Ties of Love, Ruan Wan

As Ruan Wan and her two concubines walked and chatted, they could hear Su Ying's laughter from afar: "Oh dear, the son-in-law has arrived! Why didn't anyone announce his arrival?"

Su Ying gave Aunt Hua a forced smile, and Aunt Hua immediately lowered her head and said, "Madam, I am leading the young master and the third young lady to see the master and you."

Su Ying ignored him and looked at Lou Qianyuan instead. "Doesn't it affect your work if your son-in-law has to take time out every month to come back and visit his father-in-law?"

Lou Qianyuan bowed to Su Ying and said with a smile, "This son-in-law greets his mother-in-law."

Ruan Wan simply curtsied in return. Su Ying looked Ruan Wan up and down, and Lou Qianyuan immediately said, "It is my duty as a son-in-law to visit his father-in-law."

Su Ying immediately smiled and said, "I'll cook myself today. Young master, go visit the master first."

After Su Ying left, Ruan Wan heard Aunt Hua breathe a sigh of relief and asked, "What's gotten into her today?"

Aunt Hua sighed, "She's just showing off her power as the mistress of the house. Now that the Fourth Miss is pregnant, she's become even more arrogant."

Aunt Liu also wore a bitter smile and said, "I just hope that once the three-year mourning period is over, Mu Jun will be betrothed and married off."

Aunt Hua comforted her, saying, "The Third Miss has married a good husband, and the Fourth Miss is favored in the palace. In the future, Prince Mu will surely be able to choose a good family."

Judging from their worried and fearful faces, it's clear they've suffered a lot at Su Ying's hands at home.

Ruan Wan led Lou Qianyuan to Ruan Zhengqing's study, where he now lives alone, while Su Ying lives in the courtyard that Ruan Yuanyan used to live in.

You could hear Ruan Zhengqing's scolding from afar: "Your older brother always teaches you to write like this; your starting posture is wrong!"

Ruan Wan knocked on the door. Ruan Zhengqing looked outside and, upon seeing Ruan Wan and Lou Qianyuan, his stern face immediately relaxed.

With the air of a loving father, Ruan Zhengqing smiled and said, "Wan'er, Qian Yuan, you've arrived."

Ruan Yulang had grown quite a bit taller and had also learned proper manners. He bowed to Ruan Wan and Lou Qianyuan, saying, "Yulang greets my elder sister and brother-in-law."

Ruan Wan smiled and patted his head. "Yulang has grown quite a bit taller. Your sister and father have something to discuss. Go find your mother first."

Yu Lang looked up at Ruan Zhengqing, who nodded. Ruan Yu Lang put down his pen and ran away in a flash.

Ruan Zhengqing sighed as he watched Ruan Yulang's retreating figure.

Ruan Wan smiled and said, "Back in the day, Yulang was always the most attached to his father, but now he's afraid of you."

Ruan Zhengqing sighed again, "I've never paid attention to his studies before, I never expected him to be so bad. In the future, he won't even be able to pass the imperial examinations, let alone become a scholar."

Lou Qianyuan bowed to Ruan Zhengqing, saying, "Son-in-law greets father-in-law."

Ruan Zhengqing stood up with a smile and helped Lou Qianyuan to his feet. "Has anything new happened in the court lately?"

Ruan Zhengqing started chatting with Lou Qianyuan, and they talked on and on. Ruan Wan found it boring, so she went back to her own South Garden to stroll around.

Granny Wang remained in the South Garden to watch over the courtyard. She spotted Ruan Wan from afar and greeted her with a smile, "Miss is back! Where's the young master?"

As Granny Wang was about to bow, Ruan Wan quickly helped her up. "Granny, are you alright? It's so cold; why are you sitting outside?"

Granny Wang chuckled, "It's so stuffy in here, let's sit by the door and get some fresh air."

When Ruan Wan got married, Ruan Zhengqing originally wanted Wang Mama to go with her, along with four other maids, but Ruan Wan refused.

Granny Wang has spent her whole life in the Ruan family; it would be better for her to stay and enjoy her retirement there.

Ruan Wan pulled Wang Mama to sit down. "Mama, Wan'er has something to ask you."

Granny Wang hurriedly said, "Miss, please just say what you want to ask."

Ruan Wan glanced at the East Garden and said, "What did Madam do at home that made Concubine Hua and Concubine Liu so afraid of her?"

Granny Wang glanced at the East Garden, frowned, and said, "I wonder if she's been possessed; Madam's behavior is becoming increasingly strange."

Granny Wang held Ruan Wan's hand and said, "Miss, you don't know, Madam always finds fault with Concubine Hua and Concubine Liu. Our household isn't observing mourning for the Old Madam. The other day, Concubine Hua secretly prepared some meat for the young master, and Madam caught her red-handed, causing a huge uproar."

It turns out that this was the reason. Yulang was at the age where he was growing, and Aunt Hua was worried that he wasn't getting enough nutrition, so she secretly added some oil to his diet, which was understandable.

Ruan Wan said, "This is something that should be discussed behind closed doors. What good will it do her to make such a big fuss?"

Granny Wang frowned and said, "That's right. Aunt Hua is only doing this out of my good intentions. How can she not be more understanding? Back when she was pregnant with the eldest young lady, the old master passed away, and the late madam secretly made soup for her to nourish her."

Caught off guard, Granny Wang mentioned Ruan Wan's mother. She immediately covered her mouth and looked at Ruan Wan apologetically.

Ruan Wan smiled and said, "Granny, there's no need to worry. It's a good thing that there are still people in this manor who remember my mother's kindness."

That evening at the dinner table, Ruan Wan finally realized what Su Ying was up to.

Ruan Zhengqing looked at the large table of fish and meat, and coldly asked Su Ying, "Our family is in mourning, what are you doing here?"

Su Ying was now completely unafraid of Ruan Zhengqing, and said with a smile, "The other day, Aunt Hua secretly stewed chicken soup for Yu Lang. I thought it was something to be discussed behind closed doors, and that her vegetarianism was just for show."

Su Ying smiled and looked at Aunt Hua, who didn't dare to lift her head and her body began to tremble.

Su Ying then looked at Ruan Wan and Lou Qianyuan and said with a smile, "Third Miss and her husband don't need to observe mourning. This is for them to eat. How can we entertain guests with something so bland and watery?"

Su Ying pointed to the dishes on the table, "Stewed vegetables with tofu, stir-fried bean sprouts, and this, and this... they're not all vegetarian, but our family can just eat vegetarian food."

It turns out that they were waiting here because if Ruan Wan didn't eat, it would be considered unfilial of her daughter not to touch the dishes prepared by her mother, the matriarch of the household.

But if she actually ate it, the news will probably spread all over the capital tomorrow. It's still unfilial of the third young lady of the Ruan family to eat meat while she is observing mourning at home.

Lou Qianyuan, who was standing to the side, wanted to speak, but Ruan Wan tugged at his sleeve.

Su Ying warmly greeted Ruan Wan and Lou Qianyuan, "Son-in-law, please eat! This red date stewed chicken, salt and pepper peanuts, white fungus and longan soup, and lotus seed stuffed meat are all dishes I specially prepared. You two should get pregnant soon; your sister beat you to it!"

The meaning is good, but I wonder how much of it is genuine.

Ruan Zhengqing's face grew increasingly grim, and the atmosphere in the dining hall plummeted to freezing point.

Ruan Wan smiled and looked at Su Ying, "Mother, you've worked so hard to prepare this meal. May Mother offer it to Grandmother?"

Su Ying was stunned. She hadn't expected Ruan Wan to ask such a question, and her smile froze on her face.

Ruan Wan stood up and picked up two plates of meat dishes from the table. "Grandmother hasn't eaten yet, how dare we younger generations eat such good food?"

Ruan Wan gave Lou Qianyuan a wink, and Lou Qianyuan immediately picked up two plates of food and followed behind Ruan Wan.

Aunt Hua said to Ruan Yulang, who was sitting to the side, "Why aren't you sitting here? Go and help your sister and brother-in-law."

Ruan Yulang also carried a plate before following.

Ruan Wan placed the dishes in front of the memorial tablet, and Lou Qianyuan followed with a smile, also putting down the meat and vegetables he was holding. "How did you come up with this idea? I was already prepared to completely break ties with her."

Ruan Wan smiled and looked at Lou Qianyuan, "If you completely break ties with her, aren't you afraid her daughter will use her influence in the palace?"

Lou Qianyuan smiled and looked at Ruan Wan, "Are you worried about me?"

Ruan Wan turned away, ignoring him.

Lou Qianyuan laughed and said, "Our Emperor is not someone who is obsessed with beauty and lacks his own opinions."

The royal family already has many adult princes, so even if Ruan Yuanyan gives birth to a prince, there is no possibility that he will inherit the throne.

The Lou family wouldn't be so afraid of a favored concubine, after all, the Empress is still a member of the Lou family.

Ruan Yulang carefully carried a plate of braised fish into the ancestral hall, and Lou Qianyuan quickly stepped forward to take it from him.

The twelve-year-old boy was not very familiar with Ruan Wan and was at a shy age.

Ruan Wan said gently to Ruan Yulang, "Yulang, kneel down and kowtow to your grandmother."

Although Ruan Yulang didn't know why, he immediately did as his mother told him to get closer to this older sister he had only met a few times.

The three returned to the dining hall. Ruan Wan was in a great mood, and only the first-class red date and angelica chicken soup remained on the table.

Su Ying's face was very ugly. Ruan Wan directly picked up Ruan Yulang's bowl, filled it with soup, tore off a chicken leg, and handed it to Ruan Yulang.

Aunt Hua hurriedly declined, saying, "How can that be? Everyone is observing mourning for the old lady. Yulang is also a grandson, so naturally he should be treated equally."

Ruan Wan smiled and said, "I just had Yulang kowtow before Grandmother's memorial tablet to thank her. Yulang is at the age where he is growing, and Grandmother would never want her grandson to go hungry."

Ruan Wan smiled and said to Ruan Yulang, "After you finish your soup, remember to take the rest of the chicken soup to Grandmother's altar."

Ruan Yulang stared at the chicken leg in the bowl and nodded repeatedly.

He's still just a child.

Aunt Hua cast a grateful glance at Ruan Wan, knowing that if she wanted to give Ruan Yulang special treatment in the future, she would only need to have Ruan Yulang kowtow before her grandmother's spirit tablet.

Ruan Wan easily broke the deadlock, and Ruan Zhengqing's gloom was also dispelled. Originally, it was such a happy thing that his daughter and son-in-law had come back to see him.

Ruan Zhengqing smiled and urged everyone to start eating, "Let's eat, everyone. Qian Yuan, thank you for eating vegetarian food with our family."

Lou Qianyuan laughed and said, "It's not hard work at all. Wan'er said that eating vegetarian food regularly is good for your health."

The family was having a happy meal, but Su Ying was the only one with a long face. Halfway through the meal, she excused herself, saying she wasn't feeling well, and left the table early.

With her gone, everyone enjoyed their meal even more, chatting and laughing.

When Ruan Wan left, Aunt Hua personally saw her off at the gate and watched her carriage drive away.

Lou Qianyuan stared at Ruan Wan as if she were a stranger, making Ruan Wan feel quite uncomfortable.

Ruan Wan looked at Lou Qianyuan and asked, "Am I any different from usual? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Lou Qianyuan raised an eyebrow and said, "Are you still Ruan Wan?"

Ruan Wan was suddenly stunned by his question. Did Lou Qianyuan know that she had traveled from another time?

Ruan Wan recalled her actions just now, and there was nothing strange about them.

Does this mean that people here don't have the custom of first offering sacrifices to their ancestors?

Lou Qianyuan continued, "I used to think you were just afraid of trouble and would tolerate things if you could, but I didn't expect you to be so fearless when it comes to problems."

So that's what they were talking about. Ruan Wan was relieved and said with a smile, "I've realized that trouble is unavoidable, so it's better to deal with it head-on."

Ruan Wan sighed and said, "We're about to deal with another big problem."

This big trouble, of course, is Sun Shishi.

Invitations were sent out long ago, and everyone has agreed to come.

As the mistress of the Lou family was hosting her first banquet, they naturally had to give her face.

On the 28th, Ruan Wan began preparations early in the morning. To avoid overshadowing the main event, Ruan Wan dressed very simply.

The official name of Ruan Wan's banquet this time was a garden party to appreciate flowers.

Early on, Ruan Wan had someone buy camellias that were about to bloom and cultivate them in the garden, and she also acquired many rare varieties.

Plants like the Eighteen Scholars, Peonies, Purple Robes, and Camellias were all in full bloom when Ruan Wan went to the garden early this morning.

Ruan Wan had just asked Qiu Shuang to inform Sun Shishi yesterday that she should attend the banquet this morning.

She always enjoyed attending these kinds of banquets, especially one held at her own home; she was even more determined to attend.