"Indeed." Aunt Xiao nodded in agreement.
Old Madam Ren was somewhat surprised. "When they first moved here last year, our Old Master sent the steward over with congratulatory gifts, and the Han Family sent return gifts. However, the women of their household rarely go out, so although our two families have exchanged courtesies, I have yet to meet anyone from the Han Family. How is the Han Family connected to the Yanbei Prince's Mansion?"
Aunt Xiao thought for a moment and shook her head. "I haven't heard about that. I've visited the Han Family twice and met Old Madam Han and Madam Han. Old Madam Han is a kind person, and Madam Han is very capable."
"I heard that the current head of the Han Family, Old Master Han, was a son-in-law who married into the family?"
Old Madam Ren was genuinely curious about the Han Family. Logically, a son-in-law who marries into his wife's family is often looked down upon and holds little status within her clan. Yet, this Old Master Han took over the Han Family after the previous head passed away, acting more like a clan leader than the actual one.
There were many rumors about the Han Family in White Crane Town. Some said the Han Family was originally just a wealthy local family from Jizhou, with only modest assets. It was the current Old Master Han who had a unique vision, persuading his father-in-law to sell several plots of land to start a business, which ended up earning them a fortune.
Unfortunately, the Han Family had always kept a low profile. The men traveled for business, while the women stayed indoors, having almost no interaction with the townspeople.
Just as Aunt Xiao was about to reply, the curtain of the eastern side room was lifted, and Ren Yaohua walked out.
"Grandmother, I've finished tidying up... Oh? You have a guest?" Ren Yaohua had been doted on by Old Madam Ren since childhood, so she spoke more casually than her other granddaughters. She only noticed Aunt Xiao halfway through her sentence.
Old Madam Ren shot her a glare and said to Aunt Xiao, "This girl has been spoiled by me and lacks manners. Please don't mind her, Aunt Xiao."
Aunt Xiao quickly replied, "Everyone knows that the young ladies of the Ren Family are either gentle and amiable or lively and adorable."
Ren Yaohua cheerfully stepped forward to greet Aunt Xiao, then said to Old Madam Ren, "Grandmother, I need to return to Purple Magnolia Courtyard, so I won't disturb you while you have a guest."
Old Madam Ren nodded. "Have your lunch there today. I'll be eating vegetarian with Aunt Xiao."
Ren Yaohua acknowledged and turned to leave.
Aunt Xiao smiled as she watched Ren Yaohua depart. "That must be Third Miss of the household, right? It's been a while since I last saw her, and she's grown even more lovely."
Old Madam Ren laughed heartily. "Her temperament is too lively—she's a little rascal."
"I think she knows her limits," Aunt Xiao said, then suddenly extended her right hand and performed a quick calculation, frowning slightly before withdrawing her hand. She calmly picked up the tea beside her and took a small sip.
Old Madam Ren noticed her actions.
Knowing that Aunt Xiao was skilled in feng shui and fortune-telling, and that her predictions were often accurate, Old Madam Ren couldn't help but ask, "What were you doing just now, Aunt Xiao?"
Seeing Old Madam Ren's inquiry, Aunt Xiao hesitated for a moment before saying, "I recall that Third Miss was born in the year of Gengwu?"
"You have a good memory, Aunt Xiao. Hua'er was indeed born in the eighth month of the Gengwu year and is twelve this year," Old Madam Ren nodded.
Aunt Xiao thought carefully and murmured, "Then isn't this year exactly her zodiac year?"
Old Madam Ren frowned. "Is there something unfavorable? I remember you once said that Hua'er's fate is highly compatible with mine."Aunt Xiao shook her head: "Originally, that was indeed the case. Old Master Ren was born in the year of Bingxu, while you were born in the year of Gengyin. Bing and Geng are inherently in conflict, but Third Miss belongs to the tiger zodiac, and because Yin, Wu, and Xu combine to form the fire element, it perfectly aligns with the Eight Trigrams fortune of the Ren Family residence. This is an auspicious sign. However, this year is Third Miss's zodiac year, which offends the Grand Duke Jupiter, turning this auspicious sign into an inauspicious one."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Ren grew anxious: "How can this situation be resolved? Please advise, Aunt Xiao, and I will surely reward you generously."
Aunt Xiao hurriedly replied: "You are too kind, Old Madam. I have often received your family's care, so this is only what I should do. I dare not accept your thanks. Resolving this situation is not difficult. Just have Third Miss temporarily refrain from moving into the Glory and Splendor Courtyard this year, and find another girl who was born precisely at midnight and is not yet of age."
"Born at midnight?" Old Madam Ren frowned thoughtfully.
"Old Madam, Ninth Miss was born precisely at midnight," Granny Gui reminded her.
"Is that Ninth Miss, the twin sister of Sixth Young Master?" Aunt Xiao asked.
"You have an excellent memory, Aunt Xiao. It is indeed her," Old Madam Ren nodded.
Aunt Xiao calculated with her fingers and smiled slightly: "Then there is no mistake. Ninth Miss's fate is also extremely favorable. Moreover, her element is wood, and the Glory and Splendor Courtyard is located in the Li position, which belongs to fire. Wood can nourish fire... It is perfectly suitable."
Old Madam Ren breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. But what about Hua'er after her zodiac year passes..."
Aunt Xiao quickly added: "Once Third Miss passes her zodiac year, everything will naturally be fine."
Old Madam Ren thought for a moment, then turned and instructed Granny Gui: "Go to the Purple Magnolia Courtyard and tell Hua'er not to move in for now. Wait until after this year. Also, go to Fangfei Courtyard and inform Concubine Fang to help Ying'er pack up. From now on, she will stay in the inner warm chamber."
Granny Gui bowed her head in acknowledgment and left.
When Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua received the news, they were in the main room of the Purple Magnolia Courtyard accompanying Madam Li in conversation. Ren Yaohua's face suddenly darkened, and everyone in the room fell silent, the atmosphere growing tense.
After conveying Old Madam Ren's intentions, Granny Gui quietly withdrew.
Ren Yaohua suddenly rose from her chair.
Madam Li hurriedly advised: "Hua'er, your grandmother said you can move next year. It's best not to defy her. She has always strongly believed in matters of feng shui and fate."
But Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi and said coldly: "Come with me." With that, she walked out.
Madam Li anxiously called after her: "Hua'er, what does this have to do with your sister? Don't take your anger out on her."
Ren Yaoqi smiled and squeezed Madam Li's hand: "Mother, don't worry. Third Sister has something else to discuss with me. She's not looking to vent her anger on me."
Madam Li seemed unconvinced, so Ren Yaoqi said to Nanny Zhou beside her: "Nanny Zhou, come along with us. That way, Mother will feel at ease, right?"
Nanny Zhou nodded to Madam Li, who then released Ren Yaoqi's hand, still somewhat uneasy: "If your sister bullies you, you... just run."
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but chuckle, stood up, and blinked playfully: "Don't worry, Mother. I run fast. Third Sister won't catch up to me."
Ren Yaoqi and Nanny Zhou followed Ren Yaohua to the eastern side chamber.
"Is this that wretched woman's original plan? To have Ren Yaoying move into the Glory and Splendor Courtyard?" Ren Yaohua glared at Ren Yaoqi.Ren Yaoqi walked over and sat down on the other side of the kang table, speaking calmly, "By setting up this scheme, she can both make you enemies with Madam Lin and her daughter, and raise Ninth Sister's status."
"Now that Fifth Miss has done this, not only has Third Miss been cleared, but Concubine Fang has also reaped what she sowed and ended up confronting Madam Lin." Nanny Zhou's face lit up with joy.
Madam Lin had always been one to repay the slightest grievance. If she hated someone, it was a fight to the death.
"However, how did Fifth Miss know that this Aunt Xiao would agree to help? And when you sent me to dispatch someone, you also said not to reveal our identity. You must know that Aunt Xiao's reputation has always been excellent—she would never do something like fabricating stories." Nanny Zhou asked doubtfully.
In fact, in her previous life, it was also because Aunt Xiao came to the Ren Family that Ren Yaoying was able to move into Glory and Splendor Courtyard.
But in her previous life, Aunt Xiao appeared only after Ren Yaohua was exposed by Madam Lin and had already moved out of Glory and Splendor Courtyard. By then, Madam Lin and Ren Yaohua were already at odds.
Ren Yaoqi guessed that Concubine Fang might have already reached some kind of understanding with Aunt Xiao. So she had Nanny Zhou send someone to bring Aunt Xiao into the mansion early in Concubine Fang's name, ensuring that Concubine Fang couldn't wash her hands of the matter.
Whether out of caution or some other consideration, Concubine Fang hadn't personally contacted Aunt Xiao through her trusted maids or servants, which gave Ren Yaoqi the perfect opportunity.
After receiving the message, Aunt Xiao appeared immediately and indeed followed her instructions, spinning a fabricated story.
But this couldn't be spoken aloud, so Ren Yaoqi only said that she had accidentally overheard Concubine Fang's conversation with her maid and guessed some of it.
Ren Yaohua's expression remained unpleasant. "What about Ren Yaoying? Are we just letting her off so easily?"
If Ren Yaoying were raised under their grandmother's care, it would significantly raise her status when it came time for marriage discussions. This was also part of Concubine Fang's clever plan.
Ren Yaoqi smiled. "Standing high does allow one to see farther, but it also inevitably makes one a target for others."
Ren Yaohua thought for a moment and couldn't help but sneer. "With Ren Yaoying's temperament, the higher she's lifted, the harder she'll fall. Concubine Fang has been clever all her life, but she gave birth to such a piece of work. And yet she's still exhausting herself scheming."
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi's eyes flickered, and she suddenly smiled. "Just wait. Perhaps you'll see something interesting."
Ren Yaohua frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ren Yaoqi smiled without answering, turning instead to instruct Nanny Zhou. "Have someone bring back the things we moved over this morning."
Nanny Zhou lowered her head in acknowledgment, then hesitated with concern. "But now that Third Miss has left Old Madam Ren's side, won't they grow distant in the future?"
Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi knew what that glance meant and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
No doubt Ren Yaohua still believed that she couldn't bear to see her do well—that she wanted to deal with Concubine Fang but also didn't want Ren Yaohua to gain any advantage.
Remembering events from her previous life, Ren Yaoqi suddenly couldn't help but ask softly, "Do you really believe that as long as you win Grandmother's favor, she will consider everything for your sake?"
Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi with a cold smile. "What are you trying to say?"Ren Yaoqi sighed inwardly, rose, and walked out. As she lifted the curtain, she spoke softly without turning her head, "I just think it's better to rely on oneself than to beg others. Placing all hope on someone else may only lead to despair in the end."
Ren Yaohua was taken aback, staring at the already lowered cotton curtain, her lips pressed tightly together.
Meanwhile, Concubine Fang, who had been "bedridden," sat up abruptly upon hearing Granny Gui's message. "What? You said Aunt Xiao has come? Old Madam Ren wants Ying'er to move to Glory and Splendor Courtyard today?"
Granny Gui smiled, "Exactly so. Congratulations to you, Concubine, and to Ninth Miss."
Yet Concubine Fang showed no joy, instead murmuring in a daze, "Why would she come today? I clearly..."
Granny Gui, puzzled by her reaction, asked, "Isn't this good news? Didn’t you set this plan in motion precisely to help Ninth Miss stand out?"
Concubine Fang smiled bitterly, "Yes, but the timing is off..."
When Madam Lin received the news, she trembled with rage, "Fang Yaru! Well done! Truly well done!"
Meinan's completed work: [bookid=2288861,bookname=《The Scheming Daughter of a Noble House》]
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