FSCGL Chapter 20

Terms used in Chapter 20

小姐 (xiao jie) – young lady.
公子 (gong zi) – an honorific for a noble’s son.
夫人 (fu ren) – the official wife of an official, the matriarch of a family.
妈妈 (ma ma) – an older woman servant.
氏 (shi) – a suffix placed after a married woman’s name.
丫头 (ya tou) – usually a deprecating way to say ‘girl’, but it can be used endearingly.
祖母 (zu mu) – paternal grandmother.

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Time passed in a flash, and a few days passed in a blink of an eye.

Apart from going to Tranquil Longevity Hall and the Main Courtyard to pay her respects on fixed dates, Ruan Xi would listen to Mama Lin’s guidance assiduously at a regular frequency, manage the needlework room, embroider the fish and lotus pattern, and communicate with Wen gongzi via letters…

Her legitimate mother Zhang shi no longer played the devil, her Earl Father would frequently inquire about her well-being, and Ruan Xi’s days were busy and enriching for the most part. However, she would often remember her heartfelt desire to light an altar lamp for the original owner just before she went to bed every night, and she did not know when she would have the chance to make a trip to the temple.

On this morning, the sun was shining brightly outside. Having finished embroidering the fish dallying with a lotus at last, Ruan Xi stared at the exquisite and vivid green and red lotus and the fish shaking its head and wagging its tail as it dallied with the lotus was causing caused ripples to appear, and Ruan Xi revealed a delighted and cheerful smile.

“Mama Lin, is the fish and lotus sachet that I made good enough?”

Mama Lin smiled as she gave her a word of praise, “Fourth Young Lady’s needlework is rather commendable.”

Although it could not compare to the consummate embroidering skills of the embroiderers, it really was quite decent since the embroidered figures were vivacious and pleasant to look at.

More importantly, this sachet contained a piece of sincerity from Ruan si xiaojie.

Ruan Xi pursed her lips into a smile, making it seem like there were specks of starlight in the depths of her eyes. All that remained was filling the sachet with the aromatic ingredients.

Su Yu brought over the prepared aromatic ingredients quickly, allowing Ruan Xi to personally pestle the various spices. Once the spices were grinded properly, she carefully placed them into the sachet.

This was a sachet in the shape of a butterfly extending its wings: there was a silk waistband at the upper edge to make it convenient for hanging, the lower edge had a fastened rope tied into a ru yi knot, which also had jewelled tassels stitched to it. It was exquisite and pretty, the fragrance was pleasing and it could make people feel relaxed and alert upon smelling it.

Ru Yi Knot and Butterfly Sachet

 

Pleased with the sachet, Ruan Xi fiddled with it for a while before she kept it reluctantly.

She was rather begrudging about having to send it out like this.

However, when Ruan Xi recalled how Wen gongzi would inquire about the progress of his gift in various mild and roundabout ways, she was both amused and speechless.

Forget it, she would send it over this afternoon to prevent Wen gongzi from thinking about it every day.

That was the silent and unspoken criticism in Ruan Xi’s mind.

Meanwhile, Mama Lin was inwardly amused as she watched the Fourth Young Lady.

Perhaps the Fourth Young Lady was unaware that her smiling expression was particularly pretty whenever she received Wen gongzi’s letter in the past few days, such that a delighted and cheerful air would linger aroundher entire body.

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At noon, Ruan Xi sat in front of her dining table like she usually would, but her meal treatment had become meticulously cooked, with five dishes and one soup, with the meats and vegetables fitting together appropriately.

Mama Lin’s meals basically had the same standard as hers.

Ruan Xi was extremely calm towards this treatment; if she could not finish the food, she would allow Su Yu and Su Zhu to distribute the food, so none of it would be wasted.

Just as she was preparing to eat, Ruan san niang’s voice travelled over from outside the room.

“Si mei, si mei, I’m here.”

Both Su Yu and Su Zhu furrowed their eyebrows as they were attending to Ruan Xi at the side.

Ruan Xi raised her eyebrow slightly as she put down her chopsticks calmly. She hadn’t seen Ruan san niang for a few days, and she had assumed that after Ruan san niang would no longer have the guts to come after she had endured the torment of being forced to puke and learning about the fact that she had been drugged with infertility medicine by her legitimate mother.

She did not expect that…. She would come knocking on her door like nothing had transpired.

Not long after, a red figure stepped into the dining room swiftly.

“Si mei, I have to come to honour my promise of eating lunch together with you, are you pleasantly surprised?”

Ruan san niang’s gaze swept past the sumptuous and largely portioned dishes on the dining table, extremely satisfied. Then, still holding onto her joyous mood, she sat in front of Ruan Xi and looked at her.

With one glance, Ruan san niang’s eyes abruptly widened and she sucked in a mouthful of cold air in her shock. It had only been a few days since they last met, and it was either her fourth younger sister had eaten a soul-changing pill or the training Mama sent by the Wen Residence was skilled at educating, because her change was too startling.

Clad in a red jacket and thin silk skirt, Ruan Xi’s countenance was devastatingly beautiful and her temperament was serene and refined, just like a resplendent and dazzling bright pearl, which stunned people and made it impossible for them to look away.

Unconsciously, Ruan san niang straightened her clothes and sat up properly, and the small dot of delight vanished without a trace.

Ruan Xi: “……”

Do you have to be so shocked? You’re making it seem like you’ve never seen something unfathomable.

“Si mei, you… how did you manage to change so much?”

Jealousy was apparent on Ruan san niang’s visage, and something seemed to be stuck in her heart which made her feel suffocated and uncomfortable.

Ruan Xi smiled, overlooking the blatant jealousy being displayed before her as she said in a gentle voice: “It is all Mama Lin’s labour.”

“Is that so?”

Ruan Xi revealed a few parts of disbelief on her face. How could someone undergo such a huge change in their temperament in a few days? It was clear that her fourth sister had hidden herself very deeply.

After her fourth sister had married in her stead in the previous lifetime, she had only seen her fourth sister a few times in actuality, since Qi Yue An had been posted to another part of the country after he had become a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and received a certain government position. When they returned to the capital a few years later, her fourth sister had shed off her mortal body and exchanged her bones, thereby bearing her remarkable beauty and graceful and poised disposition.

By that time, she was already brought into the imperial harem by the old Emperor.

She had always assumed that her fourth sister had polished herself to that state after she had been through a plethora of experiences as she followed Qi Yue An in travelling and taking up his post.

Presently, it seems like everything was merely her own opinion.

Ruan san niang remembered how she had been unrelenting as she kicked up a fuss about breaking off the pledge of marriage the instant she learnt about the original owner having a profligate fiancé in her previous lifetime, since he neither had the learning nor the skill and had tongfang and concubines in his backyard as well…. Which allowed her fourth sister to pick up an advantage in the end.

Ruan san niang became increasingly jealous the longer she thought about it, and the dejectedness in her heart surged up as well. If only she had the original owner’s memories when she transmigrated over in her previous lifetime… That way, she would have easily seen through her fourth sister’s façade, and she would not have missed out on her fiancé who had yet to rise to prominence.

After all, the original owner did not break off the marriage the entire time… It was highly likely that the original owner had known early on that her fiancé was not simple.

Her rebirth back in this lifetime was extremely timely; she managed to grab hold of Qi Yue An and the engagement was not broken off. However, Ruan san niang still felt unreconciled in her heart and she could not help but blame the original owner for not leaving behind her memories, which then caused all the misery she had suffered in her previous lifetime.

As Ruan Xi watched Ruan san niang’s complexion go through constant changes, she was absolutely speechless. She could not fathom what Ruan san niang was thinking about.

Seeing that Su Yu had already brought over a clean bowl and pair of chopsticks, Ruan Xi opened her mouth to issue a calm reminder: “San jie, we should eat. The dishes are going to become cold if we don’t eat now.”

Thus, Ruan san niang could only toss aside her dejectedness and complaints in her heart, transforming her grief into appetite.

With the Mamas staring at her for the past few days, she had to rely on snacks to allay her hunger frequently. She had never been starved in this manner in her past two lifetimes, and yet she could not eat her fill after she was reborn in this lifetime.

Ruan san niang became sadder as she thought about that and her eating speed increased. One bowl of rice, two bowls of rice, three bowls of rice…

Ruan Xi: “……”

Su Yu and Su Zhu had a face of astonishment; it looks like the Third Young Lady’s appetite has grown again.

Under Ruan san niang’s accompaniment, Ruan Xi ate until she was nine parts full, which was a rare occurrence. Then, she used her handkerchief to wipe her mouth clean and sipped on the green tea that Su Zhu offered her as she watched Ruan san niang clear the remaining dishes and soup on her lonesome.

Once the meal had concluded, Ruan san niang leaned against the back of her chair in satisfaction. But upon seeing her fourth sister drinking her tea leisurely, she corrected overly bold and unconstrained posture with some unease.

Truth to be told, the ceremony and etiquette Mamas in the palace had instructed her on her deportment before, but lingering around the palace she had previously resided in for ten years after her death, all solitary and lonely, only able to hear the gossiping of the eunuchs and palace maids and reminiscence her previous grandeur, had made her forget all her social etiquette and protocols.

Ruan Xi: “……”

Judging from Ruan san niang’s posturing, it seems like she was not here for the sole purpose of eating with her.

“Si mei, the book that I wrote will be sold in the largest and most learned bookstore in the capital in two days, I’ll send you a few books then.” Ruan san niang’s face was flushed with success. Over the past few days, she had used a quill pen to write about a scholar who had built up a family fortune and succeeded in the imperial examinations after having a fortuitous meeting. Essentially, it was a story revolving around face slapping, counterattacking, getting rich and winning promotions, and marrying a beautiful wife.

Ruan Xi mused in her heart, it seems like Ruan san niang is here to flaunt.

“Congratulations san jie. What kind of book did san jie write, can you talk about it?” Ruan Xi asked with visible interest as she smiled with praise. Tactfully, she did not ask about why she hadn’t opened a teahouse or a bookstore.

Ruan san niang had been waiting for her fourth sister to utter those words. Self-satisfied, she spoke about the narrative of the book.

It was written by herself.

In this lifetime, Ruan san niang did not dare to casually plagiarise again, in case it exposed something and drew the old Emperor’s attention to her again. It was better to rely on her own strength to write vernacular fiction books.

Once the book was widely sold, she could open a teahouse with the silvers she had accumulated.

Ruan san niang was brimming with her confidence. Her Mother wanted her to learn how to manage a household and refused to give her stores, but she could earn her own silvers, hmpf!

Su Yu and Su Zhu’s eyes started emitting light as they listened.

Ruan Xi listened with relish as well. The fiction that Ruan san niang had written went along the veins of the staple stallion shuang wen, which was completely foreign to the ancients. As long as she was skilled with the pen, it was bound to become extremely popular.

• 爽文 (pinyin: shuang wen) – essentially, it’s a ‘feels good’ or ‘overpowered’ genre.

After Ruan san niang gave a rough outline, she waited for her fourth sister’s praise.

“San jie, you are truly amazing. This book will definitely sell well, I’ll ask Su Yu to buy a few copies to peruse it when the time comes around.” Ruan Xi sighed with heartfelt admiration. She did not expect that after reliving again, Ruan san niang, the titled First Gifted Scholar in the novel, who had relied on all kinds of plagiarising and counterfeiting, would no longer walk the indiscriminate emulation route, and use her own effort to write a book instead.

Ruan san niang smiled happily upon seeing the expectation on the faces of her fourth sister and her two maidservants. She said with extreme magnanimity, “You don’t have to buy it, I’ll give it to you. The book is an ongoing series, I’m not done writing it yet.”

“I will thank san jie in advance then.” Ruan Xi did not reject Ruan san niang’s good intentions as she thanked her with a smile.

Ruan san niang waved her hands. She did not prolong her stay further because she had to go back and continue writing her book.

Before she left, she threw down a line.

“Si mei, I forget to tell you, the book I’m writing is called ‘Getting Rich, Being Promoted, Marrying a Beauty’.”

After saying that, Ruan san niang departed, feeling proud and elated.

What an oversimplified and crude book title.

Ruan Xi pursed her lips into a smile.

……

Inside the Academy building, during the afternoon break.

After reading the letter from his fiancée, Wen gongzi’s gaze shifted towards the wooden case on the table. The gift that the xiao yatou had been making for the past few days was stored inside, and a glint of expectation appeared in his eyes.

Once he removed the small strip that tied the wooden case together, Wen gongzi finally saw the gift that Ruan Xi personally made.

It was a pretty and exquisite butterfly-shaped sachet.

“Turns out it’s a sachet.”

The corners of Wen gongzi’s lips curled slightly as he issued a low and gentle laugh. Then, he took out the sachet from the wooden case to scrutinise it carefully, which proceeded to deepen and quieten down Wen gongzi’s gaze. A hint of peculiarity flitted across his heart.

Fish dallying with lotuses…

This xiao yatou has a lot of ideas.

With his long, slender and fair fingers, he caressed the red and green lotuses briefly before his gaze landed on the fish that was shaking its head and wagging its tail as it dallied with the lotus. His eyes were infected with a smile that was deep with meaning. A moment later, Wen gongzi tied the exquisite butterfly-shaped sachet to his waist in a cool and composed manner.

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After the afternoon break ended, Wen gongzi stepped into the classroom at an elegant pace with Zhang Qing, who was acting as his servant and page boy concurrently, trailing behind him. As a good friend of Wen gongzi, Li Jing Cheng noticed that there was an additional exquisitely made sachet at his waist instantaneously.

“Zi Run, you didn’t return to your residence, did you? But there’s a new sachet on your person all of a sudden, did a certain beauty send it to you?”

“Yi, it’s a fish dallying with lotuses too!”

The students inside the classroom looked towards the new sachet at Wen gongzi’s waist together without any prior agreement, interest and curiosity flashing in their eyes.

Fishes dallying with lotuses was a common hidden meaning used by unmarried men and women to convey their feelings.

However, Ruan Xi did not know that she had accidentally teased Wen gongzi.

“Mn, my fiancée personally made this sachet, the embroidered pattern is very exquisite.” Wen gongzi smiled slightly before he seated himself in a calm and leisurely manner.

The sudden showing took everyone by surprise.

Li Jing Cheng: “……”

The other sons of government officials: “……”

It turns out Wen gongzi was such a Wen gongzi; he might be akin to a moon in the magnificent sky that had cleared up after the rain, but there were unexpectedly moments where Wen gongzi would discreetly show-off.

Others flaunted their talents and skills, flaunted their family background, flaunted their own charisma…

Wen gongzi flaunted his fiancée’s… personally made sachet!

Hence, Ruan Xi caused another wave of heat to sweep through Qingshan Academy, and the rumours concerning her flew all over the sky.

When Ruan Yu Wen came back in the evening and told her about the news, Ruan Xi was utterly speechless for a long moment.

It was just a sachet; why were they imagining so many scenes and making mountains out of molehills?

It was unknown how many descendants from noble families in Qingshan Academy had received sachets from the ladies that were infatuated with them, and they hadn’t voiced their surprise then.

She was Wen gongzi’s fiancée, sending a sachet as a gift could not be more normal.

Ruan Xi ignored Ruan Yu Wen’s gossiping eyes as she opened her letter calmly.

Inside the letter, Wen gongzi explained the rumours circulating in the Academy first before he said that he liked the sachet very much, he would not disappoint her good intentions, and he would be giving her a pleasant surprise soon.

Ruan Xi: “……”

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