The family banquet was held in the small flower hall on the west side of Shi Mu's courtyard. Shi Lan was passing through the garden when she bumped into Shi Xi, who was rushing over.
Perhaps because Shi Lan had been ill lately, Shi Xi looked her up and down as soon as she saw her. Seeing that her complexion was rosy and her eyes were lively, she smiled and said with satisfaction, "It seems that you have been quite well-behaved these past few days."
Shi Lan looked at her speechlessly.
She's such a good girl, okay? If it weren't for this family, would she have gotten sick again and again?
Shi Xi took her plump hand and led her forward, saying, "When Mother sent someone, she only said that my elder brother had a smooth journey this time, but she didn't know exactly how smooth it was, or whether he passed the imperial examination."
Shi Lan pursed her lips, thinking to herself, of course she got into high school, and she was even the top student. Otherwise, how could she justify making such a big fuss?
Shi Xi was concerned about her brother and walked very fast. Shi Lan struggled to keep up.
Seeing Shi Lan's face flushed as she walked away, Cui Zhi was a little worried and tried to speak several times but managed to hold back her words.
Bi Cao's ability to be proud in front of Shi Xi can be attributed to two factors: her loyalty and her quick wit. Seeing Cui Zhi frequently glancing at Shi Lan, she immediately understood what was going on and quickly pulled Shi Xi aside, saying, "Miss, it's still early for the banquet. The eldest young master should be in his study listening to the master's teachings. If we go over there, we'll just be listening to those old women gossiping. It would be better to stroll in the garden, smell the flowers, and enjoy the sunset."
Shi Xi paused, turned her head to look at her.
Bi Cao gave her a look, and Shi Xi followed her gaze, only to find that Shi Lan's face was flushed, her rosy lips were slightly open, and her small chest was heaving as she breathed heavily.
A little embarrassed, Shi Xi tried to soothe Shi Lan, asking, "How are you feeling? Are you feeling better?"
Shi Lan took a few more breaths and nodded.
Shi Xi then pulled her along, matching her steps, to the flower hall where many old women and maids were waiting.
As soon as Shi Lan stepped onto the steps of the flower hall, she heard her mother's hearty and cheerful laughter. The maids lifted the bamboo curtain and saw her smiling mother and several old women surrounding her.
The maidservant called out, "Mother Shi is instructing the old women to prepare for the banquet to be held at the mansion the day after tomorrow when Father Shi takes a day off." She turned to look at the Shi sisters and beckoned them over, saying, "Come here quickly."
Shi Xi had been extremely anxious for some time. She had almost exhausted Shi Lan because of her recklessness earlier. Now that she was here, she had no more worries. She let go of Shi Lan's hand and walked a few steps to her mother, asking in a high-pitched voice, "Mother, where is my eldest brother? Didn't you say he was back? Is he with Father? What did you say about the results? Did he pass?"
The stone mother gently brushed a stray hair from her eldest daughter's ear and said with a smile, "She passed."
Shi Lan then asked, "What rank did you get?"
Shi's mother grinned, her eyes narrowing into slits. Shi Lan walked up to her, tilting her little neck and saying, "I guess it's the top scholar."
When Shi's mother heard her say that, she was somewhat surprised and looked down at her.
A deep, resonant male voice came from the doorway, "How do you know you're the top scholar?"
Shi Lan turned her head and saw that it was her father leading Shi Rong in.
Shi Lan puffed out her chest and said, "Because my father was the top scholar in the provincial examination back then, my elder brother naturally became one too. This is what people mean when they say 'like father, like son.'" She then nodded seriously.
Shi's father threw his head back and laughed, repeatedly saying, "Well said, well said."
Shi Rong smiled slightly, admiring that she could make such strange logic sound so righteous.
Shi Xi stared blankly at Shi Rong, seemingly in disbelief. Shi's mother squinted, amusedly observing her eldest daughter's rare dazed expression, completely forgetting that when she first received the news, her reaction was exactly the same as hers.
Once everyone had arrived, the maids set out tables, chairs, and cups. After everyone was seated, they busied themselves serving the dishes. Looking at Shi Rong's somewhat thin face, Shi's mother felt sorry for him and ordered someone to serve him a piece of his favorite steamed fish with black bean sauce.
Shi Rong smiled, picked up a spoonful, and gently sipped it.
Shi Xi finally came to her senses and felt a little embarrassed. She glanced at her brother and smiled. Shi Lan had seen too many of her silly moments today. He hid behind the bowl and grinned secretly.
Shi's father gave his eldest son a stern and satisfied look, then ladled a bowl of soup for his most beloved daughter. Shi Lan, with a bitter face, stirred the chicken soup, which had been simmered with herbs such as angelica and chuanxiong, and drank it with difficulty.
Mr. Shi looked at his daughter with a smile, and then pushed a bowl of well-cooked eight-treasure porridge over to her. Shi Lan looked at him pitifully, which made everyone at the table laugh.
The maids and servants serving nearby exchanged smiles. Since the eldest young master left the capital and the third young lady fell ill, the Shi family had not been so harmonious for a long time.
Inside, the atmosphere was harmonious and joyful. Outside the door, the bamboo curtain swayed slightly, and a frail figure, swaying like a willow in the wind, slowly walked in. The maids and servants who were serving her were the first to be alert. Upon seeing the person, they quickly curtsied and greeted her, "Second Miss."
Upon hearing the sound, Shi Mu's smile froze, and her beautiful brows furrowed slightly.
Mr. Shi glanced at Mrs. Shi and sighed inwardly. Having lived together for nearly twenty years, he knew that Mrs. Shi was childlike and wore her heart on her sleeve, but fortunately she was not a bad person and would not do anything even if she disliked someone.
Shi Rong and Shi Xi both looked up. The newcomer swayed her slender waist and walked gracefully to the table. She slowly bowed and greeted Shi's parents. She then bowed to Shi Rong and said, "I heard that you have passed the imperial examination with flying colors, so I have come to congratulate you."
Shi Rong nodded awkwardly, said thank you, and then turned his head away.
To be honest, he didn't have a very good impression of this younger sister. He was already old enough to remember when the Shi Yi Niang incident happened. Shi Xi was born weak, and he would secretly watch his mother cry with worry. As a young child, he naturally disliked Shi Yi because he saw his loving mother forcing a smile in public and crying in private. As time went by, Shi Xi's health gradually improved, and he grew older. Occasionally, during breaks from reading, he would think of Shi Yi and remember that she was of the same lineage as him. When the mood struck, he would want to do something for this younger sister. But soon after Shi Lan's near-death experience, he couldn't understand his own psychology. He quickly abandoned the idea of helping Shi Yi and began to be wary of her. Now, he looked at Shi Yi as if she were a stranger, a stranger who harbored deep hostility towards him.
Shi Yi seemed not to notice his deliberate avoidance. She smiled and stood up, then bowed to Shi Xi and Shi Lan. The two sisters nodded knowingly, without any intention of returning the bow.
Shi Yi didn't mind, she just looked around and stood there quietly.
Shi's mother looked at her coldly and loudly ordered people to set out chairs, bowls, and chopsticks.
Shi Yi bowed gracefully, thanked Shi's mother softly, and sat down next to Shi Lan.
Shi's mother ate her food in silence with a sullen face. Shi's father glanced at her helplessly, ate a few bites, and then got up and went to the study. Shi Xi and Shi Rong naturally ignored her. Only Shi Lan turned her head to look at her for a while. Seeing her clutching her heart like Xi Shi, with her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed and her face pale, she snorted inwardly at her affected manner and then turned her gaze back to the chicken soup in front of her, drinking it spoonful by spoonful.
Shi Yi quickly glanced at the whole table, then turned to look at Shi Lan's rosy, apple-like face. She clenched her fists tightly, but she was no longer the same as before; even with all her strength, she could only hold on loosely.
Shi Lan slurped up her chicken soup. Shi Xi glanced at her and gestured for her to drink some porridge. Shi Lan frowned and asked Cui Zhi to get her some sugar to mix into the porridge. Once it was mixed well, she finished the sweet and soft porridge.
(To be continued.)
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