Matron Ruan

Biodata

History

First Attempt to Retrieve Xu Xi

Matron Ruan accompanies Steward Liu to collect Xu Xi after the Marquis of Suiping’s Residence identifies her as its daughter who was switched in infancy. She explains that Lady Wei’s wet nurse exchanged the babies and that the woman’s later arrest exposed Xu Xi’s whereabouts. When Xu Xi demands proof, Matron Ruan acknowledges that the swaddling clothes were exchanged as well, leaving her unable to produce the evidence Xu Xi requests 1 2.

Expecting an easy errand, Matron Ruan initially considers having two strong maids carry the unwilling girl into the carriage. Xu Xi’s apparent attempt to hang herself makes that approach untenable. Matron Ruan rushes to the room, concerned both for her own accountability and for the residence’s reputation. She and Steward Liu withdraw and report their failure to the old marchioness 5 8.

Second Visit and the Identity Dispute

On the next visit, Matron Ruan accompanies Zhao Yuanliang, Lady Wei, and Zhao Ruyu. She announces their arrival and explains that Xu Xi will rank as Fifth Miss, while Zhao Ruyu moves down to sixth. After Madam Xie says Xu Xi has gone to the county town, Matron Ruan proposes taking her there in the household’s carriage to fetch the girl 16 17.

Matron Ruan accompanies Madam Xie partly to prevent her from repeating Lady Wei’s offensive remarks to Xu Xi. Finding the town house locked, she suspects the Xu family may be hiding Xu Xi to obtain silver. She secretly orders a young maid and the coachman to search the streets, follow Xu Xi if they find her, and send word back; she tells Madam Xie that the maid is merely buying things 18 19 20.

After Lady Wei tries to claim Xu Xue instead, Matron Ruan observes Xu Xue’s strong resemblance to Madam Xie and questions villagers about her parentage. She promises to report Lady Wei’s conduct, but Xu Xi again refuses her invitation to return. Back at the residence, the old marchioness reprimands Matron Ruan for being absent while Lady Wei caused a scene. Matron Ruan accepts the rebuke and reports the villagers’ confirmation that Xu Xue is Madam Xie’s biological daughter 25 26.

Further Investigation

The old marchioness sends Matron Ruan back with instructions to draw one hundred taels and ensure that the village head and clan leader keep the scandal quiet. Arriving with Steward Liu, she encounters Matron Li attempting to persuade the clan leader to have Xu Xue sent to the residence on Lady Wei’s behalf 27.

More suspicious of Lady Wei’s motives than the men present, Matron Ruan takes Matron Li to see Madam Xie and Xu Xue together. She hopes that a firsthand inspection will discourage further interference. When Xu Xi threatens to seek justice at the yamen if the household mistreats her over her disputed identity, Matron Ruan suppresses her displeasure and later reports her words in full to the old marchioness and Lady Zhu 27 28.

Confirmation and Negotiations

During a later visit, Matron Ruan learns that Xu Xi and Xu Xue have passed the Women’s Academy entrance examination. She is astonished that girls from the Xu family’s modest circumstances have succeeded and praises Xu Xi’s intelligence 31.

Following the wet nurse’s disclosure of a distinguishing mark, Matron Ruan inspects the red mole behind Xu Xi’s ear and confirms her identity. She bows and formally acknowledges her as Fifth Miss, changing her self-reference from “I” to “this old servant” 32.

Xu Xi makes her return conditional on attending the Women’s Academy and maintaining contact with the Xu family. Matron Ruan assures her that the old marchioness and Lady Zhu would welcome her academic success, while acknowledging that she cannot personally guarantee their decisions. She agrees to relay Xu Xi’s terms exactly and have Lady Zhu confirm them herself 32 33.

Bringing Xu Xi into the Household

When Lady Zhu comes to collect Xu Xi, Matron Ruan leads the girl away under the pretext of helping her pack, allowing Lady Zhu to speak privately with the clan leader. She then presents the specially prepared clothes and jewelry, helps adorn Xu Xi, and respects her refusal to wear makeup 39 40.

At the residence, Matron Ruan introduces Xu Xi to Zhao Jingli and her twin brother, Zhao Jing’an. Later, she escorts her from the front courtyard toward the second branch on the old marchioness’s and Lady Zhu’s orders. She describes the family as affectionate and harmonious, an assessment Xu Xi privately rejects 46 48.

Appearance

• Elderly and slightly plump. Accustomed to comfortable living, she becomes breathless while rushing after the physically active Madam Xie during Xu Xi’s apparent suicide attempt 5.

Personality

Matron Ruan is status-conscious and accustomed to deference, even from the household’s young masters and misses. Xu Xi’s blunt challenges offend her, while the Xu family’s resistance initially leads her to suspect financial motives. Nevertheless, she can suppress her anger and maintain a courteous manner when an assignment requires cooperation 17 20 28.

Her standards for young women are conservative. Before learning about Xu Xi’s examination success, she interprets her frequent trips to town as improper behavior and privately plans to request an instructor to teach her decorum 31.

Her opinion of Xu Xi changes substantially. She comes to recognize that the girl’s resistance has protected her standing rather than merely created trouble. By their negotiations, she admires Xu Xi’s judgment, courage, and independence, privately considering her more outstanding than the residence’s carefully raised young ladies 32 33.

Abilities & Skills

Inner-Household Administration

• Directs junior servants and coordinates travel, searches, announcements, and escorts 16 18 20 48.
• Has enough experience with household conflicts to question explanations that Steward Liu and the clan leader accept at face value 27.
• Recognizes the limits of her authority: despite her favored position, she remains a servant and cannot reliably restrain Lady Wei or make binding promises for the household’s mistresses 26 33.

Personal Attendance

• Fits Xu Xi with hair ornaments, earrings, and bangles, and tidies her eyebrows after she declines makeup 40.
• Claims that she was particularly skilled at packing in her youth 39.

Relationships

• Lady Tang, the old marchioness — Mistress and patron. Matron Ruan is her favored confidante, but remains subject to reprimand when an assignment goes wrong 16 26 27.
• Xu Xi — Initially an unwilling charge; later a young mistress whom she genuinely respects. Xu Xi, in turn, appreciates her steady, capable conduct compared with Lady Wei and Matron Li 32 33.
• Lady Zhu — Works under her direction in preparing Xu Xi’s return and helping her enter the household 28 40 48.
• Steward Liu — Frequent partner in the retrieval missions, investigations, and efforts to contain the village scandal 5 8 27.
• Lady Wei — Treats Matron Ruan cautiously because of her standing with the old marchioness. Matron Ruan regards her conduct over the girls’ identities as embarrassing and potentially suspicious 16 25 27.
• Madam Xie — A strained working relationship marked by outward politeness, mutual concealment, and Matron Ruan’s suspicion of the Xu family’s motives 17 19 20.