Ties of Love, Ruan Wan

Cui Mo knocked on the door again, only to hear a few coughs from inside. "This old servant is fine, just a slight cold. Young master and madam, please don't come in. It would be my fault if you caught it."

Lou Qianyuan asked through the door, "Uncle Li, have you seen a doctor? Have you taken any medicine?"

Another coughing fit occurred. "It's nothing serious. I'll have Ah Jin send someone to get some medicine for a cold. Take it and you'll be fine."

Ruan Wan walked to the door, glanced at Cui Mo who was blocking the way, and Cui Mo immediately stepped aside. Ruan Wan then pushed the door open and went inside.

"Uncle Li, I also know a little about medicine, so let me take a look at you."

Lou Qianyuan followed him in. Uncle Li was lying on the bed, wrapped tightly in the quilt.

Ruan Wan quickly glanced around; the furnishings in the room reminded her of her great-grandmother's room.

The room was furnished in a very old-fashioned style, with nothing of value. The gray-blue mattress looked quite worn.

There was a pair of cloth shoes by the bed, looking somewhat messy, one facing forward and the other backward, indicating that he had gotten into bed in a great hurry.

Uncle Li was breathing heavily with his mouth open, trying to sit up. Lou Qianyuan quickly stepped forward and helped him lie down. "Uncle Li, you're not feeling well, just lie down."

Uncle Li lay down and coughed a few times, saying, "Please forgive this old servant for being ill; I must speak to the young master and mistress while lying down."

Ruan Wan didn't expose him, but pretended to be very distressed, saying with concern, "Uncle Li, don't worry too much on a daily basis. If you fall ill from overwork, your husband will be heartbroken. Don't worry about things in the manor; A-Jin is doing a very good job."

Ruan Wan called out "Cui Mo" to the outside.

Cui Mo immediately rushed in. "Madam, what are your orders?"

Ruan Wan smiled and said, "Uncle Li is coughing so badly. There's a bottle of honey-processed fritillaria and loquat syrup in the storeroom. I'll get it for him in a bit."

Ruan Wan then looked at Uncle Li and said, "Then Uncle Li, please take good care of yourself. My husband and I will head back now. Don't worry about things at the manor. Just focus on getting better; A-Jin will take care of everything."

Once outside, Ruan Wan, her face cold and expressionless, said to Cui Mo, "Inform the manor that A Jin will temporarily assume the role of steward. Everyone must obey Steward A Jin's arrangements. Anyone who disobeys A Jin's management should be brought before me."

This was the first time Cui Mo had seen the Madam like this, and she couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. She replied, "Yes, Madam, this servant will inform the entire household immediately."

After Cui Mo left, Lou Qianyuan asked, "Wan'er, is Uncle Li actually faking illness?"

Ruan Wan nodded. After seeing Uncle Li's room, Ruan Wan actually had very complicated feelings.

Uncle Li truly devoted himself to the Lou family, raising Lou Qianyuan and Sun Shishi, and managing the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion in an orderly manner.

For the sake of the Lou family, he never married or had children, and his room was very simple. He was not a person who craved pleasure.

However, he shouldn't have coveted power, and he shouldn't have instilled in Sun Shishi the idea that she absolutely had to marry into the Lou family.

Lou Qianyuan was also very distressed. He had never paid much attention to these things before, as he was always running around outside, busy dealing with the Zhang family with Xia Changfeng.

As a result, Sun Shishi has wasted her life and become a laughing stock in Beijing.

Lou Qianyuan arranged the blind dates for the 17th, 18th and 19th of each month, inviting one young master to his residence each day.

The meeting was arranged in the back garden. As the hostess, Ruan Wan only greeted a few people and did not participate in any of the blind dates.

However, according to Qiu Shuang's investigation, Sun Shishi was not satisfied with any of the three men.

Just as Ruan Wan had predicted, the first one was old and divorced, the second was plain-looking, and the third was too poor.

Ruan Wan had indeed seen all three of them. Qin You looked mature and steady. Although he was only twenty-six years old, his manner of speaking was like that of Ruan Zhengqing's generation.

Liu Qingfang cannot be described as ugly, but rather as of average appearance. However, she possesses excellent manners and etiquette, and Lou Qianyuan believes she is more than a match for Sun Shishi.

Bao Chengyun's appearance and age are quite suitable, but his family is really struggling. However, if he can pass the imperial examination this year and become a Jinshi, his predicament will be changed.

Moreover, if Sun Shishi marries Bao Chengyun, the Lou family will fully support their marriage, and will provide her with real estate, shops, land, and servants.

She will definitely have enough to eat and wear, but her social status will not be as high as it is now.

Even so, Sun Shishi still didn't like any of them, and Liu Qingfang also subtly expressed that he didn't like Sun Shishi either.

Fortunately, the other two expressed their willingness to propose to Sun Shishi.

Qiu Shuang was reporting what she had found out to Ruan Wan when Cui Mo rushed in.

"Madam, something terrible has happened! The young master and Miss Biao are arguing!"

What's going on? We just saw off the last Bao Chengyun, and now they're arguing.

When Ruan Wan rushed over, the two were arguing heatedly in the garden.

"You still look down on others? You have no idea how many people in this capital look down on you."

"This man surnamed Bao clearly has ulterior motives. He's only after my dowry. We haven't even discussed marriage yet, and he's already inquiring about it."

Ruan Wan was also taken aback. Looking at Qiu Shuang beside her, Qiu Shuang whispered, "This servant didn't know anything about this."

Lou Qianyuan pointed at Sun Shishi, his fingers trembling uncontrollably. "When did anyone ever covet your dowry? When they asked you what you would bring as a dowry after you married into the family?"

Sun Shishi pouted angrily, "He came up to me and said that my family is not like it used to be. After my father died, the family was divided, and I don't have any proper business. He doesn't have any proper business either. Isn't he just relying on my dowry to support him?!"

Lou Qianyuan was so angry that he spun around in place. "That person worked hard and passed the provincial examination last year. As long as he passes the final palace examination this year, he can enter officialdom. He was open and honest about his family background when we met, but you slander him with your petty mind."

The two men glared at each other, neither willing to yield.

Ruan Wan walked up, pulled Lou Qianyuan aside, and asked with a smile, "If this one doesn't work out, how about Young Master Qin You? He's quite handsome and his family background is decent."

Lou Qianyuan didn't speak, but just glanced at Sun Shishi and snorted coldly.

Sun Shishi snorted and said, "That Qin You, he looks young, but he talks like my uncle. He started lecturing me right away, saying my posture and speech weren't ladylike enough, saying that once you marry into the family, you have to educate the children, and that I should be more dignified. He's so old-fashioned."

Ruan Wan was quite exasperated by what she heard. She walked to Lou Qianyuan's side, patted his back, and tried to soothe him. "Aren't there any other candidates in the capital? These conditions are indeed not very good."

Lou Qianyuan frowned as he glanced at Sun Shishi, then looked at Ruan Wan and sighed, "We've looked everywhere we could, and she's still picky. She doesn't even look at her own faults. I think Bao Chengyun is perfect."

Seeing Ruan Wan and Lou Qianyuan so intimate, Sun Shishi became even angrier. Pouting, she pointed at Ruan Wan and said, "Her reputation is so bad, and she was even jilted once, yet she still married you, cousin. Why should I marry some ugly duckling?"

Ruan Wan's lips twitched. She hadn't said anything about why the war had affected her.

Lou Qianyuan couldn't stand others speaking ill of Ruan Wan, and with a cold face, he looked at Sun Shishi and said, "Apologize to your sister-in-law."

This was the first time Sun Shishi had seen Lou Qianyuan looking at her with such an expression.

Faced with Lou Qianyuan's anger, Sun Shishi, though frightened, still stubbornly insisted, "What am I supposed to apologize for? Every word I said was true. You're already married, yet you're still flirting with the Seventh Prince in the Empress's palace."

With a loud slap, Sun Shishi stared at Lou Qianyuan in disbelief, covering her face as large tears streamed down her cheeks. "Cousin, you actually hit me! You actually hit me for an outsider!"

Sun Shishi turned to run away, but Lou Qianyuan grabbed her wrist forcefully. "Wan'er is your sister-in-law. She's the closest person to me in this life, not an outsider. Today, you must apologize to your sister-in-law."

Sun Shishi's wrist ached from being gripped so tightly, and large tears streamed down her face, but her eyes remained stubborn, and she refused to speak.

The two were locked in a stalemate when Ruan Wan quickly stepped in and pried Lou Qianyuan's fingers apart. "Qianyuan, calm down! If you use any more force, you'll crush Miss Lou's wrist!"

Lou Qianyuan then released his grip, and Sun Shishi broke free of her restraints, running away crying. A Qiao and A Rui, who had been hiding far away, hurriedly followed.

After Sun Shishi left, Lou Qianyuan deflated like a punctured balloon, looking utterly dejected.

Ruan Wan pulled Lou Qianyuan to sit down in the garden pavilion. Lou Qianyuan looked at Ruan Wan and said, "She wasn't like this when she was little."

Recalling Sun Shishi's childhood, Lou Qianyuan's expression softened. "When her uncle's family died for their country, Shishi was only five years old. When her father brought her back, she timidly hid behind him, peeking out with her little head, her round eyes looking at me and my brother with curiosity."

A look of sadness suddenly appeared in Lou Qianyuan's eyes. "Back then, Father wanted to take my older brother to the battlefield. Shishi clung to my brother's leg, crying, and wouldn't let him go. Later, when my brother really did die, Shishi locked herself in her room and refused to eat or drink."

Ruan Wan couldn't say or do anything, she could only gently pat his back.

Lou Qianyuan's expression grew increasingly pained as he covered his face with his hands. "How could it have turned out like this? Before my father passed away, he repeatedly told me to take good care of Shishi."

Ruan Wan seemed to understand Sun Shishi's reasons for insisting on marrying into the Lou family.

She might not necessarily like Lou Qianyuan or their older brother that much; she just doesn't want to lose her family.

However, Ruan Wan still couldn't accept Lou Qianyuan marrying Sun Shishi. They were cousins, how could they marry someone so closely related?

Ruan Wan can't control other people's affairs, but she doesn't want to see this kind of thing happen in the Lou family.

"Are there any suitable men in Xijing and Zhangzhou? If not, and Miss Biao doesn't want to marry, we'll just keep her in our household for the rest of her life."

Lou Qianyuan looked at Ruan Wan with a surprised expression. "How can this be? You must either remain chaste or become a nun. How can you not get married?"

Ruan Wan knew it wouldn't work. Although the house had many rooms and piles of money, it couldn't accommodate a young girl who didn't want to get married.

"Besides, you know she doesn't really not want to get married."

Indeed, that's the key point. The reason she's been dragging her feet on getting married is simply because she wants to marry Lou Qianyuan.

Even with Princess Chang Le blocking her way and banishing her to a temple, and now Ruan Wan marrying Lou Qianyuan, nothing can deter her.

She was even willing to be Lou Qianyuan's concubine, no wonder she could get along so well with Sun Shishi.

"What can we do? She's not satisfied with any of these three families. Where are we going to find someone to marry her?"

Lou Qianyuan is also in a dilemma: "Now it's not her choosing others, but others choosing her."

Just as the two were struggling with their problem, Cuilu ran over, her voice barely audible, "Young Master, Ah Jin has sent a message saying that Young Master Bao wants to deliver a message."

Seeing her timid and hesitant demeanor, Lou Qianyuan knew it wasn't something nice to say, and coldly said, "Speak."

"Young Master Bao said he wanted to focus on preparing for the imperial examination and would not consider marriage for the time being."

Lou Qianyuan looked at Ruan Wan with a resentful expression, "Now it's all over. Before, we had choices, but now we only have Qin You left."

Bao Chengyun probably changed his mind as soon as he left the house because he had considered what life would be like if he really married Sun Shishi, which is why he fled in panic.

Ruan Wan was also somewhat helpless; now only this worst one was left, and she had no choice.

There's an old saying that an elder sister-in-law is like a mother, and Ruan Wan truly understood this this time, unconsciously starting to worry about her as well.