It seems like they have grasped Ruan Mian’s lifeline, and behind the scenes, they might propose so conditions to make things difficult for them.
Ruan Mian smiled slightly and politely said, "Thank you, Governor, for the reminder. As a good citizen of Wuheng, I will naturally abide by Wuheng’s rules and follow the laws of Da Jing."
After Chen Bozong left, Xie Huai’an turned to her and said.
"Your business in those shops will have to temporarily..."
"My lord," Ruan Mian interrupted Xie Huai’an, smiling as she gazed at him.
"Now Chen Bozong not only blocks your path but also intends to block mine. I have a plan to deal with him."
She then whispered sothing into Xie Huai’an’s ear.
In the past two days, Ruan Mian had been busy arranging matters in Wuheng City.
Everything was ready, and she planned to return to her residence, waiting for news.
On the day she returned to her residence, Princess Jiaceng unexpectedly arrived with her servants at Jinsha Village.
She sat on the road and heard from the servants that this road was made by Ruan Mian, and her eyes instantly turned dark.
"It seems that this Ruan Mian has so skills. If Marquis truly fancies her, then I must say his taste has improved, unlike those low-class dancing girls and army prostitutes."
"But what use is it? The consequence of competing with , even if she was a Female Zhuge capable of overturning three dynasties, I won’t let her have her way!"
No matter how great she is, she’s just soone born of exiles.
Today she went to the village upon hearing the news that Chen Bozong had thought about Xie Huai’an’s wife.
She is soone who cannot tolerate any sand in her eyes, even as a married woman. Still, she won’t be tainted by Princess Jiaceng’s fingers!
She initially believed that Jinsha Village would be as desolate as other exile villages in Wuheng. To her surprise, it was peaceful and harmonious, displaying a scene of prosperity.
Fields, livestock pens, stone houses, stone roads, under the noon sky, smoke from cooking fires curled up—what a scene of peaceful human life.
How is this still the purgatory of exiles within Wuheng? It’s not much different from the villages outside the Capital City.
In her amazent, she reached the newly renovated private school, where won and children were reading.
Zhang Yue, as their teacher, moved between the desks, instructing them in practicing calligraphy and copying poetry.
The lodious and charming poetry recited by the won presented a unique scenery.
Upon seeing this, Princess Jiaceng furrowed her brows, coldly laughing as she entered the school, her voice low.
"All of you are born of exiles, yet you dare dream of attending a won’s academy, reading poetry? What kind of absurdity is this?!"
"Since ancient tis, learning to write was a privilege for won born to high families. You have been exiled here, and even if you have a good record, farming, digging, and serving officials is your fate!"
"Yet you live in this secluded place, secretly renovating a won’s private school, ignoring your duties, and violating the rules of Da Jing."
Her sudden voice startled those present.
Seeing her dressed unlike an ordinary person, with a carriage behind her bearing the Governor Mansion’s insignia, none dared to speak up against her.
Zhang Yue spoke out properly, "Though Da Jing doesn’t have won’s private schools, it also never prohibited won from learning."
"Moreover, whether to learn or not is a personal choice. My lady said we’re not doing our duties, but what logic is that? Before the house are fertile fields, within the house are won’s crafts, and everything is well managed. Practicing calligraphy and writing in our free ti, when did that beco improper?"
"But my lady, you co uninvited, talk loudly once you enter, and bully others. Is this the etiquette of Da Jing’s won? Is this conforming to rules?"
Those words by Zhang Yue made her furious.
A servant beside her pointed at Zhang Yue and growled, "Do you know who our lady is?! How dare you argue here and speak so impertinently! I..."
Before the servant could finish, Shaoxi suddenly walked out of the crowd and splashed ink all over her face!
The black ink covered her teeth, imdiately rendering her in a sorry state, and she angrily complained to Princess Jiaceng, "Madam! They, they are simply rude!"
"Our madam is the legitimate wife of the Governor. How dare you..."
Before she could finish, Shaoxi picked up another inkstone, unafraid, and splashed it on Princess Jiaceng’s face as well.
A scream followed, three or four faces now covered in blackness, stomping angrily on the spot, even their voices beca stuttering.
"Y-y-y-y-you... you’re too much! I ought to..."
Seeing this, Ruan Mian, who had been watching the drama unfold, knew it was her turn to act.
In truth, when Princess Jiaceng had first arrived at the village, she was already aware, having followed along the entire way, and Shaoxi’s actions just now were at her behest.
Moreover, she glanced at Yun Xiu, who received the command, and deliberately went to the fields outside to fetch two buckets of sewage water.
As Princess Jiaceng and her entourage were about to show Shaoxi a better expression, Yun Xiu wobbled with the sewage water, shouting, "Who’s there, who’s there, make way, make way!"
With that, he deliberately tripped, causing Princess Jiaceng and her maid to fall one after another into the sewage barrels.
A foul stench imdiately filled the air, and the two were left in a sorry, shabby state!
At this mont, Ruan Mian adopted a panicked look, quickly stepping forward, "Oh no, Commandery Princess!"
"Commandery Princess, why have you co here? Quick, Shaoxi, take the Commandery Princess to the riverbank to wash up."
Winter had already set in by now, though the riverbank hadn’t frozen yet, the water was ice-cold, unbearably so.
With no hot water in sight, even if it was boiled, it would take ti, and with the overpowering stench, Princess Jiaceng could hardly bear it!
So she didn’t fuss any further, soaking in the ice-cold river water for quite so ti.
Ruan Mian and her group watched from a distance, chuckling, with Cui Zhu nearly wishing to add to their troubles: "The lady went too easy; if it were , I’d have Shaoxi teach them a good lesson!"
"Put a sack over their heads, give them black eyes and swollen noses, that would be better."
Ruan Mian crossed her arms, lifting her chin slightly.
"Giving them black eyes and swollen noses is useless; this Commandery Princess lady has her uses."
Using her to shake Chen Bozong’s formidable position is a good choice.
So she put on a smile again, leading the shivering, blue-faced Commandery Princess back to the residence.
The fireplace was blazing now, and Ruan Mian had especially brewed them hot tea, along with placing a few boxes of premium ginseng beside them.
Seeming to pay apologetic respects, "Madam, today’s incident was an accident, us village won have no worldly views, we offended Madam. As an apology, these premium ginseng are offered as a gift to you, we hope Madam won’t hold it against us."
"Hmph, does the Commandery Princess need these things?!"
"Of course, Madam lacks nothing, but my ginseng supplents are not the sa as those outside, they’re specially cultivated. If I may be honest, this commoner was taught by Master Huaiji and can read faces."
"Madam’s appearance suggests she’s blessed, these supplents help in gaining offspring, and in strengthening the body."
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