Chapter 69: Rubbing Elbows (1/2)
Chapter 69: Rubbing Elbows
In the afternoon, an unfa horeeting
A girl about 18 or 19 with a round face and large eyes cah she was dressed in a servant’s attire, her garment was violet silk and she carried a enteel than solanced toward Nurse Ping then looked to the bedcha”
Lady Ruan? Chen Yuan’s priot to her feet, answering froht there”
“Aye,” thehad changed into an old dress she had often worn in Ping and appeared at the steps
When the ain and stepped back to let her walk in front
Chen Rong went on ahead
The racefully followed behind Froained through years of training could be seen They were things Chen Rong did not know, for she had come from the north and her father’s discipline had been lax
Glancing over, Chen Rong slowed down to imitate her steps But almost as quickly, she discerned that she didn’t need to curry favor with Lady Ruan Moreover, nothing would change even if she were to curry favor with her, so why should she bother learning to walk from the people of Handan? (1)
Residents of Handan, capital of Zhao, were known for their graceful steps A Yan citizen who visited Handan had iet hoalk hiait and strode away
Puzzled by her sudden quickened pace, the maids hurried to catch up to her
They were a little out of breath by the ti arrived at Lady Ruan’s courtyard
At the gate, one of the: “Miss, please hile we let thenodded and then tilted her head to view the surrounding scenery
“Ah Rong, co replied and walked into the courtyard
Thefroave a s inside”
“Aye”
Chen Rong passed her and went straight into the roo that caught Chen Rong’s eyes was a three feet tall coral It was superior than the one she had casually srity
And yet this precious object was so casually placed on a aze, curtsied to the wo on the divan by the exquisite jade wall divider in the center of the rooreeted her: “Aunt”
The woman was in her forties Her skin was s face, on which she wore a faint smile, ithout a trace of wrinkle
Behind her was a young wo had ering that day Chen Rong knew her as Chen Yuan’s concubine
She was, nonetheless, one of Lady Ruan’s people She was clever and co a concubine, her status was her than those of co in appraisal and then pointed to a chair: “Have a seat”
“Aye”
Chen Rong went to the chair and unreservedly sat down… Froraceless Unknowingly, Lady Ruan’s slender eyebrows had knitted
“Ah Rong, I’ve just arrived in Nan’yang a few days ago,” the older lady gently began as she watched Chen Rong silently sit with her head bowed “I’ve been busy with so lected you I hope you didn’tquickly bowed to her
Lady Ruan gave an unhurried smile “I shall be your mother in place of your absent parents Don’t stand on cereaze, the s, you’ll turn 15 next month, won’t you?”
Had she called ’s heart pounded
She bowed again, replying: “Aye, your hed “You’re soon to be a young lady of fifteen”
There was a reprehensive undertone in her voice that Chen Rong did not understand
If Chen Rong didn’t understand so, then it was the same as if she hadn’t heard it For a uilt on her face
The crease between Lady Ruan’s brow couldn’t help worsening
She lifted her cup, took a sip of ’s courtyard?”
The young wo behind her stepped forward, respectfully bowed and replied, “The little reat wealth herself and has told the steward that she will be bearing all of her expenditures”
Lady Ruan frowned and released her cup “That won’t do,” she said “Now that her uncle and I have taken her in, how can we leave her to herself like this?”
She turned to Chen Rong and warhter in Ah Wei; now I have another in you It’s so, you’ll have the sa expenses as Ah Wei does fro broke fro this She hesitated before saying: “Aunt, it is like this: A while ago rains and requested to cut servants My servants have been with me since I was born and I really don’t want to dismiss them For this reason I had asked my uncle to let me bear all of my expenses”
She paused, smiled, and then frankly said, “If you don’t cut ”
Lady Ruan, who had been frowning, quietly shook her head when she heard this