2 Rebirth (2/2)
Zi Yuan waited on An Jinxiu to wash her face, put on makeup and clothes, but she didn't dare to talk to An Jinxiu about the marriage that was set for a month from now.
”I've already thought about this marriage.” Just as they were about to leave, An Jinxiu looked at Zi Yuan with a cautious gaze and said, ”There's nothing bad about marrying an upright general.”
After hearing An Jinxiu's words, the servant face was filled with disbelief. She mumbled, ”It's great that Miss can think like that.”
Zi Yuan was a good person. In her previous life, she had followed her to the Shangguan Mansion and advised her many times that Zi Yuan had taken care of her and her daughter when she was young. Zi Yuan was her benefactor. When she thought of this, An Jin turned around. For the first time in her life, she held onto Zi Yuan's hand and softly said, ”Little girl Zi Li, in the future, I will find you a good man that you can rely on for your entire life.”
Zi Yuan's face turned red. Growing up with An Jinxiu, she was no different from any other common servant girl in the house. Immediately, the little girl stomped her feet and said, ”Miss, don't joke with Zi Yuan. Zi Yuan will serve you for the rest of his life. What man is he?”
An Jin smiled and turned her head to look at the autumn laurel in the yard. It was the middle of summer in July, and the leaves of the osmanthus tree were green and dense. Another month later, the osmanthus flower bloomed.
”When the osmanthus blossoms, the young miss will be married off,” the Zi Yuan said by An Jin's side.
”En,” An Jinxiu responded. It was the golden autumn season, and her wedding day just so happened to be a good time to leave the family.
”Miss,” Zi Yuan said, looking at An Jinxiu's face, ”you can still tell that Miss has been crying even with makeup on.”
”Who forbade me to cry?” As An Jinxiu spoke, she walked towards the entrance of the small courtyard.
Along the way, the servants and maidservants of the mansion would occasionally see An Jin. As they all avoided her, they would secretly glance at her with expressions of sympathy. An Jin didn't pay attention to any of these gazes. She simply straightened her back and walked on her own path.
In the main room, all the masters of the An clan were present, with the exception of An Jin.
”Master, Madam, Second Miss has come to pay her respects.” When the main butler saw An Jinxiu enter the courtyard through the side door, he rushed inside to report to her.
”Let her in,” Grand Preceptor's wife, Nee Qin, ordered.
”Second Miss.” The Chief Steward rushed to his side and greeted her with a bow.
An Jinxiu gave the head steward a polite smile and walked into the main room.
”Second sister, you cried?” The third young miss of the estate, An Jinge, said a few words when she saw An Jin's face.
”I've cried,” An Jinxiu admitted generously.
”Your marriage has already been set,” Grand Preceptor An said after waiting for An Jin to pay his respects to his wife. ”Your crying is useless.”
An Jinxiu lowered her head and said, ”I was the one who made a mistake that day. Father, your daughter is willing to marry.”
As soon as the words came out of An Jin's mouth, all the Masters of the Residence were stunned.
”Are you willing to marry?” Née Qin asked An Jinxiu, ”Ah Jin, you don't have to feel wronged in front of your family.”
”That's right, second sister.” Third miss An Jinge also said, ”If you had thought it through, why would you cry until your eyes were red? That Shangguan Yong guy, I heard he … ”
”Shut up!” At this moment, Grand Preceptor An spoke up to his third daughter. ”Where are your manners?!”