Xiao Yao and Yun Ruonan began to recover from their injuries while trying to get along with each other. Yun Ruonan was always the passive one. Xiao Yao thought of many ways to get along with her, but finally decided to show her true colors. She couldn't pretend to be in front of the princess forever. If they could get along, it would be the best. If not, it would be an excuse to go home.
But to express her gratitude for the princess's acceptance, Xiao Yao still managed to stay close to Yun Ruonan. While she quietly read, she would embroider a purse. When she needed a break, she would quietly withdraw. Occasionally, the two of them would exchange a few words, discussing the contents of the book or chatting about trivial matters like the weather. Yun Ruonan was a quiet person, so Xiao Yao would only focus on the key points and speak, never annoying her with her constant chatter.
If Yin Qianhua was present, the scene of the three people getting along would be much more harmonious, because Yun Ruonan would not be restrained in front of Yin Qianhua and would relax, and Xiao Yao would also feel much more at ease because she would not have to worry so much. Even if the princess did not speak, at least she could still chat with the princess, right?
On the fourth day that Xiao Yao lived in the villa, Yin Qianhua sent someone to pick up Tong Mingyu, Yuan Yutong and Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yao stood at the door looking out early. She missed her family and wanted to know how her grandfather punished her family.
"Look how anxious Ping'an is! It's my fault for being so focused on their health these past few days that I've forgotten everything else." Yin Qianhua felt guilty when she thought of Xiao Yao acting so understanding in front of her and her daughter, but then acting so coquettish and clingy around Tong Mingyu. Was she being too selfish? She'd separated the mother and daughter just to make her daughter more cheerful and easygoing, disregarding other people's feelings. She wondered if Ping'an would be angry.
"Princess, please don't say that. Ping'an is living and eating in the other courtyard, and you and the princess are with him. We don't know how to express our gratitude. Do you think she is thinking about me, her mother? First of all, she must be thinking about Ruyi. Secondly, she just wants to ask about the current situation at home and whether our old man's anger has subsided. Ping'an, mother is right, right?"
Tong Mingyu looked at her daughter with a smile. The little girl looked better and better, and her spirit had almost recovered. It seemed that Doctor Lin's medical skills were indeed superb and his reputation was well-deserved.
"And there's a third one." Xiao Yao stretched out three fingers and shook them, then continued, "The third one is I miss mother, second aunt and third aunt." Although second aunt didn't come today, adhering to the principle of treating everyone equally, Xiao Yao didn't want to leave anyone out when expressing her feelings.
"You are just sweet-talking. When I go back, I will tell your second aunt that you didn't mention her at all before today." Yuan Yutong did not regard herself as an outsider in front of her cousin. She did not regard herself as a minister's wife at all, and never felt that Yin Qianhua was a high-ranking royal family member and she had to look up to her.
"Second Aunt won't believe it." Xiao Yao still has this confidence.
"You and your daughter can chat slowly. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare some delicious dishes so that we can entertain the distinguished guests today. Ruonan, you and Ruyi can go play in the next room. Cousin, you can stay and look after them." Yin Qianhua stood up gracefully and arranged things. She was no longer the person who could not raise her head because of the oppression of Concubine Han.
"The princess and Ruyi can just play here. Ping'an and I only have a few words to say. She and I, her mother, haven't even had as many private conversations with Ruyi!" How could Tong Mingyu dare to let the princess avoid it? Besides, the affairs of the Xiao family were not a secret at all. They could be explained in a few words.
"Yes! Ruyi and the princess, let's stay and play together later." Xiao Yao quickly agreed with her mother.
Xiao Yuan pulled Yun Ruonan, who didn't like close contact with others, to sit on an embroidery cushion on the side, ready to watch the conversation between her aunt and sister.
"This child." The daughter's expression was expectant, her eyes burning, and her expression couldn't be more gossipy. Why couldn't she be as steady and demure as the princess? Even if she could learn from Ping An to be dignified in front of others and playful behind their backs, that would be fine! But her naive mind simply couldn't think straight. Sometimes Yin Qianhua wondered if all the essence of the Xiao family had gone to Ping An, and now it was her daughter's turn to be as honest and straightforward as possible.
"Everything is fine at home now. Not only your fifth brother and Aqi were not punished, but even your father and his family were not punished. They were just reprimanded a few words and then went back to their respective homes." Tong Mingyu made some brief explanations.
"That's great! You don't know how much I've been thinking about this every day. I can't eat or sleep well. But after hearing this news, I feel better. From today on, I can finally rest assured."
"Being safe means being sensible. It's so heartwarming to hear what you said! Third Aunt came here today to thank you on behalf of your Second Aunt and myself. Fortunately, you coaxed the head of our family that day, so that the matter could be easily resolved. Otherwise, how could the men in the family get away with it so easily." Yuan Yutong spoke out her true feelings.
"This incident started with me, so of course I have to do something. We are a family, so please don't be polite to me. I will feel embarrassed if you say anything more." Xiao Yao covered her face and acted shy.
"Naughty again." Tong Mingyu pulled her daughter over and hugged her. No wonder her father-in-law liked this child. She was sensible when she needed to be, and occasionally naughty when the atmosphere was relaxed to make everyone happy. Her baby daughter was smart and likable.
"You two should learn more from Ping'an. As a kid, you should be sweet-talking and try to please your elders. With this little look, who wouldn't like her?" Yuan Yutong summarized the reasons why Xiao Yao was always favored in the family.
"Mom, I can learn the first two things you said, but the third one is a bit difficult! Shouldn't you take some responsibility for the way I look?" Xiao Yuan pouted to express his dissatisfaction.
"You're just making up stories. Do I look worse than your great aunt? Your father and your great uncle are brothers. So the reason you look like this is only because you're greedy and don't exercise enough. If you don't believe me, try losing some weight. You'll definitely look better than you do now."
"I don't want to. This is one of my characteristics. Whenever people mention the two young ladies of the Xiao family, they will say that the eldest young lady is pretty and the second young lady is plump. If I lose weight, everyone will say that the eldest young lady of the Xiao family is pretty and the one who is uglier than her is the second young lady. I'm not that stupid!" Xiao Yuan said confidently.
Everyone was stunned when they heard her words. What on earth was this kid thinking? But...it seemed...there was some truth to what she said.
"You, you." Yuan Yutong thought for a long time but couldn't come up with an effective solution. Should Ruyi stay fat just to be special? How will she find a husband in the future? It seems that there is no need to worry. Didn't the father-in-law say that he would find a son-in-law for the two children? When the time comes, I will definitely find Ruyi a good-tempered and tough one.
"Don't worry, Third Aunt. In two years, Ruyi will lose weight. She doesn't eat as much as she did last year. And Ruyi is white, and she will become more and more beautiful."
"Really? Why is it that Ping'an's words sound so pleasant, while Ruyi's always make people choke! Which mother-in-law would like this when she grows up?"
"You!" How could you say that in front of the children? Tong Mingyu glared at her sister-in-law and looked at the dozen men in the Xiao family. None of them dared to bully Ping An and Ruyi.
"I've thought about it. I want to marry my sister together. One will marry my older brother, and the other will marry my younger brother. We will never be separated." Xiao Yuan had planned it long ago, so that he would have no worries.
"Cough cough." Yun Ruonan coughed non-stop out of shock.
"Hey, Ping'an, can't you sit still? You've just gotten better, don't faint again." Tong Mingyu held his daughter and rubbed her forehead, as she almost slipped off the stool. He really didn't know whether it was right or wrong to bring Ruyi here today. His relentless attitude might scare the princess and Ping'an. He didn't want to cause a new illness before the old one healed.
"What happened?" Yin Qianhua, who came back from the kitchen, saw her cousin carefully comforting her daughter, Tong Mingyu was asking Xiao Yao about her well-being, and only Xiao Yuan was sitting beside her with a confused look on his face.
Did the children have a fight? Or were my daughter and Ping An unwell? Frightened by these two possibilities, Yin Qianhua hurriedly took a few steps and asked.
"Don't worry, cousin, nothing happened to them." She was just scared by Ruyi. Yuan Yutong glared at her daughter, but unexpectedly Xiao Yuan blinked innocently. She thought she was very well-behaved and had not done anything bad. Her mother's reaction was so inexplicable.
After a hearty and harmonious lunch, Tong Mingyu and Yuan Yutong left together, and everyone felt relieved. With Xiao Yuan joining the group, the two became a threesome. Regardless of whether her cousins agreed or not, she dragged the two of them to stroll around the garden after their nap.
At dinner time, Prince Jing and his son showed up together. Xiao Yao and Xiao Yuan had no choice but to go over to pay their respects. This was also the first time Xiao Yao had seen Prince Jing and Yun Yichen since she came to the villa.
"How is the little girl's health now?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am feeling much better now." Xiao Yao answered politely.
Anyone who meets her for the first time would surely assume she's a well-behaved, polite young lady from a wealthy family. But is that true? Yun Yichen recalled how Xiao Yao and he had argued, neither side willing to compromise. If it were anyone else, Yun Yichen would have immediately dismissed them as pretentious, but when it came to Xiao Yao, the only word that came to mind was clever and eccentric. Those negative comments from the past had faded, dissipated, and Yun Yichen himself couldn't quite put his finger on them.
After dinner, the Xiao sisters found an excuse to leave. The four of them were a family, and if possible, Xiao Yao didn't even want to come for the meal.
"Ruonan, what happened at noon today?" With only her family left, Yin Qianhua no longer had any taboos, and she asked the question that had been on her mind for a long time.
"My cousin wants to marry Ping'an together, one to marry her older brother and the other to marry her younger brother!" Yun Ruonan didn't have Xiao Yuan's thick skin. Just repeating this sentence made her blush.
"This..." Yin Qianhua was no exception and showed an expression of surprise and astonishment.
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