui Garden.
Madam Jiang's health was not very good either; every winter, she often suffered from headaches.
Liu Shi from the second branch and Madam Dong from the third branch were both gathered in Madam Jiang's courtyard today, discussing the details of the Acknowledgment Banquet.
Princess Xiuning was also there, nestled beside Madam Jiang, saying something that made Madam Jiang laugh heartily.
Xue Ning stood at the doorway for a moment, then entered the room with lowered eyes, taking off her cloak and having someone hang it on the rack.
"Oh, Miss Xue is here again. What a pity the Shizi isn't here right now," Liu Shi remarked upon seeing Xue Ning, her eyes shifting as she smiled. "Otherwise, he could have tasted the pastries you made yourself."
Everyone knew that Su Zhan disliked eating anything Xue Ning made.
Liu Shi was deliberately teasing her, with clear malice.
Su Zhan was extremely busy with official duties at the Ministry of Justice, especially during this winter month when cases piled up like mountains.
Xue Ning knew that a major case would occur in Dongjing by the end of the year. In his pursuit of the serial killer, Su Zhan nearly lost his life.
Afterward, he was preoccupied with investigating cases, repeatedly achieving great merits and steadily rising through the ranks at the Ministry of Justice.
Therefore, she deliberately chose a time when he was absent to visit.
Xue Ning instructed Bao Chan to place the osmanthus cakes on the tea table, paying little mind to Liu Shi's words. She politely greeted the two ladies with a curtsy, "Greetings, aunties."
Madam Dong was the most amiable, appearing utterly uncontentious. "Ningning has grown increasingly well-behaved and sensible. Look at her dignified bearing—truly like a biological daughter of sister-in-law."
Madam Jiang found this pleasing and smiled, gesturing for Xue Ning to sit beside her.
Xue Ning gently massaged her temples, and Madam Jiang closed her eyes, feeling considerably more comfortable.
"Ningning was raised by me after all, even more sensible than Man Man."
Madam Dong said with a cheerful smile, "Sister-in-law truly knows how to raise children. Not like my own, who still acts like a mischievous monkey."
"Mother, what are you saying? How am I mischievous?" Su Qing clung to Madam Dong's arm in protest, yet her eyes glanced triumphantly at Xue Ning, her expression full of disdain.
After all, Xue Ning was an orphan with neither father nor mother. What did it matter if she was pretty? Wasn't she just a motherless orphan?
Madam Jiang's smile deepened as she patted the back of Xue Ning's hand. "Good child, don't trouble yourself. Come, see the bracelet I've prepared for you."
Madam Jiang took out a jadeite bracelet from a box.
Its color was lustrous and translucent, with excellent clarity.
Xie Ningtang, seated beside Xue Ning, also admired the bracelet greatly.
"Madam, you have such a fine piece. How come I've never seen it before?"
Madam Jiang replied, "This was originally reserved for my daughter-in-law."
Xie Ningtang's expression changed, and she forced an awkward smile, remaining silent.
Xue Ning quickly interjected, "Mother, you should keep this bracelet for my future sister-in-law. A'ning can wear anything."
"A woman's jewelry should never be chosen carelessly, especially for you. Soon, you'll become my daughter, and from now on, you must wear beautiful pieces."
Madam Jiang lifted Xue Ning's wrist.
In truth, she had noticed long ago.
Previously, Ningning always wore a tarnished old silver bracelet on her wrist.
Man Man also had one like it.
It was a gift from Zhan'er to the younger sisters in the family during the New Year celebrations a few years back.
Man Man had changed bracelets one after another.
Yet, from then on, Ningning treated that silver bracelet as a treasure, wearing it day and night without ever taking it off for a moment.
Even when others mocked her for being too poor to afford a jade bracelet, she never uttered a single word in response.
Until that day after she fell into the water, the next day at Wanshou Hall, Madam Jiang noticed Ningning's wrist was bare.
She did not know the reason, but a bracelet worn day and night for years, unwilling to be removed, being taken off could only mean that this girl had truly let go.
She sincerely regarded Zhan'er as an elder brother, no longer clinging to unrealistic dreams.
But as her mother, how could she let this child suffer?
Gifting this jade bracelet to a daughter-in-law or a daughter was one and the same.
In her heart, she cherished Xue Ning even more.
Xue Ning was both surprised and deeply moved. Only after hearing Madam Jiang say it was a gift for her daughter did she agree to wear it.
"Ningning's skin is like congealed cream, and her wrist is so slender. It looks truly beautiful on her."
Su Qing and Xie Ningtang exchanged glances, neither uttering a word.
Liu Shi and Madam Dong chimed in, both saying the bracelet suited Xue Ning.
The room was bustling with activity when the curtain was lifted from outside.
A chill seeped in from beyond the curtain.
Just as Xue Ning was about to say something, she saw Su Zhan walk in through the door.