Additional Update.
The young woman's voice was not as soft and gentle as Concubine Kang's, but rather the brisk and sharp tone of a woman from the common streets.
Old Madam Ren did not reply immediately. The outer room fell silent for a moment before Old Madam Ren's calm voice was heard: "I dare not accept such praise."
Sister-in-law Kang immediately laughed and said, "You deserve it, you deserve it. You are the matriarch, there's nothing you don't deserve."
This Sister-in-law Kang seemed to have a formidable personality, but in front of Old Madam Ren, she still appeared somewhat restrained. Old Madam Ren was deliberately giving her a cold shoulder, and as she spoke, there was a hint of unease in her tone.
This was exactly the effect Old Madam Ren wanted. She coldly interrupted Sister-in-law Kang, saying, "I have guests arriving soon. If there's nothing else, you may leave first. Granny Gui, have the kitchen prepare a banquet later so the visitors from the Kang family can eat before they go."
Old Madam Ren was clearly seeing her out.
Sister-in-law Kang, who had finally managed to get in to see the person in charge, was unwilling to leave. She quickly smiled apologetically and said, "Matriarch, this humble woman has come to seek your help."
"What is it?"
"Well... could you ask those around you to step aside first?" Sister-in-law Kang seemed hesitant.
Old Madam Ren paused briefly. "No need. Speak."
The maids and servants staying by Old Madam Ren's side were all her trusted confidants.
Seeing Old Madam Ren's insistence, Sister-in-law Kang did not press further and simply said, "How is my sister-in-law doing?"
Old Madam Ren remained silent. Granny Gui, who was waiting on her, replied, "Our Old Madam treats Concubine Kang very well. If you're worried, you can go and see for yourself."
Sister-in-law Kang hurriedly said, "No, no, I'm not worried. What kind of family is the Ren Family? How could they mistreat my sister-in-law?"
"In that case, why have you come, Sister-in-law Kang?" Granny Gui continued to speak on behalf of Old Madam Ren.
Sister-in-law Kang smiled and said, "I've come to take my sister-in-law back to her maiden home."
As soon as these words were spoken, the outer room fell silent. Even inside the inner chamber, Ren Yaoqi and the others paused their needlework for a moment.
"Concubine Kang is still weak and not in a condition to return home for a visit. Moreover, she is still a concubine of the Ren Family. If she wishes to return, she must first obtain permission from our Old Madam and her mistress, Madam Lin. Otherwise, wouldn't that be against the rules?" Granny Gui said.
Granny Gui assumed that the Kang family believed their daughter had been wronged in the Ren Family and had come to stand up for her. However, Concubine Kang was merely a concubine. Even if she had miscarried, it had nothing to do with the Kang family. Granny Gui was reminding Sister-in-law Kang to recognize Concubine Kang's status.
Old Madam Ren thought the same.
Unexpectedly, Sister-in-law Kang said, "That's not what I mean. What I mean is... since my sister-in-law has lost her child, it wouldn't be proper for her to stay in the Ren Family any longer. I've come to take her home."
"Preposterous!" Old Madam Ren lost her temper and scolded, "What do you take our Ren Family for? A theater troupe? Coming and going as you please?"
Granny Gui quickly stepped forward to soothe Old Madam Ren, offering her tea and water.
Sister-in-law Kang was merely an ordinary woman from the common streets. Seeing Old Madam Ren's anger, she grew somewhat fearful but forced a smile and said, "Old Madam, please don't be angry. I'm actually doing this for the good of your Ren Family."
Old Madam Ren let out a cold snort.Sister-in-law Kang stammered, "Originally, it was a blessing that our little sister could enter the Ren Family's door, and our whole family was happy for her. But... but yesterday, my mother-in-law's natal family suddenly came looking for us. My mother-in-law has already passed away, and her maiden name is Liu. They are also from Jizhou, from the neighboring county. Since it's not too far, we usually have some contact with them. However, when they stated their purpose yesterday, it gave us quite a fright..."
Just as Sister-in-law Kang reached this point, someone hurried in from outside, interrupting her.
Old Madam Ren had already grown somewhat impatient after listening to Sister-in-law Kang's rambling for so long. Hearing the hurried report from outside, she said coldly, "What's happened now!"
This time, it was another servant woman who entered.
"Old Madam, those Liu family members outside are causing trouble again. They say if our Ren Family and the Kang family don't give them an explanation, they... they're going to report it to the authorities!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was shocked.
Old Madam Ren, furious, laughed instead: "An explanation? What explanation does our Ren Family owe them? They're not even remotely related to us, yet they dare to push their luck! Go, drive them all out!"
Just as the servant woman was about to obey the order, Sister-in-law Kang hurriedly stopped her: "Ancestor, please calm your anger. You can't drive them away! What if they really do report it to the authorities? Then... what face would your Ren Family have?"
Although Old Madam Ren was still angry, she was not an impulsive person by nature. Hearing Sister-in-law Kang's words, she sensed there might be something fishy about the situation. In the end, she restrained her anger and first sent the servant woman away.
"Speak, what exactly is going on!" This time, Old Madam Ren's tone was much calmer.
Sister-in-law Kang said, "I was just about to tell you earlier. The Liu family came looking for us yesterday to demand someone."
"Demand who?" Old Madam Ren asked sternly.
"They... they came to demand my little sister and... and the child in her womb," Sister-in-law Kang stammered.
Even with Old Madam Ren's deep composure, she couldn't help but be stunned at this moment.
Ren Yaoqi sat in the inner room and noticed that both Ren Yaoyin and Ren Yaohua had furrowed their brows in unison, seeming somewhat restless. She lowered her head slightly, staring blankly at the embroidery basket in her arms, as if unsure how to react.
Sister-in-law Kang's words from outside drifted in intermittently through the bamboo curtain.
"The Liu family is our in-laws and can be considered a wealthy household in Jizhou. When my mother-in-law was still alive, she arranged a childhood marriage for my little sister with the only son of the Liu family's uncle. Unexpectedly, after the Liu family's old madam and my mother-in-law passed away, the Liu family's aunt disliked my little sister's lack of dowry and sent someone to steal the token of engagement from our home. At the time of the engagement, there was no written agreement, only a verbal promise and a pair of engagement jade pendants. Later, when the jade pendants were lost, the Liu family went back on their word and refused to acknowledge the marriage, so the engagement fell through."
Such incidents of breaking off engagements due to greed and snobbery were quite common and nothing to be surprised about. However, when the Ren Family had previously investigated Concubine Kang, they had not discovered that she had once been engaged.As if aware of Old Madam Ren’s doubts, Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law explained, “This happened two or three years ago. To protect my sister-in-law’s reputation, my father-in-law strictly forbade us from spreading the news. So aside from a few in-laws, outsiders have no idea my sister-in-law was once engaged to the Liu family’s young master.”
“If you’ve fallen out, why do the two families still interact?” Granny Gui asked.
“My father-in-law is soft-hearted. Moreover, the Liu family’s uncle said his wife had acted without his knowledge, so he personally came to apologize several times afterward. Out of respect for my late mother-in-law, my father-in-law let it go.”
Though Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law made it sound reasonable, everyone present understood that such matters were not so easily forgiven. It was likely the Liu family’s uncle had offered substantial compensation during his apologies, which was why the Kang family had refrained from making a scene.
“Originally, the engagement was broken off, and my sister-in-law and the Liu family’s young master each married others, with no further connection. But recently, the Liu family’s young master went horseback riding with friends and accidentally fell from his horse. The fall crippled his legs and left him mentally impaired.”
Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law paused before continuing, “My husband went to visit him afterward and said… he said the Liu young master not only injured his legs but would likely be unable to father children in the future.”
“…”
“The Liu family’s uncle has three daughters but only this one son, whom he has always cherished like the apple of his eye. Who could have imagined such a tragedy?” Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law sighed heavily. “Though we felt sorry for them, it was fate, wasn’t it? So we didn’t dwell on it. Until yesterday, when the Liu family came to our door, demanding to take my sister-in-law into their household.”
The room fell silent again. Inside the inner chamber, the three young ladies unconsciously held their breath, exchanging awkward glances.
“The Liu family claimed that when their young master came to our house to celebrate my father-in-law’s birthday, he and my sister-in-law… well… grew close, and then… then…” Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law blurted out as if desperate, “Then they said the child in my sister-in-law’s belly is the Liu family’s seed!”
As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of porcelain shattering violently came from the next room, startling Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law into a cry.
“Nonsense!” Old Madam Ren exclaimed angrily.
Old Madam Ren felt deeply embarrassed by these words. It was she who had arranged for Concubine Kang to enter the Ren Family. If what Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law said were true, she would have no face left.
Having overseen the Ren Family’s affairs for many years, Old Madam Ren carried an air of authority that truly frightened Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law. Nevertheless, she mustered her courage and said, “I also find this absurd, but the Liu family insists the child belongs to their young master. They even produced a personal servant of the Liu young master to testify that my sister-in-law had secretly met with him several times. Fearing the Liu family would make a scene and embarrass everyone, I told them my sister-in-law had miscarried and the child was lost. But they wouldn’t listen. They even produced the stolen engagement token, threatening to report us to the authorities if we didn’t hand her over. My father-in-law, already in poor health, is now unconscious from anger. I had no choice but to bring people here. Old Ancestor, what should we do?”Madam Kang had actually passed the ball to the Ren Family.
Old Madam Ren was truly furious by now and sneered, "You ask me what to do? I’d like to ask you instead! It was Madam Kang who came to us in the first place, claiming she was carrying the seed of our Ren Family. Now, out of nowhere, some Liu family appears. Weren’t you all quite eager to accept the betrothal gifts back then? Want to take it to court? Go ahead! I’d like to see who ends up in the wrong!" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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