Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 557 - 282: Punishment for Jiang Mo

Chapter 557: Chapter 282: Punishment for Jiang Mo

Ran Residence.

Ever since Ran Qingchen returned home, Old Madam Ran had been clutching her precious granddaughter’s hand, unwilling to let go.

As news of the drastic changes in Qingzhou arrived, the old lady worried incessantly, even dragging her aged body to the imperial palace to implore the Emperor to send someone to save her granddaughter.

Now that she saw her beloved granddaughter return safely, the old lady finally let go of the anxiety that had gripped her heart.

"Qingchen, from now on, don’t be an official anymore."

Old Madam Ran, looking at her granddaughter who had lost quite a bit of weight, said with immense tenderness and concern,

"No matter how big or heavy the burden of the Ran Family is, it’s not your turn to carry it. Just practice your swordsmanship peacefully, and do whatever you like. The Ran Family has your Uncle Jin Yi, it won’t collapse."

As she spoke, the old lady turned her head and glared at a middle-aged man with a mustache sitting below,

"Jin Yi, as the uncle, and the head of the Ran Family, you should take on more responsibilities in the future. Don’t let Qingchen carry the burden for you. You have nimble legs and feet, you’re not paralyzed."

Ran Jinyi smiled wryly and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Lady Ran had three sons.

The eldest, Ran Jinyi, was once a Grand Scholar in Wenhua Palace.

The second, Ran Jinsheng, was a frivolous playboy with no grand aspirations.

When Jiang Shouzhong carried things on his back to the Ran Family for Jinxiu, this guy deliberately had a skilled locutionist from Xichu Pavilion imitate Jinxiu’s accent in an attempt to deceive Jiang Shouzhong.

But Jiang Shouzhong easily saw through the ruse.

The third son, Ran Jinyu, was Ran Qingchen’s father, who had passed away due to illness.

Ran Jinsheng, thumping his chest, loudly declared, "Old Madam, rest assured, I won’t let this family fall apart."

"Hmph, if I were depending on you, this scoundrel, the Ran Family would have been gone long ago."

Old Madam Ran retorted coldly.

Ran Jinsheng gave a sly laugh, not at all embarrassed:

"My task is just to find more women to birth a few sons to continue the Ran Family lineage."

Old Madam Ran didn’t wish to look at this disappointing son, but what he said about "continuing the lineage" did spark an idea in her. She grasped Ran Qingchen’s hand and asked,

"Qingchen, how are things going with Jiang Mo?"

Ran Qingchen’s pretty face turned a rosy shade of pink as she said softly,

"Grandma, I came back this time to tell you that I plan to marry Jiang Mo again, not sneakily like last time, but to have a proper wedding."

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.

Everyone looked at Ran Qingchen in astonishment, unsure if they had misheard.

Everyone knew that the Ran Family’s young lady had a proud and aloof temperament, and no man could catch her eye. Her initial marriage to Jiang Mo nearly caused an uproar.

In the end, she secretly got married in the courtyard and even ran away without lifting her veil.

Had she changed her mind now?

Old Madam Ran was also a bit puzzled: "Qingchen, what are you saying?"

Having spoken her mind, Ran Qingchen also relieved the burden in her heart, smiling and saying, "Grandma, I don’t want to practice swordsmanship anymore. I want to be Jiang Mo’s wife, to be his wife for a lifetime."

Now everyone was sure they hadn’t misheard.

Their expressions were mixed.

"Oh, our little fairy, are you planning to renounce ascetic life?" a charming voice tinged with a teasing tone rang out.

Beside Ran Jinyi and his brothers in the main hall, there were also two women.

One was dressed in a long robe similar to a sea green monk’s outfit, with a dignified appearance and exuding the grace of a well-bred lady. Her hair was pinned up with a wooden hairpin, looking like someone who had renounced the secular world.

She was Ran Jinyi’s wife, named Zuo Su, the main wife of the Ran Residence, always cool and detached in demeanor.

Her father had been a great Confucian scholar in Neo-Confucianism, and her mother had written works on women’s virtues, with family traditions that were quite conservative.

Old Madam Ran was very fond of this eldest daughter-in-law.

Unfortunately, due to a strained relationship with her husband, and with Ran Jinyi taking three more concubines to continue the family line, this lady gradually lost interest in the secular world and prepared to become a nun.

She had a small Buddhist shrine set up in the backyard where she spent her days in vegetarianism, chanting sutras, and knocking on a wooden fish.

However, she had a good relationship with Ran Qingchen within the Ran Residence, and after Ran Qingchen’s parents died, she mostly took care of her.

The other woman was dressed in flamboyant attire, with a charming appearance and exuding the mature charm of a married woman, yet with a hint of a young girl’s gracefulness, and holding a marbled cat in her arms.

Her name was Hu Meixin, Ran Jinsheng’s wife, the second wife of the Ran Residence.

Her father had been a merchant, and her mother a renowned courtesan.

She was able to marry into the Ran Family because she became pregnant with Ran Jinsheng’s child during their affair, but later the child died in utero.

Over the years, Ran Jinsheng still frequented pleasure quarters.

The couple lived their separate lives.

It was this second wife who had just spoken teasingly.

"Shut your mouth!"

Old Madam Ran glared at her with disapproval, then looked at Ran Qingchen with a face full of joy and surprise, and asked, "Girl, are you sure you’ve thought it through?"

Ran Qingchen nodded firmly, her beautiful eyes filled with determination:

"I’ve thought it through, Grandma. I’m willing to marry Jiang Mo and let the whole world know that I, Ran Qingchen, am his wife."

"Good, good."

Old Madam Ran patted her granddaughter’s hand, her eyes brimming with satisfaction and kindness, "You, girl, have worried Grandma to death in the past, always thinking about doing things for your mother’s sake, living for her.

Grandma truly feared that one day, my granddaughter would suddenly... just like your mother."

The old lady didn’t continue, wiping away the tears in the corner of her eyes, "Now that you’re willing to let go of the burden, Grandma is very happy.

That boy Jiang Mo, Grandma finds him quite likable, a good man. He’ll definitely treat you well in the future. If he doesn’t, Grandma will go and beat him up."

Ran Qingchen’s eyes also filled with tears, and she choked up:

"Grandma, it was Qingchen who was thoughtless before. In the future, Jiang Mo and I will definitely take good care of you, to give you..."