Chapter 48: Scumbag Beauty

If I'm not mistaken, that is exactly the original owner's beloved, Xiao Liangchen, and his mother Madam Liu.

Madam Liu, this person, has always been vain, wanting to be better than everyone in everything. Especially after Xiao Liangchen was jointly recommended into Xiushan Academy, Madam Liu would boast to anyone she met, wishing everyone knew she had a fine son.

For this, Madam Liu even specially went to have her fortune told; the fortune-teller said she had the fate of an elderly matriarch, destined to enjoy endless glory and wealth all her life.

This made Madam Liu overly pleased, lifting her eyebrows; the matchmakers who came to propose marriage didn't know how many she had driven away, as she only sought a suitable in-law family worthy of her son.

She did find one, though her son seemed not too satisfied...

Du Ruo ate sweet potato while pricking up her ears to listen to the gossip.

Meanwhile, Xiao Liangchen wearily closed his eyes, 'Mother, marriage is a lifelong matter; how can it be based on wealth? I have no affection for the Jiang family's young lady; even if we were together, we'd only become a resentful couple—what's the point?'

Madam Liu also couldn't bear to see her son suffer, but she couldn't bear to lose the benefits the Jiang family brought.

"The Jiang family young lady may be a bit spoiled, but her looks are not bad; after you get along for a while, feelings will surely develop."

Seeing the anguish on her son's handsome face, Madam Liu hardened her heart and continued to persuade: 'If you truly don't like her, it's fine; once you pass the imperial exams and become an official, a graduate of the emperor's gate, you can take a few concubines to your liking. Although the Jiang family is wealthy, they are merely merchants; surely they wouldn't dare do anything to you.'

Xiao Liangchen looked at his mother in disbelief, as if he didn't know her, 'Mother, what are you saying?!'

Madam Liu, however, didn't agree, 'All this is for your own good; with your talent and looks, once you pass the exams, many will vie for you. When you find someone better, you can simply divorce that Jiang family young lady—I have no second thoughts.'

Wasn't that exactly what Du Ren Mei did?

Look how well she's living now.

In Madam Liu's eyes, the Jiang young lady was merely a stepping stone on her son's path to a bright future; once used, she'd be discarded.

Xiao Liangchen's lips twitched a few times, but he couldn't utter a word for a long while.

He had read poetry and books since childhood, aspired to the way of sages, and was sincere and kind to others; yet now his mother forced him to do that conscience‑less act, which he truly could not bear.

Yet the sages also said, one who does not obey one's parents cannot be a child.

To defy one's parents is to be unfilial.

Xiao Liangchen suddenly recalled that innocent, lively little girl; back then they were young, and his mother said she was the daughter of the county magistrate, that the magistrate would not neglect her, urging him to play with Aman more, and to marry her when she came of age.

Yet he unknowingly fell for her; every gesture, every smile of Ah Man—even a slight furrow of her brow—could make his mood pleasant.

He thought they would remain happy like this forever, until Du Mingzhu appeared……

Ah Man's appearance was ruined, and the Zheng family members suffered one misfortune after another; anyone associated with the Zheng family kept their distance.

His mother also changed her tone, forbidding him from seeing Ah Man any further.

He refused, knelt, pleaded, even fasted, but his mother would not relent; she held a pair of scissors to her own throat, forcing him to swear a vicious oath, otherwise she would go to her death.

In the end he still compromised, completely and utterly; even after Ah Man married, he never spoke a word to her again.

For his mother, he lost the girl he deeply loved.

Now, must he, for his mother, abandon even his principles of being human?

Xiao Liangchen's eyes filled with red; he pounded his fist hard against the tree trunk, venting the anguish in his heart.

On the other side of the fake mountain, Du Ruo coldly smirked in silence.

That wicked woman Madam Liu is truly no good; she schemes for the Jiang family's wealth while plotting to divorce them, burning bridges and killing the donkey after grinding the mill.

Just like that scumbag beauty, pah.

I don't know which Jiang family young lady is so unlucky; should I warn her a bit……

Du Ruo was resting her chin in thought when two girls hurried over from ahead; one of them saw her and exclaimed in surprise.

"Is it you?"

Du Ruo looked up; the girl was dressed splendidly, her head adorned with pearls and feathers, clearly a young lady from a wealthy family.

Her maid followed beside her.

She seemed a little familiar; Du Ruo searched the original owner's memories and recalled her.

Jiang Youyi, the youngest daughter of the wealthy Jiang family of Wutou County, and also a close friend of Du Mingzhu.

When Du Mingzhu earlier bound the original owner and forced her to marry someone, Jiang Youyi was present too; she didn't lift a hand herself, but kept cheering Du Mingzhu on from the sidelines, stirring up gossip and mischief—she could be considered an accomplice.

Du Ruo muttered inwardly about her bad luck, rose, and prepared to leave.

"You're not here to pray for blessings, are you?" Jiang Youyi wouldn't let her go, snorting from her nose, 'As I say, your prayers are useless; you were born a lowly breed, and will remain so all your life—why bother the Buddha?'

She lifted her chin, adopting an aloof, high‑and‑mighty posture.

Du Ruo turned and stared at her, eyes icy, 'If I'm a lowly breed, then what are you? Oh, I know—you must be a bad seed, born bad. The Buddha's compassionate heart, even if it doesn't bless me, will certainly not bless a wicked person like you.'

Jiang Youyi flew into a rage, gesturing to her maid.

"Go, give her a good lesson!"

The maid replied, stepped forward, and prepared to slap Du Ruo twice.

Du Ruo wasn't going to stand there waiting to be hit; she wasn't stupid, instead she swiftly flipped the basket in her hand upside down, clanged it onto the maid's head, then kicked her.

The maid, caught off guard, instantly buckled at the knees and cried out as she knelt on the ground.

Jiang Youyi was stunned by this scene, 'Damn, you actually dared to fight back?'

"Good, she'll come at me herself—I don't believe Du Ruo would dare lay a hand on me!"

Jiang Youyi lifted her skirt and rushed at Du Ruo, raising her palm high; before it could fall, she saw Xiao Liangchen and his mother panic out from behind the rockery.

She instantly withdrew her hand, smiling as she approached, 'Brother Xiao, so you were here—I've been looking for you for ages.'

Xiao Liangchen stepped two paces to the side, silently creating distance.

Seeing Jiang Youyi, Madam Liu's expression shifted, then she quickly put on a smile and probed, 'Miss Jiang, when did you arrive? I was just getting ready to look for you with Chen'er in the side rooms!'

"Sorry for keeping you and Brother Xiao waiting. It's all this maid's fault—she didn't remind me, so a few lowly folks dirtied my clothes and I had to change for ages; you must have been anxious, right?"

Seeing her attitude unchanged from before, Madam Liu breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's fine, we're just strolling around anyway."

Her gaze fell on Du Ruo, and her eyes widened in surprise, 'Ah Man? What are you doing here?'

Du Ruo gave a half‑smile, 'If Auntie can be here, why can't I?'

Liu Shi felt a drum beating in her heart—could this girl have heard what she just said? Otherwise, why that look?

Jiang Youyi's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them twice, and she asked doubtfully, "Aunt, do you know her?"

"She, her maiden family is from our same village..." Liu Shi stumbled over her words to get past it.