After settling the matter with Sun Shiyi Niang, Ren Yaoqi temporarily set her mind at ease.
Upon returning to Purple Magnolia Courtyard, Granny Xu informed her that Third Madam wanted her to go to the main room once she was back. Ren Yaoqi tidied herself up a bit before heading over.
Ren Yaoqi thought Madam Li would ask her about Third Master Ren’s painting restoration and moving courtyards, but instead, upon seeing her, Madam Li said, “Xia Sheng came to White Crane Town yesterday.”
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi pondered briefly. “Did Xia Sheng come because of the Han Family’s affairs?”
Since Madam Li specifically mentioned Xia Sheng, it was likely that he hadn’t come with any of the masters. If the Xianwang Residence had business with Madam Li, they would have sent Yihong or Chuchu instead. If Xia Sheng came alone, the only reason Ren Yaoqi could think of was related to the Han Family.
Before leaving Yunyang City, she had sent Pingguo to Treasure Vase Alley. Her maternal grandmother, Rong Shi, had instructed Pingguo to tell Ren Yaoqi not to interfere in the Han Family’s affairs for now, fearing that as a child, her words might not be believed by the Ren Family and would instead alert Han Dongshan. Moreover, since the Han Family’s matters involved Ren Yaohua’s marriage, Rong Shi said she would find a way to handle it. Ren Yaoqi had agreed.
Madam Li nodded. “Indeed, it was for the Han Family’s affairs. Your grandmother said that dragging this matter out any longer would not be good, and the Ren Family must be made wary of Han Dongshan.”
Rong Shi’s exact words were: Although the Han Family is currently in mourning due to Madam Han’s passing, the Han Family is now at the height of its influence in Yanbei, and Han Yunqian is an exceptionally outstanding young man. If the Han Family is intent on forming a marriage alliance with the Ren Family, the Ren Family will eventually agree. Ren Yaohua is now at the age for marriage discussions and has just returned from the Thousand Gold Banquet. Rong Shi feared that the Ren Family might make Ren Yaohua wait a year for this marriage alliance with the Han Family, thereby delaying her.
Madam Li deeply agreed with this. She knew that Old Madam Ren, due to her favoritism toward Ren Yaohua, was keen on marrying Yaohua to the legitimate grandson of the Qiu Family Head. She had seen the Qiu Family child before—he was clever, lively, and not lacking in appearance. If Yaohua could marry into the Qiu Family, it would be quite good. She worried that Old Master Ren, unaware of the Han Family’s true nature, might still insist on marrying Ren Yaohua to the Han Family’s young master. And even if it wasn’t Yaohua, there was still Yaoqi, who was younger in the family order.
Although the Han Family’s young master was excellent, Madam Li did not want either of her daughters to become entangled in the grudges between the Ren and Zhai Families from past generations.
However, Madam Li did not elaborate further with Ren Yaoqi, considering she was still an unmarried girl.
But someone as perceptive as Ren Yaoqi could roughly understand what Madam Li was thinking just by looking at her expression.
Ren Yaoqi had also been considering Ren Yaohua’s marriage matters recently.
Originally, Old Master Ren likely intended for Ren Yaoyin to marry Qiu Yun. Now, Ren Yaoyin had behaved improperly at the Thousand Gold Banquet. Although the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion had not publicly disclosed the incident to preserve her reputation, she had later had her hair shaved off. As the Ren Family’s in-laws, the Qiu Family could likely uncover some clues if they investigated. If the Ren Family still tried to deceive everyone and marry Ren Yaoyin to Qiu Yun, the Qiu Family would likely take offense, potentially turning in-laws into enemies instead.
Thus, the candidate for the marriage alliance with the Qiu Family fell to Ren Yaohua. Old Madam Ren, who already favored Ren Yaohua, was naturally more than willing to marry her most beloved granddaughter into her maternal family.
However, Ren Yaoqi still had reservations about the Qiu Family.In the previous life, it was Ren Yaoyin who was betrothed to Qiu Yun. However, after the Ren family declined, the Qiu family abandoned this marital alliance. It is unclear how the two families negotiated, but in the end, Qiu Yun married someone else, while Ren Yaoyin became Yun Wenting’s esteemed concubine.
Although self-preservation cannot be said to be wrong, and Ren Yaoqi was unclear about the role Ren Yaoyin played in this matter in the previous life, she felt that Ren Yaohua’s fate in her past life had already been tragic enough. In this life, she hoped Ren Yaohua could find happiness and fulfillment, so she did not want her to take the risk with the Qiu family.
However, such words would certainly not make sense to Madam Li and others. In the eyes of the world, Qiu Yun was indeed considered an ideal husband.
Considering that Ren Yaohua’s marriage was not something Madam Li could decide alone, Ren Yaoqi did not bring it up directly. Instead, she asked, “How will Xia Sheng reveal Han Dongshan’s identity?”
It would not be appropriate for someone from the Xianwang Residence to reveal it directly, as that would expose the residence’s strength. Moreover, Rong Shi clearly did not want her and her daughter to be the ones to do this.
As expected, Madam Li said, “Your grandmother said it would be best for Han Dongshan’s identity to be revealed through someone else’s words.”
“Someone else?” Ren Yaoqi raised an eyebrow. If this “someone else” was too distant from the Ren family, even if they discovered the Han family’s secret, they would not think to inform the Ren family.
At this thought, Ren Yaoqi’s heart stirred, and she suddenly understood: “Lin Kun?”
Ren Shijia and Lin Kun were currently in White Crane Town, having returned for the Han family’s funeral. However, after paying their respects to Madam Lin, the couple did not rush back to Yunyang City. Lin Kun planned to stay with his wife and children at his in-laws’ home for a couple of days.
Madam Li looked at her daughter in surprise. “You know?”
Ren Yaoqi shook her head. “I guessed.” In her mind, she thought that since Xia Sheng had arrived yesterday, he must have done something during Lin Kun’s visit to the Han family to pay respects that aroused Lin Kun’s suspicions. Then, he likely guided Lin Kun or the Ren family to discover Han Dongshan’s secret.
However, the enmity between Han Dongshan and the Ren family was not a glorious matter for the Ren family. Even if Old Master Ren learned of Han Dongshan’s true identity, he would not publicize it widely, nor would he foolishly confront Han Dongshan directly. Instead, he might use this opportunity to shift from the open to the shadows.
In this way, the relationship between the Ren and Han families would become quite lively in the future. The Ren family would already know that Han Dongshan was the surviving young master of the Zhai family, while the Han family would remain unaware that the Ren family knew. Old Master Ren would likely secretly gloat and then plot against the Han family in return.
Thinking of this, Ren Yaoqi felt no joy.
Because in her previous life, the tragic fates of her parents and sister were all caused by Han Dongshan, she could not possibly have any goodwill toward him. However, compared to Han Dongshan, she despised Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren even more. At least Han Dongshan was seeking revenge for his family. What were Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren’s reasons for being so ruthless toward their own flesh and blood?
Ultimately, the Xianwang Residence sided with the Ren family because they were part of the Ren family, even though Rong Shi likely did not know the specifics of what the Ren family had done to the Zhai family.
And although she did not want to admit it, Ren Yaoqi had to acknowledge that without the protection of the family at this time, their branch would indeed struggle.
Madam Li, however, felt that her second daughter was truly clever. With just a slight hint, she could guess most of it.And Ren Yaoqi's prediction was absolutely correct.
When Lin Kun went to the Han Family yesterday, he discovered some peculiarities and was then led step by step to uncover the secret between Han Dongshan and the Zhai Family.
Of course, the Han Family would never be so careless, so Lin Kun's "discovery" was all arranged by Xia Sheng. As the chief guard of the Xianwang Residence, Xia Sheng's abilities were not to be underestimated. Such matters were a piece of cake for him, especially since neither Lin Kun nor the Han Family members were martial arts masters. Using tactics like diverting attention or creating illusions was effortless for him.
After returning from the Han Family, Lin Kun grew increasingly suspicious.
Coincidentally, the next day, someone from the Qiu Family came to White Crane Town. Old Master Ren called his sons and sons-in-law to receive the guests. After the guests left, while discussing the marriage alliance between the Ren Family and the Qiu Family, the topic of the Han Family came up. Lin Kun then told Old Master Ren about his discoveries at the Han Family.
Upon hearing the surname "Zhai," Old Master Ren was stunned for a long moment before eagerly asking Lin Kun for details about what he had seen at the Han Family. Afterward, Old Master Ren dismissed his sons and sons-in-law and spent half a day alone in his study. He then summoned them again, instructing them not to leak what Lin Kun had seen at the Han Family. The Ren Family masters and Lin Kun all agreed.
Naturally, Old Master Ren knew about the Zhai Family. On his deathbed, his father, Ren Baoming, had told him a secret about their ancestral home. This house originally belonged to a wealthy family named Zhai in White Crane Town. Hidden somewhere in the house was a secret room containing treasures left behind by the Zhai ancestors.
Perhaps because he was nearing death and feared that the Zhai descendants might one day return to seek revenge on his own descendants, Ren Baoming recounted every detail of his feud with the Zhai Family to Old Master Ren.
Even after decades, Old Master Ren still shuddered when he recalled the twisted expression on his father's face as he told the story and the trembling hand that had gripped his wrist, leaving bruises.
Although the Zhai Family had never reappeared over all these years, to Old Master Ren, they remained a thorn piercing his heart.
"I never thought I would actually see the descendants of the Zhai Family in my lifetime," Old Master Ren murmured to himself with mixed emotions.
That night, Old Master Ren went to the Ren Family ancestral hall and stood alone before the ancestral tablets for an hour.
From the next day onward, Old Master Ren never mentioned the Han Family again, as if the Han Family were still just the Han Family, and the two families continued to maintain close ties. On the day of Mrs. Han's funeral, the Ren Family even had their steward set up a canopy along the road to bid her farewell.
Meanwhile, the marriage alliance between the Qiu Family and the Ren Family was also brought to the forefront.
After returning today, I discovered that Di Mou has its first alliance leader...
Thank you, Alliance Leader Xiao Xiao 66～o(∩_∩)o
Then, the author calculated and realized they owe quite a few bonus chapters for the rewards.
My alliance leaders, guardians, hall masters, and helmsmen... you are all my creditors...〒_〒
Please allow me to repay them slowly...(Finally: The author got stuck writing today, spent four hours on one chapter... Don't wait for tonight's bonus update, it might not come out until tomorrow morning, I need to think carefully about the details of the plot... Sorry about that... But it's almost the weekend again, so bonus updates are coming soon~ (^o^))
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