Embarrassed

  Li Qianxue suddenly stopped talking, staring blankly at Yang Lan. The sunlight spilled onto the kang, casting a glow on Yang Lan's jade-like face, which shone with a soft luster. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence and vitality, clear and bright, as if they could see right through Li Qianxue's thoughts, leaving her nowhere to hide.

  Yang Lan seemed to have just casually asked, and then changed the subject, "Speaking of which, I heard that the princes are going to choose their consorts soon. My mother said that when the time comes, she wants me to take a look and see if there's anyone good, and if so, I should keep an eye on her. It's also about time for my older brother to get married, I wonder which family's young lady will be able to marry him, and become my sister-in-law. Whoever wants to be my sister-in-law has to pass through me first!" After finishing speaking, she twitched her small nose, with a self-satisfied expression.

  This remark obviously piqued Li's interest, trying to pretend to be nonchalant, but her eyes betrayed a tense expression, and her face looked somewhat strange. "I wonder what kind of family the princess wants to marry into?"

  Yang Lan picked up her tea and took a sip, only to see that Li's hand was shaking slightly as she poured the tea. She sighed inwardly, Ah, foolish person!

  She raised her head, looked at Li Biao's sister with a very serious expression and said: "At least it should be a noble and aristocratic family, a girl from a prestigious family, not an illegitimate daughter, not one who is poorly educated, but someone who is generous, has a broad mind and is wise and open-minded!" She spoke each word clearly to her.

  Li's sister's face turned pale for a moment, but she soon let out a sigh of relief. "It won't be too high, will it? I've heard that noble ladies are not easy to get along with either!"

  Yang Lan let out an inaudible sigh, followed by a careless light laugh. "My brother has the capital to do so, and no one dares to say anything against him even if they try their best. Now I don't know how many girls want to get close to me just because of my brother!"

  Li's elder sister's tense hands trembled slightly, quickly withdrawing into her sleeves, calming down and saying: "I've heard that some families are close relatives, it would be better this way!"

  Yang Lan suddenly felt the room was stuffy, a wave of annoyance flashed across her mind, she changed the subject and asked with sparkling eyes full of curiosity: "Didn't sister say she made a skirt for me? What's it like, let me take a look?" Her face still wore a pure and bright smile, without any sign of impatience.

  Li's sister didn't notice and thought she really liked her own red dress, excitedly calling out to Xiaohong, "You go get that skirt I made."

  Xiao Hong immediately responded with a sound, ran to the inner room and took out a large red skirt, respectfully handed it over, and silently retreated to one side.

  Yang Lan took the skirt and looked at it. The big red color, embroidered with white jasmine, seemed to have no problem with the color matching and pattern at first glance. However, the embroidery was not good. It wasn't that she was being picky, but she had eight skilled needlework girls serving her, either famous or very skilled, at least recognized by her mother.

  Li's elder sister also learned Su embroidery, but her foundation was not solid. Although delicate, it lacked spirit. The skirt was stiff and wasted such good fabric. However, Yang Lan sincerely praised her with a smile, "Wow! It looks great! Elder sister's craftsmanship is really good, much better than mine! Thank you, elder sister!"

  Li Qianxue secretly let out a sigh of relief and smiled brightly, "As long as Sixth Sister likes it, that's all that matters!"

  The two of them chatted about the art of tea for a while, mostly Li Qianxue talking and occasionally Yang Lan asking a question, neither seeming impolite nor making the host uncomfortable, before they unknowingly reached lunchtime.

  Yang Lan smiled apologetically and said, "I've disturbed Big Sister for so long, I should take my leave now. Let's have a small gathering another day if there's an opportunity!"

  Li Qianxue felt somewhat unfulfilled and subconsciously opened her mouth to say: "It's rare that we get along so well, Sixth Sister, why not have dinner at my place?"

  Before Yang Lan could speak, Bi Yun said in a soft voice: "Miss's words, my master is taking medicinal food to regulate his body, I'm afraid it conflicts with what you eat, really...!" A flustered and embarrassed expression appeared on her face.

  Li Qianxue was taken aback and asked anxiously: "But is Sixth Sister uncomfortable somewhere? Should we find a doctor to take a look?"

  Yang Lan blinked and smiled: "Nothing, Lin's nanny will just give me some medical treatment, she is following my mother's orders to nourish my body, drinking some spleen-stomach-regulating soup. Give me a good foundation, I don't have any illness, I'll go back now, let's chat again next time, cousin!"

  "Alright then!" Li Qianxue couldn't stay any longer either, and had no choice but to personally see Yang Lan out the door.

  Back at the princess's mansion, in her own courtyard, Biyun hurriedly went to pour a cup of red date and longan tea, softly asking: "Miss, I think Miss Li doesn't understand your kindness at all, why do you still want to humor her?" As she spoke, she glanced at the dress placed aside, furrowed her brow and continued: "Such good fabric is being wasted on her like this, wouldn't it be better for her to keep it for herself to embroider a wedding dress in the future? Why give it to you? Everyone in the mansion knows that you don't lack fabric at all!" Her face showed an expression of regret.

  Yang Lan was also a bit depressed, this red color is really not good for matching, usually can't wear it at all! She's young and usually wears bright and lively colors, or elegant and simple ones. Unless it's a formal occasion, she rarely wears big red dresses, and even if she does, the top doesn't match well with the skirt because it can't be subdued.

  The embroidery on this skirt is not good, the color is too red, wearing it makes her feel awkward like a clown, not wearing it would be impolite to others who put their heart into it, looking at the craftsmanship also reveals that it's a rushed product, can't help but make people say that I'm being ungrateful.

  Oh no! What a headache!

  Lin's wife walked in, looking at the master and servant with a hesitant expression, curiously asked: "What's wrong with you two? You both look so embarrassed?"

  Bi Yun picked up the skirt and shook it twice to show Lin Niangniang, saying with a tone of resentment: "This Miss Li is really making things difficult for people. She specially made a dress for the young lady, but the color is so red that it's not the kind of color our young lady usually likes. How can she wear this? The embroidery work is also not good!" After speaking, she pouted her mouth and showed a face full of dissatisfaction.

  Yang Lan shook her head, "Don't talk like that, it's not easy for her either!"

  Lin Daiyu picked up the skirt and took a look, delighted. "Miss, I think this is meant for you to wear at the banquet!" She left half of her sentence hanging in the air, full of implication.

  Yang Lan raised her head in confusion, "Impossible! My party dress was all prepared by my mother, I couldn't have worn someone else's skirt!"

  Miss Lin and Hua smiled and explained, "Young lady, you are young and inevitably kind-hearted, but some people may not think so. I reckon this is to take advantage of your goodness to make a name for yourself! This fabric is usually used for wedding dresses or formal wear, who wears it in everyday life?" She thought to herself that it should be something precious.

  Yang Lan frowned, "What can be done? When she asks me why I'm not wearing it, how do I answer?" She just praised the skirt for being good-looking! How can I take it back now?