Chapter Forty-Eight: Someone Else's Wedding Dress
The third day after the Mid-Autumn Festival is the Empress Dowager's birthday. Since it is not a major birthday (the tenth birthday for those over fifty), the celebrations are kept simple. Although it is simple, it is still a three-day celebration. The first two days are a small banquet held in the palace, and on the birthday, the emperor leads all the officials, and the empress leads the ladies of the court to offer their congratulations.
Before dawn, the master of the house put on his court robes and went to the palace. A little later, the old lady, who was a second-rank noblewoman, and the first lady, who was a third-rank noblewoman, also entered the palace to wait, wearing heavy and elaborate ceremonial robes, phoenix crowns, and embroidered shawls.
The morning greetings are naturally unnecessary on this day.
After breakfast, Ruan Bi went to the Fourth Sister's embroidery room to do embroidery, and both of them were a little restless.
According to custom, birthday gifts from local people and officials had already been presented. The Ministry of Rites would inventory the gifts and select the most auspicious and rare treasures to present to the Empress Dowager. For example, the fourth daughter's embroidery of the Queen Mother of the West amidst auspicious clouds had been presented three days earlier, but whether the Empress Dowager had seen it depended on the discerning eye and decisiveness of the officials in the Ministry of Rites, as well as how well the Ruan family had cultivated relationships. Some birthday gifts, even if excellent, might never appear before the Empress Dowager if the connections weren't properly maintained.
Of course, Ruan Bi wasn't worried about this at all. Although the Grand Master was incompetent, he was still the Vice Minister of Rites. Therefore, she was 100% certain that she would present the painting of the Queen Mother of the West and auspicious clouds at the right time. As for how the Empress Dowager would react upon seeing it, that was another matter entirely.
"What are you daydreaming about, little sister?" The fourth sister, who had been busy at her painting table for half a day, saw Ruan Bi holding a needle in a daze, walked over and nudged her.
Ruan Bi smiled and said, "I was wondering what the Empress Dowager's reaction would be when she sees my sister's masterpiece?"
In truth, the Fourth Sister was also thinking about this matter, but she was anxious and dared not think too much about it, fearing that it wouldn't come to fruition and she would be disappointed. "Sister, you shouldn't bother with it. How can we possibly fathom the Emperor's will?"
"That's true. What was your sister drawing just now?"
The fourth sister pulled her towards the drawing table and said, "Didn't I promise you, sister, that I would make you an autumn shirt? Now that I finally have some free time, I've drawn a few small pictures. Come and pick one out, sister, which style do you like?"
Ruan Bi loved both fine food and elegant clothing. Hearing this, she was naturally delighted and stood with the Fourth Sister at the painting table next to her. The Fourth Sister had painted four small pictures of clothing, all of them ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). The styles were similar, but each had its own unique and exquisite details. Ruan Bi praised them, thinking that this one was good and that one was good, and she was overwhelmed with choices.
Just as she was undecided, she suddenly heard the sound of footsteps outside, followed by Hanxing's shouting: "Miss, Miss."
Ruan Bi was startled and quickly leaned out of the window, waving at her: "Don't shout, come over and talk." Han Xing was someone she had sent to guard the hanging flower gate early in the morning, and she had been instructed to come back as soon as she heard anything about the palace.
Hanxing ran over, her forehead slightly damp with sweat. "Miss, a eunuch has come from the palace..."
As expected, Ruan Bi laughed with delight, glancing sideways at the Fourth Miss. Although she tried her best to pretend not to care and looked down at the small picture, her hand holding the paper trembled slightly, and the paper rustled.
"...They've come to summon the Second Miss to the palace."
"What?" Ruan Bi couldn't believe her ears, her smile freezing on her face.
The fourth sister was also extremely surprised and turned to look at Hanxing.
Han Xing looked at Ruan Bi, whose expression had changed drastically, with a puzzled expression, and repeated, "They came to summon the Second Miss to the palace. The Second Miss has already left."
Ruan Bi stood by the window, her face pale. She had planned everything, but she had overlooked one thing.
The fourth sister standing behind her withdrew her gaze, stood there blankly for a while, and slowly sat down, a trace of sorrow and resentment between her brows.
After a moment of contemplation, Ruan Bi regained her composure and said to Han Xing, "Go and keep watch. Come back and tell me if you have any news."
Seeing her serious expression, Hanxing was a little frightened and quickly nodded and left.
Watching her run out of the courtyard gate, Ruan Bi finally composed herself and turned to look at the Fourth Sister.
The fourth sister picked up one of the small pictures with a blank expression and said, "Sister, the six-piece skirt is all about flowing grace, so it's more suitable for two colors. The scattered flower brocade is brightly colored and full of flowers, so let's make it into a floor-length pomegranate skirt."
"As you wish, sister."
The fourth sister nodded, stared at Xiao Tu in a daze for a while, then suddenly smiled, like the moon breaking through the clouds, but her eyes immediately reddened.
Ruan Bi felt a pang of pity and said, "Sister, let's not rush, let's wait a little longer."
The fourth girl nodded again, sat down by the embroidery frame, and picked up the needle and thread.
They waited until exactly 5 PM, but no one else came from the palace. However, the old lady and the first lady returned.
Upon hearing Han Xing's report, Ruan Bi remained silent for a moment, then gritted her teeth, took the Fourth Sister's hand, and said, "Come on, sister, we should go and pay our respects to Grandmother."
The fourth sister didn't move, but instead grabbed her hand, saying with sorrow and indignation, "Sister, don't you understand even now?"
"I understand. I just want to see if she can look at you without any guilt."
"So what if we feel guilty? We still have to admit it. Otherwise, it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor, and we wouldn't be able to escape responsibility."
Ruan Bi remained silent for a moment, then released her hand and said, "If you're not going, I will."
The fourth sister turned to look at her, saw her resolute expression, sighed, and said, "Since you insist on seeing the Yellow River before you give up, I will accompany you on this journey."
They didn't bring any maids, and the two remained silent all the way to the old lady's courtyard.
The little maidservant at the gate said with a smile, "You two young ladies have come so quickly. The old lady has just returned, and you've already come to pay your respects." As she spoke, she announced inside, "Old lady, the fourth and fifth young ladies have arrived."
After waiting for a while, Manyun's voice finally came: "Please come in, ladies."
Ruan Bi and the Fourth Miss entered the side hall, where they saw the old lady sitting on the couch, already dressed in casual clothes, her face radiant and her brows beaming with joy. Manyun stood behind her, carefully massaging her neck. The old lady tilted her head and muttered, "I'm really getting old. The phoenix crown is heavy, but I've never felt this pain before. Today it feels like a mountain is pressing down on me, and I can hardly straighten my neck."
Manyun smiled and said, "Kneeling and bowing is naturally too much." She looked up at Ruan Bi and the Fourth Miss, "The two young ladies have arrived."
The old lady waved to them and said with a smile, "Fourth girl, fifth girl, I was just about to call you over, but I didn't expect you to come here."
Ruan Bi smiled the moment she entered the room and said, "I knew Grandmother had something to say to us, so I brought Fourth Sister with me."
The old lady naturally understood the hidden meaning in those words. She glanced at her, smiled, and said, "You are indeed clever." She waved her hand and said, "Sit down and talk."
Ruan Bi and the Fourth Sister sat down and looked at her.
After a moment of contemplation, the old lady said calmly, "Fourth daughter, fifth daughter, the Empress Dowager was very pleased to see the painting of the Queen Mother of the West and asked the second daughter to stay in the palace for one night."
Although Ruan Bi had already guessed it, seeing her say it so calmly and without any remorse still made her furious. She really wanted to slap her across the face.
The fourth sister's hands, hidden in her sleeves, were clenched into fists.
The old lady continued, "Today, the Empress Dowager praised our family's Xi Wangmu Auspicious Clouds painting in front of all the noblewomen. This is a matter of pride for our family. Fourth daughter, fifth daughter, as daughters of the Ruan family, you must put the greater good first, understand?"
"Yes, Grandmother, I understand." The fourth daughter replied softly, her fingernails digging into her palm, causing her excruciating pain.
Seeing that she was so sensible, the old lady nodded in satisfaction. But seeing that Ruan Bi lowered her eyes and remained silent, she was displeased and waved her hand, saying, "I've been in the palace all day and I'm tired. You may all leave."
"Yes," the fourth young lady replied, pulling Ruan Bi away.
Just as they stepped out of the side gate, the First Madam came over with a joyful expression, and the Fourth Miss pulled Ruan Bi aside to greet her.
Looking at the two drooping heads, the First Madam's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery, and she said smugly, "Fourth girl, fifth girl, you've worked hard. You'll be rewarded another day."
These words pierced the ears of the two girls like needles, and traveled all the way to their hearts.
After she walked away, Ruan Bi straightened up, turned around and looked at her back with a cold gaze.
The fourth sister sighed, reached out and pulled her, saying, "Fifth sister, try to think more positively. What else can we do?"
If this had happened to her, Ruan Bi might not have been so angry. It was because she had given the Fourth Miss hope, only to let her down, that was what angered her most.
"Sister, this time I was not thinking things through properly."
Originally, it was thought that even if the First Madam had selfish motives, with the Old Madam in charge, she wouldn't dare to act recklessly. However, it was truly unexpected that the Old Madam prioritized family interests above all else. For the sake of so-called family interests, she was even willing to deceive the emperor and the people, making her illegitimate daughter a stepping stone for the legitimate daughter. Ruan Bi had just figured out the reason for her actions: the Fourth Miss was merely an illegitimate daughter; even if the Empress Dowager favored her, at most she would be brought into the harem as a concubine. The Empress was the Emperor's first wife, and the Noble Consort had given birth to the eldest son; it would be very difficult for other concubines to rise in the harem. An unfavored concubine could offer limited help to the Ruan family.
However, the eldest daughter is different. The Ruan family is already of high social standing. If the second daughter wins the favor of the Empress Dowager, she may very well be chosen as the Princess Consort of Prince Jin, which would be a great honor for the Ruan family.
It's likely that the old lady had other ideas after seeing the painting of the Queen Mother of the West amidst auspicious clouds; otherwise, why would she have suggested that the Fourth Miss visit Concubine Lin? This was clearly a reward. In her eyes, the Fourth Miss's hard work was worth only this much.
"Fifth sister, sometimes we have to accept it."
Ruan Bi heard the fourth sister's sorrowful tone, yet a fire burning deep within her eyes, and knew that she had also come to her senses. After a moment of silence, she said firmly, "Sister, I will not admit it." With that, she ignored the fourth sister and walked quickly toward the Liao Garden, her pace quickening.
The old lady personally tore away the last veil of the Ruan family mansion, making her see clearly that all the young ladies in this household were merely tools. She would exploit them relentlessly to extract the greatest benefit. Today, she used the fourth young lady as a stepping stone for the second young lady; tomorrow, who would she use as a stepping stone for?
Previously, Ruan Bi had naively believed that the old lady might treat her better because of Ruan Lan. Now she knew she was wrong. While the old lady might have some pity for her because of Ruan Lan, when it came to matters of interest, she would not hesitate to offer herself up to nourish the Ruan family's prosperity. Therefore, she had to find another path, one that would allow her to escape unscathed at any time.
Ruan Bi walked all the way to the entrance of Liaoyuan Garden and turned around on the platform.
Night had fallen, and lanterns hung along every section of the covered walkway, revealing the carved beams, painted rafters, pavilions, and terraces in a breathtakingly beautiful scene. But who knew what kind of filth this beautiful view concealed? At this moment, Ruan Bi felt that Ruan Chi was right; this filthy place truly deserved to be destroyed.
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