Xiao Ye also looked at her with hopeful eyes. Indeed, as his mother had said, in this household, his younger sister was the only family member who hadn't completely sided with Xiao Tianci.
His sister's disappearance had him worried and anxious too.
Ruan Nanxi was pulled down to sit by Madam Xiao. Having just snapped at Xiao Tianci, she now appeared exceptionally well-behaved, nodding obediently at the words:
"Mother-in-law, rest assured, I'll definitely keep an eye out."
But in her heart, she thought, 【Why is everyone looking at me like that, one after another? Though I do actually know where Xiao Qing is.】
The Xiao family members in the flower hall drew a heavy breath, all nervously holding their breath.
【Back then, Xiao Tianci was afraid Xiao Qing would overhear his secrets, so he directly handed her off to human traffickers, telling them to sell her as far away as possible.】
【But that trafficker was greedy for money. Seeing that Xiao Qing was beautiful, he sold her to a brothel in Luocheng. Five years later, Xiao Qing became the famed courtesan of Luocheng, was bought and gifted to a prefect's son with peculiar tastes, and was ultimately tormented to death!】
【Her body happened to be spotted by a Xiao family servant. When word reached the Jin Guogong Mansion, the blame naturally fell on Xiao Ye again. In a fit of rage, my father-in-law refused to hear any explanation and directly cast Xiao Ye out of the family. Sigh, thinking about it, he's really had it rough…】
Just from hearing Ruan Nanxi's account, Madam Xiao's legs had already gone weak.
The Duke of Jin involuntarily looked toward Xiao Ye, only to meet his mocking gaze, which seemed to say: See? This is what you are—a father who plays favorites and can't tell right from wrong.
The Duke of Jin turned his head away.
【Fortunately, Luocheng isn't too far from the capital—just three or four days by horse. That brothel seems to be called Yaoyue Tower. I can make up a reason for Xiao Ye to go look for her. Once the evidence and witnesses are right there, as long as my in-laws are even remotely human, they won't keep Xiao Tianci around anymore.】
【But what reason should I come up with…】
Ruan Nanxi took a bite of osmanthus cake, racking her brains for an idea. Before she could think of anything, Tang Wanru leaned over and smiled:
"Sister-in-law, you like osmanthus cake?"
Ruan Nanxi looked up and returned the smile. "It's alright."
"Our family cook's osmanthus cake is only passable. If you want the real deal, you have to go to that old-time pastry shop on Ding'an Street in Luocheng. Their osmanthus cake is truly exceptional. I tried it once when I went there to inspect our shop last year…"
Ruan Nanxi's heart stirred. Feigning curiosity, she asked, "We have a shop in Luocheng too?"
"Yes, we run a jade shop there. Speaking of which, it's about time for the inventory check again…"
At that point, Tang Wanru paused meaningfully and shot Madam Xiao a look.
Madam Xiao forced herself to stay calm and picked up the thread, smiling:
"Coincidentally, your father-in-law happens to be visiting friends in Luocheng in the next couple of days. Wanru, no need to send your people—let your uncle handle the trip."
Ruan Nanxi felt this was like a pillow arriving just as she was dozing off. Suppressing her excitement, she looked at the Duke of Jin and casually made something up:
"Father-in-law, before I married, there was a young maidservant in our household who was sold to Luocheng. I'm worried she might have been sold to a brothel. Could I trouble you to send someone to help look for her?"
The Duke of Jin played along with a grave expression: "That's fine. What's the girl's name?"
Ruan Nanxi: "Yaoyue."
Everyone: "…" That's way too direct! Couldn't she have been even slightly subtle about it?
The Duke of Jin barely suppressed the twitch at the corner of his mouth, keeping his face stern as he nodded.
"Very well."
Ruan Nanxi let out a relieved breath and bowed her head respectfully. "Thank you, Father-in-law."
【That was way too smooth! Father-in-law looks so stern and hard to get along with, but he's actually that agreeable?】
She secretly glanced at everyone from the corner of her eye: 【How strange—I feel like ever since I entered the flower hall, everyone's been sneaking looks at me? There shouldn't be anything dirty on my face!】
【Could it be those two pieces of garlic-flavored peanut pastry I ate in the courtyard before coming over—is there a smell in my mouth? I've heard these high-ranking families are extremely particular about such things, but garlic-flavored pastries really are delicious…】
Everyone in the flower hall quickly averted their eyes. Some pretended to sip their tea, others pretended to chat. Second Madam Su Yin was so nervous she knocked over her teacup entirely.
Xiao Ye watched with folded arms as Ruan Nanxi gulped down a large cup of tea, then lowered her head to quietly exhale and sniff, seemingly confirming there was no smell before sitting back up properly.
He turned his face away in disdain, but said to Madam Xiao:
"It's getting late. I still have matters to attend to—we'll be heading back now."
Ruan Nanxi let out a relieved breath and shot Xiao Ye a grateful look. She wasn't familiar with these people, and sitting together making awkward small talk was truly unbearable.
…
Xiao Ye watched Ruan Nanxi leave, waiting until she was well out of sight before returning to the flower hall.
By now, all the servants had been dismissed far away. The six members of the Xiao family sat together exchanging glances, until finally Tang Wanru cleared her throat to break the stalemate:
"Well… it's really nothing much. That National Preceptor from when our Great Xia dynasty was founded—he was said to possess the ability to foresee the future. It was thanks to him that the Founding Emperor took the realm without much bloodshed."
"The most urgent thing now is to confirm whether what Sister-in-law said is true."
"Wanru is right…" Madam Xiao snapped back to her senses and hurriedly urged the Duke of Jin: "Husband, you should set out for Luocheng right now."
Recalling what Ruan Nanxi had thought earlier, her eyes turned cold as she summoned her trusted maid to investigate the morning's incident.
…
People in ancient times rose very early. By the time Ruan Nanxi returned to her courtyard, it was just past the hour of Chen (around 7-8 AM).
She yawned, kicked off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and comfortably slept in for a second round.
She slept until nearly noon, just in time for lunch. Ruan Nanxi had just picked up a piece of steamed pork with rice flour and put it in her mouth when the bamboo curtain at the door rustled.
Xiao Ye strode in, dragging a bound nanny whose hands were tied behind her back.
Ruan Nanxi was puzzled—didn't the original novel say Xiao Ye utterly despised his wife, Ruan? Why was he back so soon?
Still, she immediately slipped into her lovesick persona, stood up, lowered her gaze, and said with deep affection:
"Husband, you've come. Please sit down and have a meal."
Xiao Ye turned his head away in disgust and said coldly:
"This is Nanny Wang from Mother's courtyard. This morning, someone sent her to cause trouble in your courtyard. Mother has instructed me to hand her over to you for punishment."
Ruan Nanxi followed his gaze and saw that it was indeed the nanny who had come to her with a sour face that morning. The woman now had a handkerchief stuffed in her mouth and looked ashen with despair.
After her initial surprise, Ruan Nanxi breathed a sigh of relief.
[So it really was a misunderstanding. My mother-in-law probably doesn't bear any ill will toward me as her daughter-in-law. Good! Otherwise, in this era where filial piety is paramount, being hated by one's mother-in-law would definitely be a huge problem.]
Hearing Ruan Nanxi's thoughts, Xiao Ye's expression grew even darker.
Ruan Nanxi noticed and frowned in confusion:
[What's wrong with this man? He's as changeable as June weather! He was fine this morning, and now he's pulling a long face again. Who provoked him this time, and he's taking it out on me?]
Xiao Ye heard her clueless reaction and grew even angrier, sneering with sarcasm:
"Don't worry. You're Mother's precious daughter-in-law—the one she insisted I marry even at the cost of drugging her own son. How could Mother possibly dislike you?"