Reborn of the Rightful

************ (Repeated sections revised)

The Lin family's carriage arrived before Old Madam Ren and her party departed, bringing some farewell gifts for the maternal relatives.

After seeing off the Ren family's carriage, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin were taken to the Lin residence.

Ren Shijia was delighted by the arrival of her two nieces and personally showed them to their accommodations.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin were settled in the west wing of Ren Shijia's courtyard. The three side rooms were arranged with the two outer rooms serving as their respective bedrooms, while the central room was shared as a sitting room.

Although Ren Shijia also bore the surname Ren, she had a very amiable disposition, sometimes displaying a childlike innocence that seemed quite mismatched with her age.

The other masters of the Lin family also expressed their welcome to Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin. Old Madam Lin invited the two sisters to dine with her in the evening, and First Madam Lin made a special trip to inquire if they needed anything. Lin Baoling and another half-sister from the Lin family took Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin on two separate tours of the entire Lin mansion.

However, after the courtyard gates were locked for the night, Ren Shijia came to see them specifically. She instructed them to stay within the courtyard when they had nothing to do and not to interact too much with the Lin family. If they absolutely had to go out, they must inform her beforehand and report to her immediately upon their return.

As Ren Shijia spoke these words, her face bore a poorly concealed look of worry and unease.

Seeing Ren Shijia like this, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin both obediently agreed. Noticing their compliance, Ren Shijia instead offered a comforting smile. "It's nothing. Your aunt knows you've always been well-behaved. I'm just worried you might be taken advantage of in an unfamiliar place, that's all. When I have some free time in a few days, I'll take you around Yunyang City."

After Ren Shijia left, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin remained seated in the sitting room for a little while longer. Both sat in silence, sipping their tea, lost in their own thoughts. It wasn't until a maid came to announce that hot water was ready for their baths that the two sisters politely and amiably bid each other goodnight and retired to their rooms.

Although Yunyang City was also situated by a river, it wasn't nestled against mountains and waters like White Crane Town. As a major town in Yanbei, equivalent to a provincial capital, it was densely populated. Therefore, after nightfall, Yunyang City wasn't as cool as White Crane Town.

Back in White Crane Town, even during the height of summer, the Ren Family rarely used ice, and light quilts were still needed at night. However, in Yunyang City, Ren Yaoqi woke up in the middle of the night feeling hot. It wasn't so hot that she couldn't sleep, nor did she sweat much, but she would still wake up once or twice during the night. It had been the same when she stayed at the Ren Family Villa.

The Dragon Boat Festival had just passed, and the truly hot season of the year had not yet arrived.

Ren Yaoqi leaned back against the headboard with her eyes closed. The embroidered gauze bed curtains were drawn back and hooked up. Sangshen, who was on night duty, sat on the edge of the bed gently fanning her.

Just as Ren Yaoqi was gradually drifting back to sleep, a rustling sound came from outside. Sangshen continued fanning while glancing toward the window. Seeing Ren Yaoqi open her eyes, she whispered, "Miss, it seems to be raining."

As soon as she finished speaking, a flash of lightning illuminated the white-gauze-covered window, and the sound of rain grew louder.After a while, Ren Yaoqi heard sounds from the reception room outside, seemingly coming from Ren Yaoyin’s room. Soon after, footsteps approached.

“Fifth Sister, are you asleep?” Ren Yaoyin’s gentle voice came from outside the curtain.

Their bedrooms were connected to the central reception room, making it easy for Ren Yaoyin to come over.

“No,” Ren Yaoqi replied.

Then the curtain was lifted, and Ren Yaoyin walked in. She must have also woken up in the middle of the night, draped in a thin crimson cloak. The maid following her carried a candlestick.

The candlelight in the room was originally dim, and Ren Yaoyin’s face was turned away from the light, leaving only a vague shadow that was hard to discern. Yet Ren Yaoqi felt that such a face seemed to suit Ren Yaoyin perfectly, without any sense of incongruity, much like the impression she gave.

“This weather really is… it starts raining as soon as it says so. Fifth Sister, can’t you sleep?” Ren Yaoyin walked toward Ren Yaoqi’s bedside as her maid placed the candlestick on the octagonal table in the middle of the room.

“Did I wake you?” Ren Yaoqi smiled apologetically.

Ren Yaoyin shifted slightly, ensuring her shadow didn’t fall on Ren Yaoqi’s face. Because of the angle, Ren Yaoqi was now exposed to the light, making her clearly visible to Ren Yaoyin. Ren Yaoqi seemed unconcerned that Ren Yaoyin could see her clearly while she herself couldn’t see Ren Yaoyin.

“No, it was a bit stuffy before the rain, so I woke up. Since I was little, I’ve had this problem—once I wake up in the middle of the night, I can’t fall back asleep. I heard some noise from your side, so I came to check.”

Ren Yaoyin turned to look at the window lattice. Outside was pitch black, so the side covered by the gauze curtain was also dark. The sound of rain grew louder, as if separated into two worlds by a thin veil with tiny holes.

Ren Yaoqi wasn’t sure why Ren Yaoyin had come over in the middle of the night, so she didn’t say much, only responding briefly to her words.

Ren Yaoyin had a calm and gentle demeanor, different from Concubine Fang’s soft and delicate southern charm. When she spoke with others, she always gave the impression of being reliable and trustworthy. This was also why Ren Yaoyin was extremely well-liked.

“How did Fifth Sister get to know the Commandery Princess? I heard she doesn’t like socializing or getting close to others.” Ren Yaoyin blinked, asking casually with just the right amount of curiosity.

Ren Yaoqi smiled. “I happened to meet her when I went to White Dragon Temple with my mother to offer incense.”

Ren Yaoyin smiled thoughtfully and said, “It seems this is the fate between people. Speaking of which, my friendship with Eldest Miss Yun was also fate. A few years ago, I came with my grandmother to attend an elderly lady’s birthday banquet in Yunyang City. Eldest Miss Yun and I wore dresses made of similar fabric and style, and when we stood together, others thought we were sisters. I was still young at the time, while Eldest Miss Yun already had a reputation for virtue. I felt a bit flustered under everyone’s gaze, but Eldest Miss Yun seemed delighted and openly took my hand, saying she wanted to adopt me as her sworn sister. Another time, during the Lantern Festival, we each ended up with the other’s lantern and guessed the riddles the other had written.”Ren Yaoyin's voice carried a hint of laughter as she spoke, soft and warm with a touch of nostalgia.

Ren Yaoqi felt there was something odd about Ren Yaoyin's expression at that moment. She didn't know that Ren Yaoyin had only revealed half the story. Back then, although the lantern Ren Yaoyin received was nominally Yun Qiuchen's, the riddle written on it was actually penned by the eldest young master of the Yun family, Yun Wenting. Ren Yaoyin only discovered this later when she happened to see Yun Wenting's handwriting. She had kept that lantern and its riddle ever since.

"What about you, Fifth Sister? Did anything interesting happen between you and the Commandery Princess?" At this point, Ren Yaoyin tilted her head and asked with a smile.

"Interesting?" Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment. "That day at White Dragon Temple, the Commandery Princess was tossing copper coins at the Fortune Bell. I admired her accuracy so much that I stood there watching in a daze for a long time. I suppose my silly, stunned expression must have caught her attention."

Ren Yaoyin chuckled and teased, "Is this what they call 'fortune favors the simple-minded'?"

Ren Yaoqi also smiled and lowered her head without speaking.

"And... what about Yun family's second young master? How did you two meet?" Ren Yaoyin asked.

This question made Ren Yaoqi pause for a moment as she looked at Ren Yaoyin. However, Ren Yaoyin remained backlit, making her expression unreadable.

Ren Yaoqi thought to herself: Did Ren Yaoyin mention her own connection with Yun Qiuchen just to coax her into revealing her ties with Xiao Jinglin and Yun Wenfang? Quite the clever plan.

Ren Yaoqi replied with feigned surprise, "Wasn't it when he came to White Crane Town last time and stayed at the Ren Family? Oh, back then, I thought he was some 'Young Master Wen.'"

Ren Yaoyin smiled gently, though it was unclear whether she believed it or not. She didn't press further. Glancing out the window, she remarked, "It's raining so heavily today. I wonder if it'll stop by tomorrow."

Ren Yaoqi responded casually, "Didn't Aunt tell us to go out less? If it rains, it rains. Staying in the courtyard is fine."

Ren Yaoyin looked at Ren Yaoqi for a moment before smiling. "Then do you know why Aunt specifically told the two of us, who are guests at the Lin Family, not to get too close to the Lin Family members?"

"Is it because Aunt isn't actually as well-off in the Lin Family as she appears on the surface?" Ren Yaoqi asked calmly.

Ren Yaoyin sighed. "Because Uncle is the sole heir of the second branch of the Lin Family and should have inherited half of the family's assets. However, the main branch disagrees with Uncle's branch separating from the Lin Family. With this dispute over inheritance, who knows what trouble might arise in the future. Aunt is afraid we might be used by those with ulterior motives, which is why she gave us this warning."

Ren Yaoyin was not stingy with her guidance to Ren Yaoqi, just as she never withheld advice when her sisters at home asked her about needlework.

"I see. I had heard some rumors, but I didn't know as much as you, Fourth Sister. Thank you for the guidance," Ren Yaoqi said thoughtfully and sincerely.

Ren Yaoyin smiled gently. "We're sisters. Our fortunes rise and fall together. No need for thanks."

Ren Yaoyin stayed in Ren Yaoqi's room a while longer, sometimes offering advice on how to handle situations, and other times subtly asking her questions.

No matter what she asked, Ren Yaoqi's answers were always flawless.After seeing Ren Yaoqi yawn, Ren Yaoyin smiled and took her leave. "It's getting late, and I'm a bit tired too. Let's talk again next time."

Ren Yaoqi started to rise to see her out, but Ren Yaoyin pressed her arm to stop her, so Ren Yaoqi didn't insist.

As Ren Yaoyin lifted the curtain to leave, she couldn't help but glance back at Ren Yaoqi, who was being helped by her maid to lie down. She frowned, and the smile faded from her face. However, she only looked for a moment before turning and leaving.

Ren Yaoqi glanced at the swaying bead curtain that made a soft clinking sound, then closed her eyes.

In the latter half of the night, Ren Yaoqi slept soundly, even though it rained all night outside.

The next day, the rain indeed hadn't stopped, though it had become a light drizzle, much lighter than during the night.

After Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin had freshened up, they went together to Ren Shijia's room for breakfast.

Uncle Lin Kun was not in the room, as if he had gone out early. It was unclear whether it was because they were there or because he usually didn't have breakfast in the inner courtyard.

Ren Shijia was not Old Madam Lin's legitimate daughter-in-law, and because she had just given birth, Old Madam Lin had excused her from the morning and evening greetings. Therefore, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin didn't have to go pay their respects to Old Madam Lin early in the morning like the Lin Family members.

To some extent, Ren Shijia held a unique position in the Lin Family. However, this uniqueness seemed more like a form of compensation from the Lin Family.

In the past, Ren Shijia had felt uneasy about her special status in the Lin Family. But after learning that her inability to have children for so long might be related to the Lin Family's main branch, she had come to understand many things.

In the morning, Ren Shijia had her maid Qingliu take some silver to the Lin Family's kitchen to add a few dishes that Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua liked. Just then, news arrived in the Lin Family's inner courtyard.

Madam Lei of the Lei Family had passed away.

At that time, Ren Yaoqi was also in Ren Shijia's room, playing with the energetic little Lin Cen with Ren Yaoyin after he had finished nursing.

This news startled Ren Yaoqi, and her hand holding the rattle drum froze in mid-air.

"How could it happen so suddenly... Wasn't she fine the day before yesterday?" Ren Shijia was also taken aback and asked the maid who had come to deliver the news.

Two days ago, when the Lin Family held the full-month celebration for Lin Cen, Madam Lei had attended. At that time, she showed no signs of being unwell.

"It's unclear. They say she suddenly fell critically ill and passed away late last night," the maid replied, having heard it from outside. The Lei Family had sent people out to buy white cloth as soon as it was daylight, and households in Yunyang City gradually received the Lei Family's obituary notices. The Lin Family had just received theirs.

Ren Shijia sighed with regret, but considering that Madam Lei was already nearing her seventies—though she didn't look particularly old, her age was still advanced—she accepted it.

Ren Yaoqi, however, thought more deeply. She wondered whether Madam Lei's sudden death was related to her identity. If the cause of death wasn't so simple, then who was behind it?

After all, the timing of Madam Lei's death was quite coincidental, occurring just when others wanted to use her identity to attack the Lei Family.

Would her death bury the secret of her identity with her, or would it push the Lei Family into an even more difficult situation?

Not long after, First Madam Lin sent a matron over. The Lin Family would go to the Lei residence in the afternoon to offer condolences. Old Madam Lin's intention was for Ren Shijia to accompany First Madam Lin.That maidservant was likely a trusted one under Madam Lin, as Ren Shijia treated her with great courtesy and even chatted with her for a while.

Ren Shijia was quite popular among the servants of the Lin Family, as she was generous with rewards and carried no airs.

Speaking of Madam Lei, the maidservant also wore a sorrowful expression: "She was perfectly fine the day before yesterday. When she left our place, I followed Madam to see her off at the Inner Gate. Now, just like that, she's gone. It's truly..."

Ren Shijia sighed, "After all, she was getting on in years. I heard that back in the south, when the Lei Family was struggling and her own family had fallen, she endured many hardships. It’s hard to say what lingering ailments might have taken root then."

Upon hearing this, the maidservant fell silent for a moment before lowering her voice and saying, "There are some rumors circulating outside now."

Ren Shijia was somewhat surprised and couldn’t help but ask, "What rumors?"

"It’s said that Madam Lei’s death was rather suspicious—that she didn’t die of a sudden illness but was actually murdered!"

Ren Shijia was stunned upon hearing this, her face turning pale: "That... that can’t be, can it? Who would want to harm her? The Lei Family hasn’t been in Yanbei for long. Where would they have enemies?"

"That’s unclear. I’ve only heard the rumors from outside. Think about it—this Madam was said to be extremely diligent about her health, never falling ill even once throughout the year. No one has ever heard of any lingering ailments. Every time she appeared in public, wasn’t she always rosy-cheeked and full of vigor? As for enemies... it’s hard to say. It could be someone targeting the Lei Family, or someone targeting Madam Lei herself. It might be someone from outside or even someone within their own household."

"Where did you hear these rumors?" Ren Shijia murmured, her voice still tinged with shock.

"I heard it from a servant from another household, though some say it originated from a maid in the Lei Family. As the saying goes, there’s no smoke without fire. I think there’s definitely something suspicious about this!"

At that moment, someone from Madam Lin’s side came looking for the maidservant, so she rose and bid farewell to Ren Shijia.

In the neighboring room, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin had overheard nearly all of the conversation between Ren Shijia and the maidservant.

Ren Yaoyin wasn’t particularly interested in the affairs of the Lei Family. She was busy helping Ren Shijia embroider a pair of tiger shoes for little Lin Cen, carefully threading her needle.

Ren Yaoqi, meanwhile, was using small pliers to crack pine nuts while watching Ren Yaoyin work, though her thoughts had already wandered far away.

The rumors mentioned by the maidservant reminded Ren Yaoqi of the deliberately spread gossip on the day of Cen’er’s full-month celebration.

Someone was secretly manipulating people to spread rumors unfavorable to the Lei Family.

But why spread the claim that Madam Lei was murdered? What was the purpose of the person behind it?

As for why Ren Yaoqi believed that Madam Lei being murdered by someone else was merely a rumor, it was because she knew that in a family like the Lei Family, under such circumstances, the people in the inner courtyard—especially those serving closely by the masters’ sides—were absolutely reliable.

Moreover, if it were an opponent like the Han Family who had taken action, keeping Madam Lei alive would actually benefit them more than having her dead. Her identity itself was a vulnerability.

Outside, the sky remained gloomy. The rain that had started the previous night continued intermittently, casting a somber mood over everything.Ren Yaoqi felt a sense of oppression, so heavy that even breathing seemed to require effort.

She placed the peeled pine nuts onto a plate and pushed it toward Ren Yaoyin, then stood up. "I've been sitting for too long; I'll take a walk."

Ren Yaoyin glanced at the pine nuts Ren Yaoqi had peeled, bit off the thread in her hand, and smiled. "You spent all that time peeling them, and now I get to enjoy them?"

Ren Yaoqi also smiled. "Fourth Sister has always cared for me, so I should care for you in return."

Ren Yaoyin was momentarily taken aback, then gave a gentle smile.

Ren Yaoqi only intended to walk along the corridor. Ren Shijia did not stop her, merely reminding her to be careful of slippery paths and avoid getting wet in the rain.

The air outside was indeed much fresher, carrying the scent of earth and plants.

Ren Yaoqi had originally planned to walk along the corridor in the courtyard to clear her mind and sort out her thoughts. However, before she reached the door of her own room, she saw Xiangqin entering from outside, holding a small, square box.

"Why didn’t you bring an umbrella when going out in the rain?" Ren Yaoqi noticed the fine droplets of water on Xiangqin’s hair and her damp shoulders, and scolded her.

Upon seeing Ren Yaoqi, Xiangqin immediately ran over. Hearing the reprimand, she stuck out her tongue. "I was in such a hurry that I forgot."

Ren Yaoqi raised an eyebrow. "What was so urgent?"

Xiangqin pointed to the box in her hand, her face beaming with a bright smile. "Someone wanted to deliver something to you, Miss. I ran out to check and found out it was sent by the Commandery Princess."

Xiangqin had been given strict orders by Ren Yaohua not to allow Ren Yaoqi to approach any suspicious individuals. So, as soon as she heard that someone outside wanted to deliver something to Ren Yaoqi, the loyal little maid rushed out without hesitation. To her surprise, the visitor was not from the Yun Family, whom the Ren Family was wary of, but a maid from the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, sent by the Commandery Princess to deliver something to Ren Yaoqi.

Afraid that Ren Yaoqi might blame her for acting on her own, Xiangqin smiled ingratiatingly while carefully observing Ren Yaoqi’s expression. She wondered what she should do if the Fifth Miss were to lose her temper on the spot.

Deep down, the little maid was practically weeping. As a servant, she was doing the work of two people on a single month’s wages. Though she had grown accustomed to it, it still felt unfair that her mistress would assign her all the difficult tasks just because she was clever, capable, and obedient!

Making her offend people like this… it was just too much to ask of a maid!

Ren Yaoqi calmly observed Xiangqin’s ever-changing facial expressions, then smiled and took the palm-sized box. "Well, thank you for running the errand. Go inside and change your clothes quickly."

Xiangqin’s face immediately brightened, her eyes sparkling with joy. If she had a tail, she would have wagged it. "Yes, I’ll go right away."

Watching Xiangqin’s cheerful retreating figure, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but smile, and the earlier feeling of suffocation dissipated considerably. Xiangqin was not actually ignorant of proper conduct. Though her personality was a bit lively, she never let her mistress down at critical moments.

Moreover, Ren Yaohua had given her this task with good intentions, so Ren Yaoqi naturally wouldn’t get angry over such a matter.

Ren Yaoqi looked at the box in her hand, thought for a moment, and decided to return to her room first.The palm-sized box was made of rosewood, intricately carved with a pattern symbolizing boundless happiness like the Eastern Sea. When Ren Yaoqi opened it, she was momentarily taken aback—inside was a walnut carving depicting the Eight Immortals crossing the sea.

Ren Yaoqi took out the small walnut carving and placed it in her palm, examining it carefully for a moment. She noticed the walnut had been hollowed out, making it an openwork carving, and the craftsmanship was exquisite.

But why would Xiao Jinglin send her this out of the blue? A gift?

Just as she was thinking this, Ren Yaoqi held the walnut up to the light and her heart stirred—there was something inside the hollow part of the walnut.