Chapter 001: What a Prime Minister!

Chapter 001: What a Prime Minister!

The spring wind blew strongly, and the gloomy weather hinted at an impending downpour.

In the inner chambers of the Prime Minister's residence, Ruan Qinghuan was carefully going through the detailed list of her dowry, stopping at the page that listed the shops.

It must be said, to ensure she wouldn’t be looked down upon in the Prime Minister's residence, her grandmother and parents had given her a truly generous dowry.

There were two properties in the bustling eastern part of the city, a tavern in the western part, and additionally, farmlands in the capital and a bamboo forest villa. And this didn’t even account for the substantial amount of silver she had received.

Even if she were to be divorced from the Prime Minister's residence in the future, she could still live a luxurious and carefree life with these assets.

She couldn’t fathom why the original owner had been so heartbroken, to the point of ending her own life for a man who clearly didn’t love her.

Ruan Qinghuan took a sip of her tea and sighed regretfully.

She wasn’t the original owner, and had no interest in that Prime Minister. She intended to make the most of her time in the Prime Minister's residence by carefully managing her assets over the next two years. When the time came to stand on her own, she would show He An that without him, she could live an even better life.

The properties in the eastern part of the city currently relied solely on rent, which was such a waste of prime location. If she took them over and managed them herself, the profits could easily be several times what they were now.

The tavern in the western part, Pinming Lou, was a well-established and thriving business, so it required no immediate changes.

As Ruan Qinghuan was considering what business to do with a shop in the eastern part that was about to expire, a gust of wind blew the papers on the table to the floor.

As she bent down to gather the papers, Xia Lian burst in, her face a mix of anxiety and anger.

"What's wrong? Why are you so flustered?"

"Madam, the Prime Minister... he..."

Seeing Xia Lian’s aggrieved and indignant expression, Ruan Qinghuan immediately guessed what had happened. No doubt, He An had brought Liu Yueru back to the residence.

But she pretended not to know. "In the future, you need to change this impulsive nature of yours. Speak your words slowly."

"The Prime Minister... brought a girl back to the residence, and she’s been settled... settled in the courtyard next to Changchun Garden." Xia Lian was furious just thinking about it. It had only been yesterday that Miss had married into the Prime Minister's residence, and after the Prime Minister lifted her veil, he left.

Today, she learned that the Prime Minister had brought this woman back last night, a clear and deliberate attempt to humiliate Miss.

Xia Lian was more afraid, afraid that Miss’s future in the residence would be difficult.

"I understand. You should go attend to your duties now."

Xia Lian wanted to say more, but upon seeing Madam’s calm gaze, she unconsciously swallowed the complaints she had been about to voice.

After the door closed, Ruan Qinghuan fell into deep thought.

In the original story, on the night of their wedding, He An received a letter from Liu Yueru asking for help. He personally took her in and settled her in the Prime Minister's residence, which caused a huge scandal that night. When Liu Yueru came to Changchun Garden to pay her respects, the original owner had slapped her twice in front of everyone.

This incident infuriated He An, who then protected Liu Yueru and never returned to Changchun Garden again.

Until she was divorced from He An, Ruan Qinghuan had remained untouched. For someone who had been so desperate to win He An’s heart, this was perhaps the greatest humiliation.

Logically speaking, if she had been more clear-headed, with Ruan Qinghuan’s extraordinary beauty, finding another good match wouldn’t have been difficult.

Even without remarrying, managing these shops and private assets would allow her to live a prosperous life on her own.

But she had become obsessed, competing with one woman after another who appeared around He An, eventually losing herself.

**

During lunch, the bowls and utensils had already been set out in the side hall. As soon as He An sat down, a maid came to invite Liu Yueru over. His eyes instinctively scanned the room, but Ruan Qinghuan was nowhere to be seen.

The maid who had gone to Changchun Garden to invite Ruan Qinghuan returned and said, "Lord He, Madam said she is not feeling well and won't be joining us for lunch. Please go ahead without her."

He An's cold eyes shrank slightly, but he said nothing.

Liu Yueru hesitated, then said, "Elder Brother He, it might not be appropriate for us to dine alone since Madam isn't coming. Perhaps I should head back to my room."

"No need. Let's eat," He An replied.

He An got up and returned to his study after just a few bites. Liu Yueru smirked with satisfaction. Her maid whispered, "They say the young miss from the Ruan family is a hot-tempered fool. It's a pity she didn't come to make a scene."

Liu Yueru glared at the maid. "Don't talk nonsense."

"Yes, Miss."

Back in his study, He An picked up a document to review. Recently, he had been on leave due to his marriage, and only urgent matters were brought to the estate.

After handling these tasks and passing them over to Jiang Qi, He An asked Jiang Ming, who was standing nearby, "When my father and mother left, did they mention when they would return?"

With an outsider in the house, having my parents here would prevent a lot of trouble.

Jiang Ming replied, "Madame didn't say, but every time they go to Fu Yuan Temple, it takes them two or three days."

"Hmm," He An murmured, thinking for a moment before saying, "Later, go to Changchun Garden and tell them that we have a guest. If Madam is free, you can have a chat with her."

Jiang Ming replied, "Yes."

As Jiang Ming opened the study door, he saw the young miss about to leave the courtyard. "Lord He, Madam looks like she's going out."

He An looked over from the window. Ruan Qinghuan was dressed in a luxurious silk gown, her embroidered cape accentuating her figure. Her face was rosy and serene, showing no signs of the frustration of spending the night alone. Instead, she looked composed and indifferent.

Tomorrow is the day for her to return to her family. Isn't she afraid that I won't go with her?

Just as Jiang Ming was about to leave, He An called him back and instructed Jiang Heng and Jiang Chen to follow her discreetly, while he sat back at his desk, deep in thought.

Is this the supposedly arrogant, self-centered, and narrow-minded eldest daughter of the Ruan family?

He An couldn't help but wonder if the rumors about her were entirely wrong. He hadn't gone back to her room last night not just because of Liu Yueru. He wanted to test her resolve, but it seemed she didn't care at all.

"Madam, it looks like it might rain today. Do we really need to go to the east city to check on the shop?"

**

"Yes, one of the larger shops is about to expire. I want to see what kind of business would be suitable there." Ruan Qinghuan pulled aside the curtain and looked out. "With such a strong wind, the clouds might be blown away soon."

Xia Lian couldn't understand how Madam had the leisure to worry about the shop with the lord and that woman still in the estate. Wasn't she worried something might happen?

Holding back her worries, Xia Lian finally said, "Madam, aren't you afraid..."

"Afraid of what?"

"That Lord He might act recklessly?" Xia Lian looked frustrated. "If Grandmother knew how much you've been through, she'd be devastated. Besides, when you married into the estate, she was already completely against it. Now that things have turned out like this, what can be done?"

"Tomorrow, when we go back to my family, be careful what you say. Don't talk nonsense," Ruan Qinghuan instructed. "If my parents and grandmother ask, just say that there were important matters at court and the lord was summoned to the palace."

Xia Lian was shocked and widened her eyes. "Madam, are you planning to return to your family home alone?"

Won't people laugh at you if you go back alone?