After the Mid-Autumn Festival, early winter arrived in the blink of an eye. Shi Lan had been recuperating for almost a month before she finally recovered.
Seeing that she was indeed unharmed, Shi Mu's worries immediately subsided, and she was finally able to prepare for the ancestral worship ceremony.
The Shi family's ancestral home was not far from the capital, only a half-day's journey by carriage. Shi Lan sat with her mother in the swaying carriage, feeling drowsy.
Shi Xi held the scroll in her slender hand, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the little girl's head swaying from side to side, just like the porcelain dolls displayed on her curio cabinet.
Shi Xi smiled and put her arm around her, letting her lean on her shoulder.
Shi Lan moved her head, smacked her lips comfortably, buried her head further down, and fell into an even deeper sleep.
As evening fell, the carriage stopped in front of a mansion with green walls and gray tiles. Shi's father and the others dismounted first, and clansmen who had been waiting there welcomed them into the ancestral home.
Shi Xi nudged Shi Lan and whispered, "Wake up, we're about to pass the second gate."
Shi Lan lazily opened her eyes, lifted the carriage curtain, glanced around, and didn't move.
Shi's mother glanced at her and reached out to pull her up. "Sit down properly. Your father told me before he came that if you cause trouble here, he would ask your foster mother for help when we get back."
Shi Lan glanced at her mother.
Shi's mother kept a straight face and didn't even look at her. When the carriage stopped, she tidied her sideburns, helped Su Qing, and walked down with graceful demeanor.
Shi Lan turned to look at Shi Xi, who raised an eyebrow, smiled gloatingly, and pulled Bi Cao away.
Shi Lan's eyes drooped, and she pursed her lips.
These clansmen are all snobbish and petty. When the Shi family was in trouble, they all avoided it like the plague. During the time when the original owner was arrested and taken to a brothel, none of these clansmen went to see her, as if the Shi family did not have a lineage of Shi Qinghong at all.
Shi Lan puffed out her cheeks and muttered to herself.
Cuizhi helped her out of the car and said in a low voice, "It's just for show, please bear with it. They're all distant relatives, you won't see them more than a few times in total."
Shi Lan snorted and didn't say anything more.
Several respectable women were exchanging pleasantries with Shi's mother. Shi Xi went over to greet them, and a woman with an oval face pulled her aside and said something to her. Shi Xi blushed slightly, feeling a little embarrassed.
Shi Lan frowned, raised her chubby paws to cover her head, and suddenly felt weak and unsteady on her feet.
Cuizhi was shocked and hurriedly helped her up, "Miss, what's wrong?"
Shi Lan rubbed her forehead and gestured to her with her eyes, "My head hurts."
Cuizhi blinked, understanding immediately. She turned to call Tianguo, who had just gotten off the carriage in the back, to serve her, and then went to the front to inform Shimu.
Sweet Fruit held Shi Lan's arm, her fingers unconsciously pressing on her pulse, steady and strong, the pulse was excellent.
Nothing's wrong, is it?
A few steps away, upon hearing the report, Madam Shi, without bothering with pleasantries, quickly ordered someone to lead them to the courtyard that had been prepared a few days earlier, so that they could rest properly.
Mother Shi thanked her hurriedly and led the Shi sisters back into the house.
As soon as she entered, Shi Lan put down her hands and busily directed Cui Zhi to bring her favorite food box and pastry box. She also asked Tian Guo to fetch her favorite soft mattress and lay it down so she could take a nap later.
Cuizhi responded and went out to find the old woman in charge of chores to get it.
Sweet Fruit smiled as she took off her thin cloak and went to fetch her belongings.
Shi Mu stared in disbelief as her quirky ancestor transformed from sickly to energetic in the blink of an eye, speechless for a moment.
Shi Xi smiled, having noticed Shi Lan's strange demeanor on the carriage. She knew this little rascal wouldn't behave later, and sure enough...
Seeing that her mother was glaring at her as if she was angry, Shi Lan quickly went over and said, "Mother, don't be angry. I'm just concerned about you."
Mother Shi was so angry she laughed, "So you think you're right after all."
Shi Lan nodded and said, "That's right. You see, we got up very early this morning and rode in the carriage for most of the day. Our bodies are shaking so much we feel like they're about to fall apart. We finally got here, so we should rest more so we'll have energy to get up early tomorrow. But they just don't know any better and keep talking. They're going to make you feel tired. If you get up late tomorrow morning, the clan leader will be unhappy with you, and then Father will definitely complain."
Shi's mother looked at her, her rosy lips agape, as she spoke nonsense with a straight face, feeling both helpless and angry.
"You've only just arrived and you're already causing trouble. Just wait until you get back and your dad will deal with you."
Shi Lan smiled ingratiatingly, but when she noticed that her mother wasn't paying attention, she curled her lip indifferently.
Shi Xi shook her head. Who could her younger sister be afraid of? She wondered who in the future would be able to control her.
A short while later, someone came to report that they had heard someone was unwell and asked if they should call a doctor to come and take a look.
Since Shi Lan's mother knew that Shi Lan was not sick, she naturally wouldn't invite anyone over. After politely thanking her, she glared at Shi Lan.
Shi Lan grinned mischievously, looking completely unfazed.
After dinner, everyone, exhausted from a long day, returned to their rooms to rest.
Shi Lan lay lazily on the couch, while Cui Zhi Tian Guo was helping her wring her hair.
With a soft 'thud,' the sound of pebbles tapping against the window frame suddenly came from inside.
Shi Lan turned her head to look, but saw nothing, so she closed her eyes to rest.
With another 'flutter,' Shi Lan remained motionless. Tian Guo frowned, got up, and opened the window, cursing Tian Ye for being so irresponsible in letting those who didn't know the rules come over.
Outside the window, a young man in brocade robes stood with his hands behind his back, his posture graceful and his demeanor elegant.
Sweet Fruit's expression stiffened, and she quickly lowered her head, bowing respectfully and saying, "Young Master."
The boy nodded slightly, turned his head, and looked into the room.
The autumn night breeze was slightly cool. When Shi Lan didn't see Tian Guo come to reply, she turned her head to look and met the boy's dark, lacquer-like eyes.
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