Chapter Sixty-Two: Making a Scene
When Chunyun brought Hu Niu back, she saw that the Second Miss's face was pale and her eyes were empty. She sighed inwardly and said in a low voice, "Miss, I have brought Hu Niu back."
The second girl finally came to her senses, and with difficulty, she turned her eyes to look at the tiger girl that Chunyun was holding, then turned and left.
Chunyun asked anxiously, "Miss, where are you going?"
The second girl remained silent and quickened her pace.
Chunyun turned to look at Ruanbi, jogged a few steps, and tugged at the Second Miss's sleeve, saying, "Miss, let's wait for the Fifth Miss."
The second daughter shook off her hand and said through gritted teeth, "If you want to wait, wait for yourself."
Chunyun felt a chill run down her spine and dared not utter another word, so she could only follow her closely.
After walking about a hundred steps, they suddenly heard a sparrow chirping behind them: "Miss Ruan, wait a minute, wait a minute."
The second young lady felt as if a thousand dull knives were cutting into her heart. The scene of Gu Xiaobai handing the flower hairpin to Ruan Bi kept replaying in her mind. She couldn't hear Que'er's call at all. Even if she did hear it, she would pretend not to. At this moment, she threw all the rules of etiquette and rudeness to the back of her mind. She had only one thought: to leave the humiliating Duke Dingguo's mansion and return to the Ruan family mansion, back to her own Shaohua Courtyard.
Go back, go back, go back...
She walked forward, head down, along the covered walkway, through layers of gates and deep courtyards, and finally out of the west gate of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. The coachman was sitting on a bench in front of the gatehouse, chatting with a few servants. When he saw her come out, his face darkened, and he hurriedly ran to the carriage, took down a footstool, and placed it on the ground.
The second young lady climbed onto the carriage shaft and whispered, "Return to the manor."
The coachman paused, glanced at the side gate, and seeing that Ruan Bi hadn't come out, asked, "Aren't we waiting for Fifth Miss?"
The second young lady seemed not to hear, lifted the curtain, and sat down in the carriage.
Chunyun winked at the coachman, signaling him not to set off. Then she climbed into the carriage, sat on a small stool, and said cautiously, "Second Miss, if you just leave Fifth Miss like this, it will surely spread throughout the capital in a few days. Not only will it damage your reputation, but it will also tarnish the name of our Ruan family, a family of scholars and officials. Besides, when we get back to the manor, if Fifth Miss tells anyone, the Old Madam will surely scold you. So, let's wait for her."
The second young lady's face was ashen. She glanced at her, lifted a corner of the curtain, and scolded the coachman, "Did I just say we were going back to the manor? Are you kidding me? Didn't you hear me?"
The coachman glanced at Chunyun with a troubled expression, and Chunyun shook her head slightly.
This small gesture was noticed by the second young lady. She had already suffered enough today from Han Lu and Xie Mingzhu's accusations and betrayals, and from Gu Xiaobai and Ruan Bi's "humiliation." She hadn't expected even the servants to be so disobedient. She trembled with rage, her mouth and nose contorted, and said, "Fine, fine, fine, today you're all trying to take advantage of me. Have you grown too big for your britches? You dare to gang up on me? Tomorrow I'll have Mother kick you all out."
Chunyun's face changed drastically. She knelt down with a thud, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "Please calm down, Miss, and listen to me..." She only managed half a sentence before the Second Miss kicked her, striking her squarely in the chest. She groaned, swallowing the rest of her words, and stumbled backward into the carriage with a loud thud. The tiger cub she was holding, startled, fell to the ground, its pupils dilated, and with a meow, it crouched low and peeked out from behind the curtain.
"What else do you want to say, you traitorous bastard?"
Unable to bear the pain, Chunyun pressed her hand to her chest, struggled to her feet, and remained kneeling, sobbing as she said, "I'm innocent, young lady! I've been with you since I was nine, and my heart has always been with you. I've never had a single thought of betrayal. If I had, may I be struck by lightning and reduced to ashes. I stopped you, young lady, for your own good..."
She spoke with such conviction, but the second young lady snorted coldly and interrupted her, saying, "You're just putting on an act. Don't think I don't know that you've been holding a grudge ever since I kicked you last time. You're only stopping me because you're afraid that when we get back to the manor, Mother and Grandmother will be angry and blame you. So you're trying your best to stop me so you can be seen as a loyal advisor."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Ruan Bi's voice rang out: "Second sister, how majestic you are, disciplining your own servants right in front of someone else's house." The carriage curtain was lifted, and she entered carrying Hu Niu, giving the second young lady a cold look. "People say that family scandals should not be aired in public, but I wish the whole capital could witness your skill in disciplining servants."
The second young lady felt a sting in her eyes when she saw the gold and ruby-inlaid hair ornament reattached to her hair. She said, "I was scolding my maid. What does it have to do with you? Mind your own business."
“If you want to curse, go back to your residence and curse. I’m not human if I ask you any more questions. Cursing and swearing at someone else’s doorstep, do you think your reputation is too good?” Ruan Bi said as she sat down. She saw that Chunyun’s face was pale, one hand was pressed against her chest, and she shook her head slightly. She handed Hu Niu to Xiuzhi.
The second girl reached out and snatched it away, saying, "It probably sounds a little better than 'you.' After seducing Xie Mingyue, now you've seduced Gu Xiaobai. I've truly never seen anyone as shameless as you."
Ruan Bi knew she couldn't reason with her, so she ignored her and said to the coachman through the curtain, "Back to the manor."
The coachman nodded, raised his whip, and said, "Giddy up!"
The second daughter was so angry that her mouth twisted and her nose flared. She said, "Fine, fine, I won't listen to what I say, but I will listen to what she says. Go back and pack your things. I don't need to have someone throw you out."
The coachman groaned inwardly.
Ruan Bi frowned and said, "Can you stop being unreasonable? He saved you. If you leave me at the gate of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, our Ruan family will lose face big time."
The second young lady was naturally aware of this, but anger and hatred clouded her judgment, and she was already somewhat hysterical. "Save me? Bah. How could I abandon you? I'm thinking of you. You two are so lovey-dovey, isn't this a perfect opportunity for him to curry favor and send you back to the manor? Since you're already famous throughout the capital with Xie Mingyue, why not spread the word about him too?"
Xiuzhi was furious and couldn't hold back any longer. She said, "Second Miss, how can you talk like that? If others heard this, they would think that my young lady and Young Master Gu have some kind of affair, but they are clearly innocent."
"Innocence? If flirting with each other is considered innocence, then nothing in this world is innocent."
Xiuzhi opened her eyes wide and said anxiously, "Second Miss, you were there when it happened. Young Master Gu was just helping to pick up the hairpin. There was no flirting between them. You can't talk such nonsense. If others hear this, how will Fifth Miss face them in the future? Besides, if it weren't for Fifth Miss helping you out today, that matter... you would have been exposed. Instead of thanking her, you're throwing mud at her. You have no conscience at all."
These words only fueled the second daughter's anger, and she said, "Pah, pah, pah! What do you mean, 'help me out'? I embroidered that picture. Do you think I don't know there are twenty-three colors? Do I need her to tell me for me? Don't think I don't know. She just wants to show off."
Xiuzhi was truly furious at this blatant distortion of the truth and wanted to argue back.
But then Ruan Bi coughed lightly and said, "Xiuzhi, look where we are?"
Xiuzhi was slightly taken aback. She heard a commotion outside and sensed that the carriage was moving slower than before. She knew that they had reached a bustling street. She nodded knowingly and said, "Miss, Xiuzhi understands."
Ruan Bi nodded slightly and closed her eyes to rest.
The sound of horses' hooves clattered, the wheels of the carriage rumbled, and the carriage was completely silent.
However, after only a few minutes of silence, the second girl was heard muttering, "Shameless." Her tone was full of resentment.
Ruan Bi knew she was being insulted, but she was too lazy to pay attention to her.
A moment later, I heard her cursing again: "You're a womanizer."
Ruan Bi slowly opened her eyes, staring directly at the second young lady. Her eyes burned with fire, her brows furrowed with undisguised hatred, her lips pressed tightly together, her cheeks taut as if ready to pounce and bite at any moment. She shook her head helplessly and said, "Second sister, this isn't the place to talk on the street. Let's go back to the manor and discuss this. Whether you want to kill or fight, I'm ready."
The second girl looked at her with hatred and disdain for a while, then spat out a mouthful of saliva, which splashed onto Ruan Bi's face.
Xiuzhi exclaimed "Oh dear!" and hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe Ruan Bi clean.
Even the most refined manners and the best temperament cannot tolerate the second young lady's unreasonable behavior. Ruan Bi, inwardly annoyed, sneered and said, "You are supposed to be a lady from a prestigious family, yet where is the slightest bit of elegance in your demeanor? I know perfectly well why you are so angry today: first, Xie Mingzhu and Han Lu have criticized you; second, you are jealous that I have stolen the limelight; and third, Young Master Gu has ignored you..."
The second girl was both ashamed and angry when she was hit where it hurt. Her eyes turned red, and she said, "Why should I need him to pay attention to me? I'm not a shameless slut like you, who stares at men and can't move her legs." She had lost her mind and was speaking without thinking, becoming increasingly vulgar.
Xiuzhi was furious upon hearing this, but out of respect for the difference between mistress and servant, she dared not shout or curse.
Chunyun blushed with embarrassment, lowered her eyes, and wished she could fly back to the Ruan residence in an instant.
Ruan Bi was truly helpless and shut up again, no matter how unreasonable Ruan Bi was, she stopped talking and looked out the window.
Fortunately, not long after, they finally returned to the Ruan residence.
The second young lady, carrying Hu Niu, got out of the carriage first, ignoring Chun Yun, and hurriedly walked into the mansion.
By the time Ruan Bi entered the hanging flower gate, she had already disappeared without a trace.
Looking at the time, it was almost time for the evening greetings, so Ruan Bi went directly to the old lady's courtyard.
When the old lady saw her come in alone, she glanced at the water clock and asked in surprise, "You're back so early? Why are you alone? Where's Er Yatou?"
Ruan Bi looked around but remained silent.
The old lady's heart sank. She waved her hand to dismiss the servants and asked, "Fifth girl, has something happened?"
Ruan Bi nodded and recounted in detail how Xie Mingzhu had questioned the painting of the Queen Mother of the West and the Auspicious Clouds, including how she had helped the second young lady out of the predicament. "Grandmother, Xie Mingzhu is a careless person. She has never even seen the painting. How could she ask how many colors were used? Someone must have been instigating her behind the scenes."
After listening, the old lady pondered for a moment with a solemn expression, then looked at Ruan Bi approvingly and said, "Fifth girl, you did a very good job today."
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