"Jia Jia, Yao Yao, come and meet your aunt." Earlier, the two little ones were so happy to see Qiao Feng that they pulled her up and ran away. They had met Duan Xinping when they were in the capital. When they heard Jian Ning calling, they bowed to Duan Xinping and said, "Hello, aunt."
After the two of them finished their crisp conversation, Sanniu asked again, "Where's my aunt? Why didn't she come?"
"If you miss my aunt, mother will call her over." After Jian Ning finished speaking, Qiao Feng was stunned for a moment, then pretended to brush her skirt and lowered her head.
Erniu and Sanniu jumped up hand in hand. Duan Xinyan treated them very well. She was also a child at heart, so she was quite popular with them. "Oh, that's great. Auntie is coming."
"Why, you two little ones don't like Auntie?" Duan Xinping leaned over and said with a smile, "Auntie brought you two a lot of delicious food and fun things. If you don't like Auntie, I won't give them to you. I'll keep them for myself."
"like."
"I prefer my aunt."
Erniu is always sweet-talking. When she heard that there were delicious food and fun things, she immediately expressed that she liked her more than Sanniu.
Two maids brought in the gifts Duan Xinping had bought for them. Duan Xinping asked them to follow the maids to divide the gifts, and then said, "There are also things that grandma and great-aunt brought you. It fills up a whole carriage."
"Sister Qiaofeng, come with us." Sanniu pulled Qiaofeng to their room.
"Are father, mother, and aunt all okay?" Jian Ning led Duan Xinping to the dining hall. Duan Xinping nodded, "Everything is fine. Mother is in much better health now. Aunt wanted to come with us, and father agreed, but mother wouldn't let us."
"Oh, why is that?"
Duan Xinping smiled and said, "Mother said that once Auntie comes, she will have to take care of the household chores. How can she have time to spend with her precious granddaughter? Mother loves Shu'er so much that she doesn't allow others to interfere in any matter, no matter how big or small."
The eldest girl looked most like Duan Xinning, so it was within Jian Ning's expectations that she would win her grandmother's favor. After sitting down, she asked Duan Xinyan, "Did Xinyan have a disagreement with Qiaofeng?"
Duan Xinping said, "I don't know if they had a disagreement. Yan'er has always been eccentric, but she's not a bad person. She just doesn't consider other people's feelings when she speaks or acts, and always follows her own will."
Jian Ning said, "I know she's not a bad person. Tell me in detail whether Qiaofeng and she had any quarrels or not."
"It wasn't a quarrel, but she pestered father to disguise herself as a man and go to the military camp, saying she couldn't stand the eldest brother of the Ma family and wanted to teach him a lesson. I think she's attracted to him and doesn't even know it! The other day she even went to the house my eldest sister bought to find Qiaofeng and said a lot of bad things about him. I think Qiaofeng saw something, and that must be why she followed me here."
"There are only men in the military camp. Why would father let her act so recklessly?" Jian Ning was a little puzzled. Normally, the King of Pingnan would not indulge her in doing whatever she wanted.
Although there was a precedent of Hua Mulan joining the army in ancient times, it was inconvenient for a woman who traveled from modern times to live and eat in a military camp where men gathered. She was a little puzzled as to why King Pingnan agreed.
Duan Xinping's eyes dimmed slightly. Jian Ning glanced at her sideways. "Is there another reason?" She looked at Jian Ning and nodded slightly. "My mother committed suicide in prison..."
I see.
Jian Ning had heard people mention before that people's hearts become softer as they get older, and it's easier for them to let go of many things. She probably thought that her adoptive father was moved by Min's death and that's why Duan Xinyan surrendered as soon as she made a fuss.
He spoiled her and let her do whatever she wanted, but she wouldn't tolerate it!
Jian Ning sent Duan Xinping away and called Qiao Feng over. "Feng'er, tell me honestly what you think about the matter between you and Xiaomai. There's nothing to hide. Master will definitely make the decision for you. No matter who she is, she can't try to bully my disciple."
"Master..." Qiao Feng's eyes welled up with tears. She was a strong-willed and sensible girl. Biting her lip, she said truthfully, "I won't hide it from you, Master, but I'm not sure of my feelings either. I don't know when it started, but I feel empty inside when I can't see him..."
"So you like him?"
Qiao Feng shook her head slightly. She was fourteen, a girl's first love, and regardless of whether she had a crush or not, she always had a template for the man she wanted to marry. She came from a humble background, so naturally, she liked the elegant and graceful type. So, she wasn't sure if she liked Ma Xiaomai, or if she just enjoyed the feeling of him liking her.
"I don't know if I like it or not."
"Silly girl, how can you not know whether you like someone or not? You worry about him every day, your heart feels like it's being eaten by thousands of insects when you can't see him, and you feel sad and angry when you see him laughing with the other woman. That's love."
At first, Jian Ning was also confused about whether she liked Ding Youtian or not. In fact, she was the same as Qiao Feng. It was just that the person they liked was not the type they had originally imagined. However, after getting along for a long time, the feelings were entangled in their hearts like a subtle moisturizing agent, but she was confused and did not notice it for a while.
"It took almost one and a half months to get from the capital to Danyang. Have you ever let go of him in your heart?" Jian Ning asked again.
"No." Qiao Feng's voice was as soft as a mosquito, but then she raised her eyes and looked at Jian Ning. "Master, I thought about it on the way here. Master also said before that what is yours will always be yours, and no one can take it away from you. I will study medicine with Master diligently. If he doesn't change his mind in the future, I will still care about him and miss him. Then I will ask Master to make the decision for me, okay?"
Jian Ning raised her wrist and stroked her black hair. This girl always made her love her from the bottom of her heart. In her past time and space, Qiao Feng would still be in junior high school at her age, but in ancient times, women talked about marriage early, and Duan Xinyan was already an older leftover woman.
"Okay, marriage is a lifelong event and cannot be taken lightly. Master supports and respects your decision." Jian Ning also made a decision in her heart. She wanted to get Duan Xinyan to her side.
Ma Xiaomai knew it well. He was a stubborn person. He had long believed that Qiaofeng would not change her mind easily. Duan Xinyan was the original body's half-sister after all, and she was not young anymore. It would be a shame to see her wasting her time and energy to have a happy time.
Besides, she really needs someone to control and change her temper.
"I plan to call Jiajia and Yaoyao's aunt over as well. We can't let her mess around in the barracks. I understand Xiaomai, and he'll hurt her feelings. And I'm her eldest sister. I can't let her bully you, nor can I watch her ruin her life because of Xiaomai. Do you understand?"
Duan Xinyan was attracted to Ma Xiaomai, and with Qiaofeng's refined temperament, how could she not know? In fact, the difference in their backgrounds was also a factor in her decision to leave and come to Danyang. Although Duan Xinyan was a concubine, she was still a concubine of a prince. How could she, a criminal and the daughter of a seventh-rank county magistrate, compare to her?
"If you feel upset seeing her and don't want her to come, I will send her somewhere else." As a legitimate daughter, Jane Ning is qualified to restrain and discipline her concubine's sister.
"No, Master, please let her come. I will get along well with her." Qiao Feng threw herself into Jian Ning's arms. "Thank you, Master."
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