Volume 2, Step by Step to Victory, Chapter 22: Returning to the Ruan Mansion
This time, Xiuzhi was really frightened. Her hands were still trembling while she was eating. She kept saying, "Miss, let's find someone to go to the manor down the mountain and tell the steward to send someone to inform the Madam to pick us up."
At the foot of Yuxu Temple is a large village where many prominent families from the capital have estates. The estate belonging to the Ruan family here was previously managed by Huaihua's father. After Huaihua's accident and the expulsion of the Xu family, Ruan Bi did not know who took over the management of the estate.
She thought about it carefully. It was nearly dusk when the events of the day occurred, and the only people she saw were Gu Xiaobai and his group. They didn't recognize her identity—of course, if they wanted to find out, they would have figured it out. But even if they did, they probably wouldn't spread it around. Saving someone is a good thing, saving an ordinary family's daughter is fine, but saving a daughter of a prominent family could easily lead to suspicion. As long as she didn't acknowledge it, and they didn't acknowledge it either, the rescue would be as if it had never happened.
Besides, what happened today is really not a good thing. The First Madam and the Old Madam dislike me, and usually, when they dislike someone, even if that person sneezes, it's considered wrong. So, if this gets to the ears of the First Madam and the Old Madam, even if I'm not at fault, I'll still be seen as "a shameful person causing trouble." It's better to keep it a secret; even if rumors surface later, it will be too late.
After careful consideration, Ruan Bi said, "Xiuzhi, remember this: today's events never happened. If anyone mentions it in the future, just say that the carriage broke down on the road and a group of benefactors helped you. If they ask you who the benefactors were, just say that they did not leave their names."
Xiuzhi looked at Ruanbi in surprise and said, "Miss, how can we do this? What if that villain comes again..."
Ruan Bi interrupted her, saying, "Yuxu Temple has high walls and deep courtyards, and each gate is guarded, so outsiders can't get in. I don't usually go out, so nothing will happen."
Xiuzhi bit her chopsticks and thought for a moment, then shook her head firmly and said, "Miss, no, this matter must be reported to the Madam. If something else happens, how can I bear the responsibility?"
"Xiuzhi, if you report this to the First Madam, you will be the first one to be punished..."
Xiuzhi opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"Think about it, the young nun came today to say that someone from the manor is coming to pick us up. Did you ask for clarification? If the manor sends someone, even if they don't send a prudent old nanny, they would send a capable young woman. I can't see her from inside the sedan chair, but you can see her at a glance..."
Tears welled up in Xiuzhi's eyes. She put down her chopsticks and knelt down. "Miss, it was Xiuzhi's carelessness that caused you harm. Please punish me, Miss."
Ruan Bi pulled her up and said, "I'm not blaming you. You used to be in charge of the utensils and teaware, so you didn't have much contact with people and didn't know some of the rules. That's understandable. Just be more careful in the future."
Xiuzhi nodded and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.
"If the First Madam finds out, I'll be the second one to be punished..."
Xiuzhi opened her eyes wide in surprise again and said, "What does this have to do with you, Miss?"
Ruan Bi smiled slightly and said, "Whether it's related or not, it's all up to the First Madam's word. You know my situation in the manor. Even if I'm not wrong, she'll find fault with me. Besides, this time something really happened, so I'll definitely be reprimanded, forced to copy the 'Admonitions for Women,' or confined to my quarters..."
Xiuzhi lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, then raised her head and said, "Miss, I understand. I will never tell anyone else about this." She paused, then said with shame, "Miss, Xiuzhi is really stupid and doesn't understand anything."
"You learn from your mistakes, and you'll be more careful in the future."
Xiuzhi nodded emphatically, looked at Ruan Bi, and asked with a mixture of curiosity and admiration, "Miss, you're clearly younger than me, how do you know so much?"
Ruan Bi smiled wryly, her thoughts suddenly drifting far away as she recalled her fifteen-year-old self, going to and from school every day, memorizing English words and doing math exercises, discussing with girls which boy in the next class was the most handsome... Oh right, she even sulked because her parents wouldn't let her play games. All in all, she was probably even worse off than Xiuzhi.
Feeling melancholy, he put down his chopsticks, stood up, and went to stand in the yard.
Xiuzhi wisely refrained from following them out.
A mountain breeze blew gently, and a slender, pale crescent moon hung in the indigo sky, yet the stars filled the heavens. Having grown up in a metropolis, Ruan Bisheng had only ever seen neon lights; she had never witnessed such a sight. A faint sense of comfort washed over her; at least she still had starlight.
I stayed up half the night watching before finally going back to my room to sleep.
The next day, I woke up feeling sore all over and kept groaning in bed.
Xiuzhi gently massaged her and said, "Girl, why don't you skip your morning class today?"
Ruan Bi hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's go."
She went back to the main hall and knelt in a secluded corner, joining the Taoist nuns in their morning prayers. Halfway through, she felt two pairs of eyes watching her from outside the hall. She continued chanting calmly for a while, and only when she could no longer feel the gazes did she glance at them out of the corner of her eye. Standing outside the hall were Granny Sun, another favorite of the old lady, and Granny He, a confidante of the first lady. If she wasn't mistaken, these two had come to fetch her.
Such high standards made Ruan Bi smile inwardly.
With utmost devotion, I recited: "Supreme Lord Taixing, ever responsive. Expel evil and bind demons, protect life and body. Wisdom is clear and pure, mind and spirit are at peace. May the three souls be eternal, and the spirit never perish. So be it!"
After finishing her morning prayers, two matrons came to greet her and bowed. Ruan Bi quickly helped them up and asked in surprise, "When did you two arrive? Why didn't you call me?"
With a smile on her face, Granny Sun said, "When I arrived, the young lady was doing her morning prayers, so I didn't dare to disturb her."
Ruan Bi said, "I'm sorry to have kept you two mothers waiting."
Granny He also smiled and said, "What are you saying, Fifth Miss? You are praying for the Old Madam's well-being, so we should wait."
"Grannies, is Grandmother much better now?"
Granny Sun said, "Although she's not completely recovered, she's almost there. They were worried about you, so they sent the two of us to come and take you home. Please change your clothes quickly, and we'll set off. The old lady is waiting for you to have lunch together."
Upon hearing this, Granny He noticed Ruan Bi's attire: a slightly worn blue cotton dress, and not a single pearl flower adorning her double-bun hairstyle. A strange feeling flashed through her mind, an indescribable feeling, only that this Fifth Miss was somewhat unbelievable.
Ruan Bi nodded and said, "I'll go back and change my clothes now. You two mothers don't need to make the trip back and forth. Just wait for me at the mountain gate."
The two old women were both getting on in years, so they were happy to not have to run around anymore, and they thought more highly of the Fifth Miss.
Back at Xichen Mountain Residence, Xiuzhi had already packed her things. She stuck out her tongue and said, "Luckily, the young lady didn't listen to me."
Ruan Bi smiled, changed her clothes, and led Xiuzhi to the mountain gate, only to find Granny Sun and Granny He standing respectfully to the side with their heads bowed. Several other nuns, young and old, were also bowing respectfully. She paused, about to ask a question, when Granny Sun shushed her and pulled her to the side.
A moment later, a magnificent sedan chair entered through the mountain gate, led by a eunuch, supported by two maids, and followed by two guards with swords. The guards' attire was identical to that of the group Gu Xiaobai had brought yesterday. Jade Void Temple was no ordinary place; sedan chairs were not allowed to pass through the mountain gate, but this person was clearly no ordinary individual.
After the sedan chair passed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Granny Sun turned her head and looked in the direction of the sedan chair, saying, "Is Princess Huiwen going to discuss metaphysics with Master Ziying again?"
"Most likely," said Granny He. "The Princess's entourage is much simpler than before."
Granny Sun said, "The former official was her own brother, but now he is her grand-nephew, so naturally the difference is huge."
Granny He glanced at the sky and said, "Let's not talk about her anymore. It's getting late, we need to hurry, or we'll keep the old lady and the first lady waiting."
"Exactly."
After taking a sedan chair down the mountain, and then boarding the Ruan family's carriage, Ruan Bi finally felt relieved when she heard the driver raise his whip and shout "Giddy up!"
This time it wasn't the first or fifteenth of the month, so there were fewer carriages and horses on the road, and they traveled very quickly, returning to the Ruan residence in about an hour. After getting off the carriage, Granny Sun said, "Granny He, go and inform the First Madam that I will take the Fifth Miss directly to see the Old Madam."
Granny He nodded and said, "Alright, don't keep the old lady waiting."
The four of them went together to the hanging flower gate, and then split into two groups. Granny He went to the Xihe Courtyard where the First Madam lived, while Granny Sun, Ruan Bi, and Xiuzhi went to the Chunhui Hall where the Old Madam lived. Several maids in front of the main room of Chunhui Hall saw them and shouted, "Fifth Miss is back! The Old Madam has been calling her name several times just now." They then spread the word inside, "Fifth Miss is back."
The sudden burst of chirping and chattering made Ruan Bi, who was used to the tranquility of Yuxu Temple, feel somewhat out of place.
The maid lifted the curtain of Xiangfei and invited Ruan Bi in.
The old lady was half-reclining on a couch in the side hall. She was a little thinner than before, and although she still had a slight sickly air about her, it wasn't very noticeable. Sitting beside her were the second, fourth, third, and sixth young ladies, while standing were Granny Zheng, Manyun, and several maids and wives who always served her.
Ruan Bi stepped forward and knelt on the ground. Before she could even kowtow, the old lady pulled her up, saying repeatedly, "Good child, get up. Let me take a look..." As she spoke, she led Ruan Bi to sit on the couch and carefully examined her. "Not bad, not bad, you don't look thinner..."
The second sister said from the side, "I think the fifth sister seems to have gotten a little fatter than before."
That was a truly malicious remark, even though Ruan Bi knew she had indeed gained a little weight. Life at Yuxu Temple was austere, but their staple food was porridge made with ingredients like yam and ginkgo, which was very beneficial to her body.
The old lady looked at Ruan Bi carefully again and said, "You've gained weight? My old eyes are failing me, I didn't notice. Ayao, can you see it?"
Granny Zheng said, "Madam, aren't you making things difficult for me? My eyesight is even worse than yours."
Granny Sun coughed lightly and said, "Madam, I just heard the Taoist priests at Yuxu Temple say that Fifth Miss follows them in her morning and evening prayers every day. How could she possibly gain weight doing that? Second Miss must have misjudged her."
Ruan Bi secretly praised them, thinking that everyone in this room was a master of lying through their teeth.
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