Although he knew she would make a stunning impression, Nangong Rang still hadn’t expected her to not even spare him.
“Cough, cough…”
This time, he wasn’t faking a cough; he was genuinely choking on his own saliva.
Ruan Xingci quickly handed him the tea she hadn’t yet given to the Old Madam.
“Husband, have some water to calm yourself… I only had that misunderstanding because I heard Grandmother sighing and hesitating while saying the Marquis’s Estate couldn’t cure you. After all, who would believe a biological grandmother would curse her own grandson? Especially during the tea ceremony on his first day of marriage, not even offering a single auspicious word…”
The Old Madam’s face turned green. The Third Master wanted to say something, but he was pulled back by the Third Madam.
“I am merely of a weak constitution and require long-term recuperation, that’s all. There’s no need for misunderstanding. As for what Grandmother just said, she’s simply used to worrying aloud daily; it just slipped out. You don’t need to take it to heart.”
The Old Madam and the others did indeed mention his illness whenever they could, each time testing the Marquis of Changchun’s attitude to see if the Heir Apparent could be replaced.
Therefore, when they heard Nangong Rang speak this way, everyone’s expressions became somewhat unnatural.
But then, Ruan Xingci delivered an even more devastating blow: “That’s good then. I thought Grandmother felt your health was poor and that the noble ladies of Great Zhou all looked down on you. Since I came from afar and was willing to marry you, I thought Grandmother was feeling sorry for me…”
This time, even the corner of the Marquis of Changchun’s mouth twitched. Was that last sentence something a normal person would even think of?
Seeing everyone’s unsightly expressions, Ruan Xingci immediately adopted an even more helpless look, performatively covering her mouth. “Oh no, husband, I just said whatever came to mind. Did I say the wrong thing again? They say one should marry a virtuous wife. Your health is already poor, and now you’ve married a wife like me who offends the elders without knowing which word did it—they won’t use this as an excuse to snatch away your position as Heir Apparent, will they?”
Everyone was once again shocked by Ruan Xingci’s audacity. How could she say such things so casually?
While they were in a daze, Ruan Xingci answered her own question: “Probably not. Although there are some misunderstandings between us due to cultural differences, I believe they are certainly not such shameless people. Especially Grandmother; she must truly care for your health…”
“That is natural. Not only Grandmother, but Second Uncle and Third Uncle are not those kinds of despicable people either. They are all hoping for my health to improve soon.” Nangong Rang, his interest piqued, responded by mimicking Ruan Xingci’s tone.
The members of the second and third branches were dead silent. This husband and wife pair were playing off each other, scolding every single one of them.
“Hurry and serve the tea…” Feeling the atmosphere was off, Ying Mei quickly interjected with a reminder.
In her heart, her impression of this daughter-in-law, Ruan Xingci, was constantly losing points.
As for the jade bracelet that had fallen earlier, she had already quietly picked it up.
The Old Madam finally drank the tea served by her grandson and his wife. The Marquis of Changchun felt somewhat conflicted; holding the teacup, he scrutinized Ruan Xingci’s face.
He had taken the initiative to ask the Emperor for this political marriage alliance, breaking up a good match that originally belonged to his son. It could be said he had wronged his son, but he had his own unspeakable reasons.
He had originally thought the North Country would choose a young, beautiful, and well-educated woman to come for the marriage alliance, as she would represent the North Country’s sincerity. He hadn’t expected someone like Ruan Xingci—plain in appearance and so unrestrained in her behavior.
Thinking that such a woman had become his Legitimate Son’s wife made him feel even more ashamed.
After drinking the Bride’s Tea with mixed emotions, he looked at Ruan Xingci’s humble, seeking-instruction gaze and forced himself to say a few words of expectation.
When it came to the Marchioness, Ying Mei, Ruan Xingci held the teacup up, but Ying Mei did not take it immediately. Instead, she asked unhurriedly, “Since you have entered the gates of our Marquis of Changchun Estate and become my son’s new bride, there are things I, as your mother-in-law, must say upfront. We in Great Zhou value filial piety. I heard you had some choice words for my person last night; such an attitude will not work in the Marquis of Changchun Estate in the future.”
Nangong Rang’s gaze shifted, filled with a hint of disappointment and helplessness.
Hearing Ying Mei’s words, Ruan Xingci simply lowered her hands.
This mother-in-law seemed to be lacking a bit of wit. Ruan Xingci had just slapped a nanny from the Old Madam’s side in front of everyone and walked away unscathed, yet she wanted to bring up old scores?
“Ah? Did she really represent Grandmother and Mother-in-law to come and lecture the daughter-in-law? Does Great Zhou actually have a custom where, on the wedding night, a lowly nanny is allowed to represent the mistress of the house to lecture the new bride? I’ve learned something new, truly… Come, Bailu, represent me in serving tea to my mother-in-law.”
Bailu had long been unhappy watching these so-called noble-born ladies making things difficult for her lady.
Hearing Ruan Xingci’s words, she responded brightly, “Yes…”
“What did you say?” Ying Mei was stunned.
Ruan Xingci blinked her eyes and said in a very respectful tone, “Your daughter-in-law is naturally following Mother-in-law’s example. Since the appearance of Mother-in-law’s person can represent Mother-in-law, why can’t my person represent me?”
“Look at what this has become!”
The Old Madam could not restrain herself again, pointing at Ruan Xingci and rebuking her.
Nangong Rang gave an awkward cough. “Do not be mischievous.”
Ruan Xingci looked at Nangong Rang beside her and finally smoothed things over. “Husband, Mother-in-law must have been deceived by a villain. Last night, that Nanny Chen spoke impertinently, so I punished her a bit. That wretched woman must be nursing a grudge and sowing discord before Mother-in-law.”
Then, she said to Ying Mei, “Mother-in-law, your daughter-in-law would naturally not truly let a servant girl replace her in serving you tea. It’s just that, whatever Mother-in-law felt upon hearing those words just now, your daughter-in-law’s heart was only more miserable when hearing those words from that undisciplined nanny last night. Your daughter-in-law naturally believes those words were certainly not ordered by Mother-in-law. What kind of biological mother would cause trouble for her son and daughter-in-law on their wedding night…”
After speaking, she raised the teacup again and said, “Mother-in-law, it was all a misunderstanding. Please, have some tea.”
Ying Mei drank the Bride’s Tea with a cold face. After some thought, she didn’t take out the chipped bracelet; instead, she casually pulled another one off her own wrist and stuffed it into Ruan Xingci’s hand.
Ruan Xingci didn’t mind. She didn’t need to have any expectations for this muddle-headed mother-in-law.
“Oh my, niece-in-law, you’ve come from so far away, how can you only have this one servant girl by your side? You are a Commandery Princess after all, and now the wife of the Heir Apparent of our Marquis of Changchun Estate. This won’t do. Your Second Aunt has prepared two servants for you; they’ve already been trained and are very clever. You must not refuse.”
The Second Madam seemed to have forgotten being snubbed by Ruan Xingci earlier. With a face full of hypocritical smiles, she gestured for two servant girls behind her to step forward.
These two servant girls had striking looks and well-developed figures. They stood there with their heads slightly bowed.
Nangong Rang spoke in a cold tone, “Second Aunt, we have enough people in our courtyard. If my wife lacks hands, Mother will naturally make arrangements.”