Chapter 146: Upholding the Oath

The sisters strolled hand in hand, stepping out of one shop only to enter another. Whenever they saw something they liked, they bought it. Fang Rong and the others carried various packages in their hands, while Anyi took the opportunity to purchase a new outfit to wear at the upcoming Flower Appreciation Banquet.

"Nineteenth Senior Sister, have you received Lady Min's invitation to the Flower Appreciation Banquet?"

"Mhm. Didn't you receive one?"

"I did. I'm planning to go paint that day. What about you?" Hu Qingyue had studied painting under Ji Fanyi, and her family had also hired private tutors to teach her.

Anyi sighed. "If treating patients counted as a talent, how wonderful that would be."

Hu Qingyue let out a chuckle. "Treating patients isn't a talent; it's a skill."

"But the only thing I can actually showcase is my medical expertise. When it comes to composing poetry, matching couplets, or painting, I know nothing," Anyi said, pouting.

"Don't worry. When the time comes, you can just casually write a piece of calligraphy to pass the test," Hu Qingyue comforted her.

"Let's go to a bookstore and buy a few books. Even if sharpening your spear at the last minute isn't sharp, it will still shine," Anyi said.

The two of them went to the bookstore to buy a few books. Emerging from the shop, they walked forward a few steps before hearing the sound of hooves. Anyi looked up and saw Qing Xi riding toward them on a horse. She quickly grabbed Hu Qingyue and pulled her into an alley to take cover.

"What is it? What is it?" Hu Qingyue asked in a panic.

Fang Rong and Xiangqin stood at the entrance of the alley to block Anyi from view. Although Hu's maid did not understand what was happening, she also helped by standing guard at the alley's mouth. After Qing Xi and his attendants rode past, Fang Rong turned back and said, "Miss, he has gone."

Anyi stepped out from the alley.

"Nineteenth Senior Sister, who were you hiding from?" Hu Qingyue stood on tiptoe to look, but from just a tall, retreating back, she couldn't recognize the person.

"Qing Xi, the eldest son of Princess Lanyi," Anyi replied.

"Has he been pestering you?" Hu Qingyue had absolute confidence in Anyi's appearance.

"No."

"Did you offend him?"

"No."

"Then why are you hiding from him?"

"I swore an oath that wherever I might see him in the future, I would stay far away and never cross paths or speak with him. If I were to break this vow, may heaven strike me down and grant me a wretched death."

Hu Qingyue's expression shifted slightly, and she asked in a deep voice, "Who forced you to swear such a vicious oath? Was it Princess Lanyi?"

"Eighteenth Miss, it wasn't Princess Lanyi. It was Zhuang Manru, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, who forced my mistress to swear this vicious oath." Fang Rong had been secretly simmering with anger over this matter for two days, but since she couldn't tell Madam Luo, she finally found someone to complain to.

Hu Qingyue let out a cold snort and said, "I was wondering who had such audacity—so it was her. Nineteenth Senior Sister, she is the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, but you are the daughter of the grand general who guards the army. What are you afraid of her for?"

"I'm not afraid of her. It's just better to avoid extra trouble when you can," Anyi smiled and said, "Let's go, Eighteenth Senior Sister. Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's continue shopping."

"Alright, we won't speak of it." Though Hu Qingyue said she wouldn't mention it, the gaze hidden beneath her veil flashed with a cold light. That wretched girl Zhuang Manru dared to bully people like this; she must not be let off so easily. She definitely had to find an opportunity to teach this arrogant girl a lesson.

The sisters strolled until noon, had lunch at a restaurant, and then parted ways happily to return to their respective homes.

Upon returning home, Anyi saw Madam Luo and Nanny Li chatting and laughing together most agreeably. Nanny Li was wearing a dress that Madam Luo had made for her. Seeing the two of them getting along so harmoniously, Anyi did not step inside and quietly withdrew. Nanny Li had not been there long enough to earn complete trust, but having such a companion by Madam Luo's side was a good thing.

Over the next few days, Anyi stayed at home, focusing on reading and practicing calligraphy. She dug out *Collections of Parallel Sentences*, *Rules of Sound and Rhyme*, and *Rhyme Matching*, learning to compose poetry and verses.

On November twelfth, Anyi proceeded to the Princess's Manor as arranged to check Princess Lanyi's regular pulse. "Your Highness's body has already recovered its health, but you still need to take extra care."

Princess Lanyi smiled and said, "Caiping came into the manor yesterday to bring me good news—she is pregnant. She said this was entirely your merit, that it was you who cured her illness."

"It is a physician's duty to treat patients; this humble girl dares not claim credit," Anyi smiled faintly.

Princess Lanyi picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and asked, "Have you received the invitation to Lady Min's Flower Appreciation Banquet?"

"I have received it." Anyi was not surprised at all that Princess Lanyi knew about this.

"You must perform well that day."

"This humble girl will do her best," Anyi lowered her head and said.

"Shaoyao, bring in the things I prepared for Miss An," Princess Lanyi called out clearly.

Shaoyao led four maids into the room in response, each carrying a brocade box. The four maids placed the boxes on the table and opened the lids. Instantly, a dazzling radiance filled the air. The four boxes were brimming with jewelry and accessories, every single piece luxurious and exquisite—gilded bracelets inlaid with gemstones and pearls, jade bangles of various colors radiating a lustrous glow, as well as delicately crafted hairpins, bodkins, and earrings of all styles. It was a dazzling array that blurred one's vision.

Even if Anyi lacked an eye for appraising jewelry, she possessed common sense. The items produced by a princess were unquestionably rare treasures. But what did Princess Lanyi mean by bringing out so many ornaments? Giving them all to her as a gift was out of the question.

Princess Lanyi had been observing Anyi the entire time. Seeing that her expression remained unchanged and her gaze calm, the princess narrowed her eyes slightly and slowly said, "Pick any two items from here to wear on the day of the Flower Appreciation Banquet."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for the bestowal." Anyi frowned slightly. Was Princess Lanyi testing her? Why would she want to test her? Did she still want to scheme to pull her into the palace? It seemed necessary to find an opportunity to poison Princess Lanyi; she could not let things continue like this.

Anyi casually glanced over the four brocade boxes and selected a pearl and red ruby filigree butterfly hairpin along with a pair of teardrop-shaped red agate earrings. "Your Highness, this humble girl has made her selection."

Princess Lanyi smiled and said, "These two pieces of jewelry are striking and pretty, suitable for a young lady of your age to wear."

Anyi smiled.

Shaoyao fetched a small brocade box prepared in advance and packed the jewelry inside.

Princess Lanyi instructed, "Prepare these things well. On the twenty-second, you don't need to come over."

"Understood." Anyi rose, bowed, took the brocade box, and withdrew from the room. Accompanied by Xiangqin and Taoren, she headed home.

The saying "enemies are bound to meet on a narrow path" was something Anyi had only heard of before, but now she felt it deeply. At the second gate, she ran into Qing Xi, who was about to go out.

"Miss An, here to feel my mother's regular pulse once again," Qing Xi said with a crooked smile.

Anyi treated Qing Xi as if he were nothing, not even casting him a glance from the corner of her eye as she directly boarded the carriage.

Qing Xi's gaze flickered as he said, "Miss An, turning a blind eye to people like this lacks propriety entirely."

Xiangqin helped Anyi onto the carriage, then turned back and said, "Eldest Young Master, please do not make things difficult for my mistress. Zhuang—"

"Xiangqin, don't speak nonsense. Get in the carriage." Anyi's voice rang out from inside the carriage, cutting off her words in time to prevent her from uttering Zhuang Manru's name.

Xiangqin pressed her lips together, stepped on the wooden footstool, and climbed into the carriage.

Little Tao bowed to Qing Xi, leaped onto the carriage, shook the reins, and urged the horses forward.

Qing Xi narrowed his eyes slightly. *Zhuang or Zhuang? It must be Zhuang.* He let out a cold snort. The Zhuang family had quite a bit of audacity; relying on the favor of Consort Li, they actually dared to harbor death-seeking ambitions to covet him. They were truly looking to die.

As the carriage departed from the Princess's Manor, Xiangqin lowered her head in remorse. "Mistress, this maid was wrong. Please punish me."

"Silly girl, you did nothing wrong. You did very well." Anyi was never someone who swallowed grievances in silence. She removed the jade bracelet from her right wrist and handed it to Xiangqin. "A reward for you."

Xiangqin's face broke into a wide smile. "Thank you, Mistress."

Upon returning from the Princess's Manor, Anyi shut herself indoors and devoted herself wholeheartedly to preparing for the Flower Appreciation Banquet, striving not to humiliate herself on that day.

On the evening of October twenty-fifth, the capital experienced its first snowfall. It continued to fall steadily from midnight until dawn, leaving the ground covered in a thick layer of snow.

Nanny Li stood in the corridor, looking out at the snow-filled courtyard, and remarked, "Back in the palace, the masters and mistresses would often collect this snow to boil and brew tea."

"Is tea brewed with snow water better than tea brewed with well water?" Madam Luo asked with curiosity.

"This maid once heard the masters in the palace say that water for brewing tea ranks snow water as the best, spring water second, and well water the worst. Unfortunately, this maid is a worldly person and cannot distinguish those subtle flavors. I always felt the tea brewed with any of these waters tasted the same," Nanny Li said with a smile.

"Noble figures in the palace all use snow water to make tea, so the taste must be wonderful," Madam Luo said, smacking her lips slightly.

"If Mother wants to drink tea brewed with snow water, it's simple. I'll take Shanyao and the others to gather some snow right now, and we can brew tea with snow water ourselves—we can play the refined scholars for once too," Anyi said, walking in gracefully while wearing a bright red cloak. Hearing their conversation, she laughed.

Madam Luo waved her hand and said, "No, no, I don't want to drink any snow water tea. On such a freezing day, if you run outside to play in the snow and catch a cold, what then? No being mischievous; hurry inside with me to warm by the fire."

Anyi smiled, her lips curving, and obediently followed Madam Luo into the room to warm herself.

After breakfast, reluctant to let Anyi run back and forth in the biting wind and cold, Madam Luo said, "There's nothing much to do today. Keep me company for a few rounds of cards. I hear that noble ladies in the capital often play cards for amusement; the two of us can have some fun today as well."

"Alright." Having spent so many days studying, Anyi's mind and body were thoroughly exhausted, and she was more than happy to have a relaxing day accompanying Madam Luo.

Madam Luo, Anyi, and Nanny Li sat at the table playing cards for the better part of the day. At noon, after lunch and a short nap, the three of them resumed their game.

By dusk, Ankang returned. Seeing a large pile of copper coins in front of Anyi, he smiled and said, "Little Sister's luck is good today. You've won so much money."

"I win from all sides," Anyi said with a smile.

"Today she was the only one winning; neither Li Sister nor I won a thing," Madam Luo said.

"The young miss plays cards exceptionally well," Nanny Li praised.

"It's a pity the Flower Appreciation Banquet doesn't involve playing cards, otherwise I could wipe the floor with everyone," Anyi sighed.

"Still stressing over the Flower Appreciation Banquet?" Ankang asked with a smile.

"I've won." Anyi discarded another tile and held out her hands, demanding her winnings from the other two.

"No more, no more. I'm out of money." Madam Luo gathered the tiles together.

Shanzha and Taoren collected the tiles into their boxes and took them away.

"Eldest Brother, please help me. I really can't write any more of these," Anyi said, acting coquettishly.

"No, cheating is not allowed. The poem you wrote the day before yesterday already has a bit of artistic mood. If you put in a little more effort, you'll be able to compose fine poetry," Ankang was very eager to cultivate all his siblings into learned individuals. Unfortunately, Anjian had already embarked on the path of an uncultured ruffian with no turning back, so he placed all his hopes on Anyi.

"By the time I manage to write fine poetry, all my hair will have been pulled out," Anyi pouted and said.

Ankang remained firm in his refusal to help, leaving Anyi with no choice but to continue racking her brains over poetry.

This book was first published by Xiaoxiang Shuyuan; please do not reproduce it!