The eldest sister was reborn and the younger sister traveled through time. I just want to survive.

Opening the cover on the brazier, Yan Muxi threw the entire letter into the charcoal fire. When the paper turned into a wisp of thick smoke, he closed the cover again.

The room smelled bad, so she walked to the window and opened it halfway. The cold wind blew on her face, and her dizzy head became a little clearer after crying.

In the past two years, even if her mediocre performance did not catch the eyes of the princes and nobles, her father would not easily let her go back to Jiangnan unless he got an equivalent exchange of benefits.

Grandpa said that if he could help her get married to her cousin, he would definitely do it, but he didn't know how much it would cost and whether she could afford it.

Yin Xia opened the curtain and walked in, "Miss, you opened the window, why don't you put on an extra coat? If you get sick from the cold, you'll have to drink the most disgusting bitter medicine soup!"

As he spoke, he walked over and pulled Yan Muxi to sit down in front of the dressing table, then went back to close the window tightly. "The fourth, fifth, and seventh young masters have all returned home for their annual leave! Madam just sent someone to tell them that they should go to Fujuyuan with the master, and that the young lady should go alone, and she also specifically told them not to go too late."

"Got it," Yan Muxi saw that the makeup in the bronze mirror was a little smudged, so she reached out and took out a box of rouge from her dressing table and casually smeared it on her face twice, "Has the fourth young master returned to Junlan Garden?"

Yin Xia helped her fix her hair while replying, "Young masters, you must pay your respects to the old lady before returning home. The fourth young master probably hasn't had time to see Aunt Ge yet."

When Yan Muxi and his servant arrived at Fuju Garden, most of the masters and servants from other courtyards had already arrived.

The Yan family had been in business for a short time and did not pay much attention to formalities; men and women ate at separate tables but not in separate rooms.

Seeing Yan Muxi and her servant come in, Old Lady Yan asked casually, "Sister Xi is here!" Without waiting for Yan Muxi to stand up, she turned around and looked at her grandchildren standing beside her.

The fifth, fourth and seventh sons sat on the left side of the old lady respectively. Maybe because she was born a peasant woman, Old Lady Yan did not distinguish much between legitimate and illegitimate children, and usually treated her three grandsons equally.

The fourth son, Yan Honglin, is the eldest son, but because of his illegitimate status he cannot surpass the legitimate son. No matter what, he follows the rules and ranks behind the fifth son, Yan Hongyuan.

After Yan Hongyuan greeted her, Yan Honglin called out politely, "Second sister!"

Yan Muxi responded lazily, took the calligraphy and painting from Yin Xia and handed it over, "Here, my mother learned that Dean Fang liked Mr. Qin's paintings, so she asked grandpa for it to give to my fourth brother. You can give it to the Dean to show your admiration!"

Upon hearing that the scroll in front of him was a painting by Mr. Qin, Yan Honglin paused with his hand half-extended, not knowing whether to take it or not.

The painting was too valuable, so he didn't want to accept it. However, his second sister had handed it to him, and it would be impolite not to accept it, so he had to look at Father Yan for help.

Father Yan coughed lightly and looked at Qian Manman who was still in a daze. "What's going on?"

Qian Manman came back to her senses and saw that everyone was looking at her. She hurriedly explained, "I, I accidentally learned that Mr. Fang liked Mr. Qin's paintings, so I thought of getting some for Lin'er as a thank-you gift. Lin'er, don't be embarrassed, accept it quickly! I can't refuse a gift from my mother."

Seeing that Yan's father also nodded, Yan Honglin accepted it with a red face.

Yan Muxi snorted, "Mother is biased. I, your biological daughter, have never received such a pleasing gift."

Qian Manman smiled and scolded, "You are the elder sister, don't argue with your younger brother about everything. Brother Lin has worked hard in his studies, you should be more caring and considerate to him."

Yan Mulin blushed, bowed and saluted Qian Manman, "Thank you for your concern, mother. I will study hard and live up to your expectations in the future."

"We are a family, why are you talking so differently? Lin'er, you have been very good. While working hard, you have to take care of your health and not overwork yourself." Qian Manman's words were not just for show. She could act coquettishly and curse, but she could not say polite words.

Yan Honglin is the one who looks most like his father Yan among the three sons of the Yan family. Qian Manman loves Yan Honglin so much that when she saw this face, she no longer remembered Aunt Ge at all and her heart and eyes were filled with love.

Yan Muxi stared with eyes wide open, "Humph! You're still kissing my mother, but your heart is set on her! Just tell me, am I my mother's biological daughter?"

Qian Manman retracted her gaze and looked at her daughter perfunctorily, "I'll move the pair of red corals from my storeroom to your yard later, okay?"

Yan Muxi then gave up. Yan Muqing didn't come due to illness, so she sat down on the girl's first chair, and after sitting down, her body leaned towards the back of the chair out of habit.

Facing Su's hesitant attitude, he sat up straight reluctantly.

Seeing that she was still so lazy, Su put aside her doubts and felt that she might have been worrying too much recently.

Xijie'er's personality is like Qian's. Her thoughts are written on her face. How could she have the ability to calculate people's hearts?

Worried about her daughter's illness, Su ate a few mouthfuls of food in a hurry and left the table first to go to Yaqingyuan.

Old Mrs. Yan didn't eat meat, so she put down her chopsticks after a while. Regardless of whether others were full or not, she left Father Yan alone to talk and sent everyone back to the courtyard.

After leaving Fujuyuan, Yan Muxi told Dongyu, "Run back to the yard first and ask the kitchen to make two bowls of noodle soup so that my mother and I can have them when we get back."

Qian Manman complained, "Don't eat too much for dinner. If a woman gets too fat, she won't be able to get married."

Yan Muxi called Dongyu, who hadn't run far yet, and said, "Just make one bowl of noodles."

Qian Manman's lips curled up slightly when she heard her daughter say, "Mother, don't eat it, so we don't have to make two bowls and not finish them and waste them."

She bit her lip and wanted to retort that she was already married and it didn't matter if she was a little fat. But then she thought better of it as it would be too embarrassing.

Yan Muxi would not indulge her. She was busy picking up food for others at the dinner table just now, and was forced to leave the table before she could eat a few bites.

The daughter was considerate of her, but she not only did not appreciate it, she also started to gasp for air. So she had to rely on gasping for air to fill her stomach!

When they reached the corner, Qian Manman looked back at Fujuyuan and said, "It's a pity that the painting was given away, otherwise your father..." She felt that it was not good to say these things in front of her daughter halfway through.

Even though he didn't hear everything she said, Yan Muxi guessed what she meant.

She blamed herself for giving the painting to her fourth brother in public. It would have been better to keep it for her to give to her father privately, and it would have given her another chance to win his favor.

But she didn't think about it. She gave the painting to her father secretly. Her fourth brother only remembered his kindness. What could she get in return except for that illusory favor? Nothing but money and love.

Since ancient times, loving mothers often spoil their children. The three sons of the Yan family were raised in the outer courtyard since they were weaned. The fourth son was particularly talented in studying, so he was sent back to Luodu to study in the Su family's academy before he was five years old. He had no chance to come into contact with the disputes in the harem where wives and concubines fought.

Moreover, the thinking perspectives of men and women are inherently different. Most of their thoughts are focused on family and country affairs, and they don't have much time for romantic relationships. Normally, the Fourth Young Master still respects his two stepmothers very much.

As long as a person has a good character, he will remember the kindness of others in his heart. A'niang probably won't have her own son in this life. If she can get some love from a concubine's son in the future, she won't be too lonely and sad in her old age.

Unfortunately, A'niang's brain couldn't understand all these twists and turns, and she was even less willing to learn.

Yan Muxi was too lazy to waste time teaching, because what completely changes a person is never based on principles and knowledge, but on the wall.

She had promised Grandpa that she would protect Mom, and she couldn't go back on her word. As for how far she could protect Mom, that was up to fate!