“If Mother doesn’t believe me, she can put some effort into investigating it herself.”
“If we secretly investigate matters of the Gong Manor and are found out by the Gong Prince and his wife, I’m afraid it won’t be good.”
“We’re about to become in-laws. What’s wrong with inquiring about our future son-in-law’s character before the marriage? We have every right to. If they’re unhappy, then let them be. Either way, the one who will have a hard time in the future is Ruan Xinchen.”
"Hmm? That make sense."
***
After leaving the front hall, Ruan Xincheng didn't return to the ancestral hall, but went directly back to her small courtyard.
Instead of various flowers, the courtyard was filled with lush vegetables and fruits. To have eggs and meat to eat, she also raised a few chickens.
The courtyard was simple, its conditions almost on par with those of the servants.
Because they all knew that if they made it too nice, she, an orphaned girl without parents, couldn't stay.
Her father was as good as nonexistent.
Ruan Xincheng had a secret; she was born knowing certain things.
If not, a little girl couldn't have survived this long in the cannibalistic Ruan family's inner house.
Her grandmother had passed away ten years ago, and she had been left to fend for herself in this small courtyard for ten years.
"Second Miss, you're finally back. Are you alright?"
This was Caiyu, her faithful maid. She had been assigned to Ruan Xincheng by her grandmother when she was still alive. She was a little younger than Ruan Xincheng, only fifteen years old.
Ruan Xincheng shook her head gently and smiled. "I'm fine, Caiyu. Let's pick all the persimmons from the tree."
Caiyu was taken aback. "Now?"
"Yes."
"All of them?"
"Yes."
"Why? Many of them aren't ripe yet. It's such a waste to pick them now."
Ruan Xinchen replied, “Because we’re leaving. Pick them. Sell what we can, and for the rest, we’ll make them into dried persimmons.”
“Leaving? Miss, are we leaving now?”
Ruan Xincheng had originally planned to save enough money, buy a household registration, obtain a travel permit, and then escape the capital with her maid.
Her maid's deed had been given to her by her grandmother long ago.
Any place would be better than here.
In her previous life, the arranged marriage happened too suddenly, and before she could buy a household registration, she was sent to the Zhan Prince's Mansion.
At the time, it seemed like a golden opportunity falling straight into her lap.
Because if the Zhan Prince died, she could inherit his property.
According to royal customs, they would also select a child from the royal family to be adopted by her and raised by her, and in the future, he would inherit the Zhan Prince's title to support her in her old age.
So why would she escape? She was on the path to the peak of life.
But who would have thought that the Zhan Prince, who had been sentenced to death by more than a dozen imperial physicians, would come back to life?
That Zhan Prince was quite honest. After he recovered, he came straight to her and laid out the truth.
He said he had a woman he loved and couldn't truly marry her.
He asked her to cooperate with him in acting, promising that she wouldn't be wronged afterwards.
Isn't that exactly what she wanted to hear?
She immediately agreed to cooperate. After the matter was settled, as long as he got her a household registration, a travel permit, and a sum of money, she would be satisfied.
She would hide her identity and leave the capital, promising never to interfere with their happy life.
Everything went smoothly, but unfortunately, she didn't know the true nature of the Zhan Prince. She never expected him to suddenly change his mind after he ascended the throne.
Sigh!
Forget about the past.
It seems that relying on others is not as reliable as relying on oneself.
So, let's stick to the original plan and run away before Cui Yun marries me off.
Ruan Xincheng told Caiyu about her concerns and expressed the need to accelerate their plan.
Then she took out some silver and stuffed it into Caiyu's hand.
"We can't delay buying the household registration anymore. Take this money and go find Liu Si tomorrow. I remember he said that there's a girl around my age in Zhoujia Lane who's about to die..." Uh, hoping for someone to die seems a bit immoral.
Forget it, I can't worry about morality right now.
"Go ask if she's dead. If not, ask him to think of other ways. I'm willing to pay more."
Caiyu took the money and nodded solemnly.
"Alright."
Just as they were talking, Ruan Hong's voice suddenly came from the courtyard.
"Xincheng, are you in your room?"
Huh?
Caiyu said softly, "Why is Master here?"
Yeah, why is he here?
Ruan Xincheng was also puzzled.
In all the years she had lived in this courtyard, this 'father' had never visited her once.
"Stay in the room. I'll go out and see."
"Yes, Miss."
Ruan Xinchen came out of the room and saw Ruan Hong standing under the tree, eating one of her persimmons.
Ruan Xinchen: "..." You old thief, taking something without asking is stealing.
"These persimmons are growing well, and they're quite sweet. Did you take care of them?"
Ruan Xinchen nodded.
"Did you also tend to the melons and fruits in the courtyard?"
Ruan Xinchen said, "I take care of this courtyard when I have nothing to do."
"Well, that's good too. Having something to do makes the days less difficult."
You also know that being confined to this courtyard is difficult.
"Xincheng, I haven't taken good care of you all these years. Don't hate your father.
Ruan Xinchen: "…"
"Xinchen, your father always knew you were a good child. Don't worry, I'll do my best to secure your dowry and make sure you marry into Prince Gong's Manor with honor and grandeur."
Oh? Secure the dowry?
Isn't that just an empty promise?
Honestly, I'd rather you just hand me two silver pieces instead.
"Father, I remember my mother left quite a substantial dowry. I was wondering…"
"Ahem! Get some rest. I have things to attend to, so I'll be going now."
Ruan Xinchen: "…"
This old scoundrel and Cui Yun really are a match made in heaven. So they’ve embezzled my mother’s entire dowry, haven’t they?
She was determined to see just how much they could come up with for her dowry in the end.
After her father left, Caiyu finally emerged.
A sense of unease rose in Ruan Xinchen’s heart. She turned to Caiyu and said, “Don’t wait until tomorrow. Go find Liu Si right now.”
“Right now? Isn’t that a bit too urgent?”
“Yes, go quickly.”
Caiyu took some silver and slipped out through the back gate.
The person guarding the back gate was an old servant left behind by her grandmother. He had always been kind to Ruan Xinchen and turned a blind eye to her and Caiyu’s little fruit-selling business.
Meanwhile, she was in the middle of picking persimmons when, all of a sudden, a maidservant barged in and shouted up at her, “Oh my! Second Miss, why are you still climbing trees? Come down at once! Hurry to the front hall, Prince Gong’s betrothal gifts have arrived!”
What?! She was so startled that she nearly fell off the tree.
What is going on? Why had the betrothal gifts arrived so soon?
In her past life, she had been sent to Zhan Wang Manor for a marriage of fortune, and it wasn’t until a year later that Ruan Yihe married into Prince Gong’s Manor. That is because Madam Ruan had wanted to keep Ruan Yihe at home for another two years.
But there is no reason for Madam Ruan to keep 'her' longer. Even if they rushed things, it should take at least three to five months, so how had the betrothal gifts arrived this quickly?
She hurried down from the tree and ran to the front hall, where she saw Ruan Yihe beaming with joy, her eyes practically glowing with greed as she stared at the lavish betrothal gifts covering the floor.
Ruan Xinchen found these betrothal gifts rather familiar. Weren’t these the ones the Empress Dowager had prepared for her grandson, Zhan Prince?
Tsk. So it turned out that the betrothal gifts were actually for Ruan Yihe.
"Xinchen, come here and take a look at the betrothal gifts from Prince Gong’s Manor!"
Hmm?
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