Volume Two, Step by Step to Victory, Chapter 17: Heart-to-Heart Talk
Ruan Bi asked curiously, "What are Yuxu Temple and Wuyue Temple like?"
Xiuzhi said, "The Five Sacred Mountains Temple is right on the Imperial Road, five streets away from our Ruan family residence. It's very close, but it's a bit small. It's also very popular and noisy, so nowadays the officials' wives don't like going there anymore. The Jade Void Temple is outside the city. It's not as popular as the Five Sacred Mountains Temple, but it's quite large. It's a women's Taoist temple, so it's usually quite quiet. It's just that on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, and during festivals, there are big feasts, so it's a bit lively."
Ruan Bi then asked, "What kind of person is Master Ziying?"
Xiuzhi said, "She's no ordinary person. Everyone says she's a living goddess who can predict the future."
Ruan Bi hesitated for a moment, then said to Xiuzhi, "Xiuzhi, come in with me." As she spoke, she went into the inner room.
Xiuzhi followed her in, placed the teapot on the table, poured her a cup of tea, and asked, "What do you need me to do, Miss?"
"Please pack a few more clothes for me, pick the simplest ones."
Xiuzhi was slightly surprised, but knowing that Ruanbi didn't like to pry, she opened the wardrobe and began to pack her clothes as instructed.
"Xiuzhi, what else have you heard of the Jade Void Temple? Tell me more about it."
"There's nothing special about it. Taoist temples are pretty much the same everywhere. On the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, and during festivals, there are grand vegetarian feasts. Villagers from the surrounding area come to the market, where there are all sorts of snacks, dolls, cosmetics, and even acrobatic troupes. There are also various small Taoist rituals on ordinary days. If you pay, you can even attend all sorts of vegetarian feasts..." Xiuzhi said while tidying her clothes, "...Oh, by the way, miss, there's another place called Wanmiaoju at Yuxu Temple. My mother said that it's inhabited by noble people from the palace..."
Ruan Bi was listening intently when she suddenly heard Xiu Shui announce from outside, "Miss, Granny Zheng has come to see you."
Ruan Bi was taken aback for a moment, then quickly jumped off the bed and went outside to greet them.
Granny Zheng had already entered the hall, her eyes slightly red, clearly having cried not long ago. She said, "Fifth Miss, I just saw the Old Madam and felt sad. I took a stroll in the garden and somehow ended up here at Liaoyuan Garden. I just wanted to come and see you. I don't know if I've disturbed you."
"Even if it's a disturbance, I'd be happy to oblige. Mother, please come and sit in the inner room with me."
Ruan Bi invited Zheng Mama to sit down in the inner room and personally poured her a cup of tea.
Granny Zheng took the teacup, took a sip, and said, "I've been too presumptuous today, having the young lady serve me."
Ruan Bi sat down and said, "Mother, you're too kind. You've served the old lady and the old master, so you're more respectable than us younger generation. Besides, you're a guest in my room, so pouring you a cup of tea is just a courtesy, not a matter of serving you. I'm just afraid that my tea isn't good and that I'm neglecting you."
Hearing these words, Granny Zheng looked even more worried and sighed deeply.
Ruan Bi asked in surprise, "What's wrong, Mom? Did Ruan Bi say something wrong?"
Granny Zheng shook her head, but still didn't say anything.
Ruan Bi understood that it was probably Xiuzhi who was there, so she didn't dare to speak. Just as she was about to ask Xiuzhi to leave, Xiuzhi spoke first: "Miss, I'm all ready. I'll leave now. Call me if you need anything."
Ruan Bi was pleased with her thoughtfulness and nodded, saying, "Okay, go ahead."
After Xiuzhi left, Zheng Mama said, "It's not that you said something wrong, young lady, but I feel sad whenever I think of the old lady."
"Didn't you say it was nothing serious and that I would get better after resting for a while?"
"The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease, young lady. The Ruan family is not what it used to be, nor is the old lady."
Ruan Bi asked, puzzled, "What do you mean by that, Mom?"
Granny Zheng looked up at Ruan Bi and replied, seemingly unrelated to the question, "I've tried to be nice to you three times today; you must be wondering why, Miss?"
She offered to accompany her to the Marquis of Yanping's residence; then, at the Marquis of Yanping's residence, she reminded her that there was something fishy about the lotus viewing party; now, after meeting the old lady, she took the initiative to go to the east wing of Liaoyuan Garden to talk to her. And her attitude—it used to be somewhat wary, but now that's gone, replaced by something else that's hard to explain.
All of this was different from usual, and Ruan Bi had already sensed it. "It is indeed a bit strange, please enlighten me, Mother."
Granny Zheng looked down at the teacup for a moment, then answered irrelevantly again, "Does the young lady know why the old lady fell ill?"
Ruan Bi said vaguely, "I just heard some things, it seems to be related to my third uncle."
“That’s right, it was Third Master who made her angry. I just saw the old lady; she was lying in bed, and even turning her eyes was difficult for her. I felt both sad and scared when I saw her… Doctor Xu said that if he had come a little later, she might not have woken up again.” As she finished speaking, tears streamed down Zheng Mama’s face, and her hands holding the teacup trembled slightly, the lid clinking against the cup.
Ruan Bi took the teacup and placed it on the table. She then gently patted Zheng Mama's hand and said, "Mother, don't worry. Good people are always blessed. Doctor Xu also said that the old lady is fine now. She just needs to rest and recuperate for a while."
Granny Zheng shook her head repeatedly, saying with slight agitation, "No, young lady, you don't know how sad and scared I am for the old lady. I... I am even sadder and scared for myself... You used to say that the old lady has a house full of children and grandchildren, while you are all alone. If the old lady had passed away before you..."
She didn't finish speaking, but Ruan Bi understood. For a moment, she didn't know what to say, so she remained silent.
Granny Zheng also fell silent. After a long while, she let out a long sigh and asked again, "Has the young lady worried about Dongxue?"
Ruan Biwei was taken aback. "What are you worried about?"
"I'm worried that she'll take her belongings and return to her hometown, never to come back."
Ruan Biwei hesitated for a moment, then said, "What my mother said is true, I was indeed worried. But she has protected me for so many years, it is only right to redeem her. Even if she returns to her roots and never comes back, I will never blame her. I have prepared for the worst since I let her go."
Granny Zheng looked up, her already cloudy eyes fixed intently on Ruan Bi. After a moment, she suddenly stood up and gave Ruan Bi a proper curtsy.
Ruan Bi knew that she must have something to ask of her, and accepted her bow without hesitation.
"That time I met you, Miss, on behalf of Dongxue was the first time we met after you recovered from your illness. That time... you first provoked me with your words, then exposed my hidden worries. Although you eventually persuaded me, I couldn't bring myself to like you. I only felt that you were extremely dangerous, with a mind like a snake, capable of burrowing into people's brains and sucking their marrow... Later, Dongxue asked you to help her redeem herself, and I thought she was crazy. I didn't expect you to actually agree, and even give her so much wealth... Only then did I realize that you are no ordinary person, and that I had underestimated you... I came here today because I wanted to..." Granny Zheng's lips moved, wanting to say that she would rely on you for support, but she felt that her posture was too humble. She wanted to lend you a helping hand, but she felt that she was being presumptuous.
Ruan Bi already understood. She stood up, returned the greeting, and said, "I understand what you mean, Mother, and I will certainly not disappoint you."
Granny Zheng nodded, her heart filled with mixed emotions. This fifth young lady was quick to understand and spoke so eloquently. "Miss," she said, "I won't waste time with empty words. For you, your birth is already set. Your only way out now is to secure a good marriage. But that depends entirely on the Old Madam. Even if the Old Madam doesn't like you, she still has to give an explanation to Miss Lan. If something were to happen to the Old Madam, your marriage would be decided by the First Madam, and she probably wouldn't be so devoted... Therefore, you must help the Old Madam now."
Ruan Bi nodded, thinking to herself, "This Zheng Mama is truly a loyal servant. While scheming for herself, she also scheming for the old lady." "Mother is absolutely right, Ruan Bi understands."
Seeing her agree, Granny Zheng felt relieved, and her expression relaxed compared to before. After thinking for a moment, she said, "There's something you should keep in mind, Miss. The deeds to the public land, houses, and shops are all in the hands of the Old Madam, but those in charge are basically the First Madam's people—the poisoning of you under the locust tree last time was actually aimed at the First Madam. With your intelligence, Miss, you must have already figured it out..."
Ruan Bi nodded. "Does Mother know who ordered it?"
"I don't know either, but please rest assured, young lady, it's definitely not the old lady."
"Oh? Is there any reason why you're so sure, Mom?"
"I asked the old lady why she didn't investigate the real culprit but instead rushed to send Huaihua to the authorities. This is what she said: 'Ayao, you don't understand. I sent Huaihua to the government for two reasons. First, to tell the eldest daughter-in-law that we should stop now, as the estate and shops belong to the entire Ruan family. Second, I didn't want to expose the truth; that would be too embarrassing, and what would become of our Ruan family if word got out?'"
Ruan Bi understood. The old lady cared most about the Ruan family's reputation, hence her haste to cover up the scandal. She also understood that Zheng Mama said this because she worried Ruan Bi might harbor suspicion towards the old lady and be unwilling to wholeheartedly help her. Actually, she was overthinking it. With the chip implanted in this body, she felt neither love nor hate for anyone in the mansion. She would confide in those she could, and use those she could. She didn't care whether others treated her well or poorly; she only wanted to gain the greatest benefit.
Just as I was about to ask Granny Zheng for her opinion on the lotus viewing party at the Marquis of Yanping's residence today, I suddenly heard a maid outside shouting, "Granny Zheng, are you here? The old lady has woken up and is looking for you."
"Here, here!" Granny Zheng stood up hurriedly and rushed towards the door. When she reached the door, she realized that she hadn't greeted Ruan Bi yet, so she turned back and said, "Miss, let's talk another day."
"Okay, Mom, take care."
No sooner had Granny Zheng left than Xiuzhi came in and whispered to Ruanbi, "Miss, don't forget, Xiushui is Manyun's cousin."
Ruan Bi nodded. Xiuzhi was starting to think about things for her, which was a good thing.
As for Manyun, she is shrewd and will not be willing to be schemed against by me again and again. However, as long as she wants to become Ruan Jiaxuan's concubine, this weakness is in my hands and is not a threat for the time being.
The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Ruan Bi, accompanied by Xiu Zhi, went to the First Madam's room with a bundle to pay her respects.
Then the group waited outside the gate and boarded four blue-draped carriages: one for the First Madam and the Second Young Lady, one for the Second Madam and the Seventh Young Lady, one for the Third Young Lady and the Sixth Young Lady, and one for Ruan Bi and the Fourth Young Lady. The maids and servants boarded the two oxcarts behind. The steward rode ahead on horseback, with a group of servants and guards following on either side.
A very long procession marched out of Chenqiao Gate and headed north.
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