Tong Aning sat up, clutching her head, and witnessed an extremely bizarre scene—
Her usually steady and never-making-a-mistake elder brother was being scolded by her mother and father, and even her second sister occasionally chimed in with her own words.
That's so weird.
Tong Aning wondered if she was still half asleep, so she raised her hand and rubbed her eyes.
Tong Yi'an stayed by Tong Aning's bedside and said happily, "Fourth Sister is awake!"
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately went to her bedside.
Su Zhouyue touched Tong Aning's still flushed face and asked, " Aning, you're awake. Does your head hurt?"
Why do I have a headache?
Tong Aning shook her head in confusion.
Su Zhouyue and Tong Aobai exchanged a glance, realizing that their daughter had completely forgotten what had happened before.
Thinking of this, the two couldn't help but scold their eldest son again.
Tong Aning asked curiously, "Big brother, what exactly did you do wrong?"
Tong Yibin saw that her eyes were sparkling; she clearly really wanted to know.
Seeing Tong Yibin looking over, she blinked even more expectantly.
Tong Yibin: "..."
Tong Yi'an Tong Aning's hand, said, "Fourth Sister, Mother and Father said that Eldest Brother made you drunk, and he should be punished."
Tong Aning paused, then suddenly realized.
[So it was all for me.]
Tong Aning waved her hand and said, "I'm not drunk at all."
Su Zhouyue didn't believe her. She pulled Tong Aning's clothes closer and scolded her, "You still say you weren't drunk? Your older brother carried you all the way here."
When Su Zhouyue saw Tong Aning being carried back by Tong Yibin, her heart skipped a beat, thinking that Tong Aning had encountered some danger.
Upon hearing that she had been carried back by her older brother, Tong Aning smiled sheepishly and stubbornly insisted, "I was asleep."
"Alright, stop making excuses for your older brother."
Tong Aning said anxiously, "I really was asleep."
[If you could get drunk just from drinking fruit syrup, that would be so embarrassing.]
Everyone:"..."
So, it was because they didn't want to lose face.
What could she do but spoil her? Su Zhouyue said, "Yes, yes, Aning is asleep."
Tong Aobai chimed in, "Of course, Aning is my daughter, and she can hold her liquor quite well."
Su Zhouyue glared at Tong Aobai, "You're getting cocky just because I said you're fat?"
Tong Aobai shut up.
Tong Siyan smiled and said, "Drink this soup."
Tong Aning sniffed it, then asked with a pained expression, "Second sister, what is this?"
[It smells so awful, it must taste absolutely terrible.]
Presumably, if she said it was a hangover remedy, Tong Aning would try to argue, and it would be troublesome if she stubbornly refused to drink it. Tong Siyan said softly, "Drink it, and your headache won't bother you."
Tong Aning immediately pinched her nose and obediently drank it.
This is really a headache.
Su Zhouyue said, "Drink less of that fruit syrup in the future."
After saying that, she went to look at Tong Yibin.
Tong Yibin nodded slightly, and Su Zhouyue was satisfied.
Tong Aning said, "I understand, I understand."
She looked at Su Zhouyue, took Su Zhouyue's hand, and said coquettishly, "Mother, I'm hungry."
Su Zhouyue gently stroked her chin. "Can't you get full from drinking fruit syrup?"
Tong Yi'an Tong Aning glared at her menacingly.
Tong Yi'an laughed and waved her hand, "I'm not laughing anymore, I'm not laughing anymore."
Tong Aning: "..."
Su Zhouyue said, " Yingtao, go and bring in the food."
Yingtao: "Yes, madam."
*
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival.
I heard that this year's lantern festival is exceptionally beautiful; even the emperor is going to release lanterns from the city wall. Tong Aobai and several of the emperor's trusted ministers have been summoned to the palace.
Su Zhouyue planned to take the children out to see the world.
Tong Yibin had never been interested in lantern festivals like this, but Su Zhouyue, chin in hand, said, "He's not going, so the few of us are perfect."
Tong Yibin, who had just entered the study, chuckled when he heard his mother's deliberately loud voice.
He poked his head out and said, "Whatever you want to buy today, it's all on my tab, how about that?"
Tong Aning rubbed her hands together eagerly, "[Isn't Big Brother afraid we'll empty his savings?]"
Tong Yi'an was the first to agree, "Big brother, don't worry."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Tong Yibin closed the door.
*
"Mommy, look, what a beautiful rabbit lantern!"
Tong Yi'an pulled Su Zhouyue's hand, and Su Zhouyue looked over and was also impressed by the exquisite craftsmanship.
Seeing that they liked it, the stall owner took the rabbit lantern down and handed it to them.
Su Zhouyue took it and exclaimed, "If there weren't candles inside, I would have thought it was a real rabbit!"
The stall owner smiled and said, "Madam, you flatter me. I have no other skills, just a knack for crafting lanterns, and I make a living selling them."
Tong Yi'an said, "You're so amazing!"
Tong Yi'an was just a young girl, with bright, clear eyes. Her praise was genuine, and the stall owner's eyes crinkled into a smile.
Su Zhouyue asked, " Yi'an, do you want it?"
Tong Yi'an nodded vigorously.
Su Zhouyue gestured, and the nanny beside her handed the silver to the stall owner. Tong Yi'an held up the rabbit lantern, the flickering candlelight illuminating her face. Su Zhouyue looked around and asked, "Where are your second and fourth sisters?"
Tong Yi'an was confused. "I don't know."
There were other people following them, but Su Zhouyue wasn't worried. She looked at Tong Yi'an and said, "You only have this lamp in your heart, right?"
Tong Yi'an chuckled, holding a lamp in one hand and Su Zhouyue's hand in the other.
On the other side.
Tong Aning was deep in thought when she saw Tong Siyan approaching. She quickly grabbed Tong Siyan's hand and said, "Second sister, please help me think of this riddle!"
Tong Siyan teased her deliberately, "Do you really have to have this lamp?"
Tong Aning said firmly, "I absolutely have to have it. If I don't get it, I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Tong Aning pleaded, "Please, Second Sister."
"Okay, okay, but I might not be able to guess it either."
"Ha," Tong Aning said confidently, "Second sister, you are a famous talented woman. If you can't guess it, then no one else can."
Tong Aning was determined to get this lamp!
Tong Siyan picked up the lantern and took the riddle corresponding to it. She met the stall owner's smiling gaze, then glanced at Tong Aning, who was eagerly waiting, and said gently, "Yuanxiao, am I right, stall owner?"
The stall owner beamed, "Miss is clever; you can take this lamp with you."
Tong Siyan took it and handed it to Tong Aning, saying indulgently, "Take it."
[Yay!]
[My second sister is so amazing! I want to kiss her!]
Tong Siyan: "..."
She lightly covered her face with her handkerchief, turned around, and saw Tong Aning twirling the lantern in her hand.
Tong Siyan said helplessly, "Should we still go and take a look ahead?"
"Want."
Tong Aning took Tong Siyan's hand, and the two walked to the eaves of a house. Not far away, people were performing iron flower fireworks.
Tong Aning and Tong Siyan stood a little higher, and their eyes were illuminated by the brilliant sparks.
[So beautiful.]
Yes, it's so beautiful.
On this day last year, she was still at her husband's home, bound by rules and regulations. Today, she can freely wander through the bustling city, enjoying the lively atmosphere, with her beloved younger sister by her side.
Tong Siyan felt a surge of joy and exhilaration.
Want to browse around some more?
Tong Aning nodded.
The two descended the steps, only to run into an acquaintance.
" Sister Yan?"
Tong Siyan looked over and met a somewhat heroic face. She exclaimed in surprise, " Anyi Yi, you've returned to the capital?"
Zhuang Anyi smiled sheepishly, "I just got back not long ago. I was planning to visit the Marquis's residence in a couple of days, but I didn't expect to run into you today."
Tong Siyan, "It's good that you have this thought. This is my fourth younger sister, Tong Aning."
Zhuang Anyi's eyes lit up. "So you're Aning! You were still in your mother's belly when I left the capital."
Tong Aning said sweetly, "Sister Anyi."
"Okay, okay."
Zhuang Anyi took off her jade pendant and handed it to Tong Aning, saying, "Consider it a gift from your older sister."
The jade pendant was warm and smooth to the touch; it must have been made of the finest jade. Zhuang Anyi gave it to her just like that.
Tong Aning went to see Tong Siyan, Tong Siyan, "Take it."
Zhuang Anyi laughed and said, " Sister Yan is so dignified!"
Tong Siyan smiled faintly at Zhuang Anyi's teasing, and a few soft coughs came from beside them.
Tong Siyan's smile faded, and she asked, "And who is this?"
Zhuang Anyi slapped her forehead, "Look at me, I was so busy exchanging pleasantries that I forgot to introduce him. This is my fiancé, Song Ziyu."
Zhuang Anyi patted Song Ziyu on the shoulder and said, "Look at you, you caught a cold but still insisted on coming out with me. Aren't you feeling unwell?"
Song Ziyu shook her head and cupped her hands in a respectful gesture towards Tong Aning and Tong Siyan.
Tong Siyan asked, "You two should be getting married soon, right?"
When the topic of marriage came up, Zhuang Anyi blushed slightly, "Yes."
Tong Siyan had heard about the engagement between the Zhuang and Song families, but she always felt that Tong Siyan Song Ziyu was not a good person.
He wasn't really feeling unwell; he was clearly using coughing to get their attention.
[ Xixi, are you saying that Song Ziyu is the one who used a mistress to deliver love letters?]
Zhuang Anyi was taken aback; where did that voice come from?
She was filled with doubts, but then she saw Tong Siyan gently shake her head at her.
Sister Yan asked her to continue listening?
Zhuang Anyi patiently continued listening.
[What he was actually delivering wasn't a love letter, but some secret about the bookmaker... Does he have a grudge against the bookmaker?]
Otherwise, Tong Aning really couldn't understand why she would go to such lengths to uncover the bookmaker's secrets.
[Host, it's not that we have a grudge; he's just a political enemy of the dealer who hired him.]
Tong Aning was very surprised.
[What a despicable tactic... But judging from what Sister Anyi said, they're getting married soon. How should I tell Sister Anyi?]
Although it was Tong Aning's first meeting with Zhuang Anyi Zhuang Anyi, she had a good impression of her and couldn't stand by and watch Zhuang Anyi be used like this.
Just as Tong Aning was trying to figure out a way to give a hint—
Zhuang Anyi used an over-the-shoulder throw to send Song Ziyu sprawling to the ground.
Tong Aning: "!!!"
[Oh no, the lively fish is now dead.]
Zhuang Anyi straightened her hair and coldly stared at Song Ziyu on the ground, who dared to deceive her.
Just because a tiger doesn't show its power doesn't mean it's a sick cat.