Yan Qi stood up and carefully examined Qi Zhenzhen, from head to toe, with great scrutiny.
"There's nothing particularly special about you, either. Ruining praised you as if you were a blooming flower," Yan Qi said with a chuckle.
Li Nuan and Li Rou glanced at Qi Zhenzhen with concern. Yan Qi's words sounded like she was reprimanding someone; how could she be like that?
"But I like it," Yan Qi added suddenly.
"This is our first meeting, Yan Yan. Can't you be a bit more reserved? You'll scare people," Ruining pouted, expressing her displeasure.
"You know me. If I like someone, I like them. If I don't, I don't. Don't expect me to pretend for the sake of appearances. That would be too tiring!" Yan Qi pulled Qi Zhenzhen to sit down. "It's all about fate when it comes to people. You and I, Zhenzhen, are destined to meet."
In the eyes of Li Nuan and Li Rou, Yan Qi was a peculiar person.
In Qi Zhenzhen's eyes, Yan Qi was a rare individual with a straightforward personality.
After a round of conversation, the five girls grew closer.
Li Nuan and Li Rou's opinions of Yan Qi also changed. Not because of anything else, but because Yan Qi showed no disdain towards them even after knowing that the three of them were daughters of concubines. They were deeply grateful for her sincerity.
Especially when Ruining and Yan Qi learned that the fragrant sachets were made by Li Nuan, their eyes sparkled like stars.
Yan Qi even expressed her envy, saying how good the Qi and Li families were to their daughters, not requiring them to learn arts like playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, or needlework.
Qi Zhenzhen and Li Nuan exchanged a glance. "Yan Yan, you're mistaken. It's not that we don't have to learn; it's that no one thought to have us learn. Now that we're older, it's a bit late to start. Another reason is our interests. For example, Sister Nuan has always been sensitive to spices since childhood. As for me, I enjoy making all sorts of peculiar things. Oh, and I like to cook and can make many delicious dishes. As for needlework, clothes can be bought anyway, so why bother doing them yourself? Therefore, I use my needlework skills only for sewing small items."
"That's still more impressive than me," Yan Qi said. "I've seen the cloth dolls you made for Ruining; your stitches are quite good."
Qi Zhenzhen nodded. "I only know these simple stitches."
"Your Highness, it's almost time. The Princess Consort has sent someone to invite you," Lü Liu reported as she entered.
Ruining wore a long face. "They have to come every year for this. I'm so tired of it. And my mother is so enthusiastic about it. She likes all the unmarried young ladies and bachelors."
"Just bear with it. After all, the atmosphere in the capital is different from the border. There are no strict gender divisions. Whoever likes someone will be direct. Here, everyone is incredibly reserved and shy. If not for events like the Lotus Banquet, they would truly be married off blindly!"
Ruining heartily agreed. "That's true. My mother's wish is to find a gentle and virtuous young lady at the Lotus Banquet to be my sister-in-law. I think my second sister is quite suitable, but she's already engaged."
Qi Zhenzhen playfully chided her. "Don't talk nonsense when we're out."
If such words were spoken outside, people might accuse her of improper conduct.
Ruining stuck out her tongue. "Brother An Nian is very fierce. I wouldn't dare encourage my brother to fight him for a wife."
From Ruining's tone, it seemed she was familiar with Gu Sinian.
"You call him so affectionately, yet your Brother An Nian is always so cold towards you," Yan Qi said with a pout.
"That's just Brother An Nian's personality. He's a very good person. If he weren't, how could he have saved me when I was kidnapped as a child?" Ruining argued earnestly. "A person with a bad personality wouldn't care about my life or death."
Gu Sinian owed Ruining a life-saving debt?
Without Qi Zhenzhen needing to ask, Ruining, while being dressed by her maid, recounted the story of the life-saving debt—
Prince Rui had been assigned the task of suppressing bandits. Although he had achieved a great victory, there were still a few who escaped. One of these escapees was quite capable. After lying low for a period, he learned the Princess Consort Rui's whereabouts. While she was taking Ruining to Taihe Temple to offer incense, he abducted Ruining from the temple and fled directly towards the back mountain.
It was by chance that Gu Sinian was also accompanying his mother to offer incense. Bored with listening to the sermons, he went to wander in the back mountain alone.
He encountered the bandit who had abducted Ruining. Ruining cried for help, and the twelve-year-old Gu Sinian engaged the bandit.
The bandit initially did not take Gu Sinian, a mere youth, seriously. He did not expect that this underestimation would lead him into a difficult situation.
Gu Sinian grappled with him, preventing him from disengaging. Ruining, held by the bandit's arm, was terrified. Seeing Gu Sinian's ferocity, she seized an opportunity and bit down hard on the bandit's arm with all her might. Gu Sinian, taking advantage of the moment, severed the bandit's arm with a sword and rescued Ruining. The wounded bandit ultimately could not escape. The attendants from Prince Rui's manor also caught up. The group subdued the bandit.
"Isn't he amazing, Second Sister?" Ruining said excitedly. "Later, my father told me that the bandit was a disciple of a very formidable demon in the martial world, with excellent martial arts. The fact that Brother An Nian could injure him shows how skilled he is. Although I was rescued, I was frightened and fell ill after returning home. I was sick for a full month. After I recovered, I wanted my mother to take me to thank him. However, my mother told me that Brother An Nian had joined the army. I couldn't even say thank you in person! Later, when Brother An Nian returned, I saw him, but he said he didn't remember me."
He didn't remember? Then why were you so excited, girl?
Qi Zhenzhen thought to herself.
"Whether he remembers or not, he is my savior, and I will always remember his kindness. Of course, I will also be good to you, Second Sister," Ruining added. "The rumors outside about Brother An Nian must be false. Second Sister, you mustn't not want to marry Brother An Nian because of those words."
Is she Gu Sinian's little fan girl?
Qi Zhenzhen nodded. "I believe he is a good person."
He is a good person, but unfortunately, with such a distinguished appearance, he is a male prostitute.
What a pity!
Ruining changed her clothes and had her maid comb her hair into a double-bun style, placing the little rabbit given by Qi Zhenzhen on her head.
Her innocent face, the cute little rabbit, looked beautiful.
"Second Sister, you are so skillful with your hands. Can you give me pretty hair accessories in the future?" Ruining affectionately linked her arm with Qi Zhenzhen's.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded. "You said you would be good to me, so if I don't give you anything, will you not be good to me anymore?"
Ruining shook her head seriously. "No, I won't. If you marry Brother An Nian, I'll have to call you sister-in-law in the future."
Qi Zhenzhen didn't know how to describe her current feelings. It was clear that Ruining had shown her friendliness and enthusiasm from the beginning, not because she was a likable person, but because of Gu Sinian's influence.
In a way, with the principle of living together in the future, it seemed quite good to learn more about Gu Sinian's past.