Chapter 16 Back and Forth
Xiuping's face turned pale, and she quickly grabbed Ruanbi's hand, saying, "Miss, it's the King..."
Ruan Bi glared at her and said loudly, "Sister Xiuping."
This startled Xiuping so much that she swallowed the rest of her words.
Ruan Bichao gave Xiuzhi a wink, and Xiuzhi came up and grabbed Xiuping, saying, "Sister Xiuping, my young lady has something to do and really doesn't have time. Let's go, I'll go with you to find the Third Young Master." She dragged and pulled her out of the east wing.
Upon reaching the outside of Liaoyuan Garden, Xiuping shook off Xiuzhi's hand and said sullenly, "I'll go by myself, you don't need to come with me." Without waiting for Xiuzhi's reply, she turned and left. After walking a distance, she looked back and saw that Xiuzhi had already returned to the courtyard, so she turned east and headed back to Xiangmu Xiaozhu.
Go through the door and corridor to the study.
Ruan Chi was lying on the couch, reading a book. When he saw her return alone, he asked, "Where's Fifth Sister?"
“She won’t come over.” Xiuping picked up a large pillow that had fallen to the ground, dusted it off, and placed it behind Ruan Chi.
"What did you say? She refused to come?"
Xiuping said respectfully, "I did as you said and asked her to come and find the book. I also hinted that the prince was there, but she glared at me and chased me out."
Ruan Chi gave a thoughtful "Oh," thinking to himself, "It seems that Fifth Sister doesn't have any improper thoughts about Prince Jin, but Prince Jin's attitude is still a bit unpredictable, and I need to find out more." He waved his hand, signaling Xiuping to leave, and continued reading. Just as he was engrossed in his book, he heard footsteps and said impatiently, "Didn't I tell you not to come into the study without permission? I don't like being disturbed while I'm reading."
A soft laugh rang out, followed by the unhurried voice of the Prince of Jin: "Such a temper."
Ruan Chi looked up and saw Prince Jin entering with Youde. "Your Highness, what brings you here? Didn't you say you were visiting friends in Changying?" As he spoke, he picked up the cane leaning against the couch and tried to get out of bed to pay his respects.
"I just got back, I came to see how your leg injury is?" Prince Jin said, pressing his shoulder. "With a broken leg, what's the point of bowing?"
Youde chimed in from the side, "That's right, does His Highness really need such a courtesy?"
Ruan Chi sat back on the couch and said, "I'm much better now. The imperial physician said the boards can be removed in a few days. But... I can't ride a horse for six months." He sounded quite depressed as he said this.
The Prince of Jin said, "The most important thing is to rest and recover. There's no need to worry about not having the chance to ride a horse and whip it on again."
Youde nodded emphatically and said, "That's right, that's right, six months is fine. If my legs are ruined, I won't be able to ride a horse for the rest of my life, which is worse than being beheaded." As he spoke, he twisted his neck unhappily.
At this moment, Xiuping came in with tea, put down the teacup, and then respectfully withdrew.
As Youde watched her retreating figure, he said to Ruan Chi, "Speaking of which, your Ruan family is a prestigious and renowned clan. How come you only have one woman?"
"What's the point of having so many? It's just making a lot of noise."
“You’re just like the prince. If it were me, I’d keep ten or eight Northern Rong women. But the prince won’t allow it. He even said he’d find me a virtuous lady from a respectable family.” Youde said, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.
Ruan Chi's heart skipped a beat, and he tentatively asked, "What does Your Highness think of my fifth daughter?"
The Prince of Jin was drinking tea, holding it in his mouth for a long time before swallowing, and asked, "What is it?"
"Does he/she deserve to be called virtuous?"
Youde spat out his tea and said, "No, no, no, even a monkey you catch in the mountains is better than your fifth daughter."
The Prince of Jin remained silent for a moment, then said in an ambiguous tone, "It's a little too small."
You De nodded repeatedly and said, "That's right, that's right." He wiped the tea off his clothes with his hand and said, "Damn it, that almost scared me to death." As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Prince Jin glare at him and was taken aback.
Unable to contain himself, Ruan Chi asked the question that had been lingering in his mind: "How did Your Highness and my fifth daughter meet?"
This sentence brought Prince Jin back to two months ago, to the front of Wanmiao Residence in the backyard of Yuxu Temple. Ruan Bi, dressed in a blue Taoist robe, stood in front of the lush vegetation, appearing at first glance to be just a clump of bushes. Perhaps because of this, even the highly skilled Youde did not notice her as she approached.
At first, she seemed stunned, standing there blankly, neither speaking nor moving, like a wooden figure. But when Youde walked towards her with his knife, she suddenly came to life, her eyes sparkling, her words flowing like a river, her whole body shimmering with a subtle light, even her worn-out blue Taoist robe became vibrant, while the lush green grass and trees behind her suddenly lost their color, appearing dull and lifeless.
I recalled that stormy night when she walked gracefully past the west wing...
Lost in thought, he suddenly heard Ruan Chi say respectfully, "Your Highness, I have overstepped my bounds."
Prince Jin was taken aback, then realized what was happening. Ruan Chi, seeing that he hadn't answered for a long time, assumed he was angry. "What crime has she committed? I met your fifth daughter when I went to Yuxu Temple to pay my respects to Master Ziying. Later, we were stranded together due to a rainstorm, and we exchanged a few words. Although she is young, she is an interesting person." He paused, "Especially her dumplings, which are extremely delicious. My palace chefs can't make them no matter what they try."
Ruan Chi was taken aback. Could it be that the prince was treating her specially because he wanted to eat noodles?
Youde, standing to the side, said with distress, "Ruan Chi, you don't know, the prince is tired of eating delicacies and has been ordering the chef to make noodles every day. It's a pity that we suffer along with him. Since we're here today, why don't we call your fifth daughter over and ask her how to make it?"
The Prince of Jin's mind stirred slightly. He glanced at Youde and thought to himself that the boy had suddenly become sensible again. He nodded and said, "Very well, that's exactly what I was thinking."
Ruan Chi was in a dilemma. It was obvious that Ruan Bi wouldn't come, but could he refuse the Prince of Jin's request? He could only let Ruan Bi play the villain. He called Xiu Ping in and said, "Go and invite Fifth Miss over. Tell her that the Prince of Jin wants to ask about how to make dough balls."
Xiuping frowned slightly, about to say that she had already been rejected.
Ruan Chi winked at her and said in a deep voice, "Go quickly, don't delay on the way."
Xiuping had no choice but to agree, leave the study, exit the Fragrant Wood Pavilion, hurry to the entrance of Liaoyuan Garden, linger outside the moon gate for a moment, gritted her teeth and went inside.
Hanxing, who was sitting under the eaves making knots, stood up and called out, "Miss, Sister Xiuping is here again."
Xiuping was extremely embarrassed, but she forced herself to go inside.
As we entered the hall, Xiuzhi came out from the inner room and asked curiously, "Sister Xiuping, is something the matter now?"
"Where is Fifth Sister?"
"He's writing in his room."
"I have something to say to you, young lady," Xiuping said, and then walked into the inner room.
Xiuzhi blocked her way and said, "The girl said she's busy right now and can't help you find the book."
Xiuping pleaded, "This time it's not about finding a book, it's something really important."
"The young lady doesn't like to be disturbed when she's writing, so please go back, Sister Xiuping." Xiuzhi said curtly and impatiently when she saw that Xiuping was persistent and nagging.
Xiuping blushed when she saw that the woman disliked her, and she wanted to turn around and leave. But then she remembered that if she couldn't get the Fifth Miss over, she would probably be punished by Ruan Chi later. Ruan Chi was very ruthless, so she was afraid and could only stand there blankly.
Xiuzhi didn't move, blocking her way, her impatience even more blatant in her eyes.
Xiuping's mind was racing. She recalled how she used to be a second-class maid in the old lady's courtyard, fawned over by all the other maids. If she had served the master, although she wouldn't have enjoyed wealth and luxury, she wouldn't be constantly scolded and punished like she is now. If she were wronged, she could at least cry to the old lady. Why had she been so blinded by greed, snatching Ruan Chi from Manhua, offending the old lady, and ending up in this wretched state… The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she became, and her eyes reddened.
Xiuzhi was startled and said, "Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
Hearing this, Xiuping's tears fell even more fiercely.
Xiuzhi had worked with her in the old lady's courtyard and they had some friendship. She handed her a handkerchief and said, "Don't cry. I'll go ask the young lady." She lifted the curtain and went into the inner room. After a moment, she heard soft voices coming from inside.
Xiuping wiped away her tears, waited a while, and then Xiuzhi lifted the curtain and waved to her.
She went into the inner room and saw Ruan Bi standing at the desk by the window, wielding her brush and ink. The sunlight outside outlined her slender figure; though thin, she was as graceful as a newly sprouted willow branch.
Ruan Bi continued working, asking calmly, "What does Sister Xiuping want with me?"
Xiuping sniffled and said, "Fifth Miss, please don't blame me. Xiuping is just a lowly servant girl, obeying orders..." Tears welled up again, and she couldn't continue.
Ruan Bi turned to look at her, sighing inwardly. She was a concubine without any official status; in terms of rank, even the head maid in front of the old lady was inferior to her. "I don't blame you, go ahead and tell me."
Xiuping said timidly, "Prince Jin has come to visit the Third Master and would like to invite you over to ask how to make dough dumplings?"
"Dumplings, oh dumplings, why did I go crazy and make dumplings that day?" Ruan Bi felt deeply remorseful. After thinking for a while, she laid out another piece of white paper, wrote down the steps and ingredients for making dumplings, and handed it to Xiuping, saying, "Take this to Prince Jin."
Xiuping silently accepted it, bowed slightly, and retreated. She was utterly puzzled. The Prince of Jin was of noble status and handsome appearance, so why did the Fifth Miss treat him like a monstrous beast? If she had such an opportunity, she would have pounced on him long ago.
After Xiuzhi had walked away, she asked in bewilderment, "Miss, what is this Third Master up to?"
Ruan Bi continued writing, saying, "Never mind him, just stay away from Xiuping from now on."
Xiuzhi nodded heavily and said, "I think she's getting stranger and stranger. She used to be all smiles, but now her smile looks stiff."
Ruan Bi thought to herself, "This is what happens when a woman chooses the wrong man. I must learn from this."
After writing for a while, I heard Hanxing outside say, "Miss, Sister Xiuping is here again."
Xiuzhi almost jumped up and said, "What's she doing here again?"
Ruan Bi's mood for writing was also ruined. She threw her brush into the brush washer, sat down, and said coldly, "Let her in. I want to see what she's up to."
Xiuzhi nodded and called Xiuping in.
Seeing Ruan Bi's pale face, Xiu Ping knew she was annoyed, so she carefully said, "Prince Jin said that your calligraphy is very beautiful and he would like to request a piece of your work."
"Is this never going to end?" Ruan Bi's face darkened. After a moment of silence, she stood up and wrote: "One should not adjust one's shoes in a melon patch, nor straighten one's hat under a plum tree." Perhaps because of her anger, these words were menacing. She didn't sign her name, nor did she care whether it was good or bad, and handed it directly to Xiuping.
Xiuping took it and left.
After a while, she came back, and this time Ruan Bi had no temper left.
Xiuping put on a big smile and said, "The Prince of Jin said that he has studied the works of great masters throughout history. Wang Xizhi's flying white is charming, Wang Xianzhi's flying white is graceful, Yan Zhenqing's flying white is unrestrained and pure, and Emperor Taizong of Tang's flying white is grand and majestic. Only your flying white has the spirit of golden spears and iron horses, and the ambition to swallow thousands of miles. It suits his taste very well. May I ask what reward you would like?" After she finished speaking, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was not easy to memorize such a long passage.
Ruan Bi said weakly, "Gold, I guess."
Xiuping bowed and left, but returned after a short while, saying, "Prince Jin, he came in a hurry this time and did not bring any gold. He will make up for it next time."
Ruan Bi waved her hand.
Xiuping withdrew, and this time he never returned.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
