The winter of the seventeenth year of Chengqian arrived earlier than usual.
Only a few days after the Double Ninth Festival, the northern prefectures and counties welcomed the first heavy snowfall of the season.
The previous day had been clear and crisp, but just after noon on this day, the sky was suddenly shrouded by a churning curtain of gray tinged with orange. After a brief warning, dense snowflakes eagerly swept across the heavens and earth.
In just one night, the regions north of Yan Prefecture were transformed, a world of silver and white as far as the eye could see.
In the side room with its heated floor, Ren Yaoqi lay with her eyes closed on the warm kang, the quilt covering her feeling somewhat heavy.
A fine layer of sweat had already beaded on her forehead and neck, her cheeks flushed red from the heat of the kang, and the scent of menthol filled her nostrils.
From beyond the heavy cotton curtain separating the inner chamber came the hushed conversation of two maidservants.
"Your embroidery pattern is so lovely—it doesn’t look like you drew it yourself. Where did you get it?"
"I asked Sister Jinjú from Concubine Fang’s side for it. I heard it’s the latest fashionable pattern from the southern capital, not even available in Yunyang City yet."
"Sister Jinjú? You actually managed to get something from her?"
"Hehe, I said it was for embroidering Fifth Miss’s shoe uppers. How could she refuse?"
"You cunning little thing, be careful Fifth Miss finds out and has Concubine Fang marry you off to some servant boy!"
"You wicked girl... I’ll tear that rotten mouth of yours!"
Beyond the curtain came the playful sounds of the two maidservants chasing each other around the table. The tea set on the table clattered loudly, and the noise abruptly ceased. After a brief pause, the commotion started up again, though this time with more restraint, mindful of the person in the inner chamber.
Suddenly, a stern reprimand cut through the noise: "What are you two doing?" It was the voice of an older woman.
Silence fell abruptly outside.
"Nanny Zhu, forgive us, we..." the two young maidservants hurriedly tried to explain.
But Nanny Zhu impatiently cut them off: "Has the young mistress woken up yet?"
Her voice was not deliberately lowered and carried a note of anxiety. Even as she asked, her footsteps did not pause as she made her way toward the inner chamber.
"She just took her medicine and is resting. She must be sleeping deeply now," one maidservant hastily replied, quickly following as if to help the nanny lift the inner chamber curtain.
"You two go keep watch outside. Don’t let anyone in," Nanny Zhu stopped the maidservant’s movement.
"Yes," the two maidservants halted their steps and retreated briskly.
Ren Yaoqi lay there with her eyes closed, unmoving, as if asleep.
The cotton curtain separating the inner chamber from the outer room was lifted, stirring the stifling air inside. A slightly cooler breeze flowed in.
"Young mistress? Young mistress, wake up, young mistress..."
The woman hurried over to the kang. After calling a few times and seeing no response from Ren Yaoqi, she reached out and gently nudged her arm through the quilt.
Ren Yaoqi finally opened her eyes, though they were still bleary with sleep.
"Nanny Zhu?" Her voice was somewhat hoarse. Lying on the hot kang for so long required occasional sips of tea.
"Yes, it’s me. Would you like some water, young mistress?" Nanny Zhu’s round face immediately broke into a smile, though her eyes held a trace of urgency.
Ren Yaoqi nodded.
Nanny Zhu promptly walked over to the long, low table placed against the north wall of the inner chamber, which held a complete set of famille rose teapots and cups. She poured a cup of water and brought it back.She set the teacup on the kang table, then helped Ren Yaoqi sit up, supporting her back with one hand while bringing the teacup to her lips with the other to feed her.
However, she tilted it a bit too hastily. Ren Yaoqi turned her head slightly, causing the water in the cup to spill onto the cotton quilt covering her. The pine-green satin surface was immediately stained with a damp patch.
"Cough, cough..."
Nanny Zhu quickly set down the teacup and gently patted her back. "Miss, are you all right?"
Ren Yaoqi was now fully awake. She pushed Nanny Zhu’s hand away and glanced at her sideways. "The water is cold..."
Nanny Zhu hurriedly offered an apologetic smile. "Oh, it must be those two maids on duty slacking off and forgetting to change the tea. I’ll go and reprimand them later."
As she spoke, Nanny Zhu picked up a lined jacket that was placed nearby and draped it over Ren Yaoqi’s shoulders, adding, "Miss, just now, the concubine received news that Third Madam and Third Miss are on their way back to the mansion. Although the heavy snow came suddenly and several roads outside the city were blocked overnight, with the Yanbei Prince's Mansion’s cavalry clearing the way, the carriage should arrive in the city by evening at the latest."
Ren Yaoqi stiffened slightly. "Mother and Third Sister are back?"
Her eyes were lowered, making it impossible to discern the emotions within them, but the fingers clutching the collar of her jacket trembled faintly.
Nanny Zhu’s tone finally betrayed her anxiety. "Yes, I heard they were even escorted back by the carriage of the Dowager Princess of Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. They set out from the estate yesterday morning, but the mansion only received the news early this morning. Miss, what should we do now?"
Ren Yaoqi blinked rapidly, concealing the moisture welling up in her eyes. She took off the lined jacket draped over her shoulders and tried to put it on. Nanny Zhu immediately stepped forward to help, all the while murmuring in Ren Yaoqi’s ear, "Who knows what tricks Third Miss used to persuade the Dowager Princess of Yanbei Prince’s Mansion? Fifth Miss, once Third Miss returns, where will there be any place for you in Purple Magnolia Courtyard?"
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi cast a faint glance at Nanny Zhu, who was hurriedly fastening the buttons of her jacket with her head bowed. A cold laugh rose unbidden in her heart—the Ren Family of over a decade ago was indeed teeming with all sorts of unsavory characters.
These past few days, she had been observing everything with a detached eye, determined to see clearly the filth hidden beneath the thickly painted masks.
Unaware of Ren Yaoqi’s unusual demeanor, Nanny Zhu finished buttoning her jacket, looked up, and continued, "Old Madam Ren has always favored Third Miss over you. Third Madam indulges her in everything, and she has the final say in all matters, big or small, in our courtyard. Yet, she takes a dislike to you, making things difficult for you at every turn, causing Third Madam to neglect you as her daughter and trust only her deceitful words..."
At this point, Nanny Zhu stole a glance at Ren Yaoqi. To her surprise, Ren Yaoqi simply leaned against the large red rhombus-patterned backrest on the kang, watching her quietly. Her clear eyes were like fine glass—serene and translucent.
Ren Yaoqi remembered that her third sister, Ren Yaohua, had been sent to the estate in the autumn of the sixteenth year of Chenggian to reflect on her mistakes after pushing their sixth brother, Ren Yihong, into the lotus pond, as punishment from Old Madam Ren.
Their mother, Third Madam of the Ren Family, had gone to plead with Old Madam Ren but was refused entry outside the courtyard. In the end, she accompanied Third Sister to the estate, leaving nine-year-old Ren Yaoqi behind in the Ren Family.
Their mother, Madam Li, was a timid and weak-willed woman.
Her weakness stemmed not only from the turbulent experiences of her childhood.She married into the Ren Family in the 47th year of Qinglong. For the first two years, she bore no children. In the third year, she gave birth to a daughter who died within a hundred days, and in the fifth year, she bore another daughter.
By this time, Old Madam Ren was already deeply dissatisfied with Madam Li. Fortunately, in the year after giving birth to her second daughter, Madam Li became pregnant again.
Unfortunately, fate had not destined Madam Li to bear a son. Her third child was yet another daughter—this was Ren Yaoqi, the Fifth Miss of the Ren Family.
Because of this, Old Madam Ren’s attitude toward Madam Li turned completely cold. Just three days after Ren Yaoqi’s birth, she arranged for Third Master Ren to take a noble concubine—a daughter from her own maternal family’s side, born to a concubine.
This noble concubine, Madam Fang, became pregnant within half a year of entering the household. After ten months of pregnancy, she gave birth to a pair of twins—a boy and a girl—securing her position within the Ren Family.
Ren Yaoqi’s birth not only endangered her mother’s standing in the Ren Family but also made her a presence despised by her grandmother.
From the moment Madam Li became pregnant with Ren Yaoqi, Old Madam Ren had placed high hopes on this pregnancy. She had consulted a renowned monk for divination, asked experienced midwives to examine the pregnancy, and even sought a sorcerer for fortune-telling. All of them unanimously declared that this pregnancy would result in a son, so Old Madam Ren firmly believed that her daughter-in-law’s third child would be a boy.
Thus, after Ren Yaoqi was born, Old Madam Ren concluded that this newborn granddaughter was a demon who had displaced the grandson she had expected, making it impossible for her to feel any affection for the child.
In contrast, Third Miss Ren Yaohua, also born to Madam Li, bore a resemblance to Old Madam Ren in her youth and was clever and quick-witted, earning her grandmother’s special favor.
“Fifth Miss?” Nanny Zhu, seeing Ren Yaoqi staring at her without speaking, thought she might be drowsy and gently nudged her, wondering whether to pour another cup of cold water for her.
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Nanny Zhu’s hand resting on her arm.
Nanny Zhu stiffened, then lifted her hand to smooth her hair in a gesture of concealment, smiling as she said, “Miss, Concubine Fang mentioned that your illness has greatly improved. Continuing with the original prescription might be too potent, so she plans to invite a physician into the residence later to examine you and prescribe a new formula.”
Ren Yaoqi responded with a noncommittal “Hmm,” offering no objection.
Yet, Nanny Zhu couldn’t help but wonder inwardly: Why has Fifth Miss seemed different these past two days? She’s only a child who just turned ten, but the occasional calm and penetrating look in her eyes is unsettling.
Ren Yaoqi had little recollection of most of the maids and elderly servants around her, as they had not served her for long and were soon dismissed.
She did remember this Nanny Zhu, however. In her past memories, Nanny Zhu had seemed kind and attentive, offering advice and acting as a confidante.
She recalled even quarreling with Third Sister Ren Yaohua over Nanny Zhu, nearly coming to blows.
But with her current experience, she no longer saw any redeeming qualities in this Nanny Zhu.
Nanny Zhu was negligent in her duties, lax in disciplining the maids in the courtyard, and while her words appeared to be in her mistress’s best interest, they often served to sow discord between her and Ren Yaohua.
Ren Yaohua had a domineering and fiery temperament, while Ren Yaoqi in her youth was stubborn and willful. With someone deliberately provoking and instigating conflicts between them, how could Purple Magnolia Courtyard ever find peace?This time, she would never again allow those people to exploit the discord between her and her sister to scheme against them.
Father... Mother...
Ren Yaoqi murmured in her heart, in this life, you must both live long and healthy lives.
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Meinan's completed works: [bookid=2288861,bookname=《The Noble Family's Scheming》]
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