After Lu Wanrou was taken into the main house to nurture the fetus, the once vast Xie Mansion seemed to have shrunk.
Ruan Jiu always managed to bump into Lu Wanrou somewhere in the mansion, either deliberately or accidentally.
Since the doctor from Huichun Hall said that it was highly likely that Lu Wanrou was carrying a male fetus, Xu Qing, who used to look down on her, was now obedient to her every whim.
The Xie family was short of offspring. Having a male heir was a blessing, and they were willing to treat Lu Wanrou like a precious ancestor.
Lu Wanrou began to act like the mistress of the mansion, throwing her weight around.
Even Master Xie turned a blind eye to whatever she did.
"How can this tea be so cold! Go and brew me a fresh pot!"
"I asked for sour plums. Why are these sweet?"
"Sure enough, you're all good-for-nothings. You can't even understand a simple order!"
After dinner, Chuntao accompanied Ruan Jiu for a stroll in the back garden to aid digestion. From afar, they heard Lu Wanrou scolding.
Chuntao couldn't help muttering under her breath, "What a nuisance!"
Even if a mother gained status through her son, she should wait until the child was born.
She was just pregnant, yet already acting so arrogantly. It was truly disgusting.
Ruan Jiu smiled and was about to lead Chuntao away when Lu Wanrou's voice came over.
"Sister Ruan, what a coincidence. Come and taste these fresh tangerines."
Ruan Jiu forced a smile. She was about to decline but then changed her mind and replied gently, "Then I'll have to trouble Miss Wanrou."
After saying that, she leaned over and whispered a few words in Chuntao's ear.
Then she walked over alone.
Ruan Jiu saw the table full of fresh fruits.
Especially the tangerines. It wasn't easy to transport them from Jiangxi to Jiangnan.
It showed that Lu Wanrou had now become the apple of the Xie Mansion's eye.
Lu Wanrou looked smug as she picked up a tangerine and offered it, "Tangerines like these are rare in Jiangnan. Sister Ruan, have a taste."
Ruan Jiu knew she was showing off, so she reached out to take it.
But just as her fingers touched the tangerine, Lu Wanrou said, "Since I got pregnant, I've been craving sour food. I'm afraid I can't enjoy these sweet tangerines."
A hint of mockery flashed across Ruan Jiu's lips. She took the tangerine, peeled it, and said, "Well, some pigs just can't handle fine food."
"What did you say?!" Lu Wanrou's eyes blazed with anger.
Ruan Jiu calmly popped a segment of the tangerine into her mouth. A sweet taste spread on her tongue.
It was really sweet.
Seeing Ruan Jiu enjoying the tangerine, Lu Wanrou grew even angrier.
She slapped the table and stood up, "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because Master Xie favors you. The child in my belly has the Xie family's blood!"
Seeing that Lu Wanrou had stopped pretending, Ruan Jiu snorted, "So what?"
She stood up and faced Lu Wanrou.
"Lu Wanrou, you're older than me, yet you keep calling me Sister Ruan. Deep down, you know you're inferior."
Hearing Ruan Jiu's words, Lu Wanrou trembled with anger.
Ruan Jiu continued, "Right, you're just a born lowlife. Your blood is filthy.
Oh, by the way, your child will have to call me 'Mother' and serve me respectfully in the future."
Lu Wanrou didn't expect Ruan Jiu to be so vicious. She couldn't help raising her arm.
Before her hand could land on Ruan Jiu's face, Ruan Jiu grabbed her wrist tightly.
A mocking smile played on Ruan Jiu's lips, "Is that all you've got, Lu Wanrou?"
Then, out of the corner of her eye, Ruan Jiu saw a familiar figure in the distance.
She thought to herself, The time is right!
Ruan Jiu leaned forward and whispered in Lu Wanrou's ear, "Let me teach you, Sister Wanrou."
Then, she grabbed Lu Wanrou's wrist and pulled her forward.
When Lu Wanrou saw the sly look in Ruan Jiu's eyes, a sense of unease welled up in her heart.
Before she could react, Ruan Jiu had fallen to the ground.
"What are you doing?!"
Xie Yanchuan rushed over and pulled Ruan Jiu into his arms.
He glared at Lu Wanrou with hatred in his eyes.
Lu Wanrou widened her eyes and waved her hands desperately, explaining, "Yanchuan, it wasn't me! It was her..."
Before she could finish, Ruan Jiu shrank back and said pitifully to Xie Yanchuan, "It wasn't Sister Wanrou who pushed me. I... I just accidentally tripped..."
After saying that, she bit her lip and lowered her eyelids.
Xie Yanchuan looked at Ruan Jiu with heartache. Then he turned and glared at Lu Wanrou fiercely, "I saw everything!"
"It wasn't me! Yanchuan, you have to believe me!" Lu Wanrou was on the verge of tears.
"Sister Wanrou is pregnant after all. Don't blame her." After saying that, Ruan Jiu raised her wrist. The red and swollen palm immediately caught Xie Yanchuan's eye.
This made Xie Yanchuan even more heartbroken.
Seeing Ruan Jiu being so understanding, Xie Yanchuan felt even more guilty.
He roared at Lu Wanrou, "From today on, you'll stay in the main house courtyard!"
What Xie Yanchuan meant was that Lu Wanrou was under house arrest.
Lu Wanrou was wrongly accused. Naturally, she felt aggrieved.
Seeing the maids around, she seemed to have grabbed a lifesaver.
"Xiaocui, tell Young Master Xie what happened just now!" Lu Wanrou grabbed Xiaocui's shoulders and shook her violently.
"Just now... just now..." Xiaocui gritted her teeth and lowered her head. "It was Miss Lu who pushed Miss Biao to the ground!"
"What?!" Lu Wanrou looked at Xiaocui in disbelief.
A hint of mockery flashed across Ruan Jiu's lips.
On a daily basis, Lu Wanrou beat and scolded her maids. Now she still hoped they would stand up for her.
She was daydreaming!
Seeing Ruan Jiu's smug expression, Lu Wanrou pointed at her and shouted, "You're all in this together!"
"Enough!" Xie Yanchuan roared. "Lu Wanrou, if you keep acting like this, I'll send you out of the mansion!"
Hearing this, Lu Wanrou was stunned.
Tears of grievance welled up in her eyes.
Although she felt wronged, she couldn't defend herself at all.
It was the first time she knew how bitter it was to swallow one's pride.
She stamped her foot, flung her sleeve, and turned away.
But Ruan Jiu knew that with Lu Wanrou's personality, she definitely wouldn't leave.
She might be hiding somewhere watching them.
Sure enough, a gust of wind blew.
Behind an old locust tree, a flash of cyan clothing could be seen.
"A Jiu, I'm sorry. I didn't know she would treat you like this." Xie Yanchuan looked at Ruan Jiu apologetically.
Ruan Jiu lowered her head. Her slightly twitching shoulders made her look even more delicate.
"I know you have feelings for Miss Wanrou, and she's carrying your child."
"No, it's not like that!" Xie Yanchuan quickly explained. "I just pitied her before. I've never had feelings for her! The one I love is you!"
Xie Yanchuan's sudden confession made Ruan Jiu tremble all over.
But the show had to go on.
She had to suppress her nausea and continued, "When her child is born, you'll be a happy family."
After saying that, she let out a long sigh. Her eyes were full of sadness.
Xie Yanchuan's heart tightened. He said earnestly, "A Jiu, after she gives birth, I'll send her out of Qinzhou. I'll never see her again in this lifetime!"
Every word of this drilled into the ears of the person hiding behind the locust tree.
Lu Wanrou leaned against the locust tree. Her eyes were red, and her fists were clenched tightly.
Her lips trembled uncontrollably.
In an instant.
The tears that were about to fall from her eyes disappeared completely.
She managed to hold back the tears that were about to burst out.
Her eyes suddenly became sharp.
There was nothing but venom in her eyes.
Ruan Jiu, I will never forgive you!