Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 425 - 151: Luo Mingzhu (Part 2)

Chapter 425: Chapter 151: Luo Mingzhu (Part 2)

Luo Mingzhu looked at Loo Ying, who was dressed in riches, and then at Yueyao, who was modestly clad with only a few jade ornaments, a flicker of interest crossing her eyes.

Upon learning that it was the Heir’s Wife and the young lady from Marquis Jingning’s Residence, Loo Ying’s eyes lit up with an eager light. After all, Marquis Jingning’s Household was one of the most powerful and prestigious in the Capital City.

Madam Ping, having seen all sorts of people, recognized the glint in Loo Ying’s eyes and knew her temperament. Madam Ping smiled and plucked a gold hairpin from her hair to give to Loo Ying as a meeting gift, chiefly out of regard for Zhuang Ruolan.

Loo Ying’s face filled with joy.

Ruo Lan sighed softly beside her. Yueyao had received a valuable Jade Bracelet but did not wish to keep it, whereas Loo Ying was so thrilled over such a single gold hairpin—the stark difference was immediately apparent.

Luo Mingzhu looked at Loo Ying’s excited demeanor with disdain flashing in her eyes. She had seen too many who courted favor, and she most despised such people. Only with a comparison could the difference be discerned, and Luo Mingzhu actually found Yueyao’s earlier refusal of the Jadeite Bracelet from her sister-in-law quite extraordinary.

Madam Ping knew her younger concubine-born sister’s personality very well and was secretly pleased to see her show such interest.

Ruo Lan cheerfully said, "Yingying, Yueyao, why don’t you take Third Young Lady for a walk in the courtyard?" Clearly, Madam Ping had some private words she wanted to share with her.

Yueyao remained silent.

Loo Ying, however, happily agreed, "Good."

Luo Mingzhu coldly swept Loo Ying a glance, finding her the least likable, her smile particularly annoying. Yet, Luo Mingzhu did not refuse and followed Yueyao out of the courtyard.

After Ruo Lan and the young ladies had left, she asked Madam Ping, "Why on earth did you bring the concubine-born sister along today?" Luo Mingzhu’s reputation was already well-known throughout the Capital City.

Madam Ping said helplessly, "I ran into her as I was leaving. She wanted to come with me, and I couldn’t refuse." She was truly troubled by her concubine-born sister, as her father-in-law, mother-in-law, and husband all doted on her. Everything was done her way, and even when she made mistakes, no punishment followed. With the Empress Dowager backing her in the Marquis’ household, she had whatever she desired. Raised spoiled and arrogant by her family, yet there was no one who could or would reprimand her.

Ruo Lan pressed Madam Ping, "Don’t play games with me. Even if it truly was a coincidence, why would you give Yueyao such a valuable bracelet? That Jade Bracelet is worth a lot. Why give her something so expensive for no reason? I definitely do not believe there’s no motive."

Madam Ping replied with a bitter smile, "You’re always overthinking things. I genuinely like the child."

Zhuang Ruolan certainly did not believe Madam Ping had no ulterior motives, and she also felt that Madam Ping’s visit wasn’t solely to see her.

Zhuang Ruolan gave a wry smile internally, being away from the strife had even lowered her guard. The saying went ’no one visits a temple without a cause’, so with the many affairs of the Marquis Jingning’s Residence, how could Madam Ping, who is usually too busy to spare a moment, have the leisure to come over for a visit? Moreover, Luo Mingzhu’s attitude was too strange; even though Luo Mingzhu was capricious, being rude to the relatives of her host went beyond being willful and ventured into lacking manners.

Releasing a sigh of relief, Zhuang Ruolan almost got swayed by Madam Ping, "You might not know, but my father-in-law is more fond of this cousin than his own daughter, and my husband also treats her like a full-blooded younger sister." What Zhuang Ruolan meant was, even if Madam Ping had any intentions, she would not agree to them.

Knowing that it was no time to be coy or secretive, Madam Ping said directly, "I think your cousin is calm and mature for her age, and she has a very broad mindset. I would like her to spend more time with my younger nun sister, and if they get along after some time, they could become friends, which would be good for my younger nun sister as well."

Ruo Lan shook her head and said, "You’ve seen the temperament of your younger nun sister; she’s too much for most people to bear. It’s unlikely that she will become friends with Yueyao; you might want to look for someone else."

Yet Madam Ping smiled and said, "You saw what just happened, didn’t you? I think your cousin can tame my younger nun sister." The nun might not see that Yueyao was deliberately trying to be amiable, but she saw it. She believed that Zhuang Ruolan could see it too, hence her use of the word ’tame’.

Ruo Lan indeed noticed that Yueyao had other motives, and she was very clear about how lofty Yueyao’s nature was. Even if Yueyao appeared agreeable now, it was only because she had concealed her pride. She believed Yueyao would have turned hostile then and there if she didn’t have a plan in mind.

Madam Ping, holding Ruo Lan’s hand, said, "Don’t be offended, my younger nun sister’s willful nature is the result of being pampered by the family, but at heart, she is good-natured. Ruo Lan, I really had no choice, I’ve been so worried lately. If her temperament doesn’t improve, she will surely suffer great losses when she marries. Although a daughter married off is like water thrown out, my husband is so fond of his younger sister that if she were ever wronged in her husband’s family, he would never just stand by and watch. The saying goes, ’it’s hard for an honest official to resolve domestic disputes’; undue interference from her paternal house would only complicate matters further and lead to endless trouble, so the best solution is to straighten out my younger nun sister’s temperament."

Ruo Lan felt that Madam Ping was overwrought, saying, "She’s only your younger sister-in-law, not your own sister. Once she’s married, she’ll be someone else’s family. Why stress over it so much?"

Madam Ping shook her head: "You say your husband treats Yueyao like a full-blooded younger sister. My husband dotes on my younger nun sister like she’s his daughter. Someone recently gave my mother-in-law the idea to find a couple of sensible girls to accompany my younger nun sister. Influenced by them, she would naturally improve. Now, my mother-in-law has asked me to find two companions for her, and the Heir Apparent has realized that Mingzhu’s temperament is unacceptable and asked me to find two sensible girls. After looking everywhere, I can’t find anyone suitable. Ruo Lan, you must believe me, it’s just that my younger nun sister has been overindulged by my father-in-law and husband, to the point where she doesn’t consider other people’s feelings in her words and actions, but her nature is good."

On hearing this, Ruo Lan couldn’t help but laugh: "Your younger sister-in-law has such a high status and is favored by the Empress Dowager; finding a few sensible girls to keep her company should be easy. Not to mention anything else, but I remember you have three concubine-born sisters!" There were plenty eager to climb the social ladder, no need to exhaust oneself this much.

Madam Ping shook her head: "It’s not that easy. There are many girls who could satisfy the Heir Apparent and my mother-in-law, but none that could catch my younger nun sister’s eye. The only ones who reluctantly stay by her side now are my mother-in-law’s own family and their character is not good. I’m worried that keeping her around won’t just fail to teach her well but will certainly lead her astray. Ruo Lan, this has truly been a source of immense concern for me lately, please consider this a favor for me." Finding people was easy, but finding someone who could influence the younger nun sister to improve was difficult. Madam Ping was more than satisfied with Yueyao.

Ruo Lan weighed the pros and cons.

Seeing this, Madam Ping hurriedly said, "Ruo Lan, be assured. Although my mother-in-law and the Heir Apparent talk about finding companions for my younger nun sister, that’s for others. For Yueyao, they would surely see her as a friend of the younger nun sister. Ruo Lan, you surely understand that Yueyao hasn’t had it easy too!" Although Madam Ping did not spell it out, she believed Ruo Lan could read between the lines. The Lian family would not accommodate a child like Yueyao; if the Lian family truly cared for her, such hurtful rumors wouldn’t be circulated.

Ruo Lan’s heart lightened; Madam Ping saying ’become friends’ meant she regarded Yueyao as an equal, not as Luo Mingzhu’s accessory. This would indeed be beneficial for Yueyao without causing harm, she replied, "In that case, I’ll speak to Yueyao about this matter later. If she agrees, I have no objections. If she does not agree, let’s pretend this conversation never happened." Yueyao was a girl with her own strong opinions; she could not make decisions on Yueyao’s behalf.

Madam Ping also knew that Zhuang Ruolan could not make the decision, but Zhuang Ruolan’s lack of opposition already met her goal, "Of course. If Miss Lian disagrees, then the matter is off."