CH 38

After Qi Yue An washed away the rouge and powder on his face, he revealed a sharp and distinctive handsome face. Even if he was still clad in that gaudy and brightly coloured robe, he was still very handsome, though his silk clothes temperament was a little heavy.

This was what Ruan Xi secretly thought.

“Ruan san xiaojie, have you seen my real countenance clearly now?”

An indolent, albeit strained smile was hanging on Qi Yue An’s face, as though he did not notice Ruan san niang’s thunderstruck expression.

Stimulated by the strained smile on Qi Yue An’s visage, Ruan san niang came back to her senses, hating the fact that time could not flow backwards so she could strangle her past self to death. Her expression was rigid, awkward, and frustrated.

Even though the matter has reached this stage, Ruan san niang still refused to admit to her own mistake.

It was Qi Yue An’s fault, Qi Yue An had purposefully made himself into that ghastly appearance to test her.

Ruan san niang felt increasingly incensed the more she thought about it, and she could not resist pointing fingers and finding faults in her enraged state.

“Qi er gongzi, is it fun to play with me like this? Who would make themselves in such a ghostly appearance when they’re visiting their fiancée? Having a reaction like mine is very normal.”

Once those words were uttered, it indirectly proved Qi Yue An’s actual identity which made all the servants within the room lower their heads with fear and trepidation.

Yao Hong, the maidservant who helped Qi Yue An wash his face, pursed her lips when she saw her Young Lady refusing to yield. Her face was brimming was worry, because she was genuinely afraid that Qi er gongzi would punish them.

When Ruan Xi saw Ruan san niang still having a hard mouth like a dead duck, pushing all of the blame onto Qi Yue An’s person, she shook her head silently. Honestly speaking, both of them were at fault.

It was just that Ruan san niang was too good at stirring trouble. The events that had occurred at the flower banquet yesterday had probably travelled to Qi Yue An’s ears, and it was normal for Qi Yue An to feel dissatisfied in his heart. In fact, it was highly likely that he was also forced by Marquis Huaiyang to pay Ruan san niang a visit.

If Ruan san niang had sensibly used another milder method to deal with the cosmetics-smeared Qi Yue An despite harbouring doubts in her heart, perhaps Qi Yue An might have felt a strand of good feeling for her.

Qi Yue An surveyed at the lawless servants inside the room, and when he heard Ruan san niang questioning him interrogatively, he let out a laugh.

“Ruan san xiaojie, your attitude of pushing all the blame to another person in one fell swoop has truly broadened my horizons.”

“Qi er gongzi, a person should conduct themselves with generosity, even if my attitude was terrible just now, I was trying to protect your reputation wholeheartedly. And what of you? You made yourself into that ghastly appearance to disgust and make me revulsed, the person who ought to be sorry is you!”

Ruan san niang exploded, her eyes widening in anger. Ever since her rebirth, she had not hooked up with anyone else, and she had single-mindedly gathered a network for Qi Yue An.

And yet Qi Yue An was disgusting her on purpose. Was he treating her fairly?

Ruan san niang felt wronged and irritated.

“Ruan san niang, there are certainly areas where I am wrong, but there are reasons for it. Are you unaware of the fact that the news of you constantly pulling aside the Junzhu Residence’s maidservants, incessantly asking where the Fourth Prince had gone to at the flower banquet while your clothes were untidy has travelled outwards?” Qi Yue An kept his strained smile, his face darkening.

No matter who it was, no one could remain uncaring when their fiancée was chasing after another man.

He only wanted to disgust his fiancée briefly; the fact that he did not bring up the dissolution of their engagement was already the greatest tolerance he had for her.

“Ruan san xiaojie, no matter what kind of intentions you have towards the Fourth Prince, please remember that you have a marriage contract attached to your person. If you truly like the Fourth Prince, please break off our marriage contract before speaking.”

Qian Gui nodded his head continuously at the side.

Ruan san niang had really gone too far. Because of her, his Young Master had been ridiculed by the other Young Masters and Young Ladies within the residence.

Ruan Xi, who was standing at the side quietly like an invisible person, widened her eyes.

She knew that Ruan san niang had abandoned the female protagonist Mu Qing Ci to chase after the Fourth Prince only to fail, but she did not expect that there would be such an inside story.

As a person with a marriage contract, Ruan san niang doggedly asking after and searching for the Fourth Prince was certainly an easy cause for bad speculation and wild thoughts.

Especially with Ruan san niang’s dishevelled clothing, it would most definitely breed all kinds of bad rumours.

Ruan Xi was rendered completely speechless by Ruan san niang.

“Qi er gongzi, do not misunderstand, the Fourth Prince and I are innocent.”

Upon hearing Qi er gongzi’s words, Ruan san niang understood that he was not disgusting her on purpose. The anger in her heart dispersed by half, and she quickly explained, lest Qi Yue An continued to misunderstand. She only wanted to hug the Fourth Prince’s big thighs, not do something that would wrong Qi Yue An.

Qi Yue An smiled without care.

“Ruan san xiaojie, how you think, and what kind of intentions you have, is something you are well-aware of in your heart. As long as you don’t exploit an opportunity to chase after the Fourth Prince while you have a marriage contract, that would be enough.” Having said that, he turned his head to instruct Qian Gui. “Qian Gui, give the present that I brought to Ruan san xiaojie.”

Qian Gui offered the wooden case with the gift reluctantly.

“Ruan san xiaojie, this is the gift that the Young Master personally picked out.”

Ruan san niang studied Qi Yue An’s absent-minded and indifferent appearance, then heard his words. It was clear that he did not believe her. Ruan san niang’s complexion went from green to white, and the intense feeling that she had been slighted and unhappiness billowed in her heart.

“Thanking Qi er gongzi for his gift.”

She bit her lip as she gave her thanks, allowing Yao Hong to accept the gift in a resentful manner. When she thought of how Qi Yue An said that he liked rouge and powder, she suppressed the disgust in her bottom of her heart.

However, she could not help but ask:

“Qi er gongzi, do you really like the rouge and powders meant for women?”

This point was very important, Ruan san niang had to clarify it.

How could Qi Yue An possibly miss Ruan san niang’s meaning when he hid his own identity among the haunts of the common people? He smirked playfully.

“Yes.”

He said that he liked it, but he did not say that he liked using it on himself. He could buy those products to reward people.

It could not be considered as lying.

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“It’s getting late, I should be returning to the residence. Judging from how Ruan san xiaojie is so lively and full of enthusiasm, you should be unhindered for the most part.” Qi Yue An could not be bothered to waste more time on Ruan san niang, nor did he put the words she previously said on his heart. Unless Ruan san niang did something even more outrageous, he would not be breaking the engagement and cause extreme damage to her reputation.

Even if she was so frustratingly stupid that it made it hard for people to look at her directly.

“Qian Gui, we’re leaving.” Qi Yue An glanced at Ruan Xi who was standing at the side quietly. He nodded his head at her and gave her a courteous smile before he turned around and left, bringing Qian Gui with him.

When Ruan san niang heard that Qi Yue An was going to leave, she did not urge him to stay because her mind was in a slight mess.

Ruan Xi released a sigh upon seeing that. She quickly caught up with them and sent them to the entrance of the courtyard before she instructed a servant to send the guests off.

“Ruan si xiaojie, there is no need to see us off.”

As Qi Yue An observed Ruan si xiaojie who was proper in conduct and bearing, then looked at Ruan san xiaojie who was so stupid she could not be saved, he felt regretful internally for that last bit of predestined affinity they lacked in the end.

“Qi er gongzi, depart slowly.”

Ruan Xi smiled as she watched Qi Yue An leave. Then, she turned around and returned to Ruan san niang’s courtyard.

“San jie, Qi er gongzi has left. I’m going to the main courtyard to inform Mother.”

Ruan san niang shot her fourth sister a resentful glare, since it was clear that she was watching the joke being made at her expense. She only felt that the smiling expression on her face was exceedingly eye-piercing, and she spat out a word impatiently:

“Scram!”

Ruan Xi did not argue with Ruan san niang, only turning around calmly to leave.

Ruan san niang clenched the thin blanket on her body, Qi Yue An’s previous words circulating in her mind nonstop.

She did not expect that Qi Yue An would actually be fond of cosmetics meant for women, and then she recalled how he had openly put himself in make-up without feeling any shame…

Ruan san niang found it hard to accept that the tall and handsome Qi Yue An was unexpectedly inclined towards femininity within his bones.

She remembered that apart from having concubines and tongfang in his inner courtyard, there was also rumours saying that Qi Yue An had admitted ladyboys. Prior to this, she had treated them as a joke, but now… Ruan san niang was starting to doubt the authenticity. Did Qi Yue An eat both men and women?

Ruan san niang felt a burst of revulsion in her heart instantaneously. Owing to this revulsion, it actually gave rise to the notion of breaking off the engagement within Ruan san niang for the first time.

But when she thought of the boundless scenery that her fourth sister experienced in her previous lifetime, Ruan san niang felt extremely reluctant.

She should wait and see first.

However, the seed of doubt had already been planted, and Ruan san niang was a proud and arrogant person. It was very hard to say if there was a future for her and Qi Yue An.

As Ruan Xi was stepping out of the room, she turned her head back, which immediately allowed her to perceive Ruan san niang sinking into her own imaginings and entanglement. The corners of her lips twitched.

Qi Yue An’s tactic was particularly useful on Ruan san niang.

She did not expect that he would grasp Ruan san niang’s personality so quickly. And with what had transpired today, it was highly likely that it would spread outwards if Zhang shi did not suppress the information.

Silently, Ruan Xi lit a candle for Ruan san niang. If she really married Qi Yue An in the end, Qi Yue An would undoubtedly devour her whole, and it was even possible that her old background would be fished out.

Neither fast nor slow, Ruan Xi travelled towards the main courtyard while Su Yu and Su Zhu trailed after their Young Lady, looking distracted.

Upon reaching the main courtyard, Ruan Xi entered the reception hall directly.

“You’re back. Where is Qi er gongzi?” The busy Zhang shi raised her head to glance at Ruan Xi as she asked with a frown.

Ruan Xi replied in a respectful manner: “Replying to Mother’s words, Qi er gongzi has departed.”

Zhang shi narrowed her eyes. Qi er gongzi did not dispatch someone to inform her of his departure before he left. Something must have happened just now.

Similarly, she had gotten a clear grasp of the counterfeit’s personality: she was an idiot.

And combined with Qi er gongzi’s cosmetic-smeared and ghastly appearance, to add on to the cosmetic fragrance that could choke people? That counterfeit must have offended Qi er gongzi.

Zhang shi’s complexion darkened.

“Si niang, recount everything that had occurred when Qi er gongzi was inside san niang’s courtyard.”

Having anticipated Zhang shi’s reaction, Ruan Xi did not hesitate as she informed Zhang shi of the happenings systemically and in full detail.

The longer Zhang shi listened, the gloomier her complexion became. Her eyes were brimming with dreadful anger.

This damnable counterfeit!

She pitied her daughter, whose reputation had been completely squandered by that counterfeit.

“Mother, this matter will damage san jie’s reputation, it is inadvisable for this matter to spread outwards.”

With her two married, concubine-born older sisters from the Earl Residence in mind, Ruan Xi genuinely feared that Zhang shi would ignore this matter just for the sake of tormenting Ruan san niang, so she could not resist giving a word of reminder.

Zhang shi also had the same thought. The Earl attached great importance to their reputation. But once she thought about the terrible things that the counterfeit did, Zhang shi was so angry that her heart started hurting, and she loathed the fact that she could not ruin her reputation.

“I will handle this matter on my own, return to your courtyard first.”

Ruan Xi bowed and withdrew.

She did not know how Zhang shi would handle this matter, and she only hoped that the vegetarian and Buddha-revering Lao Taitai would pay attention to this matter.

The reputation of the Earl Residence’s Ladies could not be implicated by Ruan san niang.

As for Zhang shi’s revenge, with Ruan san niang around, she could not even use her own hands to personally seek vengeance. Zhang shi presently had the upper hand because Ruan san niang had yet to notice Zhang shi’s small movements, but it was hard to say in the future.

Ruan san niang was a dangerous character who could ignite with a single spark and explode at any given time.

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After Ruan Xi returned to Limpid Heart Garden, she pretended not to see Mama Yang’s expression which conveyed that she desired to speak but was actively stopping herself. She went to Mama Lin’s room to inform her that she was learning how to read ledgers, to which Mama Lin gave her a few pointers and taught her a few other things. Seeing that it was going to high noon soon, Ruan Xi proceeded to bring up the matter of Qi Yue An’s visit to Mama Lin.

Mama Lin: “……”

As Ruan Xi observed Mama Lin’s expression which could not be described in a few words, she laughed inwardly.

“Mama Lin, I will be returning to my room first.”

Mama Lin nodded her head.

Ruan Xi returned to her room and partook in her lunch, and then she wrote a letter to Wen Ting Zhou, detailing Qi Yue An’s visit to Ruan san niang. After all, this would involve the male protagonist the Fourth Prince.

Naturally, she did not forget to mention the fact that Qi Yue An was playing the pig to eat the tiger.

As Wen Ting Zhou read Ruan Xi’s letter, Ruan san niang’s stupidity reminded him of the shameful scene where the Fourth Prince was smacked in the face with a steamed bun, and he could not suppress the small smile rising at the corners of his mouth.

Prior to this, he did not pay attention to the concubine-born second young master of the Marquis Huaiyang Residence, and he only knew that he was without the learning or the skill, and he was but a silk clothes who liked eating, drinking, and playing around.

He did not expect that he was hiding his talent and acting as if he had nothing.

Mn, he could recommend this person to the Fourth Prince.

He trusted Ruan Ruan’s ability to read people.

Having thought of Ruan Ruan, Wen Ting Zhou looked towards the small wooden loft that he was beginning to polish, his gaze warming.

After a few more days, he would personally deliver this surprise to the Earl Chengyi Residence. The feeling of hugging Ruan Ruan was truly wondrous back then, but Wen Ting Zhou could not help but feel a little regretful because he missed out on holding her hand.

He should be able to hold Ruan Ruan’s hand next time.

Wen Ting Zhou thought dimly in his heart, expectant.