Ties of Love, Ruan Wan

Looking at the scene before him, he could only sigh, "Since we're here, we might as well make the best of it."

Ruan Wan took off her clothes, washed away the dust of her journey, and enjoyed the pleasant smell of the various flowers. The hot water relieved her aches and pains.

Ruan Wan was so comfortable inside that she almost fell asleep.

After washing and dressing, several maids dried her hair with towels, and then served the meal: four dishes and a soup, including pickled cucumber, sliced ​​pork with wood ear fungus, braised pork ribs, steamed fish, and a soup of ginseng and black-boned chicken.

Having been starving for so many days, she started eating without saying a word when food was in front of her, leaving the maids dumbfounded, probably never having seen such a young lady before.

Lying in my room at night felt unreal, like I was dreaming. Thinking back on what happened today, it was all so dramatic.

Today's man is his mother's husband, Ruan Wan's father, Ruan Zhengqing. And there's Su Ying.

This house seems to be heading for trouble.

The next morning, after washing up, the maid helped her comb her hair into a low bun, adorned only with a peach blossom hairpin, without applying any makeup.

Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Ruan Wan was no longer the girl who gathered herbs in the mountains. Normally, she would just tie her hair up with a ribbon, and when she was lazy, she would just let it hang loose.

Looking at her pale yellow silk dress, which accentuated her exquisite figure, she truly resembled a lady from a prominent family.

After the meal, Xiao Li took Ruan Wan to the South Garden. There were only a few bamboo trees in the courtyard and nothing else. There was a rockery and a small pond, but the water in the pond had dried up, indicating that no one had taken care of it for many years.

The house was already furnished, with a master bedroom, a shared sleeping area for the servants, a small kitchen, and the reception room in the South Garden.

A matron and four maids came forward, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Third Miss."

Then they each introduced themselves.

First, the old nanny said, "This servant is the head nanny of the South Garden. Third Miss can call me Granny Wang."

The old woman seemed kind and approachable, while the first maid on her left had a round, cheerful face. "This servant is in charge of the Third Miss's makeup, Chunzhu."

The first one on the right, with an oval face and delicate features, said, "This servant is Qiu Shuang, in charge of the Third Miss's attire."

The other two, Xiao Cui and Xiao Lian, are in charge of miscellaneous tasks.

Ruan Wan was completely unfamiliar with this place and did not know what was in front of her. Therefore, she should treat these people as servants, not trust them, and not get close to them.

He told them to go about their business and then went into the room.

Before the door was a round-legged mahogany table, surrounded by round chairs with openwork bases. On the walls hung paintings of flowers and birds. To the left and right were two side rooms. The left room was the bedroom, with a bed carved with peonies, a pale yellow curtain, and rose-red floral mattresses. Under the window was a dressing table, with a bronze mirror and rouge and powder neatly arranged. Behind the bed was a bathtub separated by a screen, followed by several chests and a wardrobe.

The right-hand side room appears to be a study, with several books, an inkstone, and a brush holder on the desk. To the left is a blue-and-white porcelain urn with a white paper scroll rolled up.

Next, on a coffee table, there was a piano stand with a piano on it. When you gently stroked it, the tone was quite good. Next to it was a copper chessboard with two boxes of chess pieces on it. It was made of marble and felt cool to the touch.

After getting familiar with the area, I went back to the dormitory and carefully checked the corner walls. The servants' room was next to it, and if there were any openings, it was probably being monitored.

After searching without finding anything, Ruan Wan sat on the edge of the bed, pondering how to find evidence to prove her mother's innocence.

"Where the pure-hearted butterfly dances," Pure-hearted is the name of an orchid variety, it must be the orchid that Mother loves, and it must be planted where Mother lives. The immediate priority is to find Mother's residence.

Having a plan in mind made me feel much more at ease.

At noon, Xiao Cui and Xiao Lian brought lunch from the main kitchen in food boxes, set it out, and then withdrew, while Chun Zhu and Qiu Shuang served them.

At first, I felt a little uncomfortable with someone watching me eat, but I thought it was their duty and didn't say anything.

Granny Wang recounted the situation of the Ruan family to her.

"Master is the Minister of Personnel, a second-rank official in the current court. The old lady in the back courtyard is Master's birth mother. She lives alone in the bamboo grove in the back courtyard, worshipping Buddha, and rarely comes to the front courtyard. She is exempt from paying respects on ordinary days, and can only be seen during festivals. Master's first wife... um... is your birth mother, Miss. The current mistress of the house is the former Concubine Su. Later, Master remarried and was promoted to a higher rank. The mistress now lives in the East Garden. Concubine Liu and Concubine Hua live in the West and North Gardens. There is no need to go into detail about the other maids. Miss has six siblings: the eldest son, the eldest daughter, and the fourth daughter in the East Garden. The eldest daughter is already married to the eldest son of the maternal uncle of the mistress. The second and fifth daughters are in the West Garden, and the second son is in the North Garden. Master has two brothers and one sister. Master is the eldest son of the old lady. His two half-brothers are not in the capital but are in their respective posts. His sister is the Consort Shu of the Great Xia Dynasty and has given birth to Princess Chang Le for the Emperor."

Looking at her proud expression, it was as if she were her own daughter.

After she finished speaking and lunch was over, Chunzhu and Qiushuang handed her a teacup and a spittoon to rinse her mouth.

Ruan Wan asked, "Wang Mama, where did my mother used to live?"

After thinking for a moment, Granny Wang said, "The late Madam and Master used to live together in the main house, Hehuan Courtyard."

Ruan Wan thought to herself that she would spend some time getting familiar with the house before finding an opportunity to go to the Hehuan Courtyard to look for evidence.

Ruan Wan turned to Wang Mama and said, "Thank you, Mama." Seeing that Wang Mama didn't leave but hesitated, as if she wanted to say something.

Seeing her like this, I couldn't help but laugh. This old trick was definitely meant to make Wu Nan ask her questions, so I granted her wish and asked, "Is there anything else, Granny?"

Wang Mama bowed and stepped forward, saying, "Third Miss, Master has instructed that you should rest quietly in the South Garden and not leave the courtyard unless necessary."

It seems that the original words were not like that. It appears that this father intends to place himself under house arrest here. It seems that this matter is going to be troublesome.

Ruan Wan smiled and stroked Wang Mama's hand, "Thank you for your trouble, Mama. I won't go out."

"Thank you for your understanding, Miss Third," she said quietly before leading the servants away.

Ruan Wan was planning how to escape from the Hehuan Courtyard, and she also needed to prepare a set of clothes for night travel.

That night, in the East Garden. Red candles flickered, and a spring-like glow graced the soft couch.

Ruan Zhengqing embraced Su Ying with one arm and gently stroked her body with the other.

Su Ying turned her head and said sweetly, "Master, this girl is undoubtedly my sister's daughter, but..."

Ruan Zhengqing suddenly declared solemnly, "Ruan Wan is my daughter; this is absolutely true."

"Even if she is the master's daughter, she should be well cared for. Why did the master order her to be confined in the South Garden?"

"I will find someone to teach her properly, and she can be married off when the time comes. I won't keep her hanging around in front of me, and those people in this mansion will gossip and embarrass me."

After saying that, Ruan Zhengqing turned and went to sleep. Su Ying could only give up if she wanted to say something more. It was still cute for women in ancient times to be a little spoiled in front of men, but it would be bad if they went too far. There were many ancient sayings that said "the husband is the head of the household" and "the husband is the heaven".

The maids and servants coming and going at the entrance of the South Garden would always steal glances at the garden, but they dared not go in or linger.

A month has passed, and everyone in the mansion only knows that there is a third young lady in the mansion, but no one has ever seen her.

It was already summer, and the few bamboo trees in the South Garden made it even hotter.

Ruan Wan was savoring the sour plum drink made by Chunzhu. Ice was a precious commodity in the summer, and although the Ruan family was prominent, only a few high-ranking members could use it.

For a down-on-her-luck young lady like Ruan Wan who was under house arrest, such treatment was unnecessary, but her food, clothing, and daily necessities were still in accordance with the standards of a legitimate young lady.

The plum juice served with well water was very refreshing and I really wanted to drink it in big gulps, but there was a strict instructor next to me.

She said she needed to regulate her words and actions, but Ruan Wan saw her as a well-bred young lady and a quality inspector in the production workshop.

The headmistress, a wealthy-looking woman with a stern face, spent her days constantly saying things like, "Miss, please sit down; Miss, please stand up; Miss, please drink slowly," and so on.

"I'm so annoyed!" Chunzhu comforted her, "Miss's tutor is actually quite good. Back then, Fourth Miss's tutor was brought in from the palace, and she was incredibly strict."

As she handed him a towel to moisten his mouth, Ruan Wan thought to herself, "It seems the palace people think the walls of the Ruan residence aren't high enough."

Chunzhu was very enthusiastic towards Ruan Wan, and several attempts to dampen her enthusiasm were unsuccessful, which inevitably aroused suspicion. Despite being careful, no one discovered anything. Wang Mama and Qiushuang, on the other hand, were neither cold nor indifferent, clearly distinguishing between master and servant.

After lunch and a short rest, it was time for the afternoon zither lessons. Since Ruan Wan had settled in the Ruan residence on the third day, a teacher had come to give lessons every day. In the morning, she practiced calligraphy and played chess, and in the afternoon, she did needlework and played the zither.

Even though Ruan Wan knew everything, she pretended not to. It turns out that she survived by acting skills. She accidentally improved too quickly and all the masters praised Ruan Wan for her talent.

As for Ruan Wan's plan, it's impossible to implement. Her maids and nannies are always by her side, and Chunzhu and Qiushuang take turns keeping watch at night. They wake up at the slightest noise. In addition, she couldn't get the location of Hehuan Courtyard even after several attempts to get information out of her. It seems that she has a long way to go and can only wait for the right opportunity.

Studying every day is quite boring, but there are always people who come to relieve the boredom.

I was taking a nap in the corridor the other day. It was a rare occasion that the headmistress wasn't there, so I was feeling quite relaxed, even though the summer heat was making me feel listless.

Suddenly, a childish female voice was heard from outside the courtyard: "Second sister, look, this is the daughter of that shameless, adulterous woman."

Another older voice said, "Fourth sister, stop talking nonsense. Father will be angry if he finds out."

"I'm not lying. Everyone in this mansion saw it."

Ruan Wan looked in the direction of the sound and saw two girls standing outside the courtyard. The younger one was dressed in a pink silk dress with her hair styled in double buns. Her eyebrows and eyes resembled her mother's. Although she was still young, her beauty was undeniable. She peeked inside.

The older woman wore a pale yellow silk dress and had her hair styled in a low bun. She was slender and had the gentle charm of a woman from Jiangnan in her eyes. Although she was not a beauty that could topple kingdoms, she had her own unique style.

It seems to be Ruan Wan's second and fourth sisters, whom she has never met. The two of them have been putting on a show at the door for quite a while.

Ruan Wan ignored them. If things really got out of hand, her so-called father might not help her and she might even suffer a loss.

The two did not see Ruan Wan and heard no response, so they left, feeling bored.

Although the people's words were harsh, Ruan Wan listened carefully. What she had heard over the past month or so gave her a general understanding of what had happened back then.

My father and mother were very loving. However, when my father went away on business, my mother was caught in bed with another man by a group of people led by Aunt Su. The other woman was injured and escaped. My mother was unable to defend herself. The old lady was asked to take charge of the situation. It was decided to detain my mother first and make a decision when my father returned. It is said that my mother escaped with my young self in the middle of the night.

But that's not the case. In Ruan Wan's memory, she and her mother were chased to the edge of a cliff by a group of men in black. With nowhere to go, her mother hugged young Ruan Wan tightly and jumped off the cliff.

It seems to be another old-fashioned case of framing and slander in a power struggle within a family.

My mother was probably drugged or impregnated at the time.

Ruan Wan suddenly remembered the datura pollen from the group of men in black that day, and a plan immediately came to her mind. However, she could only carry it out in the spring of next year. Until then, she would play the role of the third young lady of the Ruan family well.

Winter goes and spring comes; time slips away unnoticed. In the mountains, one cannot feel the existence of time, but in this mortal world, within the mansion, there are always people reminding us that time flows on its own.

Several red plum trees were transplanted to Nanyuan last year, and this winter the red plum blossoms are quite beautiful, standing out against the backdrop of the white snow.

The bamboo remained green, and the thick snow was shaken off from time to time in the breeze. The pond was covered with a thick layer of ice, and the long icicles on the eaves had been cleared away by the servants.

The entire capital was covered in silver, yet bathed in red light. On New Year's Eve, every household hung bright red lanterns, and three large red lanterns on either side of my long corridor illuminated the courtyard.

The sky was still filled with heavy snowflakes, which looked like red snowflakes under the warm lamplight. The courtyard was very quiet. The mansion was busy on New Year's Eve, and all the servants and maids in each courtyard who were free went to help.

There are no festivals in Nanyuan, so I asked Granny Wang and the others to help out. They would also receive extra rewards. It must have been hard for them to keep me company in Nanyuan.

Chunzhu insisted on staying to keep her company at first, but Ruan Wan saw that she kept looking outside and sent her away.

He carried a stool, put on the white-based ink-splashed cloak he had received this winter from the courtyard, and stood by the charcoal stove, watching the snow fall all around him.

Two years have passed. I've stayed in this big house for two years now. I've grown taller, my features have matured, my skin and complexion are better than when I was in the mountains, and my heart is more at peace.

Or perhaps it's like stagnant water, repeating the same things every day. Although life in the mountains is nothing more than staying in a bamboo hut or gathering herbs, each day is different and free. Here, you eat, sleep, read books to relieve boredom, play the zither, practice calligraphy, and then nothing is different anymore.

However, the purpose of coming here was not achieved. Last spring, Ruan Wan took the excuse that the courtyard was too monotonous and asked Wang Mama to plant flowers in the courtyard, and she gave a list of flower names.

Among them were datura flowers, which Wang Mama brought back when she went shopping. Although datura flowers are rare, they can still be found in this bustling capital city.

When the flowers bloomed, Ruan Wan dried the petals in the shade, ground them into powder, and stored them in her empty rouge box.

A few days later, while Wang Mama and the others were fast asleep, Ruan Wan would first knock out Chunzhu or Qiushuang, who were on night watch outside, through the crack in the door.

Then, after drugging Wang Mama and the others next door, they sneaked into each courtyard to observe the terrain.

It took some time to find the location of the Hehuan Hall, but after several searches, I still couldn't find the place mentioned in my mother's letter, "the pure heart and the dancing butterfly."

Last time, when she was searching at night, she was almost caught. An old nanny who got up in the middle of the night saw her and shouted "Catch the thief!" which alerted the guards. Ruan Wan then fled back to the South Garden.

The next day, Chunzhu heard that there had been a thief in the mansion the day before and found it strange that they hadn't heard anything. Ruan Wan said that Nanyuan was too remote and brushed it off.

However, after that, the security in the courtyard was strengthened, and there was no way to find it anymore. Moreover, Granny Wang and the others also became suspicious.