For a mont, information about this aunt from the original owner’s mory slowly surfaced.
But when she first t this aunt, the original owner was still very young and had little impression of her.
All she knew was that her aunt was married to Mianzhou.
The last ti her father and Mr. Xue spoke of Mianzhou, they also ntioned this aunt.
But wasn’t she supposed to be the Prefect’s Wife in Mianzhou?
Moreover, her husband Jiang Ruohuai was part of King Yan’s faction, soone who later swore loyalty to King Yan.
This was already a garrison of Liaole Country, ten thousand miles away from that Mianzhou. If one were not exiled, how could they travel such a long distance to this place?
Ruan Mian looked at her in puzzlent and politely said, "It turns out to be my eldest aunt; it has indeed been long, no wonder Mianmian didn’t recognize you."
The woman spoke while wiping her tears: "Indeed, isn’t it? You see, perhaps this is fate! We are family, and in the end, we will et again."
"Mianmian, there are so things your aunt must talk over with your father. I... I have done many foolish things! Back then, it was I who wronged the Ruan Family. Before I die, I absolutely must make things clear with your father."
"Will you take your aunt to see your father?"
Ruan Mian certainly wouldn’t easily lead a stranger to her ho, let alone the fact that she only knew of an eldest aunt but didn’t know what she actually looked like.
She thought for a mont, just about to speak, when the eldest aunt suddenly took out a broken Jade Pendant from her collar and carefully handed it to Ruan Mian.
With reddened eyes, she said, "This is a token between your father and , given by your grandmother to us siblings back then. The matter of your grandmother’s untily death in prison remains a thorn in your aunt’s heart to this day."
"Had I not been controlled by Jiang Ruohuai back then, how could I have let my own mother die in prison? How could I have ignored my family! Mianmian, I know you still have suspicions about , but... but every word your aunt says is true, with absolutely no ulterior motives."
"Your aunt seeks justice and also wants to resolve a grudge between and your father! Please, by any ans, take to see your father!"
As she finished, she knelt down in front of Ruan Mian.
Ruan Mian hurriedly helped her up, and a rough-looking man beside them knelt down and kowtowed to Ruan Mian: "This lady, please help my mother!"
This... is her child?
Ruan Mian suddenly recalled what her father had said that day.
Indeed, the matter of this eldest aunt had always been a burden to him. Upon hearing him recount the past, Ruan Mian had also suspected whether sothing happened to this eldest aunt because of Jiang Ruohuai.
Otherwise, a person who was perfectly fine, how could she not care about her family, even go so far as to have personally condemned her mother to death after getting married?
Given Jiang Ruohuai’s movents, which were also tied to King Yan, he was an important antagonist in the original story. It wouldn’t hurt for Ruan Mian to learn more.
She was more curious why this eldest aunt appeared here, worried it might be related to Jiang Ruohuai.
So she temporarily agreed: "I will take you to et, but..."
Ruan Mian covered their eyes with cloth strips.
Though bewildering, the woman had no complaints.
She cooperated fully, blindfolded, as Ruan Mian supported her little by little into the woods.
On the way, Ruan Mian ntioned her husband’s family: "Why did Aunt co to such a distant garrison city? Isn’t Mianzhou your place of blessing? With Uncle’s care..."
Before Ruan Mian could finish, the woman interrupted angrily!
"Mianmian, don’t ntion your uncle anymore! I’ve already killed him."
Ruan Mian paused, clearly not expecting her to be so fierce and direct.
The lady thought she had frightened Ruan Mian and quickly softened her tone.
"Mianmian, don’t be afraid. Aunt will certainly not harm you."
"Aunt was rely driven to the brink of despair by him, and resisted in self-defense. Besides, you have no idea how vile your uncle was!"
"As the Magistrate of Mianzhou, the parent official of the people, he secretly profited unjustly, committing unspeakable atrocities! Back then, your grandmother... she ca to seek , but he imprisoned her, and in a fit of rage, spoke a few words against him, and he brutally beat her to death!"
Ruan Mian’s heart was shocked. Last ti, she heard her father say her grandmother died in prison of illness, and now she heard she was beaten to death by Jiang Ruohuai...
It seed Jiang Ruohuai fabricated a false scenario back then to escape punishnt.
If all this were true, this aunt really did suffer miserably.
"After killing that beast, I fled Mianzhou, joined the refugees into the capital, hoping to tell your father the truth of that year, but... but you faced an unexpected turn. I was chased and hunted along the way, coincidentally ending up in Liaole with a rchant caravan."
Many things were skipped in between, but Ruan Mian still sensed sothing was off.
According to her, it was over a decade since the original owner’s grandmother died, was she really silent all these years before exploding?
If this aunt were timid and forbearing from the start, it would be difficult for her to suddenly beco decisive and ruthless.
Looking at her now, she didn’t seem like soone who could endure at all.
Many doubts were temporarily suppressed in Ruan Mian’s heart.
Because of the aunt’s arrival, Ruan Mian didn’t accompany Xie Huai’an to the military camp. Originally thinking they could split paths, she would lead people back to the valley.
But Xie Huai’an wasn’t reassured: "I will go with you; those grains don’t have to be delivered now. We can have the Assistant Minister send them tomorrow."
Ruan Mian knew he was worried for her and was just about to speak when the eldest aunt leaned in, rather gossip-minded, and bluntly asked.
"Mianmian, is this your husband? He cares for you so deeply."
"But I rember your husband left you a widow, didn’t he? Isn’t he dead?"
"Aunt, it’s not what you think."
Ruan Mian chuckled, hurriedly explaining: "I separated from him long ago. This is just a brother traveling with us, don’t misunderstand."
"I see, but as soone who’s been around, believe , this young man clearly has eyes for you, doesn’t he, sir?"
Xie Huai’an smiled, teasing: "Aunt, you’ve got sharp eyes, but I fear..."
"My eyes are blindfolded, how can I have sharp eyes? I have good hearing! I heard how concerned you are for my Mianmian, so you must be interested in her."
"Since you have feelings, do you have a ho? Are your parents still alive? Are you a hunter or a rchant? How many are there in your family? Where is your household registration? Do you have a betrothal gift? How much can you offer?"
This series of questions from the eldest aunt nearly silenced Xie Huai’an.
It seed to be his first ti facing such a situation, and he answered honestly.
"In response, Aunt, I once held an official position but was demoted due to an accident."
The eldest aunt was happy with the first part, but the next sentence brought her back down to earth!
"Demoted, huh? What mistake did you make? You didn’t lose your household registration, never to return, did you?"
Seeing this, Ruan Mian thought if she didn’t intervene, it would spiral uncontrollably.
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