After Xu Rong was puzzled, he came up with a reason: even if he could say it, there was no need to go around saying it, so what he said was not wrong.
She then regained the rhythm of the conversation: "Have you had any conflicts with Aunt Ruan's side?"
Xiao Xin: "Hmm."
"And then what?"
“My aunt told me that Aunt Ruan was not a bad person. She had no choice but to end up here. She told me to let it go.”
Xu Rong: "..."
She was convinced; Wei's saintly aura was simply on a level that shone down on the entire earth.
She dared not offend the mistress, and she also cowered before Xiao Xin. As for Concubine Ruan, she was also a concubine, but Madam Wei herself was in dire straits and yet she had the leisure to sympathize with others, without even considering how different her own treatment was from that of others.
"Why did Aunt Ruan have no choice in this situation?" she asked after thinking for a moment. "Was it because something bad happened at home that she had no choice but to become a concubine?"
Xiao Xinwei nodded slightly: "Her father was originally a Hanlin scholar. He was engaged to a woman when he was at home, but later both families suffered misfortune and almost all of their members were wiped out."
That's really quite tragic.
Xu Rong couldn't help but ask, "Then what bad things happened?"
"During the struggle for the throne during the late emperor's reign, Consort Ruan's family supported Prince Qing."
It actually got involved in the most high-level political struggles.
Xu Rong knew very little about this, as she had always stayed in the inner quarters, where women came and went, discussing nothing more than matters of food and clothing. All she could be certain of was that the one in power now was definitely someone else.
Then she hesitated for a moment: "Hanlin—that's not a very high-ranking official position, is it?"
Getting involved in taking sides requires substance and ability. To the point where neither side has any supporters seems inconsistent with the rank of a fifth or sixth-grade civil official. In Xu Rong's limited understanding, she thought that being dragged out and given a beating—officially called court flogging—would be more appropriate.
Xiao Xin said, "The mother of Prince Qing is a concubine. The father of Consort Ruan and the family of Fu Hanlin—the one to whom Consort Ruan was betrothed—jointly drafted a memorial to the throne, requesting that the mother of Prince Qing be made empress."
He clearly saw Xu Rong's ignorance in this regard, and before she could ask, he further explained, "The current emperor's mother was also a concubine, but the emperor was the eldest."
Xu Rong suddenly realized that if Prince Qing's mother became Empress, Prince Qing could be considered the legitimate heir, and the forces supporting him were planning to use the legitimate heir to oppose the eldest son.
Aunt Ruan's father was not of high rank, and perhaps not an important figure in the power structure at the time. However, he did the most sensitive thing. After the new emperor ascended the throne, everyone hated him and swiftly wiped out both families.
It was truly bad luck, but to be honest, it wasn't that unjust.
The greatest wealth comes with the greatest risk; one should be prepared when it's time to take a gamble.
"In the end, only your father is satisfied." Xu Rong shook his head.
She understood a little where Wei's sympathy came from. For Lord Xiao, when he couldn't get true love, he would make do with a substitute. Once he got true love, he would throw the substitute aside. No matter how you looked at it, he was never at a loss.
But it's not the same for women who are at the mercy of fate. Wei Shi and Aunt Ruan's appearances were innate, but were their antagonistic stances also innate? No, they belonged to different social classes. If they hadn't been trapped in the same mansion due to unforeseen circumstances, they would never have met in their entire lives.
Lady Wei saw her own tragedy in Aunt Ruan; her "helplessness" referred not only to Aunt Ruan but also to herself.
—But she's still too much of a saint.
Xu Rong sighed, "Second Young Master, I'm sorry to trouble you."
She didn't explain it clearly, after all, they are other people's parents, and it's not appropriate to comment easily.
"It's alright." Xiao Xin understood, pursed his lips, and told her, "My aunt is better than before. She listens to me now. Unlike before, when she was always afraid I'd be harmed and told me to give in to everything. I know she meant well, but—"
“But it’s frustrating,” Xu Rong added.
Xiao Xin nodded: "Yes."
He had already explained the matter clearly, but having come this far, he couldn't help but add, "When I was little, she wouldn't let me leave her courtyard except to pay my respects. I was so bored that I sent the maid away and sneaked out to wander around the mansion. She was terrified but didn't dare tell anyone. She searched for me outside until dark, but I had already gone back."
Xu Rong imagined a little Xiao Xin sneaking through the crack in the door and chuckled; he'd been quite lively as a child. "Oh, so were you punished afterward?"
Xiao Xin remained silent.
Xu Rong realized something: "Haha."
They've definitely been punished.
He wouldn't be unable to speak out under ordinary punishment; it's very likely the kind of punishment children often receive.
Xiao Xin: "..."
After his slip of the tongue, he refused to speak again, but he talked all the way. At this time, they arrived at the North Courtyard. After entering the gate, they went to their respective rooms and did their own things.
Xu Rong didn't have anything urgent to do, but today, because she argued with Lord Xiao, she had an extra task: to copy "Admonitions for Women".
She has this book, which is hidden in one of her dowry boxes. It seems she has never read a single word of it, and she didn't even include it when she was checking the detailed list. So now it will take some effort to find it.
After rummaging through four boxes, I finally found this thin, worthless book at the bottom.
With pen and ink readily available, Xu Rong sat down at the kang table in the warm pavilion, grinding ink while first opening the book and skimming through it.
It's not particularly difficult; one preface and seven main texts are generally understandable. As for the specifics of what it's about, there's no need to delve too deeply into it and risk making things unpleasant.
After grinding a pool of ink, Xu Rong spread out the cut Xuan paper and began copying the characters word by word from beginning to end.
By the end of the morning, Xu Rong had only written three pages, barely finishing copying the preface.
Bai Fu outside the curtain asked to set the table for dinner. Xu Rong answered, swinging his wrist. He looked at his pitiful work, then at the other three sheets on the kang table that he had copied most of but was ruined because of mistakes or miscopying. He couldn't help but sigh.
I didn't expect it to be so difficult. If I don't speed things up this afternoon, I might not be able to finish copying it today.
Although Madam Xiao did not give her a deadline, it would be best to hand it in tomorrow. If she drags her feet on this small penalty, she will be the one who gets blamed.
She shifted her legs, which were starting to feel numb, as she tried to get off the kang (heated brick bed), when she suddenly heard Bai Fu call out from outside again, "Second Young Master."
As the curtain was lifted, Xiao Xin walked in.
He had slept in this warm room for two nights, so it was familiar to him. He came in, looked at the table, and said, "I heard from your maid that you were copying books."
"Okay." Xu Rong casually showed him the three copies she had made. "I've copied these. Let's go out for lunch first, and I'll copy more this afternoon."
Xiao Xin reached out to take it—then stopped and paused.
His gaze was fixed on the Xuan paper. The characters varied in size and the ink application varied in weight, and the whole piece exuded a sense of casualness to barbarity. There was even a small drop of ink next to the piece of Xuan paper that she was holding with her fingers.
The only redeeming quality is that at a glance, the strokes of the characters seem to be correct, with no mistakes.
Xu Rong, being self-aware, explained, "I told my wife that my handwriting wasn't good, and she said it didn't matter."
Xiao Xin finally said, "But she may not have expected it to be like this."
Madam Xiao was a noblewoman from a prominent family and had received an education. Even if she had forgotten all the articles she had read, her discerning eye and critical instincts remained.
Xu Rong was stunned for a moment, then realized what she meant: "You mean it's too ugly? I think it's alright."
She looked at her handwriting again; it was fairly neat. "I threw away the really bad ones and rewrote them."
She pointed out a few sheets of paper on the corner of the table to him.
Xiao Xin couldn't assess her confidence, so he silently took the three cards from her hand and crumpled them up.
Xu Rong: "..."
Her pupils dilated: "I've been writing for ages!"
She snatched the paper back from his fingers, unfolded it, and saw that the Xuan paper was soft; crumpling it would practically ruin it. Even if she had the nerve to bring it to Madam Xiao, she'd probably be forced to rewrite it.
"I'll write it for you."
Xiao Xin bent down and picked up the book "Admonitions for Women" that was spread out on the kang table. After speaking, he turned and walked out.
"Ah?" Xu Rong felt a surge of joy, but then suppressed it and asked from behind, "Second Young Master, won't this be too much trouble for you? Won't it interfere with your studies?"
Xiao Xin turned around from outside the curtain: "Then you write it yourself?"
Xu Rong: "Uh..."
It wasn't that she was afraid of writing those two thousand words; the problem was that her handwriting seemed unacceptable, and even if she were willing to practice, there wouldn't be enough time.
Xiao Xin shut her up, then a slight smile appeared in his eyes as he said calmly, "No, it won't delay you."
He said it wouldn't be a delay, and it wasn't. After lunch, Xu Rong went to bed for a nap with a little guilt but more relief. When she woke up, Bai Fu brought in a stack of papers with a smile: "Miss, the Second Young Master asked me to give these to you."
Xu Rong was still in bed, her hair disheveled and eyes still sleepy, when she took the book and woke up.
She understood why Xiao Xin disliked her handwriting.
His handwriting was exactly like printed text. Xu Rong didn't know what style it was or whether it was good or not, but it looked neat and tidy at first glance. Putting aside the handwriting, the overall score was higher than hers.
"It's safe now. Take it with you when you go to pay your respects tomorrow." She carefully handed it back to Bai Fu.
Bai Fu carefully accepted it, and fearing that the little girl might break it if she didn't know how, she specially placed it in one of the layers of the makeup box.
Xu Rong lay on the bed in a daze for a while. Putting aside the cooperation factor, she genuinely felt sorry for Xiao Xin. He must have been a really smart kid when he was young. The basic skills he had learned were still there, and he could easily pick them up again.
It was timely enough; if it had been delayed any longer, dragging on through the entire adolescence, then it would have been truly beyond saving.
The time a person is suited for learning is actually very limited, and many people let it slip by in a daze.
After regaining her senses, Xu Rong got out of bed, tidied herself up quickly, and headed to the warm pavilion.
Bai Fu followed, and seeing her go inside to explore the writing implements, she asked in surprise, "Does the young lady still practice calligraphy?"
Xu Rong shook his head: "I won't write it. I'm wasting these good things. I'll give them to the Second Young Master instead."
"Oh, okay, I'll help you find it, young lady." Bai Fu became happy.
Xu Rong's dowry didn't include many stationery items because she was a girl, but it was enough for her to use for several years. With Bai Fu's help, Xu Rong took out the two boxes that were in the warm pavilion. One box contained Xuan paper, and the other contained brushes, inkstones, brush washers, water containers, armrests, and other miscellaneous items. Xu Rong thought for a moment, then, without worrying about anything else, took out a large stack of Xuan paper. This was the most frequently used item, and it would be easy to give it to Xiao Xin.
Bai Fu delivered it to her, and a moment later brought it back, saying with difficulty, "Miss, the Second Young Master said he has some and told you to keep it for yourself."
Xu Rong said, "Then tell him that I might need his help in the future."
Don't bother him.
The punishment was copying.
Bai Fu went again, and after a while, she returned empty-handed, suppressing a laugh: "Miss, the Second Young Master accepted it."
Xu Rong nodded in satisfaction.
She took out the slightly disheveled Xuan paper from the box and tidied it up. Just then, Hongliu suddenly rushed in like a firecracker, shouting, "Miss, Miss, something bad has happened!"
"You're doing very well, young lady," Bai Fu said first, then continued, "I've taught you before, don't rush, tell me slowly what's wrong."
Hongliu nodded, panting, "Sister, I didn't mean it, something really happened—" She stamped her foot anxiously, "The Marquis came back from the yamen, and went straight to Li Courtyard. The maids in Li Courtyard all ran out in fright, saying that the Marquis was scolding Aunt Wei!"
Xu Rong dropped the paper, stood up, and walked straight out.
Lord Xiao was not a titled nobleman in name only; he had a real job. He had only exchanged a few words with Madam Xiao before leaving this morning on his way to the yamen. Unexpectedly, when he returned from the yamen, instead of continuing to look for Madam Xiao—probably because it was pointless—he actually went to find Madam Wei.
They really know how to pick on the weak.
Hongliu hurriedly followed behind her: "Miss, should we tell the Second Young Master?"
After all, Aunt Wei was the second young master's birth mother.
Xu Rong said, "Not yet—"
She paused, and Xiao Xin had already walked out from the other side of the main room, his eyes filled with questions.
Xu Rong's maids were of varying ages, some quiet and some clever, but they were always well-behaved and would never make such a racket running around the courtyard. He heard it and, sensing something was amiss, put down his book and came out.
Xu Rong saw him and didn't hide it anymore, explaining briefly. Xiao Xin's expression immediately turned cold.
"Second Young Master, let's go take a look first."
This was no time for idle chatter. The two hurriedly left side by side. Xiao Xin's pace was so fast it was almost flying, and Xu Rong didn't utter a word, just jogging to keep up.
Li Yuan was also in a remote location, but in a different direction, and still some distance from the North Courtyard. When they finally arrived, Hong Liu, who was lagging behind, had run until her face was red. She tried her best to get to the front, looking around.
"Young lady, my name is Qingzao—"
"I'm here."
Before Hongliu could finish her sentence, Qingzao ran out from the side alley. It turned out that the two girls had come out for a stroll together, but something happened. Hongliu ran back to report the incident, while Qingzao hid nearby.
"Miss, Second Young Master, it's alright now," Qingzao said, looking up.
Xu Rong was taken aback: "What do you mean? The Marquis has left?"
Qingzao nodded: "Yes, I saw Aunt Ruan come and persuade the Marquis to leave."
...
How does this unfold?
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