Ten years ago, Ruan Jiu was playing in the backyard in the floating - light brocade given by Xie Jingchu. It was the first time she had worn such a clean and beautiful dress.
At only five years old, she didn't know how expensive the floating - light brocade was. She only knew that this dress would give off a beautiful golden glow in the sun.
Just as she was happily frolicking in the yard, Xie Yanchuan came over with his younger sister Xie Qinghuan.
Xie Qinghuan had been pampered in the mansion since childhood. How could she stand a little girl who was prettier than her and was wearing a gorgeous floating - light brocade, something she didn't even have.
So, Xie Qinghuan directly stepped forward and pushed Ruan Jiu into the pond. Then she stood by the pond with Xie Yanchuan, sneering and mocking her as a low - born brat without anyone to protect her.
After Ruan Jiu struggled to climb out of the pond, she rushed forward and got into a fight with Xie Qinghuan.
Xie Qinghuan was about the same age as Ruan Jiu but much taller. However, she still couldn't beat Ruan Jiu, who had grown up in the streets.
Helpless, Xie Yanchuan rolled up his sleeves, and the siblings fought together.
Finally, looking at Ruan Jiu lying on the ground, covered in mud, Xie Yanchuan said mockingly, "You should recognize your own status."
But Ruan Jiu was not convinced. They had ruined her most precious dress.
So, without even changing her clothes, she went to the main house to seek an explanation. Unexpectedly, she was beaten twenty hard strokes by the servants ordered by the mistress of the main house, until her skin was broken and flesh torn.
When she woke up, the first thing she learned was that she had been sent to the courtyard of the old master Xie to be raised. Xie Jingchu didn't want her anymore.
Only then did she understand that her temper had made her lose the most important person.
"You!" Xie Yanchuan was a bit annoyed. "Are you a blockhead?"
It was as if no matter what he said or did, she would never get angry.
"If you say so, then so be it." Ruan Jiu replied indifferently.
"I don't know why grandfather wants me to marry a blockhead like you. It's really boring." Xie Yanchuan couldn't help complaining.
Ruan Jiu smiled and then said, "Young Master, go to rest early. A Jiu will take her leave."
After all this commotion, she really didn't want to bicker with Xie Yanchuan anymore.
Afraid that he would stop her again, she immediately ran away like a flash after saying this.
-
Early the next morning, just as she had finished breakfast and was about to go to the silk store, the maid Chuntao rushed over and said that the Fourth Master wanted to see her on an important matter.
She had to change her plan and turned to go to the Fourth Master's courtyard.
As soon as she entered the study, she saw Xie Jingchu with his eyes closed, massaging his temples with his fingertips. His brows were slightly frowned, looking exhausted, as if he hadn't slept all night.
He had gone to Huaizhou a few days ago. After returning yesterday, the account books had piled up like a small mountain.
"Fourth Master." Ruan Jiu called out softly.
Xie Jingchu opened his eyes and lifted his chin.
"Sit."
Immediately, Ruan Jiu obediently sat on the chair beside.
"What's your opinion?" Xie Jingchu placed his hands on the desk.
Ruan Jiu hesitated for a moment and then replied, "Although Huaizhou is only twenty li away from Qinzhou, the price of mulberry leaves in Qinzhou is really a bit high."
Not long ago, Qinzhou, where they were located, had suffered from a pest disaster, and many mulberry trees had been severely damaged.
If this problem couldn't be solved, there would be a big problem with the brocade supplied to the palace this year.
After hearing this, Xie Jingchu still frowned and said nothing.
Seeing this, Ruan Jiu continued, "But we can move the cloth - making workshop to Huaizhou. In this way, we can save a sum of silver on transportation."
A glint of light flashed in Xie Jingchu's eyes. This little girl's idea coincided with his. No wonder she was the one favored by the old master.
However...
Xie Jingchu folded his arms across his chest, leaned back, and slightly raised the corners of his eyebrows.
"Did I ask this?"
Ruan Jiu looked puzzled. "Then what did the Fourth Master ask?"
"Xie Yanchuan is not suitable for you."
Suitable? How could someone like her even talk about suitability.
She bit her lips and didn't say a word for a long time.
"If you don't want to marry, I can talk to the old master." Xie Jingchu seemed to see her concerns.
She raised her eyes, and a glint of light flashed in them, but it quickly dimmed.
With the Fourth Master's status in the Xie family, he must be able to help her call off the engagement.
But the Fourth Branch and the Main Branch had never been on good terms. If the Fourth Master spoke up to help her call off the engagement, it would undoubtedly make the relationship between the two branches even more tense.
Maybe the eldest master would even take this opportunity to make things difficult for the Fourth Master.
How could she let the Fourth Master get into trouble for her.
"No need. A Jiu thanks the Fourth Master for his kindness." Ruan Jiu pursed her lips.
After hearing this, Xie Jingchu squinted his eyes slightly, and a chill appeared in his eyes.
If he hadn't gone to Huaizhou a few days ago, he would never have agreed to this engagement.
However, this little fellow had been stubborn since childhood. Some things had to be seen clearly by herself.
Immediately, Xie Jingchu raised his hand and held up the account book in his hand.
"Take this to Xie Jing."
Ruan Jiu immediately stood up, took the account book, bowed to Xie Jingchu, and then left.
Watching her leaving back, a complex look appeared in Xie Jingchu's eyes.
-
As soon as Ruan Jiu entered the courtyard of the Main Branch, she met the person she least wanted to see.
If there was a ranking of people she disliked, Xie Qinghuan would definitely top the list.
"What? Do you think you can come to our courtyard at will after getting engaged to my brother?" Xie Qinghuan put her hands on her hips, raised her chin, looking nothing like a refined young lady.
As soon as she saw Ruan Jiu's charming face, she felt disgusted.
Since childhood, Ruan Jiu had been superior to her in both appearance and talent. If it hadn't been for the protection of Uncle Fourth back then, she would have scratched Ruan Jiu's face.
"Is there something shady in your courtyard?"
"You! You! What are you talking nonsense about!" Xie Qinghuan shouted.
"Don't be like a firecracker. You'll explode at the slightest provocation."
"Get out of here!"
"Okay. Then I'll go back and tell the Fourth Master that you won't let me come." After saying that, Ruan Jiu waved the account book in her hand.
Hearing this, Xie Qinghuan immediately deflated. She didn't dare to provoke the unpredictable Uncle Fourth.
Even though she was extremely unhappy, she still stepped aside to make way for Ruan Jiu.
Ruan Jiu proudly raised her eyebrows at her. The Fourth Master's name really worked.
This trick always worked.
When she got to the door of Xie Jing's study and was about to knock, she heard a quarrel inside.
Just as she was hesitating whether to knock, she suddenly heard her own name.
"That low - born girl Ruan Jiu is not worthy of our Yan'er. When the old master mentioned the engagement, you, as a father, didn't even try to stop it."
The mistress of the main house, Xu Qing, complained endlessly.
"Enough!" Xie Jing roared. She had been arguing with him about this for several days. "The old master has his own plans."
"I'm just saying that the old master is partial. Now most of the Xie family's business is in Xie Jingchu's hands. If Yan'er marries a girl without family support, how will our Main Branch stand in the Xie family in the future?"
"Although Miss Ruan has a humble background, she has been smart since childhood. Look, at such a young age, she has already become the manager of the silk store. If Yan'er wants to compete for the Xie family's business, he still needs Miss Ruan's help."
"Then why doesn't the old master let Xie Jingchu marry her? He still dislikes her humble background after all."
"Alright. In the future, we can let Yan'er marry a noble lady as his equal wife. Miss Ruan was brought back by Xie Jingchu. Don't think they are estranged on the surface. Xie Jingchu actually values her very much in private."
"Yes. Back then, I just beat that girl twenty strokes, and he actually threatened to send me to the authorities. Later, he even threw Yan'er and Huan'er into the pond. Yan'er had a fever for several days because of that."
"So, as long as we can control Miss Ruan and turn her into one of us, she will surely become a sharp weapon against Xie Jingchu."
Ruan Jiu didn't listen to the rest of the conversation. A complex look flashed in her beautiful eyes again and again.
She thought that the Fourth Master had sent her away back then because he disliked her.
Fortunately.
However, they were probably wrong if they thought they could use her to deal with the Fourth Master.