Grandma Zeng passed away on the third day after Shi Ningan returned. Shi Ningan wept bitterly, while the other members of the Zeng family, having been mentally prepared, were sad but managed to hold up.
Mourning streamers were hung up throughout the Zeng mansion. Shi Ningan sat in a daze in front of the mourning hall.
She was not a member of the Zeng family, so originally she didn't need to observe mourning. However, Grandma Zeng was the one who had personally rescued her from the mire and raised her up.
Before her death, Grandma Zeng had held her hand and said she was sorry, admitting that she had used her kindness to coerce Shi Ningan into forgiving the Shi family.
But Shi Ningan didn't care at all. Her feud with the Shi family had nothing to do with Grandma Zeng. Grandma Zeng had done her best to protect and take care of her.
The Zeng family had been developing several new drugs recently. Moreover, Grandma Zeng had long said that the funeral should be kept simple and not be grandly held.
She had also said that during the last family - division of Ningan, the Zeng family and the Shi family had severed all ties, so there was no need for any connection. Not even a letter was sent to the capital.
Some side - branches of the Shi family still came to pay their condolences. Some even tried to get in touch with Shi Ningan, but she ignored them all.
Zeng Ruoyun found some time to accompany Shi Ningan. She scraped the tip of Shi Ningan's nose and said, "Grandma didn't want us to talk to you too much because you've been a thoughtful person since childhood. But in the past, you were at least broad - minded and could understand Grandma's good intentions for you. How come after a year in the capital, your personality has become even more stubborn?"
Shi Ningan had lost weight. Only after being earnestly persuaded by Grandma Zeng's chief maid would she eat something to barely sustain herself. She knew that it wasn't just a year of absence that had changed her personality, and it wasn't formed in just one year. But since her cousin had asked, she had to respond.
"Are you very busy recently, cousin?"
Zeng Ruoyun, who had half a day of leisure, knelt on the cushion and nodded in response, "My father accidentally developed a drug that can cure the jaundice of infants. Father, uncles and cousins are trying to figure out if they can develop a drug to prevent infants from getting sick."
Shi Ningan raised her head, "Prevent?"
Zeng Ruoyun nodded, "Yes. Too many infants die prematurely. Whether they are the children of ordinary people or those of wealthy families, about 40% of children don't live past the age of two. Even if they manage to live through one or two years safely, there are countless children who don't grow up healthily. My father and the others have already found some directions."
Although Shi Ningan also had some medical skills, they were quite shallow. She didn't understand such profound things well, so she didn't say anything.
But she thought that if such a drug really existed, since the Zeng family's disciples were all over the Great Zhou, it would be a good thing if this drug could be distributed to all parts of the Great Zhou.
Not long after, Lu'er rushed in and whispered, "Miss, the second branch of the Shi family has come. The eldest mistress asks you to go and receive them."
Shi Ningan was in a daze for a while before she remembered that the second branch of the Shi family was the one that Shi Jingsong had been adopted into.
She tidied herself up and then went to the guest room.
Concubine Yu's current appearance was similar to that of an ordinary rural woman. She was darker and thinner than before, but also looked more capable. And beside her, Shi Jingsong had shed his timid and shrinking look and now looked like an ordinary young gentleman.
Behind them stood a young girl, also an acquaintance, Shi Ningxin.
Shi Ningan didn't know how to address Concubine Yu and just nodded.
Madam Zeng spoke first, "Ningan, this is Aunt Yu. The second grand - lady took pity on her and included her in the family genealogy."
So she was a proper madam now.
Shi Ningan offered her congratulations.
Immediately, Aunt Yu knelt down and said, "If it weren't for the help of the young lady, our mother and three children wouldn't have such a good life today."
Shi Ningan helped her up and asked with a smile, "You all seem to be living a stable life now?"
Aunt Yu sat on the chair but still leaned forward, not daring to sit fully. She nodded with a smile, "Thanks to the young lady's blessing. Our family originally had a few acres of fields, and with those given by the young lady, it's more than enough."
She glanced at Shi Ningxin and then said with a smile, "The old master and old mistress in the family are kind - hearted. They allowed me to sell some fields and then I managed to get Miss Xin out through some connections..."
Shi Ningan nodded. This was an explanation for why Shi Ningxin, who should have been exiled and served in labor, was standing here unharmed. She didn't care and didn't even look at Shi Ningxin, "It's good that your family is reunited."
The atmosphere in the guest room was harmonious, and no one was so tactless as to ask about the things in the capital.
Aunt Yu said with a beaming face, talking about Shi Jingsong's current situation, "He takes after his grandfather. He's not interested in studying but is very focused on farming and fishing. Now that the weather is good, when his grandfather is in good health, he takes him to the fields or the riverbank to teach him these things..."
In this era, the sons of wealthy families, even if they weren't diligent in studying for the imperial examinations, didn't need to learn farming and fishing. Seeing that Aunt Yu didn't show any dissatisfaction at all and was even quite proud that her son had learned a skill, Shi Ningan felt relieved.
Anyway, other young masters could be idle all day because they had the support of their families. Shi Jingsong's current grandparents were ordinary people who had separated from the main family. Even though they had some property, they couldn't be compared with the powerful families. If he could be down - to - earth, in the future, no matter what happened, he wouldn't be a person without any skills.
Aunt Yu glanced at Shi Ningxin and lowered her voice, "Their grandfather... found a marriage for Miss Xin. I think it's quite good. The young man is from a squire's family in a town under Pingzhang County. He's the second son, has no burdens, and... he fancies Miss Xin."
This was the first official mention of Shi Ningxin. Aunt Yu nudged Shi Ningxin and told her to pay her respects.
Shi Ningxin lowered her head, curtsied, and said in a very soft voice, "Your Highness... may you be well."
Shi Ningan glanced at her, told her to rise, but didn't talk to her. She just smiled at Aunt Yu, "That's great. As long as you're satisfied, it's good."
Aunt Yu looked a bit embarrassed and finally said, "She's still young now. The other family is still in mourning, so the engagement can only be set after a year. It's not urgent."
After chatting for a while, Aunt Yu didn't dare to stay longer and then took her son and daughter to leave.
Lu'er supported Shi Ningan's hand and they got up and walked out. While walking, Lu'er whispered, "Miss, why does this servant feel that Aunt Yu seems to have something unsaid?"
Shi Ningan didn't care either, "Aunt Yu is good in other aspects, but she spoils her children too much."
After saying that, her thoughts went back to the previous life when the maid of the Rong Mansion had brought the baby Zhi'er to her in swaddling clothes. At first, she didn't feel much, after all, the child wasn't her own. But as she held the baby every day, looking at Zhi'er's small face, his dependent eyes and cute smile, she just felt that she wanted to give him all the good things in the world.
She understood the truth that parents should plan for their children's future, but for her own child, she just wanted to hold him in the palm of her hand.
Perhaps all mothers were like this.
Did Rong Shuyu's compromises before her death serve Shi Yongtang or her daughter who had almost died?
It was impossible to find out.
Shi Ningan lowered her eyes, "Jingsong doesn't need her to worry about anymore. The only one she can worry about is the other one."
Lu'er knew that the young lady was talking about Shi Ningxin. Her face darkened, "Humph, the young lady was kind - hearted and forgave Shi Ningxin. What else do they want? Do they want to rely on that little bit of blood relationship and ask you to find a good husband for her? Don't they even look at her? She's a girl who has committed a crime and was bailed out with money. Where can she marry well? Moreover, you've long had nothing to do with the Shi family."
Shi Ningan smiled slightly. Lu'er had spent so much time with Yingtao that she had even learned to swear.
She never cared about such things. As long as they didn't lose face in public, she let them be.
"I don't know what Shi Ningxin is thinking, but it's probably not just about finding a good husband. Did you see Aunt Yu just now? She was clearly very satisfied with that young master from the squire's family. So it's not Aunt Yu who's dissatisfied. If Shi Ningxin's demands are too excessive, I think Aunt Yu wouldn't indulge her to come and beg me."
Lu'er was a bit confused. After thinking for a while, she asked again, "This servant doesn't understand. Since they've come to beg, why don't they just say it clearly? Do they still want the young lady to guess?"
Shi Ningan shook her head lightly, "It's not for me to guess. I just showed clearly that I didn't want to care about Shi Ningxin. Aunt Yu has been in the inner courtyard for so many years. She can read the situation. Since I don't want to care, they can't be so shameless as to come and beg."
Lu'er sighed and said, "Although this servant doesn't like Shi Ningxin, thinking about it this way, I actually feel a bit sorry for her."
She was pitiful, but if she hadn't been so stupid as to be instigated by others, she wouldn't have ended up like this. No matter what Shi Ningxin was thinking in her heart, Shi Ningan would definitely not care about her anymore.
Just as they reached the flower - decorated gate, they saw Aunt Yu and Shi Ningxin standing aside.
Without saying a word, Aunt Yu knelt in front of Shi Ningan. Shi Ningxin, a bit late to react, also knelt down.
Shi Ningan's expression was cold. She sneered, "I thought that after managing the household with Aunt Yu for so long, Aunt Yu would understand my personality. It seems I was wrong."
Aunt Yu kowtowed and said, "This slave has disturbed Your Highness. Please, Your Highness, remember the little kindness from the past..."
By referring to herself as "this slave", she was putting herself back in the position of a concubine in the past, hoping that Shi Ningan would think about her past merits.
"How dare you!" Lu'er scolded, "Kindness? How dare Concubine Yu even mention kindness to Your Highness?"
Shi Ningxin was completely stunned. It took her a while to come to her senses. She kowtowed desperately, "Sister... no, Your Highness, it has nothing to do with my mother. It's all my fault. Please, Your Highness, allow me to ask a few questions, just a few... I swear that I will never appear in front of Your Highness again, Your Highness..."
Tears rolled down her face as she looked up at Shi Ningan.
Shi Ningan looked at the mother and daughter, sighed deeply, and reluctantly nodded. She took them to the corridor beside and told Lu'er and Aunt Yu to go outside. The people outside could see them but couldn't hear their conversation.
Shi Ningan sat on the stone bench and motioned for Shi Ningxin to sit.
Shi Ningxin was no longer the innocent little girl she used to be. There was confusion in her eyes, but more of it was calmness. She just gritted her teeth and refused to sit.
Shi Ningan didn't try to persuade her anymore. She just said, "There's no one else here. If you have anything to say, just say it."
Shi Ningxin bit her lips. After a long time, she asked in a trembling voice, "I... I just want to ask... how is the Fourth Young Master of the Rong family..."