Elder Crown Princess Consort

ECPC Chapter 2: Simple and Ruthless

Ji Weiming's mansion is located on Changle Street in the capital city. The buildings on Changle Street, whether magnificent or elegant, are all mansions of officials and aristocrats. Even someone like Ruan Tangling, who lives on the lower level of Luming Lane as a working-class person, would not dare to step into Changle Street, let alone stand on the street and risk being driven away by someone's guards.

But this time, she came openly riding on Ji Weiming's war horse, galloping all the way here and almost dying on the road from the jealous gazes of the girls who looked at her like wolves. Being alive was a testament to her strong mentality.

As a girl who had been single for twenty-four years and was perceived by others to have some problems in a certain aspect. She had gone through the trials and tribulations of blind dates and forced marriages and had already developed a skin as thick as a city wall that was unbeatable in the world. Ruan Tangling thought that if the Crown Prince were to snatch her away and marry her, it must be because the gods felt sorry for her for the first half of her life, so now they sent a man to apologize to her.

Unfortunately, she would rather remain single than become the Princess Consort.

As soon as Ji Weiming got off his horse, Ji Dong ran up and glanced at Ruan Tangling before whispering into Ji Weiming's ear.

Ji Weiming frowned and nodded in response, then turned to smile at Ruan Tangling. "I will have Ji Nan prepare a room for you, and I will come to visit you later, my dear wife."

Ruan Tangling shuddered and nodded blankly.

Under Ji Weiming's command were the four great generals: Ji Dong, Ji Nan, Ji Xi, and Ji Bei. Their names were simple and easy to understand, but also extremely vicious.

"Your Highness, what should we do now?" Ji Dong asked after Ruan Tangling was brought in. "The Emperor just sent a gift and the eunuch who delivered it said, it's for taking a concubine, Qin Fuyu, the adopted daughter of the Prime Minister. The grandeur and circumstance cannot be lower than that of the main wife."

Ruan Tangling was taken by force in public, so what kind of wedding ceremony was there?

As soon as Ji Weiming entered, he saw boxes all over the floor. He took out a bracelet from his pocket and said, "Take them all to Ruan Tangling."

Ji Dong couldn't understand why he would give away the gift from the emperor to him and Miss Qin so easily. Ji Weiming patted Ji Dong's shoulder and said mysteriously, "Qin Fuyu wants to go back with me to the fiefdom. Do you really think I'll let her have her way? Compared to Qin Fuyu, I'm more curious about Ruan Tangling. Ji Dong, send someone to keep an eye on Ruan Tangling."

"Sixteen years in Luming Lane, could her identity be wrong?" Ji Dong was shocked, "Is she also sent by the emperor?"

"No," Ji Weiming casually held a bronze bracelet with green jasper glass beads, "If she was sent by the emperor, why would I let you go and catch her? I'm not sure about her identity yet."

Ji Dong took the order and left. Ji Weiming threw the bracelet in his hand into the gift box and waved his hand to call someone to take the box to Qiao Mu Pavillion, where Ruan Tangling lived.

Ruan Tangling was alone in the room, which was clean, spacious, bright, and elegantly designed. It was completely different from her home in Luming Lane, even the bed was wide and soft.

She tapped the back of her neck and lay down, then heard some movement from the roof.

Suddenly sitting up, she could feel that there was someone on the roof!

"Dazhuang?" Other than Ruan Dazhuang, Ruan Tangling doesn't know anyone who likes to appear on the roof.

"Tangling, I'm here to save you!" Ruan Dazhuang whispered into the inside while lying on the roof. "Are you okay?"

Ruan Tangling lay down again and complained while looking at the ceiling, "Forget it, if you could save me, you would have saved me outside the small forest. Just tell me, why did Father ask you to come?"

"Hehe." Ruan Dazhuang rubbed the back of his head. "Once a chicken turns into a phoenix, what else would they come looking for you?"

Ruan Tangling sighed to the sky. "When Qin Fuyu comes, tell my father not to talk behind my back. Otherwise, I'll turn him from a chicken to a bald chicken with just a snap of my fingers."

"But..." Ruan Dazhuang hesitated.

Ruan Tangling impatiently said, "Isn't it just wanting the contract to the flour shop on Luming Lane? Tell him that there are fifty taels of silver at the spot where the ground has collapsed three feet, enough for him to own the flour shop!"

"Okay!" Ruan Dazhuang succeeded in his task, and Ruan Su could now make noodles! "Someone is coming, I'll go first!"

Ruan Tangling was about to remind him to be careful because there were skilled guards in the Prince's Mansion, but Ji Weiming had already pushed the door open and said, “Wife, who are you talking to?"

"I was just talking to myself."

Ji Weiming didn't doubt it at all, and sat down directly and poured a glass of water: "It's an illness, it needs treatment!"

Ruan Tangling almost rushed over to beat him up.

Several large boxes with vermillion lacquer were brought in from behind. As soon as the boxes were opened, the room was illuminated by various precious treasures such as jade and glass, and Ruan Tangling was frightened and stepped back a few steps: "These..."

"For you." Ji Weiming sipped his tea and waved his hand, "Do you like it?"

Ruan Tangling immediately nodded and squatted down, picking up a hairpin with a white jade lotus in the center. "What is this?"

"It's a Weiling white jade hairpin," Ji Weiming glanced and casually replied, "It's said to be the dowry of the Empress Dowager when she got married."

"And what about this?" Ruan Tangling opened a small box, inside of which lay several beads emitting a faint green light.

"Azure Dragon Luminous Pearl." Ji Weiming glanced at it again, revealing a hint of surprise.

The emperor really went to great lengths to marry Qin Fuyu, and these rewards were no less than the dowry of a princess. He did not hide the reason why he married Qin Fuyu to Ji Weiming because no matter what, Ji Weiming dared not disobey the imperial order.

Ruan Tangling didn't care about where the conflict lies, nor did she care about the grievances between the Ji family. She casually took out a cup, "What is this? Is it for drinking water?"

Ji Weiming glanced at the teacup in his hand: "Ji Dong, who put the teacup in the box!"

Ji Dong was stunned and immediately walked in to take the tea cup from Ruan Tangling's hand: "I'm sorry, I'll investigate right away!"

Ruan Tangling lowered her head and said nothing, then casually rummaged through a few things: "Ji Weiming, you didn't send the things that the emperor rewarded Qin Fuyu to me, did you?"

Ji Weiming smiled and remained silent, which was considered as confirmation.

Ruan Tangling looked at him disdainfully and said, "Take them all back. I'm too timid and can't handle it."

Ji Weiming didn't force it and had someone carry the items back.

"Crown Prince, what is this?" Ji Dong was puzzled, carrying the large box back and forth. Actually, Ji Weiming didn't really mean to give these things to Ruan Tangling.

Ji Weiming picked up the bracelet he had thrown into the box earlier and placed it on the table: "The answer is right here."

Ji Dong was even more confused, saying, "I am foolish and don't understand."

"Boxes of jewelry, Ruan Tangling happened to pick up and asked me the most precious treasure in this box, including that teacup. Even Qin Fuyu may not have such an eye to distinguish the valuable from the worthless." He picked up the bracelet. "But she didn't take this bracelet."

The appearance of this bracelet in Ji Weiming's hands is really ordinary. If one doesn't know the item, one will certainly mistake the surrounding antique bronze color as just an ordinary copper item. However, the teacup that Ruan Tangling found just now is very similar to the teacups used in ordinary households for drinking tea. This shows that she has quite a knowledge of these jewels.

But this bracelet...

"Have you found out where Ruan Su lived before coming to Beijing?"

Ji Dong shook his head: "No."

Sixteen years ago, when Ruan Su came to the capital with his daughter, he lost everything. Although he had a lot of strength, he only worked as a laborer for others. When his daughter was kidnapped, he remained calm, and because of this, Ji Weiming didn't think Ruan Su was an ordinary person.

In the capital, Ji Weiming can only rely on connections, since his father- King of Xihuai was far away in the fiefdom. Besides those who could be used to serve him, Ji Weiming didn't have the power and influence that the children of high-ranking officials in the capital possessed. Therefore, he kept a low profile in the capital, but it seemed that the emperor did not intend to let him remain low-key. If the emperor wanted to catch him off guard, he could only force Ji Weiming to become more high-profile.

If Qin Fuyu comes, it will be like exposing Ji Weiming in front of the emperor and Wang Xuan. At this time, if Ji Weiming snatches away Ruan Tangling, he must have his own plan.

"Arrange Qin Fuyu in the Bi Huai Pavillion when the time comes."

As soon as Ji Weiming spoke, Ji Dong was also stunned. Bi Huai Pavillion and Qiao Mu Pavillion were only separated by a long corridor. Ji Weiming deliberately wanted Qin Fuyu to confront Ruan Tangling.

But he had previously said that he couldn't be sure of Ruan Tangling's identity. Now he was directly throwing such a big opponent at her. It had to be said that Ji Weiming also trusted Ruan Tangling quite a bit. But Ji Dong didn't believe it. After all, Ruan Tangling grew up in Luming Lane and was different from a typical noble lady. If he ends up losing both his wife and the army, wouldn’t the King of Xihuai be worried about growing old in his fiefdom?

"Your Highness, aren't you worried that Qin Fuyu will make a move on Madam?"

Ji Weiming glanced at Ji Dong with ambiguous meaning, "You call her Madam quite smoothly."

Ji Dong complained inwardly. Someone outside the mansion addressed him as "husband" repeatedly, yet he couldn't even say "Madam" once?

"I'm not worried," Ji Weiming smiled, "Qin Fuyu will definitely make a move on Ruan Tangling, but Ruan Tangling won't let anyone bully her."

"But Qin Fuyu is a killer raised by the emperor since childhood. Although she became the adopted daughter of the prime minister, she is still a ruthless person. Her methods are not something Madam can compare with."

"What means?" Ji Weiming smiled and asked, "What means does Qin Fuyu have?"

Ji Dong did not answer, how would he know what means Qin Fuyu had? He only knew that one was a professional killer and the other was an old, poor woman. One carried a great reputation and wealth, while the other was just a destitute commoner. As long as Qin Fuyu captured something against Ruan Tangling with ease, her identity alone could make it impossible for the Ruan family to stand in the capital from now on.

Ji Weiming picked up his pen and wrote four characters on the paper. The strokes were powerful and fluent, as if they were flowing clouds and running water. Then he handed the paper to Ji Dong, saying, "If Qin Fuyu really knows how to deal with Ruan Tangling, this is the only way."

Ji Dong lowered his head and looked at the words on the paper, almost falling down beside Ji Weiming.

On the paper there were only two characters, vigorous and forceful to the point of piercing the paper, just like his writing which was almost crazy and unrestrained: simple and ruthless!

If this can also be considered a means, in my opinion, the essence of simple and ruthless lies in what Ji Weiming did, which was to put Ruan Tangling back in a burlap bag. He is truly the mastermind of this technique!