Quick Transmigration: Survive to the End

Shen Ruyin didn't pay any more attention to who was ultimately implicated in the case.

But she knew that Madam Wang had further solidified her good reputation among her in-laws, the Sixth Young Mistress had weathered a reputation crisis, and she had gained the gratitude of the Sixth Branch of the family.

However, after the funeral of the old Marquis of Anping was completed, Lady Wang invited the clan elders to quickly and decisively divide the family property.

As the eldest son, the eldest branch of the family naturally received the lion's share, while the sixth branch, as the youngest son, also received a larger share of the family property than the others.

The remaining items were divided equally among the four sons of concubines, but Madam Wang secretly summoned Shen Ruyin and gave her a considerable subsidy.

When the second wife saw Shen Ruyin carrying the box back, she had some suspicions.

At the last family banquet after the division of the family property, she stood up in front of everyone, raised her wine glass, and said, "It's our fault for not being able to win the old lady's favor. We can't be like our third sister-in-law, who can be the old lady's daughter and receive a windfall."

"I am always clumsy and awkward, so I can only offer this cup of wine to the old lady to express my feelings."

"You've only had a few drinks, how come you're already drunk?" The second master saw that Madam Wang and the eldest son's wife were looking at them with a half-smile, so he quickly pulled his wife aside. "Drink this cup and go back to rest."

"Don't touch me," the second wife slapped his hand away. "I respect the old lady. Is the old lady unwilling to give me face? Well, after all, I'm not the third brother's wife."

Su Jinchen's face turned cold, but Shen Ruyin patted him, signaling him to pay attention to Madam Wang's expression.

The current Marquis of Anping is Lady Wang's own son. Now that she is an old feudal lord, she naturally won't be as patient as before with the temper of her illegitimate son and his wife.

The second master understood this principle, which is why he used to let his wife provoke the eldest son's family and his stepmother, but today he knew to stop her in front of everyone.

Unfortunately, the second wife didn't understand. She still thought that when the head of the family was her father-in-law, she would have the head of the family's favor and could get away with any scheming by just pretending to be a quail and crying.

When Madam Wang saw the Second Madam's defiant expression, she was initially a little angry, but as she looked at her, she suddenly burst into laughter.

"Second son, are you going to let your wife pressure me now that your father has just left?"

“Your son wouldn’t dare,” the second master stood up and slapped his second wife across the face, pulling her down to kneel. “It’s my fault for not teaching her well. Please forgive her this time, Mother.”

The second wife covered her face and knelt on the ground, her mind suddenly clearing. She was now under someone else's roof; what else could she do but bow her head?

"Mother, I... I drank a few too many drinks and lost my sense of proportion. Please forgive me."

A hint of regret flashed in Madam Wang's eyes as she said, "Alright, get up. Our family is currently observing mourning at home. Second son, you should teach your wife a lesson. If any more trouble arises, I won't tolerate it."

"Yes, yes, thank you, Mother."

The second wife quickly sat back down, and the fourth and fifth wives dared not say another word.

Madam Wang then announced, "Your father has passed away. After the mourning period is over, you will each divide your households."

“I think you all should live your own lives well and don’t need to come here to serve me every day.”

"I just want to have a few people to talk to every day, so your aunt will stay in the mansion and move to the small Buddhist hall to live there. She can keep me company while I chant sutras and talk to her."

"The mansion is so big, the eldest son doesn't lack the money to support his father and concubines."

The newly appointed Marquis of Anping immediately echoed his mother: "Yes, Second Brother, Fourth Brother, and Fifth Brother, don't worry, your eldest sister-in-law will take good care of them."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people from these different households changed.

Shen Ruyin knew why they had those expressions. Behind the small Buddhist hall, there was no proper courtyard, only a large communal servants' quarters, which used to be for concubines who had made mistakes or been rejected.

The concubines who gave birth to the second, fourth, and fifth daughters were all extremely favored in the household. Over the decades, they had never experienced such a hard life.

Shen Ruyin's mind raced, and she asked, "Mother, are you looking down on us? You said before that you wanted me and Sixth Sister-in-law to come to the mansion more often to talk to you, and that all the concubines should go out and live separately with their brothers and sisters. Why don't you need us anymore?"

The sixth wife exchanged a glance with her and understood: "Yes, Mother, but have I done something wrong?"

Hearing what the two women said, whether they believed it or not, the Fourth Master and the Fifth Master's gazes toward the Second Branch of the House became hostile.

Madam Wang pointed at the two of them from a distance and said with a smile, "What, I love you both and I'm worried about you having a long and tiring journey, is that not good?"

“How could that be?” Shen Ruyin and the other woman both said, “It is our duty to be filial to our mother.”

The fourth and fifth wives also quickly said they would come back more often to keep each other company.

The second wife, realizing her mistake later, also expressed her feelings.

“Alright, alright, they are all filial children,” Madam Wang said, “After all, we have such a long-standing bond. Although I am reluctant to part with them, I also consider their desire to enjoy the company of their grandchildren.”

"After you go back, tidy up the courtyard properly, and then pick an auspicious day to come back to the manor to pick up the people, okay?"

Although there were preconditions and the crucial factor of an auspicious day, the mere existence of hope brought a sigh of relief to these families.

After returning home from their gathering that day, the fourth and fifth wives, along with the aunts who had married and intended to take their concubines to live in comfort, all unanimously developed opinions about the second wife and distanced themselves from them.

Even within the second branch of the family, things weren't exactly peaceful, since the second master was very close to his concubine.

Shen Ruyin couldn't help but sigh to Su Jinchen privately, "Mother is really something. She looks so gentle on the surface, but she knows exactly where to hit when she makes a move."

"The second wife used to be the most boisterous, but now she is the most silent."

Most importantly, Madam Wang only spoke a few words, without getting her hands dirty or harming anyone, and without affecting her own reputation.

Su Jinchen nodded with a sense of sympathy: "Let's figure out what to do after we separate from the family and leave the mansion."

Shen Ruyin actually wanted to learn from Madam Wang's methods again, but considering Su Jinchen, she could only suppress her thoughts for the time being, thinking about when she would have time to talk to Rong Mama. So she changed her mind and continued to discuss with him.

With Lady Wang's intervention, the entire Anping Marquis's residence was eerily quiet during the mourning period. There were no troublemakers, not even minor squabbles; everyone was at peace in their respective rooms.

After the mourning period ended, the Marquis of Anping's mansion held a lively banquet, and then each branch of the family moved out of the mansion to live separately.

There were people talking behind her back, but when they saw that even Madam Wang's own sixth wife had been brought out, they all followed the head of the household and started saying that Madam Wang had a strong sense of right and wrong.

An elder in the family is a treasure.

Shen Ruyin sat in her courtyard, reclining in a rocking chair, fanning herself with a round fan as she sighed to Rong Mama, "Mama, when will I be able to learn the old lady's methods?"

Rong Momo smiled and flattered her, "Even if you learned it, given your relationship with the master, you still wouldn't be able to use it."

Shen Ruyin feigned shyness, covering her face with a fan, but there wasn't much of a smile on her face.

Now that the plot is on track, she doesn't need to worry about anything, but she hasn't forgotten that this is a beginner's world.

It would be even better if I could learn more.

Who knows what other worlds will be like when we go there in the future?

With my limited emotional intelligence, I can't even come close to those who are naturally gifted in this area.

“You still have to learn that,” Shen Ruyin said, taking off her fan and smiling. “Even if it’s just to pass the time, listen to the stories, and exercise your brain so it doesn’t get dull.”

After thinking about it, Rong Momo also agreed that it made sense. From then on, whatever Shen Ruyin wanted to ask her for advice, she would analyze it for her in detail.

Over time, Shen Ruyin learned to read people's expressions and understand how to judge their character.

Besides learning these skills from Rong Momo, she also picked up her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and embroidery, which she had put aside for a while. She even found some travelogues and classic texts to read.

Upon seeing this, Su Jinchen laughed and said, "My wife is aiming for the top score in the imperial examination!"

Shen Ruyin glared at him: "I'd like to, but where would I get the chance to take the exam? But I'm thinking of reading more books so I won't be completely ignorant."

“Besides,” Shen Ruyin said, twirling the book in front of him, “it is said that ‘a person with a wealth of knowledge naturally exudes elegance.’ Look at me, I’ve read so many books, haven’t I developed a scholarly air about me?”

Shen Ruyin had always acted on her impulses, so when she said this, Su Jinchen assumed it was the truth and chimed in, "Yes, yes."

But at the end, he also said to her, "My wife looks beautiful no matter what."

"That's because you're looking at me," Shen Ruyin said, giving him a reproachful look. "I'm tired of staying at home these past few days. Tomorrow we'll go horseback riding on the estate."

"You promised to teach me archery, so I'm going to hunt a rabbit myself and bring it to my older sister."

Su Jinchen frowned slightly upon hearing this: "Only Consort Shu has it, and I don't?"

“You have it, and you have it too, is that alright?” Shen Ruyin gently patted his face, then suddenly thought, “How about you teach me a couple of moves? I’d like to practice my skills.”

Su Jinchen couldn't just agree to that.

"Yinyin, I can't even learn it well myself, how can I teach you?"

"Do you want me to learn from others?" Shen Ruyin glanced at him. "I don't need to be a great player. Just having some basic skills and knowing a few moves is enough."

“It’s not difficult,” Su Jinchen smiled. “I will definitely teach you properly.”

Shen Ruyin smiled with satisfaction, and then she started to think about what she should learn next after she finished learning this one.