After arriving in Yunyang City, Ren Yaoyin frequently visited the Yun Family under the pretext of discussing poetry and literature with Yun Qiuchen. Possessing some literary talent herself and skillfully flattering Yun Qiuchen in subtle ways, their friendship progressed rapidly.
The Yun Family spared no effort in cultivating Yun Qiuchen, who often assisted in hosting guests. Thus, when five young ladies from the Ren Family visited today, everything proceeded smoothly without any chaos.
Yun Qiuchen led the group to the reception hall, where they exchanged pleasantries and observed formalities according to seniority.
"I should have invited you earlier, but I’ve been busy helping my mother with preparations for tomorrow’s Thousand Gold Banquet and haven’t had the time," Yun Qiuchen said apologetically to Ren Yaoyin.
Ren Yaoyin quickly replied, "I should have realized you’d be occupied recently. In truth, it’s my fault for not considering it. I hope I haven’t disrupted your important matters today?"
Yun Qiuchen shook her head. "Everything is settled for today. My mother and two aunts will handle the remaining arrangements."
She then turned to Ren Yaoqi and said gently, "It’s been a while since I last saw you, Yaoqi. I’ve been asking Yaoyin to invite you along, but she mentioned you go to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion every day to accompany the Commandery Princess in practicing the qin. How is the princess’s qin practice progressing?"
Ren Yaoqi smiled. "The princess has been very diligent lately. According to her qin teacher, she has made significant progress."
Yun Qiuchen smiled at this. "That’s good to hear. The princess has never been fond of arts like qin, chess, calligraphy, or painting since childhood. When the Princess Consort asked her to prepare for the Thousand Gold Banquet, she was reluctant at first. I never expected she would put in such effort over these days. I can’t wait to hear her play a piece."
After exchanging pleasantries with Ren Yaoyin and Ren Yaoqi, Yun Qiuchen, not wanting the other Ren sisters to feel neglected, proceeded to greet Ren Yaohua and the others one by one.
Ren Yaoqi noticed that Yun Qiuchen seemed familiar with the interests of each Ren sister, skillfully steering conversations toward topics they enjoyed or things they excelled in. She wondered whether this information came from Ren Yaoyin or if Yun Qiuchen had made inquiries before their visit.
From this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but admire Yun Qiuchen’s thoughtfulness and the Yun Family’s meticulous cultivation of her. The rumors that the Yun Family was grooming Yun Qiuchen to become the next Princess Consort of Yanbei likely held some truth.
Next, Yun Qiuchen discussed the Thousand Gold Banquet with them. As this was the first time the Ren sisters would attend, they listened attentively.
Although the Thousand Gold Banquet was organized by the Yun Family, the venue was provided by the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. Since the banquet gathered noble young ladies from across Yanbei and lasted three days, only the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion had the capacity to host it.
This year, the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion had chosen the hot spring villa at Sun-Moon Spring as the venue—the same place where Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had previously encountered Lei Pan’er.
Ren Yaoying was particularly lively today. Hearing Yun Qiuchen mention the hot springs at Sun-Moon Spring, she chimed in, "Third Sister, Fifth Sister, and I also visited there before. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion’s hot spring villa or the Sun-Moon Spring."
Yun Qiuchen explained gently, "The Yanbei Prince’s Mansion’s hot spring villa is usually closed to outsiders. Sun-Moon Spring is enclosed within the villa and is named after its two hot springs, one large and one small. Tomorrow, when we go, I can take you to see the Sun-Glory Spring."Ren Yaoyin asked with keen interest, "So the Sunspring is the 'sun' spring? Then what is the 'moon' spring?"
"The larger one is called the Sunspring, and the smaller one is called the Moonspring. However, I have never seen the Moonspring either. Presumably, it is used by the Prince and Princess Consort for bathing. The Sunspring is located in the center of the garden. Because the spring water remains warm year-round, the flowers in the garden bloom in all seasons, making it quite a remarkable sight."
Upon hearing this, everyone looked forward to the trip the next day.
As they were chatting happily, Yun Qiuchen's head maid, Nanzhu, approached and whispered a few words into Yun Qiuchen's ear.
Yun Qiuchen's expression remained unchanged. After Nanzhu finished speaking, she smiled and said to the group, "I have just invited Second Sister and Third Sister to join us. It would be rather dull for so many of us to sit idly in this courtyard. Why don’t we move to the waterside pavilion?"
Naturally, no one objected to Yun Qiuchen’s suggestion. They rose and followed her to the waterside pavilion, where they encountered the Yun Family’s Second Miss, Yun Qiuping, and Third Miss Yun, Yun Qiufang, halfway there.
Yun Qiuchen introduced the Ren Family’s young ladies to the two Yun sisters, addressing each other as cousins, and they exchanged pleasantries as they made their way to the waterside pavilion.
Overall, the Yun Family’s residence was dignified and grand. Even the garden, which wealthy families typically emphasized to showcase their prestige, was built in a conventional manner—strict and formal, without any ostentation.
However, the waterside pavilion by the crescent-shaped pond in the garden was exquisitely crafted, elegant and charming. In the summer, all four windows of the pavilion were wide open, making it resemble a cool pavilion by the water. Inside, one could feel a refreshing breeze, cool and pleasant—truly an ideal retreat for escaping the summer heat.
"Second Sister and Third Sister, please help me entertain our cousins. I’ll go check on the tea and refreshments," Yun Qiuchen said with a smile after everyone had taken their seats.
Yun Qiufang glanced at Yun Qiuchen, curled her lips into a smile, and said, "Elder Sister, saying that makes it sound as if we’re outsiders. Second Sister and I are the hosts, and the Ren cousins are our guests. Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, we would have taken care of them. Could it be that in your mind, you’re the only Yun Family young lady, and the rest of us are outsiders?"
Although Yun Qiufang had been chatting and laughing along the way, it was clear that her demeanor was merely polite and perfunctory. Upon closer inspection, her expression was far from pleasant. Seizing on Yun Qiuchen’s remark, she couldn’t help but take the opportunity to vent.
The Ren sisters also sensed something amiss in Yun Qiufang’s words, but none of them were foolish enough to acknowledge it openly.
Yun Qiuchen, with her excellent upbringing, showed no trace of anger at Yun Qiufang’s provocation. She merely smiled and nodded to everyone before leaving with her two head maids.
Only after leaving the waterside pavilion did Yun Qiuchen pause, frowning slightly as she asked her head maid, Nanzhu, "Has Mother returned?"
Nanzhu lowered her head and replied, "Yes, Miss. As soon as the Aunt arrived, you instructed me to send someone to fetch First Madam. She has just entered the estate and has gone to Old Madam Ren’s courtyard."
Yun Qiuchen nodded slightly, her gaze falling thoughtfully on the pond before her. Her two head maids knew that when their young lady looked like this, she was deep in thought, so they remained quietly behind her without disturbing her.
After a long pause, Yun Qiuchen asked, "Did the person sent to investigate hear what Aunt and Grandmother discussed?""Last time, because the stewardess in Old Madam Ren's courtyard accepted Third Madam's silver and copied a Yun Family ancestral medicinal cuisine recipe, Old Madam Ren dismissed a group of people, and several senior maids were also sent away. Only one second-rank maid heard Lady Aunt mention the horse ranch when she went in to serve tea."
"The Su Family's horse ranch on the border?" Yun Qiuchen was somewhat surprised.
"Didn't Madam say yesterday that the Su Family's horse ranch suffered heavy losses this time due to the Tangut invasion? Presumably, Lady Aunt came back to discuss this matter with Old Madam Ren."
Yun Qiuchen pondered slightly and said, "This is the Su Family's private affair. Aunt wouldn't specifically return to the Yun Family just to complain about this, and she even dismissed everyone. There must be other matters."
"Should this servant send someone to inquire further?"
Yun Qiuchen shook her head. "Forget it. Since Mother has already returned, we should wait for news from her side."
"That's true. Madam has never kept secrets from you, Miss. If there is anything, she will surely tell you."
Another senior maid, Yinzhu, was younger and less composed and experienced than Nanzhu. She couldn't help but say, "Our Yun Family is Lady Aunt's maternal family. She wouldn't come back to scheme against her own family, would she?" Yinzhu sensed that First Madam and the eldest young lady were somewhat wary of Lady Aunt, who had married into the Su Family.
Yun Qiuchen wasn't angered by the maid's question and merely said calmly, "As women, we follow our fathers at home, our husbands after marriage, and our sons after our husbands' deaths. Although Aunt bears the surname Yun, it will be the Su Family who offers incense to her a hundred years from now."
Yinzhu thought about it and found it reasonable, so she dared not say more.
Nanzhu, however, couldn't help but think that the current Princess Consort of Yanbei was also a Yun Family aunt and had always prioritized the interests of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. Even when Old Madam Ren hinted several times in front of the Princess Consort about wanting the eldest young master to marry the Commandery Princess, the Princess Consort had deflected it by saying that the Commandery Princess's marriage must be decided by the Prince.
"Follow your father at home, your husband after marriage, and your son after your husband's death"—this was how the Yun Family had always taught its women, a family rule for its daughters.
If Ren Yaoqi were here, she would surely sigh at the difference between the Yun Family and the Ren Family in educating women. The Ren Family taught that whether in the maternal family or the marital family, everything should prioritize the interests of the Ren Family.
"Miss, should we have Madam arrange for a few more people to be placed in Old Madam Ren's courtyard?" Nanzhu asked.
Yun Qiuchen thought for a moment but still shook her head. "Forget it. Grandmother is particularly sensitive about this right now. There's no need to provoke her at this time."
Yinzhu curled her lip. "Speaking of which, Third Madam and Third Miss are truly like mother, like daughter. If it weren't for Third Madam trying to steal the Yun Family's medicinal cuisine recipe last time, the two elder sisters in Old Madam Ren's room wouldn't have been implicated. She knows perfectly well that the Yun Family's ancestral recipes are only passed down to the principal wife and eldest daughter. And Third Miss—today she tried to embarrass you in front of guests, all because Old Madam Ren only entrusted the Thousand Gold Banquet to several madams and you, Miss, without letting her or Second Miss get involved. She doesn't even consider her own capabilities..."
"Yinzhu." Seeing Yinzhu becoming more and more unrestrained in her speech, Nanzhu immediately stopped her.
Only then did Yinzhu realize she had spoken too much and had even gossiped about her masters. She cautiously glanced at Yun Qiuchen.She was also indignant on behalf of her mistress. Third Miss Yun Qiufang had recently seized every opportunity to mock Yun Qiuchen with sarcastic remarks, and today she didn’t even bother to consider the occasion. It was only because Eldest Miss Yun was unwilling to stoop to her level.
However, the maids found it hard to swallow their anger.
Third Miss Yun’s appearance, character, and talents were all inferior to Eldest Miss Yun’s. If she had been as well-behaved as Second Miss, it would have been fine, but she insisted on competing with Eldest Miss Yun and picking fights.
Yun Qiuchen glanced at Yinzhu and sighed softly, turning to Nanzhu. “She’s young and impulsive. You should guide her more in the future. Some things can be thought but not spoken, and some things can be done but not spoken. Often, it’s better to say nothing at all. Trouble comes from the mouth, and too many words lead to mistakes—that’s the principle.”
Nanzhu and Yinzhu both lowered their heads and acknowledged her words.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the garden path, and someone approached.
Yun Qiuchen frowned slightly and turned to see Second Young Master Yun Wenfang striding out from behind a cluster of shrubs. Her expression softened, and she smiled. “Second Brother? What brings you here?”
Yun Wenfang was surprised to see Yun Qiuchen here with only two maids. He glanced toward the waterside pavilion and raised an eyebrow. “What? You can come, but I can’t? I heard sparrows chirping this morning, so I thought there must be guests visiting.”
Yinzhu couldn’t help but laugh. “Second Young Master, it’s ‘when magpies call, guests arrive,’ isn’t it? What does it have to do with sparrows?”
Yun Qiuchen, however, understood Yun Wenfang’s thoughts. She looked at him and noticed his distracted expression, sighing. “Second Brother, I’m here with Second Sister and Third Sister to entertain the cousins from the Ren Family.”
After a pause, she added gently, “They are guests, and all of them are young ladies. When you meet them later, please be mindful of your words and actions.”
Yun Qiuchen had heard about how Yun Wenfang had stopped Fifth Miss Ren at the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion last time. She had originally planned to apologize to Fifth Miss Ren on behalf of her second brother today. Unexpectedly, Yun Wenfang had come himself, and she knew she couldn’t send him away. She could only resolve to keep a close watch on her usually reckless brother to prevent him from causing trouble and embarrassing the Yun Family.
Yun Wenfang curled his lip. “Is my face so hideous that you’re afraid I’ll scare the guests?”
Yun Qiuchen knew her second brother’s temperament—he wasn’t easy to deal with. But as his full sister, she genuinely cared for him and could only advise him gently. “Second Brother, you know that’s not what I meant. I understand your feelings, but if you act as rashly as you did last time at the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, you might not only fail to achieve your goal but also push her further away.”
Yun Wenfang snorted lightly, his expression turning cold.
Unfazed, Yun Qiuchen continued, “Take the incident when you sent her a painting, for example. If she had accepted it, wouldn’t that have been an improper exchange? From what I’ve observed in my interactions with her, Fifth Miss Ren is undoubtedly a dignified and proper young lady. How could she accept your gift and risk damaging her reputation?”
Yun Wenfang grew impatient. “This isn’t allowed, that isn’t allowed—so what do you suggest I do?”Yun Qiuchen wanted to say that marriage matters have always been arranged by parents—how could one possibly decide for oneself? But she knew her second brother would have no patience for such talk, so she could only tactfully reply, "The fifth young lady of the Ren family cannot decide her own fate either. Rather than hitting a wall with her, you might as well put more effort into persuading Mother and Grandmother."
Yun Wenfang frowned. "Didn’t Grandmother already agree that I could choose my own wife?"
Hearing this, Yun Qiuchen felt somewhat helpless. Her second brother was clever enough, but when it came to matters of the inner household, he truly understood nothing.
How could the marriage of the Yun family’s second young master be so simple? When Grandmother said he could decide for himself, she was merely placating him. While he could choose a concubine according to his own preferences, a principal wife was absolutely out of the question.
However, Yun Qiuchen dared not say this to him now, lest he cause a scene in the mansion.
Yun Wenfang did take some of his sister’s words to heart. Thinking of how Ren Yaoqi avoided him as if he were a plague, he felt both resentful and wondered whether his actions were indeed as improper as others claimed.
What Second Young Master Yun did not know was that at this very moment, someone was indeed scheming about his marriage.
First Madam Yun, having just returned from outside, headed straight for Old Madam Yun’s courtyard. After having someone announce her arrival, Old Madam Yun allowed her into the main room.
As First Madam Yun entered, she happened to hear First Madam Su saying, "...Fangfei is your granddaughter, and she grew up under your and Eldest Sister-in-Law’s watchful eyes. Her character and nature need no further elaboration from me. As for Wenfang, this child..."
At this point, First Madam Su noticed First Madam Yun entering and paused her words. She rose from the southern kang and greeted warmly, "Eldest Sister-in-Law."
First Madam Yun had only caught that one sentence and had no idea what First Madam Su was truly scheming. She smiled in return, paid her respects, and then greeted Old Madam Yun.
Both Old Madam Yun and First Madam Su were seated on the southern kang in the western room. First Madam Yun took a seat on the folding chair brought over by a maid.
"Eldest daughter-in-law, you’ve come just in time. I was about to send someone to fetch you," Old Madam Yun said. Even while sitting on the kang with her daughter, her back remained ramrod straight.
First Madam Yun lowered her head. "What instructions does Mother have?"
Old Madam Yun glanced at First Madam Su and said leisurely, "Shuhe wishes to discuss Fang’er’s marriage with you."
First Madam Yun was startled. Recalling the two sentences she had overheard upon entering, could it be that the Su family wanted to marry Su Fangfei to her son? Although First Madam Su was a daughter of the Yun family, due to the longstanding enmity between the Old Princess of Yanbei and Old Madam Yun, the Su and Yun families had never been aligned.
What was the Su family’s intention?
First Madam Yun raised her eyes slightly to glance at Old Madam Yun, hoping to discern her attitude toward this matter. However, Old Madam Yun’s expression revealed no emotion whatsoever, making it impossible to tell whether she supported or opposed this marriage.
First Madam Yun could only smile and say, "With Mother and Father present, Fang’er’s marriage is naturally for the two elders to decide. This daughter-in-law dare not interfere."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Yun asked, "What do you think of Fangfei, this child?"
Su Fangfei, the eldest daughter of the Su family, was First Madam Su’s legitimate eldest daughter and Old Madam Yun’s granddaughter. Naturally, First Madam Yun could not speak ill of her: "Fangfei is exceptionally beautiful, kind-hearted, and of excellent character."
Hearing this, First Madam Su smiled and looked toward Old Madam Yun.First Madam Yun also looked at Old Madam Yun. Although Old Madam Yun had asked for her opinion, she knew that her son's marriage was not something she alone could decide—it ultimately depended on the wishes of Old Master Yun and Old Madam Yun. Even though she did not wish to marry a daughter of the Su family.
Old Madam Yun seemed not to notice that both her daughter and daughter-in-law were waiting for her to express her opinion. She leisurely picked up her teacup, took a sip, then set it down and said to First Madam Yun, "The tea has gone cold. Have someone come in and replace it."
First Madam Yun complied and left.
After the tea was replaced, Old Madam Yun took the teacup handed to her personally by First Madam Yun, skimmed the tea foam, and said calmly to First Madam Su, "Since you’ve come all this way, stay for lunch."
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