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Suffering a Crushing Defeat (3)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Not long after, even more people joined in the ranks of dividing the things. Among them, eight out of ten were all on ‘good terms’ with Ruan Fang Fei. However, those that were wholeheartedly genuine, one may not necessarily be able to find a single one. Ruan Fang Fei was used to getting revolved around like the stars revolving around the moon. Even if she was accustomed to disguising herself, from time to time, she would still assume a ‘looking down from high above’ attitude, so naturally would stab them. Over time, this has long planted a seed in their hearts. And once they were plagued by rumors and slanders, unable to go out, their marriage arrangements ruined, their friends all distancing themselves, and the main culprit of it all was her, Ruan Fang Fei, everything naturally just thoroughly erupted. Such a harbinger of disaster, even if cut up alive, it all wouldn’t be too much. Perhaps there were those few that were genuinely sad, wanting to say something to defend her, but before their words could come out, they were just jointly suppressed by the others that noticed the signs. Human nature in the end was selfish. No one wanted to, because of her, get shunned by everyone, so they had no choice but to remain silent.
However, in Ruan Fang Fei’s eyes, they were just a bunch of white-eyed wolves. On normal days, she was that good to them.
——–As expected, there’s just not a single good thing in the world.
Things that can be moved all got taken away, including clothes, all just leaving her a few scattered ones. Who let her clothes all be brand new, purchased not that long ago. On Ruan Fang Fei, aside from some special ones, for the most part, one was unable to find clothes that she’d worn before last year.
After everything completely quieted down, she finally discovered that the people serving her also all got ‘taken away’. Their residence in the imperial summer residence was far inferior in size to the large manor in the capital, but Ruan Fang Fei’s courtyard was quite big, and now, it was completely empty.
Ruan Fang Fei remained in the same spot for a very long time, her head leaning backwards, her eyes somewhat empty, staring at her empty room. She seemingly didn’t understand too well, how come things became like this? She suffered humiliation outside, but her position at home didn’t waver. How come in a blink of an eye, it just changed? Those so-called nephews and nieces of hers, in front of her were just like a bunch of small kittens, if she’s happy, she’ll play with them, and they will just obediently meow. Yet now, they dared to step on her head, brandishing their claws at her!
Outside, she wasn’t strong enough against others, but can adjust her state of mind, enduring in silence for a greater cause, and look for an opportunity to take revenge. However, these at home, who in her eyes, were just like a bunch of ants, now dared to collectively defy her! The greater the discrepancy, the harder it was the pacify the hatred inside.
She immediately got up, charging out, but when she arrived at the courtyard entrance, she finally noticed that the gates were already locked from the outside. She violently banged against the gate, shouting to let her out.
“Miss, settle down a little. Old master has said, if you take a step out of the courtyard, just beat to death with the rod. Eldest madam doing this is also for your sake, just worrying that you might do something impulsive. When time comes, losing your life, it won’t be worth it.” An old servant woman outside ‘consoled’, while eating melon seeds.
And what she got in exchange was Ruan Fang Fei’s fit of cursing.
Speaking of which, regardless of Ruan Fang Fei’s mental state, the upbringing she received were displayed there, never hearing her curse anyone before. Perhaps one really should say, she was smart; cursing, this kind of skill, she learned without a teacher? Although unlikely to be like a shrew, but still extremely malicious, and sinister, really wasn’t something ordinary people could surpass. For anyone who heard, they would all inhale a cold breath endlessly. Eldest madam was right. Sure enough it was ‘knowing a person for a long time, yet still not understanding their true nature’. In the Ruan family, the most malicious was precisely the one that was the most kindhearted in the past.
Because Ruan Rui Zhong still haven’t issued word on how to deal with her, when Ruan Eldest Madam heard the servant’s report, she didn’t say anything either. She was a filial daughter-in-law. Right now, her father-in-law was resting, so she naturally won’t use these trivial matters to go annoy him.
As for those that took things, they more or less were anxious inside. How much grandfather loved little aunt, they were all clear. Right now he was angry, but what if he were to regret? What will they do if he were to come settle the score afterwards? Rather, it was Ruan Eldest Madam that ensured them, if something really were to happen, she alone will shoulder the responsibility. As the saying goes, ‘the law doesn’t reproach the crowd’. Their grandfather won’t punish them.
After the afternoon meal, Le Cheng Emperor sent someone to come take Ruan Rui Zhong’s pulse and check on his body’s condition. In the end, he was still his backbone minister, regardless of whether it was out of sincerity, or just for the sake of putting on a face.
The imperial physician took the pulse, but his heart jumped. How come it was anger fire attacking the heart again? And there was further signs of suffering from a stroke. No matter how one looked it was all not that great. Did something happen again? However, regardless of what happened, it all had nothing to do with him. He just needed to fulfill his own duties. After prescribing the medicine, and warning a few words, he returned to report to Le Cheng Emperor.
His sons, daughter-in-laws, grandsons, granddaughter-in-laws, granddaughters, and also great-grandsons, all crowded by his side, carefully serving him.
Although it wasn’t as comfortable as when Wei-shi served him, looking at this big family, his descendants filling the halls, he more or less felt a little consoled inside. However, recalling what Wei-shi that loose woman said, not only getting her hands on his sons, she even targeted his grandsons, that bit of comfort instantly shattered into pieces, using a skeptical gaze to size up his sons and grandsons, seemingly wanting to see clearly whether or not they had an affair with Wei-shi. However, no matter how he looked, it was all just a deferential and humble appearance. “Get lost, all of you get lost!”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Ruan Eldest Madam originally wanted to use this opportunity to inform him of Ruan Fang Fei’s matter, with the intention of wanting to sound out Ruan Rui Zhong. However, seeing this situation, she had the words swallowed back again.
Because hearing that Ruan Rui Zhong was unable to sleep well, nerve calming medicine was added to his prescription. Ruan Rui Zhong, after taking the medicine, just felt drowsy, and for the entire afternoon, he for the most part, existed in this kind of state.
Regardless of how messy and bloody the Ruan family was, the Luo family was brimming with cheers of laughter. Probably because this kind of carefree moment really was rare, perhaps in their entire lifetime, there will just be this day, they didn’t take their leave after the afternoon meal, instead continuing to play. Even if they produced a body of sweat, that elegant and virtuous appearance on normal days all gone, they at most just mutually teased each other. In fact, even those that were sworn enemies on normal days, at this time, seemingly also weren’t that hostile either.
All the way until more than halfway through the afternoon, nearing dusk, did someone finally start asking to be excused. Although they were reluctant and unwilling, it was indeed getting late. One has to know, the previous banquets, for the most part, just scattered after the afternoon meal.
Jing Wan called for someone to draw the water. Although there was no way to take a bath at this time, it was still possible to tidy up one’s appearance. At least, after leaving, others won’t be able to make out anything inappropriate from their outer appearance.
After tidying up, each and every one all turned into graceful noble daughters again. There were those that looked to one another, revealing a tacit smile.
After sending away the last delicate guest, Jing Wan was finally able to relax. Although it wasn’t very tiring, as the host family, with this one looking for her and that one looking for her, seemingly accompanying the guest the entire time, this kind of situation was a first. Aside from taking care of it skillfully and easily, she felt a bit out of sorts.
She’d long arranged for a bath, also letting Gong mama loosen her muscles, finally feeling revitalized again.
“These banquets, in the future, best to hold a little less of.”
Gong mama, upon hearing this, just lightly smiled, “That’s just for these things that miss did. Look at other family’s banquets, they’re not like miss this busy.” This should be considered the first proper banquet organized by Jing Wan after entering the capital. It was very obvious, it was very successful.
“Actually, I was also very happy from playing, sigh, really is regressing as one ages.”
“What is miss saying, this is precisely the age to play around to begin with.”
“Indeed, being idle all day, simply with nothing to do, so naturally just play around. ———Mama, today I didn’t take the afternoon nap, so a bit tired. I’m going to go sleep for a while. Just wake me a quarter before the evening meal.” As Jing Wan said this, she let out a small yawn. Her half narrowed eyes overflowed with a bit of tears. That pair of eyes like the limpid autumn waters were exceptionally charming.
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About that imperial physician.. there’s a small mistake where its written”… it all had nothing to do with her.” I think that should be a him.๐
Fixed, the author had used the female pronoun too and I translated without thinking ๐ ๐
Maybe I’m just too used to it happening, but I just have this weird feeling RFF isn’t actually going to just up and disappear now that she’s losing everything. This novel has been good about wrapping up antagonists, but RFF and her mom have just been built up as a long-term conflict that I just can’t believe it’d end this soon with so much of the novel left to go. I hope I’m wrong though
Technically to some extent Le Cheng Emperor is the long term antagonist of the story
Reading about the downfall of this mother-daughter pair is unexpectedly cathartic.๐ฅฐ The chickens finally came home to roost.๐ The domino effect following just a few words from Jin Qinwang is amazing!๐คฉ
Wow, the family work fast.
i suppose you could think of it like a rubber band pulled back just to the point right before it breaks then being let go. The recoil is great… plus, who wouldnt want expensive stuff for free?