In the main courtyard, the candle flames were swaying and flickering.

Perhaps because the trusted Mama Gao was guarding the door, the master and servant inside the room did not have any reservations as they conversed. 

“Furen, the Fourth Young Lady has married out, yõu should be able to rest assured now. As long as the Third Young Lady has been stabilised, [you] may sleep peacefully.” 

Mama Sun said smilingly. If they had to decide who was the happiest to see Ruan Xi marry out earlier, it would be none other than Mama Sun.

As long as Ruan Xi married into the Wen Family, and the infertility medicine were to be exposed later, no one would know who the culprit was. In fact, it was highly likely that everyone would suspect that someone harboring errant intentions in the Wen Family’s back courtyards had played a poisonous hand. 

“That silly girl si niang has really gotten off lightly, had I known earlier that san niang’s body had been supplanted by a wild ghost, I wouldn’t have been so vicious as to give si niang the infertility medicine, but it’s too late to say anything now. Fortunately, the Heavens are standing on my side since it allowed si yatou to marry out early.”

Zhang shi was rather unreconciled and repulsed by the fact that Ruan Xi, a concubine-born daughter, managed to marry up to the Wen Family, but it was not worth contesting when it was compared with the benefits that it brought to her and her maternal family’s reputation. 

After having her heart suspended for so long, Zhang shi could finally settle her heart. 

Outside the door, Ruan san niang looked like she had been struck by thunder completely. Her complexion was ominously dark and distorted, and she nearly shattered her teeth from how hard she was gritting it. 

She did not expect that her cheap mother had been aware of the fact that she had supplanted her daughter’s body a long time ago, whilst she was still stupidly believing that Zhang shi treated her extremely well.

But when did Zhang shi make this discovery?

All of a sudden, Ruan san niang remembered that Zhang shi had once asked Great Master Hui Yuan to help her do an exorcism ritual during their visit to Yunhua Temple in the third month.

However, Great Master Hui Yuan had spoken up for her back then, and Zhang shi did not pursue it any further, so she assumed that she had tided through that calamity and did not place it on her heart. From the look of things now, it seems like she had been too naive. 

She must have been exposed back then, and when Zhang shi made her pick the Buddhist beans, it was definitely on purpose. 

As Ruan san niang recalled how she had foolishly believed that Zhang shi was truly doing that for her own good, her expression became exceedingly ugly. 

It was clear to her that Zhang shi did not realise that she was a changed person in her previous lifetime, so why did she suddenly discover it in this lifetime?

It was also possible that she had arrived at the same realisation, but she chose not to expose it.

The more Ruan san niang thought about it, the greater she felt the possibility was. Damn it, she was actually deceived by Zhang shi for her entire life in her previous lifetime. 

The veins on Ruan san niang’s forehead jumped.

At this moment, Mama Sun’s voice sounded from the room again. 

“Furen, we no longer have to worry about the Fourth Young Lady’s matters, but the Third Young Lady is going to enter the palace as a Fei soon, yõu have to cultivate the relationship with the Third Young Lady more.”

“Certainly, the relationship needs to be properly cultivated. It is only when that counterfeit is within my grasp, that she can properly pave the road for my da lang. Who told her to supplant san niang’s body?”

Zhang shi’s voice was exceedingly cold and cruel. 

She still wanted to scheme against her?

Ruan san niang exploded in anger as she continued to eavesdrop outside the door. She did not willingly occupy the body of Zhang shi’s daughter, it was not out of her own volition too, alright?

It was clearly her daughter who had a fragile life.

Ruan san niang clenched her fists irately as she continued to eavesdrop. 

“It’s hateful that the assassination actually failed to take that counterfeit’s dog life, otherwise, why would I be scared and on the edge?”

Zhang shi said hatefully as she gnashed her teeth.

BANG!

Ruan Xi’s mind became completely blank, her eyes turning scarlet in an instant, like they were on the verge of splitting apart. Assassination, that assassination…

She would never forget the feeling of her life being at stake as she frantically ran for dear life.

It turns out… It turns out it was actually Zhang shi who did it, she wanted her life!

The most hysterical thing was that she was stupid enough to hug and complain tearfully to Zhang shi after returning to the residence.

She was grievously wrong for treating the person who wished for her death as her mother.

Ruan san niang’s eyes were spitting out a vengeful fire, and she loathed the fact that she could not kill Zhang shi right now!

Fortunately, she still retained a vestige of her rationality, and to think that she originally came over to discuss with Zhang shi about how they could scheme against her fourth sister.

Who could have thought that she would overhear a huge secret like this?

Ruan san niang suppressed the wrathful temperament that sheeted her entire body, leaving the main courtyard swiftly. She was afraid that if she continued to stay here, she would expose herself and Zhang shi would silence her without any qualms. Before she left, however, she specifically instructed the servants who saw her to keep quiet about the fact that she had been here.

Shortly after Ruan san niang left, Mama Gao returned from relieving herself, and she was utterly unaware of what had occurred in the gap where she was away.

Similarly, Zhang shi and Mama Sun were unaware of the fact that Ruan san niang had been over.

Once Ruan san niang returned to her courtyard, she immediately saw the two guards that the old Emperor had attached by her side, and an insane thought appeared in her heart.

Prior to this, she had been thinking about hugging the two thick golden thighs that were the Fourth Prince and future Empress Dowager, but now she felt like it was better to hug the old Emperor’s thigh.

There were a lot of useful things in her head, to say nothing of the healing system ability that was akin to a big life-preserving weapon. 

Since Zhang shi was already cognizant of the fact that she was not the original owner and wanted to kill her, how could she spare her from retribution? Ruan san niang believed that as long as she proved to have a tremendous practical value, even if Zhang shi exposed her identity, and the old Emperor learned that she was a roaming wild ghost, he would still protect her. 

Ruan san niang hated Zhang shi to the extreme in her heart. She wanted Zhang shi to suffer a complete defeat and fall from grace with a stinking reputation.

Her fourth sister was just a tool she was using to get revenge against Zhang shi. In any case, the matter of her fourth sister being afflicted with infertility medicine would be exposed sooner or later, she was just shedding a light on it earlier, and it could be used to test Wen gongzi’s feelings for her fourth sister.

As to whether it will affect her own reputation…

Ruan san niang laughed coldly, even if her reputation was completely ruined, the old Emperor would not mind.

Since time was tight, she would offer the block and tackle manufacturing method to the Emperor tomorrow to ask him to gather the evidence.

She used to care about Zhang shi, but now she just wanted to seek vengeance against Zhang shi viciously. For giving her illegitimate daughter infertility medicine and hiring people to kill her legitimate and biological daughter, just these two crimes alone were enough to ensure that Zhang shi would never have the chance to turn over.

As for whether it would affect her scum father and Ruan Yu Wen who was participating in the provincial imperial examinations in the latter half of the year, Ruan san niang did not care.

In any case, the people of Earl Chengyi Residence were not her true family. 

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Dawn of the next day.

Wen Ting Zhou woke up early like he habitually would, and saw Ruan Xi sleeping soundly in his embrace, his gaze softened. He raised his hand to gently shift away the hair at the side of the cheek, fingertip roving towards the slightly curled edge of Ruan Xi’s lips. His mouth corners hooked up, revealing a gentle smile. 

He wondered what kind of sweet dream Ruan Ruan was having, such that she was harbouring a smile in her sleep as well.

Wen Ting Zhou subconsciously thought about their first encounter in Yunhua Temple two years ago. Back then, Ruan Ruan had been mischievous and courageous, and despite how wretched he looked, such that even his appearance could not be discerned, she still said that she had kindly saved his life and asked him to devote his life in return. 

Mn. Indeed, he had devoted his life to her now, but Ruan Ruan forgot that portion of her memories instead.

Faintly, Wen Ting Zhou felt some regret. 

Maybe because they were already married and shared the most intimate contact, he no longer found the incident awkward when he recalled it, and it was to the extent where he hoped that Ruan Ruan could remember that memory too.

He did not mind being teased by Ruan Ruan once. 

Wen Ting Zhou brushed across Ruan Xi’s soft lips gently, lowering his head to print a light kiss before he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

When Ruan Xi woke up, she was greeted with Wen Ting Zhou’s incomparably handsome face. Bits and pieces of what happened last night suddenly surged up all at once, causing a smear of captivating red to stain her face.

“Ruan Ruan, you’re awake? Why didn’t you sleep for a while more?” Wen Ting Zhou stretched his arms out to drag Ruan Xi into his embrace. 

Last night, Ruan Ruan had been exhausted to the point where she fell asleep in the bathtub, she should be resting properly instead. 

Ruan Xi looked into his clear and bright eyes, realising that Wen Ting Zhou had been awake a long time ago, and he was probably accompanying her to sleep. Ruan Xi felt her heart cloying with sweetness.

“It’s getting late, I still need to offer tea this morning, I can’t arrive late.”

As a matter of fact, there were two wedding ceremonies yesterday, with Wen Ting Zhou’s illegitimate younger brother Wen Ting Yi’s wedding ceremony taking place after hers and Wen Ting Zhou’s ceremony, and his wedding ceremony was not as grand and majestic as hers.

Wen Ting Yi’s birth mother was a yiniang (concubine) that was rather favoured by Minister Wen, and he had married the legitimate daughter of a seventh-rank official by the name of Liu Wan Wan. 

It goes without saying that Ruan Xi had to be prudent. 

She quickly sat up, got off the bed, and wore her inner garments. Her ebony black and glossy tresses fell down her back, her fair and tender face was glowing, and her countenance was tinted with the elegant bearing of a girl who had become a woman for the first time. 

Wen Ting Zhou followed in getting up and wearing his thin inner garments. Sidling up to her, he hugged her and kissed her cheek before blinking his eyes at her. “Last night was more special, Mother would understand even if you’re late.”

“Stop messing around!” Ruan Xi shoved him away with a red face. Then, she raised her voice to call for her servants.

Wen Ting Zhou chuckled softly.

The door creaked as it was being pushed open, with her four maidservants – Su Yu, Su Zhu, Su Shan, and Su Hu – entering the room in response to her call, as well as two Mamas she was unfamiliar with. They bowed respectfully in unison.

“Nubi has seen Da Shaoye, Shao Furen.” 

“Come here and attend to Furen in freshening up.” Wen Ting Zhou gave a short instruction.

“Yes.”

Su Yu and the rest got to work in a methodical manner while the two foreign Mamas directly went to the wedding bed to retrieve the blood-stained handkerchief. With a wide smile, they bid farewell to Ruan Xi and Wen Ting Zhou, probably to report back. 

Then, Su Shan and Su Hu tidied up the wedding bed. Since they had been educated by Mama Yang, they were content with their lot as the main maidservants, and they did not dare to have errant thoughts about their gu ye.

After Ruan Xi made herself presentable, she brushed her hair into a lingyun topknot, inserting a suet jade hairpin, and slipped into a pastel-coloured long skirt. All in all, she looked dignified and tasteful.

Image of the Lingyun topknot

-.-
After Ruan Xi was done dressing herself up, she turned her head back to Wen Ting Zhou, who had just washed his face and rinsed his mouth on his own. She asked with a big smile, “Husband, should the servants be called in to attend [to you]?” 

Frankly speaking, she did not have any intention to allow her own maidservants to serve Wen Ting Zhou.

Wen Ting Zhou was momentarily stunned by Ruan Xi calling him husband, and he felt that being called ‘husband’ was way too pleasing to his ears. He threw a small smile at Ruan Xi.

“That won’t be necessary, Ruan Ruan can attend to me as I make myself presentable and change.”

Apart from Ruan Ruan, his paternal grandmother and mother, Wen Ting Zhou would never allow another woman close to his body.

If it were not for the fact that the Harmonious Dwelling had a female owner now, there would not be a single maidservant or Mama.

Ruan Xi: “……”

Su Yu, Su Zhu, and the rest: “……”

Once the maidservants retreated from the room, Ruan Xi helped Wen Ting Zhou brush his hair and bind it with a jade crown, before she tried to assist him in changing his clothes. 

The arc of Wen Ting Zhou’s lips curled higher as he held her hand. 

“Ruan Ruan, I was just making an offhanded remark just now. When it comes to these acts of service, why would I need you? It’s better if I do it on my own.”

Ruan Xi immediately handed him the new clothes.

“Mn, wear it on your own.”

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Wen Ting Zhou changed into a dark red brocade robe, which gave a deeper impression that he was akin to a jade tree facing the wind, all handsome and highly dignified. 

“It’s still early, we should eat our breakfast before going over.” Wen Ting Zhou said considerately as he tugged Ruan Xi’s hand.

It could not be denied that Ruan Xi was hungry, so she did not object to it. 

“Okay.”

Breakfast was very rich. Ruan Xi stared at the black rice porridge with red dates and longans and the nourishing and nutritious, black-boned chicken soup that Wen furen allegedly and specifically instructed the kitchen to make, her face heating up slightly.

“Shao Furen, Mama Yang said that this porridge nourishes the yin and enriches blood the best, yõu should drink more.” Su Yu said happily as she placed the black rice porridge with red dates and longans in front of Ruan Xi.

Once Ruan Xi heard Su Yu say that it could nourish the yin and enrich her blood, she remembered the handkerchief that those two Mamas had taken away. Her pretty face seemed to burn up, and she glowered at Su Yu, feeling embarrassed and vexed. 

Meanwhile, Wen Ting Zhou hooked his lips up. His mother’s gesture matched his intentions extremely well. He picked up the hot porridge, ladling a spoonful and blowing it until it was cool before bringing it towards Ruan Xi’s lips. 

“Certainly, you should drink more to nourish your body, Ruan Ruan, here, drink some.”

Ruan Xi: “……”

Was Wen Ting Zhou trying to coax her like she was a child?

Although she felt a twinge of embarrassment in front of her maidservants, she just needed to accept it. Hence, Ruan Xi opened her mouth and drank it, appearing rather calm.

“Continue.” 

Harbouring a smile, Wen Ting Zhou continued to feed Ruan Xi spoonful after spoonful of porridge once he cooled it with his breath.

Su Yu and the other maidservants widened their eyes in response. Their eyes were on the verge of being blinded soon, their gu ye was doting on their Young Lady too much. 

Wen Ting Zhou only started partaking his breakfast at a speed that was neither fast nor slow after Ruan Xi could no longer take another bite.

Ruan Xi watched as Wen Ting Zhou partook his breakfast in an elegant manner. Inwardly, she thought that her increasingly thick skin was most definitely attributed to Wen Ting Zhou.

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