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

The fact that Liu gonggong could serve by the old Emperor’s side for so many years was a testament that he was a man with extensive experience and worldly wisdom as well, so how could he possibly be blind to the fact that Ruan san xiaojie had passed out because she had suffered from a huge shock instead of excitement?

However, he needed this stage.

The Emperor absolutely needed this Ruan san xiaojie, and he attached a great deal of importance to her.

Besides Ruan san xiaojie, the next person that the Emperor attached the most importance to was Wen daren.

Earl Chengyi Residence might have a small ancestral temple, but it could not withstand the fact that Earl Chengyi had given birth to two good daughters. 

Naturally, Liu gonggong would not deliberately make things difficult for them. 

Lao Taitai’s words happened to match his intentions.

“Understandable, zajia understands. May Lao Furen accept the imperial edict, zajia still has to return and report the completion of his errand.” Liu gonggong smiled with crinkled eyes as he nodded, and then he handed the bright yellow imperial edict to Lao Taitai.

咱家 (pinyin: za jia) – I; me [often used in vernacular fiction]

The spirits of Lao Taitai and Earl Chengyi relaxed. After they accepted the imperial edict, they dispatched someone to escort Liu gonggong, and they secretly stuffed him with a big red envelope.

Liu gonggong smiled, accepting the small pouch before he brought away the imperial guards and left the Earl Chengyi Residence. 

Once the entourage left, Earl Chengyi quickly asked his servants to bring Ruan san niang back to the main hall and dismissed the servants. Meanwhile, Zhang shi’s complexion was exceedingly ugly. 

Who could have expected that the counterfeit would have such good luck, to the point where she could randomly and blindly toss and turn herself into the imperial palace as a Fei. 

Wanting to eliminate the counterfeit now was impossible, did she really have to walk the charitable mother route?

Zhang shi could not swallow that mouthful of anger.

But in light of the developments that have occurred, she had no other alternative.

Earl Chengyi scrunched his eyebrows upon seeing her reaction.

“Zhang shi, san niang being able to enter the imperial palace as a Fei is a hugely joyous occasion, why are you putting such an attitude?”

Lao Taitai was displeased as well.

Zhang shi forced herself to squeeze out a smile. Her words contradicted her heart as she said: “Bo ye, the Emperor is already at his age, while it hasn’t been long since our san niang had her hair-tying ceremony…”

Earl Chengyi glared at her as he spoke angrily.

“Whether it is thunder or rain and dew, it is by the grace and favour of the Emperor, san niang being able to enter the imperial palace as a Fei is her good fortune!” Moreover, the imperial edict has already been received, and the matter was a foregone conclusion. Zhang shi was really becoming more and more brainless.

The meaning in the sentence is that ‘thunder’ symbolises punishment, and ‘rain and dew’ symbolises reward, but whether it is the punishment or reward, it is still favour bestowed by the Emperor.

Since their Earl Residence managed to have an imperial noble concubine, their position would rise like a floating boat on a rising tide.

Despite spending so much capital and effort to cultivate his legitimate daughter, Earl Chengyi originally thought that the basket of drawn water would all be in vain, but who could have expected that there would be a summit amidst the surrounding elevations and winding roads. He could not be happier; how could he possibly be in the mood to consider anything else.

“I know, but this is the san niang I cherish. No matter what is said, she is still a piece of flesh that dropped from my body…” Zhang shi wiped away her tears.

When Ruan Yu Wen saw his mother’s attitude, he immediately grasped his mother’s underlying meaning on second thought.

He pursed his thin lips, feeling unwell in his heart.

His mother had always wanted the best for her children, but who could have anticipated that his younger sister’s body would be robbed by a wild ghost, and now his mother’s current change in attitude was probably for the sake of paving a road for him.

“Enough, Zhang shi!” Lao Taitai could no longer continue watching, and her expression sank uncontrollably.

“While it can’t be denied that having san niang enter the imperial palace shortly after her hair-tying ceremony is unfair to her, the Emperor’s Fei conferring imperial edict has come down, and we can only submit to it.”

At the side, Ruan Xi looked at her own toes quietly. She noticed that Ruan san niang had twitched just now, which made it evident that she was already awake, except she did not want anyone else to realise it. 

Now that she had heard the Earl Father and Zhang shi’s conversation, and given Ruan san niang’s personality, she was afraid that she was hating on the Earl Residence now. 

And certainly, the situation conformed with Ruan Xi’s deduction. Ruan san niang absolutely hated Earl Chengyi for putting his own personal interest first, and she loathed her older brother because he was not speaking up for her, but towards Zhang shi, this cheap mother, she was extremely touched.

Sure enough, only a mother would feel distress for her own children.

Because Ruan san niang was pretending to be unconscious, they discussed the celebration before they dispersed.

Just as Ruan Xi departed from the main courtyard, she raised her head to gaze at the cloudless blue sky. Inwardly, she mused that today was a good day before she returned to Limpid Heart Garden with light and quick steps with her two maidservants. 

The news of Ruan san niang being titled Fei spread outwards like the wind, and it quickly reached the large streets and small alleys. The entire capital was in an uproar.

Who was Ruan san niang?

No one in the entire capital was unaware of who she was. 

The noble daughter whose courage was so large it could cover the skies, who had questioned the imperial examination, slandered the top scorer, and was detained in the imperial prison, but owing to the moveable type printing she recently invented, the Emperor conferred her the title of Fei. This shocking news left everyone flabbergasted.

“Has my memory failed me? Didn’t this Ruan san xiaojie come out of the imperial prison not too long ago, why is she suddenly being conferred Fei?”

“I find it strange too. However, I heard that when she was receiving the imperial edict, Ruan san xiaojie fainted because she was so surprised.”

“Certainly, she should be surprised. Ruan san xiaojie managed to ascend to the heavens and become a niangniang in one step despite her reputation, it would be stranger if she wasn’t happy.”

娘娘 (pinyin: niang niang) – this address is only reserved for the Empress, Empress Dowager, the guifei, the four fei, and the imperial concubines of a deceased emperor.

“The daughters of Earl Chengyi Residence truly have good luck, one became a niangniang, while the other is Wen daren’s future wife.”

“……”

Everywhere from the teahouses, restaurants, to the stalls by the road were in a heated discussion about Ruan san niang’s ‘good fortune’.

The common masses were envious, the noble daughters sneered.

In an instant, Ruan san niang was pushed into the limelight. 

No one took heed of the moveable type printing technology that she invented; everyone felt that Ruan san niang had flown to the tip of the branch and became a phoenix. 

On the other hand, when Mu Qing Ci heard the news from the confines of the Fourth Prince’s back courtyard, she nearly choked on the pastry in her mouth.

Her fellow transmigrator was going to become the imperial concubine of the old Emperor?

Sure enough, being inconspicuous was the way of the king.

Hopefully, Ruan san niang would stop annoying her after she entered the palace. 

Mu Qing Ci secretly prayed. 

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They scarcely realised that the person in question, Ruan san niang, was on the verge of exploding. ‘Sacrifices were made before triumph was achieved’, that line was referring to her. Let alone bumping porcelain with the Fourth Prince, even if she were to bump porcelain with another man, ten feet of white silk would be awaiting her.

That was because before she could stir more trouble, the female guards passed along the Emperor’s striking words of warning. 

Ruan san niang’s terror multiplied. She did not expect that she was being watched at any given moment, and that the old Emperor was also aware of her schemes. She dared to play crazy and squander anywhere and everywhere, but she had a psychological shadow involving the imperial palace and harboured an inherent fear towards the old Emperor.

Hence, in what was a rare feat, Ruan san niang quietened down.

Earl Chengyi and Lao Taitai were extremely satisfied. They hosted a celebration for Ruan san niang in a jubilant mood, and guests arrived at their door in an endless stream to pay a visit. 

Although the Emperor was getting on with his years, as long as Ruan san niang gave birth to an imperial son, he would be a Wangye in the future. 

Their Ruan Family would have the backing of the royal clan. 

Even if she had no offspring, she would still be a taifei in the future. For one, there was Mu taifei who lived with incomparable comfort because of the previous Emperor’s parting decree, and as long as Mu Family did not rebel, the current Emperor would leave one side of the net open.

网开一面 (pinyin: wang kai yi mian) – lenient treatment.

And if san niang could attain the Emperor’s favour, she would be the next Mu taifei. 

As they harboured that thought in their heads, they basically granted whatever Ruan san niang wanted, and even Ruan Xi had to show her filial respect by distributing half a braised duck to Ruan san niang. 

Ruan san niang sneered, not appreciating the kindness at all. 

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A few days passed, and Ruan san niang was still the topic of conversation during tea and after meals. 

After Ruan Xi ate her breakfast, she went to the Tranquil Longevity Hall to pay her respects, and when she saw the servants within the residence wearing joyous expressions as she travelled there, her lips curved up. 

After the Fei conferring imperial edict came down, the imperial palace sent two training Mamas over the very next day. 

Hence, Ruan san niang was living out her days in an abyss of misery. 

Today, she finally found the time to go to the Tranquil Longevity Hall to pay her respects after much difficulty, and she happened to bump into Ruan Xi along the way. 

Ruan san niang halted in her footsteps, staring fixedly at Ruan Xi without uttering a word, her gaze was slightly cruel. 

Su Yu and Su Zhu felt their hairs rising. 

The Third Young Lady’s current appearance was a little scary. 

Ruan Xi raised her eyebrows slightly. The vicious currents on Ruan san niang‘s person was becoming more pronounced, it seems like the two training Mamas were not being hard enough. 

No, rather, it should be said that they did not dare to be heavy-handed when they were educating her. 

“Si mei, don’t be so content, a moment of delight doesn’t represent a lifetime of happiness!” She said with a dark and cold expression as she forged ahead. After she said that, she laughed icily, bringing her maidservants and Mamas to stride past her in a vast and mighty fashion. 

The infertility medicine was a sharp knife dangling above her fourth sister’s head. 

When she thought about the event that was about to happen, Ruan san niang was filled with schadenfreude. Allowing her fourth sister to marry into the Wen Family in advance was not a bad thing either. 

She admitted that part of the reason why she put off exposing the fact that her fourth sister had ingested infertility medicine was because of Zhang shi, but the bigger reason was that she was waiting for that day to arrive, where her fourth sister fell into a quagmire from a place high in the clouds. 

Ruan Xi stared at Ruan san niang’s back figure as she swaggered off, her gaze flashing. Ruan san niang’s final laugh was brimming with evil intentions, as if she was cooking up a scheme. She tried her best to recall the plot details to see if there was supposed to be some kind of major event happening soon. 

But nothing was absolute. 

Ruan san niang was reborn and she probably knew more; whereas the plot she was cognizant of revolved around the male and female protagonist linearly, which meant that the side branches and minor details were either covered in one pen stroke or there was nothing at all. It was not possible for her to remember everything clearly. 

Ruan Xi was not disheartened; she would confront soldiers with generals and stem water with earth.

兵来将挡水来土掩 (pinyin: bing lai jiang dang shui lai tu yan) – to adopt measures appropriate to the situation.

When she stepped into the Tranquil Longevity Hall to pay her respects, Lao Taitai was being amicable to Ruan san niang, and she was rather kindly to Ruan Xi as well.

Whereas Ruan san niang had an unpleasant expression, and she was extremely perfunctory with Lao Taitai.

Lao Taitai did not show any displeasure on her visage, but what she was actually thinking in her heart was unfathomable. 

Afterwards, Ruan Xi came out of the Tranquil Longevity Hall and watched the haughty Ruan san niang leave with her head raised. She smiled faintly in response. Right now, Ruan san niang did not even bother to put in some effort for appearance’s sake anymore, but it had to be said that she had the capital to strike that attitude.

Once she entered the imperial palace in the future, there would only be other people kneeling and worshipping her. 

If Ruan san niang properly used her own capital and golden fingers to work out a strategy after she entered the palace, she would be able to pave a bright and open road for herself even if she was married to the Emperor. 

It would depend on whether she could shed her mortal body and exchange her bones. 

Truth to be told, Ruan san niang was more fortunate than her and the female protagonist Mu Qing Ci: she was transmigrated and reborn, her golden fingers were so thick that she had no friends, and if she wasn’t fortunate, who could call themselves fortunate?

And yet, against all reason, she fretted over trifles and squandered it all.

Ruan Xi sighed endlessly in her heart. 

Once she returned to Limpid Heart Garden, Ruan Xi freshened up, changed her clothes, burned incense to cleanse her hands before she started copying the Avatamsaka Sutra to pray for Wen lao-furen’s well-being. 

In recent days, the weather had been erratic due to summer shifting into autumn. Wen lao-furen was already getting on with her years to begin with, and in a moment of carelessness yesterday, she had fallen ill from the chill.

Despite learning about the news from Wen Ting Zhou’s letter, Ruan Xi could not offer any help, and she could only copy the scriptures and pray for Wen lao-furen’s well-being. 

After copying a scroll of scriptures, Ruan Xi promptly put down her brush and waited for the ink to dry. Then, she bound the book carefully and placed it inside a wooden case, before calling Su Yu inside.

“Su Yu, this is the scripture I copied for Wen lao-furen, ask someone to send this scripture to the Wen Residence.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Su Yu lifted the wooden case and went out of the room, and she happened to see Mama Lin coming over. Hence, her footsteps halted, and she doubled back into the room. 

“Fourth Young Lady, I’m genuinely worried about Lao Furen’s body, and I have come here today to resign from my post.”

Ruan Xi nodded her head swiftly. “I will send Mama Lin back in a short while.” As she said that, she saw Su Yu doubling back and she instructed her with a sentence, “Su Yu, give the wooden case to Mama Lin.”

Su Yu immediately handed her the wooden case.

“Mama Lin, the wooden case contains the scriptures that I’ve copied for Lao Furen in the past two days, I will be troubling you.”

Ruan Xi specifically sent over the scriptures she had copied not because she wanted to attain a favourable impression by pretending to be filial; rather, she just wanted to make the sick patient happy after seeing it.

“Fourth Young Lady has the heart.” Mama Lin revealed a gratified smile as she hugged the wooden case.

Ruan Xi smiled, “I am merely trying to do my part and express my well-wishes, in hopes that Lao Furen will recover early.”

After Mama Lin departed, the news of Wen lao-furen’s illness was disseminated as well.

“Young Lady, did yõu notice that ever since the news of Wen lao-furen’s illness was made public, the Third Young Lady has been using a very strange gaze to look at yõu?” Su Yu remarked as she massaged her Young Lady’s shoulders. 

“Since when has there been a day where her gaze wasn’t strange as she was looking at me?” Ruan Xi chuckled, lifting her teacup to purse a mouthful of tea.

Su Yu froze momentarily. Ever since the Third Young Lady returned from the imperial prison, she had been regarding her Young Lady with a mystifying attitude the entire time. Hence, Su Yu did not bring up the topic again. 

As the days wore on, Wen lao-furen’s illness went from bad to worse, and there was hearsay that there were no signs of her illness turning for the better.

Ruan Xi could not help but worry.

At this time, Duke An Residence suddenly announced the news that they wanted to host grand weddings for all the grandsons that were of a suitable age.