FSCGL Chapter 25

Terms used in Chapter 25

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.
氏 (shi) – a suffix placed after a married woman’s name.
大郎 (da lang) – The oldest son, Ruan Yu Wen.
祖母 (zu mu) – paternal grandmother.
老太太 (lao tai tai) – the old matriarch of the family.
伯爷 (bo ye) – Earl.

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As Ruan Xi looked at Ruan san niang from the distance, the memory of how Ruan san niang had employed a clumsy trick to scheme against her, made her knit her finely-trimmed eyebrows slightly.Wasn’t Ruan san niang jealous of the fact that Wen gongzi treated her well? She would allow Ruan san niang’s jealousy to persist then.

Ruan Xi immediately acted on her thoughts. Just then, a gust of wind blew past, scattering a few strands of her forehead. Ruan Xi’s heart moved and she leaned closer to Wen gongzi to murmur in a small voice: “Wen gongzi, could you help me tidy my hair?”

Wen gongzi only needed a glimpse to understand her intention. A glint of laughter appeared in his eyes as he willingly obliged.

“Sure.”

After his voice landed, Wen gongzi raised his hand to gather the strands of hair that had fallen on Ruan Xi’s forehead.

His actions were gentle, his gaze was focused.

Perhaps because Wen gongzi was leaning too close, his handsome face was well within reach, which made his faint breathing, and the faint scent of orchids suffusing from his sachet become more pronounced…

Ruan Xi’s heart thumped anxiously, her ears became burning hot, and her cheeks were dusted with faint red blush.

It was clear that she was only asking Wen gongzi to cooperate with her in this affectionate display for Ruan san niang to see, but why did she feel like she was being teased by Wen gongzi?

“It’s done.” Wen gongzi’s gaze swept past the blush on her face as he retracted his hand naturally. His sonorous and gentle voice seemed to be carrying a hint of delight.

Red-faced, Ruan Xi thanked him in a small voice.

“Let’s go over together, I ought to give the elders a greeting.”

Wen gongzi was wearing a smile on his visage. After he realised that his feelings for his fiancée had changed, he had every intention to cultivate their feelings before marriage.

And judging from si niang’s various reactions, she was not aloof and indifferent to him.

Wen gongzi’s lips quirked up.

Ruan Xi thanked him again, inwardly sighing about Wen gongzi’s comprehensive consideration. Even though he did not like her romantically, he still gave her enough esteem, and her heart palpitated from the tiniest nervousness involuntarily.

From afar, Lao Taitai twirled the prayer beads in her hand as she watched Wen gongzi and her fourth granddaughter interact, and the sight of them finally allowed her suspended heart to settle down by half.

It would suffice if Wen gongzi’s attitude towards her fourth granddaughter remained unchanged. 

Meanwhile, Zhang shi’s gaze became more complicated as she looked at Ruan Xi this time around. No one knew that she secretly went to meet Great Master Hui Yuan again behind Lao Taitai’s back, and gained the answers that she wanted.

She knew that her own suspicions were correct.

Currently, this san niang was no longer her daughter in her heart; her san niang had disappeared more than ten days ago. The Great Master said that the will of Heaven could not be disobeyed and her san niang’s life had been numbered. Zhang shi was unreconciled, indignant, resentful, and wrought with inconsolable grief. She abhorred the person occupying her daughter’s body, but for her da lang’s future prospects, she could only conceal the matter forcibly, and watch on helplessly as this thing leapt and bounced before her.

Once Zhang shi thought about how she had secretly schemed against si niang for this creature that was occupying her daughter’s body, she secretly scolded herself for being deceived by a pig lard, and she could not regret it fast enough.

She only hoped that her da lang could continue to have a good relationship with si niang. When the infertility medicine incident was exposed in the future, she would admit to her own crimes, and she only prayed that it would not implicate her son.

Hundred and thousands of thoughts flitted across Zhang shi’s mind as she looked at Ruan Xi. Unbeknownst to her, Lin yiniang was observing the expression and gaze that Wen gongzi was using on Ruan Xi, while being pensive. In her mind, she covertly attached more importance to Ruan Xi. Meanwhile, the little chubby boy at her side remained unaware of his biological mother’s thoughts, smile blooming on his face instantaneously as he caught sight of his fourth older sister’s figure because it meant that they could finally go back home, and he did not know about the early plans that his biological mother was hatching for his sake.

Only Ruan san niang’s reaction was extremely thought-provoking.

Stupefaction, jealousy, and disbelief; a myriad of emotions were jumbled up together and her heart was in an utter mess.

She clearly saw Wen furen walking in the direction of the meditation room that her fourth sister and Wen gongzi were meeting in….

Ruan Xi and Wen gongzi walked over to them at a leisurely pace. Ruan Xi met Ruan san niang’s gaze before she revealed a radiant and enchanting smile.

Ruan san niang concealed the jealousy present in the depths of her eyes quickly, switching to a happy smile as she received them: “Ruan Ning has seen Wen gongzi.” Then she greeted Ruan Xi affectionately.

Wen gongzi nodded with a faint smile before he went up to offer his regards to Zhang shi and Lao Taitai in slow steps.

Ruan san niang: “……”

It was the same again; Wen gongzi was equally apathetic when he came to visit the Earl Chengyi Residence because of her fourth sister’s illness.

Ruan san niang felt extremely uncomfortable in her heart.

Ruan Xi curled her lips, pleased. Wen gongzi’s actions matched her intentions well.

After giving the elders in the Ruan Family his regards, Wen gongzi said a few more lines to Ruan Xi before he departed with Zhang Qing.

Once Wen gongzi left, everyone’s gaze gathered on Ruan Xi’s person. When Zhang shi saw her daughter’s counterfeit was about to speak, she stepped forward to support Lao Taitai by the arm as she said: “It is getting late. If there is anything to discuss, we can do so after we return to the Earl Residence.”

Lao Taitai nodded. This place was the Yunhua Temple still, where there were crowds and extraneous eyes; this was not a place for discussion.

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Nearing the end of shen shi, their vast and mighty congregation departed from Yunhua Temple to return to the Earl Chengyi Residence.

• 申时 (pinyin: shen shi) – a double-hour denoting 3PM to 5PM.

Inside the reception room, Lao Taitai sat in the seat of honour, Zhang shi sat on her left, while Ruan san niang and Ruan Xi remained standing. Lin yiniang and her little chubby boy had been told by Lao Taitai to return to their courtyard.

Earl Chengyi happened to be within the residence and he had learned early on that the residence’s womenfolk and the Wen Family’s womenfolk had gone to Yunhua Temple to offer incense together. Since this matter was constantly on his mind, he decided to come over to observe the situation and ask his mother about the divinations.

“Si niang, did Wen furen cause any difficulties for you?” Lao Taitai was the first to inquire.

Ever since she heard that Wen furen’s complexion had been extremely ugly when she learnt of the private meeting between her fourth granddaughter and Wen gongzi, Lao Taitai had been worried.

She was genuinely afraid that her fourth granddaughter’s good marriage agreement had suddenly turned yellow, thereby affecting her son’s official career.

Wen gongzi was only a junior and he could not represent the Wen Family’s attitude. If Wen furen slapped a frivolous and unsettled label on her fourth granddaughter, the Wen Family would definitely break off the engagement, and it would also affect the reputation of the other young ladies within the Ruan Family.

It was natural and normal for Lao Taitai to have this worry.

Although Ruan san niang had been sitting in the same horse carriage as her fourth sister when they were returning the residence, and she had constantly probed for Wen furen’s attitude towards her fourth sister, her fourth sister did not acknowledge her at all.

Ruan san niang was extremely dissatisfied with the fact that she did not attain an answer and felt that Wen furen must have created difficulties and rebuked her fourth sister, which was why she was ashamed to vocalise it. Now that she heard Lao Taitai bring up the topic, she chimed in impatiently:

“Si mei, speak quickly, did Wen furen make it difficult for you?”

Earl Chengyi’s express was strict as he stared at his fourth daughter fixedly. It was evident that he was extremely concerned about this problem.

Recently, that prince had been moving frequently. If it was not for his association with the Wen Family, let alone officialising his stand-in Assistant Minister position in the Ministry of Public Works, he was afraid that maintaining his stand-in position would already be considered fortunate. What he was most afraid of was being beaten back to his old position and becoming a joke.

This was not something Earl Chengyi could endure.

Ruan Xi had already mentally prepared herself ever since Ruan san niang started to probe for information and she knew that Ruan san niang would start something. Sure enough, her actions conformed to her expectations. She feigned surprise as she returned a question: “Why would Wen furen cause difficulties for this granddaughter?”

Lao Taitai paused. Unable to hold herself back, she sought for confirmation as she asked: “Si niang, speak the truth. Was Wen furen dissatisfied with you, or did she rebuke you?”

Ruan Xi shook her head, displaying a trace of confusion that was suitable for the occasion, “Wen furen was not dissatisfied with this granddaughter, nor did she rebuke this granddaughter. She sent this granddaughter her paternal grandmother’s jade bracelet as a first meeting gift.”

Having said that, Ruan Xi raised her fair right wrist with some embarrassment, revealing a dark green jade bracelet.

Not only did Lao Taitai recognise that jade bracelet from Wen furen’s paternal grandmother, even Zhang shi recognised it as well.

Because both of them had seen the bracelet on Wen furen’s wrist today.

Lao Taitai’s heart settled down by a large measure, and she kept smiling as she chanted ‘the ancestors bless and protect’.

Earl Chengyi laughed out loud, his gaze becoming more affectionate and gentler as he looked at Ruan Xi.

“Good, good, si niang is truly father’s good daughter!”

Since she had entered Wen furen’s eyes, it symbolised that this marriage was stable. Hence, Earl Chengyi was high-spirited and vigorous.

On the other hand, Ruan san niang had become dull entirely. She looked at Lao Taitai’s smiling expression and her scum father who was delirious with delight as he praised her fourth younger sister loudly. The jealousy in her eyes was on the verge of overspilling. Biting her lips and refusing to give up, she asked her mother for verification, “Mother, is the jade bracelet on si mei’s wrist truly given by Wen furen?”

Expressionlessly, Zhang shi glanced at Ruan san niang, “That’s right, it was the jade bracelet that Wen furen was wearing today.”

A counterfeit was a counterfeit; she could barely compare to her san niang.

Alas, her san niang’s life had been woefully thin, which allowed this thing to supplant her body.

The hatred that Zhang shi felt multiplied.

Ruan san niang stopped treating everything as a fluke. Her fourth sister’s life was genuinely that good.

It would have been better if she allowed her mother to choose another candidate… That person would definitely be a hypocrite who was posing as a person with high morals.

Why did she allow her mother to arrange Wen gongzi for her fourth younger sister…

Was it because of luck?

Was this fate?

She was a bona fide transmigrator and yet she could not compare to an ancient person.

Ruan san niang was so jealous her eyes were red.

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Ruan Xi peered at the jealous expression that Ruan san niang could not conceal, entirely free from worries. She pursed her lips. Since Ruan san niang had the audacity to use tricks behind her back, she should be prepared for the possibility of being exposed.

“Lao Taitai, this granddaughter does not know if she should talk about an issue she has. If she says it, it will spoil the feelings between sisters, but if she does not vocalise it, this granddaughter will feel wronged in her heart.”

Ruan Xi glanced at Ruan san niang, revealing a hesitant expression on her face.

Lao Taitai’s smile stagnated upon hearing that. A vague conjecture emerged in her heart as she glanced at Ruan san niang.

She was afraid that san niang had done something to the disadvantage of si niang. Lao Taitai became divided immediately.

Earl Chengyi, however, did not have such apprehensions. Since it was going to make si niang feel wronged, he naturally had to give her justice.

“Si niang, what is there to hesitate about? If you have suffered a grievance, declare it, Father will give you justice.”

Lao Taitai went silent. Zhang shi continued to watch the fight from the ramparts.

• 作壁上观 (pinyin: zhuo bi shang guan) – sit by and watch; onlooker; bystander.

A bad premonition appeared faintly in Ruan san niang’s heart.

Ruan Xi had always liked her Earl Father’s direct and efficient point of view.

“Thanking Father. Truth to be told, this daughter felt very upset after learning about this matter. She did not expect that san niang would actually use such an inferior trick to scheme against this daughter. If it were not for Wen furen telling this daughter, this daughter would be imprisoned in a drum, trapped in the belief that san jie was a good older sister.”

As Ruan Xi uttered those words, the rims of her eyes became red and it glinted faintly with tears.

Ruan san niang already knew what her fourth sister was talking about and her pretty face flushed red. Fierce of mien but faint of heart, she retorted. “Si mei, don’t spout nonsense, when did I scheme against you.”

Earl Chengyi’s demeanour blackened in an instant, glaring at Ruan san niang angrily. This defiant daughter!

“San niang, shut your mouth!

“Si niang, speak, what did san niang do exactly?”

Ruan Xi ignored Ruan san niang who was cowardly at heart even though she looked fierce. She looked at her Earl Father gratefully before she directly dragged out the annoyance that Ruan san niang caused.

“San jie and her maidservant purposefully and loudly said that this granddaughter secretly invited Wen gongzi to the meditation room to have a liaison at a place where Wen furen would pass by.

“But san jie clearly saw Wen gongzi dispatching his servant to invite this daughter to discuss some matters, and yet she confounded black and white on purpose, attempting to make Wen furen believe that this daughter was a frivolous and bewitching person. Thankfully, Wen furen was perceptive of even the finest detail; she did not believe their words and she even gave this daughter a word of reminder.”

Lao Taitai was already rendered speechless by Ruan san niang. She could only say that she was exceedingly disappointed. Despite all the years of energy and heart they had poured into her fostering, they had cultivated an idiot, who had disgraced herself all the way to Wen furen’s front.

Earl Chengyi’s fury surged. This traitorous daughter of a san niang, she even wanted to ruin si niang because of her own selfish desires, she could not be forgiven at all!

Just how important were first impressions? If Wen furen had believed the farce that san niang fabricated, Earl Chengyi did not want to imagine what kind of consequences that would have.

Once Earl Chengyi thought about how they had established contact with the Wen Family after much difficulty, only to have it nearly ruined by this foolish san niang, his expression darkened so much it was frightening.

“Treacherous daughter! Go to the ancestral hall and kneel before the ancestral memorial tablets for three days and reflect properly!”

Ruan san niang’s pretty face flickered between red and white immediately, both infuriated and unreconciled. Her scheme against her fourth had failed. Why was her Father flying into such rage? Furthermore, asking her kneel at the ancestral hall for three days was way too excessive.

Her fourth sister was also narrow-minded for making mountains out of molehills. She shot a vicious glare at Ruan Xi.

Ruan Xi returned her stare, cool and collected.

After the ‘grievance pouring’ this time around, it could be said that she and Ruan san niang had shed off all pretences of cordiality.

A scholar who has been away for three days should be viewed with new eyes; Ruan Xi was no longer the Ruan si niang who could only swallow the insult and suffer in silence whenever she encountered a scheme.

• 士别三日, 刮目相待 (pinyin: shi bie san ri, gua mu xiang dai) – Even after short absence, people change and should be judged anew.

Some people should not, and could not be indulged.

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Needless to say, Ruan san niang did not want to kneel at the ancestral hall. She still wanted to write her prompt-books and publish them, and exchange letters with Qi Yue An to cultivate their feelings. She gritted her teeth inwardly, perhaps she should admit to her mistake first?

Before she could put her thoughts into actions, Zhang shi suddenly struck her with a heavy blow.

“Bo ye, it can’t be denied that san niang was wrong this time around. Apart from making her kneel at the ancestral hall for three days to reflect, perhaps san niang should be confined for another month, picking Buddha beans to polish off her temper.”

Once those words came out, Ruan san niang was full of disbelief. Was this her biological mother?

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