following morning, Wengongzireceived Ruan Xi's letter. Once he was done reading the letter, his mood became happier and his eyes were brimming with laughter.
And here he was wondering whysi nianghadn't asked about the surprise at all; had she forgotten all about it, or was the surprise never on her heart in the first place?
"As it turns out she didn't forget; thatxiao yatouis really patient."
Unfortunately, the surprise he wanted to give her was not completed yet, or he would have sent it today.
Wengongzifelt regretful for a moment. As for the circumstances surrounding that Mama Yang who once waited upon Mutaifei, he was privy to some secrets, like how it was related to the Mu Family for instance. If that hadn't been the case, the Emperor would not be worrying about the possibility of Mama Yang harming Mutaifei, hence why he had searched for a reason to get her out of the imperial palace.
He did not expect that after a series of twists and turns, the Mama that Earl Chengyi found forsi niangwould be her.
When Wengongzithought aboutsi niang's opinion of Mama Yang, his lips curled into a proud smile.
He was starting to look forward to meetingsi niangin three days.
Meanwhile, Zhang Qing was looking at hisgongzi. Every time he received a letter from Ruansi xiaojie, his smile would become gentler. He was afraid that the Fourth Young Lady had truly entered hisgongzi's heart, and this fact made Zhang Qing secretly happy.
……
The next time Ruan Xi received Wengongzi's reply letter, there was a formal invitation card attached.
Truth to be told, if Wengongzipersonally brought her along, it would not matter if she had the invitation card or not. It was similar to how some banquets would only offer invitations to the noble daughters of legitimate descent, but under the request of their elders, those noble daughters would bring their concubine-born sisters along to attend the banquet.
Since the legitimate daughter ofDuke Anwas hosting a flower banquet in Wenlao-furen'sJunzhuResidence, her invitees were naturally the legitimate daughters of prominent families and the sons of governmental and illustrious families.
安国公 (pinyin: an guo gong) –Anmeans 'peace'. Wen Ting Zhou's paternal uncle, also name of the Residence for the Wen Clan's main branch.
The female protagonist was the concubine-born daughter of the Mu Residence, so it goes without saying that she did not receive an invitation card. Rather, she had tagged along with the Young Ladies of legitimate descent from the Mu Residence.
Whereas Wengongzi, for the sake of expressing how much he valued and honoured Ruan Xi, had asked histang meito send her an invitation.
堂妹 (pinyin: tang mei) – younger female paternal cousin. Anything with the 'tang' prefix implies paternal relations.
After Ruan Xi read the letter, she looked at the exquisite and pretty invitation card in her hand again. Her heart was warm from the respect and regard she deeply felt from Wengongzi.
"Young Lady, yõu will be attending the flower banquet the day after tomorrow, what should be done about the jewellery and clothes?"
After the happiness from learning that her Young Lady had been invited to the flower banquet had passed, Su Yu started to worry if her Young Lady would be disparaged because she did not wear the appropriate jewellery and clothes.
Ruan Xi glanced at the worry-filled Su Yu before she smiled calmly and said: "There is Mother andLao Taitai, they will not allow me to throw my face."
Su Yu heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing that. "Nubiwill spread the news of yõu receiving the invitation." Having said that, Su Yu left the room.
Ruan Xi looked at Su Yu's back figure as she departed hastily, shaking her head and laughing. Su Yu was being a little too anxious.
Once the news of Ruan Xi receiving an invitation to the flower banquet that Duke An's legitimate daughter was hosting travelled outwards, the Earl Chengyi Residence shook.
The smile onLao Taitai's face never dissipated as she sent precious stones and magnificent clothing to Limpid Heard Garden in an endless stream, while Zhangshi's mood turned for the worse.
Whenever Zhangshiwas in a bad mood, she would think about tormenting her counterfeit daughter. Wasn't that counterfeit jealous ofsi niang? Well, she would add more fuel to the fire.
"What,si mei, that concubine-born daughter, actually received the invitation to the flower banquet hosted by Duke An's legitimate daughter?"
Ruansan niangshrieked as she struggled to accept the fact.
"Young Lady, yõu should calm down, the Fourth Young Lady's invitation was sent by Wengongzi." Her maidservant Yao Hong tried to console her, but this only served to agitate Ruansan niangeven further, like it was adding fuel to the fire.
Sure enough, Ruansan niangbecame angrier.
In the previous lifetime, the only reason why she did not manage to receive the invitation to the flower banquet, despite already possessing some fame, was because she had broken off her engagement once.
In this life, her fourth sister actually managed to receive it.
Jealousy was akin to an intense fire as it continued burning in Ruansan niang's heart.
During this particular flower banquet that Duke An's legitimate daughter was hosting, the future Empress Dowager Mu Qing Ci would be appearing as well. She had to go; it did not matter if she did not have an invitation because her younger sister had one.
She had specifically hosted a tea party to touch up on her social connections upon her rebirth because she knew that this day would come.
However, she was currently confined and there was a group of people guarding outside; wanting to go out was harder than ascending to the Heavens.
Ruansan niangwas both angry and resentful.
If it were not for her fourth sister making mountains out of molehills, why would she be confined to pick Buddha beads after she was punished to kneel at the ancestral hall?
"Yao Hong, help me send a letter later."
Ruansan niangdecided to ask her fellow sisters for help.
Outside the door, Zhangshilaughed coldly in her heart. Create trouble, keep creating trouble, she would watch the counterfeit court her own death with cold eyes. If she did not viciously abuse her once, she would be disappointing her frail-fortuned daughter.
……
Owing to the fact that the legitimate daughter of Duke An was hosting her flower banquet in Wenlao-furen'sJunzhuResidence, it attracted a great deal of attention, and the news of Ruan Xi, a concubine-born daughter receiving an invitation, also travelled to the ears of many.
Everyone wanted to see the appearance of this Ruansi xiaojie, who had managed to enter Wengongzi's eyes and earn Wenfuren's recognition.
Separate discussions ensured in private. Some said that Ruansi xiaojiemust be a woman with matchless beauty, which was why Wengongziwas interested in her, and this conjecture proceeded to earn the agreement of the majority. Hence, more and more people started taking interest in this subject.
The noble daughters who had seen Ruan Xi silently waited to see a good show. Apart from Ruansi xiaojie's beauty, she was just an extremely mediocre concubine-born daughter from an Earl Residence, what woman of matchless beauty…
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Two days later, the lovely spring sunshine shone down. It was another bright and sunny day.
Ruan Xi wore a light purple spring skirt, composed of top-notch, soft and gossamer fabrics, and it was paired with jewellery made out of precious stones, especially the high-quality suet jade hairpin that was slipped into her hair, which looked eye-catching.
Gentle, refined, and graceful; an incomparable beauty.
Mama Lin smiled as she nodded her head.
The Fourth Young Lady was appropriately dressed for the occasion, she did not take an original approach to make a show of being unconventional, nor did she dress in a plain and insipid fashion.
Instances where other ladies dressed up in those two ways frequently occurred, and those ladies were typically from an illegitimate descent, whereas the legitimate daughter scarcely used such tactics.
Mama Lin did not wish for the Fourth Young Lady to attend the flower banquet with a plain and tasteless appearance.
As she had expected, the Fourth Young Lady did not disappoint.
Mama Yang was also satisfied. She could perceive the temperament of a noble daughter from a prominent and illustrious family on the Fourth Young Lady. She was neither arrogant nor impatient; she was steady and measured, and she did not resemble a small illegitimate daughter from an Earl Residence at all.
Mama Lin truly deserved to be the trusted servant of Wenlao-furen; her ability to educate people was genuinely amazing.
Mama Yang sighed with emotion in her heart.
After leaving Limpid Heart Garden, Ruan Xi and her entourage went to the Main Courtyard to bid Zhangshifarewell, but to her surprise, she encountered the high-spirited Ruansan nianginstead.
"Si mei, how coincidental, I am going to theJunzhuResidence to attend the flower banquet too." Ruansan nianggreeted her with an exuberant smile as her eyes roved to scrutinise Ruan Xi's attire from head to toe.
It was as though her previous contempt did not exist.
"Certainly, it is rather coincidental. It's just that, isn'tsan jie's get-up a little unduly simple and neat?" Ruan Xi smiled.
"I'm cadging a fellow's invitation in order to attend the flower banquet, I shouldn't be snatching someone else's thunder." Ruansan niangwould never vocalise her true intentions of course.
In fact, she had specifically dressed herself in a simple yet elegant fashion, forgoing precious stones and jewellery, just like a faint Chinese flowering apple.
She looked simple but elegant.
When her soul had been pacing back and forth in the imperial palace, she once heard the palace maids say that Empress Dowager Mu had always been fond of simple and elegant appearance, which is why Ruansan niangdecided to pander to the tastes of Mu Qing Ci, who was still a maiden right now.
Perhaps they might even become good friends.
"San jiehas a virtuous heart."
Raising her eyebrows slightly, Ruan Xi pulled her lips into a faint smile that was deep with meaning, since she did not believe Ruansan niang's excuse at all. Ruansan niang's appearance only made Ruan Xi feel like Ruansan niangwas preparing to prove her relative superiority to the female protagonist.
If you had to know, only the female protagonist was attending the flower banquet in a simple yet elegant get-up this time around, and how could Ruansan niangpossibly be ignorant to that fact when she had experienced a rebirth?
In reality, Ruansan niangwas indeed aware.
When Ruansan niangheard her fourth sister say that she had a virtuous heart, she felt that her fourth sister was mocking her. Displeasure flooded her visage as she released a cold snort, then she brought her maidservants to walk past Ruan Xi.
Ruan Xi smiled leisurely and she started to walk towards the main courtyard, neither fast nor slow.
When Zhangshisaw both of them arriving, she said a few sentences, but she had to conceal the hatred swimming in the bottom of her eyes when her gaze landed on Ruansan niang's person as she proceeded to instruct her in gentle tones, carrying the attitude of a caring mother.
As Ruan Xi listened to Zhangshiwith lowered eyes, she silently lit a candle for the oblivious and extremely touched Ruansan niang.
At this time, an older woman-servant came in to report that the horse carriage belonging to ShenxiaojieofJian'anEarl Residence had arrived.
建安 (pinyin: jian an) – constructing peace.
Ruansan niangunveiled a joyous smile, bidding farewell to Zhangshiswiftly before she departed on her own accord. Similarly, Ruan Xi did not linger more than necessary.
The residence had prepared horse carriages for her and Ruansan niang, it was just that Ruan Xi had to wait for Wengongzito arrive.
When Ruan Xi eventually reached the entrance of the residence, she noted that Ruansan niangand Shenxiaojiehad yet to depart first. The corners of Ruan Xi's lips curled slowly as her gaze landed on Shenxiaojie.
That gentle and delicately pretty young lady by the name of Shenxiaojieshould be the close friend of the female protagonist during her maiden days.
Shenxiaojie, who was specifically lingering around to see Ruansi xiaojie, became completely rigid when she saw Ruan Xi come out of her residence.
Her eyes were teeming with shock.
Didn't they say that Ruansi xiaojiewas extremely mediocre in all respects apart from her beauty?
Sure enough, the rumours could not be trusted. Upon seeing the calm and impressive mien that Ruansi xiaojiepossessed, Shenxiaojieno longer found it surprising that she managed to enter Wengongzi's eyes. While she felt sour in her heart at first, she came to an understanding once the acridness had passed.
Shenxiaojieleashed her thoughts, smiling at Ruan Xi as she offered her a respectful greeting before she stepped into her horse carriage. Ruansan niangglared at Ruan Xi before she entered the horse carriage, turning and leaving abruptly.
Ruan Xi: "……"
Not long after their horse carriage left, another wave of horse clopping rang out, and Wengongzi's handsome figure appeared in the distance shortly after, with a retinue of guards behind him.
Su Yu called out happily: "Young Lady, Wengongzihas arrived."
Ruan Xi gazed at the handsome man on horseback with reins in hand from afar, lips drawing out into a smile.
In a short moment's work, Wengongzireached Ruan Xi and flashed her a smile, flipping off his horse in a nimble manner. He strode up to Ruan Xi in large steps, smile ever-present on his face and his tone of voice was gentle.
"Si niang, you have waited long."
The Wengongziof today was wearing a brocade robe with dark embroidered patterns, which reduced some of his gentleness and exchanged it for imposing manner, making him extraordinarily handsome.
"It was not a long wait in truth, though it is getting late. We should leave," said Ruan Xi as she returned a smile. When she saw Wengongzimeeting her like he had promised, a strange and foreign emotion swelled in her heart.
Wengongzismiled and nodded his head. His gaze was gentle as he watched Ruan Xi get on her horse carriage, and only then did he flip back onto his horse nimbly, urging his horse to stay beside the carriage to protect it as they travelled onwards.
Ruan Xi's chest warmed up imperceptibly when she saw Wengongziurging his horse to stay beside the carriage through the carriage curtains.
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An hour later, the carriage traversed through a few streets and reached theJunzhuResidence.
After getting off his horse first, Wengongziignored all the stares around him and walked to the front of the horse carriage in large strides to wait for Ruan Xi.
Ruan Xi lifted the carriage's hanging screen and stepped off the horse carriage with Su Yu's aid. All of a sudden, she could sense the gazes that were falling on her person from all directions, but she was not panicked or nervous in the slightest. With a calm expression, she scanned her surroundings. She only saw Ruansan niangand Shenxiaojie's horse carriage but not the persons themselves, which probably meant that they went in first.
Ruan Xi retracted her gaze and looked towards Wengongzi.
Wengongzitook a step forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ruan Xi. He slanted his head to observe his fiancé's beautiful countenance, a trace of happiness surging in his heart as he spoke in a warm voice.
"Si niang, let's go in together."
"Alright." Ruan Xi smiled and nodded, heedless of the various gazes around her.
Wengongziwas her fiancée, there was no need for her to avoid arousing suspicion.
Since this was the first time visiting theJunzhuResidence, Ruan Xi had already done the appropriate mental preparation. She knew that there would be people observing her performance in the dark for certain.
In spite of her circumstances, Ruan Xi became more serene and unperturbed.
Suddenly, another wave of anxious horse clopping sounded out, and not long after, the galloping steed reached the main entrance of theJunzhuResidence.
The newly arrived person was clad in a black brocade robe, his facial features were indifferent and handsome, and each gesture he made was suffused with a dignified temperament that was natural to a prince from the Heaven's family.
"It's the Fourth Prince!"
Someone shouted out in excitement.
Ruan Xi: "……"
She did not expect that she would actually meet the book's male protagonist at the entrance of theJunzhuResidence.
With the simultaneous appearance of Wengongziand the Fourth Prince – giants among men – at the entrance of theJunzhuResidence, the noble daughters who had just arrived were elated and excited, and they looked at them bashfully or daringly.
Ruan Xi realised that most of the ladies' gaze was centred on the Fourth Prince.
Secretly, she thought,He truly deserves to be called the male protagonist; he is really well-received.
When Wengongzisaw the Fourth Prince walking over in large strides, he smiled slightly, "One has seen the Fourth Prince."
With a calm expression and a limpid gaze, Ruan Xi executed a feminine bow of obeisance. "One has seen the Fourth Prince."
The Fourth Prince nodded his head slightly, gaze lingering on Ruan Xi's visage briefly before it moved away. His expression was apathetic and estranging. "No need for such courtesies."
Against his reply, Ruan Xi silently criticised in her heart: It was clear that both of them were incomparably familiar friends in private, and yet he was choosing to put on an apathetic and estranging façade, thinking that she had not noticed the obscured exchange of looks between them.
Since the Fourth Prince's identity was honourable, Wengongziand Ruan Xi allowed him to enter the residence first. Just as the Fourth Prince stepped into theJunzhuResidence, Ruan Xi saw the Mu Residence's carriage slowly approaching from the distance.
Ruan Xi: "……"
The female protagonist seemed to be a step late.
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This entry was posted inFSCGLonMarch 14, 2021.Post navigationFSCGL Chapter 27FSCGL Chapter 29
7 thoughts on "FSCGL Chapter 28"Kitten who changed to Face-conMarch 14, 2021 at 1:20 AM
You know I like how she refers to protagonist
Like in a right manner
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Hetbasile CFMarch 14, 2021 at 2:10 AM
I am eager to read the meeting of the original male and female protagonist from Ruan Xi's point of vue, would she stay as a third party, or would she get more entangled with the protagonist ? Thank you for the update !
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Aiza JMarch 18, 2021 at 11:29 AM
I can't get enough of face-palming every time that san niang comes out
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snickersforlifeMarch 19, 2021 at 9:58 PM
Love the story hope you update soon
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thesilentdarkangelApril 9, 2021 at 9:15 PM
Here's the real protagonist!!!
And it's definitely not Ruan 3rd Lady…
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