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Ruan Xi’s first reaction was: why was Ruan san niang here? Then her thoughts turned, she had married into the Minister Wen Residence, and this Third Young Lady should be the Third Young Lady of the Wen Family, Zhao yiniang’s daughter.
“Is it san mei? What is she here for?”
三妹 (pinyin: san mei) – third younger sister. (Ruan Xi addresses her that way because Wen Ting Zhou is the oldest brother among his siblings, ergo she is also her younger sister.)
Whenever that Third Young Lady in the Wen Family looked at Ruan Xi, her oldest sister-in-law, there would always be contempt present in her arrogant gaze. It was especially so after the rumour of her being afflicted with infertility medicine was popularised, and she had disdained her even more, believing that she was now beneath her contempt.
Apart from Minister Wen and Wen furen who could come and go from Wen Ting Zhou’s Harmonious Dwelling as they pleased, the others had to report for entry.
Currently, the Third Young Lady in the Wen Family was the same.
Ruan Xi was particularly fond of this point. When she was in the residence, none of the servants dared to stop Ruan san niang, and Ruan san niang had casually barged in numerous times.
A small dark glint flitted past the bottom of Wen Ting Zhou’s eyes. He had some guesses as to why his third younger sister was paying a visit. He patted the back of Ruan Xi’s hand lightly. “You are their da sao, if you don’t want to see them, you don’t have to, don’t force yourself.”
Upon hearing that, a pleased smile graced her lips. “Husband speaks correctly, let’s not see her then.”
Having obtained Ruan Xi’s order, Su Yu directly passed the message to the Wen Family’s Third Young Lady who was standing outside Harmonious Dwelling.
The Wen Family’s Third Young Lady Wen Yu Wei was angered to the point where her complexion went green and then white, before she stormed off angrily.
Wen Yu Wei was just a small interlude. Inside the room, Ruan Xi asked Mama Yang to bring in a bowl of iced pickled plum soup. Once Wen Ting Zhou drank that sour and sweet pickled plum soup, he felt refreshed.
“Ruan Ruan, san mei might come and bother you for the next few days, you don’t need to acknowledge her.”
Ruan Xi was surprised, “What’s the matter?”
Wen Ting Zhou played it down as he said: “I cut off er di (Wen Ting Yi) and san mei’s braised duck portion.”
They were two white-eyed wolves that could not be tamed even after feeding them. Ruan Ruan was their eldest sister-in-law, but it was tough being the eldest sister-in-law; he was afraid his younger brothers and sisters below would make demands to Ruan Ruan as if it was a matter of course.
Mirth spread across Ruan Xi’s visage as she curled her lips. “So that’s what happened, [you] did well in cutting it off. My braised ducks are being sold at a hundred taels each, if they want to eat it, they can line up and buy it.”
Wen Ting Zhou nodded in agreement.
“I’ve mentioned this matter to Mother a few days ago. The braised duck store is in your dowry and is part of your private assets. Since they’re untameable white-eyed wolves, you only need to give the braised ducks to Father and Mother for their consumption whenever you dispatch your servants to get some. Mother and Father didn’t express any opinions, and I’ve been sending the additional braised ducks to the Duke An Residence.
“However, I didn’t expect that those siblings would endure up until now.”
In the past, his mother would still distribute some to his other younger brothers and sisters, and Wen Ting Zhou did not concern himself over it, but he could not indulge them now.
Who gave them the guts to strike an attitude towards Ruan Ruan while eating Ruan Ruan’s braised ducks!
When Ruan Xi noticed how overprotective Wen Ting Zhou was, warmth flooded her heart, and she could not help but raise her head to kiss Wen Ting Zhou’s handsome face.
“To reward you.”
Her soft and warm lips departed after making brief contact, which made Wen Ting Zhou raise his eyebrows slowly. He tilted Ruan Xi’s face towards him, pressing against the back of her head to give her a deeper kiss.
“Ruan Ruan, I prefer this kind of reward more.” Wen Ting Zhou laughed lowly.
Ruan Xi levelled her breathing slightly as she gave him a sidelong glance. Issuing a soft huff, she leaned on Wen Ting Zhou’s chest lazily.
A glimmer of laughter flashed past Wen Ting Zhou’s eyes as he wrapped his hands around her waist.
“Ruan Ruan, your san jie will be entering the palace tomorrow, Yuefu should be able to take a breather soon.”
Towards Ruan san niang, Wen Ting Zhou only felt like she was hard to describe in a few words.
After the curtains fell on Zhang shi’s case, Ruan san niang became increasingly arrogant and despotic.
But of all the people she could have had, she had the Emperor’s subordinates by her side. Thus, Lao Taitai and Earl Chengyi had no way of controlling her, and the entire Earl Residence was being tormented to the point where there was billowing smoke.
When Ruan Xi heard Wen Ting Zhou mention Ruan san niang, it was apparent to her that he was thinking about her tyrannical deeds, which made her lips twitch a little.
“The Emperor truly attaches a great deal of importance to san jie, it is no wonder that san jie would be so unbridled.”
Chuckling softly, Wen Ting Zhou’s words held another profound meaning as he said: “Nothing should be judged from the surface alone.”
Ruan Xi: “……”
Indeed, if it were not for the numerous beneficial artefacts that Ruan san niang had in her hands, the old Emperor would not attach so much importance to her.
The power of the original plot was incredible.
After taking a large detour, Ruan san niang still repeated her original fate, except she was not as fortunate as her previous lifetime.
Speaking of the original novel, Ruan Xi promptly remembered the female protagonist Mu Qing Ci, of whom Ruan san niang had pitted a few times. Presently, Li Xiang Xiang had yet to enter the Fourth Prince’s residence, her days should be quite decent.
As the pair talked about Ruan san niang inside the room, Su Yu made a report from outside the door, saying that Ruan san niang had come knocking on their door.
Ruan Xi: “……”
Truly, she was like a deceased soul that refused to dissipate; not long after they started talking about her, she arrived.
阴魂不散 (pinyin: yin hu bu shan) – fig. the influence still lingers on.
She must be having a serious conflict with the number three today.
When Wen Ting Zhou saw Ruan Xi’s gloomy and frustrated expression, he hooked up his lips and said:
“If Ruan Ruan doesn’t want to see her, she doesn’t have to.”
Ruan Xi smiled helplessly, “Let’s just meet her, san jie is a very difficult person.”
Especially since Ruan san niang was going to be the old Emperor’s Fei soon, and with the amount of importance the old Emperor attached to her, summoning her into the palace would be an extremely easy feat.
It was better to allow Ruan san niang to show off first, lest she kept thinking about her later.
“Ruan Ruan, you’re my furen now, you don’t need to wrong yourself like this.” Wen Ting said with a serious tone as he stared at Ruan Xi.
Ruan Xi’s heart felt warm. She smiled as she replied: “There are no grievances when there is no concern to be had. Look at the rumours and gossip circulating outside, when have I ever minded them?”
Wen Ting Zhou could only go along with her.
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Ruan Xi straightened out her appearance before she brought Su Yu and Su Zhu to the courtyard’s main hall to wait. One cup of tea in (10 minutes), an older woman-servant led Ruan san niang inside.
Ruan san niang was dressed in a crimson luoqun, her smiling countenance was splendid and beautiful, and her entire person appeared beautiful and flamboyant.
“Si mei, have you been well recently?”
Ruan Xi smiled, “It’s been alright.”
Ruan san niang fiddled with the strands of hair beside her ear as she proceeded to settle in the seat opposite of Ruan Xi. She inspected Ruan Xi’s demeanour before she sneered, “Is that so?”
“Si mei, me and you can be considered fellow sufferers empathising with each other now. Fancy how I used to be jealous of you, I didn’t expect that we were both pitiful people that Zhang shi had harmed.
“Alas, I am a bit more fortunate than you, but you’re different, si mei. Since you’ve consumed the infertility medicine, you’re incapable of giving birth in the future. Zhang shi has truly inflicted much suffering.”
Ever since Ruan san niang had attained her revenge against Zhang shi, she no longer called the deceased Zhang shi her mother.
Furthermore, it had never crossed her mind that the cold that nearly took her fourth sister’s life was also Zhang shi’s handwriting.
However, her fourth sister had a tenacious life, and she managed to get through it.
But she was still afflicted with infertility medicine in the end.
This point made Ruan san niang very satisfied.
As long as she did not do anything, her fourth sister will never have a child in this life.
“San jie, the rumours and gossip outside cannot be trusted. The imperial physicians have checked my body, and all of them said that I wasn’t afflicted with infertility medicine.” Ruan Xi said placidly.
Ruan san niang raised the tea bowl in front of her to take a sip before she gave Ruan Xi a pitying look. “Si mei, do not deceive yourself and others.”
Ruan Xi: “……”
What was going on with that pitying look that Ruan san niang was giving her, what was she imagining in her exactly?
Inwardly, Ruan Xi was rendered speechless.
“Si mei, judging from your countenance, you should be living well in the Wen Family and it seems like everything has remained unaffected by the rumours and gossip circulating outside. You must be very thankful towards them right now, the Wen Family has truly made a good set of calculations.” Ruan san niang laughed mockingly, her tone brimming with disdain.
Ruan Xi raised an eyebrow slightly, her expression subtle. “Oh, I would like to hear the details.”
It seems like Ruan san niang was not necessarily here just to flaunt and ridicule her. Rather, she had other motives.
Just a glance at her fourth sister’s expression was enough for Ruan san niang to know that her fourth sister did not believe her, but she did not mind.
“Si mei, have you never considered that the Wen Family might have given the imperial physicians prior notice in the dark, which led to the imperial physicians deliberately concealing the true condition of your body?” Ruan san niang said with a face full of confidence.
After Ruan Xi came down from her shock, she could not suppress her laughter, “San jie, you’re thinking too much.” She was extremely clear about the condition of her body.
It appears that Ruan san niang was genuinely under the impression that she had ingested the infertility medicine.
Su Yu, Su Zhu, and the rest: “……”
Wen Ting Zhou, who was eavesdropping inside: “……”
Ruan san niang snorted: “I’m speaking the truth, Si mei, you shouldn’t not believe it. Who told you to have a secret braised duck recipe on your person that is worth cities!
“Si mei, you are still ignorant of how mysterious the efficacy of your braised duck is, aren’t you? I’ve asked the imperial physicians, not only is it the bane of the anorexic, the people who frequently eat the braised duck from your store should also be capable of extending their lives.”
Ruan Xi: “……”
“Therefore, even if you’re incapable of becoming pregnant in the future, the Wen Family will not retire you either, and they will probably pass over an adopted child and record it under your name. Consequently, once they obtain your secret braised duck recipe by right and proper means, one can well imagine what kind of ending you will have.
“Don’t feel like I’m saying frightening words to scare you, once you reach that stage, it will be too late.”
Ruan san niang spoke frankly, feeling assured.
If it were not for her overhearing the conjectures that other people were making in the restaurant, albeit unwittingly, she would never have thought of this.
The Wen Family had truly calculated well.
Her fourth sister’s secret braised duck recipe was considered a part of her dowry, was her fourth sister’s private asset, and with the old Emperor putting a stamp on it, no one would dare to snatch it away openly and without fear.
A thought had filtered into Ruan san niang’s heart then. Rather than allowing the Wen Family to pick up the advantage, she might as well pick up the advantage.
Hence, Ruan san niang decided to make amends with her fourth sister.
Honestly speaking, her fourth did have good luck. She had assumed that after the matter of her being afflicted with infertility medicine was exposed, the Wen Family would divorce her and send her back to her maternal home, but she had forgotten the valuable secret braised duck recipe in her hands.
It was a miscalculation indeed.
Ruan san niang had no choice but to alter her plans. Right now, she was no longer against the notion of being the old Emperor’s imperial concubine; as long as she could give birth to a small imperial son, she would have the chance to aim for the Empress Dowager position. When that time came around, she could secretly raise small wolfdogs, wouldn’t that be amazing?
小奶狗 (pinyin: xiao nai you) — younger men, typically for the means of pleasure and appreciation.
Ruan Xi: “……”
“San jie, given all the bedding that you have been spreading out, can you articulate your purpose now?”
A glint of excitement flitted past Ruan san niang’s eyes. She had been waiting for this line. As expected, her fourth sister did not disappoint her.
“Si mei, we’re already fellow sufferers who empathise with each other, wouldn’t it be better to perish the debts of gratitude and grudges with a smile, and be good sisters? You should be cognizant of the fact that I’ll be entering the imperial palace tomorrow, right? I will be Ruan fei in the future, and with the importance that the Emperor attaches to me, it’s enough to become your backing.”
Ruan san niang pursed a mouthful of tea before she continued to say: “Once I give birth to a young imperial son, you will be his younger maternal aunt, rather than letting an outsider have your secret braised duck recipe for cheap, why don’t you allow your nephew to pick up that advantage? Si mei, don’t you think so?”
As Ruan Xi listened to Ruan san niang describe her beautiful and perfect future, her lips twitched. It turns out Ruan san niang was gunning for her secret braised duck recipe. If she did not have her golden finger, and heard Ruan san niang’s lengthy conjecture, perhaps she might become overly suspicious, thereby causing a gap between her and the Wen Family, thus stepping on Ruan san niang’s boat.
Ruan san niang had genuinely mproved.
She could even bring out something like giving birth to a young imperial son even though there was naught a shadow of him. She had to concede defeat.
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Smiling, Ruan Xi did not reject it directly. Instead, she deliberately gave Ruan san niang a shred of hope, since it was more important to stabilise her right now, in fear that she would pick quarrels and stir up trouble.
“San jie, we can talk about this again when you give birth to a young imperial son.”
As Wen Ting Zhou continued to eavesdrop, he could not hold back the urge to chuckle.
Whereas Su Yu and Su Zhu started panicking. Their Young Lady couldn’t possibly be persuaded, right?
“Young Lady!”
Ruan Xi smiled at them. “Don’t worry, I’m well-aware of the circumstances in my heart.”
Ruan san niang’s lips slanted downwards upon seeing that. Her fourth sister might look unperturbed and self-possessed, but she was not refusing her outright, which clued her in on the fact that her heart was already moved. It was merely the case of not releasing the hawk before the hare was in sight, that was all it was.
“Alright, si mei, we have come to an accord then.”
Ruan san niang was full of confidence because she believed that her objective had already been achieved. Hence, she did not prolong her stay and she departed from the Wen Residence, flushed with success.
Ruan Xi peered at Ruan san niang’s departing back figure as she leisurely raised her teacup to sip on her tea.
Wen Ting Zhou walked out from the interiors of the hall in slow strides.