Ties of Love, Ruan Wan

She hadn't felt this free in a long time. In the past, even though she was alone, she could do whatever she wanted.

But she lived a very conflicted life; she couldn't accept this body or this ancient world from the bottom of her heart.

Lou Qianyuan stood to the side, smiling as he watched Ruan Wan. He wished such a beautiful moment could be frozen in time forever.

Meanwhile, in the West Garden, the food that Ruan Wan had sent over had long been eaten up, and the three of them, master and servant, looked at the snow outside with resentful expressions.

At first, Sun Shishi was unwilling to eat the food that Ruan Wan brought. Not only did she refuse to eat it herself, but she also forbade A Qiao and A Rui to eat it and made them throw it away.

Ah Qiao couldn't bear to part with them; everyone in the kitchen had gone to celebrate the New Year, and even the restaurants on the street couldn't sell anything to eat.

If they don't eat this, they'll go hungry on New Year's Eve.

Ah Qiao pretended to open the food box, saying, "Miss, let me check if there's any poison hidden inside."

As A-Qiao watched, she swallowed hard, looking left and right, while the aroma wafted over to Sun Shishi.

Sun Shishi was also hungry, and her mouth was watering at the smell of the aroma.

He glanced at it again, but was drawn to the food's exquisite and delicate appearance. Yet, he still held onto it, refusing to eat.

After hesitating for a while, Sun Shishi finally said to A Qiao, "You try it first, maybe that vixen didn't poison me."

Ah Qiao was waiting for those words, so she immediately picked up a lotus flower pastry and stuffed it into her mouth. Even if it was poisonous, she would still have to try something so delicious.

Seeing how happily Ah Qiao was eating, Ah Rui also picked up a piece of peach shortbread and popped it into her mouth. "Miss, let me try this one."

The two wolfed down their food. Seeing that there wouldn't be any left if Sun Shishi ate any more, she immediately snatched the food box away.

Sun Shishi glared at them, then tore off a duck leg and started eating.

Ah Qiao and Ah Rui clearly hadn't eaten enough. Ah Qiao cautiously asked, "Miss, how can we not go and celebrate the New Year with them?"

Sun Shishi, still chewing on a duck leg with her mouth glistening with oil, glared at A Qiao, who immediately fell silent.

The two could only gaze at Ruan Wan's courtyard from afar.

The women from the village brought over steaming hot dumplings, each with a spoonful of lard, a small spoonful of soy sauce, a pinch of salt, and a touch of chopped green onions—pork and green onion flavored dumplings.

Ruan Wan asked, "Have the dumplings for A Jin and the others been delivered?"

Sister-in-law Zhuang laughed and said, "Those boys can just eat around the stove; we don't need to worry about them."

Everyone gathered together, eating steaming dumplings. Ruan Wan wasn't hungry but didn't want to waste any, so she scooped a few dumplings from her bowl into Dao Lou Qian Yuan's bowl.

When everyone saw this, they all cheered and made a fuss, while Lou Qianyuan happily ate his dumplings.

Suddenly, a loud bang ripped through the night sky, and the New Year had finally arrived.

Ajin lit the fireworks that had been prepared beforehand, and everyone stood at the door looking at the sky.

The dazzling fireworks and the white snow in the night sky created the most beautiful scene of the year.

After washing up in the evening, Ruan Wan yawned widely. The whole household was so happy today; all her hard work these past few days had been worthwhile.

Lou Qianyuan took off his clothes and prepared to go to bed.

When Ruan Wan saw him coming up, she immediately moved to the inside. Actually, there was no need to move to the inside, as there was a thick quilt between them.

I don't know why, but I felt awkward sleeping in the same bed with Lou Qianyuan tonight.

Having slept together for so long, Ruan Wan had long been used to Lou Qianyuan's presence beside her.

But tonight she felt very awkward. It was probably because of what Qiu Shuang said during the day that made Ruan Wan re-examine her relationship with Lou Qianyuan.

Lou Qianyuan felt a little embarrassed by Ruan Wan's gaze and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Ruan Wan then realized what was happening. She stared blankly at Lou Qianyuan's face, lost in thought. She quickly turned around and stammered, "It's nothing, I'm tired, go to sleep early."

Lou Qianyuan was completely confused. What was so strange about this? But he was also exhausted after a long day, so he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Ruan Wan, on the other hand, became more and more awake as she slept, tossing and turning in bed, especially after seeing Lou Qianyuan sleeping so soundly, which made her even more irritable.

The worst part is that on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Ruan Wan has to get up early and go to the palace with Lou Qianyuan to pay her respects to the Empress.

This was the first time Ruan Wan had ever met the Empress.

Ruan Wan yawned as she asked Qiu Shuang to tidy herself up.

Qiu Shuang applied several layers of powder under Ruan Wan's eyes, causing her to cough and choke. "How thick of powder are you putting on?" she asked.

"Miss, what did you do last night? Why do you have such dark circles under your eyes?"

Lou Qianyuan also came over and asked, "Didn't you go to bed very early last night?"

Ruan Wan didn't want to pay attention to him, so she turned away and continued to let Qiu Shuang do her makeup.

Inside the carriage, Lou Qianyuan repeatedly instructed, "Wan'er, although Her Majesty the Empress seems somewhat stern, she is actually very kind. She speaks rather bluntly, so you must remain calm and composed."

She repeated this sentence so many times that Ruan Wan was practically sick of hearing it.

Ruan Wan quickly stopped him, "I'm not stupid. The person we're meeting is the Empress, the person second only to the Emperor in the Great Xia Dynasty. Do you think I'm crazy enough to go and contradict her?"

Lou Qianyuan was relieved. "It's good that you know. But you are my wife after all, and she won't make things too difficult for you."

Ruan Wan was actually a little uneasy, after all, she almost became the Empress's daughter-in-law, and now she was her nephew's wife.

What Ruan Wan feared most was Linglong, who had spoken ill of her to the Empress.

When the Empress reprimands her, Ruan Wan will be prepared to bow her head and act like a quail.

The snow on the road crunched under the wheels, and Ruan Wan grew increasingly uneasy.

Upon meeting the Empress, Ruan Wan realized that she had overlooked something very important.

Today, Xia Changfeng, Linglong, and Rong Yufen are all coming to pay their respects to the Empress.

Lou Qianyuan led Ruan Wan to kowtow to the Empress and offer New Year's greetings.

The Empress looked to be in her forties, but she was probably older. She was rather thin, and there were some fine gray hairs at her temples.

Just as Lou Qianyuan said, it was indeed serious, even during the Chinese New Year, and he didn't smile.

Lou Qianyuan smiled and stepped forward to take the Empress's arm, saying, "Aunt, Qianyuan has brought his wife to wish you a Happy New Year."

Ruan Wan also bowed to Xia Changfeng and Linglong, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Highness the Seventh Prince and Your Highness the Princess."

Linglong smiled and stepped forward to help Ruan Wan up. "Sister-in-law, you're too polite. We're family, no need to be so courteous."

Xia Changfeng's expression was also not good, and Ruan Wan directly avoided his gaze, completely refusing to look at him.

The Empress, finally managing a smile after being pestered by Lou Qianyuan, said, "You're married but still don't act like an adult. You and your cousin should go and pay your respects to His Majesty."

Lou Qianyuan glanced at Ruan Wan, then looked at the Empress, and said in a coquettish tone, "Auntie, please take good care of my wife."

The Empress glanced at Ruan Wan, who immediately lowered her head and stood respectfully to the side.

The Empress laughed and said, "Are there wolves and tigers here? Everyone in the capital says you're a henpecked husband, and it's true!"

Xia Changfeng couldn't stand it any longer, so he pulled Lou Qianyuan outside, and Lou Qianyuan kept turning back every three steps.

Xia Changfeng retorted, "Stop looking! There are no wolves or tigers in your aunt's palace!"

Lou Qianyuan reluctantly followed Xia Changfeng away from the Empress's Fengzao Palace.

Ruan Wan stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Linglong and Wenliang stood to the left of the Empress, while Rong Yufen stood to the right of the Empress with a disdainful expression.

The palace maids stood with their heads bowed to one side. This Fengzao Palace was quieter than a cemetery, yet the atmosphere was even more terrifying.

The Empress looked at Linglong and instructed, "Go to the Imperial Household Department and pick out some nice things so that Qianyuan and his wife can take them back later."

The Empress's attendant, Ruyi, approached Linglong and said, "Your Highness, please follow me."

Rong Yufen wanted to follow, but the Empress said coldly, "Yufen, you stay and serve."

After Linglong left, the Empress said to Ruan Wan, "Qian Yuan's wife, sit down and let's talk."

Ruan Wan bowed and greeted the Empress.

The Empress said, "If you truly want to be with Qian Yuan, then follow his example and call me 'Aunt'."

After struggling for a moment, Ruan Wan finally said, "Thank you, Auntie."

The Empress finally smiled slightly, but she immediately scolded Rong Yufen, who was standing to the side, "You didn't even serve tea after the guest sat down? Is this how you serve the Seventh Prince in the mansion?"

Rong Yufen immediately rushed to pour tea for Ruan Wan, while glaring fiercely at her as she poured.

Ruan Wan smiled and said to the Empress, "Aunt, please don't blame your sister-in-law. She's been pampered at home and isn't used to serving others."

The Empress sighed deeply, "I don't know how General Rong raised his daughter. A woman should be obedient to her husband and respect her parents-in-law. If she can't even do these things well, what kind of woman is she?"

Seeing Rong Yufen's angry yet unable to speak out, and her frustrated expression, Ruan Wan couldn't help but laugh.

In her panic, Rong Yufen filled the teapot to the brim and then knocked it over in her haste, leaving the scene in a mess.

Rong Yufen's hands were trembling, but the more she trembled, the more mistakes she made. The Empress scolded, "Useless! Get out of here! You're just getting in the way!"

Rong Yufen practically ran away, and a maid immediately came over to tidy up the table.

The Empress looked at Ruan Wan and said, "I wanted to give you a few words of advice, but I was afraid it would upset Qian Yuan. He didn't get married until he was twenty-three, and he finally found someone he loved."

Ruan Wan said, "I will naturally listen attentively to my aunt's teachings."

The Empress was quite satisfied with Ruan Wan's performance, saying, "The Lou family now only has Qian Yuan as its sole heir, and he is unwilling to take concubines or maids. The task of bearing offspring naturally falls on your shoulders. I won't ask for too much; it would be best if you could give birth to an heir as soon as possible."

This immediately highlighted Ruan Wan's predicament: she needed to share a room with Lou Qianyuan to have a child.

Ruan Wan lowered her head, fiddling with her silk handkerchief. The Empress, thinking she was shy, changed the subject, saying, "Of course, this isn't just your problem. But if you can't conceive for a long time, you should learn from Linglong and be a virtuous wife."

At this moment, a palace maid entered and bowed to the Empress, saying, "Your Majesty, Consort Shu requests an audience."

The Empress's expression changed slightly, her brows furrowing briefly before relaxing again. She smiled at Ruan Wan and said, "Your aunt has arrived, which is a good opportunity for you and your niece to reunite."

After a while, a beautiful woman dressed in gorgeous clothes walked in. She looked to be in her thirties and was well-maintained, with no trace of age on her face.

Consort Shu and Ruan Yuanyan do indeed look very similar, except that Consort Shu has a cold look in her eyes and exudes an aura that keeps strangers at bay.

Consort Shu's eyes were indifferent, revealing no hint of flattery or obsequiousness, as she bowed to the Empress and said, "May Your Majesty enjoy a peaceful and healthy New Year."

Ruan Wan immediately rose and bowed, "This humble woman greets Your Highness, Consort Shu. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

Consort Shu merely glanced at Ruan Wan, then looked at the Empress, gave a slight curtsy, and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to invite Wan'er to my palace for a while."

The Empress stood up, and a maid immediately came to support her. "I'm tired too. Qian Yuan's wife, you two, aunt and niece, should catch up."

There was no need for a reunion; this was the first time Ruan Wan had met Consort Shu, her nominal aunt.

Ruan Wan nervously followed Consort Shu back to her Qixiang Palace, but the palace furnishings had absolutely no festive atmosphere whatsoever.

There were no red lanterns hanging under the eaves, and the interior was completely undecorated.

In front of Ruan Wan, Consort Shu removed the heavy hairpins and jewelry from her head and naturally handed them to the palace maid who was serving her.