Chapter Fifty-Five: A Sudden Change
Just as she reached the door, she heard the Fourth Sister say coldly, "Fifth Sister, don't you dare to say it outright? Why have you been trying to send me to the palace?"
The voice lacked its previous anger. Ruan Biwei was taken aback, turning around to look at her probing gaze, and suddenly realized that the Fourth Miss was also using this as an excuse. "You've been troubled by this all this time?"
“If I were your sister, wouldn’t I be conflicted? Huangmei embroidery isn’t a complicated stitch. You can also embroider the Queen Mother of the West’s auspicious cloud pattern. You have your own stitches and your own design, yet you’re urging me to do it. I don’t believe you’re so selfless and altruistic that you only care about the interests of others.”
"No, of course not." After a pause, Ruan Bi carefully chose her words and asked, "Sister, how do you think I've treated you?"
“Alright.” The fourth sister said without hesitation, “This is also what I don’t understand. Although we used to live in the same courtyard, we never interacted, let alone had any sisterly feelings. Although I never bullied you, I certainly made fun of you quite a bit. I don’t believe you’ve forgotten even that.”
"So, you've always suspected that my kindness towards you was a trap?"
"How could I not be suspicious? Since you recovered from your illness, your behavior has been completely different from before. You're very clear about everything. Before, you followed your second sister around every day, trying to curry favor with her. Even if she mocked or teased you, you wouldn't get angry and would still fawn over her. But after you recovered, you ignored her completely. You only showed up briefly in front of Mother, and only fawned over Grandmother. When she was sick, you stayed at Yuxu Temple to pray for her, both to please Grandmother and to use the opportunity to befriend Master Ziying." After a pause, the fourth sister continued her eloquent speech, "Speaking of which, I truly admire your methods, sister. Everyone knows that Master Ziying is close to the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Many noble ladies want to befriend her but can't, yet you, as a concubine's daughter, became her disciple. You are now invincible in front of Mother and Grandmother, all because you have such a master. I have observed you carefully, sister. You are clear about your goals and never waste your energy on irrelevant people. So, how could I not be suspicious? What is it about me that makes you so good to me?" By the end, she had become quite aggressive.
This was the kind of fourth sister Ruan Bi wanted to see. She laughed and said, "Sister, you have exceptional insight and keen observation. Indeed, I never waste my energy on irrelevant people. But sister, why do you lack confidence in yourself? Do you feel like you're irrelevant?"
The fourth sister choked so badly her face turned red and she couldn't speak.
Pointing to the embroidery hanging on the wall, Ruan Bi spoke eloquently: "Flowers in full bloom symbolize wealth and prosperity, phoenixes facing the sun symbolize good fortune, peonies symbolize auspiciousness... Where the heart is, there the realm is. I see clearly the ambition you embroidered stitch by stitch, sister. To be frank, I like ambitious people, especially since you possess everything to achieve that ambition—beauty, talent, and intelligence. To accompany the emperor is not a pipe dream, nor a mirage. So I want to lend you a hand. If you ask me what I want from you, it is my future reward. Back then, King Zhuangxiang of Qin was a hostage in Zhao, in dire straits, looked down upon by everyone. Only Lü Buwei saw him as a rare commodity, paving the way for him to become king. Later, Lü Buwei also became the prime minister, leaving his name in history. I have no ambition to be remembered in history, but I want to live a good life. If I had a sister who remembers me well, perhaps life would be much better... Don't you think so, fourth sister?"
These words deeply moved the fourth sister, who said, "You...aren't you afraid of failure?"
"Sister, as I just said, aim high and you'll achieve something. If you're always thinking about failure, you might as well not do anything at all."
The fourth sister lowered her head and furrowed her brows. After a long while, she said, "Now I understand why Master Ziying would take you as his disciple."
Ruan Bi smiled, picked up the pomegranate skirt from the ground, and presented it to the Fourth Sister, saying, "Sister, the brocade skirt is indeed very beautiful. I want to wear this pomegranate skirt to the Chrysanthemum Gathering at the Duke of Dingguo's residence. I hope you can help me finish it."
The fourth sister looked up at her, took the skirt, and said meaningfully, "I will certainly not fail you."
Actually, as long as Master Ziying doesn't care, Ruan Bi doesn't necessarily have to send the Fourth Miss into the palace. It's fine if she marries Xu Chuanyang; out of respect for her, he should take care of Ruan Lan a little. Although Ruan Bi doesn't have any feelings for Ruan Lan, she is the original owner's birth mother and seems to be the only one who truly cares about her. I hope her later life will be peaceful and happy.
Suddenly, Qiu Yan's voice came from outside the door: "Fourth Miss, Granny Tang has arrived."
The fourth sister's eyes flickered, and she tightened her grip on the pomegranate skirt, saying, "I'm talking to the fifth sister. Tell her to go back."
After a while, Qiuyan said again, "Miss, she said it's urgent."
"What could be so urgent?" Fourth Sister said casually, but her eyes became tense.
Ruan Bi tactfully said, "Fourth sister, I've returned from the temple and haven't seen my grandmother and mother yet. Now's the perfect time to go see them. I'll go ahead first."
The fourth sister nodded and said with a double meaning, "Alright, the skirt will be given to my sister in a couple of days."
As Ruan Bi went out, Granny Tang stood respectfully to one side of the door. Upon seeing her, she hurriedly put on a smile and greeted her, "Oh dear, Fifth Miss is here too. I'm so sorry to have disturbed your conversation."
“When you have time, Mother-in-law, come to my room and sit down. I’d like to hear some stories about the capital.”
"Yes, Fifth Sister."
Ruan Bi led Xiuzhi out of Liaoyuan and headed straight for the old lady's courtyard.
Just as she entered through the side gate, Granny Zheng came over from the back corridor, quickly took her hand, and led her to the corner of the wall, saying, "Miss, are you going to see the old lady?"
Ruan Bi nodded.
"Please come back later, young lady. The master has just returned from the yamen and is discussing matters with the old lady."
The magistrate has returned early, before the yamen closes for the day; something unexpected must have happened. "Has Uncle's matter been settled?"
Granny Zheng shook her head and said, "It's not the Second Master, it's Miss Lan. Someone just came from Guangzhou to report her death."
Ruan Lan has passed away? Ruan Bi's eyes widened.
But then Granny Zheng said, "Pah, pah, pah, you misspoke, you misspoke. It's Miss Lan's husband who's gone."
Xu Yongruo is dead? I remember he was about eighteen years older than Ruan Lan, not fifty-two or fifty-three, so how could he be dead? Ruan Bi asked in surprise, "I've never heard of him being sick, how could he suddenly be gone?"
"That's right, she was a few years younger than me. She passed away suddenly in her sleep, peacefully. I heard that Miss Lan was quite frightened and is now ill."
Indeed, waking up to find the person next to you cold would frighten anyone, let alone someone as gentle as Ruan Lan.
Granny Zheng sighed and said, "Miss Lan is truly pitiful. She's widowed at such a young age and has no children. What will she do in the future?"
It's indeed going to be difficult. She couldn't control her aunt and her adult children before, and without Xu Yongruo, the future is predictable. Ruan Bi's thoughts shifted slightly, but she remained silent.
Early the next morning, news arrived that the Second Master's lawsuit was still unresolved, the First Master was too busy with official duties to attend, and the Third Master was injured in the leg. Therefore, a retired member of a collateral branch of the family was asked to take the Third Steward and a group of servants to Guangzhou for the funeral. They set sail south early that morning, heading to Hangzhou, and then boarded a sea vessel to Guangzhou. This was the fastest route, taking less than a month to reach their destination. Also traveling with them was the grief-stricken Xu Chuanyang, who would be unable to participate in the imperial examinations the following spring.
Ruan Bi called in Liu Mama and asked, "Mama, I have a question for you. Can a woman whose husband has died and who has no children be taken back to her parents' home?"
"It depends on the bride's family's wishes. Some will take her back, while others will not. Those who are taken back to their parents' home will mostly remarry after the mourning period. Those who are not taken back to their parents' home can be adopted by a male member of the clan and remain chaste for life, or they may be married off by their in-laws or uncles."
It seems that each situation really needs to be handled specifically. Ruan Bi then said, "Mom, just tell me about Miss Lan."
"Miss Lan's parents-in-law are not here, and she has no uncles or aunts, so it depends on what the master and madam think. After all, our family is in a better position than the Xu family, so there shouldn't be any problem for us to bring back a daughter who has no children." After a pause, Granny Liu said hesitantly, "Miss... there is something... I heard about it, but I don't know what it means."
"Did you hear anything from Butler Luo last night, Mom?"
"Yes, it is said that last night, the old lady specifically called the third steward over to have a talk, and also sent all the servants away. Among the people who went to Guangzhou today was Granny Sun, who was by the old lady's side."
Ruan Bi said thoughtfully, "Oh, she went too." Granny Sun was also an old servant of the Old Madam, second only to Granny Zheng in status. She was in her early fifties and in good health. Therefore, she was often the one to run errands for those who needed to maintain order. She wondered what the Old Madam's intention was in sending her; perhaps she wanted to bring Ruan Lan back?
Liu Mama thought she was worried about Ruan Lan, and said, "Miss, you don't need to worry too much. The Xu family is not comparable to our family. As long as the old lady is still alive, the Xu family will not dare to do anything to Miss Lan."
Ruan Bi nodded, dismissed her, and sat down at her desk to think.
A moment later, Hanxing announced, "Miss, Sister Yunying has arrived."
Xiuzhi glanced at Ruan Bi, smiled, and said, "Miss, this Sister Yunying is truly a diligent person; she's only just finished breakfast and she's already here." Saying this, she went to the outer room and invited Yunying in. She then said she was going to make tea, but in reality, she was avoiding her.
After Yunying left, she asked respectfully, "Did anything happen to you today, Miss?"
Ruan Bi was taken aback by her demeanor and said, "Sister Yunying, you are now my third uncle's concubine and are not in the palace, so you don't need to be so respectful to me. Also, if I need anything, I will come to you; you don't need to come in person."
“Miss, when I came, the Prince instructed me to serve you as if you were serving him.” After a pause, Yunying said, “Miss, you don’t need to worry. If there were outsiders present, I wouldn’t treat you like this. I came so early because the Third Master is going out soon, and I thought you might have written a letter to the Prince, so I could take it with me.”
What should she write in the letter to Prince Jin? Ruan Bizhen was not prepared at all and said guiltily, "Something happened in the mansion yesterday, it was quite a commotion, and I was not in the mood to write."
"How about the young lady writes one now?"
Ruan Bi said with difficulty, "I'm thinking about something right now."
When will the girl write it?
Being forced to write a love letter felt awful, so Ruan Bi replied dismissively, "I'll write it when I have time."
Yunying looked at her sternly for a moment, then said helplessly, "Then come to me if you need anything."
After she left, Ruan Bi stuck out her tongue and let out a breath. She spread out some paper and decided to write a letter to the Prince of Jin.
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