However, Madam Lin did not realize that when someone favors you, everything you do is forgivable. Conversely, when someone dislikes you, your explanations only make them despise you more.
Moreover, Old Madam Ren had already concluded that her granddaughter Ren Yaoyu was wicked, cunning, and ruthless. Thus, Madam Lin's defense of her daughter only backfired.
In the end, Old Madam Ren could bear it no longer and flew into a rage, ordering Ren Yaoyu to be tied up and taken to the ancestral hall to face family discipline.
Every well-established family has its own family rules, and where there are rules, family discipline is inevitable. Although the Ren Family's history is not particularly long, the necessary formalities were established during the lifetime of the previous family head, Ren Baoming.
The Ren Family's disciplinary instrument is no different from those of other prominent families in Yanbei: a flat, round ironwood rod, about as thick as an adult's wrist, four chi long, and polished to a glossy sheen without needing lacquer. This rod, like the ancestral tablets, is enshrined in the ancestral hall year after year. Its primary purpose is deterrence rather than actual use, yet it has become a terrifying symbol that makes children shudder at the mere mention—far more fearsome than an ordinary stick.
When Ren Yaoyu heard that the legendary family discipline was to be invoked, she was so frightened that her legs gave way on the spot. Seeing her grandmother's stern and imposing demeanor, she even feared for her life.
Madam Lin's fear of the family discipline differed from her daughter's, but she too understood the gravity of invoking it. After all, since the previous family head established the disciplinary rod, it had never actually been used. She did not want her daughter to become the first in the Ren Family to experience it.
Thus, Glory and Splendor Courtyard descended into chaos once again, until Fifth Master Ren Shimiao received word and pleaded with Eldest Master Ren to summon Old Master Ren back.
It must be said that people's hearts are inherently biased. Concubine Kang's miscarriage had cost Fifth Master Ren a child, and it would be false to say he was not saddened. However, no matter how tenderly he promised Concubine Kang that he would not mistreat her or the child she carried, when it came to a critical moment, the distinction between closeness and distance became immediately clear.
Compared to the unborn child in Concubine Kang's womb, Fifth Master Ren was more concerned about his eldest daughter. Although everyone claimed Ren Yaoyu was the culprit behind Concubine Kang's miscarriage, Ren Shimiao refused to harbor ill will toward the beloved daughter he shared with Madam Lin. He unconditionally believed Madam Lin's account: Ren Yaoyu had accidentally bumped into Concubine Kang.
Upon learning of the matter, Old Master Ren thought it over and returned to the inner courtyard. Old Madam Ren, dissatisfied with the Lin Family due to Ren Shijia, had been taking her anger out on Madam Lin. For reasons unknown, Old Master Ren had turned a blind eye to this, but his own stance—representing the Ren Family's attitude toward the Lin Family—remained unchanged.
Recently, the aristocratic families in Yanbei appeared calm on the surface, yet many sensed that this tranquility was like a river frozen in winter: placid above the ice, but with turbulent undercurrents beneath. Once spring arrived and the ice melted, the flood season would come.
Thus, during this uncertain period, Old Master Ren had no desire to truly strain relations with the Lin Family.However, Old Master Ren had never interfered with the inner courtyard affairs, and at this moment, he could not overturn Old Madam Ren's decision and embarrass her. Therefore, after returning to the inner courtyard, he went straight to the study in Glory and Splendor Courtyard. No matter how Ren Shimiao pleaded, he did not actually show himself.
When Old Madam Ren received the news of Old Master Ren's return, Ren Shijia had just sent her own matron to plead for Ren Yaoyu and Madam Lin. She was still in confinement and unable to go out, but she still expressed her concern for Madam Lin and her daughter.
Old Madam Ren originally did not want to pay attention to her daughter's plea. However, after learning that Old Master Ren had returned, she thought for a moment and changed her decision. She ordered Ren Yaoyu to be temporarily confined to the ancestral hall, with no visits allowed, and the punishment would be decided after today's incident was clarified.
Madam Lin was temporarily confined to her own Glazed Courtyard. Because Ren Yaoyu had caused a major disaster, and it was uncertain whether she had acted under Madam Lin's instruction, Madam Lin was implicated as well.
Nevertheless, Madam Lin and her daughter temporarily breathed a sigh of relief. The term "family discipline," rarely used, was deeply feared.
On the surface, Old Madam Ren was doing her daughter a favor, making Madam Lin grateful to her sister-in-law Ren Shijia. In reality, it was a tacit understanding between Old Madam Ren and Old Master Ren as husband and wife. She knew Old Master Ren would not return without reason. Since he had been brought back by his son, even though he did not come to the main room to interfere in the matter, he had hinted at his intention.
It must be said that Old Madam Ren was actually a clever person. She immediately set aside her own likes and dislikes and firmly followed Old Master Ren's will, doing so in a way that was not easily detected, while also giving her daughter great face.
Meanwhile, Fifth Master Ren's choice at the critical moment softened the attitude of Madam Lin, who had previously hated him to the core. When Fifth Master Ren insisted on escorting her back to Purple Magnolia Courtyard, Madam Lin did not firmly refuse as she had in the past. Later, when maids from Glazed Courtyard gossiped quietly, they said Fifth Master Ren accompanied Fifth Madam to the main room where she was confined, and he was not driven out by Fifth Madam. Finally, someone even heard Fifth Madam crying in the room and Fifth Master Ren's gentle words of comfort.
In the end, this confinement unexpectedly confined both husband and wife—one forced, the other willing.
At this time, Concubine Kang was lying in the west wing of Glazed Courtyard, having nearly lost half her life. However, both Fifth Master and Fifth Madam chose to ignore this matter.
No one knew what feelings Concubine Kang harbored as she lay on the pearwood canopy bed in the west wing of Glazed Courtyard. Just as Concubine Kang had schemed everything, she ultimately lacked the ability to scheme a man's heart.
Meanwhile, in the East Mansion, Ren Yaoting went to her mother first after returning.
As soon as she saw Su Shi, Ren Yaoting's eyes reddened, and she rushed forward to embrace her, unwilling to let go. Today, she had truly been frightened. Her composure outside was merely a facade maintained for the sake of pride. Seeing her mother, she felt even more aggrieved by the day's events.
Strictly speaking, Su Shi had a cold temperament and could not be considered a doting mother, but that was simply her nature. For her only daughter, Su Shi still cherished her from the bottom of her heart.Seeing Ren Yaoting in such a state, Su Shi felt heartache. Instead of immediately questioning her daughter about the incident, she patiently held Ren Yaoting and comforted her for a long while. She then had someone bring the previously prepared calming tea and personally fed it to Ren Yaoting. Finally, she coaxed Ren Yaoting to rest on the soft couch in her main room.
After calming her daughter, Su Shi signaled to her trusted nanny, Nanny Yang, who had earlier gone to fetch her daughter, to take the two senior maidservants who had attended Ren Yaoting that day to the adjacent side room.
Su Shi listened quietly as the two maids recounted the day’s events. Her usually placid brows slightly furrowed, and an inexplicable air of cold severity and solemnity emerged. Her appearance was rather ordinary, but this expression lent her face a distinctive charm, different from that of typical women of the inner chambers. However, Su Shi rarely revealed such an expression in front of outsiders, indicating that those present were all her trusted confidantes.
“Does Madam Kang pass through that garden at that hour every day?” Su Shi’s tone was flat, her face having returned to its usual impassiveness.
Nanny Yang lowered her head and replied, “This servant inquired, and indeed it is so. Not only that, Eighth Miss often returns from playing in the garden at that hour, so the two have encountered each other there several times, and quarrels are frequent. Usually, Seventh Miss, when in a bad mood, deliberately humiliates and scolds Concubine Kang.”
Su Shi pondered thoughtfully, then turned her gaze to the two maids standing respectfully to the side. She said softly, “Does Ting’er know that Ren Yaoyu often appears in the garden at that time?”
The two maids exchanged glances. The slightly older one stepped forward and carefully replied, “Miss originally did not know, but once when she went with Fifth Miss to catch butterflies near the Glazed Courtyard, she happened to witness Madam Kang and Eighth Miss quarreling and took note. Because she noticed that the quarrels between Madam Kang and Eighth Miss seemed to occur more than once, Miss inquired further. However, this servant observed that Miss was merely curious and asked casually at the time, and did not mention it again afterward.”
Su Shi raised an eyebrow slightly. “Did Ting’er deliberately choose that hour to catch butterflies near the Glazed Courtyard because she was angered by Ren Yaoyu in Glory and Splendor Courtyard today?”
“This…” The maid glanced at Su Shi hesitantly and said, “This servant noticed that Miss did seem somewhat pleased when she heard the sounds of Eighth Miss and Concubine Kang quarreling in the garden.”
In fact, Ren Yaoting’s words at the time, spoken in front of Ren Yaoyu and Concubine Kang, carried an undertone of stirring trouble and delighting in chaos. However, earlier in front of Old Madam Ren, Ren Yaoting had not confessed to her provocative remarks, only vaguely indicating that she had gone to mediate.
Ren Yaoting rarely suffered setbacks in the Ren Family, so she was quite displeased with Ren Yaoyu’s provocation today. She knew that if the conflict between Ren Yaoyu and Concubine Kang escalated, Ren Yaoyu would be punished.
However, it would be an overstatement to say that Ren Yaoting harbored malicious intent at the time. She merely wanted to see Ren Yaoyu scolded by the elders, a childish sort of scheming. She had not anticipated that Ren Yaoyu would dare to lay hands on Concubine Kang.
Thus, Ren Yaoting’s fright stemmed largely from her fear of being held responsible for the incident.Although the maid couldn't speak directly, she had hinted at the situation when explaining it to Su Shi earlier, which was why Su Shi asked this question.
Su Shi knew her daughter well, so instead of questioning Ren Yaoting directly, she chose to ask the maid. This approach helped her make a more accurate judgment.
After a long silence, Su Shi said calmly, "This matter is likely not as simple as it seems."
Clever people tend to overthink things habitually. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote for it on Qidian with your recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
OpenNovel