Transmigrating into the Female Supporting Character with a Good Life in a Laid-Back Novel

Ruan Xi felt full of vitality upon waking up.

Outside the window, the rain was coming down in pitter and patters, and some rain issued light noises as they landed on the eaves of the veranda.

Ruan Xi stiffened. The fine drizzle from the early afternoon had become heavier after her short nap, bringing some cold and damp wind into the room through the small seams at the side of her windows.

Ruan Xi moved the blanket away from her body and got off the bed.

Hearing the movement in the room, Su Yu and Su Zhu put down the small bags they had been embroidering into the shallow wicker baskets that they were using to contain their needlework with due haste, before they carried in warm water to help their Young Lady wash up.

“Young Lady, while yõu were resting, a Mama from Lao Taitai’s side brought over an old physician. Upon knowing that yõu were resting for the afternoon, she said that she would make another trip later.”

This was what Su Yu said as she was brushing her Young Lady’s hair.

Ruan Xi smiled slightly. It seems like Lao Taitai was very concerned about her body.

“Mn, I understand. Is there anything else?”

Su Zhu answered this time around: “There is another matter. The Furen had dispatched her servant to send word that she will be teaching Young Lady about household management starting from tomorrow.”

Ruan Xi’s gaze congealed as she sighed inwardly. Her legitimate mother was truly worthy of being a legitimate mother for being able to make such a decision when she was being suspected. She originally assumed that the household matters would be dragged out for a few more days. Nonetheless, she was rather delighted that she could learn about household management officially.

“San jie will be marrying out next year, is she attending the lessons as well?” Ruan Xi casually asked.

Su Yu shook her head. “Nubi does not know, there have been no news of the Third Young Lady learning about household management despite making some inquiries.”

Which means she isn’t……

Ruan Xi knitted her brows. That would explain why Ruan san niang had the thought and heart to start a business.

Her legitimate mother… actually went along with her…

Ruan Xi found it hard to understand but it did not stop her from heightening her vigilance.

After Ruan Xi was done washing up and eating some pastries to cushion her stomach, the Mama by Lao Taitai’s side brought over the physician in a hurry once she heard that the Fourth Young Lady had awoken.

The Mama that came over went by the surname of Chen and she was the Lao Taitai’s trusted Mama. It could be seen that Lao Taitai was attaching great importance to Ruan Xi.

Thus, the old physician checked Ruan Xi’s pulse carefully and he even made use of the four methods of diagnosis, namely, observation, auscultation and olfaction, interrogation, and pulse feeling and palpitation. Whatever the old physician asked, Ruan Xi answered truthfully.

Four Methods of Diagnosis

This detailed pulse taking took a full hour.

Ruan Xi’s heart sank down bit by bit.

Su Yu and Su Zhu were also becoming increasingly anxious as they stood at the side.

“Physician Liu, the Fourth Young Lady’s body…” Mama Chen could not help but ask.

Retracting his hand, the old physician looked at the nervous Fourth Young Lady as he stroked his beard and smiled: “There is no need for worries. Laofu has confirmed her pulse repeatedly in several instances. The Fourth Young Lady’s body is very healthy, there are no issues.”

老夫 (pinyin: lao fu) – I, this old man.

Ruan Xi exhaled through her mouth softly as her entire body relaxed abruptly. She was nearly convinced that the original owner had fallen for a plot accidentally.

As she relaxed, Ruan Xi suddenly realised that her own worries seemed unnecessary.

The original owner in the book was the female supporting character with a good life that even the female protagonist envied, which meant that she was probably fine before she married out.

Ruan Xi: “……”

“That’s a relief, that’s good. Physician Liu, has the Fourth Young Lady completely recovered from her cold?” Mama Chen grabbed hold of the important point keenly and inquired. If she did not remember incorrectly, the physician from a few days ago said that the Fourth Young Lady had harmed her vitality.

Physician Liu nodded his head. “Certainly, she is fully recovered.”

Frowning, Mama Chen voiced her doubts: “That’s odd, wasn’t it said that the Fourth Young Lady harmed her vitality?”

Remedying an injured vitality was not such an easy feat.

Su Yu and Su Zhu, who were originally happy that their Young Lady had made full recovery, became nervous again.

Old Physician Liu laughed, “It is true that the Fourth Young Lady harmed her vitality, but it has already been fully restored now. Presumably, the Fourth Young Lady has felt it as well.”

Ruan Xi’s heart thumped. Her body’s recovery speed seemed to be a little terrifying.

It was just that she was unsure of her own body’s condition as well, so she pushed the reason to the medicinal herbs that Wen gongzi sent.

“It certainly does feel that way. Perhaps the precious medicinal herbs that Wen gongzi sent have seen good use.” Ruan Xi nodded her head, her gentle voice tinged with a trace of shyness.

Physician Liu expressed his agreement with a nod. “There is that possibility. Aged and superb quality ginseng has always been the best nourishment for vitality. While taking the Fourth Young Lady’s pulse, Laofu noticed that she takes medication infrequently, which might be why the efficacy of the medicinal herbs took effect so quickly.”

“So that’s how it is.” Mama Chen came to a sudden realisation. The physician was right on that count; the Fourth Young Lady scarcely fell ill ever since she was young and they would be minor colds that could be cured with a few bowls of ginger tea at most.

Since the Fourth Young Lady’s body and bones were healthy, Lao Taitai would definitely be overjoyed after she heard about it.

Physician Liu gave a kind reminder, saying: “Since the Fourth Young Lady is more than recovered, it would be best to stop partaking in medication. Food nourishment is better than medicinal nourishment, she just needs to pay attention to her usual diet and that will suffice.”

Gratified, Ruan Xi smiled. “Thanking the Physician for his reminder.”

Physician Liu returned the smile and waved his hand. After giving a few more lines of instruction, he picked up his medicine-chest and left.

Mama Chen also followed him in leaving since she had to report the Fourth Young Lady’s condition to Lao Taitai.

Limpid Heart Garden reverted back to its quiet state again.

With the physician’s confirmation, Ruan Xi could finally stop drinking the nourishing soup but it meant she could no longer put up the pretence of recuperating since she was more than recovered. Ruan Xi sighed softly, her quiet and leisurely days were past and gone.

On the other end, when Zhang shi learnt that Lao Taitai’s Mama Chen had been smiling as she left Limpid Heart Garden since she had been keeping constant watch over the courtyard, she felt her suspended heart make landfall, and she was self-satisfied internally.

please read this on yuulation dot wordpress dot com

In the beginning of you shi, the rain stopped.

酉时 (pinyin: you shi) – a double-hour that denotes 5PM to 7PM. Since it is the beginning of you shi, it is 5PM exactly.

 

Ruan Xi rubbed her sour wrist, looking at the delicately pretty and gracefully restrained handwriting on the fine writing paper with a deep sense of satisfaction.

With regards to the proper and cut block handwriting that the original owner deliberately exposed, Ruan Xi could already write it with a practiced hand. Even though Mama Xu, one of the few who actually knew about the original owner hiding herself, had yet to return, Ruan Xi no longer had to worry about revealing a defect.

All of a sudden, Su Yu’s voice travelled over from outside the door.

“Young Lady, the Oldest Young Master has arrived, and he is waiting outside the room.”

Ruan Xi felt slightly perplexed upon hearing that. She replied, “Give me a moment.” Then, she threw the word-covered fine writing paper into the brazier for burning before she smoothed out her appearance and went outside to meet Ruan Yu Wen.

“Da ge.” Ruan Xi saw Ruan Yu Wen sitting on the chair sipping his tea the moment she stepped out of her inner room, and Su Yu who was standing at the side.

Raising his head, Ruan Yu Wen watched the beautiful young girl with a graceful demeanour approach him with lithe and unhurried steps. He raised the letter in his hand, smile apparent on his handsome face as he said mischievously:

“Si mei, do you see the letter in my hand? Wen gongzi told me to put this letter in your hands.”

Wen gongzi’s letter…

Ruan Xi was surprised. Her Earl Father had hoped that she could write and exchange letters with Wen gongzi to cultivate their feelings, and she hadn’t thought of how she was going to interact with her fiancé. She was preparing to procrastinate and drag the matter out but her fiancé had taken the initiative to hand over the step ladder instead.

Ruan Xi’s mood became slightly complicated.

She lifted her skirt corners, pretending to quicken her strides eagerly to reach Ruan Yu Wen before she took the letter into her hands, gripping it tightly as she revealed an elated and bashful smile. “Thanking da ge.”

Ruan Yu Wen was not a person with strong curiosity, but he was extremely curious what Wen gongzi – who was praised for being a proper gentleman and known for his indifference and estrangement of women – would write in the letter. Hence, he rushed to Limpid Heart Garden to deliver the letter the moment he returned to the residence.

“Si mei, hurry up and open the letter to see what Wen gongzi wrote.”

Ruan Xi glanced at her oldest brother’s light-emitting eyes, the corner of her lips twitching imperceptibly. With a red face, she lowered her head and wrung the letter in her hands in embarrassment.

“Da ge…”

Her rejection was very obvious.

“Cough cough, da ge is just curious… curious…” Ruan Yu Wen evidently realised that his behaviour was improper as he smiled with some awkwardness.

“Si mei, read Wen gongzi’s letter quickly. Once you’re done writing a reply letter, da ge will help you deliver it to Wen gongzi. If you want to write more letter to Wen gongzi, just tell someone to inform me. Da ge is willing to be the swan goose for si mei and Wen gongzi.”

Su Yu was ecstatic to hear that.

The Oldest Young Master was truly a good person.

When Ruan Xi heard that Ruan Yu Wen was willing to be a swan goose, the idiom ‘mail delivered by a swan goose’ appeared in her head suddenly. Then, she looked at her oldest brother’s smiling and expectant gaze again before she became speechless.

“Thanking da ge. Could da ge wait for some time? I’ll go back to the room first to reply to the letter.”

Although there were no fluctuations in Ruan Xi’s heart, a hint of excitement and bashfulness appeared on her exquisitely beautiful visage faintly, her eyes dewy and bright, just like a rose curling its petals shyly.

“Sure, da ge will wait for you here.”

Ruan Xi’s face brightened with happiness. After she instructed Su Yu to serve Ruan Yu Wen properly, she held onto the letter and returned to her room with palpable impatience.

Ruan Yu Wen peered at his fourth sister’s delighted and eager appearance, amused. As he raised his teacup to sip on his tea, he was inwardly regretful that he could not satisfy his own curiosity.

please read this on yuulation dot wordpress dot com

Upon returning to her room, Ruan Xi kept her eagerness and excitement before she calmly opened Wen gongzi’s letter.

This was the first time Ruan Xi had seen Wen gongzi’s handwriting.

Wen gongzi’s calligraphy was vigorous and outstandingly refined; hiding the tip of his writing brush to contain his energy while demonstrating the sharpness of his talents, and in his cutting edges, he displayed and embodied the combination of firmness and flexibility. His calligraphy was like his person; where the scenery was pleasing to both the eye and the mind.

刚柔相济 (pinyin: gang rou xiang ji) – combine firmness and flexibility; temper toughness with gentleness; couple hardness with softness (in dealing with people).

Ruan Xi admired Wen gongzi’s calligraphy for awhile before she read the contents of his letter.

Skipping past the salutations and solicitation, Wen gongzi mainly wrote to her about the matter of her training Mama, and he also brought up the fact that it would be Wen lao-furen’s birthday in two months.

After Ruan Xi read the letter, she felt furtive appreciation for Wen gongzi’s consideration. She was wondering why Wen gongzi hadn’t sent over the training Mama, but it turns out that Wen gongzi had dispatched his men to check the training Mama’s background.

The training Mama’s information was also attached to the letter, simple and concise, such that the key points were clear at a glance.

In her heart, Ruan Xi labelled Wen gongzi as a person who was thorough in conduct, gentle, and thoughtful.

As for Wen lao-furen’s birthday…

Ruan Xi raised an eyebrow, revealing a small smile at the corners of her lips. Did Wen gongzi specifically bring up this matter because he was thinking about her illegitimate status and wanted to allow her to make the appropriate mental preparations first?

Since the letter was already read, Ruan Xi began to grind her ink stick on the slab before she raised her brush to write him a reply. She did not deliberately conceal herself in front of Wen gongzi, and her regular script was proficiently pretty and flower embellished, exhibiting a graceful and subdued style.

After a quarter of an hour, Ruan Xi slipped her reply letter into an envelope and sealed it, then she left her room.

Ruan Yu Wen, who had just finished a cup of tea, looked at his fourth sister in surprise as she handed him the letter with a red face. “Si mei, you finished writing your letter so quickly?”

And here he was thinking that his fourth sister would stay in her room for a longer period of time due to her excitement and happiness.

“Da ge, the sky is about to darken soon.” Ruan Xi gave an incongruous reply as she lowered her head in embarrassment.

Ruan Yu Wen froze for a moment. Subsequently, he understood the meaning in her words, which made his mouth twitch involuntarily. His fourth sister was really… really impatient.

He smiled with crinkled eyes in response. He took the letter while teasing her deliberately, “Si mei speaks correctly. The sky is about to darken, da ge will most definitely hand your reply letter to Wen gongzi tomorrow.”

Ruan Xi genuinely wanted to say ‘feel free’, but she was currently acting as a fourteen-year-old girl living in the depths of her boudoir and yearning for her fiancé from her heart, so she could only continue acting.

As she secretly criticised her oldest brother for being unconscientious, she purposefully revealed an anxious expression that looked like she wanted to speak but was stopping herself.

Ruan Yu Wen laughed out loud once he saw that.

“Fine, I’ll stop teasing you. Da ge will ask someone to send the letter to the Wen Residence later.”

Having said that, Ruan Yu Wen rose to his feet and tapped on Ruan Xi’s pert and small nose, departing from Limpid Heart Garden in a good mood with Ruan Xi’s reply letter in hand.

After being tapped on the nose so affectionately for the first time in two lives, Ruan Xi… apart from feeling the tiniest bit of shock, there were no ripples inside her heart.

She would never admit that she was apathetic; Ruan Xi merely felt that the harmony and sentiments in the sibling relationship between her and her oldest brother Ruan Yu Wen could not stand if it was put to trial.

It was enough for them to get along like this, neither near nor far.