Suddenly, a maid cried out in panic, “Miss!” Wang turned around and was shocked to see Ruan Ning fainted, weakly leaning on the maid Ah Qing, her eyes tightly closed. Anxiously, Wang hugged her daughter, nervously asking, “Ning Ning, what’s wrong with you?”
After a long pause, Ruan Ning slowly opened her eyes, trembling as she said, “Father, Mother, don’t blame A Si. She wanted to marry her cousin, so she kidnapped me. Her cousin searched all night before finding us. He has a good heart and didn’t tell the truth because he was afraid you would beat A Si to death.”
Ruan Ning’s kidnapping by Lin Si out of jealousy left the Ruan family stunned, unable to speak. Ruan Ning dug her nails into her palm, squeezing out tears. On the way back, she realized that Wang Mengfu was lustful and suspicious, while Lin Si was dangerous; as a maid, she was easy to set up, but she was also ruthless, and the original host might have died at her hands.
Therefore, she decided to turn them against each other by distancing Lin Si from Wang Mengfu and eliminating Lin Si.
Lin Si was terrified, wondering when this seemingly weak girl had become formidable. She cried out, “Miss, you clearly eloped; how can you say such things?”
Wang Mengfu hesitated. Ruan Ning’s long defense indicated she truly loved him. If not for Lin Si’s provocation, he assumed she would have married him long ago. He noticed Ruan Ning looking at him pitifully, which confirmed his suspicions.
Lin Si gritted her teeth and said to Wang Mengfu, “Young Master, say something! It was clearly the miss who sought you out.”
Ruan Ning sobbed, “A Si, even if you made a mistake, I won’t blame you. Why slander me? Who elopes wearing bedroom slippers?”
Her words prompted everyone to look at her feet. They saw a delicate light yellow embroidered shoe with a thin sole—clearly a bedroom slipper, not an outdoor shoe. Recalling nothing missing from her room when she was first discovered missing, they began to doubt the elopement story.
Lin Si bit her teeth and looked at Wang Mengfu, who turned away, unwilling to help her. Her heart ached, and she lowered her head, saying, “It was my momentary madness. The young lady did not elope; I drugged and kidnapped her. Please spare me, miss!”
“Spare you, my foot!” Master Ruan exploded with rage. “Tie her up and send her to the authorities!”
“Father, we cannot let family scandals spread. My daughter is fine, so don’t send her to the officials!” Ruan Ning said as she rushed to her room, wiping “tears.”
Though she chose not to send Lin Si to the officials, she didn’t mention avoiding punishment. Soon, Lin Si’s screams echoed from outside.
After bathing and changing, Ruan Ning comfortably leaned against the bedhead, eating fruit with her maid’s assistance when Master Ruan entered, dark-faced. “Ning’er, tell me the truth. Was this Wang Mengfu’s doing, making A Si do this?”
Ruan Ning switched to a wronged expression, whispering, “Father, let it go.”
“That little bastard!” Master Ruan gritted his teeth. “I’ll drive him away right now!”
“If you drive away Mengfu, I’ll leave with him!” Wang’s wife exclaimed, crying, “It was A Si’s fault. Why blame Mengfu?”
Ruan Ning felt overwhelmed, desperately calling the system: “Is this mother of the original host a bug? Can we replace her?”
“Hehe,” came a noble and cold voice in her mind.
Is it appropriate for a system to be so tsundere?
Chapter 5: The White Moonlight Becomes a Mother-in-law
After receiving twenty lashes, Lin Si lay in the woodshed, her body bloody and torn, unable to comprehend how Ruan Ning had suddenly become clever and bold enough to find the package of drugs.
With a rustling sound, the locked door opened. A Qing accompanied Ruan Ning inside. The woodshed was dirty and damp, and Ruan Ning immediately covered her nose with a handkerchief, saying, “Oh, it stinks!”
Lin Si coldly stared at her without speaking.
Ruan Ning walked a few steps closer, laughing softly, “A Si, does it still hurt?”
Lin Si continued to glare in silence.
Ruan Ning, satisfied with Lin Si’s misery, turned to leave. “Rest and heal here. I’ll have someone bring you meals. You’ll have to relieve yourself where you are, as there’s no chamber pot.”
Ruan Ning remembered a method from “Know Yourself” that seemed perfect for dealing with Lin Si. As she was about to leave, Lin Si ominously asked, “How did you find the drugs?”
“Oh, A Si,” Ruan Ning smiled, “How could I possibly find something you hid so well? All the papers used to wrap drugs look similar, so I had the housekeeper wrap some flour mixed with dirt. Who knew you’d be foolish enough to believe it?”
“You!” Lin Si’s eyes blazed with anger as she struggled to lunge at Ruan Ning, who slipped out and locked the door.
“Ding,” the transparent panel appeared: Well done, here’s a landmine to perk you up.
Ruan Ning was in tears, finally receiving a wild landmine.
Big brother, although A Si harmed me, she did everything for you. Look at her. Ruan Ning’s eyes reddened as she opened the lock, her voice trembling, “In the end, she’s also a pitiful person, just like me…”
Wang Mengfu automatically filled in her unspoken thought: Just like me, deeply in love with you.
Yes, Wang Mengfu thought, Lin Si would never regret. She loved and admired him dearly and was fortunate to receive his favor.
Although he didn’t save her this time, taking her as a concubine in the future would compensate for her suffering today.
The door opened, and a disheveled woman inside shouted, “Ruan Ning, are you here to mock how miserable I am again?”
Wang Mengfu, who had just peeked from behind Ruan Ning, was shocked to see that this woman was Lin Si. The room emitted a terrible smell.
Lin Si saw him and struggled to crawl towards him, but her injuries were still severe. Although Ruan Ning had ordered that her wounds be treated, bruises from beatings would take months to heal. In the hot weather, unable to bathe, she was filthy.
Wang Mengfu instinctively moved aside, noticing the mess in the corner. Realizing the situation, he ran outside, retching at the sight. The once clever girl was now reduced to this state, truly befitting her lowly servant origins.
Ruan Ning smiled at Lin Si and locked the door, leaving her inside banging and shouting. She approached Wang Mengfu and continued in a tearful voice, “Big brother, I know you and A Si have mutual feelings.”
Don’t worry, once my father calms down, I’ll persuade him to marry her to you…”
“No, no!” Wang Mengfu shouted, “I only want you!”
The banging in the woodshed suddenly stopped. Lin Si dropped her hands, rage rising in her heart: I must survive and find a way to kill this despicable Ruan Ning!
Ruan Ning lowered her head, barely suppressing laughter. She wanted Wang Mengfu to see Lin Si’s most degrading state and test their so-called true feelings.
Wang took her to buy pastries, dried fruits, fragrant powders, and hair oils. After shopping for about half an hour, she seemed tired and said, “I’m feeling a bit dizzy. There’s a stall ahead selling fresh shrimp wontons. Come with me for a bowl.”
Ruan Ning followed her into a secluded alley. Wang suddenly exclaimed, “Oh no, I’ve lost my purse. A-Qing, all of you go and look for it.”
After sending the maids away, Wang continued walking with Ruan Ning into a narrow dead-end alley. Ruan Ning felt suspicious and asked, “Where’s the wonton seller?”
“Isn’t it right there?” Wang pointed forward.
A small door at the end opened, and Wang Mengfu walked out, saying, “Aunt, cousin, hello.”
The author’s note: I appreciate our system, with a flattering face. Thanks to reader “Shu” for the nutrition liquid; I am very honored, bowing in gratitude.
Chapter 6: The White Moonlight Becomes Mother-in-Law
