Quick Transmigration: Survive to the End

After the summer heat subsided, the trees on the mountain quietly donned their yellow coats in the blink of an eye.

Shen Ruyin and the eldest daughter went to the main courtyard together, but unexpectedly ran into the second daughter, whom they hadn't seen for a long time, at the gate.

The second young lady was dressed in brocade, adorned with precious hairpins and jewelry, which accentuated her beautiful face and gave her a very aggressive look.

Her expression was somewhat unfriendly, and she glared coldly at Shen Ruyin. "They say a dog that bites doesn't bark, but some people have really opened my eyes."

Shen Ruyin pulled the older girl, whose face had darkened, looked her over, and then fanned her nose with her hand. "Big sister, can you smell how bad your breath is? It really stinks."

The young woman couldn't help but smile. "Then let's sit further away, so we don't get bothered by the smell."

Shen Ruyin replied earnestly, "Big sister is right."

"You, you all!" The second young lady stood up angrily, but was tugged at by the maid next to her sleeve before she calmed down again. She even laughed out loud, looking at Shen Ruyin with a mixture of pity and condescension.

"It's that time of year. I wonder if you'll still be able to smile after you get back home today. I'm waiting to see."

Shen Ruyin felt a little confused, but she quickly realized that they were going to the Sanqing Temple to have a fortune told today. At this time, the Second Miss, who hadn't left the house for a long time, suddenly came over, probably to accompany them.

Her extravagant attire clearly indicated her intention to outshine the other two. Besides, if the third young master of Anping Marquis didn't take a liking to Shen Ruyin but instead fell for her, the marriage would become a joke.

Even if Shen Ruyin were to marry into the family, she would likely have a thorn between herself and the Third Young Master for the rest of her life, a thorn she couldn't spit out or swallow, a truly unpleasant situation.

Before the group could speak again, a maidservant came out from the main courtyard.

"Madam has heard that the young ladies have arrived. Please come in and have a seat."

Upon hearing this, the eldest daughter and Shen Ruyin were bound to give Madam Xie face. The second daughter, having been disciplined over the past few months, was more discreet than before and naturally followed suit. On the surface, things seemed to be going smoothly.

When the three entered, Madam Xie was picking out jewelry to wear. When she saw the three of them come in, she frowned slightly and beckoned Shen Ruyin and the eldest daughter to come closer.

"Although we are going to Sanqing Temple today, you two are dressed too plainly."

As Madam Xie spoke, she picked out suitable pith flowers and gemstone hairpins for the two women and had the maids re-comb their hair.

The second daughter, feeling resentful at being ignored, half-covered her face with a round fan, saying, "It's clear that I'm not favored by my mother, as I can't even get a single piece of jewelry from her."

Madam Xie glanced at her indifferently and said, "Second girl, you are covered in jewelry on your head and body. I feel dizzy, but I can't see what you are missing."

"I was just being affectionate with my mother, but she made me sound like a jewelry stand..." the second daughter said, a hint of grievance appearing on her face.

Madam Xie, however, felt that her attire today was utterly lacking in tact, and had no intention of indulging her at all. "Since you know this, why did you still dress like this? Seeing you today makes me think that all the money I spent on hiring a nanny was wasted."

Madam Xie turned to look at Shen Ruyin and the other girl, "Second Girl has just been released from confinement. Master feels sorry for her not being able to go out for a long time, so he has allowed her to go to Sanqing Temple together today."

After explaining this, Madam Xie turned her gaze back to the second daughter, saying, "When you three sisters go out today, you are not representing yourselves, but the upbringing of our Zhongxin Marquis's Mansion. If anyone causes the mansion to lose face, I will show no mercy."

Seeing the second young lady lower her eyes guiltily, Shen Ruyin felt that Madam Xie was extremely formidable. Not a single vulgar word was uttered, yet it had completely extinguished the second young lady's arrogance outside the door.

After she redid her makeup, she and her elder sister, though not as wealthy as the second young lady, looked more comfortable and appropriate overall, which made the second young lady look like a nouveau riche who had suddenly become wealthy and had no substance.

Shen Ruyin looked at Madam Xie with a hint of admiration, feeling that she still had a lot to learn if she wanted to live a more comfortable life.

This is truly a treasure trove of a beginner's world. She has more than ten years to learn all kinds of rules, etiquette, musical instruments, poetry and literature, and there are teachers like Madam Xie and her older sister everywhere. Even if she is an ordinary person, she should have learned something from being exposed to such things.

Shen Ruyin sighed inwardly as she followed Madam Xie into the carriage. They left the city gate and disembarked amidst the red maple leaves in the mountains. The Sanqing Temple was now in sight.

A young Taoist priest opened the door, asked a few questions, and then led Madam Xie and her party to a small courtyard where the Lady of Anping Marquis was resting.

As they entered the courtyard, the girls couldn't help but glance around, but they didn't see the young master of the Marquis of Anping's mansion.

Shen Ruyin didn't feel anything was wrong, but the second young lady was a little disappointed and her spirits seemed to have waned.

Lady Wang, the wife of the Marquis of Anping, and Lady Xie were cousins ​​and the mistresses of the Marquis's and Earl's mansions, respectively. Naturally, they had more contact than others, and they would chat warmly as soon as they met.

After the two had exchanged a few more words, Madam Wang looked at the three girls.

"Your guest is becoming more and more charming," Madam Wang praised the eldest daughter a couple more times, then stepped past the second daughter and extended her hand to Shen Ruyin. "I haven't seen Ruyin for a while, and I've been missing her quite a bit. Come quickly and let your aunt take a good look at her."

Madam Wang acted so intimately that Shen Ruyin, regardless of whether she had been favored by her in the past, still stepped forward with a smile, glanced at Madam Wang, and said with a hint of amazement, "When I first met Aunt, you were already so beautiful. Now that I have grown up, you still look as beautiful as ever. It is clear that time has been kind to you."

Madam Wang was taken aback, her smile becoming even more genuine. Holding Shen Ruyin's soft hand, she looked at her with increasing fondness. "Your mother used to say that of the three girls in the family, you had the sweetest tongue. I didn't believe it then, but now it seems that what she said couldn't be more true."

As she spoke, Madam Wang took off a gold and jade bracelet from her wrist and put it on Shen Ruyin's wrist.

The gold-inlaid jade bracelet was exquisitely crafted and suited Shen Ruyin's fair and jade-like hands perfectly. Madam Wang was even more pleased. "It's not a rare treasure, but it's fine for casual admiring. Wear it for now."

As soon as Madam Wang finished speaking, another maid brought out two similar bracelets and gave one to each of the two young ladies.

Although these things are similar, anyone with discerning eyes can tell that their meanings are quite different.

After giving the bracelet to Madam Wang, she didn't talk much with the other girls except to ask Shen Ruyin to sit down beside her. She only chatted with Madam Xie about everyday matters until someone came in to report that the abbot had finished his studies and invited the two ladies. Only then did the two ladies stop talking.

Only then did Madam Wang turn her attention to Shen Ruyin again, and asked softly, "Have you gotten bored listening to us talk for so long? Let your third brother take you to see the maple leaves."

Third Brother? Shen Ruyin blinked. Wasn't there no one there just now?

Just as she was about to politely decline, the second young lady's eyes lit up. "I heard that when the maple leaves at Sanqing Temple turn red, the whole mountain is dyed in color. It's a rare and beautiful sight. Eldest sister, I want to go too. Do you want to go?"