Female Supporting Character with a Good Life Chapter 105: 104, a manhua/chinese comics/漫画 fanfic

姨娘 (yi niang) – an official's concubine.

二弟 (er di) – second younger brother.

夫人 (fu ren) – the official wife of an official, the matriarch of a family.

妈妈 (ma ma) – an older woman servant.

氏 (shi) – a suffix placed after a married woman's patronymic.

小姐 (xiao jie) – young lady.

公子 (gong zi) – an honorific for a noble's son.

少夫人 (shao fu ren) – the wife of a young master.

妃 (fei) – a high-ranking consort of the prevailing emperor.

娘娘 (niang niang) – an honorific specifically reserved for the Empress Dowager, Empress, or a high-ranking imperial concubine.

三姐 (san jie) – third older sister.

四妹 (si mei) – fourth younger sister.

郡主 (jun zhu) – county princess. The highest title that a woman from the imperial family can receive.

太妃 (tai fei) – the imperial concubine of a deceased emperor.

After the news of Zhaoyiniangand her daughter's death were disseminated, everyone merely sighed briefly before forgetting about it at the turn of the head, and it did not set off a single ripple.

Ruan Xi discovered that after the entire debacle of Liu Wan Wan, in addition to the loss of his biological mother and close younger sister, Wen Ting Yi had become uninterested in self-indulgence, to the point where he was reticent and scarce with words, and striving for a better future by studying. It was unknown if he had restrained himself or was saving up for an ultimate move, but regardless of which one it was, Wen Ting Zhou still dispatched his men to monitor him to ensure that Wen Ting Yi could not flip up any huge waves.

Contrariwise, Wen Ting Zhou did not mind his concubine-born younger brother being progressive; he was fine with him as long as he remained within his boundaries.

"After seeinger dibeing progressive, Father was very happy, and he is planning to ask Mother to negotiate a good marriage matter forer di." Wen Ting Zhou said smilingly.

"Er dididn't have any opinions?"

After all, he had thrown a huge ruckus just for the sake of marrying Liu Wan Wan back then.

Wen Ting Zhou teased the hair strands beside Ruan Xi's ear as he smiled faintly, "Having gone through the marriage with Liu Wan Wan,er diis not very interested in female charms right now, and he has become rather ascetic."

Ruan Xi was speechless.

"Let's not talk about it. It's my rest day tomorrow, we should bring Ah Yu to seezu mu,zu muhas been yearning for Ah Yu.

"The time is getting late; we should be getting into bed."

Wen Ting Zhou peered at Ruan Xi's expression before he laughed softly, flipping his body to press her under his body.

"Mn."

Ruan Xi stared at Wen Ting Zhou's handsome visage which was well within reach, her hands wrapping around his neck.

It was a night of flipping red waves.

The next day, Wen Ting Zhou and Ruan Xi brought away their little boy and stepped onto the horse carriage under Wenfuren's reluctant gaze.

……

Inside the palace, Ruansan niangdid not open any brain holes and start having suspicions either after learning that Zhaoyiniangand her daughter had been met with their demise. She merely mumbled a few sentences in private before she tossed it aside, since she was paying attention to another matter right now.

Wenlao-furenwas still alive.

By this time in the previous lifetime, Wenlao-furenhad already passed away. In this lifetime, she was unexpectedly alive.

Ruansan niangwas very shocked.

Ever since her rebirth, she had been constantly trying to change the tragic fate of her previous lifetime, but she was still forced to enter the imperial palace in the end as an imperial concubine. Bit by bit, she was moving towards the old road of her previous life.

Disregard the fact that she was already pregnant; she looked like she had already broken the shackles of fate, but the truth was that Ruansan nianghad always felt devastatingly anxious and she struggled to get a sense of genuine reality, because she could not shake off the feeling that everything was a hallucination.

Despite her endless attempts to hypnotise herself into thinking that she would become the most respectable and noble woman underneath the Heavens after her pregnancy— the Empress Dowager, and she even fantasised about raising little wolfdogs after the old Emperor's death.

In reality, after being crushed and rolled over by the old Emperor for the two lifetimes of her transmigration and rebirth, the fear that Ruansan nianghad for the old Emperor in her heart had already become deeply rooted.

For the same reason, she did not actually believe that there would be such a day in the depths of her heart.

The news of Wenlao-furenstill being alive brought a tremendous impact to Ruansan niang.

All of a sudden, Ruansan niangbecame docile.

She had a hopeful inkling in her heart. In the past few days, she incidentally heard that giving birth to a child could defy the natural order and change fates, so Ruansan niangbecame all the more concerned about the child in her womb.

Yao Hong, Yao Si, and the other trusted aides heaved out a sigh of relief collectively.

At this moment, Wenlao-furenwho had incidentally stimulated Ruansan niang, was currently leaning on the side of the bed as she looked at her fair and delicate-looking little great-grandson, whose eyes were akin to black grapes, and the affectionate smile on her face never dropped because of how lovable and docile he was.

Among her many grandsons, apart from her eldest son's legitimate grandson, of whom she was the fondest of, the second would be Wen Ting Zhou, this outstanding grandson of hers.

Presently, Wen Ting Zhou had already formed a family and established his career, and he had qualified descendants to carry his undertaking, thus shattering his rooted fate of having to spend the last years of his life alone. With that, Wenlao-furencould finally put down the last pressing matter on her heart, and happily play with her grandchildren and enjoy her old age.

When Mama Lin saw the smiling expression on her master's visage, she felt extremely glad in her heart.

Ruan Xi and Wen Ting Zhou stayed in Wenlao-furen's Junzhu Residence with their infant boy for the whole day, only sitting on the horse carriage to return to the residence after having dinner with Wenlao-furen.

In the horse carriage, the little boy was already sound asleep.

Ruan Xi and Wen Ting Zhou conversed in low voices.

"Ruan Ruan, with the braised marinade that you concocted,zu muhas a decent appetite right now, and she looks much better."

Wen Ting Zhou held onto Ruan Xi's hand lightly. After Ruan Ruan became eight months pregnant, he had stopped her from brewing the braised marinade and closed the braised duck shop, only re-opening it for business after Ruan Ruan had come out of her postpartum month.

Consequently, it meant that his paternal grandmother's supply of braised duck and braised marinade had been broken off for three months. Initially, it did not count for much since his paternal grandmother had already consumed a large amount of delicious braised duck, which strengthened her body and bones by a fair bit. It was just that her horse had been startled when she was going to the temple to offer incense last year, and she succumbed to a serious illness, barely clinging onto her last breath as she waited for the birth of his little boy.

Now that she had Ruan Ruan's braised marinade, his paternal grandmother had been pulled back from the gates of the Underworld once more.

Wen Ting Zhou was rather thankful in his heart.

"It can't be said that it was the braised marinade's credit.Zu muhas attachments she's concerned about, and happy occasions tend to invigorate the spirit. I see thatzu mureally likes Ah Yu, the residence is merely two streets away from the Junzhu Residence, it isn't far, I'm planning to bring over Ah Yu more frequently to visitzu mu."

Ruan Xi smiled, leaning her head on Wen Ting Zhou's shoulder. She didn't feel that the braised marinade had made any contributions, it was more accurate to say that Wenlao-furenhad yet to reach the end of her allocated lifespan.

"Mn, Ruan Ruan, it will be hard on you." A smear of warmth flitted past the bottom of Wen Ting Zhou's eyes.

Ruan Xi shook her head lightly.

"This is what I should be doing, I only hope thatzu mucan be a little happier."

Her easy acceptance into the Wen Family could not be separated from Wenlao-furen's effort. Naturally, Ruan Xi was grateful, she wanted to give a plum in return for a peach, wholly devoting herself to fulfilling this piece of filial piety.

投桃报李 (pinyin: tou tao bao li) — fig. to return a favour, to exchange gifts.

Wen Ting Zhou's lip corners curved up slightly, using his hand to tug her lightly into his arms.

With the married wife being like that, what more could a husband ask for?

……

Day after day continued to pass. Spring ended and summer began, the weather gradually became warmer, and Ruan Xi's days were delightful.

She did not have much interest in household management, only wholeheartedly wanting to raise her baby, except Wenfurenstarted to hand over the residence affairs to Ruan Xi bit by bit, and she would frequently bring Ruan Xi to make an appearance at various banquets.

Ruan Xi had no choice but to become busy.

The powerful and noble circles in the entire capital were all aware that Wenfurenwas exceeding satisfied with Ruan Xi, this daughter-in-law of hers.

Thus, Ruan Xi became the target of envy and jealousy for many younger daughters-in-law, and they separately sighed about Ruan Xi's good life.

Even Ruansan niang, who was meekly nurturing her foetus in the imperial palace, felt incredibly displeased, and she was quite upset.

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In the beginning of the fifth month, Ruan Xi suddenly received news of Qi Yue An's engagement.

She heard that the female party possessed a beautiful countenance, her moral conduct was honest, and her family background was quite decent as well.

Qi Yue An had fallen in love with the female party at first sight.

In her heart, Ruan Xi silently felt happy for Qi Yue An, but what surprised her was that Wen Ting Zhou did not seem very happy.

Ruan Xi: "……"

It was only after Ruan Xi went out and accidentally stumbled upon Qi Yue An's fiancée, Yangxiaojie, that she finally understood the reason for Wen Ting Zhou's unhappiness.

Qi Yue An's fiancée Yangxiaojie's countenance was rather similar to hers.

When Ruan Xi first caught a glimpse of Yangxiaojie, she was completely stunned.

It seems like she had only met Qi Yue An twice, right? The first time was when Ruansan niangbroke her leg in the fall and Qi Yue An had come over to visit, decked out in powder and rogue, and she had been in charge of leading the way.

The other instance where she met Qi Yue An was at a restaurant with Wen Ting Zhou.

It was evident that Qi Yue An's behaviour had been extremely normal during those two encounters, and she could not perceive the slightest romantic affection from him.

At this moment, Ruan Xi was still unaware that the Angongziby the Fourth Prince's side was Qi Yue An.

Ruan Xi was only inwardly shocked by the power of the original plot. She did not know that the Ruan Family's Fourth Young Lady who had later married Qi Yue An in Ruansan niang's stead was not her transmigrated and later amnesiac self. Ruan Xi only knew that the person she besotted with in this lifetime was Wen Ting Zhou.

Ruan Xi promptly put down the matter after reaching this conclusion, but the maidservants by her side, Su Yu and Su Zhu, were incredibly startled, and their eyes were full of disbelief.

"Shao Furen, one has heard that this Yangxiaojieis Qier gongzi's fiancée, her countenance…"

Having thought this through, Ruan Xi retracted her line of sight. After hearing Su Yu's comment, she did not mind it at all as she chuckled, "Why would it be strange? There are similarities between people, it's merely a coincidence that Yangxiaojieand I resemble each other slightly."

Was it only just a slight resemblance?

There was clearly a six-to-seven-part similarity, except their temperaments differed.

Su Yu and Su Zhu exchanged glances.

Simultaneously, a strange conjecture emerged in their heart. They heard that Qier gongzihad fallen in love at first sight with Yangxiaojie, was it possible that Qier gongzihad once been infatuated with their Young Lady?

At this time, Yangxiaojieseemed to notice Su Yu and Su Zhu's gaze as she stepped out of the ornament store, so she raised her head to look in their direction.

This one look, happened to be in view of Ruan Xi, which proceeded to floor Yangxiaojie.

Her expression was somewhat queer.

"Young Lady, what's the matter with you?" The maidservant beside Yangxiaojiecould not help but ask in concern when she noticed her Young Lady's abnormal expression.

Yangxiaojiecame back to her senses, deeply observing that incomparably familiar visage. She could not resist the urge to raise her hand to touch her own face. Things have remained the same, but the people have changed; everything was different now.

Yangxiaojieissued an inaudible sigh before she displayed a faint smile.

"It's nothing, let us return."

In this lifetime, she was no longer the illegitimate fourth young lady of the Earl Chengyi Residence, but the fortunate part was that she still became Qi Yue An's fiancée.

After being doted on by Qi Yue An for a lifetime, and being able to continue the previous predestined relationship after re-living in this life, Yangxiaojiesimply felt that the Heavens did not treat her unfairly.

The only person that caught Yangxiaojie's attention was Ruanfei niangniang— her third older sister in the previous lifetime.

Based on what she could see from this third older sister's actions and behaviour, she should be the same as her.

They were both people who were reborn again.

However, this previous third older sister of hers was too skilled at squandering, and she even wanted to marry Qi Yue An. However, the two people in question were still destined to meet but not fated to be together like in the previous lifetime, and towards this previous third older sister, Yangxiaojiepreferred to maintain a respectful distance.

She hoped that she could get together with Qi Yue An smoothly like in the previous lifetime.

Before Yangxiaojiegot on the horse carriage, she could not stop herself from turning her head back to look at the distant Ruan Xi, and she happened to see a handsome man in brocade robes walking up to her side, before he held her gently to leave.

Who could have thought that the Minister of the Board of Punishments who had lived out his last years alone in the previous lifetime, would actually be a good man that pampered his wife in this life.

Yangxiaojiepeered at the cloudless blue sky, smiling slightly.

Ruan Xi was unaware that Qi Yue An's fiancée had been reborn, and she was also Qi Yue An's wife in the previous lifetime.

Currently, all of her thoughts were placed on her husband and son; she did not really pay attention to Qi Yue An and his fiancée, and she was only waiting to attend their wedding ceremony on the day of their big wedding.

At this time, the imperial censors suddenly started to throw out harsh criticism towards the Mu Family, bringing out all the evidence of crimes and misconduct they had gathered a long time ago in succession, to accuse the Mu Family. The commotion caused the winds and rain to sweep across the whole capital, and the Mu Family were in imminent danger because of this.

Emperor Shengde did not make light of these accusations in consideration of Mutaifeithis time around. Instead, he passed down an edict to search and confiscate the Mu Family in aswift and decisivemanner.

雷厉风行 (pinyin: lei li feng xing) — lit. move like the thunder and pass like the wind, fig. vigorously and resolutely.

The blood on the execution grounds flowed into a river.

The expansive Mu Family was decimated in the span of a night.

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Ruan Xi found it inconceivable when she came to know about it. To her surprise, the Mu Family had fallen while Mutaifeiwas still alive, and it was a few years earlier than what was stated in the original novel's timeline.

What was more shocking was the news that Wen Ting Zhou had brought back that night.

Ruansan niang's child was gone.

Didn't she have a system healing ability? She was completely fine when she disturbed the foetal energy numerous times in the past, why couldn't she even keep the child this time around?

Ruan Xi could not resist asking Wen Ting Zhou for the full details.

Wen Ting Zhou's expression was chilly, his tone of voice ice-cold.

"Speaking of which, this is also Ruanfeireaping what she sowed. After she learned that the Mu Family had fallen, she ran over to throw stones into the well and watch the joke being made at Mutaifei's expense, and then Mutaifeikicked her twice right then and there, which led to the loss of the child."

Ruan Xi sucked in a mouthful of cold air.

She really did not know what to say. Not only did Ruansan niangcourt death on her own, but she even dragged in an innocent small life.

"That poor child in her womb, in having such a death-courting mother, it even lost the chance to be born." Ruan Xi felt angry and upset at the same time.

Wen Ting Zhou held onto Ruan Xi's hand as he comforted her in a gentle voice, "Ruan Ruan, don't be upset. Every person has their own life, perhaps that child will reincarnate into a better family in their next one."

Ruan Xi nodded quietly.

"How did His Majesty deal with Mutaifei?"

"Mutaifeihas been sent to the imperial family's temple to pray for blessings for the previous emperor by His Majesty." Wen Ting Zhou responded.

Once the imperial concubines of the previous emperor entered the imperial family's temple, they would never have the chance to leave again.

Ruan Xi was cognizant of this point too.

Since Emperor Shengde had cleaned up the Mu Family, it meant that the previous emperor's parting imperial decree that was in Mutafei's hands, had already landed in Emperor Shengde's hands. Therefore, Mutaifeino longer possessed any bargaining chips to threaten Emperor Shengde with.

Mutaifeihad to spend the rest of her life in the imperial family's temple, though it was unknown if she could tolerate the austere conditions of the ancestral temple.

"I will go into the palace tomorrow to visitsan jie." Since Ruan Xi was Ruansan niang's younger sister, not only was not entering the palace to visit her unacceptable, but it would also allow people to denounce her.

Wen Ting Zhou nodded, "Certainly, a trip into the imperial palace is due."

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On the second day, Ruan Xi entered the imperial palace.

The Gentle Fortune Palace that Ruansan niangresided in was still lavish, except some repressive and dead atmosphere pervaded it.

Ruan Xi could not avoid becoming dumbstruck when she caught sight of Ruansan niang. After losing her child, Ruansan niangseemed to have aged by ten years, and her whole body was steeped in an air of dejectedness and ashen defeat.

"Si mei,you're here!"

Ruansan niangstared at her fourth sister who had always been incomparably beautiful. Now, more amorous charms had been added to her features; the elegant bearing between her brows and eyes seemed like it was made in heaven, and she was so gorgeous that she could steal the breaths of others.

The more she looked, the more unreconciled she felt in her heart.

After Ruan Xi executed a bow, she sighed to herself as she looked at Ruansan niang's current appearance. She hesitated for a long moment before she pursed her lips and asked:

"San jie, are you alright?"

"Not alright, I'm not fine at all!" Once Ruansan niangremembered how the child that could have let her defy natural order and change her fate was gone, her entire body nearly collapsed.

She was not resigned, she was really not resigned!

Ruan Xi: "……"

Ruansan niangchortled coldly, "Si mei, did you come here today to witness my spectacle?"

Ruan Xi shook her head.

"No."

Ruansan niangjudged others by using herself as a basis, so she did not believe Ruan Xi's words at all.

"I don't believe it!"

Ruan Xi: "……"

"Whether you wish to believe it or not is your prerogative."

Judging from Ruansan niang's appearance, she was probably possessed. Ruan Xi did not want to explain more.

She was not a saintess; she and Ruansan niangonly needed to maintain their sisterly relationship on the surface.

Ruansan niangglared at Ruan Xi, throwing a pillow at Ruan Xi in fury: "I knew it, I knew you were here to make fun of me!"

"Get lost, get lost for me!"

Ruan Xi dodged the pillow that flew over, bringing Su Yu and Su Zhu to leave Gentle Fortune Palace without any hesitation.

Once she stepped out of the palace gates, she saw a tall and straight figure standing in the distance.

"Ruan Ruan, you've come out. She didn't make things difficult for you, did she?"

Wen Ting Zhou walked over in large strides to hold Ruan Xi's hands, interlacing their fingers together.

Ruan Xi shook her head slightly.

"She didn't."

"It's good that she didn't. The Emperor has written a secret edict, one fears that Ruanfeiwill become the next Mutaifeiin the future." Wen Ting Zhou said in a suppressed voice.

"San jiewill definitely be very happy once she learns of this news."

Ruan Xi was astonished. Ruansan nianghad always wanted to change her tragic fate of having to be a burial accompaniment and pursued it single-mindedly. With Emperor Shengde's secret edict, Ruansan niangfinally achieved what she wished for by technicality.

All of this probably had a gigantic correlation to the cement formula that Ruansan niangcontributed.

Ruansan niang's tossing and turning still had a bit of effect.

This was different from Ruansan niang's ending in the novel. Ruan Xi had a bold conjecture in her heart: the Ruansan niangof this lifetime was different from the Ruansan niangof the previous incarnation; she did not pick and choose from among the many outstanding men in a conspicuous fashion, and she once harboured the dragon's descendent, so Emperor Shengde should have a bit of affection for Ruansan niangstill.

Wen Ting Zhou laughed, "However, this has conditions attached, as long as Ruansan niangstays within the boundaries, she will be the next Mutaifei."

With regards to Emperor Shengde's way of handling, Ruan Xi was not surprised at all.

Faint sunlight sprinkled down on their bodies as the pair's figures became more and more distant.

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Translator's Comment:

I think the Buddhaghosa aptly expresses Ruan san niang's downfall in this lifetime when discussing anger/resentment:

"By doing this you are like a man who wants to hit another and picks up a burning ember or excrement in his hand and so first burns himself or makes himself stink."