Chapter 13 013 Ruby and a Straight Man's Heart
"Third sister-in-law, are you alright?"
After Madam Yang Er left with a pale face and gritted teeth, Yang Yanzhen strolled over to Luo Fu as if taking a leisurely walk. He pretended to admire the flowers, but in reality, he asked her in a low voice with concern.
When Yang Yanzhen got married, her second sister-in-law had not yet entered the family, but she would come home to visit her relatives several times a year. After getting to know her better, Yang Yanzhen realized that her second sister-in-law was somewhat domineering and bullied the weak while fearing the strong.
Luo Fu avoided her gaze, looking as if she wanted to laugh but couldn't because she had suffered a great injustice.
Yang Yanzhen then thought of a common scene in the capital where a noble lady bullies the weak, and his expression became serious. He said to Luo Fu, "If Second Sister-in-law has been impolite, I will apologize to Third Sister-in-law on her behalf, and then ask Mother to uphold justice later."
On one side were her sister-in-law from her maternal family, and on the other side were her husband's younger brother and sister-in-law. They were close relatives, but since her third sister-in-law was a guest at the Prime Minister's residence, it was wrong for her second sister-in-law to bully her.
Luo Fu quickly shook her head, seemingly relieved because Yang Yanzhen was willing to stand up for her. She moved closer to Yang Yanzhen and explained what had happened, feeling wronged and confused, only omitting her threat to Madam Yang: "I guess my husband must have offended Madam Yang before. But I just married into this family, why is she taking her anger out on me? If it weren't for the fear of causing trouble for my mother and sister-in-law, I would have no face to stand here anymore after hearing what she said about me."
Madam Yang came and injured someone, and you expect me to act like nothing happened? Impossible, Luo Fu will never cover for her.
She and Madam Yang had settled their score by scolding each other, and she promised Madam Yang that if she didn't cause her any more trouble, she wouldn't spread the details of Xiao Yu's past grievances. However, this didn't include keeping Madam Yang's rudeness today a secret, especially since Yang Yanzhen had seen it and inquired about it.
Yang Yanzhen felt ashamed that his sister-in-law had been unkind in her hospitality and apologized to Luo Fu again.
Luo Fu smiled with relief and took Yang Yanzhen's hand, saying, "She is her, and sister-in-law is sister-in-law. Sister-in-law doesn't need to feel indebted to me because of the second madam, unless you only treat the second madam as family and treat me, your sister-in-law, as an outsider."
Yang Yanzhen was taken aback by the overly blunt words.
Luo Fu winked at her: "I treat my sister-in-law like my own sister-in-law, that's why I confided my grievances to you. If it were the Prime Minister's wife or the First Madam, I wouldn't say anything, because it's just a small verbal dispute. If it really escalated to the Prime Minister's wife, even if the Second Madam was in the wrong, I'm afraid the Prime Minister's wife would think I'm a troublemaker and wouldn't want to invite me again."
She actually went to Madam Xu and complained about Madam Yang, saying that the Prime Minister's mansion had a daughter-in-law who didn't know manners. How could Madam Xu be happy about that?
Yang Yanzhen understood and sighed, "I won't say anything to Mother, but I'm sorry to have wronged my third brother and sister-in-law."
Luo Fu: "I am grateful to the Second Madam for her concern. It makes me realize that she is willing to protect me. Otherwise, I would have always misunderstood that she disdained to associate with a younger sister like me. Even if I was bored in the Marquis's mansion, I would not have dared to bother her."
When this was mentioned, Yang Yanzhen laughed and said, "How could that be? Third sister-in-law, please feel free to come and visit me whenever you have time. I would be more than happy to do so."
The two sisters-in-law hadn't spoken as much in the ten days they'd lived together in the Marquis's mansion as they had just spoken. As their relationship grew closer, Luo Fu asked Yang Yanzhen to introduce her to the chrysanthemum potted plants in the garden. They looked beautiful, but she didn't recognize the varieties.
Born into the Prime Minister's family, Yang Yanzhen possessed a wide range of knowledge and perspectives. The refined manners that Luo Fu envied were as simple to her as being able to walk and sit, and were not worth mentioning.
She was elegant, and her explanations were also elegant. Even two pots of chrysanthemums with similar colors were described by Yang Yanzhen as having their own unique beauty.
Luo Fu listened attentively and made sure she remembered everything. Luckily, she was sharp-eared and sharp-eyed enough not to forget everything she saw.
However, Yang Yanzhen was not Luo Fu's own. There was Madam Yang, who was worried that Luo Fu would speak ill of her, and several younger members of the Yang family who wanted to get close to their aunt. After Yang Yanzhen insisted on telling Luo Fu about all the varieties of chrysanthemums, Luo Fu tactfully gave up the seat next to Yang Yanzhen.
After enjoying the flowers with Li Huaiyun and Madam Yang, Luo Fu returned to the waterside pavilion ahead of schedule.
Madam Xu smiled and said, "Why don't you enjoy it a little longer?"
Luo Fu sat down on the embroidered stool below her mother-in-law, Deng Shi, and looked at Xu Shi with admiration, saying, "When Mother was at home, she often praised my sister-in-law's elegant demeanor and told me to learn from her. But I think that my sister-in-law was also taught by my aunt. It's rare for me to have the opportunity to admire my aunt's demeanor in person, so of course I should cherish the time and learn directly from you, my famous teacher."
Deng: "..."
Xu didn't need to look at her to know that Deng wouldn't say such things. It was all because the young woman was good with words. Her words were all artful, but they sounded really pleasant. So Xu asked affectionately, "What does Fu'er want to learn? With your sweet-talking mouth, as long as you want to learn, your aunt will teach you anything."
Luo Fu was initially flattered, then said awkwardly, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Auntie. I want to learn everything because I grew up in the countryside and my knowledge in various aspects is limited."
Madam Xu understood, but she didn't have that much time to teach a younger member of her in-laws' family like she taught her daughter. Even her daughter was taught by several female tutors working together.
So, Madam Xu had Luo Fu sit beside her, and, holding the young woman's fair and plump wrist, used the mutton-fat jade bracelet Luo Fu wore as an example to teach her how to distinguish mutton-fat jade from ordinary Hetian jade. After explaining Hetian jade, she also talked about the jewelry and silk fabrics that Madam Xu herself wore; this ability to identify precious gems requires daily accumulation.
Luo Fu benefited greatly from the lecture, and even Deng, who was sitting next to her, listened with great interest, regardless of how much she remembered.
Outside, seeing her mother-in-law and Luo Fu seemingly very intimate, Madam Yang, feeling guilty, hurriedly approached, fearing Luo Fu would complain. Instead, she witnessed her mother-in-law telling Luo Fu about common matters concerning fabrics and jade, things she already knew. Relieved, Madam Yang's eyes flashed with disdain. She then kindly took off the gold and ruby ring from her hand, offering it to her mother-in-law to discuss with Luo Fu.
Luo Fu thanked her with a natural smile.
Madam Xu pretended not to notice her second daughter-in-law's frivolous and rude behavior. She first whispered a few words to the nanny beside her, then took the ring and pointed to the ruby, which was about the size of a longan pit, saying, "Fu'er, the quality of a ruby depends on the purity and depth of its color and the amount of impurities. The fewer the impurities, the higher its value. In terms of color, pink and purplish-red are not as good as true red... Your second sister-in-law's ruby is a pretty good one, and there are no obvious impurities inside."
Madam Yang raised her chin slightly with a smug look.
Luo Fu held up the ruby ring and, under Xu's guidance, examined the minute impurities inside and observed the intensity of the color.
Seeing that there seemed to be some excitement here, Madam Yang, Yang Yanzhen, and Li Huaiyun led the children back to the waterside pavilion one after another to listen to Madam Xu's explanation. It just so happened that Madam Yang was wearing a pair of ruby earrings. Although they were not as big as Madam Yang's ring, the gemstones were darker in color, meaning they were of a higher grade.
Madam Yang didn't mind, because she had better ruby jewelry, but she just didn't wear it today.
Soon, the old woman who had been sent away by Madam Xu returned and handed Madam Xu a brocade box the size of a palm.
When Madam Xu opened the brocade box, there was another ruby ring inside. When Madam Xu placed this ring next to the rings and earrings of her two daughters-in-law, its bright, dazzling, and deep red color, as rich as blood, undoubtedly made it the king of the group.
No one was surprised. The noble ladies had all seen it. Even Madam Deng had collected a set of ruby jewelry from Xiao Rong's initial gifts, including a pigeon blood gemstone hairpin. Madam Deng would never forget the smugness Xiao Rong showed her when he boasted about the hairpin's value, and her ecstatic joy.
Rosé was adept at restraint, revealing only just the right amount of stunning beauty.
After teaching Luo Fu how to distinguish pigeon blood, Xu casually slipped the pigeon blood red ring onto Luo Fu's right index finger: "Your two sisters-in-law and Huaiyun all grew up in the capital. I've watched them grow up year by year, and I've given them small gifts before. Only Fu'er came from Yangzhou to marry into our family, and we get along very well. So I'm giving you this ring as a gift. Don't be shy, Fu'er."
Despite her humble origins, Deng was not stingy. She would give her daughter a fine bracelet, and she would also share any rewards Xiao Rong received with his daughter-in-law.
Her son Yanzhen was the first to marry into the Marquis's mansion and received the most rewards from his mother-in-law. Xu Shi had always been aware of this, but the Xiao family had no daughter for her to return the favor. In addition, given the second daughter-in-law's neglect today, Xu Shi was willing to give Luo Fu a nice gift.
Luo Fu wanted to decline, but Xu Shi stopped her from speaking. She subconsciously looked at her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Madam Deng also looked at her eldest daughter-in-law. Would her eldest daughter-in-law be jealous of her own mother's pigeon blood?
Yang Yanzhen smiled and said, "Third sister-in-law, please accept it. Mother dislikes it when younger generations are too polite to her."
Luo Fu then accepted the gift and knelt on Xu Shi's lap, saying sweet words: "Auntie loves the younger generation and may often send such valuable gifts. This is the first time I have received pigeon blood. So even if Auntie is surrounded by her children and grandchildren and doesn't care about one more junior like me to show her respect, I will repay your kindness in the future. I will be as good to you as I am to my parents and in-laws."
Madam Xu smiled, her eyes crinkling: "According to you, doesn't that mean I've gained another wonderful daughter?"
Luo Fu blushed and said, "I can't accept that. I'm clumsy and it doesn't matter if I'm made a fool of myself and people laugh at me, but I mustn't tarnish your reputation."
Madam Xu grew increasingly fond of the child, but she knew her limits and didn't try to establish a mother-daughter relationship with her.
.
The luncheon at the Prime Minister's residence was a great success, with everyone enjoying themselves. After the banquet, the Deng family, including the mother and daughters-in-law, took their leave with the children.
Luo Fu was still riding in the same carriage as Deng Shi. After the carriage had gone a little further, Luo Fu took off the pigeon blood ruby ring on her hand and asked her mother-in-law nervously, "Mother, is it really alright for me to accept such a valuable gift from Madam Xu?"
Madam Deng laughed and said, "It's alright. The Prime Minister's mansion has plenty of treasures, unlike our family, where even a single ruby can be a family heirloom. Besides, it's your skill that you managed to win her favor."
Luo Fu blushed and said, "I only flattered Madam Xu because I wanted to cultivate a good relationship with the Prime Minister's residence, but I really didn't expect her to give me any reward..."
Deng said, "This is called 'unintentional success.' If you really go for the reward, they might not even want to give it to you."
She could tell whether the villagers were trying to get close to her to borrow money. Xu, a high-class lady, was even more shrewd and could see through the scheming hearts of the young wives.
Since her mother-in-law didn't mind her flattering Xu Shi and didn't covet her pigeon blood ring, Luo Fu put the ring back on without any qualms. When she arrived at Shensi Hall and learned that Xiao Yu was resting in the front courtyard, Luo Fu went straight back to the middle courtyard. After washing up and tidying her hair, she lay on the bed alone, smiling foolishly at the ruby on her hand, and fell asleep while smiling.
After waking up, Luo Fu heard from Ping An that Xiao Yu had come once, so she combed her hair and went to the front yard.
Xiao Yu was in the study. This time, instead of coming out to greet her in the small hall outside the study, he directly led her into the library where the books were stored.
The study was bright and clean, with several rows of bookshelves filled to the brim.
As Luo Fu looked around at the furnishings, Xiao Yu noticed the blood-red ruby ring on his wife's right index finger.
"Is it beautiful? It was a gift from Madam Xu." Luo Fu sat directly on Xiao Yu's lap and held up her hand to show him.
Because of her little tantrum yesterday noon, the half-day of instruction on manners in the afternoon, and the lingering intimacy in the evening, Luo Fu has become increasingly uninhibited in front of Xiao Yu, especially with these intimate little gestures.
Xiao Yu wasn't used to it yet, but with his beautiful wife in his arms and no outsiders watching, he didn't push her away. Instead, he curiously asked what had happened.
Luo Fu told the whole story.
Xiao Yu understood: his mother felt ashamed of herself in front of others and preferred to remain stagnant, while his wife was happy to learn and integrate into the circle of noblewomen in the capital.
There's no need to compare which path is better or worse, right or wrong; just choose what you like.
"You haven't said whether it looks good or not yet?" Luo Fu deliberately shook her hand.
Her hands were fair and delicate, with fingers that were as rounded and slender as bamboo shoots. They were already white, but when set against the ruby, they shimmered with a soft, luminous glow.
A line of poetry popped into Xiao Yu's mind: "Her fingers are like scallion roots, her lips like vermilion."
Did the poet also observe a woman's hands so closely...?
Xiao Yu quickly glanced at his wife's rosy, full lips.
Luo Fu: "...What are you thinking, asking if I look good?"
She glared at him, then left his embrace and sat down opposite him at the desk. With her index finger, adorned with a gemstone ring, she tapped the table and, her smile fading, interrogated him: "Did you and Madam Yang have a grudge? I was enjoying the flowers when she suddenly came over and berated both of us, calling me beautiful but lacking substance, and you a lecherous hypocrite."
Xiao Yu froze.
He was neither lustful nor a hypocrite, but what had just flashed through his mind was the image of the couple kissing at night.
"Who is Madam Yang the Second?" Xiao Yu asked seriously.
Luo Fu: "Guo Baozhi, the fifth daughter of the Marquis of Dongping, is a bit taller than me. She has a small red mole at the corner of her eye and is a beauty, especially captivating in her eyes." But she is not as beautiful as me, nor does she have as good a figure.
Although Xiao Rong's military achievements were not as great as those of other marquises, he was good at flattery and had connections with the dukes in the capital, and he also often interacted with the younger generation.
Xiao Yu wouldn't make a point of remembering the names of those young ladies, but he only had one encounter with a girl in the Dongping Marquis's mansion that might have caused her resentment, so he quickly recalled the general situation.
Xiao Yu, who has a naturally good memory, can recall many similar incidents, both with sons of powerful families and daughters of powerful families. Given his integrity, he would not go around publicizing the faults of others, but this Madam Yang the Second had rudely insulted his wife, and his wife had the right to know.
"That year, the Dongping Marquis's Mansion held a banquet, and the Marquis's heir invited us male guests to admire the rocks in the garden. They just glanced at the flowers, but I looked closely and unknowingly fell behind. Just as I finished admiring the flowers and was about to catch up with them, a girl suddenly emerged from the cave and questioned me about why I had lingered there for so long, preventing her from coming out to admire the flowers."
Xiao Yu, still a fifteen-year-old boy, felt that the other party was being unreasonable and replied, "I was invited by the young master to the garden to admire the stones, so I lingered here. I did not know that someone was hiding in the cave. If you are in a hurry to admire the flowers, you can show yourself and leave at any time."
Girl: "How can I reveal myself if you're here?"
Xiao Yu: "Didn't you show yourself?"
The girl said, "...I came out because I couldn't wait any longer."
Xiao Yu: "You waited for me while I was admiring the rocks, but now that I'm clearly leaving, you can't wait anymore? Besides, the artificial hills and caves here are connected, so why don't you leave from the other side?"
Girl: "...That side is farther from the garden, so I prefer to walk this way."
Xiao Yu: "Then you can just leave. If you hadn't called me from behind, I wouldn't have noticed you at all."
Girl: "You made me stay out so late, of course I'm going to blame you!"
Xiao Yu: "Are you a young lady from the Earl's mansion?"
Girl: "Yes!"
Xiao Yu: "Forgive my ignorance, but I have never heard of such hospitality."
...
Luo Fu: "What did she reply?"
Xiao Yu: "Knowing she was in the wrong, she left in shame."
Luo Fu suppressed a laugh. Xiao Yu was foolish and didn't see through Madam Yang's deliberate approach, but Luo Fu saw through it immediately. Madam Yang wasn't really angry that Xiao Yu lingered too long; she was clearly using it as an excuse to flirt with him. If it were someone sensible, they would apologize first and then flirt with each other. But Xiao Yu was different; his words were increasingly sarcastic, almost trampling on the young girl's delicate skin.
Xiao Yu's sarcastic remarks clearly demonstrate that he has no feelings for Madam Yang at all, which is exactly what Madam Yang cannot accept: "I like you but you don't like me. It's your fault for being blind."
Since it involved the reputation of a female relative, Luo Fu ultimately did not remind Xiao Yu and Madam Yang of their fleeting misplaced affections.
A note from the author:
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Here they are! 100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow!
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