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

Once Zhang shi’s words spilled from her lips, the reception room went quiet instantaneously.

Ever since they returned to the residence, Ruan Xi had already noticed that something was truly wrong with her legitimate mother, especially the gaze she was regarding Ruan san niang with, because there was loathing and resentment mixed in those frigid depths.

And now that Zhang shi was making Ruan san niang’s punishment heavier, it only proved this point even more.

It was unlikely that she was retreating in order to advance; rather, these were Zhang shi’s genuine thoughts.

A terrifying conjecture emerged in Ruan Xi’s mind: was it possible that her legitimate mother was already aware that the current Ruan san niang was not her daughter?

Besides this reason, Ruan Xi had no other way of explaining Zhang shi’s sudden change in attitude.

Once that thought occurred, Ruan Xi became inwardly shocked. She had assumed that after Great Master Hui Yuan’s remark, Ruan san niang would have gotten past this danger.

She did not expect that…

However, upon careful contemplation, Ruan Xi did not find it strange. From the original owner’s memories, her legitimate mother had always attached great importance to Ruan san niang and the mother and daughter shared a deeply affectionate relationship. With Ruan san niang’s behaviour and conduct, it was apparent that she did not have her original owner’s memories and it was not surprising that Zhang shi discovered it.

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In this instance, Ruan san niang was furious about how Ruan Xi was making mountains out of molehills, but Ruan Xi, Lao Taitai, and even the Earl did not think that was the case.

Ruan Xi was an unremarkable illegitimate daughter from the Earl Residence to begin with, and yet due to her great fortune, she managed to claim connections to the higher status, oldest legitimate son of Rites Minister Wen— Wen gongzi.

However, it could not be denied that Ruan Xi’s social identity was too low as the oldest legitimate daughter-in-law to Rites Minster Wen.

From the very beginning, Wen furen had personally harboured ill-feelings towards Ruan Xi’s concubine-born status, and if she purposefully refused to let go of this incident despite knowing the truth of the matter, and hatted Ruan Xi with the labels of frivolous and restless, breaking off the engagement would be the only route left.

Once that occurred, Ruan Xi’s marriage would fall through and her reputation would be ruined.

Fortunately for them, Wen furen was logical and Ruan Xi managed to enter Wen furen’s eyes, but this did not mean that Earl Chengyi would let bygones be bygones.

Zhang shi’s words stunned Earl Chengyi for a short while. He stared at Zhang shi deeply, before coming to the realisation that Zhang shi was not retreating in order to advance, and she genuinely wanted to increase the punishment to grind down Ruan san niang’s temper.

Earl Chengyi was dimly puzzled by Zhang shi’s reaction.

Lao Taitai, however, seemed to have realised something else. She released a soft sigh secretly and maintained her silence.

Meanwhile, Ruan san niang had the greatest difficulty accepting this and she stared at Zhang shi pitifully,  eyes brimming with pleas.

“Mother…”

Zhang shi turned a blind eye to her, her entire person appearing as though it had suffered a blow.

“Bo ye, with regards to the foolish actions that Ruan san niang did today, I also have to bear the blame since I have failed to educate san niang properly. Wen furen might be understanding and logical this time around, but what about next time, what if san niang causes an even bigger disaster?

“Only when san niang has truly endured through these lessons, will she then be cognizant of what she can and cannot do, and commit it to her long-term memory.”

Ruan Xi: “……”

It had to be said that her legitimate mother was amazing. It sounded like she was doing this for Ruan san niang’s own good, but Zhang shi was actually borrowing the chance to deal with Ruan san niang viciously. 

Earl Chengyi also felt that it was reasonable, since san niang was becoming more outrageous by the day. Hence, he immediately nodded in agreement: “You speak correctly, we shall act in accordance with your words.”

Ruan san niang burned with anger. Her personality had always been reckless and brash but she did not dare to cause any winds after her rebirth. However, who could have thought that her situation would worsen the more she conformed and she could not stop herself from acting out violently right then and there.

“I refuse, I’m not convinced, Father, on what basis do you punish me? If I didn’t cause the incident, would si mei enter Wen furen’s eyes, and gain the heirloom jade bracelet from Wen furen?

“And si mei and Wen gongzi’s marriage agreement, if it weren’t for me pestering Mother to ask her to help si mei suggest the marriage, would si mei manage to climb up to Wen gongzi?”

Ruan san niang actually has the audacity to say such shameless words with a just and righteous tone.

Ruan Xi nearly laughed out of anger.

Meanwhile, Lao Taitai, Earl Chengyi, and Zhang shi were utterly stunned by Ruan san niang forcefully taking the credit for said achievements.

Earl Chengyi’s complexion was as black as a pot’s bottom. His anger surged up to the sky and he berated her angrily:

“Loud rhetorical to make up for fallacious arguments, impervious to reason!

“Men come hither, escort the Third Young Lady to the ancestral hall!”

Zhang shi had spoken reasonably; san niang’s personality really needed some grinding, or else she would incur a heinous calamity someday.

Brimming with resentment, Ruan san niang glared at Earl Chengyi and the chief culprit Ruan Xi who was putting her through a hard time.

Scum Father and fourth sister, she, Ruan Ning, will remember this!

Especially her fourth sister, how impressive and grand she was right now, will be how miserable she would be in the future when she did not have any offspring.

She absolutely refused to treat her!

At this moment, two Mamas with coarser statures walked in, and after they bowed respectfully, each of them took one side and forcibly hauled Ruan san niang outside.

Ruan san niang did not put up any resistance this time around even though she had just lashed out moments ago.

In her heart, she was thinking about writing a letter to Qi Yue An to complain and sell her misery. Once Qi Yue An learned of her awful circumstance, he would definitely feel distressed for her.

When Ruan Xi saw Ruan san niang allowing the two Mamas to bring her to the ancestral hall obediently, she was slightly surprised.

Once the matter was resolved, Lao Taitai and Earl Chengyi gave her some sliver drafts and quite a few good items to console Ruan Xi, and Zhang shi followed closely.

银票 (pinyin: yin piao) – (in former times) banknote with a value in silver.

Ruan Xi’s small treasury – which was on the verge of bottoming out – became bountiful again.

By the time she returned to Limpid Heart Garden, the evening sun had sunk below the mountains. Mama Lin returned to the wing-room next door, and once Ruan Xi entered her own room, Su Zhu greeted her with a smile.

“Young Lady has returned. Nubi has made you some white fungus soup with rock sugar, and it’s currently warm on the heating stove.”

Ruan Xi nodded her head, “Keep it warm first, I will drink it later.” Subsequently, she instructed Su Zhu to register and record down the quality items that Lao Taitai and the others sent over before storing them.

She reflected on her own family background in her heart. As a Young Lady from an Earl Residence, being bestowed money and goods from the elders in the family was truly a good way to build up a fortune.

As Ruan Xi was sighing with emotion, Su Zhu beckoned a few delicate and smart-looking maidservants into the room. They carried in water, held handkerchiefs and a new set of clothing to attend to Ruan Xi as she washed and dressed. In a short while, Ruan Xi was completely cleaned up, all refreshed and relaxed.

When Ruan Xi finally seated herself on the short couch, Su Zhu’s hands moved quickly as she ladled a small bowl of white fungus soup with rock sugar and offered it to Ruan Xi.

“Young Lady, please use the soup.”

Ruan Xi accepted the soup and drank it slowly, which eventually warmed up her stomach once she was done. Ruan Xi laid on the short couch partially to take a short rest, gently caressing the heirloom green jade bracelet on her wrist.

Her gains from the trip to Yunhua Temple were tremendous; not only did she fulfil her desire to light an altar lamp for the original owner, she also obtained Wen furen’s recognition.

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When it was eventually time where raising the oil lamps were necessary, Su Yu brought dinner over, and as she was placing the dishes on the table, she recounted the gossip occurring in the residence.

“Young Lady, after the news of the Third Young Lady being punished to kneel at the ancestral hall travelled outwards, all the servants within the residence started guessing how the Third Young Lady had angered the Earl, such that the Furen didn’t plead for her mercy.

“Apart from this, nubi also heard the gate house saying that the Third Young Lady asked someone to send a letter to the Marquis Huaiyang Residence.”

Ruan Xi raised an eyebrow, a glint of understanding flickering past her eyes. That would explain why Ruan san niang stopped kicking up a fuss afterwards, she probably wanted to complain and sell her misery to her fiancé Qi Yue An.

She was genuinely confused as to where Ruan san niang’s confidence came from, since the unrelenting clamour she made when she wanted to break off the marriage only to renege later was still vivid in all their minds.

However, the Earl and Lao Taitai did not stop Ruan san niang from sending the letter. Without needing much thought, Ruan Xi could see that they had their own calculations.

The originally intelligent and dignified Ruan san niang had changed into the current Ruan san niang who was persistent in sticking to her own way; well, anyone would find it hard to accept.

Despite being a mere concubine-born son of the Marquis Huaiyang Residence, Qi Yue An’s illegitimate status could not stand against the fact that he was the child of Marquis Huaiyang’s white moonlight, which meant that he was on the receiving end of Marquis Huaiyang’s doting.

Even if he was not socially progressive, he did not act tyrannically or violate the law and commit crimes either, and he was just a little profligate at most.

And with Ruan san niang’s foolish behaviour and temperament which were extremely undesirable, it was highly likely that she was going to start a feud no matter who she married.

Therefore, the ignorant and incompetent Qi Yue An was her best choice.

While she could marry into a poor and humble family or a candidate for the imperial examinations so that the Earl Residence could be her backing and clean up any messes she caused, Earl Chengyi would never do such a thing.

“You don’t need to be overly concerned, it’s not a huge matter either way. Father and Mother are only trying to grind down san jie’s temper, and they didn’t stop her from sending the letter, no?”

After uttering those words, Ruan Xi started to partake in her dinner.

Su Yu and Su Zhu originally guessed that the Third Young Lady’s punishment was related to their Young Lady, but upon observing their Young Lady, they felt like they had been thinking too much.

After her meal, Ruan Xi quietly consolidated and revised the things that Mama Lin taught her.

……

Marquis Huaiyang Residence.

Qi Yue An, of whom Ruan san niang was thinking about, was draped over his short couch as he drank his liquor with half-lidded eyes, listening to his small concubine with a bewitching figure sing him a ballad flirtatiously.

At this moment, his close male servant Qian Gui brought over a letter and said with some entanglement in his voice.

“Young Master, Ruan san xiaojie’s letter.”

Qian Gui was very disgusted with Ruan san xiaojie in his heart. When Ruan san xiaojie had encountered his Young Master at a banquet in the beginning of the year, she had stated her attitude towards this marriage agreement in a straightforward fashion.

In blunt terms, she said that his Young Master was not the ideal husband candidate in her heart, but she would marry into the Marquis Huaiyang Residence nonetheless. Concurrently, she expressed that she did not allow his Young Master to have children with his concubines before they were married, and they would each live their own lives after she gave birth to his oldest legitimate son.

Qian Gui had been extremely annoyed back then. This Ruan san xiaojie was regarding herself too highly.

While his Young Master had remarked that this arrangement was good, Qian Gui still felt upset for his Young Master.

However, what really took the figurative cake in terms of disgust was that a few days ago, that Ruan san xiaojie who had been clamouring about breaking off the engagement reneged just after the Marquis agreed to change it to someone else. And now she was sending flowers and letters, saying that she wanted to cultivate feelings with his Young Master.

Qian Gui sneered. This Ruan san xiaojie was truly skilled in changing faces; what did she take his Young Master for?

Even his Young Master, who had been nonchalant about this, felt revolted.

Qi Yue An raised his eyelids to look at the letter in his young servant’s hands and he chortled.

“Bring it over, I would like to see what this proud and arrogant Ruan san xiaojie wrote this time around?”

Qian Gui handed him the letter promptly.

When the singing concubine heard her Second Young Master talking about Ruan san xiaojie, she could not help but stop. Twisting her bewitching figure, she sashayed towards him but Qi Yue An frowned once he noticed her actions. He waved his hand. “Withdraw.”

“Second Young Master…” The small concubine had finally gained the Second Young Master’s attention after much difficulty and it goes without saying that she was reluctant to leave like this. She blinked her dewy eyes as she stared at Qi Yue An fixedly, her voice sweet and charming; every aspect of her captivating and bewitching down to her marrows. With how seductive and beautiful she was, all men would find themselves incapable of resisting the urge to pull the beauty into their arms and love her deeply.

But Qi Yue An was not most people. He might be fond of drinking and entertainment but he was not really interested in the charms of a woman. When he saw his small concubine striking an attitude, his handsome face darkened instantaneously.

“Withdraw, don’t make me repeat myself for the third time!”

The bewitching small concubine paled. No longer daring to tangle, she departed like a streak of smoke.

Thus, only the master and servant remained in the room. The wax candles were burning and the flames swayed.

Unhurriedly, Qi Yue An tore open Ruan san niang’s letter, and he immediately laughed after he read it.

“The proud and arrogant Ruan san xiaojie finally got what she served. Isn’t she just kneeling in the ancestral hall? It’s not even that serious and yet she makes it sound so pitiful.”

Afterwards? There was no afterwards.

Distress?

Go and visit her?

Impossible.

Qi Yue An did not have any feelings for his loud-tempered, haughty, and mercurial fiancée at all.

Perhaps, she would even stop after a few days.

Qi Yue An continued to partially lie on his short couch indolently, drinking his liquor as his first encounter with Ruan si xiaojie at the beginning of the year banquet came unbidden to his mind.

She and Ruan san xiaojie were standing together, and apart from her beautiful countenance, everything else about her was covered by Ruan san xiaojie’s brilliance.

In just one glance, he, who hid his identity in the great streets and small alleys throughout the years, recognised the fact that Ruan si xiaojie was a person from the same ilk.

When Ruan san xiaojie caused a ruckus about wanting to break off the marriage, Qi Yue An had remembered that sighting of Ruan si xiaojie from that day, and he had told his Father that his future wife could be exchanged for Ruan si xiaojie. Just a bit, just a bit more and she would have become his fiancée.

However, it was too late to do anything now because she was already Wen gongzi’s fiancée.

A small trace of regret arose in Qi Yue An’s heart. Raising his head, he drank another mouthful of liquor.

At the side, Qian Gui continued to pour the alcohol for his Young Master whenever it was necessary. As he looked at his Young Master who was suffused with loneliness as he was deep within his own thoughts, he felt suffocated in his heart.

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Meanwhile, the pitiful Ruan san niang who was locked in the ice-cold ancestral hall with only a small blanket for comfort, was still in her happy fantasy that her fiancé Qi Yue An would be coming to the Earl Residence to visit her tomorrow.

Unbeknownst to her, the original Ruan san niang had already dug a pit for her, and after her round of torment, Qi Yue An was disgusted with her as his fiancée.