Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 432

Chapter 432: Busy

As soon as An Zhi saw Lin Shuyao disembark, she knew she was going to find fault. She calmly said, “Whether ignoring or mourning him every day, the Princess should keep quiet about such unfounded claims. I heard the County Prince has openly stated that he hates your chatterbox and can’t say a single kind word.”

According to her status, An Zhi had to bow when she saw the County Princess.

But people flatter the powerful and look down on the weak. How could Lin Shuyao, a princess consort living in poverty, compare to An Zhi, the wife of a powerful official?

From the very beginning, Pei Que had told An Zhi that she could indulge herself and be willful, that he would always be there for her no matter what. Most of the time, An Zhi followed the rules of propriety.

And now, An Zhi was already in a bad mood, and when Lin Shuyao confronted her with some sarcastic remarks, she simply retorted.

Lin Shuyao didn’t need to tell anyone about her life in the palace; everyone in the capital knew it wasn’t easy. Unfavored by her husband and without the support of her family, the worn-out clothes she was wearing were a clear sign.

“You!” Lin Shuyao glared at An Zhi. “How dare you say that to me?”

“What did I say?” An Zhi smiled faintly. “I merely stated some facts, not exaggerated or slandered you. The dead are greater, Princess; please keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, you won’t be nagging us, the living.”

With that, An Zhi turned and walked back into the Mansion.

Today was no different from the previous two days. When An Zhi arrived at the mourning hall, Madam Li was already there with her daughter. Everyone knew what she was thinking. Since there weren’t many people around, there was no need to put on a show.

So, after An Zhi offered incense to her eldest brother, she went to the backyard to help distribute tea.

About an hour later, the people from the Second and Third Houses arrived.

Seeing An Zhi, Madam Xu was much more polite than before.

Madam Meng stood with An Zhi. “When I came in just now, I saw Lin Shuyao and Madam of Yun were here too.”

“Today is only the third day. My eldest sister-in-law wants to wait for Pei Yu’s return before burying my eldest brother. It’s still several days away. These people are here so early, just chatting and asking questions.” An Zhi didn’t want to go out and socialize with people she didn’t like; she just wanted to hide behind them.

Madam Meng knew An Zhi’s thoughts. “Those people are annoying, but no matter what, we still have to show up. We can have less contact from now on, but we’re brothers after all.”

“I understand.” An Zhi put down the tea bag in her hand and stretched her gaze toward the rockery in the distance. “Brothers from the same mother.”

No matter how deep the hatred, the First and Fourth Houses had to consider each other for the sake of face. They could fight among themselves, but they couldn’t let outsiders see them as a joke. That was what an aristocratic family was.

An Zhi and Madam Meng went to the front courtyard together. Pei Zheng’s death had been sudden, and everything in the Mansion needed to be rearranged. Most of the ladies and masters who came to pay their respects stayed for a short while and then left, returning for the funeral.

If they were close relatives, they would come almost daily.

By the time An Zhi arrived at the front courtyard, Lin Shuyao and her companions had already left. No matter how shameless one was, one wouldn’t stay while someone was busy.

She thought she could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but she ran into Tao Weiran and Pei Heming, who had come to pay their respects.

These two people were also ones An Zhi didn’t want to see.

She turned around and left, but Tao Weiran called her “Fourth Sister-in-law.”

An Zhi had no choice but to turn around and patiently ask, “Young Master Tao, is there something wrong?”

After the last incident, Tao Weiran had received a harsh letter from his father, and although he still glanced at An Zhi a few more times, he quickly looked away. “Nothing, I just saw Fourth Sister-in-law, and, thinking of the relationship between our two families, I wanted to ask how she was.”

If it had been said before, it would have been nothing. But since Tao Weiran had written that erotic poem and hadn’t explained it, the word “relationship” he mentioned had become somewhat ambiguous.

“Our two families have been friends for generations, and Young Master Tao is being polite.” An Zhi saw the maid from the main house approaching and hurriedly called for her to take Tao Weiran away.

After staying in the main house until evening, An Zhi returned home, her back aching.

Since her home was just around the corner, An Zhi didn’t even bother taking a carriage.

But unexpectedly, she ran into Tao Weiran just after turning the corner.

“Oh, what a coincidence, Fourth Sister-in-law,” Tao Weiran smiled and bowed at An Zhi.

Although the streets weren’t crowded at the moment, there were still a few pedestrians. An Zhi didn’t want to linger with Tao Weiran any longer, so she nodded, said “yes,” and prepared to leave.

Tao Weiran finally seized the opportunity, stepped back, and continued to hold An Zhi back. “Fourth Sister-in-law, it’s not safe for you to go back like this. Let me take you home.”

“Don’t bother, Young Master Tao.” An Zhi really wanted to write a letter to Prince Dingnan, asking how he could have given birth to a scoundrel like Tao Weiran. If someone of her status could be harassed, imagine what it would be like for other common women who encountered Tao Weiran.

Tao Weiran had seen countless beauties, but this was his first time seeing someone as stunningly beautiful and aloof as An Zhi. Dingnan was a place of open-mindedness, with divorce and remarriage commonplace. So, at first, he didn’t think anything of An Zhi. Later, after being scolded by his father, he did behave himself for a few days. But he’d always had everything he wanted, and now that he’d found a woman so desirable, he could only think about her. Today, having finally met An Zhi, he couldn’t help but speak.

“It’s not a big deal. It’s just a short distance. I’d better take my fourth sister-in-law home.” Seeing An Zhi frown, Tao Weiran felt a special personality in her. He was even more tempted, and with a smile, he offered to lead the way.

“Ouch! Who’s offending me?” Tao Weiran’s knee was suddenly struck by a stone, and he fell to his knees in pain.

An Zhi turned around and saw Li Ji dismounting.

Li Ji, whip in one hand, snorted at Tao Weiran, “I thought you were some local thug, but you’re the son of the Dingnan family. Young Master Tao, does your father know you’re harassing the daughter-in-law of a family close to him?”

Tao Weiran didn’t recognize Li Ji and shouted, clutching his knee. “Who the hell are you?”

“Me?” Li Ji pointed at himself, his lips curled. “If you don’t even know who I am, why should I tell you?” He turned to An Zhi. “Aren’t you leaving yet?”

An Zhi saw Tao Weiran sitting on the ground with a painful expression on his face. Presumably, his knee was hurting. Fearing Li Ji might get into trouble, she turned to Fusheng. “Fusheng, take the prince to get some ointment. His hand is cut.”

“I didn’t…” Li Ji began to speak, but Fusheng came over and gestured for him to leave. Although he knew An Zhi meant well, he felt reluctant to let Tao Weiran off so easily, so he pouted and left with Fusheng.

Tao Weiran was in so much pain that he couldn’t stand up and had to be supported by his attendants. “You guys are useless! You didn’t even notice a man like that on horseback! Get out of here! Ouch, it hurts so much!”