Ren Shimin recalled Old Madam Ren's earlier remark about him gifting his own paintings as mere childish playthings. Though deeply displeased at the time, he had refrained from arguing back out of respect for her seniority.
Madam Li was taken aback and glanced uncertainly at Nanny Zhou.
Just as Nanny Zhou was about to speak, Ren Yaoqi, who understood her father well, interjected with a smile, "What treasure did Father prepare for him? Could you tell us about it?"
Ren Shimin's expression softened as he replied to Ren Yaoqi, "Young Master Han took a liking to a calligraphy and painting piece at my place. Before he left, I had a servant deliver that painting to him."
Ren Yaoqi blinked. "I bet the piece Young Master Han fancied must be one of Father's own works!"
Ren Shimin was inwardly delighted but maintained a composed demeanor. "Oh? What makes you think so?"
Ren Yaoqi replied earnestly, "He helped us so much—wouldn't it be a great loss if he just picked some random piece by someone else?"
Ren Shimin burst into hearty laughter, his genuine joy palpable to everyone in the room.
Madam Li watched the father and daughter with delight, while Ren Yaohua merely toyed with the agate bracelet on her wrist, seemingly distracted.
"This Young Master Han seems quite refined. If the Han Family has a daughter, she could socialize with our Third Miss and Fifth Miss," Nanny Zhou chimed in, seizing the moment while Ren Shimin was in high spirits. In truth, she was subtly probing for information about the Han Family.
The Han Family had moved to White Crane Town just last year, while they were still at the estate. After returning, they had heard mentions of the Han Family but had no direct contact.
As an experienced veteran of inner household affairs, Nanny Zhou knew well that having clearer information often meant holding the upper hand.
In his cheerful mood, Ren Shimin indulged her. "According to Master Han, he has a son and a daughter. Young Master Han is fifteen this year, but I'm not sure about the daughter. The Han Family's upbringing seems commendable. Though young, their son is studious and courteous, especially skilled in Yan-style regular script—his calligraphy is remarkably bold and dignified."
At first, Ren Yaoqi didn't immediately recall which Han Family Ren Shimin was referring to. But upon hearing his praise for their son, it suddenly came back to her.
During the year her mother and Ren Yaohua were at the estate, a wealthy Han Family had newly settled in White Crane Town. Later, impressed by the talent of the Han Family's young master, Ren Shimin arranged an engagement for Ren Yaohua. The Ren Family, noting the Han Family's low-profile yet extensive connections, substantial wealth, and only one son, gladly approved the match.
However, the Han Family's young master later broke off the engagement for unknown reasons. The Ren Family initially objected but eventually acquiesced for reasons that remained unclear.
Deeply wounded, Ren Yaohua grew increasingly temperamental, and the Ren Family began to regard her as expendable.
In the end, through the mediation of Second Madam Su Shi of the second branch, Ren Yaohua married Zeng Kui, the cousin of Second Madam's niece-in-law, Eldest Madam Su.
Eldest Madam Su was from the capital. Her uncle was Zeng Pu, the newly appointed Ningxia Regional Commander at the time. Despite having numerous concubines, Zeng Pu had only one son—Zeng Kui.At that time, the unmarried sisters of the Ren Family all envied Ren Yaohua's good fortune—even after being jilted, she could still find such an excellent match that would be hard to come by even with a lantern. However, it was only a few days before Ren Yaohua's wedding that they learned this Zeng Family young master had half his face scalded by boiling water and lost an eye in his childhood, all because of his wet nurse.
Old Madam Ren had to condescend to personally visit Purple Magnolia Courtyard to persuade Ren Yaohua to marry. During the process, the old madam appealed to reason and emotion. Ren Yaoqi did not know how Old Madam Ren managed to convince her "most beloved granddaughter," who was proud and arrogant by nature, to joyfully marry a man whose appearance was as ugly as a fierce ghost.
But she succeeded. Ren Yaohua married into the Zeng Family without any fuss or protest.
Half a year later, Ren Yaohua strangled her newlywed husband with her own hair. In a fit of rage, Zeng Pu threw her into the military camp's red tent. On a night when the northwest wind howled, Ren Yaohua set fire to the military camp and perished in the flames.
Because of this, the Ren Family became enemies with the Zeng Family, and misfortune followed one after another.
That same year, the Han Family young master who had broken off the engagement with Ren Yaohua married Yun Family Eldest Miss Yun Qiuchen. A talented scholar and a beautiful lady, with a dowry procession stretching for miles, it was a sight that made countless young men and women in Yanbei green with envy.
"Yaoyao? Yaoyao?" Ren Shimin waved his hand in front of Ren Yaoqi's eyes, frowning as he called her.
Ren Yaoqi snapped back to reality and saw everyone in the room looking at her. She forced a smile.
"Yaoyao, are you feeling unwell?" Ren Shimin reached out to feel her forehead.
Madam Li also said, "Is your illness not fully recovered yet? Why do you look so pale?"
Ren Yaoqi obediently let Ren Shimin clumsily feel her forehead without reminding him that his palm, which had just held hot tea, couldn't detect body heat. She only lowered her head and said, "No, I just suddenly remembered that before Father left home, he assigned me many paintings and calligraphy copies to practice. Because I was ill for so long, I haven't finished them. I'm afraid Father will scold me when he checks my studies later."
Hearing this, Ren Shimin helplessly withdrew his hand and scolded with a smile, "When has Father ever scolded you? How could you be so frightened?"
Seeing that Ren Yaoqi's complexion had improved significantly, Madam Li couldn't help but sigh in relief. "It's good that you're not ill."
After that, although Ren Yaoqi continued to act as a bridge between Ren Shimin and Madam Li, her heart remained heavy with worry. How could she prevent everything from happening before it was too late?
"Master, Madam, Concubine Fang has brought Sixth Young Master and Ninth Miss to pay their respects," the head maid Shanhu reported from outside the curtain.
Ren Shimin looked at Madam Li in surprise. "Isn't Concubine Fang still ill?"
Madam Li thought this was a reproach and said uneasily, "I... I told her not to come."
Ren Shimin nodded and signaled for them to enter.
Shortly after, Concubine Fang walked in with her two children.
Today, Concubine Fang wore a plain light-blue sheepskin jacket made of ordinary fabric, her hair tied in a round bun with a Zhaojun cap on her forehead. Her attire was simple yet elegant, not diminishing her dignified beauty. As she walked, her head slightly lowered, her slender waist swaying gracefully, and her steps light as lotus petals, she carried an air of charm that was remarkably free of frivolity.
No wonder the maids of the Ren Family liked to secretly imitate her.
Ren Shimin looked at Concubine Fang, his eyes also showing a hint of appreciation. For beautiful things, he had never been stingy with his gaze.Concubine Fang's gaze subtly swept toward Ren Shimin's direction before immediately averting, stepping forward to kowtow and pay respects to Ren Shimin and Madam Li.
Ren Shimin smiled and nodded. "Rise. Did Madam not instruct you to rest and recuperate from your illness?"
Concubine Fang's beautiful eyes shimmered, her smile appearing somewhat frail, yet joy radiated from within. "This concubine heard that the master had returned. I... I came to pay my respects."
Ren Yaohua, seeing Concubine Fang's demeanor, felt a surge of anger. Though she tried hard to restrain herself, her words still came out cold and sharp. "Since you were told to rest, you should rest properly. If you go out like this and catch a chill, worsening your illness, outsiders who don't know the truth might think my mother treats you harshly!"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Fang's expression darkened, her smile tinged with bitterness. Yet she lowered her head obediently and replied, "Third Miss is right to admonish me. This concubine was thoughtless."
Ren Shimin frowned as he glanced at Ren Yaohua. As the head of the household, he had not yet spoken, yet his daughter was already reprimanding his concubine—something he considered improper.
Ren Yaoqi smiled at Concubine Fang. "Auntie, please don't take offense. Third Sister has always been blunt. Even kind words sound unpleasant coming from her. I usually find it tiresome to speak with her too. But I believe her intention wasn't to 'admonish' you—she was just worried you might catch a chill, seeing how lightly dressed you are."
Ren Shimin glanced at the clothes Concubine Fang was wearing.
Nanny Zhou also exclaimed in surprise, "Auntie, why are you dressed so lightly today? It's freezing outside! You really aren't taking care of yourself. Just a few days ago, when it wasn't this cold, you were still wearing a fox-fur jacket and a thick cloak. Aren't you deliberately making our Madam worry?"
Concubine Fang flushed.
"It was because Sixth Brother and I were eager to see Father and insisted on coming quickly. Auntie was so focused on making sure we were properly dressed that she neglected herself. Mother, please don't blame my auntie, okay?" Ren Yaoying looked at Madam Li with a pitiful expression.
"Your mother hasn't blamed anyone. Why are all of you acting so aggrieved?" Ren Shimin interjected, his voice gentle, concealing his impatience well.
Though he disdained involving himself in the affairs of the inner courtyard, his sensitive nature made these subtle exchanges between women utterly tiresome to him.
OpenNovel