After a nap, Wei Hanzhang and his mother took a sedan chair back to Qixiang Palace.

The mother and daughter had just entered the palace and were about to tell the maid to call Wei Hansu out when they saw the person in question coming from afar... from the direction of the small kitchen. She had a graceful figure and was holding an exquisite food box in her hand.

Seeing his stepmother and younger sister, Wei Hansu's steps slowed down slightly, but he soon returned to normal and walked in this direction. He stopped one step away and bowed, saying, "Greetings, mother."

She looked at Wei Hanzhang with a smile and said carefully, "I know that you like to eat lotus seed cakes, so I went to Longzhou City today to pick out the best lotus seeds. They are just out of the oven. Would you like to try them, Ranran?"

There was a hint of pleading in her tone and hopeful eyes, which made it hard to refuse.

However, Wei Hanzhang had no intention of continuing her sisterly relationship with this concubine sister. She turned her eyes away and didn't even want to say a word.

Jiang Shi, who was standing next to her, looked the concubine up and down for a long time and said calmly, "Pack up and go back with me."

Wei Hansu's hand holding the food box suddenly tightened, his face turned pale, and he said, "Did my daughter do something wrong?"

As she spoke, her knees weakened and she was about to kneel down and admit her fault in public. Jiang glanced back, and Madam Zhou took a thousand steps forward and quickly helped her up, saying with a smile, "The ground is hot, Miss Seven, please stand firmly."

Jiang really couldn't get used to her behavior of kneeling down to apologize with tears in her eyes at any time, and she couldn't hide her disgust and said: "Ranran is one year younger than you, and her marriage has been decided. You are the only girl in the family who has not been married. Maybe it's because I neglected to discipline you over the years, so you grew up like this..."

She paused, but didn't say anything harsh. She just said, "I have asked two old maids released from the palace to teach you the rules. Go pack up and follow me back."

Wei Hansu was extremely afraid of her stepmother, knowing that she always kept her word. She did not dare to cry out even though her arm was in pain from being held by Nanny Zhou. She even dared to beg for mercy only to Wei Hanzhang.

"Ran Ran, are you mad at me because of what happened yesterday?" She begged in a trembling voice, "I know I was wrong, Ran Ran, can you please forgive me this time?"

"I told you to come back with me, but who are you showing this to? If someone saw me, they would think I was going to capture you and drown you in the pond."

Jiang's brows were furrowed tightly. "If you despise the Duke's Mansion and don't want to go back, that's fine. I will send a carriage to take you back to the capital today, and you and your aunt can live in the manor."

“No, no, no!” Wei Hansu hurriedly shook her head and said repeatedly: “My daughter is not unwilling to go back. Mother, please don’t be angry. I will go pack my things now.”

As she spoke, she finally stood up straight, holding back the tears that were about to fall, and bowed to Wei Hanzhang, saying, "Ranran, I know you are very angry with me. It was indeed my words and actions that made mistakes yesterday. You are right to be angry. Sister apologizes to you."

Her hair was slightly disheveled and she was sweating profusely. She looked flustered and at a loss, so pitiful.

Although Wei Hanzhang had seen through her face and realized that it was most likely just an act, she was still angry at her for not fighting back.

Even if you are pretending, could you please not pretend to be so weak and unable to take care of yourself?

As a concubine's sister, she even tries to please her maids. She lives cautiously and treads on thin ice. In Jiang's words, if you don't know her, you would think someone has been mean to her.

Wei Hanzhang pursed his lips and finally spoke: "Your last name is Wei, and you are the second daughter of the Duke of Wei's mansion. You can be more generous in your conduct and don't have to be so petty to please everyone. I am annoyed by your behavior yesterday, but I still hope that you can stand up and stop being so timid."

Wei Hanzhang had said this many times, and Wei Hansu had also heard it many times, but only this time she was slightly stunned and looked straight at the other party, her eyes becoming extremely complicated for a moment.

Now that the relationship between the sisters is almost torn apart, she suddenly finds that her younger sister is not so hypocritical after all.

...Ranran is sincere to her.

This thought made Wei Hansu's heart tighten. She moved her lips as if she wanted to say something, but then stopped.

The sun was blazing. Jiang glanced at the silent concubine and said to Nanny Zhou, "Go and help Miss Seven pack her clothes and jewelry."

As she said this, she pulled her daughter into the inner room and said angrily, "You too, it's so hot outside, you're just standing there like an idiot, what are you saying to her? If she was a learner, she would have changed her temper long ago."

Wei Hanzhang was sweating profusely, and her mouth was dry. She raised her hand to pour a cup of cold tea for her mother and was about to fill one for herself, but she thought of something, stopped, called Luzhu, and ordered, "Go and see if the kitchen has prepared iced green plum soup for me today."

Xiao Boqian even restricted her diet and refused to allow her to eat anything she wanted. After much bargaining, she was allowed a bowl of iced green plum soup every day.

It would be pitiful if the small kitchen did not prepare lunch because it was not eaten in the palace.

Luzhu took the order and left. On the way to the small kitchen, she met Wei Hansu who was returning to the side hall with Nanny Zhou.

Seeing Luzhu, Wei Hansu's expression froze for a moment and asked, "Where are you going?"

Luzhu paused for a moment. Although she knew that the seventh lady had quarreled with her daughter, she still bowed and said, "My daughter wants to drink green plum soup. I will go to the kitchen to get it now."

Hearing this, Wei Hansu suddenly closed his eyes.

Seeing this, Luzhu asked with concern, "Seventh Miss, are you feeling unwell?"

...Nothing," Wei Hansu smiled, gave up his seat, and said, "Go quickly, don't let Ranran wait too long, she is suffering from the summer heat, and she loves to drink this sour sugar water every day."

Luzhu did not ask any more questions. She bowed again and left in a hurry.

The hands in his sleeves were clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. Wei Hansu took one last look at Luzhu's departing back, and smiled at Madam Zhou as usual, "Thank you, Madam. Let's go."

...Ranran couldn't blame her. Once she told the truth, she might be doomed. She didn't dare and couldn't take the risk. She could only blame fate.

Everything is fate.

Lu Zhu was very efficient in her work. Wei Hanzhang didn't have to wait long before he saw her come in holding an exquisite jade cup.

As soon as he got the cold sour plum soup, Wei Hanzhang handed it to Jiang with full of filial piety, saying: "Mother, you must try it. The cooking skills of the imperial chefs in the palace are really good. The same sour plum soup tastes much better than the one at home."

"You haven't even gotten married yet, but you already look down on your own things. You only want the palace." She looked like a greedy cat, which made Jiang happy. She was very pleased with her daughter's thoughtfulness. She couldn't help but reach out and touch her forehead, saying angrily, "Drink it yourself. I don't like these sour things."

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