"Why didn't you tell the family earlier? Now look, they've come knocking on our door." Old Madam Ren pointed at Ren Shimiao's head, speaking with exasperation.
She wasn't blaming her son for his drunken indiscretion, but rather for not letting the family intervene sooner to settle the matter, thus losing the initiative.
The flush on Ren Shimiao's face hadn't faded. "After she woke up, she was determined to kill herself. I was afraid it would really lead to a death, so I promised to compensate her. When she gradually calmed down, I thought she had been swayed by the silver I promised. But as soon as I left the room, she found scissors to end her life. Fortunately, after I went out, I heard something amiss and turned back in time to stop her."
Hearing this, Old Madam Ren sighed. "She truly has a fierce temperament."
"Later, her father fainted upon learning of this, and his illness grew worse. The doctor I called confirmed that her father's illness wasn't feigned. Only then did I believe it was truly my fault, not a setup. When her father woke up, I promised to buy them a house in Qizhou and give them fifty taels of silver each month. Her father then accepted the loss and persuaded her."
Old Madam Ren nodded, taking it for granted. "Their family is just ordinary farmers. Such a family might never save fifty taels in a lifetime. With you promising fifty taels each month, they naturally had nothing more to say. Your eldest sister-in-law met the girl once. She said that because you gave them the deed and silver on the condition they not seek out the Ren Family, when she later became pregnant, her elder brother and sister-in-law, fearing trouble and that you might renege on the silver, tried to force her to secretly abort the child. Upon learning this, she stole the family's silver and fled with the maid you had arranged for her."
"Such a thing happened? Her brother and sister-in-law are truly bullying her too much!" Ren Shimiao exclaimed in shock.
Seeing his reaction, Old Madam Ren knew he held no ill will toward the girl and felt somewhat reassured. "You're a man and don't understand these trivial domestic matters. It's also because her family lacks insight and is shortsighted. A descendant of the Ren Family, even if born out of wedlock, cannot be left to wander outside."
Upon hearing this, Ren Shimiao immediately stammered, "Mother, you... you mean to really bring them into the household?"
Old Madam Ren snorted coldly. "Are you suggesting we send them back to fend for themselves?"
"I... that..." Ren Shimiao struggled, glancing back at the curtain behind him and whispering, "Couldn't we not bring her into the mansion, but buy a house outside to keep her? And send more servants to attend to her? You've seen it too, Huijun... she won't agree!"
Hearing this, Old Madam Ren grew angry and scolded her son, pointing at his nose. "For a man to speak such cowardly words, where does that leave the face of our Ren Family! Did you marry a tigress? Can't even protect your own flesh and blood? I know Huijun's temperament; she's just throwing a childish tantrum. Once she comes to her senses, she'll be quite reasonable!"
Ren Shimiao felt his mother's words weren't quite right, but his mind was in turmoil. Old Madam Ren's unusually firm attitude left him unable to argue.
Old Madam Ren glanced at her son and softened her tone slightly. "In any case, wait until the child is born. If you really don't like her afterward, you can always send her away."Ren Shimiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That would be for the best."
"Huijun is still furious right now. Don't confront her head-on for the time being. I'll have your eldest sister-in-law talk to her properly. First, come with me to Glory and Splendor Courtyard and get those injuries on your face treated."
Old Madam Ren could still hear Madam Lin crying and making a scene outside, and seeing the serious injuries on her son's face only fueled her anger further. She wanted to send Ren Shimiao away first to spare him from facing Madam Lin's temper again.
Although Ren Shimiao felt some pity for his wife, he thought that Madam Lin probably wouldn't be willing to listen to him at the moment. Having his eldest sister-in-law persuade her might make her feel better, so he nodded in agreement.
Satisfied, Old Madam Ren led Ren Shimiao out of the room, paying no further attention to Madam Lin.
However, once outside, Ren Shimiao remembered how disheveled he must look and hesitated. Fortunately, Old Madam Ren was also concerned about her son's dignity. She first sent people ahead to clear the way and keep onlookers at a distance before taking Ren Shimiao back to her own Glory and Splendor Courtyard.
Only after Madam Lin had cried herself out of strength did she learn that her dear husband had already left with her mother-in-law without even coming to see her. Enraged, she smashed everything in the room that could be broken.
First Madam dutifully tried to persuade her for a long time, but when Madam Lin continued to throw a tantrum, she simply stepped aside and let her smash everything in the room to pieces.
Only when Madam Lin, exhausted, collapsed onto a chair that hadn't been overturned did First Madam speak gently from across the mess. "Now that you've vented your anger, rest properly. Don't worry, with Mother here, you won't suffer any losses. I'll come see you again later."
With that, regardless of whether Madam Lin had listened or not, First Madam calmly turned and left.
"Help Fifth Madam inside to rest," First Madam instructed Madam Lin's maids and servants calmly and kindly. After they nervously complied, she turned to her own attendant, Mama Cao, and said, "Have someone clean up the room. Later, go to the mansion's storeroom yourself and pick out a nicer set of furnishings for Fifth Madam's courtyard."
"Yes, Madam."
That afternoon, Ren Yaoqi obediently practiced calligraphy in the study of the western side courtyard, paying no attention to the chaos outside.
In the evening, Old Madam Ren sent word that the day's greetings were excused. When Ren Yaoqi went to the main room of Purple Magnolia Courtyard, she heard from Xiangqin, Ren Yaohua's maid, that Old Madam Ren had already decided to allow the mistress who had come knocking to enter the mansion. She was not placed in the Fifth Branch's Glazed Courtyard but was instead assigned to the more secluded and quiet Elegant Pavilion, with several maids and servants sent to attend to her.
Only then did the people in the mansion learn that the woman's surname was Kang and that she was indeed the mistress Fifth Master had kept outside. The reason Old Madam Ren had allowed her into the mansion without a word and arranged for servants was because Madam Kang was carrying Fifth Master's child.
Although it was said that Madam Kang came from an ordinary farming family, her background was still considered respectable. Moreover, now that she carried the Ren Family's bloodline, her future was undoubtedly bright. Some of the restless maids in the mansion grew envious.Everyone in the mansion knew of Madam Lin's temper, and they also knew that she was deeply favored by Old Madam Ren and was on the most intimate terms with Fifth Master. Thus, even though Ren Shimiao was young and handsome, few maidservants dared to set their sights on him. Yet now, an outsider who had appeared out of nowhere had plucked the peach.
Ren Yaoqi saw this Madam Kang on the second day after she entered the mansion.
The Han Family had sent someone to deliver gifts of gratitude to the Ren Family. Han You also took the opportunity to send some fashionable folding fans for the Ren sisters. Ren Yaohua sent Xiangqin back to call Ren Yaoqi over to choose one.
Just as Ren Yaoqi had taken a fan and was about to leave, Madam Kang was helped in by Granny Gui from Old Madam Ren's courtyard.
This Madam Kang, who had stirred up trouble in the fifth branch, was about sixteen or seventeen years old. With fair skin and a clean, well-behaved appearance, she was not stunningly beautiful but had a pleasant and comfortable look.
She wore a clean and simple moon-white right-lapelled jacket with a light blue long skirt. Her hair was simply tied up, adorned only with a silver-plated plum blossom-shaped copper hairpin. However, at that moment, the hem of her skirt was stained with water and a few soaked tea leaves, making her look somewhat disheveled.
Granny Gui stepped forward and whispered that when she had been ordered to go over, Madam Kang had already been kneeling outside Liuli Courtyard for over a quarter of an hour. The tea on her clothes had been splashed by Eighth Miss Ren Yaoyu, but as the serving women around her had blocked most of it, only the hem of her skirt was wet.
Old Madam Ren sighed and said, "Didn't I tell you not to go to Liuli Courtyard to pay respects for now?" Her tone, though not particularly affectionate, was still gentle.
Madam Kang properly paid her respects to Old Madam Ren before lowering her head and saying, "Since Old Madam has allowed me to enter the mansion, paying respects to the mistress is my duty. Liniang understands her position. Since I have chosen this path, being scolded or beaten when my mistress is unhappy is nothing."
"What? Did she have someone hit you?" Old Madam Ren frowned.
Madam Kang shook her head and lowered her head, refusing to say more.
As there were still granddaughters present, Old Madam Ren did not press further. She only instructed Granny Gui, "Help her back to change her clothes and rest properly in her courtyard. Do not go to Liuli Courtyard for now."
Madam Kang did not argue further and obediently agreed. Old Madam Ren had Granny Gui escort her out.
Shortly after Madam Kang left, Ren Yaoqi and the others heard exclamations from outside. This was followed by Granny Gui's attempts to dissuade and Ren Yaoyu's curses.
"You shameless vixen! You stole my father, made my mother cry all night, and now you want to abandon me and my brother to return to your maiden home. I'll beat you to death!"
It turned out that Ren Yaoyu, for some reason, had chased after her again and dared to publicly attack someone in Old Madam Ren's courtyard.
Old Madam Ren's expression immediately darkened. Both the older and younger ones were taking advantage of her favor and treating her words as nothing but wind.
Old Madam Ren stood up and walked out. A maidservant had already rushed to lift the curtain for her.
Ren Yaohua, who had been sitting by the south window, gently propped it open a little after seeing Old Madam Ren leave.
Ren Yaoqi, sitting beside her, also saw the scene in the courtyard. Ren Yaoyu, held back by Granny Gui, was cursing while kicking at Madam Kang, each time aiming for her abdomen."Drag her away at once! So young yet so vicious—who taught her this!" Old Madam Ren was even more furious when she stepped out and saw the situation. Pointing at Ren Yaoyu, she ordered the maids behind her.
The maids from Old Madam Ren's quarters hurried forward to restrain Ren Yaoyu, freeing Granny Gui's hands.
Granny Gui pulled Madam Kang aside, who was shielding her abdomen with her hands and looking rather pale.
Seeing that Old Madam Ren still sided with Madam Kang, Ren Yaoyu cried angrily, "Grandmother, how could you do this! My mother is about to be driven away by her, and you're still helping her bully us!"
I've just caught up on last month's comments—thank you all so much for your support and feedback! ^^
A belated thank you to the following sisters and brothers for their pink votes in May:
Rong Shucheng, Autumn Wind and Autumn Rain 2005, You Nü Yiguang, Leaves Dancing in the Wind, Delicious Bookworm, Seventh Kill Lord,
Twilight Black Silk, Fox Beibei 77, Yan Zhao, Foolish Idler, hj9, Who Is My Empress Dowager, Water Shadow ~,
Leisurely Down South Mountain, Qingqing Yiyun, Swallowtail 6806, aquazl, 7638 Kaka Dragon, fishfishyu,
Shi Xuan, mkh_texas, Quietly Spreading, Bookfriend 080526100310786, Pink Fairy Ganoderma, miya0119,
Don't Be Vainly Joyful, Peach and Plum Marry the East Wind, Radish 1031, Bookfriend 080719032328480, Ye Feiqiu,
A Paier, tigerxuejun, cardcat, Lian Qianqiu, Kaixinguo, Garden 21,
chlorine, Lone Shadow and Solitary Crane, shuyouwill, Most Love Devotion, mengqianni, Mei Shu, .
And also to qiongjiu, Na Jia Xue Fei, aat, tigerxuejun, Xiao Tong, and several others for their rewards~
(Please forgive any omissions~ ^^)
Thank you all~ ^^
(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
OpenNovel