Ying Mei had just been about to tell Nanny Sun to stand up when she heard Ruan Xingci’s words. It was as if she had finally found the source of her displeasure.
She stared blankly at Ruan Xingci before quickly averting her gaze, afraid the other woman would see her flustered state.
“I was originally the daughter of a concubine from the Marquis of Wuan’s residence in Beiguo. My biological mother passed away four years ago. Had this political marriage alliance not fallen upon the Ruan family, I likely would have lived out my days on a rural estate. Therefore, this marriage was not by my own choice, either.”
Ruan Xingci’s sudden candor caught Ying Mei off guard.
“I am not telling you this to win your sympathy. I only wish to tell you that I understand why you look down on my figure, my appearance, my education, and my etiquette. However, please at least give me respect. You advocate for tolerance toward servants who make mistakes and forbearance toward provocative relatives. Can you not grant the most basic respect to me, the woman who has married your only son?”
“I am fat, and I am ugly, but if your son truly had any other choice, it would never have been my turn.” Ruan Xingci’s tone softened, turning almost plaintive.
“Who said that? He originally…”
The words nearly slipped out of Ying Mei’s mouth, but fortunately, Nanny Sun reacted quickly and gave her a timely tug.
Ruan Xingci knew exactly what she had wanted to say.
While staying at the diplomatic envoy’s hostel, the original owner of this body had already heard that Nangong Rang originally had a sweetheart—Princess Nanping from the Senior Princess’s manor.
However, that match never came to be. Instead, the Marquis of Changchun had personally requested the political marriage alliance on behalf of his son. There was no need to spell out exactly how much calculation was involved in that move.
Could a sickly invalid with little time left truly have ended up with a favored Commandery Princess, even if Ruan Xingci hadn’t been in the picture?
“Mother-in-law, I have listened to everything said today and committed it to heart. However, I am not like you; I cannot turn the other cheek when someone slaps me. My husband intended to come along, but he was worried my bluntness would upset you. I promised him I would mind my manners, and I will continue to do so in the future. You are, after all, a special case. If it weren’t for his consideration for you, my husband might not have remained so patient and restrained all this time.”
Ying Mei’s expression turned grim; she did not want to hear what came next.
Ruan Xingci stood up and said with natural poise, “Mother-in-law, this counts as our first proper conversation as mother and daughter-in-law. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave. I am still very grateful to you for giving birth to such a handsome son. You should simply consider this the will of Heaven.”
“As for the servant who offended me, if she dares to do so again, I will consider your suggestion. I will keep the ‘owner’ in mind before beating the ‘dog.’ I won’t have her killed directly, but I will ask you to sell her off. After all, as long as she is in this manor, I will ensure she never has a single good day.”
Until Ruan Xingci left, Ying Mei remained stuck in the emotions of the encounter.
“Nanny Sun, what on earth has Rang-er married?”
Ruan Xingci’s words had indeed made Nanny Sun feel a bit ashamed.
She remarked, “Madam, the Consort of the Heir Apparent’s desire to protect the Heir Apparent isn’t wrong. She is a noble lady sent for a political marriage from a foreign land. Even if she holds the title of Commandery Princess, she isn’t true royalty. In Dazhou, the person she must rely on is indeed the Heir Apparent…”
Ying Mei was dissatisfied upon hearing this. “Is she not wrong for those barbarian-like words and actions? Was I wrong to call her here to teach her a lesson? If the Marquis were to blame her, would she dare to talk back like that?”
Nanny Sun sighed. “Madam, we all know the Heir Apparent’s current condition. I fear the Consort has not yet recognized the reality of the situation. With her personality, she is bound to hit a wall. Once she is battered and bruised, she will realize your current kindness…”
On the way back, Bailu asked with similar concern, “Consort, we have no foundation in Dazhou and no relatives to turn to. The situation in the Changchun Houfu is so complicated; should we really not be keeping a lower profile to avoid conflict?”
Ruan Xingci replied calmly, “Do you think those people would show restraint just because we stayed out of their way?”
“Probably not…” The answer in Bailu’s heart was certain.
“If they never intended to let me have an easy life from the start, why should I try to win their sympathy so they’ll let go? These people have been exploiting the Heir Apparent for years. How could they possibly have a conscience left to feel sympathy for me?”
Ruan Xingci was perfectly clear-headed. Since she had transmigrated, she would accept everything.
Even if she had made a scene today, as long as she spoke up first about what the other party had done, there would always be reasonable people who would agree she wasn’t in the wrong.
“I’m just worried that since they’ve been entrenched here for so many years, seeing you being so assertive will make them find a way to…” Bailu didn’t finish her sentence.
Ruan Xingci finished it for her. “Kill me? For now, they certainly wouldn’t have the courage. I am, after all, a Commandery Princess personally titled by the Emperor of Beiguo. This marriage represents the friendship between two nations and was officially sanctioned before the Emperor of Dazhou. If the noble ladies from the other five nations are fine while I die in Dazhou right after marrying in, I’d actually admire the Changchun Houfu if they dared to be the first to stick their necks out like that. The Imperial Family will be even more unwilling to see anything happen to me. After all, there are many rumors circulating among the people about the Heir Apparent and Princess Nanping. It’s possible this marriage was originally a way for the Imperial Family to protect Princess Nanping.”
Bailu looked at the girl she had grown up with in astonishment, finding her increasingly unrecognizable.
However, she still offered a reminder. “In a few days, we should be going to the palace. I fear there will be more difficulties then. Consort, please do not be so impulsive in front of the Emperor.”
Knowing she was worried, Ruan Xingci said, “I won’t. Don’t worry. The Emperor of Dazhou was forced into exile as Crown Prince and spent over a decade reclaiming his throne. He utterly loathes acts of usurping power. If the people of the Changchun Houfu try to plot for the Heir Apparent’s position under his nose, that would be truly courting disaster. I am the Consort sent here because of the political marriage the Emperor proposed, the rightful future matriarch of the Nangong family. I actually hope they find trouble for me in the palace—that would save me the effort of taking action myself.”
Bailu was dazed. “Taking action?”
“What, you don’t think their malice today will vanish just because they discovered I’m difficult to deal with, do you? If you don’t pull out the weeds by the roots, they’ll just grow back with the spring breeze. I won’t allow people who harbor ill will toward me to keep hovering around. They can either crawl away and hide like cowards or die off and become fertilizer. As a human being, if you indulge those who wish you harm, isn’t that just debasing yourself?”
Bailu explained, “No, I just feel the Consort could take things step by step. After all, we have no foundation here.”
“If you aren’t tough yourself, you can’t take root anywhere.”
Ruan Xingci’s words finally convinced Bailu.
“Consort, if there is another dangerous situation like this, you should just push me forward. You are the master; why must you charge at the front every time…”
Ruan Xingci smiled. This girl was just as she was in the original owner’s memories—afraid she would suffer a loss, and though she was timid herself, she always dared to stand in front of her.
Just then, an attendant from Nangong Rang’s side came running over in a hurry. Reaching Ruan Xingci, he said in a panicked yet suppressed voice, “Consort, the Heir Apparent is coughing up blood…”