The door to the private room opened, and two young men dressed as shop assistants carried in an object over five feet tall.
When the red cloth covering it was lifted, it revealed a beautifully crafted glass screen, painted with flowers, birds, insects, and fish. The patterns were inlaid with gold trim and adorned with polished shells as decoration.
As light shone upon it, the patterns seemed to come alive—vivid and exquisite.
One of the assistants bowed respectfully. "This was originally to be delivered to your residence, but when we heard you were at this teahouse, our manager instructed us to bring it here directly."
Jiang Ruoyu couldn't take her eyes off it. This was hand-carved and crafted by a retired master artisan from the Emerald Pavilion, and it was only through the connection of the Heir of Prince Rui that the master had agreed to take the commission.
Truly the work of a master artisan.
But she knew exactly how to attract men. With this group of nobles in the capital, she had to appear different from everyone else.
So after the two assistants left, amidst her maidservants' exclamations of admiration, Jiang Ruoyu glanced at Xiao Ye and said dismissively:
"The design is passable, but the gold trim is too vulgar—it completely ruins what was originally elegant."
Her senior maidservant, Foqu, nodded in understanding. Last time, her young lady had used similar rhetoric to make the distinguished and refined Young Master Su of the Grand Tutor's family regard her with special favor.
Since Heir Xiao liked her young lady so much, hearing this would surely make him admire and respect her even more.
Xiao Ye actually knew nothing about the ornaments and jewelry that girls liked, nor could he understand why Ruoyu refused to wear the various colorful clothes available and instead wore white all day—didn't she find it inauspicious?
Hearing Jiang Ruoyu say this now, he thought she genuinely didn't like it.
Staring at the gold trim on the screen, his mind suddenly recalled how Ruan Nanxi had held the gold bracelet given by his elder sister-in-law during yesterday's tea ceremony, her eyes shining with delight.
An idea struck Xiao Ye—Ruan Nanxi seemed to really like gold, silver, and jade items.
And he happened to be worrying about what to give Ruan Nanxi as an apology gift.
So he pointed at the screen and directly asked for it:
"Ruoyu, if you really don't like it, why not give it to me?"
Jiang Ruoyu's expression stiffened.
But thinking of how Xiao Ye had defended Ruan Nanxi, clearly his heart had already leaned toward that woman, she gritted her teeth. Though she was extremely reluctant to part with it, she still nodded and pretended to be magnanimous:
"Fine. A-Ye, you're my most important friend. If you like the screen, take it!"
Inwardly, she comforted herself that she could make up for it elsewhere later. Xiao Ye's mind was entirely occupied with military training and warfare—he didn't understand women at all and was easy to handle.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Xiao Ye across from her softened his gaze even more. "Ruoyu, you're so good to me!"
Before her satisfied smile could even form, she saw Xiao Ye turn his head and call to Zhufeng, who was waiting outside:
"Send this screen to the Ruan Residence, to my wife."
"???"
Jiang Ruoyu thought she must have misheard. Her lips trembling, she raised her hand to point at Xiao Ye and took a step back. Even her usually gentle voice carried a sharp edge:
"What did you say? You asked me for the screen just to give it to Miss Ruan?"
Xiao Ye nodded with complete candor:
"That's right. Since you don't like it anyway, and Ruan happens to like these gold and silver things, isn't it perfect to give it to her?"
"You—"
Jiang Ruoyu was so angry she nearly spat blood.
The maidservants standing nearby were also dumbfounded. Foqu glared at Xiao Ye in outrage:
"Heir Xiao, you've gone too far! How can you take our young lady's things and give them to another woman?"
Xiao Ye couldn't understand why they were so agitated. He gestured for Zhufeng to hurry and carry the screen away, then frowned at the mistress and maid:
"Didn't Ruoyu herself say the screen was too vulgar and that she didn't like it?"
"Besides, aren't you always saying I'm your most important friend? It's just a screen. What need is there for such calculation between good friends?"
In his understanding, his most important friends were the brothers who had faced life and death with him. Between them, they never quibbled over who got the good food or the fun things.
Ruoyu had often asked him to do things for her too—just a few days ago, he'd taught the Prefect's young son a lesson on her behalf. So why, when he needed help, had Ruoyu become so petty?
Jiang Ruoyu was rendered speechless by his questioning.
If not for how sincere Xiao Ye's expression was, Jiang Ruoyu would have almost thought the man had seen through something and was deliberately mocking her!
…
As the unfamiliar yet familiar surroundings of the Ruan Residence came into view, the memories that had been shrouded in mist gradually became clear in Ruan Nanxi's mind.
The group entered the dining hall. The Ruan family was a modest household and didn't observe the rule of silence during meals.
"Everyone, sit. Changgeng, I had the kitchen specially prepare dishes you like."
Following Father Ruan's gaze, Ruan Nanxi saw a young scholar in blue robes seated beside Ruan Nanzhi.
Ah, so this was the man Ruan Nanzhi, after her premature rebirth, had made a fuss about marrying no matter what—and also the man who had once been the original owner's former fiancé.
By now, she had recalled about seventy or eighty percent of the original owner's memories. She knew this man was called Xie Changgeng. Born into poverty but highly gifted at studying, he was a promising prospect that Father Ruan had taken a liking to and had been secretly supporting.
Xie Changgeng was indeed accomplished—at just twenty, he had already passed the Spring Imperial Examination, and Father Ruan had betrothed him to the original owner of this body.
Ruan Nanzhi, after her rebirth, had insisted on marrying him regardless of everything. It seemed that in her previous life, this man had done quite well for himself.
Seeing her staring at Xie Changgeng, Ruan Nanzhi warily moved her head to block her line of sight.
"What are you looking at, sister? Changgeng is my husband now. You're already married—even if your life is unhappy, you shouldn't keep staring at your brother-in-law!"
Ruan Nanxi was speechless. "You're overthinking it, sister. I have no interest in frail scholars who look like bamboo poles."
She was telling the truth. Xie Changgeng was decent-looking, refined and bookish, but that was all. In terms of appearance and bearing, he fell far short of Father Ruan, who was already past forty.
Ruan Nanzhi scoffed disdainfully. "Keep telling yourself that!
Let me warn you—no matter how wonderful my husband is, he's not someone a married woman like you should be coveting!"
Ruan Nanxi: "…" There was a curse word on the tip of her tongue that she wasn't sure she should let out.
What followed was Ruan Nanxi being force-fed a heaping bowl of cloying affection.
It was clear the two were deeply in love. Xie Changgeng kept piling food onto Ruan Nanzhi's plate with adoring eyes, while she looked shy and sweet, thoroughly marinated in romance.
Father Ruan seemed greatly pleased by the sight, and even Mrs. Zhou's expression softened at how gentle and attentive Xie Changgeng was.
Ruan Nanxi chewed a piece of braised pork that had been stewed until tender, her heart as calm as still water.
Mainly because watching the two of them sit together, she couldn't muster any enthusiasm. Ruan Nanzhi was bright and coquettish, her scheming written all over her face—barely qualifying as a pretty fool—while Xie Changgeng was so excessively gentle and meek that he radiated pure anti-charisma.
Yet some people simply couldn't stand her composure. Father Ruan set down his chopsticks and scolded her with a stern face:
"Nanxi, don't blame your father for saying this—as a woman, failing to win your husband's affection is your own incompetence.
Look at Nanzhi and her husband, then look at yourself. Aren't you ashamed? How do you still have the face to eat!"
Ruan Nanzhi chimed in as well, linking her arm through Xie Changgeng's, and said with false sincerity:
"Sister, I've found my happiness now—you should work hard too!
As the saying goes, a woman chasing a man is like a veil between them—thin and easily pierced. If you just put in the effort, sister, maybe one day brother-in-law will come around!"
In her heart, she felt a pride she had never known before. Not only had she surpassed the sister who had always overshadowed her since childhood, but she had also married a promising husband with a bright future.
Ever since she'd been with Changgeng, spending every night in intimate embrace, she had come to understand just how wonderful it felt to be loved by a man!
Though the Xie family was poor and her mother-in-law was harsh, she savored every moment of it.
Ruan Nanxi slammed down her chopsticks with a sharp crack.
Was there no end to this? Couldn't they just eat their meal in peace?
She was about to fire back a few cutting remarks and then walk out.
After all, she was already married. Father Ruan, who wanted to climb the ranks through the Jin Guogong Mansion's influence, couldn't do anything to her no matter how angry he got.
But just then, the steward led Zhufeng inside.