An Yan kept her head lowered and muttered something. She looked like a girl who had her emotions stirred up. She fought against the wave of shyness that came over her, not paying attention to anything else.
“Hehe, how is this teasing by Aunt? Yan-er is really a big girl now. Moreover, your eldest sister had already been betrothed and come spring, she will get married. After your second sister chooses one of the n.o.blemen’s sons that visit her, then won’t it be your turn, Yan-er?”
As Aunt Rong spoke, she patted An Yan’s head. Listening to her gentle voice, An Yan felt as if she was being bathed by the spring wind. What An Yan likes the most is to listen to Aunt Rong speak. Her voice was as charming as that of a celestial fairy. Perhaps, even those celestial fairies in books were nothing compared to her.
Listening to Aunt Rong’s words, An Yan began to fantasise about something that she had never thought of until now. She started to eagerly look forward to who would come marry her in the future. She did not have many demands in a future husband. She just hoped he would not hate her because of the notorious reputation she’s had since she was young. She wished he would love her just like Aunt Rong did. She did not look for a man who is very wealthy or who is very handsome or multi-talented. She just hoped that he would love her and treat her as if she were his treasured object.
Aunt Rong laughed upon seeing An Yan’s expression. Since she had already experienced this, she could naturally understand any young girl’s thoughts, not to mention those of a unique girl like Yan-er.
“Oh, by the way, when will Mo Yuan gege1 marry Zhen jiejie of General Zhen Yuan’s family? Yan-er wants to go to Mo Yuan gege’s wedding banquet!”
The person An Yan was thinking about was An Mo Yuan, her second brother and the son of Aunt Rong. It was rare to see him about, but he had always treated her well and had never looked down on her. Mo Yuan gege had been born within the prime minister’s mansion, but he was very fond of the military. From childhood, he had practised arms and at 13 years of age, he joined the army. Ten years had already pa.s.sed since then. He was now the deputy general of their Qi Country, under General Zhen Yuan.
She knew that there was something between Mo Yuan gege and Ouyang Zhen jiejie. Previously, when Mo Yuan gege had returned to the mansion, she had heard all the servants in the mansion talking about this matter. Unfortunately, she hasn’t yet seen Zhen jiejie, so she doesn’t know if that girl is worthy of her handsome and powerful brother.
She was already at this age, yet she has never been to any festive weddings. When her eldest brother, An Shuo, got married, she had been hiding out in her room. She had gotten a wedding gift, but no one had come to invite her.
An Yan thought that since Aunt Rong and Mo Yuan gege treated her well, when Mo Yuan gege got married, perhaps she would finally be able to attend his wedding feast.
“You will have to personally ask this matter to your Mo Yuan gege.”
Aunt Rong laughed and touched the tip of An Yan’s nose before she changed the subject again.
“Today is the birthday of your two older sisters. Many people who were royalty or n.o.blemen have come as guests. Nanny Fang told me that Yan-er wants to go there. Is that true?”
Aunt Rong looked at the clean but ragged clothes An Yan wore, looked at the jade hairpin that was in her hair. She frowned and said, “Where are the new clothes that Aunt sent you?”
An Yan heard the anger in Rong’s tone and simply thought that her own fragile appearance was what had caused Aunt Rong to turn pale. All of a sudden she felt guilty and she hemmed and hawed as she hesitated over what to say.
An Yan did not know what would happen if Aunt Rong found out that the clothes sent to An Yan had all been sold secretly for a profit and converted into silver coins when she had snuck outside the mansion with the servants. An Yan did not have much use for those beautiful clothes so it was better that they are converted into silver coins and saved, as there will inevitably come a day when she could use them.
Every night Aunt taught her from the Chinese Cla.s.sics – Poems & History. From that, she learnt a lesson that, no matter what happened and regardless of how it affects her, she must always set aside a path for herself.
These saved silver coins would be the foundation of her future path that she would tread.
Aunt Rong simply thought that An Yan couldn’t bear to wear new clothes so she did not inquire further into this matter. She looked at her maid, Zi Yi, who stood beside her and instructed her …