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

Earl Chengyi Residence.

Ruan san niang, who had been locked inside the ancestral hall for the entire night, was crooning a small song. She did not know why but her eyelids had been jumping fiercely ever since the morning, but Ruan san niang did not concern herself over it because she was in an extremely good mood right now.

“Wen gongzi actually chose to publicly accept the evaluation of ten great Confucian scholars. For using such an extreme method to prove himself, he’s truly arrogant, does he think that he’s the Board of Punishments Minister from ten years later?”

Gleefully, Ruan san niang lay down on the thick blanket that was spread across the floorboards of the ancestral hall. That’s right, it was a blanket. Her scum father did not allow her servants to send a blanket to her, so Ruan san niang went to find her cheap mother Zhang shi, because she had her cheap mother’s handle in her grasp.

“What a pity, if there wasn’t a group of people guarding outside the door, I would have gone to watch Wen gongzi being scolded until his head and face was filthy with grime, and his reputation swept to the floor.”

Ruan san niang scratched her blanket happily before rolling on it once, as if she could see Wen gongzi cutting a sorry figure.

The thought of it alone made her happy.

And that Qi Yue An, just wait for her to hug the Fourth Prince’s big thigh successfully. Regardless of whether he was a changed person, did he still think he would have a meteoric rise in his career in the future?

Hmpf, no way!

The free and unconstrained Ruan san niang who was having her beautiful daydreams was unaware of the fact that there were imperial guards marching over to arrest and escort her to the imperial prison.

Inside the main courtyard, Zhang shi was talking to Ruan Yu Wen. When she heard that Wen gongzi had gone out of his way to talk to si niang before receiving the great scholars’ evaluation, she felt complicated and conflicted in her heart. 

Whereas Ruan Yu Wen’s eyes were emitting light as he narrated Wen Ting Zhou’s outstanding performance in an unceasing torrent, and admiration was apparent in his gaze.

“Mother, Wen gongzi is the most brilliant person in our generation that I have ever met. After today, Wen gongzi will inevitably be known far and wide.”

The more outstanding Wen gongzi was, the more he could bask in his light. If he could receive Wen gongzi’s guidance, he would become more confident for the triennial provincial examinations in the eighth month.

“Indeed, Wen gongzi is shockingly talented and absolutely worthy of admiration.”

Zhang shi looked at her high-spirited son with a slightly weak smile. She was genuinely hoping that Wen gongzi could dissolve the marriage agreement with si niang right now.

With each day that the counterfeit was not resolved, the things she had done could be exposed at any given time. Unfortunately, that counterfeit had a tenacious life, and Zhang shi could not rest or eat in peace lately.

Why couldn’t the Wen Family be like the Marquis Huaiyang Residence and directly pay them a visit and break off the engagement?

Zhang shi thought resentfully in her heart.

At this moment, Mama Gao ran in, gasping for breath. With a ghastly pale complexion, she reported:

“Furen, this is bad, the imperial guards are at the gates.”

Ruan Yu Wen’s complexion changed.

The imperial guards were one of the Emperor’s protective guards. Now that the imperial guards had appeared, it meant that something huge had happened, and someone in the residence had committed a crime.

Ruan Yu Wen then remembered that his counterfeit younger sister had blackened the imperial examinations with empty and groundless statements, which made him feel a burst of fear and trepidation. His handsome face paled slightly. He did not know if it would implicate the entire Earl Residence.

“What?”

Zhang shi lost control and toppled the teacup in her hand. The tea spilled towards the table corners and dripped to the ground, but as she tried to recall if anyone in the Earl Residence had done something— no, that’s not right, the trouble that the counterfeit caused. She recomposed herself before she asked with an expression that was as deep and dark as water.

“Do you know why the imperial guards are at the gates?” 

Fear sheeted Mama Gao’s face. Truth to be told, she was unsure. Upon seeing the imperial guards come up to their gates, she had been badly frightened, so she ran over to report it to her Furen. Mama Gao stammered, “It seems… It seems like they are here to arrest someone.”

Zhang shi looked at Mama Gao abruptly, “Are they here to arrest san niang?”

Since there were other people in the room, Zhang shi did not call Ruan san niang counterfeit directly.

At this moment, urgent and heavy footsteps could be heard outside. Wielding a sharp and fierce imposing manner, the imperial guards clad in official uniforms appeared in the main hall of the main courtyard.

“Earl Chengyi Furen, we are under the Emperor’s orders to specially arrest Ruan san xiaojie for besmirching the court’s metropolitan examinations and slandering the top scorer, and to bring her into the imperial prison. We ask that Furen hands over Ruan san xiaojie.”

Ruan Yu Wen released a breath.

It was good that the Earl Residence was not implicated. He had just exhausted the last shred of feelings he had for this counterfeit younger sister who only knew how to wreak havoc. 

When Zhang shi heard that they were really here to arrest the counterfeit, she nearly laughed out of happiness. Truly, the Heavens were helping her. The corners of Zhang shi’s lips quirked up imperceptibly, but she could only pretend to be stunned and in disbelief on the surface. Her visage looked ashen and defeated as she said:

“San niang has been confined in the ancestral hall by the Earl, and I entreat all the guanye to wait for a moment, I will dispatch someone to call san niang over right now.”

管爷 (pinyin: guan ye) – directly translates to ‘official-older man’, an honorific.  Just know that Zhang shi is referring to the imperial guards xP

The imperial guards nodded; they were not particularly keen on making it difficult for the people in Earl Chengyi Residence. 

Having gave a performance, Zhang shi was itching to tell Mama Gao to go to the ancestral hall and bring her over.

She fervently wished that the counterfeit would never return after being brought to the imperial prison.

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Ruan san niang was a legitimate daughter of the Earl Residence, and there were still a few loyal slaves by her side. In the same instance, a small maidservant learned of the news and she quickly scampered over to find Yao Hong before Mama Gao arrived. In response, Yao Hong bit her lips and picked up a basket of fruits before she returned to the ancestral hall with due haste.

Although the ancestral hall was being heavily watched by the guards, they did not stop Ruan san niang’s personal maidservant Yao Hong.

“Young Lady, the imperial guards are here to arrest and escort yõu to the imperial prison.” 

“Yao Hong, what are you saying? I didn’t hear it incorrectly, did I? The imperial guards are here to arrest me, I didn’t break the law, which bastard slandered me, are there still state laws!”

Shocked and frightened, Ruan san niang’s flowery countenance lost all its colour instantaneously. She did not dare to believe that the old Emperor would actually dispatch someone to capture and detain her in the imperial prison. Despite living for three lifetimes, this was the first time she had encountered such a difficult predicament. Ruan san niang exploded, viciously cursing the old Emperor in her heart. Sure enough, there was enmity between her and the old Emperor.

“No, I can’t go to the imperial prison.”

After Ruan san niang blurted out those words indignantly, she bit her lips, irreconciliation flitting past her eyes.

“Yao Hong, take off your jacket and skirt quickly, let’s exchange.” As Ruan san niang said that, she started undoing her clothes.

“Alright, Young Lady.” Yao Hong nodded. She had already anticipated that her Young Lady would do this, so she took off her clothes without hesitating. Before Mama Gao even reached them, the pair had already exchanged their clothes fully. 

Ruan san niang specifically loosened her hair, and even acted out a scene with Yao Hong in the ancestral hall. Finally, before she departed, Ruan san niang followed Yao Hong’s request by knocking her unconscious, then she smoothly stole past the guards watching the ancestral hall. 

Once she left the ancestral hall, Ruan san niang saw Mama Gao bringing people over. Her heart lurched violently. She bit her lips and mumbled internally about how Yao Hong hadn’t deceived her.

That despicable old Emperor, why wasn’t he sick yet?

Ruan san niang evaded Mama Gao, returning to her courtyard swiftly to take some silvers before preparing to flee.

Unfortunately, before she could run out, the entire Earl Chengyi Residence was forcibly sealed.

Ruan san niang hid left and right, and after much difficulty, she finally arrived at a wall. She roused her spirits as much as possible, and for the sake of saving time, she started climbing up the tree beside the wall.

Inside the main courtyard, Zhang shi did not expect that the body-supplanting counterfeit would try to run after wreaking havoc, to the extent where she would put on an attire-changing show in the Ruan Family ancestral hall. Against such a selfish person who had no respect for her forebears, Zhang shi was so infuriated her heart was aching.

But it was also at this moment where a shrill and miserable scream rang out. 

The imperial guards with keen eyesight and ears: “……”

Before they came to arrest her, they had already known that this Ruan san xiaojie was absurdly different from the rest. 

That miserable shriek couldn’t possibly be from Ruan san xiaojie, right?

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Half a pillar of incense later, having broken her legs again from another fall, a tragic-looking Ruan san niang was carried into the room.

Ruan Yu Wen’s eyelid jumped.

The room was filled with Ruan san niang’s anguished wailing as she tried to sell her misery. 

As a matter of fact, when she had broken her legs in the fall, Ruan san niang had used her system ability to secretly treat her bones, and she was pretending to look miserable.

“Guanye, look at san niang… could you be more accommodating?” Zhang shi pleaded as she wiped away her tears, staring at the head of imperial guards with hopeful eyes.

“We are under the Emperor’s orders to arrest Ruan san xiaojie, there is no room for accommodation, and we ask Furen for her understanding.” The head of the imperial guards said in a hard tone, expressionless.

“Men come hither, bring away Ruan san niang.”

Once his words landed, the guards promptly tied her up, shoved her into the wooden cuffs and lifted her away.

“Scoundrels, let go of me!”

The entirety of Ruan san niang’s body was shaking in anger because she had never been treated so coarsely before, and she could not help but jump up, wanting to resist. However, for the sake of not exposing her system ability, Ruan san niang did not heal her bones fully and she proceeded to sprain her bones for the second time. She shrieked again and fell to the ground with a thud, her complexion becoming deathly pale in an instant. 

The imperial guards: “……”

Expressionlessly, they continued to bundle her up and bring her away.

Having tender and protective feelings for the fairer sex?

That was non-existent. 

Zhang shi wiped her tears as she watched the imperial guards bring away the incessantly wailing Ruan san niang, and it was only after she dismissed her servants and returned to her room that she stopped suppressing her laughter.

There were quite a few people standing at the gates of Earl Chengyi Residence because they had been drawn over by the commotion. When they saw the imperial guards coming out, they widened their eyes in succession.

And once Ruan san niang was lifted out of the residence, everyone saw her wretched appearance as she continued to wail in anguish, and they sucked in a mouthful of cold air.

Was a private punishment being carried out?

Fortunately, the servants from the Earl Residence stepped forward to explain, but it only made the gathered crowd dumbstruck. 

That Ruan san niang was too skilled at squandering, and she was probably the only one who was capable of tormenting herself to this state.

The feeling of being spectated and pointed at made Ruan san niang feel abnormally ashamed and resentful; their stares were like flying knives that pierced her heart, which made it hard for Ruan san niang to breathe. Then, her vision darkened, and she fainted.

The spectating crowd: “……”

The imperial guards: “……”

After the entourage of people left, the news of Ruan san niang being arrested by the imperial guards and sent to the imperial prison for a month because she had blackened the imperial examinations and slandered the top scorer proliferated within the capital so quickly like it had grown wings. It caused an uproar, and reactions varied.

People sympathised, some rejoiced, others clapped their hands and praised the efficiency, while some were in a complicated mood. 

It was not easy to be the inciting rafter. If someone said that the Wen Family was not involved, no one would believe them, but there were smarter people who immediately realised the Emperor’s intentions. He was killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.

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On the other end, inside a private room in Jixiang Restaurant, Ruan Xi finally waited for Wen Ting Zhou’s arrival.

The excited Zhang Qing started to brag about Wen Ting Zhou’s elegant bearing during the public evaluation in an unceasing torrent and the great scholars’ praise and comments once he stepped inside the room. As a result, Ruan Xi’s eyes were glimmering constantly, to say nothing of Su Yu and Su Zhu.

“It’s unfortunate that I couldn’t personally witness Wen Ting Zhou’s stunning and elegant bearing.”

Heavy and palpable regret seeped into Ruan Xi’s tone of voice.

Wen Ting Zhou raised an eyebrow, a smile lining his lips. “After the palace examination, you can see the elegant bearing of a zhuangyuan (top scorer) parading the streets.”

After going through the winds and waves of the public evaluation, Ruan Xi did not have the slightest doubt that Wen Ting Zhou would be the zhuangyuan among the successful candidates. 

“Sure, I’ll wait to see Ting Zhou da ge straddled across a horse and parading the streets, I’ll definitely throw a silk flower towards you then.”

“I definitely won’t disappoint Ruan Ruan.”

Wen Ting Zhou curled his lips up slightly, in a cheerful mood. Nearing the end, he changed the topic.

“Ruan Ruan, I’m first place in the metropolitan examination now, can I bring up my request?” 

Hidden mirth and expectation could be vaguely perceived from his deep voice.

Completely oblivious, Ruan Xi nodded her head. “Sure, do you want me to embroider a scent sachet or a pouch?”

Wen Ting Zhou gazed at Ruan Xi, a smear of faint laughter appearing at the bottom of his eyes. Then, he promptly asked Zhang Qing, Su Yu, and Su Zhu to wait outside the private room.

Ruan Xi felt her heart jolt.