Even someone as clever as Concubine Fang was somewhat baffled at this moment.
She had never believed that her actions over the years could escape the notice of certain astute members of the Ren Family. Everyone had coexisted peacefully, so she couldn’t understand why the Eastern Manor would intervene at this time.
When such a family scandal occurred in the Ren Family, the most furious was Old Master Ren. After the Kang and Liu families were dealt with, Old Master Ren harshly reprimanded Old Madam Ren. However, mindful of preserving Old Madam Ren’s dignity in front of the younger generation, he exercised restraint and scolded her behind closed doors.
Since marrying into the Ren Family, Old Madam Ren had always been in harmony with Old Master Ren, presenting a united front to outsiders. For decades, they rarely quarreled. When Old Madam Ren occasionally made minor mistakes, Old Master Ren would turn a blind eye. But this time, the disgrace was simply too great to ignore.
Old Madam Ren knew she was in the wrong. Though she couldn’t retort after being scolded and felt deeply resentful, she still followed Old Master Ren’s instructions a few days later, releasing Ren Yaoyu and lifting the house arrest on Fifth Madam Lin.
After all, Ren Yaoyu was just a teenage girl, and this incident had dealt her a severe blow. In just a few days, she had visibly lost weight. When released, she appeared listless, devoid of the youthful vitality typical of a girl her age.
In contrast, Fifth Madam Lin emerged beaming, her eyes sparkling as if she had shed a decade of age.
Through this incident, Fifth Master Ren unexpectedly benefited from the misfortune, regaining Fifth Madam Lin’s acceptance. The two now behaved like newlyweds, inseparable all day long, with even their daughter Ren Yaoyu taking a back seat.
As for the insignificant Concubine Kang and the like, they had long been forgotten by the couple.
If anyone were to stand before Fifth Master Ren Shimiao now, point at him, and ask, "What about all those grand vows you made to Concubine Kang? What about the care you promised her?" Fifth Master Ren would undoubtedly roll his eyes and offer nothing but a dismissive turn of his back.
The first day of the fifth lunar month was the birthday of Madam Liao, the matriarch of the Eastern Manor.
Two years ago, when Madam Liao turned fifty, Su Shi had organized a grand celebration for her. The Second Old Master Ren and Fourth Master Ren of the Eastern Manor, who were far away in the capital, returned to White Crane Town for the occasion. Madam Liao’s fiftieth birthday had been celebrated with great fanfare.
This year, however, was a minor birthday. The Second Old Master Ren did not return, and Fourth Master Ren was too busy with affairs to come back. Nevertheless, their birthday gifts arrived half a month in advance, generously filling two large carts with everything from fabrics to food.
Originally, Su Shi had planned to host over a dozen tables for Madam Liao this year and even hire a troupe to liven up the celebration. Unexpectedly, Madam Liao had consulted a nun who came seeking alms earlier, who advised that this year was inauspicious and that extravagance would shorten her lifespan.
Thus, in the end, Su Shi only invited members of the Western Manor, treating it as a family gathering. No outsiders were invited.
The Eastern and Western Manors were separated by only half a wall, making travel between them so convenient that even carriages and horses were unnecessary.
Though Madam Liao disliked interacting with the Western Manor, the Eastern and Western Manors had not formally separated households, so maintaining appearances was still necessary.
Ren Yaoqi and the other younger generation members accompanied Old Madam Ren to the Eastern Manor. As a special presence in the Ren Family, Concubine Fang was, as in previous years, permitted by Old Madam Ren to attend.
Aside from Concubine Fang, who followed respectfully behind Madam Li, Ren Yaoqi also spotted Ren Yaoying, who had not appeared in public for quite some time.Since Ren Yaoying had lost face in front of everyone before the New Year, she had not shown herself for over half a year. Seeing her again this time, Ren Yaoqi sensed a difference in Ren Yaoying compared to before.
When paying respects to Madam Li, Ren Yaoying kept her eyes lowered and her voice was much softer than usual, appearing much quieter and more reserved. Aside from having grown a bit taller, her face hadn’t changed much—still fair and delicate.
In the past, her archrival Ren Yaoyu would have certainly mocked her with sharp words. But recently, Ren Yaoyu had also been rather unlucky, looking listless wherever she went and appearing far less spirited than Ren Yaoying. Moreover, Old Madam Ren’s temper had been rather poor these past few days, and no one dared to stir up trouble at such a time. Thus, Ren Yaoying’s reappearance did not cause much of a stir.
The elders were playing leaf cards in the main hall of the East Mansion, while Ren Yaoqi and the other Ren sisters were chatting and drinking tea in the side hall.
It was rare for the Ren sisters to gather together again today, but the atmosphere was far from lively.
Ren Yaoyu and Ren Yaoying sat far apart, neither speaking to nor acknowledging each other. Ren Yaohua, being naturally aloof, rarely spoke. So only Ren Yaoting, Ren Yaoyin, and Ren Yaoqi occasionally exchanged a few words.
Ren Yaoting was the first to grow restless. She turned to Ren Yaoqi and said, “Fifth Sister, I’m going to freshen up. Would you like to come along?” while secretly signaling to Ren Yaoqi with her eyes.
Ren Yaoqi nodded, and the two of them left the side hall together.
As they passed by the main hall, Ren Yaoqi glanced inside. The two elder ladies of the Ren family, along with First Madam and Second Madam, were gathered around a table playing leaf cards. Concubine Fang had brought a small stool and was sitting behind Old Madam Ren, offering advice. Eldest Young Madam sat behind First Madam, observing. Fifth Madam Lin was not in the hall, leaving only Third Madam sitting alone, drinking tea.
Ren Yaoqi was accustomed to such scenes. Her mother had never truly integrated into the Ren family’s social circle since marrying into the family.
After Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting finished freshening up, they saw Ren Yaoying approaching as well.
Ren Yaoying looked somewhat uncomfortable upon seeing them. She nodded briefly before quickly walking away.
Once Ren Yaoying had entered the side room for freshening up, Ren Yaoting couldn’t help but chuckle softly. She leaned close to Ren Yaoqi’s ear and whispered, “I bet Ninth Sister feels uneasy just hearing the words ‘freshen up.’ She didn’t come with us but sneaked off on her own instead.”
Ren Yaoqi merely smiled and changed the subject. However, she noticed that besides her own maids, Ren Yaoying was also accompanied by Concubine Fang’s head maid, Jinjú. It seemed the previous incident still weighed heavily on Ren Yaoying’s mind.
As the two of them approached the corridor beside the main hall, Ren Yaoqi stopped Ren Yaoting. “It’s a bit stifling inside. Let’s sit here for a while.”
On either side of the large banquet hall in the East Mansion were not side rooms but rather short corridors. In front was a square courtyard, while behind grew a dense ring of shrubs, providing thick shade. In winter, the hall would be cold without the heated floor, but in summer, it was pleasantly cool.
Ren Yaoting smiled and said, “I don’t like going in to watch them glaring at each other either. It looks like it’s still early before the banquet starts, so let’s sit here for a while.”As she spoke, Ren Yaoting first sat down on the green-painted railing of the corridor, and Ren Yaoqi took a seat beside her.
The surroundings here were tranquil and serene, with occasional chirping of birds and insects, making it far more elegant than the large flower hall in the Western Manor.
The two chatted idly. Ren Yaoting asked Ren Yaoqi about the aftermath of Concubine Kang’s miscarriage last time. She had been staying obediently in the Eastern Manor lately and hadn’t visited the Western Manor. Su Shi had been keeping a close eye on her recently because, after returning from the Western Manor last time, she had suffered from nightmares for several days in a row. It wasn’t until an old nun gave her a bowl of talisman water that she finally recovered.
Although she had been quite frightened, her curiosity remained. Now that she had run into Ren Yaoqi, she couldn’t help but inquire about it. Guiltily, she even sent her maids and elderly servants away to a distance.
Ren Yaoqi was just picking out unimportant details to share when she subtly changed the topic: "The manor isn’t as lively as it was the year before last. I remember that during the last celebration for Grandaunt’s fiftieth birthday, guests from Yunyang City arrived early in the morning. The flower hall here couldn’t accommodate everyone, so the Rongjin Hall in the Western Manor was opened as well."
Ren Yaoting curled her lips: "Originally, my mother said she wanted to invite the Dexin Troupe from Yunyang City to perform opera, and it was booked a month in advance. But a few days ago, an old nun came and rambled on about this and that. My grandmother then said we wouldn’t invite guests or have opera performances this year."
"However, I heard from the servants below that quite a few people have been sending gifts to the manor these past few days."
Ren Yaoting said dismissively, "Aside from Fourth Uncle in the capital sending two carts of gifts, it’s mostly just the stewards from various places showing their respect." After a moment’s thought, she added, "The Su Family and the Lin Family in Yunyang City also sent stewards."
Ren Yaoting had been learning household management from Su Shi lately, so she had become somewhat familiar with these matters of etiquette and gift-giving.
"The birthday gifts from the Lin Family this time are even more generous than the year before last," Ren Yaoting remarked casually.
Ren Yaoqi tilted her head and teased her, "Your memory is that good? You still remember what gifts each family sent the year before last?"
Ren Yaoting shot Ren Yaoqi a glare: "You don’t know, but my mother recently gave me the gift lists from the past few years, saying I should learn about these matters of etiquette and gift-giving. I remember the Lin Family sent a large red coral carving as a gift last time, but this time they sent a white jade Guanyin statue. The other day, when I went to my mother’s main room, I happened to run into the old servant from the Lin Family who came to deliver the gifts. She casually gave me a pouch containing two golden pearls as large as longan, saying it was from First Madam Lin to help calm my nerves."
Ren Yaoting nudged Ren Yaoqi with her elbow, winking mischievously: "No wonder Fifth Aunt and Eighth Sister usually look down on you all. The Lin Family is so extravagant at the drop of a hat—it shows how wealthy they are."
After thinking for a moment, Ren Yaoqi said, "Isn’t the Lin Family on good terms with our family? Are you complaining that they’re generous to you?"
Ren Yaoting smiled smugly: "Of course I’m not complaining. I’m flattered, okay? My mother took the pearls and said she’d use them for my headdress in the future. But I’ve never seen the Lin Family be so generous before, and I haven’t seen pearls of that quality on Fifth Aunt or Eighth Sister either."
"Could it be because the Lin Family is on better terms with your maternal family?" Ren Yaoqi asked curiously.Ren Yaoting tilted her head in thought, somewhat uncertain. "My mother hasn’t mentioned this to me, but last time I was in Yunyang City, I accompanied my eldest aunt to visit the Lin Family. My eldest aunt is quite close with several of the Lin Family’s madams."
Ren Yaoqi nodded, as if understanding something. "No wonder, when Madam Lin visited our Western Residence last time, she mentioned Madam Su and Madam Lin the Third. It seems the two of them are quite close privately."
Ren Yaoting didn’t pay much attention to this matter and didn’t take Ren Yaoqi’s words to heart. Whether it was Madam Lin the Third or Madam Lin the Second made little difference to her, and she didn’t understand such things anyway, so her attention soon shifted elsewhere.
Ren Yaoqi, however, caught sight of someone turning and retreating from a nearby path out of the corner of her eye. Not long after, Ren Yaoying emerged from the same path, accompanied by several maids and older servants.
As the group passed by Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting, Ren Yaoqi’s gaze swept over the hem of Concubine Fang’s maid Jinjú’s skirt before turning away.
Earlier, while she and Ren Yaoting were talking, someone had been eavesdropping from behind the shrubs. Ren Yaoqi had noticed it from the start but hadn’t said anything. Presumably, that person had seen Ren Yaoting dismiss her attendants and assumed they were discussing something private.
Ren Yaoqi had deliberately brought up Madam Lin the Third just now.
The prominent families of Yanbei often intermarried, and over generations, the deeper the roots of families like the Ren Family, the more complex their relationships became. Connections could always be traced between one family and another.
The news that Concubine Fang’s sister-in-law was coming to Yanbei had finally reminded Ren Yaoqi of something.
Fang Yacun was coming to Yanbei to take up an official post. His wife’s visit this time wasn’t merely to attend the full-month celebration of Ren Shijia’s son; she was here to pave the way for her husband. As the seat of the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, Yunyang City was essentially the hub of Yanbei, so it was only natural to establish connections there first.
If Fang Yacun wanted to secure an official position in Yanbei, a vacancy in Yan Prefecture would be ideal. However, Ren Yaoqi recalled that in her previous life, Fang Yacun hadn’t managed to stay in Yan Prefecture. Instead, a relative of the Su Family, who had been dispatched to Yanbei as a local official in the same batch as Fang Yacun, ended up remaining in Yan Prefecture.
Ren Yaoqi had already inquired about this. That person was the nephew of the late Old Madam Su, a cousin of Eldest Master Su and Second Madam Ren. He was only a tongjinshi graduate and had hoped to secure a minor local official position in Yanbei through the Su Family’s connections. Meanwhile, Madam Lin the Third’s uncle was a powerful official responsible for the assignment and transfer of officials in Yanbei, equivalent to an official in the imperial Ministry of Personnel.
Although the imperial court had the authority to dispatch officials to Yanbei, the final arrangements for these officials were ultimately decided by the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion.
As expected, the maid Jinjú, who had eavesdropped on their conversation, reported what she had heard to Concubine Fang as soon as she returned to the residence.
"Madam Lin the Third?" Concubine Fang lowered her eyes slightly, deep in thought. The pair of jade butterfly earrings swaying by her ears cast delicate shadows under the lamplight. She always favored such small, tasseled earrings, which gave her the gentle grace of a woman from the Jiangnan region.
After a long moment, Concubine Fang’s brows furrowed slightly, and she looked up as if suddenly realizing something. "So that’s how it is."
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