Reborn of the Rightful

Some conflicts are simply irreconcilable.

Take Concubine Fang, for instance. If she wanted to rise in status, she had to ensure that Madam Li lost her voice within the Ren Family.

Thus, for the sake of her mother, Ren Yaohua, and her own interests, Ren Yaoqi would inevitably have to confront Concubine Fang one day.

This was why Ren Yaoqi paid such close attention to Concubine Fang's affairs.

Pingguo continued to report in a low voice to Ren Yaoqi about Sister-in-law Wen's situation.

Ren Yaoqi had instructed Zhu Ruomei to release Sister-in-law Wen once the necessary information was obtained.

So, just as Zhu Ruomei was hesitating, Sister-in-law Wen, who was alert to her surroundings, heard the neighing of horses and shouts from outside. A group of people was approaching, and from the sounds, it seemed there were quite a few of them.

Seizing the moment while Zhu Ruomei was distracted, Sister-in-law Wen mustered all her strength and lunged toward the carriage curtain. As Zhu Ruomei reacted, his eyes turning fierce as he moved to stop her, Sister-in-law Wen rolled out of the carriage, screaming desperately for help.

In the end, Sister-in-law Wen succeeded in alarming the approaching group. Zhu Ruomei caught up with her as she fell to the ground and initially intended to continue his attack. However, the group turned out to be a merchant caravan passing through White Crane Town, led by several formidable escorts at the front. Hearing the commotion, they spurred their horses forward.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhu Ruomei finally abandoned Sister-in-law Wen and fled.

Sister-in-law Wen was rescued, and a few of the escorts gave chase, hoping to capture the assailant. Unfortunately, after searching the surrounding area thoroughly, they returned empty-handed.

Originally, Sister-in-law Wen had been heading to the Lin Family in Yunyang City. Now, terrified out of her wits, she dared not go anywhere near the Lin Family's territory. Moreover, with Lin Kun still in White Crane Town, she was afraid to return there rashly, fearing she might encounter someone sent to silence her. Coincidentally, the merchant caravan that had rescued her was heading to the capital and would pass through Jiangning. Sister-in-law Wen paid the leader ten taels of silver and followed the caravan back to Jiangning.

As for reporting the incident to the authorities, she still did not dare. After all, if the matter escalated, it could implicate her mistress. So, she only lied to others, claiming that the man had been a robber who had come to steal her money.

As for Concubine Fang, it was only long after Sister-in-law Wen had left White Crane Town that she received the news. By then, there was no way to verify anything.

In the Eastern Manor, Ren Yaoting's "injury" had finally fully healed, and she began visiting the Western Manor from time to time to chat with Ren Yaoqi. Ren Yaoqi did not treat her coldly; each time she came, Ren Yaoqi would set aside what she was doing to receive her.

One day, Ren Yaoting came to the Western Manor again and invited Ren Yaoqi to visit Ren Shijia's son, Lin Cen, who was less than a month old. Lin Cen was the name Old Master Ren had chosen for his grandson. Although Old Master Ren had only said it was a nickname, Lin Kun and his wife, after discussing it, decided to officially adopt the name Lin Cen.

Old Master Ren said nothing about it but had Old Madam Ren prepare a pair of golden kylin-shaped longevity locks for the grandson.

As Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting walked and talked, Ren Yaoting occasionally leaned in to whisper a few words into Ren Yaoqi's ear, appearing very intimate. Although Ren Yaoqi spoke very little, Ren Yaoting felt that she was listening with great attentiveness.

After visiting Ren Shijia and Lin Cen, the two left Warm Fragrance Pavilion and took another path, intending to go to Glory and Splendor Courtyard.As they approached the Glazed Courtyard of the Fifth Branch, Ren Yaoting noticed many colorful butterflies fluttering on the nearby grass. It turned out that beside the path stood a large camphor tree, thick enough to require two people to encircle it, along with some butterfly pea vines—a favored resting spot for butterflies.

On a whim, Ren Yaoting suggested, "Fifth Sister, why don't we catch some butterflies for fun?"

Ren Yaoqi, whose mental age was no longer that of a child, naturally had little interest in such childish games. However, seeing Ren Yaoting’s eager expression, she didn’t want to spoil the fun and nodded in agreement. She instructed her maids, Sangshen and Xueli, to go back and fetch a few butterfly nets, and also sent Pingguo to ask Ren Yaohua, Ren Yaoyin, and the others if they wanted to join.

The maids went off as instructed, and Ren Yaoting pulled Ren Yaoqi to sit and chat in a nearby corridor.

Before long, Sangshen and Xueli returned with several butterfly nets. Ren Yaoting picked one up, her excitement evident.

Just as the two were about to return to the banyan tree, Pingguo also came back. However, Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoyin had both declined the invitation.

"Did you ask Eighth Sister?" Ren Yaoqi asked casually, holding a net herself for the sake of appearances.

Pingguo hesitated, then glanced back in the direction she had come from.

Ren Yaoqi found this odd when the sound of an argument grew louder from not far away. It sounded like a quarrel.

"...shameless...vixen...get out..."

Though Ren Yaoqi only caught a few words, she recognized the speaker’s voice—it was none other than Eighth Miss Ren Yaoyu, whom she had just asked about.

Ren Yaoyu was clearly scolding someone. Ren Yaoqi also heard a soft, gentle female voice, but it was too faint to make out the words.

Ren Yaoqi frowned, wondering if they should avoid the situation. Meanwhile, Ren Yaoting, who had been about to catch butterflies, also noticed the commotion. "Huh? Is that Eighth Sister’s voice? Who is she talking to?"

Before Ren Yaoqi could say anything, Ren Yaoting grabbed her hand, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Come on, let’s go see!" she said, pulling Ren Yaoqi along without waiting for a reply.

Ren Yaoqi, who had been trying to guess what was happening, nearly stumbled as she was dragged away.

But they didn’t have to go far—two figures soon emerged ahead.

It was Ren Yaoyu and the newly arrived concubine of the Fifth Branch, Madam Kang. It was said that Madam Kang had now been formally acknowledged by the Ren Family, and in a few days, Fifth Master Ren would host a few tables to formalize her status.

"...still dreaming of entering our family? Don’t even think about it! My mother won’t allow it!" Ren Yaoyu roared like a little beast.

Madam Kang seemed to glance in their direction, though it was unclear if she had noticed Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting. In a gentle tone, she said, "Eighth Miss, I am merely a lowly concubine, unfit for any grand occasion. Even without your reminders, I understand my place. Why must you come and scold me every day? Eighth Miss, if you dislike me, I will try my best to stay out of your sight in the future. However, I still hope that one day you will come to care for the child in my womb."The moment she mentioned the child, for some reason, it made Ren Yaoyu even more furious: "I don't want to like your child! What is he anyway? Just a bastard!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Kang seemed to freeze, then said with a trembling voice, "Eighth Miss, how can you say that? You..."

"I'll say it anyway! Bastard! Bastard! Bastard! He shouldn't even exist in this world!" Ren Yaoyu spoke without thinking, and she didn't know where she had learned such words. No respectable family would teach their daughters to speak like this.

This Ren Yaoyu really was...

Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but feel the urge to facepalm.

Sure enough, Madam Kang couldn't hold back and began to cry. The maids and elderly servants attending to her hurriedly stepped forward to console her.

Seeing this, Ren Yaoyu snorted triumphantly, walked around her, and came out.

When Ren Yaoyu came out and saw Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting, she was momentarily stunned, as if she hadn't expected them to be there. Then, without a care, she nodded and walked straight away, leaving only the sobbing Concubine Kang behind.

The maids and elderly servants around Concubine Kang also noticed Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting. They quickly tried to comfort Concubine Kang. Concubine Kang looked up in their direction, barely holding back her tears. She took out her handkerchief to wipe her face, then curtsied toward them before turning back with her attendants.

After everyone had left and the entire scene had been watched, Ren Yaoting finally smiled at Ren Yaoqi and said, "Eighth Sister's temper is even worse than mine. If I spoke to my family's concubine like that, my mother would be the first to scold me. Anyway, let's go catch butterflies."

Ren Yaoqi and the still highly enthusiastic Ren Yaoting went to catch butterflies. However, Ren Yaoting's enthusiasm came and went quickly, or perhaps her stamina couldn't keep up. Before long, she was panting and declared she didn't want to play anymore.

Ren Yaoqi instructed her maid to release the few butterflies Ren Yaoting had caught.

Ren Yaoting didn't object. She had caught the butterflies just for fun, not because she wanted them.

After accompanying Ren Yaoting to pay respects at Glory and Splendor Courtyard, Ren Yaoting returned to her own East Mansion, agreeing to come back in a couple of days to do needlework with Ren Yaoqi.

After seeing Ren Yaoting off, Ren Yaoqi also took her leave from Glory and Splendor Courtyard.

On the way back to Purple Magnolia Courtyard, Ren Yaoqi noticed her maid Pingguo looking as if she wanted to say something several times but hesitating.

She remained calm and waited until they returned to Purple Magnolia Courtyard. After dismissing the others, she called Pingguo over to question her.

For some reason, however, Pingguo seemed hesitant.

Ren Yaoqi comforted her, saying, "If you have something to say, just say it. It's fine."

Only then did Pingguo speak: "Miss, I think that Concubine Kang is a bit strange."

These words stirred something in Ren Yaoqi's heart: "Oh? In what way is she strange?"

Pingguo thought for a moment and whispered, "Earlier, didn't you encounter Eighth Miss scolding Concubine Kang?"Ren Yaoqi nodded, and Pingguo continued, "After I went to invite Third Miss and Fourth Miss and returned, I happened to see Eighth Miss and Concubine Kang. At the time, to save time, I took a small path, so they didn’t notice me. When Eighth Miss first encountered Concubine Kang, although her expression was unpleasant, she still seemed unwilling to engage. Then, after Concubine Kang said a few words, Eighth Miss suddenly flew into a rage, pointing at Concubine Kang and scolding her. I stood in the shadows and watched for a while, noticing that Concubine Kang spoke very little—only a few sentences—but each sentence made Eighth Miss angrier. Later, afraid of being discovered, I quietly left, and Concubine Kang and Eighth Miss also headed this way."

Yesterday, Meinan’s grandfather was discharged from the hospital. These past two days have been quite busy with many arrangements to make.

I apologize for not fulfilling the promised extra update today. Please forgive me.

Lately, I haven’t been sleeping well and am genuinely tired, so today there will only be one chapter... 〒_〒

(The good update record I’ve managed to maintain this month... has been ruined along with my integrity...).

(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)