Ch 270: These Two Are a Case of “Smelly Up Close, Fragrant from Afar”
“Since you’ve all gone this far, how can I not make it public?”
“Hahaha…” Yuan Ruiyu laughed maniacally, startling Ren Zhaoxi so much that he stumbled backward!
Yuan Ruiyu pointed angrily at the two maids,
“It was them! They watched me being punished and told on me!”
“Yes, you have such vicious hearts! Let me tell you, I’m not afraid of you now!”
“I’ve had enough of this for the past six months!”
“No matter what happens, you won’t escape responsibility!”
“If the Empress is kind to me, then so be it. I’ll just slowly torture you!”
“If she’s not kind, you won’t escape this disaster either. We can keep each other company on the road to the underworld!”
Hearing Yuan Ruiyu’s crazed words, Ren Zhaoxi trembled, saying in disbelief,
“You’re really insane! Incomprehensible!”
“We took you in for half a year. Does it matter who pulled you out of the Guo Residence?”
“Did we, the Ren Residence, starve you? Did we hurt you in any way?”
“Can you, with a clear conscience, dare to lay a hand on us?”
Yuan Ruiyu laughed in extreme anger, “Are you so sure that Yuan Xueyue will be kind to me, her sister?”
“Hahaha! If she would, she wouldn’t have killed my mother!”
“I’d like to hear what methods you have to threaten her!”
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Yuan Ruiyu was extremely agitated. Madam Ren’s face darkened. After a moment of silence, she calmed down considerably and immediately called to the two maids,
“Quick, go and serve her! Don’t neglect Madam Yuan.”
“Really, both are precious. Even if she treated your mother like that, it was only because your mother, Madam Fang, did the same to her mother, Madam Liu. You are, after all, blood relatives!”
“Master, what do you say?”
Master Ren came to his senses and coughed lightly, “Yes, Lord Yuan of Lucheng is gone. He passed away naturally in the wilderness, not at the hands of Princess Xian and her people.”
“It shows that Princess Xian still cares about appearances and clearly distinguishes right from wrong.”
At these words, Yuan Ruiyu was instantly stunned.
Wha, what…
Father, passed away…
Yuan Ruiyu covered her head and screamed!
Then, she hid herself under the bedding and cried bitterly!
“Ah, ah, ah, ah…”
Ren Zhaoxi pursed his lips, “…”
This news was just learned today, and they had no choice but to tell her.
The city gates were opened wide to welcome the other soldiers.
It meant that there would be a change of ownership.
Along with this came news from the imperial court. Many officials in the court knew a thing or two about the rumors in Lucheng!
Master Ren went to court early in the morning and learned of this. The imperial edict to open the city gates came in the afternoon.
Madam Ren was also slightly surprised, but she quickly reacted and took the opportunity to signal Ren Zhaoxi with her eyes, telling him to quickly comfort Yuan Ruiyu!
The only breakthrough was with her!
Success or failure hinged on this one move!
When Prince Xian ascended the throne, he would definitely replace many of the court officials with his own trusted followers!
And Master Ren knew very well that he had always been on Lord Li’s side. Although he didn’t have many opportunities to interact with the Emperor, he was still considered part of Lord Li’s camp, one of the Emperor’s faction!
Therefore, for Prince Xian to demote a minister he had little interaction with to a commoner would be considered lenient!
More severely, it could be exile or confiscation of property!
โโโ
But undeniably, the Ren Residence had enjoyed glory for most of its existence. How could they endure living as humble and lowly commoners?
Of course, they had to try something. What if, through Yuan Ruiyu, they could get close to the Empress?
Perhaps, Third Young Master Ren Zhaoxi of the Ren Residence could even gain a noble title!
Just thinking about it, they had to try!
Back then, Master Ren had relied on building a good relationship with Lord Yuan, helping each other and leaving behind a debt of gratitude!
Madam Ren had been with Master Ren for many years, and her own family was also a prominent one. She knew how to handle these things!
The two of them made this plan, fulfilling Ren Zhaoxi’s longing for Yuan Ruiyu!
Who knew, these two were a case of “smelly up close, fragrant from afar”!
It was so hard to get close to them, and their personalities were so incompatible.
Fortunately, not much was ruined. Yuan Ruiyu was just a young woman throwing a tantrum. Madam Ren signaled with her eyes, and Ren Zhaoxi had no choice but to go and comfort her.
Ren Zhaoxi sat back down on the edge of the bed and said,
“Don’t cry. The most important thing right now is to take care of your health. Bring it here.”
Ren Zhaoxi had the maids bring over some light porridge. He took the spoon himself, intending to feed Yuan Ruiyu.
His mother had said that the household would probably have to rely on Yuan Ruiyu now.
His legal mother had also instructed him that no matter how many misunderstandings or grudges there were between them, they had to swallow them!
Yuan Ruiyu resented Ren Zhaoxi for not being by her side at the crucial moment, for being a cowardly young master who only knew how to cower!
Ren Zhaoxi resented Yuan Ruiyu for not saying a word, for looking down on him for not having a position and being incompetent, and for turning to Guo Liangxian, only to be treated like a rag!
In the end, wasn’t it only their Ren family who could take her in?
Both of them were blaming each other in their hearts, each with their own thoughts.
But for the sake of appearances, Ren Zhaoxi could only lower his head first and coax her,
“Come, eat something. Otherwise, how will you recover and meet your Empress sister?”
The servants in the room began to gradually leave, and the extra maids also dispersed.
The concubine who was watching the show and her, Madam Luo, also quietly left.
Master Ren also walked out helplessly. The future was uncertain, and they could only wait for news from the court.
The last to leave was Madam Ren. She glanced at the two of them and the maids waiting obediently nearby. She beckoned and dismissed the two maids, leaving only Yuan Ruiyu and Ren Zhaoxi in the room!
“They’re all gone. Come, it’ll get cold if you don’t eat it.”
“This is a special porridge made by the back kitchen. Your legal mother loves it, and you said it was delicious before.”
“Ruiyu?”
Yuan Ruiyu didn’t say anything, burying herself in the bedding and crying. The bedding trembled!
Occasionally, the faint sound of sobbing could be heard!
Ren Zhaoxi said, “Yuan Ruiyu, there’s no one here. Get up and eat something.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Ruiyu, knowing that there was no one else, directly pushed aside the bedding and abruptly knocked the bowl of porridge out of Ren Zhaoxi’s hand!
Thud!
The porridge spilled, and the bowl shattered.
Ren Zhaoxi’s face was shocked. He looked at Yuan Ruiyu, who was covered in tears, in disbelief and said sternly,
“What are you doing?”
The commotion in the room also attracted the attention of the two maids guarding the door. They pushed the door open and came in, but found nothing amiss, except for the shattered bowl and spilled porridge on the floor.
Yuan Ruiyu glared at the doorway, and the maids hurriedly closed the door again!
This young mistress hadn’t been punished, and was even being valued by the Madam and Master. Who knew how she might take revenge on these two maids in the future? The maids could only tuck their tails between their legs and behave obediently.
Seeing this, Ren Zhaoxi glared at Yuan Ruiyu. He was no longer the bright and cheerful young man he once was!
Both of them had long been worn down by the world.
Ren Zhaoxi was just an illegitimate son of a wealthy family. He couldn’t pass the exams and had no official position or salary. He was completely useless!
Yuan Ruiyu was fine at first, but later she debased herself. Both of them could no longer face the beautiful past of chasing and playing together.
“Get out!”
“I don’t want to see you again! You abandoned me helplessly, deceived me with false kindness, and forced me to become a concubine!”
“Why are you pretending to be concerned now? Get out!”
