Even if the meaning in Li Hong Yuan’s words were all implying that it was his daughter asking for humiliation on her own, Ruan Rui Zhong still couldn’t say anything. That’s right, his daughter was just a side consort, in the end, just a concubine. Moreover, from the looks of it, the main master seemingly didn’t even want her. He was indeed too indulgent towards her. Every time he saw her silently shedding tears towards him, neither shouting nor screaming, he just heartached dearly, and afterwards, not at all surprisingly, softened his heart time and time again. Yet, he genuinely looked down on Jin Qinwang from the bottom of his heart, believing that he’s just a large fire pit. And on this bit, he firmly refused his daughter, continuously thinking of waiting for her to give up.
Afterwards, this matter just dragged on and on, resulting in today’s ugly fruition.
His daughter was pretty, good-tempered, and talented, and her feminine arts[1] were also good, even having skills in cooking. Aside from her lacking a little in temperament, in other areas, it’s not him boasting, but one probably can’t find another young lady more outstanding than her. Originally, there were plenty of talented handsome youths for her to pick from, and in the future, all won’t be terribly off no matter what. Yet in the end, why did she fall for someone others all shun like the plague? Just like how he similarly didn’t understand, it’s not like she had to go to Gong Qinwang Manor, so why go join in during this crucial time?
Li Hong Yuan, seeing Ruan Rui Zhong’s ever changing complexion, probably can guess what he was thinking.
Ruan Rui Zhong was just naturally born for officialdom, so the uncontrollable ups and downs in officialdom, for him, actually all didn’t have any effect. ‘Crossing five passes and slaying six generals’[2], reaching the position of Head Cabinet Minister, for him, also appeared rather effortless. All of this, not a single one, didn’t manifest his extraordinary abilities and wisdom. But, such a man similarly had a fatal flaw. Because he was confident, therefore he was conceited, believing himself to be successful in every endeavor, and this bit, when it came to women, was also the same. That’s why, his second wife was docile and obedient towards him, having the inner manor managed properly. Towards the children left by the original wife, she viewed as her own, and towards the shu children, she was also a magnanimous di mother. In his eyes, this was all how it should be. Since that woman did so well, he just gave her all his trust. Towards the matter of the inner manor, he has never interfered nor questioned. Since he never attentively looked, then he naturally didn’t know what his rear manor was actually like under that perfectly orderly cover. In the end, it’s not that he trusted his wife, but rather just believed in his own charm.
But, why didn’t he think, based on what? His daughter-in-laws’ age were all older than the other party, and after marrying in, not only did she become a step-mother, but even became a step-grandmother. For you to be her father, one would all disdain you for being too old. A ten some year old young lady would not have the slightest complaint? Even the Emperor, who possessed the world, wouldn’t have this share of self-confidence, right? Then looking again now, his wife was just like a young madam. The two of them standing together, never mind being father and daughter, to say they were grandfather and granddaughter would all be believable. If nothing else, are you even able to get a hard on to satisfy your wife? Although it’s said that for women after thirty, guarding an empty room was something very normal, and if that woman really was a virtuous wife and kind mother, then it is what it is, but for Li Hong Yuan who knew her true nature, he sometimes would even ill-intentionally think to himself, our Head Cabinet Minister whose power and influence overflowed the heavens, do you know how many green hats you’re wearing?
Ruan Rui Zhong, who has lived a successful life for decades, in his elderly years, nevertheless ended up with an ‘execution of the whole family up to the third generation’ ending.
First, it got out that his second wife and his son were committing adultery, and seemingly not just one son. Then, it was revealed that his youngest di daughter isn’t his biological daughter, and don’t know which random man was her father. Afterwards, in his study, treasonous letters of conspiring with the enemy country were dug out…………
Of course, at the time when these things happened, Li Hong Yuan had already been forced to leave the capital. Qi Yuan was in a state where the borders were engulfed in the chaos of war, and the interior filled with chaotic struggles. By the time he returned to the capital, the curtains have already dropped on the Ruan family’s matter, and there was no way of learning the specifics of the matter. Just, by chance, he learned that Ruan Fang Fei married outside of the capital, but don’t know where to. In addition to her not being Ruan Rui Zhong’s biological daughter, he thus didn’t continue investigating her whereabouts.
And in this life, because the matter of conspiring with the enemy and betraying the country isn’t something that can be accomplished in a short period of time, in addition to Ruan Fang Fei’s obsession towards him being even stronger than in the past life, Li Hong Yuan, from the start, just carefully investigated everything, and what he got as a result really was beyond his expectations.
Ruan Rui Zhong, who was astute his whole life, fell head first in the hands of a woman, getting cuckolded by the other party, and becoming a scapegoat for her too. Afraid, even until death, he still didn’t know what exactly happened. When he learned of the truth, Li Hong Yuan even suspected that in his past life, it was very possible that Ruan Rui Zhong’s second wife didn’t die. She’d remained hidden for more than twenty years, so how could she suddenly have everything all exposed? These things perhaps were just for the sake of shifting other people’s attention, so that she can conceal her true identity. Having the waters muddied would actually make it easier to shed one’s cicada shell and escape[3].
Ruan Rui Zhong being this conceited, on this bit, Ruan Fang Fei was actually quite like him. That’s why, to say Ruan Fang Fei wasn’t his daughter, Li Hong Yuan was actually somewhat surprised. However, whether she was or not, it all had nothing to do with him. Fortunately, when it came to governmental affairs, Ruan Rui Zhong really wasn’t like this, else he probably would’ve long tumbled down.
Seeing on behalf of his abilities, this bit, Li Hong Yuan will absolutely leave him for a few more years. Didn’t he want to spare no effort for Qi Yuan until one’s dying breath? If one doesn’t squeeze him dry of all his worth, wouldn’t that be letting him down? However, one must let him have a taste of falling into the dust————let him learn the truth little by little, and let him see, what kind of demon that pair of mother and daughter that he cupped in his palm were. At that time, this Head Cabinet Minister’s expression should be very entertaining.
Li Hong Yuan lazily leaned back. Right now, he was in a very good mood, nonchalantly giving the Head Cabinet Minister another stab.
“Ruan Rui Zhong, since you don’t think highly of this prince, why would this prince take a fancy to you, take a fancy to Ruan Fang Fei? And only you would think that your daughter is a divine beauty and national grace, a rare commodity worth having. You have her viewed as a treasure, but in this prince’s eyes, she can’t even compare to a blade of grass. Actually, you should rejoice that you didn’t compromise two years ago and request imperial father to bestow a marriage, else, at the time, you two would have lost all face. Did you know, that good daughter of yours, if to enter the imperial family, can’t be as the main wife. This is the fortune told by Grandmaster Liao Chen. She wholeheartedly wants to marry this prince, yet only has the fate of a concubine, unable to raise her head for a lifetime.”
Ruan Rui Zhong had a look of getting shocked by thunder from a clear sky, unable to speak.
Li Hong Yuan, telling him this, simply wasn’t worried that he’ll speak out about it. It was impossible for him to seek confirmation with his imperial father, and he further can’t take it back to tell his good wife and daughter. However, even if he did, it also didn’t matter. So what if he’d long known about this matter?
Leaving behind Sir Ruan, who was unable to return to his sense for a long time, Li Hong Yuan returned to his manor.
Just, when Yun Niang learns that Li Hong Yuan, after sending back his darling, simply didn’t even think about coming to find her, don’t know whether or not she’ll fly into a thundering rage. However, even Le Cheng Emperor couldn’t do anything about him, so she, this hidden great aunt, further didn’t need to be mentioned.
Speaking of which, Jing Wan returned to the Luo Manor in a completely different attire, but the people that saw her along the way seemingly all didn’t have any peculiarities. In fact, no one even wondered why she would fall behind the others, returning this late.
Back then, when Luo Jing Ying secretly went out and then secretly returned, she’d even changed back into her original clothes, hiding along the way, yet in the end, it was still stirred into that kind of mess. Jing Wan right now was being this open, but no one was having suspicions or doubts.
This was just the greatest difference between being favored by the family heads and not being favored.
Jing Wan returned to Elegant Haitang Residence. Sun Yi Jia had been waiting there for a long time. Seeing Jing Wan change into something completely new from head to toe, what she noticed forever won’t be how expensive the things on her were, but rather what the problem behind this matter represented. Just think, a young lady, going out alone with her fiancee, the time added together front to back surpassing four hours, and moreover completely changed one’s attire, as long as one had a bit of knowledge in this area, would all understand what this signified.
If Sun Yi Jia didn’t have a good cultivation and upbringing, then she wouldn’t just be a bit angry and irritated.
Seeing someone even more tense than herself, this involved party, that bit of lump in Jing Wan’s heart gradually scattered, and that lingering feeling on her body, as if the remnants of a touch, also faded by a lot, instead feeling quite amused, smiling, “Elder sister-in-law, what’s the matter?”
“What are you smiling for, already at such a time, yet you’re still able to smile.” Sun Yi Jia couldn’t help pinching her.
Jing Wan smilingly dodged, grabbing her hand in passing, “Saying it this seriously, did the heavens collapse, or the earth crumbled?”
Seeing this reaction of hers, Sun Yi Jia for a time thought that she thought too much. Afterwards, she subconsciously reached out to grab Jing Wan’s collar, pulling it open a little, her complexion darkening like the bottom of a pot, “I just knew that bastard can’t be some upright gentleman!”
Jing Wan hurriedly pulled away her hand, already wanting to shout for her ancestors. I know you mean well, but for better or worse settle down a little. Thankfully, it was just her, if it was anyone else, getting this kind of awkward matter uncovered in public, wasn’t that just making one wish to die from embarrassment?
[1] Feminine Arts – needlework, embroidery, knitting, etc.
[2] This idiom means overcoming extremely difficult challenges and obstacles on the way to success. And of course, it comes from the classic novel ‘Romance of Three Kingdoms’, when one of the characters, Guan Yu, successively passed five of Cao Cao’s barriers and beheaded six of his generals before escaping from Cao Cao.
[3] To vanish leaving an empty shell, used to describe a crafty escape plan.
T/N: You all really should just light a candle for Ruan Rui Zhong, an old man can only get stabbed so many times at once.
