She looked down at the small bell. When Qin Ruolan raised her head, her face was full of scheming.
“There are even words carved on this worthless little bell.”
Xiaoxi noticed Qin Ruolan’s excited expression and asked in confusion, “Cousin, what are you doing?”
“I didn’t expect the chance for revenge to come so soon.” Qin Ruolan handed Xue’er to Xiaoxi. “Hold it tight. Don’t let it get away, or I’ll give you another twenty strikes of the plank.”
Xiaoxi understood Qin Ruolan’s shrewish temper. She only needed to obediently do as she was told.
Qin Ruolan directed Xiaoxi, saying, “Hold Xue’er tight and crouch down.”
Though she crouched down for no apparent reason, Xiaoxi still obeyed and tightly wrapped her arms around the big white cat, clamping down on its two front paws as well.
Qin Ruolan showed a satisfied look and nodded slightly. She suddenly lifted her foot and then stomped down hard with all her strength.
“Aowu—!” The big white cat Xue’er let out a miserable cry as Qin Ruolan’s foot pressed hard on its fluffy long tail.
Xue’er struggled, trying to break free, but Xiaoxi held it firmly. It lowered its head and bit her hand.
Pain, real pain. Xue’er had bitten her until she bled, yet Xiaoxi endured it and did not dare let go.
“Cousin! It’s the old madam’s cat!”
“Endure it. Come with me. In a moment, Grandmother Ruan will surely reward you richly.”
Qin Ruolan was very satisfied with Xiaoxi’s performance. After saying this, she turned and walked ahead first.
When Xiaoxi heard that the old madam would reward her richly later, she suddenly felt the wound on her hand hurt less.
Xue’er could not break free and let out mournful cries. Carrying it, Xiaoxi caught up with Qin Ruolan, and the two quickly left.
Just after they left, a burp sounded from among the flowers. After a rustling moment, an old face covered in a full beard was revealed.
“That girl Ruolan is full of wicked ideas, but the old woman just won’t believe what this old man says.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the old man burped again. “Just drinking a little wine, how did I lose track of east, west, south, and north and end up here?”
After laughing at himself, the old man sat down and muttered, “Drinking to drown sorrow only makes it worse. No, it’s all because this garden is too big. It made me lose my way.”
Ruan Mianmian returned after leaving, feeling uneasy. She was still worried about the big white cat, so she simply came back to take a look.
Suddenly, she saw two feet sticking out by the path among the flowers. Curious, Ruan Mianmian walked over.
“Grandpa, why are you sitting here?”
“Good wine, truly good wine.”
“Hehe.” Ruan Mianmian covered her mouth and giggled. “So it’s a grandpa who’s drunk.”
If it had been anyone else, just one look at that court robe would have been enough to know that this old grandpa had to be the master of the Marquis’s estate, namely Ruan Mianmian’s grandfather, the Marquis of Ding’an, Ruan Geng.
The original host had never even had close contact with her grandmother in the inner residence, let alone her grandfather, who was often absent from the estate.
Besides, Ruan Mianmian had never expected that a dignified marquis would be lying drunk in the garden, with not even a servant nearby to look after him.
“San’er!” When Ruan Geng saw Ruan Mianmian, his eyes lit up, then a dim look flashed past. “You, you’re not San’er. Yes, he has already grown up.”
She did not know who this “San’er” was, but Ruan Mianmian saw sorrow in the old grandpa’s eyes.
Ruan Mianmian stepped forward and said with a smile, “Grandpa, the ground is cold. Hurry and get up.”
“You called me grandpa?” Ruan Geng dumbly pointed at himself.
“Of course you’re a grandpa. Could you be a grandma instead?”
As she spoke, Ruan Mianmian unceremoniously gave Ruan Geng’s beard a gentle tug. It was still her first time seeing such a real beard.
Ruan Geng couldn’t help but smile at Ruan Mianmian’s curious gaze. “Little one, don’t be silly.”
Obediently withdrawing his hand, Ruan Mianmian struggled with both hands to support Ruan Geng’s arm. “Let me help you up.”
Staggering to his feet, Ruan Geng had been training troops at the military camp on the outskirts of the Capital for over half a month. Upon returning to the Capital, he had gone straight to a banquet without even entering the Marquis estate.
Having drunk quite a bit, Ruan Geng was in low spirits. After returning to the estate, he dismissed the servants and walked alone in the garden, only to end up drunk and collapsed among the flowers.
After Ruan Mianmian left, it was the voices of Qin Ruolan and Xiaoxi that woke Ruan Geng. Half-conscious, he heard the miserable cries of a cat and snapped fully awake.
It was rare to find someone unafraid of him—and a little milk dumpling at that. Ruan Geng looked down at Ruan Mianmian.
In his youth, he had fought on battlefields. Over the years, his skin had grown dark, and he kept a thick beard, making him look imposing and awe-inspiring.
His sons were all respectful and deferential before him. His grandchildren were like mice before a cat. Even his colleagues regarded him with a mixture of awe and fear.
“Grandpa, sit over there.” Ruan Mianmian pointed at a large rock beside the path.
Being ordered around for the first time—and by a little child, no less—Ruan Geng found it rather novel. He let Ruan Mianmian lead him over to sit on the big rock.
Ruan Mianmian released Ruan Geng’s hand and pulled a handkerchief from her bosom. She walked to the nearby lake, wet it, wrung it out, and quickly ran back.
“Grandpa, wipe your face and sober up.” Ruan Mianmian handed him the handkerchief.
Taking the handkerchief and wiping his face, Ruan Geng gazed at Ruan Mianmian’s smiling face, deep in thought.
“Grandpa, are you a guest at the Marquis estate?” Ruan Mianmian had taken Ruan Geng for a guest attending a banquet at the Marquis estate.
Instead of answering, Ruan Geng asked, “Little one, what about you?”
“This is my home.”
Hearing Ruan Mianmian’s words, Ruan Geng wasn’t annoyed. The Ruan family had no such small and adorable child—children say the darndest things.
“Little one, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It was no trouble at all.”
“Oh! You even know ‘no trouble at all’?”
“Child’s play.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means it’s nothing worth mentioning.”
Seeing Ruan Mianmian’s smug expression, Ruan Geng couldn’t help but laugh. Ruan Qi had been just as confident as this little one when he was young.
“Here, let me give you some loose silver to buy candy, as a thank-you.” Ruan Geng was about to take out silver when two small hands stopped him.
“Grandpa, I can’t take it. Mother will scold me if she finds out.”
“Is that so?” Looking at Ruan Mianmian’s serious little face, Ruan Geng felt even more that he resembled his youngest son, Ruan Qi, somewhat.
Right, the study still had quite a few of Ruan Qi’s old belongings, including some little playthings from his childhood.
“How about this—I’ll give you some little playthings to play with.”
“Little playthings?” There was anticipation in Ruan Mianmian’s eyes. Ancient toys—she was just getting bored.
“Mm, fun little playthings, quite exquisite.”
“Th-this doesn’t seem quite right.”
Ruan Mianmian’s conflicted expression was so amusing that Ruan Geng found him even more clever and adorable.
“There’s nothing wrong with it. Little playthings suit little children. An old man like me has no use keeping them. Giving them to you is just right.” Ruan Geng took Ruan Mianmian’s small hand. “Come, follow me.”
Unable to refuse such kindness, Ruan Mianmian had no choice but to follow Ruan Geng. She thought to herself that she’d go take a look—if they were worthless little toys, she’d accept them, and her mother probably wouldn’t be angry.
An old man and a young child, one large hand holding one small hand, strolled slowly forward. The two of them were completely unaware that anything was the matter, but in the eyes of others, this was a tremendous event.
The news spread with incredible speed. Some were delighted, others worried. The servants all began speculating—could the third branch of the family be about to make a comeback?