Volume Two, Step by Step to Victory, Chapter Six: An Unexpected Disaster
When Ruan Bi woke up from her afternoon nap, she heard faint laughter outside and asked the tea maid who was standing guard beside her, "Who's here?"
Tea Girl helped her put on her coat and said, "It's Xiuping who came to see Xiuzhi."
In the morning, Ruan Bi had already heard about the twists of fate that happened last night and knew that Xiuping had become Ruan Chi's concubine. She couldn't help but wonder why Xiuping, who was supposed to be visiting various courtyards to befriend the masters and concubines, had ended up in the deserted east wing of Liaoyuan. After thinking for a moment, she instructed the tea maid, "Please invite her in."
"yes."
Tea Girl went out, and a moment later Xiuping and Xiuzhi came in together. Xiuping had already styled her hair into a married woman's bun and bowed to Ruan Bi, saying, "Good afternoon, Fifth Miss."
Ruan Bi returned the greeting with a smile and said, "Hello, Auntie."
Xiuping blushed instantly, but was also very pleased. She said, "Oh dear, Fifth Miss, you can't say such things. You're making me feel bad. Xiuping is just a servant girl. How could I be worthy of being your aunt?"
"It was just a joke, please don't mind, sister. Please sit down." Ruan Bi smiled and instructed the tea girl, "Pour me a cup of tea."
Xiuping declined, saying, "I've been out for too long, and I still need to see the old lady's former sisters in her courtyard, so I won't bother you any longer, young lady."
Ruan Bi nodded, watched her leave, and asked Xiuzhi, "Were you very close before?"
Xiuzhi was also puzzled. She shook her head and said, "We're just ordinary acquaintances. I don't know why she suddenly became so enthusiastic. She even asked me to visit her courtyard more often when I have time."
Just then, Xiushui's loud shouts came from outside: "Young Master, what brings you here? Oh, Young Master, please let me inform the young lady..."
The imposing footsteps went straight into the inner room. A moment later, the curtain was lifted, and Ruan Jiaxuan strode in, glaring angrily at Ruan Bi. Xiuzhi sensed something was wrong and quickly went to greet him, blocking his way, saying, "Young Master, this is the young lady's private room. It's not convenient. Please sit outside."
Ruan Jiaxuan snorted coldly, pushed her away, and walked towards Ruan Bi step by step.
Ruan Bi frowned slightly and said, "Brother, what's wrong? Please sit down and tell me what's wrong."
Ruan Jiaxuan, his face dark and his eyes flashing with malice, walked silently to the embroidery frame and stepped on it. The solid wood frame shattered into pieces, a piece of wood flying high and hitting Ruan Bi squarely on the forehead, causing her to wince in pain and a surge of anger to rise within her.
The maids screamed loudly.
Xiuzhi rushed over again, grabbing Ruan Jiaxuan's arm and saying, "Young Master, Young Master, this is the Fifth Miss's boudoir. Although we are siblings, there is still a difference between men and women. Please leave quickly, Young Master."
Annoyed by her chatter, Ruan Jiaxuan forcefully shoved Xiuzhi aside, sending her crashing into the corner of a table. Xiuzhi clutched her stomach and curled up on the floor. Ruan Bi, furious, abandoned all pretense of modesty and feigned innocence, and slapped him hard across the face.
The crisp "smack" startled everyone.
Ruan Jiaxuan pointed at Ruan Bi, whose eyebrows were raised in anger, and stammered, "You hit me?"
"Yes, I hit you," Ruan Bi said coldly. "What is the purpose of studying the classics? To cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, and uphold loyalty and filial piety. But you, you broke into your sister's room, beat her maid, and destroyed her belongings. How does your behavior conform to loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness?"
Ruan Jiaxuan raised an eyebrow and said, "You're just a bastard, who gives you the right to lecture me?"
"Yes, you are the eldest grandson of the Ruan family, my elder brother. Logically, it's not my place to lecture you. But where is the demeanor of a scholarly family? Where is the magnanimity of the future head of the Ruan family? For a maid, you dared to threaten to kill your sister. Not only do you lack sibling affection, but you also uttered foul language. If you truly cared for that maid, you should have gone to the old lady to plead for her. Coming here to smash things and beat servants is just picking on the weak to vent your anger, only revealing your cowardice and incompetence..."
When had Ruan Jiaxuan ever been spoken to like that before? A surge of anger welled up inside him, and he slapped Ruan Bi across the face. Ruan Bi turned her face to the side, her cheek burning.
"Big brother, what are you doing?" The fourth sister ran in and grabbed Ruan Jiaxuan's hand. "Fifth sister is ignorant, big brother, please don't blame her. Fifth sister, quickly apologize to big brother."
Ruan Bi raised her head and said, "Why should I apologize? It wasn't my fault in the first place. He came into my room without asking any questions, beat my maid, and smashed my things. And he still thinks he's right?"
The fourth sister pulled Ruan Jiaxuan outside, saying, "Big brother, this is fifth sister's boudoir. You should go out first."
Ruan Jiaxuan then flung her away, sending the Fourth Sister crashing against the wall with a cry of pain. She slumped to the ground against the wall. Qiu Lan rushed over to help her up, and a moment later cried out, "Oh dear, something's wrong! Her head is bleeding! She's bleeding!"
Just as things were getting out of hand, a thunderous roar suddenly rang out: "You beast, what are you doing?"
Master Ruan Hong stood outside the door with two servants, glaring angrily at Ruan Jiaxuan.
Ruan Jiaxuan was frightened when he heard Qiulan say that the Fourth Miss's scalp was bleeding. When he saw his usually stern father staring at him with eyes like copper bells, his legs went weak.
Seeing the mess on the ground, with some maids curled up on the floor, others pale with fright, Ruan Bi's face swollen and red, and the Fourth Miss sitting against the wall with blood seeping through a handkerchief pressed against her forehead, she trembled with anger. She walked in and slapped Ruan Jiaxuan across the face, saying, "You beast, running wild in your sister's boudoir! What kind of sage books have you been reading? Tell me, what is it all for?"
Ruan Jiaxuan knelt down with a thud. He wasn't stupid; of course he knew that Manhua's affairs were absolutely not to be mentioned.
Seeing that he refused to speak, Ruan Hong pointed at Ruan Bi and said, "Tell me, tell me, what exactly happened?"
Ruan Bi said aggrievedly, "I didn't know either. My brother ran in and started throwing things and hitting my maid."
Ruan Hong then said to the Fourth Sister, "Fourth Girl, you speak."
The fourth sister said with tears in her eyes, "I was embroidering in my room when I heard this commotion. When I came over, I saw my eldest brother beating my fifth brother. I don't know why. I wanted to calm him down, but who knew that my eldest brother..." At this point, her brows furrowed and tears streamed down her face.
Hearing the hurried footsteps outside the station, the First Madam rushed in with a group of maids and wives. She glanced around the room and asked, "What's going on?"
Ruan Hong said resentfully, "Ask your precious son."
"Jiaxuan, tell me, what happened?"
Ruan Jiaxuan just bit her lip and didn't say anything.
The First Madam's thoughts shifted slightly, and she said, "You child, even if you have a problem with your sister, you can't act so recklessly. Why can't you talk things out peacefully? Quickly apologize to Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister."
Ruan Bi understood that she meant to downplay the matter and make it disappear, defining the issue as a conflict between siblings. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that the First Madam was indeed a cunning old fox.
Unfortunately, Ruan Jiaxuan, who had grown up surrounded by admirers, was not stupid, but extremely stubborn. She failed to grasp her mother's good intentions, feeling that apologizing to her sisters would be beneath her dignity. Furthermore, having experienced heartbreak in her first romantic relationship, she was filled with self-pity and felt that fate had been unfair to her. Hearing these words only deepened her despair, making it impossible for her to nod in apology. She remained kneeling upright, uttering not a sound.
The First Madam secretly groaned.
Ruan Hong was so angry that his mouth twisted. He said, "Fine, fine... Guards, tie this wretched child up and lock him in the ancestral hall. He can only be released when he admits his mistake."
The First Madam exclaimed, "Master..."
Ruan Hong glared at her fiercely and said, "Don't speak up for him anymore. He has already killed his sister, and he might kill his elders in the future. If this unfilial and disobedient son is not properly disciplined, he will be the root of our Ruan family sooner or later." After saying that, he turned and left.
Two servants stepped forward, tied Ruan Jiaxuan up with a handkerchief, and carried him away.
Although the First Madam was unwilling, she had no choice. Looking at the Fourth Miss sitting in the corner and the Fifth Miss standing straight, she was angry and wanted to take it out on them, but she still considered the face of the head mistress and suppressed her anger, saying, "Come with me." After saying that, she took the lead and walked out of the east wing of Liaoyuan.
Ruan Bi and the Fourth Miss exchanged a glance and followed with their respective maids.
She went straight to the side hall of the First Madam's room, sat down, took a sip of tea from the maidservant who brought her, and said, "Kneel down."
Ruan Bi and the Fourth Sister knelt down in response.
"Tell me, what exactly happened?"
The fourth sister said respectfully, "I didn't know. I went to check because I heard a commotion in my fifth sister's room."
The First Madam glanced at Ruan Bi and said, "And what about you?"
"I don't know either..."
Before she could finish speaking, the First Madam snorted coldly and said, "That's strange. Has the young master suddenly gone mad?"
"Perhaps my elder brother has misunderstood something," Ruan Bi said. "Mother should ask my elder brother about this."
The First Madam understood the implied meaning and glanced at her thoughtfully. "Alright, then let me ask you again, who informed the Master?"
"I have no idea."
"I don't know either."
The First Madam slammed her hand on the table and said, "Very well, you don't know this or that. Then you may all kneel properly in the courtyard until you know the answer, then you may get up."
"Yes, Mother."
Not long after Ruan Bi and the Fourth Miss knelt down in the courtyard, Ruan Hong returned, frowned, and went into the house to ask the First Madam, "Why did you make them kneel in the courtyard for no reason? It's quite a sight to see them coming and going like that?"
The First Madam said, "If we don't teach them properly, they'll all cause a huge uproar."
"It's Jiaxuan's responsibility to be taught, what does it have to do with these two girls?"
The first wife glared at him angrily. "What grudge do you have against our son? Why do you dislike him so much?"
Ruan Hong frowned and said, "You're still going to help him? Do you even know what he's up to?"
"What is it?"
"I just asked his assistant Shun'er and found out that it was because of the girl that Mother gave to my third brother."
"Xiuping?" The First Madam finished speaking and immediately realized something was wrong. "No, it's Manhua?"
"It's her. Mother must have heard something, because today she locked up that maid and was going to send her back to her parents in Yangzhou. When this unfilial son heard that, he went mad."
The First Madam asked, puzzled, "How did Xuan'er end up causing trouble for Fifth Miss?"
“Shun’er said that Jiaxuan thought that Wu Yatou told the old lady, so he went to confront her… You tell me, he has read so many books in vain, yet he doesn’t know how to be friendly and respectful to his brothers, acts rashly, and doesn’t know when to advance or retreat…” Ruan Hong said angrily, “It really makes me so angry.”
"Master," the First Madam said, feeling sorry for her son, "why don't we ask Manhua for him?"
Ruan Hong glared at her and said, "You're confused. That girl is for Third Brother. Although things went wrong last night, she still has a proper status. If you give her to Xuan'er, people will think that the uncle and nephew are fighting over a woman. Besides, he has to participate in the imperial examination next year. How can he put his mind on such romantic matters?"
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