Chapter 8
After a long while, I wiped my tears and went to my desk. I carefully sketched a cane with charcoal pencil. After a moment's thought, I sketched a wheelchair. I asked Zhixia to fetch some water and cool my eyes with a cold towel. Then I took the manuscript paper and went to find my mother.
When the mother saw the blueprint, she asked in confusion, "Why do these crutches and wheelchair look so strange?"
"This crutch is more powerful and comfortable. This wheelchair is easier to push." I pointed to the blueprint and explained the wheelchair modification in detail.
"Mother, please find someone to make a crutch as soon as possible for my brother." I guessed that my brother must not like being supported by a servant to move around.
My mother looked at the drawings and then glanced at me. "You and your brother always have some weird ideas. But they're all good." After that, my mother went out.
I went to look for my father again, asked him how he was and visited my little sister. She was four months old, chubby and crying loudly. It was time for her to have fun.
When I went out to visit my brother, my father gave me a lot of supplements and asked me to deliver them to my brother.
When I got to my brother's place, as expected, he was sitting on the bed reading a book. I asked Zhixia to give the things to my brother's servant, and then sat next to him.
"Where did you get all these things?" My brother was very confused. He knew very well what I had.
I glanced at the book my brother was reading. "I got this from my father. Why are you still reading military books? What interested you?"
"Your brother, I know almost everything about astronomy and geography now. There's not much entertainment here, so isn't the only way to have fun is to read books?" My brother rolled his eyes at me.
"Your way of having fun is quite elegant." I lay down on the bed. It was just the two of us in the room, and I was used to being unruly in front of my brother. "Oh, I'm a heavy phone addict. After all these years here, I still miss my phone."
Since I feel that my brother doesn't care too much about the past, we occasionally talk about it.
My brother also leaned against the headboard. "That's right. Every day is so monotonous." He looked down at me and said, "When is the exam? How are you doing with your studies?"
I couldn't help but scratch my head. "Next year, maybe. I'll give it a try. I just need to polish some of my words. Occasionally, I'll even include some words or sentences from my previous life. I don't know if I'll suddenly come up with something too advanced. That would be very controversial. I want to be a powerful official, not a great writer."
"With your stubborn mind, you still want to be a powerful official?" My brother couldn't help laughing. I pounded the bed, "What are you laughing at? This is called having ambition and dreams. Anyone with dreams can be great!" My brother was already doubled over with laughter.
After a while, I was about to go out when I saw my father coming with the third princess from a distance.
I quickly turned around and said to my brother, "Brother, the Third Princess is here." I closed the door and gave my brother time to get ready. Coincidentally, my father and the Third Princess entered the yard.
"Hello, Sister Chenxi." I greeted reluctantly.
"Lanlan, isn't your brother here? Why is the door closed?" the father asked hurriedly.
The third princess came to the door and knocked, "An Ran, are you there?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from inside, "Just come in." When I opened the door, my brother was already sitting upright at the table. I guessed that he had just jumped over, and I didn't know if his feet hurt.
When the brother saw the Third Princess, he was about to stand up and salute, but was stopped in time by the Third Princess.
The father looked at his brother and said, "You guys chat, I won't stay here. Third Prince, I'll take my leave first." "Okay, uncle, take care." The third princess replied.
I followed him in and sat down at the table.
The third princess came up to her brother and asked, "Anran, how is your foot? Does it still hurt?" The concern in her eyes was not fake. At this time, he probably just came back from the farm.
The brother politely replied: "Thank you for your concern, sister Chenxi. It doesn't hurt anymore, you don't have to worry about it."
The Third Princess curled her lips and said, "An Ran, why are you always so polite to me?" Then she pointed at the things in the guard's hand and said, "I found some supplements that may be good for your sprained ankle. Eat them first, and I'll find some more and bring them to you."
The elder brother smiled and said, "Father sent some just now, and now you've sent me these. I can't finish them all, so there's no need to look for more."
"That's not too much. You're a little thin, so it's just right to replenish your body." The Third Princess said this, her ears turning red. I was secretly trying my luck.
Next, the two chatted about other things, and I sat there quietly as a mascot.
It was almost noon, and I couldn't help coughing. The Third Princess looked at me, then turned back to look at my brother. "It's getting late, you should have lunch. I'll be leaving first."
My brother politely invited the Third Princess to dine with him, but she tactfully declined. "Then Lanlan, please help me see my Third Sister off."
I escorted the Third Princess out the door. She paused, and I looked at her in confusion. She grinned, "An Lan, you look like a giant candle." Then, laughing heartily, she boarded the carriage. I was left stomping my feet at the door. Fine, I wouldn't be a gentleman if I didn't take revenge. Watch me make a bigger candle!
I angrily complained to my brother, but he mocked me even more mercilessly. What could I do? I just put on a deadpan face and had a free meal at my brother's place.
During the time when her brother was recuperating from his foot, the Third Princess came several times and was amazed at her brother's crutches and wheelchair.
My mother and father delivered the crutches to my brother that evening, and his servant sewed a cushion on them. The wheelchair arrived two days later. The people at the Ministry of Works had never imagined a wheelchair could be so lightweight and self-rotating, providing great convenience for those with disabilities.
During this period, my brother did not attend the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. I felt that the Emperor's aunt seemed a little regretful. I wonder if she still wanted to arrange a marriage for him.
The next day after I came back, I went to find my brother. "Brother, I feel like the Emperor's aunt is getting impatient. She's very sorry you didn't go last night. I seriously suspect she'll directly arrange a marriage between you and the Third Princess at this year's annual banquet and won't discuss it with us in advance."
The brother pondered for a moment, "That shouldn't be the case, right? She should consider her mother's reaction."
I couldn't help but retort, "That's not necessarily true. After all, you've been held by the Third Princess before, so this is a very reasonable excuse. From your perspective, it would be a responsibility to you. So how can you refuse? It's not a good idea to refuse. It seems like you don't value your innocence. If you don't refuse, it will be exactly what I want."
My brother knocked on my head again and said, "Innocent, innocent. Bullshit innocent." It was also the first time I heard my brother swear. However, as a grown man, my brother might be a little uncomfortable with the word applied to himself...
My brother thought for a moment and said, "But what you said is indeed very likely. The key is how to avoid it?"
I confronted my brother, worriedly, "How about I go out and travel?" He frowned. "What kind of man would go out and travel alone here, especially one who wouldn't even be home for the New Year? It would be useless for me to go along, and not coming back for the New Year wouldn't be justifiable." I frowned too.
"Does our father have any sisters or brothers living out of town? Should we go visit them?" I suddenly had an idea and slammed the table. My brother was shocked. "That scared me. This is an idea, although it's not very good. It's a bit early to think about it now. When I get better, I'll ask father and ask for his advice."
So, after my brother talked to my father, he said he'd think it over and let my brother go back. He'd probably have to discuss it with my mother. Sure enough, two days later, while my mother was on her day off, she called me over before lunch.
Just like a three-person trial, my mother and father sat on either side, their expressions serious. When I entered the house, I hesitated. One foot was in the door, the other was out, ready to run, while my brain quickly thought about whether I had been in trouble recently.
"What are you doing there? Come in quickly." My mother called me impatiently.
I mustered up my courage and hesitantly walked to the front and sat down. The door behind me closed, and I stood up again in shock. "I...I haven't been out getting into trouble lately."
Mother snorted and laughed, "You knew you'd get into trouble. Sit down and let's talk about your brother." I felt relieved instantly and patted my chest, "You scared me! I thought this was a joint trial."
My father glanced at me and said, "You're talking nonsense. You and your brother are the closest. Your brother will be 18 next year. Men of this age are already engaged or even married. If you don't show interest in each other, the girls from good families will be engaged. As for the third princess, your brother has rejected her again. Do you know what your brother is thinking? He can't really stay single for his whole life." My father looked at me worriedly.
I thought about it and couldn't help but retort, "Why not marry? It's not like our family can't afford to support me. At worst, I can just pay a fine. If that doesn't work, I'll perform a miracle and make everyone think that my brother is the reincarnation of the Son of God and no one is worthy of him."
Before I could finish, my mother picked up the feather duster and hit me. "I told you to stop talking nonsense, I told you to stop talking nonsense!" I jumped up and down, howling. "Why are you hitting me?" My father clasped his hands together, praying and muttering, "My daughter is unruly, please don't blame me, gods."
Mother sat back down. "Talk nicely!" I pouted and sat down too. Then I jumped up again, teeth bared, and touched my butt. "Shh, that hurts. Mother, how could you hit me so hard?"
My mother pointed her finger at me and said, "I'm hitting you, you little bastard."
I hesitated and sat down carefully. After thinking for a while, I said, "I still respect my brother's personal wishes. If he doesn't want to get married now, then he doesn't have to. He can get married whenever he wants. It's okay if he's older. If there's no suitable one in the capital, there are still talented people who come to the capital to take the imperial examinations. Besides, if my brother doesn't want to get married, we can always find someone else."
"You and your brother announced before that he was the only one she could marry. This condition eliminated most of the people. However, it did start a small trend." The father said, glancing at the mother.
My mother rubbed her nose awkwardly. However, it was unusual for a man like my father to have only one servant, and he was a well-behaved and close friend to my father. The atmosphere in the mansion and backyard was quite positive.
The father changed the subject again, "If we don't choose someone from the capital in the future, we will be old enough to take the exam, and it will be difficult to find someone without anyone at home. Besides, we have to find someone with good character. In my opinion, the third princess is a very good choice. We are childhood sweethearts, and we have watched her grow up. Although she is a little eccentric, she is indeed a good child and has become much more stable now. Moreover, she will not have to fight for power, and her life in the future will be very comfortable." The mother also nodded.
See, I knew that both adults had their own ideas.
I blinked innocently, "It's no use telling me, my brother has no idea." Mother couldn't help but get anxious, "Why did we ask you to come? Don't you know how to persuade him?"
I restrained my expression and said solemnly, "Mother, Father, I think relationships should be left to nature. I support my brother in choosing the life he wants. He's a man of his own ideas, and he can decide which path to take."
Mother and father exchanged a glance, and my father sighed deeply. Mother stood up, pointed at the door, and said, "Get out!" "Okay." I stood up, opened the door, and ran out. Then I ran back and clung to the door, craning my neck and saying to my mother and father, "Mom, Dad, you guys have to figure out how to handle the New Year's banquet." Mother was instantly furious. "Get out," I said, rolling away smoothly. It was clear that my mother and father were very open-minded.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com