Female Supporting Character with a Good Life

by Usui Takumii

not mine. go check yuulation. Total: 106 cps. Also at ao3.

1. 00 to 05

Description

Ruan Xi was reading a novel with a laid-back female protagonist at her own leisure. When she woke up again, she had transmigrated into the book and became the female supporting character with a good life, Ruan Xi, of whom the female protagonist envied.

In the story, the character Ruan Xi was the replacement for the engagement that had fallen through because her transmigrated, legitimate older sister had abandoned her fiancé from a rich family. Later, Ruan Xi was pampered to the heavens by her husband and became the winner in life as an imperially mandated first-rank wife to an official.

Ruan Xi, who had transmigrated over, watched as her transmigrated legitimate older sister prepared for that marriage happily. Similarly, her legitimate mother had also decided on another marriage agreement for her.

Ruan Xi: "…"

Years later, after the sister is suffering from her husband's family, she came to Ruan Xi to see her struggling with misery. When she stood at the door of Ruan Xi's house, she watched the cold and violent man in her previous life hold her in the palm of his hand with all kinds of wealth and love.

The Nineteenth Year of Shengde(splendid virtue; great kindness. The name of the current emperor's reign.), Third Month of Spring.

In the sunlit and enchanting scene of spring, the grass flourished and the orioles flew.

Official Residence of Earl Chengyi( good faith, sincerity.), Limpid Heart Garden. In the early morn, the bright and warm sunlight seeped through the window lattice and shone on Ruan Xi's slightly pale visage as she laid on the soft pillow on her low and narrow bed. Her dark hair was black like ink, her eyes were limpid with its glossy blacks, and a delicate, light yellow outer jacket and skirt lined her snowy-white skin. Her countenance was devastatingly beautiful.

Ruan Xi raised her hand to press it above her heart, feeling the strong and forceful pulse of her cardiovascular organ which made her lips curl up. Truly, the Heavens did not despise her and allowed her to possess a healthy body.

She had suffered from congenital heart disease in her previous life, and she had been abandoned at an orphanage ever since she was born. It had not been easy for her to live until the age of twenty, and yet when she woke up again, she had transmigrated into a novel featuring a laid-back female protagonist which she previously read at her leisure, and became a female supporting with an incomparably good life that the female protagonist envied. The character in question was the fourth daughter of Ruan Family—

Ruan Xi.

She was a replacement for the engagement that had fallen through because her older legitimate sister had abandoned her fiancé from a rich family, and she was later pampered to the heavens by her husband's single-minded devotion. In the end, she became the winner in life as the imperially mandated first-rank wife of an official.

Ruan Xi had the same name and surname as the Ruan si niang,( it means the fourth daughter of the Ruan Family, but it is also how Ruan Xi is typically addressed by her family as an affectionate endearment.) but the unfortunate part was that the story revolved around the laid-back female protagonist, and the smooth and satisfying life of Ruan si niang – which was the source of the female protagonist's envy – only appeared in conversations between the female protagonist and her trusted servant girl.

The two people in question did not have any intersections.

It was only when the male protagonist had taken the throne that the female protagonist had the fortune of meeting her a few times during the palace banquets.

And the reason why the female protagonist paid particular attention to everything concerning Ruan si niang was only because Ruan si niang's older legitimate sister Ruan san niang ( it means the third daughter of the Ruan family.) was a transmigrated woman, whose fate was worlds apart from Ruan si niang.

After the Ruan san niang in the novel had broken off her engagement in the early stages – thereby kicking away her ignorant and incompetent fiancé from a rich family who only knew how to muddle along, eat, and wait for death – she had caused the waters to ripple and the winds to rise in her favour by pretending that the disease-curing function in her system was her medical skill. In the end, she had pitted herself into the old Emperor's imperial harem and became one of his concubines, and the old Emperor had later placed down a secret edict that she had to accompany him in burial. All in all, her final ending was too tragic to look at.

As a highly conspicuous transmigrated woman, Ruan san niang's appearance had alarmed the female protagonist, which made her conceal herself silently, and live out her small days in the male protagonist's inner residence in an inconspicuous and well-behaved manner.

Presently, Ruan Xi had transmigrated into the book when the original owner was just fourteen. However, the strange thing was that inside the original owner's memories, the transmigrated Ruan san niang – who had been kicking up a fuss about the breaking off the engagement – had suddenly changed her mind, and she was currently preparing for her marriage with boundless joy.

Whereas the original owner had suddenly exchanged horoscope cards (which were sent as a proposal for betrothal) with Wen Ting Zhou, the legitimate son of a Rites Minister, four days ago, and their marriage had been settled.

Wen Ting Zhou was one of the male protagonist's capable aides and was a Minister of Rites' legitimate son as well. He was a noble's son; handsome like jade in appearance, refined, cultivated, and unrestrained in disposition. Yet, he became a ruthless person with swift and fierce means by the end, a high official in the Boards of Punishment who was held in awe and veneration.

He had remained alone all his life; he never took a wife, never tried or proposed a marriage, and his inner residence was clean as a pin.

Later, there were rumours in the streets that Minister Wen was a cutsleeve( to be a 'cutsleeve' is to be gay. It originates from the History of Western Han, wherein the Emeperor Han Aidi was in bed with his male lover Dong Xian, and had a court audience in the morning. Not wishing to wake his lover, whose head was resting on his long robe sleeve, Aidi used a knife to cut off the lower half of his sleeve.)

. The current Wen Ting Zhou was barely eighteen or nineteen in age, and he was one of the best candidates as a husband among the noble ladies within the capital.

With the illegitimate daughter having a better marriage settlement than the legitimate daughter, the reputation of Earl Chengyi's furen(The legitimate wife of an official. ) became a level higher, and everyone was giving her high praises and holding her in esteem for her breath of mind and magnanimity.

However, that meaning in those words was quick to change because it was apparent at a glance that the problem resided with her legitimate older daughter Ruan san niang.

This is rather interesting.

Ruan Xi smiled slightly.

At this moment, a servant girl whose hair was combed into a double-looped coiffure and wearing black clothing pulled away the beaded curtain nimbly and entered the inner room. When she saw Ruan Xi sitting on the divan, dazed, she said in a soft voice: "Young Lady, the Third Young Lady has come to visit you."

Third Young Lady…

"Invite the Third Young Lady in quickly." Ruan Xi knitted her eyebrows together briefly as she spoke in a warm tone of voice, which was sweet and pleasant-sounding to the ear. The original owner had encountered the mischievous and chased six-year-old young master as she was returning to her own compound after giving her legitimate mother well-wishes for her health. She had been passing through the arch bridge when she had been knocked into the water by accident. With the chill present in the air during spring, the original had caught a cold carelessly.

This bout of cold had arrived with a violence; in just one night, it had robbed away the original owner's life.

Ruan Xi gave the prematurely dead original owner her quiet condolences. Silently, she decided to find an opportunity in private to light an altar lamp (that was kept burning day and night) for the original owner, in hopes that she could reincarnate into a good family in her next life.

The beaded curtain stirred as the wondrous and drawn-out figure of a person with a graceful demeanour stepped in. It was as though a lotus flower was in full bloom as she was lithe and graceful in her many postures, and any move she made faintly revealed a trace of her lovely charms.

She was Ruan Xi's legitimate older sister Ruan san niang— Ruan Ning. She enquired about her health with ardent concern the moment she entered the room: "Si mei( fourth younger sister.), I heard from your servant girl Su Yu that you have awoken. Are you feeling better today?"

Her gaze proceeded to give Ruan Xi a scrutinising one-over as she murmured in her heart, It seems like fourth sister's body and bones are quite decent. That does make sense; if she didn't have a good physique, how could she possibly give birth to three sons and one daughter for Qi Yue An without any complications?

"Thanking san jie( third older sister.) for her concern. After drinking some of the prescribed medication, my body is a lot better, and it only requires a few more days to recuperate completely." Ruan Xi mimicked the original owner's manner of speech by warming her voice and speaking softly in her reply.

It seemed like her conjecture was correct, this fellow transmigrator of a legitimate older sister had been reborn. It was just that the exact timing of her rebirth was unknown.

A glint flashed past Ruan Ning's eyes, even though she breathed out a sigh of relief on the surface. With some pity in her tone, she uttered, "Then I can set my heat at ease. Right, Xiao San has been punished by father for knocking you into the water. Lin yiniang ( term for father's concubine) will probably be visiting you today. I have some top-class ginseng with me, and while it doesn't reach a hundred years, it is still a good quality product that is hard to find. I'll instruct someone to send it over to si mei, to let you nourish your body."

Su Yu revealed an expression of pleasant surprise at the side. Even if the Earl attached great importance to her Young Lady, the owner of the inner residence was still the furen of the Earl, and she was in-charge of the food, clothing and expenditure of all the inhabitants in this residence. It could certainly be said that her Young Lady's family background was not rich and generous, and that it was slightly shabby and miserable when all things were considered. Thus, let alone good medicinal herbs, she did not have many normal medicinal herbs either.

Ruan Xi revealed some gratification on her visage and said a word of thanks.

No one would dislike top-notch ginseng. Since Ruan san niang was being so magnanimous, she would accept it without any modesty.

Ruan Ning gave her a restrained smile as she said: "Lao Taitai ( a term used for the old matriarch of the house, in reference to their father's mother.) gave it to me previously. It's enough if you give your heartfelt thanks to the Lao Taitai."

There was a hint of flaunting in her words.

Truth to be told, Ruan Ning did not have a lot of good ginseng in her hands. While it was not necessary for her to partake in any top-notch medicinal herbs because she possessed a disease-curing function in her system, it still caused her some physical pain to give it away, even if she did not have to use them.

Especially if she was giving it to Ruan si niang.

Hating to part with the child and yet unable to curb the wolf, Ruan Ning could only endure the pain of giving it away.

Who was unaware of the fact that Ruan san niang was the grandchild that the Lao Taitai doted on the most in the Earl Chengyi Residence? It was not strange that Ruan san niang had top-notch ginseng that the Lao Taitai gave her.

Ruan Xi nodded her head before she thanked Ruan san niang and Lao Taitai again.

"San jie speaks aptly, I will head over to Tranquil Longevity Hall to thank Lao Taitai when I have fully recovered."

Ruan Ning nodded her head, satisfied. She sat beside Ruan Xi and patted on her hand affectionately, studying Ruan Xi's exceedingly beautiful facial features and curvaceous body that had already developed. A burst of frustration filled her heart. All four sisters in the Ruan Family were remarkable in appearance, and they were well-known beauties in the capital.

But Ruan si niang was the most outstanding.

It did not matter if Ruan si niang was only fourteen; even with her sparse showings at banquets, her devastating beauty had already spread out into the streets.

By virtue of Ruan si niang's absolute beauty, and according to her foreknowledge, her father had the intention to send her fourth sister to a certain imperial son's residence, which was why her marriage had remained unsettled for the most part.

A few days ago, she had urged her mother to settle si mei's marriage shortly after her rebirth.

Her chosen candidate was Rites Minister's legitimate son Wen Ting Zhou. As the illegitimate daughter of Earl Chengyi's Residence, being able to marry the legitimate son of a Rites Minister as his legitimate wife was considered marrying above her social status.

Even if her father were to become furious after learning about the settlement later, he would not be overly angry at her mother either.

The truth was as such.

However, the bitter remorse in Ruan Ning's heart only increased. She originally assumed that the Rites Minister's furen and Wen Ting Zhou would reject the offer, because her fourth sister was only an illegitimate daughter when all was said and done. Moreover, the fact that she was an illegitimate daughter with exceedingly magnificent features did not help matters either.

The Rites Minister's furen would definitely be against making her fourth sister her daughter-in-law.

Once the rejection had occurred, she would proceed to suggest a second person to her mother. Contrary to her expectations, however, her fourth sister's life was that good; her mother only had to give the Rites Minister's furen a subtle hint before the Rite Minister's furen had immediately agreed. Then, she had exchanged their horoscope cards swiftly, thus settling the marriage agreement.

There was hearsay that Wen gongzi did not voice a single objection.

She clearly remembered that Wen Ting Zhou never married a wife until his death, and her soul after death had lingered around the imperial place for dozens of years. She would frequently hear the palace maids guessing if the Boards of Punishment Minister Wen Ting Zhou was a good male homosexual because he had never taken a wife.

Ruan Ning felt that their guess was right.

Men were prone to having three wives and four concubines in the ancient times. There was nothing to pick at with regards to Wen Ting Zhou's family background, and yet he abstained from womanly charms for his entire life. His inner courtyard was clean and tidy and he did not even have a tongfang ( means to have sexual intercourse, but it also refers to women (usually servants), who serve their master sexually without being titled as an official concubine.) or a servant girl as company. He was either incapable of raising or a cutsleeve, born with an innate love for his own gender.

Who could have expected that he would agree to marry her fourth sister in this life?

Could it be that the previous incarnation of Wen Ting Zhou had an unrequited love for her fourth sister…? And because her fourth sister had replaced her in marrying Qi Yue An, he had remained unmarried for his entire life?

When this preposterous thought sprouted in Ruan Ning's mind, she became even more uncomfortable. If that were truly the case, then her fourth sister's life was too great.

She hoped that she was thinking too much.

Maybe Wen Ting Zhou was borrowing her fourth sister's devastating beauty to conceal his sexual orientation. When her fourth sister was only woman in an otherwise expansive inner courtyard, and yet unable to bear a child, the Rites Minister's furen will probably assume that her fourth sister was a femme fatale.

Once she thought about that, a faint sense of guilt arose in Ruan Ning's heart. Then, she remembered why she had made this visit, and quickly changed the topic to her own marriage matters. The rims of her eyes became red as she spoke, and her hands held onto Ruan Xi's sleeve tightly. "Si mei, I'm incredibly envious of the fact that you've been slated for a good marriage unlike me. I can only marry a Marquis's illegitimate son, who is without the learning and skill, and only knows how to drink and play."

"Si mei, my life is truly bitter!"

As Ruan Xi listened to Ruan san niang 'pour out her woes', she watched her performance silently. Then, Ruan Xi displayed a slightly lost expression that was suitable for the occasion, and held onto her hands to console her. She said: "San jie, with how much Lao Taitai loves you, she will definitely help you if you're unwilling to marry the second noble son of the Qi Family."

The marriage agreement between Ruan san niang and the concubine-born second noble son of the Qi Family was a gamble that Marquis Huaiyang ( it is a county in Henan Province. ) and Earl Chengyi had made.

This marriage agreement was known by everyone.

In the book, Ruan san niang had been hell-bent on breaking the pledge of marriage, swearing that she would never marry him even if she died. However, the Residence of Earl Chengyi and the Residence of Marquis Huaiyang could not dissolve the marriage agreement, which was why Ruan si niang had replaced Ruan san niang in marrying the unlearned and incompetent, illegitimate son of the Marquis' residence, Qi Yue An. To the outsiders, it had been clarified that the person who was marrying Qi Yue An was Ruan si niang.

Everyone was well-aware of the circumstances, they merely chose not to vocalise it on the surface.

And after Ruan san niang had broken off the engagement, her reputation had suffered a severe impact.

Ruan Ning's voice faltered, as though she was choking on her sobs slightly as she mumbled: "I… I don't want to trouble Lao Taitai, and breaking off the engagement will affect my reputation. Without a reputation, it'll be even harder to find a good family, so I can only accept my fate."

She refused to walk the old path from her previous life where she used her disease-curing ability to pass off as her medical skill in a conspicuous manner, and was later brought into the imperial palace by the old Emperor to become his concubine. In the end, the old Emperor refused to spare her even in his death, and forced her to accompany him in burial.

When Ruan Ning remembered the tragic ending she was met with in her previous life, her heart fluttered with lingering fears.

In this lifetime, she would marry Qi Yue An obediently, and live out her days with him properly.

Accept her fate?

Ruan Xi was rendered speechless in her heart. If she hadn't known about Ruan san niang's course of actions in her previous life from the book, she would definitely believe her excuses.

If Qi Yue An hadn't roused himself and became progressive by attending the imperial examinations, did not have a meteoric rise to the highest official rank, did not become the new Emperor's left and right arms which allowed him to hold onto great power, would Ruan san niang accept her own fate after her rebirth?

She would probably wish that she could break off the engagement again and allow her to become the replacement one more time.

However, it was unknown if this Yue Qi An was playing the pig to eat the tiger, or if he was genuinely ignorant and incompetent, only knowing how to eat and play around. The original Ruan Xi had not met the original Qi er gongzi ( the second noble son of the Qi Family.) from the book, so she did not know which category he belonged to.

But it did not matter which category he was. With the original owner's intelligence and beauty, she would definitely find a way to pass her days well.

Ruan san niang on the other hand…

Translator's Notes:

A Question of Legitimacy:

Children born of the legitimate wife (嫡妻; di qi) are termed as di children (嫡出), whereas any child born of a concubine or tongfang (or a bastard child) are known as illegitimate children (庶出; shu chu). In this chapter Ruan Ning and Wen Ting Zhu are legitimate children born from the legitimate wife, whereas Ruan Xi and Qi Yue An are products of concubines.

A clarification on names and nicknames:

Ruan Ning is the third daughter born into the Ruan Family, Ruan Xi (our FL) is the fourth daughter born into the Ruan Family. In chinese, 'san' is 3, 'si' is 4. Correspondingly, Ruan Ning is referred to as 'san niang', Ruan Xi is referred to as 'si niang'.

However, it is best to just remember san niang and si niang as their nicknames, and also associate those numbers to them. To my knowledge, very few characters apart from the two sisters have those numbers in their addresses.

Terms used in Chapter 2

小姐 (xiao jie) – young lady.

姨娘 (yi niang) – a term for an officialised concubine.

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

奴婢 (nu bi) – slave girl or maidservant.

三姐 (san jie) – third older sister.

四妹 (si mei) – fourth younger sister.

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

"Si mei, san jie will be depending on you for support in the future."

Upon seeing her fourth younger sister fail to pick up the thread of conversation, Ruan Ning felt slightly displeased in her heart. She could not help but tighten the grip she had on Ruan Xi's soft fabrics as she lifted her exquisite and delicate face. Tears glittered in her eyes and her gaze was expectant.

This was the reason why Ruan Ning had visited Ruan Xi today.

First she gave her a top-notch ginseng that she had no use for to garner her fourth sister's gratitude, next she 'poured out her woes' to gain her fourth sister's sympathy and compassion, before she finally took the chance to reap the benefits.

Beyond the fact that Wen Ting Zhou's father was a Minister of Rites, his own future road was bright. Furthermore, the Wen Family was a famous family with good breeding; its branches fanned out with luxuriant leaves, and they were prolific with abled people.

If Qi Yue An could receive the help of the Wen Family early on, his future path in officialdom would definitely become smoother.

She trusted that her intelligent si mei would understand her meaning.

Ruan Xi came to an abrupt realisation. She had been wondering why Ruan san niang was 'pouring out her woes' so inexplicably just now.

It turns out she was waiting for this. Her heart sank slightly. Ruan san niang had been reborn, whereas the original owner had always obscured herself in silence before she got married. Since her performance conformed with the norms of the society, others had only seen the beauty she was incapable of hiding, but in front of Ruan san niang – who harboured a lifetime's worth of experiences – she could not deceive her. It was an exercise in futility to feign stupidity now.

From the original owner's memories, she knew that the original owner was intelligent; she had a good command over a household's expenditure and its corresponding laws and regulations, was extremely skilled in the zither, Go, calligraphy, painting and needlework, but she had only displayed her capabilities when she was teaching her husband and sons.

She was an unrivalled beauty who chose to blunt the cutting edge of her talent and skill, because a mediocre girl was less likely to attract scruples. Unfortunately, all of this changed when she had a marriage agreement with Wen Ting Zhou.

Her legitimate mother must be feeling extremely revolted in her heart.

And that revulsion was unlikely to stop until she married out of the residence.

In the time where her thoughts were turning, Ruan Xi had already decided on a response. Although she and Wen Ting Zhou were engaged, she still had to live under her shrewd legitimate mother's eyelids as long as she was not married. It was better to not start anything.

"Mother and san jie have always treated me wholeheartedly, if I can help san jie, I would never shirk from my duty. But… But san jie is also aware that I am only an illegitimate daughter, whilst the social status of the Wen Family is high. I'm afraid that being able to marry Wen gongzi has already exhausted the blessings I have in this life…"

A thread of hesitation seeped into Ruan Xi's tone. Her exquisitely beautiful face also revealed the slightest restlessness and unease she had towards the future.

There were three parts of truth and seven parts of falsification in her words.

In her previous life, she had suffered from a congenital heart disease and she never dared to think about the matter of feelings, to say nothing of marriage. In this lifetime, she was already engaged the moment she crossed over.

Thankfully, the person she was slated to marry was Wen Ting Zhou.

The Wen Ting Zhou from the novel never took a wife in his entire lifetime. She did not need to worry if someone else would snatch her husband, and her luck was quite decent.

When Ruan Ning heard her fourth sister's words, she came to an abrupt realisation. How could she possibly forget the fact that ancient people attached the greatest importance to identity and family status? With the high family status that the Wen Family had, her fourth sister's illegitimate identity would become a grievous injury.

This marriage agreement might look incredibly good, but the problems present were enormous.

As she had expected, her fourth younger sister was astute and intelligent; she had thought of this layer early on.

Ruan Ning felt faint discomfort in her heart. Including this lifetime, she had already lived through three lifetimes, and yet she still could not compare to her fourth sister. Her fourth sister had already perceived this problem early on, whereas she did not discover it at all.

When her fourth sister had married Qi Yue An, the ignorant and incompetent concubine-born son from the Duke's Residence in her stead during her previous lifetime, both parties had the identity of illegitimate children. One of them possessed the beauty and capabilities, the other came from a Duke's Residence; it could be said that their standings were equal.

With her intervention in this life, she was afraid that her fourth sister would be eating a fair bit of bitterness.

Ruan Ning stared at her fourth sister with a complicated expression. She absolutely refused to admit to the fact that she had pitted her fourth younger sister, but the good husband that her fourth sister married in her previous lifetime only came about because she had surrendered and allowed her fourth sister to have him.

She was merely grabbing hold of the things that rightfully belonged to her in this lifetime, and didn't she remedy her fourth sister with an even better candidate for a husband?

Even if Wen Ting Zhou was only using her fourth sister to conceal his own sexual orientation, her fourth sister was a smart person, she would definitely know how to use Wen Ting Zhou to ensure that she could live out her days well.

With those thoughts in mind, the guilt that Ruan Ning had just started to feel disappeared completely. She hugged Ruan Xi affectionately and chided her: "Nonsense, you have plenty of blessings to go around. Among us four sisters, the family background of your fiancé is the best."

"Si mei, don't forget to give your san jie support when the time comes around."

"I will try my best."

Understanding that Ruan san niang would not drop the matter, Ruan Xi pursed her lips and finally agreed in the end. Even if she were to disagree, Ruan san niang would still take advantage of it.

"Thank you si mei. With si mei's support, I have the confidence as well." Ruan Ning revealed a smile after obtaining her fourth sister's agreement. Now that her goal had been achieved, she did not want to stay here any longer. Thus, she stood up and bade farewell, departing on light feet.

Ruan Xi furrowed her brows. Ruan san niang was quite realistic indeed.

After Ruan san niang left, Su Yu, who had been standing at the side without making a sound, noted that Young Lady's complexion was quite decent. She poured a cup of warm tea for her Young Lady and queried: "Young Lady, will yõu( the more respectful way to say 'you', as opposed to the more informal '你' (ni). I will be putting a tilde (~) on top of the 'o' to denote it.) be practicing calligraphy today?"

Ruan Xi paused, remembering that the original owner was a very self-disciplined and assiduous person. Today happened to be the day where the original owner would practice her calligraphy. Accepting the tea, she took a faint sip to cover-up her momentary pause before she shook her head and said: "I would like to recover my body first. We will speak of it after I have recuperated fully."

While she had assimilated the original owner's memories, they were not just memories alone; she had to relearn all the various things the original owner was capable of, and she had to practice in secret. Or else, she would be exposed the moment the original owner's wet nurse Mama Xu returned.( Different from what 'mama' means in modern-day context, in ancient terms, 'mama' is used to refer to older woman servants who have either served their mistresses ever since they were young as a wet nurse and/or in a normal capacity, or are close confidants to their aged mistresses.
Unlike nubi, they are not necessarily held under slave contracts, and they are more like trusted, managerial employees.)

The Earl Chengyi was extremely meticulous where his four daughters of remarkable appearances were concerned. He had specially invited a few female masters to instruct them, and whether it was reading and the cognition of words, rudimentary knowledge in the four arts – zither, Go, calligraphy and painting – or knowledge pertaining to needlework, cooking, appraisal, and etiquette, they had done cursory readings of all the aforementioned subjects.

The original owner's ceremony and propriety was exceedingly refined; her movements, rising, sitting and lying was its own ilk; her skill in the four arts were quite decent, especially her chess skills which were first-class, and it should be related to the fact that the original owner was expert in strategy.

Secondly, her painting and calligraphy was invested with spiritual influence.

Lastly, her zither skills were considered moderate.

Ruan Xi was lucky that the original hid her own inadequacies by keeping quiet. She appeared normal in terms of her etiquette and her skill in the four arts, and her needlework was the same. In conclusion, it was just plain normal; owing to her lack of remarkable aspects, it made Ruan san niang more outstanding than she already was.

Speaking of which, Ruan san niang's rebirth should not date back to more than half a month ago, and perhaps the timing coincided with when she had travelled over in her previous life, because there were no recent news about Ruan san niang selling strange and novel things for profit thus far. With the lesson measured in excruciating pain that she had experienced in her previous lifetime, it was unlikely for Ruan san niang to cause the great winds she had started back in the book.

The bearing she had just now was far better than what the original owner could recall.

Ruan Xi genuinely hoped that she had gained some wit after falling into that pit.( – One only learns from their mistakes.)

As hundreds of thoughts spun in Ruan Xi's mind, Su Yu nodded her head in approval after hearing her Young Lady's answer. "The cold that Young Lady experienced this time around has bore down menacingly, and it almost frightened nubi( nu bi) – it means slave girls and/or maidservants.) to death. Thankfully, Young Lady managed to endure past the most critical juncture."

Whenever Su Yu recalled last night's scene where her Young Lady's prolonged high fever refused to abate, fear would linger in her heart, alongside a small, insistent uncertainty. "Young Lady, pardon nubi for speaking bluntly, but yõu tend to exercise your body in private, and the colds that yõu were previously infected with had never been this severe. Nubi thinks that there is something awry here."

Ruan Xi's heart chilled in response. Su Yu's words were akin to a sudden clap of thunder jolting her awake. That was true; the original owner had always paid an inordinate amount of attention to her body and health, and she would typically only require one or two cups of ginger tea to dispel her cold. And yet, the physician had prescribed her medication to relieve her symptoms…

It was like the original owner had only kicked the bucket after she drank the cold dispelling medicine.

If she hadn't crossed over all of a sudden…. If the fever hadn't receded swiftly after their souls had switched…

With a frigid expression, Ruan Xi promptly instructed: "Su Yu, could you do a covert check to see if the cold dispelling medicinal soup I drank yesterday is still around?"

Su Yu stiffened. Then, her complexion became uglier in an instant as she thought of something. Gritting her teeth, she said: "Young Lady, the cold dispelling soup yõu drank yesterday was personally made by nubi. If there is an problem with it, it means that there was an issue with the medicinal herb that were sent over."

Mama Xu had only left for a few days and yet her Young Lady almost lost her life. Su Yu only felt that she was too useless.

"Forget it, this matter requires no further investigation. I am well-aware of the circumstances, and it is estimated that we won't find anything now. We just need to be more careful in the future." Ruan Xi did trust Su Yu. It seems like the original owner's death was by no means simple, and she already had a suspect in her mind. When she remembered how the female protagonist in the novel had envied the original owner for having a good life, she disagreed, because she could sense the original owner's difficulties as she resided in her situation.

The original owner's biological mother had passed away early on, and without her biological mother to protect her, she could only rely on her outstanding beauty to gain her father's partiality by value. However, because she could not revolt or hinder in her legitimate mother's eyes, she had to be prudent about every little thing and conceal herself, ensuring that her performance conformed with the norms of society, and was ordinary and commonplace.

But she had lost her life in the end.

Ruan Xi knitted her eyebrows together as she warned herself inwardly. It seems like the engagement between the original owner and Wen Ting Zhou was a curse rather than a blessing.

If the original owner had been skilled in pharmacology… But her legitimate mother was a shrewd one; she did not allow the female masters to teach the three concubine-born daughters the basics of pharmacology. Her other two illegitimate older sisters had their biological mother's secret guidance, whereas the original owner could only rely on herself and Mama Chen.

Ruan Xi's heart silently ached for the original owner.

"Young Lady, the Third Young Lady's personal maidservant Yao Hong begs for an audience." The coarse middle-aged woman-servant's voice sounded from outside the door.

"Let her come in." Ruan Xi was aware of the reason behind Yao Hong's visit, and a small smile appeared on her lips unconsciously.

Since Ruan san niang was sending her ginseng, she felt elated, especially since it was a pure and natural, wild ginseng.

Yao Hong was a servant with a pretty appearance, and she offered her a wooden box the moment she walked in. The wooden box contained a ginseng that was short of a hundred years. "Fourth Young Lady, this is the ginseng that the Third Young Lady is giving yõu to nourish yõur body."

"San jie has the heart." Ruan Xi smiled, signalling for Su Yu to keep the wooden box. Perhaps, in her happiness, she had forgotten to restrain her own charisma, and her smiling expression was like peonies in full bloom, glittering and magnificent as it wrested away people's hearts and souls.

Yao Hong was stunned into a daze.

She was already aware of the fact that the Fourth Young Lady was a stunning beauty, but after looking at it for a long time, it had lost its mesmerising effect. As the proverb goes, beyond the skin-deep and dazzling beauty that a woman of genuine and exceptional beauty possessed, there was a beauty that came from the bones and a charisma exuded by the person herself.

The Fourth Young Lady's beauty was merely skin-deep, and it would only make a person's breath catch for a moment. As a matter of fact, it could not stand scrutiny.

Upon noticing Yao Hong's strange behaviour, Ruan Xi kept her smile immediately. In response, Yao Hong sobered up from her fascination, and realised that the Fourth Young Lady was the same as before.

She could not help but become vexed in her heart; why did she stare at the Fourth Young Lady with such rapture as though she had been possessed just now?

"Fourth Young Lady, the Third Young Lady is still waiting for nubi's reply, nubi will be withdrawing first."

Just as Yao Hong was departing, a peal of noise came from outside the room. A boy's tender and aggrieved voice travelled into Ruan Xi's ears: "Mother, I will apologise to si jie properly."

Ruan Xi knew that the speaker was the original owner's six-year-old brother Ruan Yu Min from his voice alone.

Ruan Yu Min was the Third Young Master of the Earl Chengyi Residence, his biological mother was Lin yiniang, and both the mother and son were the main receivers of Earl Chengyi's doting.

In her moment of contemplation, a woman with delicate and pretty facial features and an outstanding temperament that imbued her with scholarliness walked in with a chubby and cute boy in hand.

There were a few servant girls and Mamas following her in as well.

The person who had arrived was precisely Lin yiniang.

Originally, Lin yiniang was a daughter of a xiucai in dire straits, and she was later brought back to the residence as a noble concubine after Earl Chengyi became interested in her.

(xiu cai) – a scholar who had passed the imperial examination at the county level, or a skilful writer.

With her delicate and pretty features, and the temperament that pervaded her entire body, she did not look like she was a yiniang concubine to a noble family.

There were quite a few concubines who were tender and younger than Lin yiniang – akin to flowers and jade – in the inner courtyard of the original owner's Earl Father.

But Lin yiniang position remained unshakeable; she was still the most pampered, and in her legitimate mother's purview, she was the thorn at her side.

The original owner had secretly studied the bearing, manners, and methods of this Lin yiniang before.

When Ruan Xi saw Lin yiniang at first sight, she became astonished instantaneously.

Translator's Note: The differences in the word 'mother' that translation fails to capture :'))

Whenever Ruan Xi refers to her legitimate mother, she always uses the word '母亲' (mu qing), whereas Ruan Yu Min refers to his biological mother Lin yiniang as just '娘' (niang) which is more informal (and befitting). And like what I previously mentioned in one of the footnotes, '妈妈' (ma ma) is strictly used for older woman servants alone in the ancient context.

Terms used in Chapter 3

小姐 (xiao jie) – young lady.

姨娘 (yi niang) – a term for an officialised concubine.

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

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

四姐 (si jie) – fourth older sister.

老太太 (lao tai tai) – the old matriarch of the family.

妈妈 (ma ma) – an older woman servant.

When Yao Hong saw Lin yiniang and the Third Young Master walk in, her expression changed slightly. After she bowed to them, she departed quickly.

Meanwhile, Su Yu poured some tea for Lin yiniang and the Third Young Master with due haste.

"Si niang, seeing as to how you appear all right, yiniang can set her heart at ease. Mama Chen, bring over the hundred-year ginseng and the top-notch bird's nest that I brought." Lin yiniang scrutinised Ruan Xi's complexion briefly, and she only settled her mind when she saw that she was truly unhindered.

She heard that si niang had nearly failed to endure through last night which had caused her a great deal of worry, and it was to the extent where she had tossed and turned in bed, unable to find sleep.

If something bad were to happen to si niang, the Furen would definitely borrow the chance to create difficulties for her.

The Mama Chen behind Lin yiniang presented the two wooden boxes immediately.

Ruan Xi was secretly startled. Hundred-year ginseng… Lin yiniang was truly unstinting.

It seems like Lin yiniang's backing was quite generous and rich.

Ruan Xi inclined her body in a hurry to give a bow to Lin yiniang. With an expression that conveyed she could not thank her enough, Ruan Xi uttered: "Many thanks for yiniang's concern. The physician who made a trip here earlier said that there would be no lingering complications once I woke up.

"However, a hundred-year ginseng is too precious, I can't accept it."

In response, Lin yiniang held onto Ruan Xi's hand and said in warm tones: "No matter how precious it is, it is not as precious as your life. If it weren't for Min'er being mischievous, why would you have to endure such hardships?"

(min er) – the affectionate diminutive name for Ruan Yu Min, the third born son in the Ruan Family.

When Ruan Xi heard Lin yiniang say those words, she did not continue declining. Instead, she allowed Su Yu to accept the things that Lin yiniang had sent over.

Lin yiniang nodded her head in satisfaction. Then, she pulled over her aggrieved son, who had been hiding behind her back without making a single sound.

"Min'er, are you going to continue dallying, or apologise to si niang and ask for her forgiveness?"

After the small and chubby boy shuffled towards Ruan Xi, he smacked his lips and apologised with a lowered head. "Si jie (Fourth Older Sister), I… I was wrong."

Ruan Xi accepted the little chubby boy's apology kindly, since he was only the originator of her illness. Moreover, he had not been deliberate in his actions, while the original owner's death had other hidden reasons or ulterior motives.

Someone had borrowed the opportunity to ruin or get rid of the original owner.

Once Lin yiniang had said another string of solicitous words, she brought her little chubby boy away.

Not long after Lin yiniang had left, her legitimate mother's trusted Mama arrived belatedly, armed with her legitimate mother's concern and questions, and a pile of body nourishing medicinal herbs. Afterwards, she told her to stay in her courtyard to recuperate properly.

The concubines from other courtyards also sent people over to visit and express their concerns.

This was the first time the Limpid Heart Garden was so lively.

The original owner had never experienced such a treatment during her previous bouts of illness, and yet she was receiving it after her engagement with Wen Ting Zhou.

Ruan Xi laughed bitterly in the depths of her heart. The silence that the original owner kept to hide her own inadequacy had become useless in its entirety.

No matter how mediocre her performance was, her legitimate mother would still feel revolted.

Although her legitimate mother looked magnanimous, she was probably wishing that she had gone away after failing to endure through last night.

In a blink of an eye, the time rang for noon, and Ruan Xi felt slightly fatigued as well. She ate two pieces of pastries to cushion her stomach.

Upon seeing her actions, Su Yu quickly went to the kitchen to fetch the minced pork porridge that the woman cook had made for Ruan Xi, and then she told Su Zhu – who had just returned – to go to the main kitchen to get the Young Lady's lunch and the nourishing chicken soup that the furen had instructed her woman cook to make.

Meanwhile, Ruan Xi took the chance to close her eyes and replenish her energy.

Lunch was rich and superb with three meat dishes and one vegetable. The fragrance of the meats assailed the nose, and the steaming and nourishing chicken soup filled the room with its aroma.

Ruan Xi had consumed a bowl of minced meat porridge and some pastries in the morning. Now that she was smelling the sweet and rich fragrance of the meats, her stomach started gurgling.

However, when Ruan Xi saw the captivating gloss on the soy sauce braised pig trotters which smelled and looked great, a glint flashed past her eyes.

"Young Lady, the kitchen steward said that the Furen has sent word that the Young Lady's meals should be prepared in accordance with today's meal as the norm." Su Zhu told Ruan Xi about the good news happily.

Su Yu was full of smiles as well.

Typically, her Young Lady would only receive one meat and one vegetable dish, or two vegetables and one vegetable soup.

Now that her treatment had been raised to such an extent, and so quickly, Su Yu and Su Zhu felt like their Young Lady's good days had arrived.

Ruan Xi glanced at her two servant girls who were completely oblivious and ignorant to the malicious intentions that her legitimate mother harboured, before she released a silent sigh.

There were three meat dishes on the table: pig trotters braised in soy sauce, fish braised in soy sauce, and deep-fried chicken legs. They were all meat dishes that were exceedingly oily and had a glossy shine. Even the vegetables were not spared from a copious amount of sesame oil.

The nourishing chicken soup also had a layer of gloss on top; the kitchen probably chose a fat chicken specifically for the stewing.

Judging from all the dishes on the table, her legitimate mother was setting down the capital to increase and prop up her appetite to make her obese before she married out.

No matter how beautiful a person was, they could not maintain their beauty once they were fat.

Her legitimate mother's actions were done in a fair and open manner too; just think, which fourteen-year-old girl could resist such delectable meat dishes?

Like her servant girls, the original owner had been constrained to the back courtyard. Hence, she did not understand pharmacology and she was unaware of the possible perils concealed in her diet, which meant that she was easily led along.

But Ruan Xi was not the same. Owing to her congenital heart disease, she was extremely concerned about how she could maintain her health through her diet, and she even studied for a dietitian license.

"Su Yu, leave the soy sauce braised fish behind, you can take the remaining two meat dishes away, they are rewarded to all of you."

Ruan Xi gave the instruction which she had promptly decided on, before she explained the metaphorical fishiness in the food, which frightened Su Yu and Su Zhu.

"You don't need to worry too much; consuming some intermittently is alright, but it can't be eaten frequently. Eating too much greasy and rich meats and fishes is bad for one's health."

Afterwards, Ruan Xi smiled and began using her lunch. The chefs in the Earl Chengyi Residence had good cooking skills, and towards the nourishing chicken soup, Ruan Xi used a spoon to remove the glazed layer that was floating on top before she drank it.

She ate the meal with great relish.

Su Yu and Su Zhu, however, only settled their hearts after they observed their calm Young Lady. Then, they enjoyed their meat dishes until their hearts were content, and their mouths glistened with the oil from their meal.

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Main Courtyard.

The legitimate wife of Earl Chengyi, Zhang shi, listened to Mama Gao report the situation at the Limpid Heart Garden.

( shi) – translates to 'family' or 'clan'. In ancient times, it was a suffix used after a married woman's maiden name, like née.

"Furen, the kitchen steward has already prepared the meal for the Fourth Young Lady in compliance with yõur instructions."

Zhang shi revealed a smile, satisfied.

"With si niang becoming the fiancée of Wen gongzi, her treatment has to follow up as well. Right, increase her allowance for this month too."

If she was going to do it, she had to do the full set.

Ning'er and da lang still needed to borrow the Wen Family's influence right now, especially where Ning'er was concerned. With her fiancé being as useless as he was, it was unknown how much bitterness her Ning'er would have to eat after marrying over.

ning er) – this is a small name for Ruan Ning.

(da lang) – in this context, Zhang-shi is referring to her oldest son.

Zhang shi was in full support of her daughter breaking the pledge of marriage, since she had always resented the Earl for deciding on this marriage for her daughter. Originally, the Lao Taitai had been persuaded as well, but Ning'er went back on her words at the critical juncture, and even refused to relent on having her betroth si niang. When Zhang shi had heard that her chosen candidate for Ruan si niang was the legitimate son of a Rites Minister, she almost spat out her blood in anger.

Had her Ning'er gone silly?

However, after she was pestered to the point where she had no recourse left, she could only choose to discuss the matter with the Rites Minister's furen. She originally assumed that the other party would disdain the small concubine-born daughter, but who could have expected that she would agree to it?

Zhang shi only felt regret in her heart. If she had known earlier, she would never have made that promise to her daughter, but it was too late for regrets now.

Hence, when si niang was infected with a cold carelessly, she could not resist acting, and she was arrested for a lecture by the Lao Taitai this morning because of it.

Since the Lao Taitai was a reverent Buddhist and practiced vegetarianism, Zhang shi did not expect that the Lao Taitai would still be monitoring her every move and action.

Thus, Zhang shi could only vent her anger on si niang's person. With the Lao Taitai's watchful eyes, she did not dare to use underhanded means, and she went for the open and fair methods directly.

If si niang could not even see through such small tricks, the Lao Taitai would presumably be very disappointed as well.

Mama Gao smiled knowingly as she said: "Furen is benevolent. The fact that the Fourth Young Lady has a legitimate mother like yõu must be because she burned high-quality joss sticks to her ancestors in her previous life."

In a good mood, Zhang shi picked up her small cup to sip on the tea. Meanwhile, Mama Sun had always disliked Mama Gao because she only knew how to fawn. Hence, with a visible frown, Mama Sun brought up another matter.

"Furen, the person we have in Lin yiniang's courtyard has sent news that Lin yiniang has given a hundred-year ginseng to the Fourth Young Lady."

In an exceptionally tactful manner, she did not bring up the fact that the Third Young Lady had given the Fourth Young Lady a good ginseng that was short of a hundred years as well.

Upon hearing that, Zhang shi's complexion contorted slightly and her good mood disappeared without a trace, and veins protruded on the back of her hand as she tightened her grip on the teacup. With gnashed teeth, she reprimanded severely:

"That despicable Lin shi!"

Even she did not have many hundred-year ginsengs in her hands, so how could Lin shi, a mere daughter of a xiucai in dire straits, possibly have such good products? The Earl must have given it to her.

With how liberal Lin shi was, she definitely had many good things in her hands.

When Mama Gao saw her Furen being angered, she gave Mama Sun a vicious glare.

"Furen, please cool yõur temper. Lin yiniang is but a small concubine who has taken advantage of the favour she has to receive some things through less-than-improper means, she can't shake your position. This expansive Earl Chengyi Residence will still be inherited by yõur Young Master in the end."

"Mama Gao, do not forget that Lin yiniang has the Third Young Master at her knees, and he will be distributed a portion of the Earl's estates." Mama Sun reminded.

"The Third Young Master is just a six-year-old child, he is nothing to worry about. Who knows if he has the chance to grow up." Mama Gao laughed coldly.

"Mama Gao, it seems like you have failed to grasp my meaning. With Lin yiniang's schemes and measures, protecting the Third Young Master and ensuring that he will grow up peacefully is not a difficult matter. While she is giving an apology on the surface, the reality is that she is borrowing the hundred-year ginseng to be on friendly terms with the Forth Young Lady, and pave the road for the Third Young Master." Sun Mama pierced the truth of Lin yiniang's motive with one pertinent remark.

Mama Gao was rendered speechless, and she said something unwittingly in response.

"I heard that the Third Young Lady sent a ginseng short of a hundred years to the Fourth Young Lady as well."

Mama Sun called her an idiot in the dark.

Why was she adding fuel to the fire at this moment?

Zhang shi's expression blackened instantaneously and it was extremely terrifying.

The room became so quiet a pin drop could be heard. The trusted maidservants in the room quickly suppressed their breathing and reduced their sense of existence as much as possible.

With a loud crash, the teacup in Zhang shi's hand was smashed onto the ground. Her lips trembled as she spoke in anger: "Go, call Ning'er over."

"Yes, Furen!"

Mama Sun answered in a hurry before she turned around to leave.

Limpid Heart Garden.

Ruan Xi was unaware of the matters that occurred after she had received the two ginsengs.

After taking an afternoon nap, Ruan Xi dismissed Su Yu and Su Zhu so she could familiarise and practice all the various etiquette the original owner had learnt in secret.

A noble daughter's upbringing was not easy and these were things she had never experienced before. Ruan Xi could not have a peace of mind when she could only rely on the memories without having any actual practice.

Those skills would only and truly belong to her when she had the proper grasp and mastery of them.

Her golden finger was merely the thorough understanding of the plot through the lens of the female protagonist, but that knowledge was of little help to her.

Hence, Ruan Xi put in her utmost effort as she faced the mirror and replicated the various appropriate ceremonial poses from the original owner's memories.

From being uncoordinated and unskilled in the beginning, she searched and instilled the bodily instinct little by little…

"Sure enough, it's just like what I had anticipated. Fortunately, I wasn't overly reliant on the original owner's memories."

Ruan Xi used a handkerchief to wipe away the beads of sweat that had gathered on the tip of her nose, revealing a relaxed smile.

"My etiquette is technically passable, but I still need to practice more."

The etiquette lessons that the female master had taught her gradually emerged in Ruan Xi's mind: an elegant manner of talking, smiling expressions that were suited to the occasion, and Lin yiniang's mien… the fighting spirit in her heart increased even more.

Meanwhile, Su Yu and Su Zhu were guarding the door outside. As they sat on low stools, they picked up the needlework inside the shallow basket made out of thin bamboo strips, and began embroidering the small pouches.

Just as Su Yu finished embroidering a pouch, she raised her head and saw a handsome and spirited noble son clad in a brocade robe walking over to Limpid Heart Garden from the distance at an unhurried pace with a young male servant trailing behind him.

Stunned, Su Yu could not help but rub her eyes, in fear that she had seen the wrong person. To her surprise, it was actually the Oldest Young Master, who was attending Qingshan Academy, which was one of the four best academies of classical learning.

兄 (xiong) – elder brother (though not necessarily blood-related).

Su Yu informed her Young Lady who was inside the room with due haste.

Now aware that her oldest brother was visiting, Ruan Xi stopped practicing her ceremonial poses and propriety, and quickly adjusted her clothes to welcome her oldest brother.

Her oldest brother Ruan Yu Wen was born to her legitimate mother, and he was currently studying in Qingshan Academy of classical learning.

Most of the students in Qingshan Academy were either children of government officials, noble sons of prominent old families, or the members of the imperial family.

Needless to say, the remuneration for the private tutors there were exceedingly expensive.

The relationship between the original owner and her oldest brother was neither good nor bad; it could be said that they were not really on close terms, and this was the first time her oldest brother had paid her a visit because of an ailment.

Ruan Xi smiled faintly, all of these had occurred simply because she had landed herself in a good marriage agreement.

Her fresh out of the furnace fiancé Wen Ting Zhou was currently studying in Qingshan Academy, which also meant that he was in the same academy as her oldest brother.

Hence, Ruan Xi was not surprised by her oldest brother's visit to Limpid Heart Garden.

Not long after, a handsome and spirited looking, nineteen-year-old man garbed in a blue brocade robe stepped into the room.

Ruan Xi had been familiarising herself with the original owner's etiquette and social manners in the afternoon, and with the small exercises she had done, her exceeding beautiful face was stained with a tinge of redness which inundated her countenance, and it was capable of seizing away a person's heart and soul at a glance.

This was the first time Ruan Yu Wen truly felt his fourth younger sister's stunning beauty. Startled admiration flashed past his eyes for an instant, but those emotions became dark pity soon after.

If his fourth younger sister's talents were as breath-taking as her matchless beauty, that would be great.

Unfortunately, there were no 'if'.

As the smallest regret streaked past his mind, Ruan Yu Wen spoke with deep concern apparent on his visage.

"Si mei, seeing as to how your complexion is decent, you should be unimpeded for the most part. Now da ge can set his mind at ease as well." Saying that, he sat on the short and low couch as if he was well at home, and placed the mahogany case he was holding on the short table.

( da ge) – it means oldest or older brother.

"Many thanks for da ge's concern!" Ruan Xi said hurriedly, having roughly guessed the purpose of her oldest brother's visit in her mind. She wore a smile on her face as she poured the tea for her oldest brother.

"Da ge, I do not have any good tea leaves to serve you with here, and I hope that da ge will not disdain it." As she said that, she offered the tea to Ruan Yu Wen.

Ruan Yu Wen accepted the tea and took a sip. Certainly, it was normal tea, but he chose to tease her smilingly, "Why would I disdain it? Even Zi Run xiong has yet to have the fortune of drinking the tea that si mei personally poured."

( xiong) – it means elder brother.

His amicable manner and words were brimming with the intent to close the distance between him and Ruan Xi.

Ruan Xi: "…"

She remembered that the male protagonist in the book would always address Wen Ting Zhou as Zi Run… Zi Run was Wen Ting Zhou's name, but the original owner was unaware of this. Hence, Ruan Xi could only feign uncertainty as she asked:

"Da ge, who is this Zi Run xiong you're referring to?"

Upon seeing his fourth younger sister's puzzled expression, Ruan Yu Wen chuckled softly and said: "Zi Run is Wen Ting Zhou's courtesy name. Si mei, who do you think Zi Run is?'

Although it is common knowledge that Wen Ting Zhou's father was the Minister of Rites, the Wen Family behind him was a famous family with good breeding and the family's social standing was illustrious. Wen Ting Zhou's paternal uncle was the highly venerated and weighted Duke An, and Wen Lao Taiye, who had occupied the seat of the Emperor's tutor for three imperial reigns, could not be underestimated with the influence he wielded in the imperial court.

(an) – peace.

( lao tai ye) – Wen Ting Zhou's paternal grandfather, but 'lao tai ye' can also mean Venerable Sir.

In comparison, the Earl Chengyi Residence was just a meritorious noble clan.

Ruan Yu Wen did not expect that Wen Ting Zhou, the man who had rejected countless noble daughters from illustrious families, would be interested in his concubine-born si mei.

It seems like his fourth younger sister was blessed with great fortune.

Based on his relation to his fourth sister alone, he had smoothly established contact with Wen Ting Zhou in the past two days. And when Wen Ting Zhou became aware of the fact that his fourth sister had fallen into the water and came down with a cold, he had expressed his concern.

"Right, si mei¸ this exquisitely-carved suet jade hairpin is a gift that Zi Run xiong entrusted me with so I might send it to you. Have a look and see if you like it?"

Smiling, Ruan Yu Wen opened the mahogany case and took out the pure white and unblemished suet jade hairpin.

It was a common affair for engaged men and women to mutually send gifts.

However, Ruan Xi's fiancé was Wen Ting Zhou, a person who had remained single until his death. Now that he was sending his fiancée a gift without any prior warning…

Struggling to conceal her shock, Ruan Xi accepted the jade hairpin in a stupefied manner. What was the problem here exactly?

Ruan Yu Wen took another sip of his tea, admiring his fourth sister's incredulous expression. A smirk emerged at the corner of his lips as he continued to speak.

"Zi Run xiong also said that he would be visiting you tomorrow."

Truth to be told, the shock that his fourth sister felt was quite normal. He had been shocked in the beginning too; Zi Run xiong was the same age as him, but the company he kept was absurdly clean, and he did not even have a tongfang or servant girl by his side.

In spite of that, he was now engaged with his fourth younger sister, and he was even inquiring about his fourth younger sister's well-being. If he hadn't remembered incorrectly, his si mei had only attended a few banquets with his mother, and she had never left his mother's side during those occasions, which meant that she did not have a chance to meet other unmarried men.

Was it possible that Zi Run xiong had seen his fourth sister at a certain banquet, and fell in love with her at first sight?

Ruan Yu Wen's gaze stayed on Ruan Xi's eminently beautiful face as he sank into deep contemplation.

Most of the noble daughters from wealthy and/or influential families had decent appearances, and the twin beauties of the capital were endowed with both talent and appearance. On the other hand, his fourth sister merely had her beauty while her talents were average at best. Was Zi Run xiong such a superficial person?

Ruan Xi: "…"

As Ruan Xi held onto the suet jade hairpin in her hands, her eyes widened. In her mind, she had a dark suspicion— Was this Wen Ting Zhou a transmigrator as well?

When Ruan Yu Wen noticed that his fourth sister had yet to come to her senses, he raised an eyebrow as he teased smilingly, "Si mei, have you gone silly in your happiness?"

Ruan Xi's lips twitched unconsciously, What is there to be happy about?

Despite having that thought, she still pretended to reveal a shy smile. "Da ge, please don't speak nonsense, I'm not… not…"

Before she could finish her words, Su Yu's anxious voice travelled over from the door: "Young Lady, the Third Young Lady has arrived."

Just as her voice landed, a wondrous and graceful figure burst into the room like wind and fire. Impressively, it was Ruan san niang, who had just visited Ruan Xi this morning.

Ruan Xi did not manage to keep her shy smile in time before Ruan Ning entered.

Hence, Ruan Ning could see the full scene at a glance, but her eyes were more fixated on the suet jade hairpin in her hands. She became incomparably scorching hot right then and there.

Compared to gold and silver hair ornaments, Ruan san niang had a greater appreciation for jades like suet and jadeite.

"Ge, you came to si mei's courtyard the moment you returned to the Residence, and you even gave si mei such a precious jade hairpin. If you didn't bring any gifts for me, I'm going to be unhappy."

After being the old Emperor's imperial concubine, her taste and appreciation standards had steadily increased.

And the suet jade in Ruan si niang's hands were sparkling and crystal-clear, spotlessly white, exquisite, temperate and without the slightest blemish.

It was obvious at a glance that it was a product of the highest grade that was rarely seen.

She was genuinely unaware of where her older brother had gotten it from. Ruan Ning stared at that suet jade hairpin vehemently, fervently wishing that she make it hers.

When Ruan Yu Wen realised that his biological third younger sister had set her eyes on the jade hairpin that Zi Run xiong had given to their si mei, he smiled helplessly.

"Ning'er, that suet jade hairpin was entrusted to me by Wen gongzi so that I could hand it to si mei."

"What? That's not possible!"

Ruan Ning widened her big and pretty eyes as her expression morphed into one of disbelief. Although she was fully unconscious of it, her offhanded words had exposed her intense jealousy.

Ruan Xi lowered her eyes, speechless.

Ruan san niang's moral cultivation and expression management required more work.

Ruan Yu Wen shot Ruan Xi an apologetic look before he stood up and pulled his intemperate younger sister over.

"Ning'er!"

Coming to her senses abruptly, Ruan Ning squeezed out an apologetic smile. She told Ruan Xi: "Apologies, si mei. I heard that Wen gongzi has always stayed a respectful distance away from women, which is why I was so surprised when I heard that Wen gongzi had sent si mei a gift.

"I didn't expect that si mei would be regarded differently.

"This is the first time I've seen such an exquisite and smooth suet jade, is it possible for si mei to lend me the suet jade hairpin to admire for a few days?"

Evidently, Ruan san niang had not given up on wanting that suet jade hairpin.

With each day where it was not in her possession, she would continue thinking about it in her heart.

Ruan Yu Wen's handsome face darkened slightly.

What was Ning'er saying?

Upon hearing that, Ruan Xi looked at Ruan san niang strangely and noticed the desire present in her eyes, in addition to her determination to win which she could not conceal in time. Ruan Xi frowned internally, with Ruan san niang's personality, she was afraid that like throwing a meat-stuffed bun at a dog, she would never get her jade hairpin back once she lent it out. Although she had surmised most of Ruan san niang's intentions in her mind, Ruan Xi still gave her an embarrassed smile on the surface.

"I can understand san jie's state of mind. I was very surprised too. Da ge even mentioned that Wen gongzi would be visiting me tomorrow, and I haven't dared to believe it up until now."

The perpetually calm Ruan Xi could not resist poking Ruan san niang in the cavity of her heart.

She might be a small illegitimate daughter now, who needed to remain inconspicuous and forbearing, but that did not mean that she was without a temper.

Casually lending her sister the gift that her fiancé sent to allow her to admire it? Did she take her for an idiot? If word were to get out, wouldn't she be planting a thorn at the bottom of Wen Ting Zhou's heart?

Regardless of whether Ruan san niang had been deliberate or unintending, Ruan Xi would not indulge her in the least.

To start with, Ruan san niang was the unreasonable one in this matter.

"With regards to lending the jade hairpin, it is not that I am being petty. Rather, this suet jade hairpin was given by Wen gongzi, and Wen gongzi is my fiancé. It is not suitable for me to lend out the gifts he sent me, and I hope that san jie will not make it difficult for me."

Once she said those words, Ruan Ning's smile almost dropped. The envy and jealousy she felt festered her heart like vines overgrowing, ensnaring and spreading endlessly.

In that instant, she hated the fact that she had not transmigrated into her fourth sister.

Was her fourth younger sister's life that great?

In the previous iteration, she had Qi Yue An's unreserved doting for her entire life, and in this lifetime it was changed to Wen Ting Zhou, since Wen Ting Zhou seemed to have his heart set on her fourth sister as well.

"Si mei speaks correctly, it is true that my considerations were not comprehensive just now. I must have made it difficult for si mei. I truly envy that you have such a good fiancé, whereas my fiancé only knows how to eat, drink, and play." As Ruan Ning said the latter half with a forced smile, palpable dissatisfaction seeped into her tone as she recalled how her rich fiancé had never sent her a gift, and the fact that he had tongfang and servant girls in his back courtyard.

Ruan Xi did not answer this time around, only lowering her head to feign shyness.

It was better to refrain from exposing the depths of her legitimate older sister's heart in front of their oldest brother right now.

It did not matter what kind of person Qi er gongzi (Qi Yue An) was, he was still the choice Ruan san niang made.

Since she had decided to marry him, she ought to make some mental preparations instead of hanging her dissatisfaction by her mouth to garner the sympathy and compassion of others on the surface, even though she was full of confidence in her heart.

Changing a silk clothes was not an easy feat, unless the other party was playing the pig to eat the tiger.

(wan ku) – refers to a child of a rich family, with all its corresponding negative connotations.

She wished Ruan san niang good luck!

Ruan Yu Wen: "…"

The marriage agreement between Ning'er and Qi er gongzi had always been a thorn in his and his mother's hearts.

It was not that they had never resented their Father for this; rather, they could not change the fact that the marriage was a foregone conclusion.

When his younger sister had clamoured about wanting to break off the engagement a few days ago, he and Mother had been happy inwardly.

But for reasons unknown to them, Ning'er stopped clamouring all of a sudden and she even started preparing for her marriage joyously. Back then, he and his mother almost suspected that Ning'er had been possessed by some dirty thing.

In the end, they confirmed that Ning'er was still Ning'er, she had merely straightened out her thinking abruptly.

"Ning'er, were you looking for da ge specifically?" Ruan Yu Wen did not want to become estranged with si mei because of this matter, so he quickly changed the subject.

When Ruan Ning heard her older brother's question, she finally remembered the reason for her visit, and she no longer had the mind to envy her fourth sister. Besides, it was possible that Wen Ting Zhou was only putting up a pretence to boost his reputation.

Ruan Ning gave herself another round of consolations before she shook her head and replied: "No, I came here to find si mei. I want to host a tea party tomorrow to invite my fellow sisters for a gathering, and I wanted to ask si mei to come along and become acquainted with my fellow sisters.

"However, I didn't expect that Wen gongzi would be visiting si mei tomorrow. What a pity."

Ru Yu Wen: "…"

Ruan Xi's lips twitched a little. She did not find it pitiful at all. Had Ruan san niang forgotten the fact that she was still a patient who was recovering from her cold?

Furthermore, even if she was not ill, Ruan Xi would not attend her tea party either. She was quite busy, where was she supposed to find the leisurely frame of mind to meet Ruan san niang's fellow sisters?

It was rather common for noble daughters from rich and influential families to host tea parties, and invite a few of their close friends to their boudoir to recite poetry, paint, exchange their feelings and make friends and connections. Despite its commonality, however, the original owner had never received such invitations.

Ruan san niang had hosted four tea parties prior to this, and because she was only a legitimate daughter from an Earl's Residence, the fellow sisters that she invited for the most part were noble daughters from the social strata, but the original owner was never invited once out of those four times.

And now that Ruan Xi had become Wen Ting Zhou's fiancée, there were a lot of noble daughters that wanted to become acquainted with her.

Ruan san niang's invitation would only be the beginning. Ruan Xi had reason to suspect that she might have more chances to go out and attend tea parties and banquets once her body was fully recuperated.

After Ruan Ning and Ruan Yu Wen departed, Ruan Xi caressed the suet jade hairpin in her hands. If a normal girl had received this precious gift, it was highly likely that delight would arise in their hearts and thereby cause the budding of love to germinate. But Ruan Xi's heart was calm and tranquil, without the slightest ripple appearing.

"Wen Ting Zhou…"

Ruan Xi laughed softly as she recited his name in a low voice. A smear of interest emerged in her eyes. Truly, she was looking forward to their meeting tomorrow.

…

Like Ruan Xi had anticipated, her dinner for the night consisted of cooked meat dishes with rich and sweet scents, but greasy and cloying all the same.

Su Yu and Su Zhou found it difficult to conceal the indignance on their faces.

"Sure enough, the Furen has evil intentions!"

Owing to her congenital heart disease that Ruan Xi had prior, her staunch will and determination was stronger than most people.

"There is nothing to be angry about. The Furen is conspiring openly, which is a lot better than poisoning the rice and dishes."

Ruan Xi gave a smile that was pregnant with meaning.

Su Yu and Su Zhu turned pale with fright. "… What, even… even using poison?" Their Young Lady's personality was a little too optimistic, no?

"Young Lady, the Furen might actually ask someone to poison the rice and dishes?"

Su Zhu scrutinised the dishes like it was pestilence, and her eyes were brimming with fear.

"Young Lady, should we look for a physician to have a look?"

Ruan Xi glanced at them, noting that they looked like birds who would startle at the mere twang of a bowstring. Evidently, they had been badly frightened. Laughing helplessly, she said: "Do not forget that there is still a Lao Taitai in this residence."

Of course, she could not place her hopes on Lao Taitai alone; Ruan Xi had her own measures.

In the original owner's memories, she did not have a biological mother to protect her, so when she was around the ages of six or seven, the servants in the Residence realised that the Furen disliked the Fourth Young Lady, and they started to reduce her regulated portion of necessities and meals. Even if Mama Xu became angry over the matter, she was still utterly helpless, because the entire Earl Residence was under the Furen's control.

But who could have known that after a few days, those bondservants would be sold away, and the Lao Taitai would rebuke the Furen for her lax management and allowing the servants to bully their master?

The original owner had always known that it was not accurate to say that her vegetarian and Buddha-revering zu mu did not care for the affairs.

(zu mu) – paternal grandmother.

Since Su Yu and Su Zhu had heard of this incident from Mama Chen, they trusted Lao Taitai.

The Lao Taitai's benign countenance emerged in Ruan Xi's mind. The reason why this Lao Taitai was biased towards and doted on Ruan san niang, was because Ruan san niang was the most intelligent out of the four daughters born into the Earl Residence.

Although the original owner had seen through the truth of the Lao Taitai's favouritism in her attentiveness to detail, she did not have any intention of exposing herself for the sake of pandering and ingratiating herself to the Lao Taitai.

The original owner's actions was correct.

Take now for instance: the original owner had been pushed to her last breath by Zhang shi solely because she had landed on a good marriage agreement.

If she hadn't transmigrated, and the original owner were to die, the Lao Taitai would only chastise Zhang shi rather than give her a stern punishment.

Because with her legitimate eldest son and Ruan san niang around, Zhang shi would still act in a manner that was befitting of an Earl's furen.

Ruan Xi gave her silent condolences to the original owner once more for her premature death, and hated Zhang shi for her viciousness.

"Young Lady speaks correctly, there is Lao Taitai still." Su Zhu's eyes brightened, and she turned optimistic in an instant.

Su Yu settled her heart as well.

Ruan Xi smiled, but her smile was not as naïve-looking as her servants. The loyalty of the original owner's two maidservants was a confirmed fact but they were incognizant of the measures and tricks employed in the back residence, and Mama Xu was not particularly capable either.

If it were not for the original owner hiding her inadequacies by keeping quiet, thus evading a lot of shameful secrets, how could Limpid Heart Garden be this benign?

( xiang he) – also means (of atmosphere or mood) happy and auspicious.

There was a problem with the dishes tonight, and Ruan Xi managed to determine that it was the vegetable dish with one glance.

After drinking a few mouthfuls of chicken soup calmly, Ruan Xi picked up her chopsticks, her movements slow as she followed the table etiquette taught by the female master from the original owner's memories to partake in her meal.

The food was greasy, the stir-fried vegetables also used sesame oil, and who could have expected that the only vegetable dish would be drugged with a substantial amount of infertility medicine?

Ruan Xi merely clipped up some of the meat dishes to accompany her rice, and she put down her chopsticks once she was seven parts full.

"Su Yu, get rid of the vegetable dish, don't let anyone discover it. You can take away the remaining meat dishes; whether you distribute the food among yourselves or choose to give it to the older woman servants is of no consequence, don't waste the food."

Su Yu promptly agreed, delighted, and she started to clear the table with Su Zhu.

Meanwhile, Ruan Xi sat on her short couch, holding a cup of green tea as she sank into deep contemplation.

She had assumed that her foreknowledge of the plot upon transmigration was her golden finger, but she just became aware that it was not the case. Her golden finger was very practical. Since there were no "additional ingredients" in her lunch, she had not realised it then, but there was an issue with her dinner tonight, which was why her golden finger showed itself.

She was automatically aware of the substantial amount of infertility medicine added to the vegetable dish.

A bold conjecture emerged in Ruan Xi's heart: was it possible that her golden finger would remind her every time something harmful to her body appeared?

This conjecture remained unverified.

However, she felt assured by the fact that she did not have to fear any tampering done to her food.

Ruan Xi was not afraid of the shenanigans implemented in her diet, but she feared she could not guard against the harmful schemes in the back residence in an ancient era.

In the middle of xu shi, the coarse older woman servants carried in the hot water for Ruan Xi to take a pleasant hot bath, and then she went to bed early.

(xu shi) – is a double-hour that represents 7PM to 9PM. Since it is in the middle of xu shi, it is 8PM at night.

On the other hand, the furen of Earl Chengyi, Zhang shi, tossed and turned, unable to find sleep. While it was a good thing that her oldest son could borrow the opportunity to claim connections to Wen gongzi – who had a higher social status – in his academy, the very thought that he was benefitting from his association to a concubine-born daughter made Zhang shi feel like air was being lodged in her heart, and it was only circulating and multiplying her anger ceaselessly.

This had only worsened after she heard Ning'er say that Wen gongzi had relied on her oldest son to send that yatou Ruan Xi a suet jade hairpin of superb quality, and that he was personally coming to their residence to visit her tomorrow…

(ya tou) – a deprecating (but can be an endearing) way to say 'girl', and it also a term used for slave girls and maids.

Zhang shi was enraged to the point where her anger toppled over and the hate she felt towards the Earl for arranging such an upsetting marriage for Ning'er surged up again. Her Ning'er, the dignified legitimate daughter of Earl Residence, had her marriage matters trampled by an illegitimate daughter, and against all reason, this awkward scene was also brought about by her single-handedly. When Zhang shi thought about the mocking gaze that Lin yiniang gave her this afternoon, she secretly ordered her servant to put a substantial amount of infertility medicine inside si niang's dishes.

This time around, she accomplished the sabotage with extreme discretion, and she managed to conceal it past the Lao Taitai's people.

The ranks of people who could not sleep that night included the two concubines who had daughters.

On the contrary, Ruan san niang managed to sleep early like Ruan Xi, since she wanted to meet her fellow sisters with the best attitude.

Ruan san niang remembered that she had a close friend who was a cousin to the future Empress Dowager, and they had been on friendly terms ever since their times in the boudoir.

Who could have expected that the small concubine of a prince would become the Empress Dowager who was set above the masses?

When her spirit had been pacing around the imperial palace because it did not scatter after her death, she heard that the Empress Dowager would frequently invite that fellow sister of hers into the palace.

Even though that fellow sister had entered a dissatisfying marriage, the latter half of her life had been spent in a contented and blissful manner because of her familial associations.

Ruan san niang secretly celebrated the fact that she had been reborn back to the original point of her initial transmigration, and that she had yet to become enemies with the original body owner of that fellow sister.

It would be great if she could borrow her close friend to become acquainted with the future Empress Dowager before she entered the Prince's residence.

Ruan san niang continued to have her beautiful dreams.

It was not that she never thought of using her rebirth, the knowledge she had gained prior to her transmigration, and her healing abilities to match herself to that Prince and become his woman.

However, when Ruan san niang thought about how her fourth sister would be marrying Qi Yue An again once she broke off the engagement and be pampered by Qi Yue An for the rest of her life, while she had to fight with other women endlessly for favour, she felt unreconciled in her heart.

Qi Yue An had belonged to her from the start. Thus, Ruan san niang gave up on being that Prince's woman and decided to be on friendly terms with the future Empress Dowager instead.

Fortunately, Ruan Xi was unaware of the fact that Ruan san niang had decided to hug the female protagonist's big thighs, or she would have expressed her stupefaction.