Chapter 4

On the way, my brother held my hand, and my father looked at my mother, who didn't say anything.

After we got home, my mother looked back at me and said, "Let's go to the ancestral hall and kneel for a night." After that, she took my father's hand and left. My father turned around and winked at us, then followed us back to the courtyard.

"You were too impulsive tonight." My brother looked at me disapprovingly, "Why are you paying attention to that idiot Third Princess?"

I grumbled, still very angry, "Who told her to covet you?"

The elder brother smiled helplessly, "You, but with the Third Princess getting involved, the Crown Princess is definitely out of the question. Otherwise, it would be bad if word got out that two sisters were fighting over one person. This is a lucky coincidence. Let's go."

My brother walked forward, and I followed him, complaining, "You said that our ancestral hall only has my great-grandparents, and my mother still makes me kneel there every day. Isn't she afraid that my great-grandparents will love me and punish her in my dreams?"

My brother knocked on my head. Well, my head has become stronger after being knocked on it. "Nonsense."

My brother turned around and told Zhixia to prepare my bed on the floor.

Yes, I have a set of mats specially used for sleeping on the floor in the ancestral hall. It can be seen that I have been doing very well outside in recent years.

Everyone knows that Yu Anlan of Jing'an Marquis Mansion is a big brother fanatic. Anyone who says anything bad about her brother Yu Anran outside will be beaten.

This meant that whenever Lord Yu went to court, he would be subjected to constant sneers and cold stares from his fellow officials. Some of them were sharp-tongued, and I was certainly in the wrong, so Mother would be very upset and would always give me a lecture and spend the night at the ancestral temple when I got home.

Brother Anran has gradually changed from being anxious at the beginning to being accustomed to it now. After all, he has gained some experience.

My mother was just talking and never came in to check whether I was kneeling or lying down. After all, he was our ancestor, so she wouldn't care.

"Brother, you go back. I can go there by myself. Don't delay our beauty sleep." I said to my brother with a playful smile.

Brother Anran looks more and more like his previous life. The baby fat on his face has not faded yet, and he looks tender and chubby. He is very cute, and every frown and smile of his is really lovable.

My brother wanted to hit me on the head again, but I dodged him. Alas, I don’t know when I developed this bad habit.

My brother chuckled and walked away. Seeing that I was still there, he turned back and raised an eyebrow, "Go away, little fool."

Look, my brother still came with me to the ancestral hall. I guess he'll stay with me again tonight. He's always so considerate, quietly doing what he can.

In the ancestral hall, I half-recline, my head propped up by my hands, looking at my brother sitting upright on a futon, making a fan. I can't help but ask, "Brother, what are you thinking? Do you want to find a partner and get married? What are your plans for the future?"

My brother paused, took a deep breath, looked at me, and then lowered his head. "I haven't thought about it. It's not that I haven't thought about it, but I haven't decided yet. I... I don't know whether to believe it... um."

Yes, although my brother was approachable, he was always aloof and didn't have any close friends. The ones he had close relationships with were just close, but there was still a layer of distance between them, although others might not be able to detect it.

"Quite a coward, aren't you?" My brother smiled and said self-deprecatingly.

I didn't say anything and just kept looking at my brother. He was silent for a while and then said, "Actually, I've almost forgotten everything. If I never get married, wouldn't it be too outrageous? You have to support me forever." My brother joked with me.

I sat up, looked my brother in the eye, and told him solemnly, "Brother, I will always support you."

My brother didn't expect me to be so serious. He chuckled and said, "You're thinking too far ahead."

Maybe it's because I don't have much authority as an 11-year-old.

My brother's expression also became serious. "I will live my life seriously. Don't worry. It depends on fate. If I meet the right person, then I will get married. I have to experience the life of an ordinary person for once."

I thought about it and said, "Don't worry, brother. Just look around, talk to a few more people, and see if there's a suitable one. But when the time comes, you must tell me so I can investigate for you first. This way, we won't waste our energy if someone else is already at home. People here just mature too early."

My brother laughed out loud, "You want me to be famous all over the country, and talk to more people."

I was serious. "Really, brother, don't laugh. If we don't talk much, who knows what kind of person he is? Besides, family is also very important. Look at the conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law before. No, brother, let's recruit some."

The more I thought about it, the more excited I became. "Hey, this is a good idea. Let's pick a good one and recruit him into our family. Then we'll have the upper hand." I looked at my brother with shining eyes, thinking that this was a really great idea.

In the end, my brother and I only got hit on the head a few times.

But then I thought a lot, I was still too insignificant, I was just riding on my mother's influence, what could I do when my brother got older? Refusing the emperor's aunt's marriage proposal was just a small step, there was no telling how much more was to come.

I asked my brother if he minded being talked about. He rolled his eyes at me and said, "Have you forgotten what circle I'm in?"

Actually, my brother seems to be quite open and honest. It's me who can't let it go and dares not bring it up. That's good. My brother also reminded me not to overdo it. I understand what he means. After all, this was an era when imperial power was supreme.

The next day, the rumor that he could only marry one person spread outside, but it was still spread within a very small circle. After all, few people dared to spread royal secrets. It was only a few powerful families who were talking in private. I suspect it was the fool Third Princess who said it. I guess she is quite proud.

Before the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, I saw my brother wearing a white cross-collar shirt, a three-pleated skirt with blue and white inlays, and a light blue silk blouse. His hair was all tied up in the front, but he only inserted a few white jade and gold hairpins.

I was stunned for a moment, and my brother was so angry that he pinched me secretly, "Wipe your saliva. You are so young."

Hearing this, I wiped my mouth in a daze, and made my brother so angry that he fell backwards.

I could only protest quietly, "Who told my brother to always wear a simple bun? It's such a waste of his good looks." My brother glared at me, earning a laugh from my father, "Ranran is just too plain."

In fact, some men's clothing nowadays is much simpler and plainer than before. I think it must be because of my brother.

After all, the stores selling related decorative clothing in our mansion are still the trendsetters. Of course, there are definitely some gorgeous ones, as everyone has different preferences.

Besides, the current dynasty had no restrictions on clothing colors except bright yellow. Of course, I didn't ask in detail.

My father looked at my brother and frowned, "It's still a bit plain. Why don't you wear the red smock I prepared for you?" My brother couldn't help but look at me and pursed his lips, "Well, the housekeeper won't let me."

Yes, I just can't stand seeing my brother wearing white inside and red outside. My brother also knows that I always have some quirks brought from the previous life. Although he doesn't know why, it's nothing more than a matter after death, so he never asked.

My brother always looks forward, living in the sunshine. I crawled alone in the dark for a while, and was never judged.

My father glared at me and said, "You have all these weird habits." Well, everyone knows about my occasional quirks. There's nothing I can do about it. I've seen it so many times that I feel like I have PTSD. But after all, my brother still spoils me.

My mother waited by the car for a long time and couldn't help but turn around and call out to us, "Why haven't you come yet?"

"I'm coming," my father said as he walked away. My father was not the kind of weak and frail man that Daxing had. On the contrary, he was tall and androgynous. Our family had a similar aesthetic.

Arriving at the palace, everyone followed their servants to the banquet. The emperor was always the last to appear. It was still early, and everyone was still chatting among themselves. The women and men were clearly separated: the women discussed business, while the men discussed children. Those who could attend were all from prominent families, and they all brought their legitimate daughters and sons. This was considered an informal matchmaking party.

My brother is fifteen years old, which is considered to be the age for dating. Although he is a little taller than his peers, he is handsome and talented, and is also a top figure.

It was the uncle from the Marquis of Anguo Mansion who first brought up the topic: "Ranran is of age now, is there anyone you can look for?"

My father pursed his lips and said, "No rush. We want to keep him for a few more years." Listen, it makes sense for the in-laws not to ask in advance. They must be using this to keep the other families quiet. Adults everywhere are so boring.

I gave my brother a look and slunk away. It was worth all the time I'd squeezed out over the years to maintain relationships with the outside world. I did have some pretty cool friends, and watching the kids play was pretty fun.

Li Yao from General Li's mansion tugged at my sleeve and whispered, "I heard your brother wants to marry only him when he's looking for a wife."

I pulled back my sleeves and said proudly, "Yes, this is what my family requires of a sister-in-law."

There was a sound of gasps all around. "You bunch of scoundrels, just give up as soon as possible, or don't blame me for disregarding our sisterhood," I snorted.

My bold remarks caused a round of punches and kicks, but it was just a joke, and no one could lose their manners in front of the emperor.

Qiu Fei secretly tugged at my sleeve, and I found a gap and slipped out of the crowd and went to the side.

Back to the point, when Qiu Fei and I had moved away from the crowd, Qiu Fei whispered to me, "Are you rejecting the marriage proposal? Will anything be okay?"

Smart people are smart people. I am very proud, "Don't worry, it's solved."

Qiu Fei nodded, "That's good. If it really doesn't work, I can sacrifice my sister."

I rolled my eyes, "Thank you so much!"

Having achieved the purpose of my trip, I wanted to return to my seat to accompany my brother. At this moment, the Crown Princess, the Third Princess, and the others arrived, and everyone bowed. The Crown Princess went to talk to the Prime Minister and the others. I watched as the Third Princess' eyes lit up when she saw my brother and walked over.

When I arrived, I almost punched the Third Princess when she said, "An Ran, have you thought about it since you went back? What do you think of me? I'll ask the Queen Mother to arrange a marriage for us." This fool, in public, thankfully kept his voice low.

My brother stopped me in time, looked at the Third Princess and said seriously, "Sister Chenxi, I don't plan to get married."

In one sentence, the Third Princess was stunned. The Third Princess basically stood still. I felt that it was inappropriate to do this in the crowd, so I hurriedly looked for the Princess, "Sister Princess."

When being pulled away by the princess, the third princess was still muttering in a daze, "Why wouldn't I get married? How could I not get married..." Maybe she really couldn't understand.