Fortunately, Xiao Jinglin, while drunk, only became slightly more talkative than usual, with no noticeable outward signs of intoxication. Otherwise, Xiao Jingxi might have had to worry about how to get her back home.
However, even this slightly more talkative version of Xiao Jinglin still gave Xiao Jingxi a headache.
For example, when Xiao Jingxi was about to take her away, she stubbornly stared into his eyes and said, "Second Brother, you won’t disappoint me, will you?"
Xiao Jingxi signaled Hongying to help Xiao Jinglin downstairs, avoiding the question by saying, "Let’s go. Should we pack a box of mung bean rolls for you to take back as snacks?"
Xiao Jinglin pushed Hongying’s hand away and stood up steadily on her own. Walking out with steady steps, she said expressionlessly to Xiao Jingxi, "I want two boxes of mung bean rolls, one box of pineapple cakes, and ten jars of peach blossom wine."
Xiao Jingxi smiled and instructed Tong He, "Have them pack two boxes of mung bean rolls and one box of pineapple cakes."
Xiao Jinglin turned back, dissatisfied, and added, "And the peach blossom wine!"
Xiao Jingxi ignored her.
As she walked, Xiao Jinglin continued bargaining seriously, "Nine jars?"
...
Xiao Jingxi watched as Xiao Jinglin boarded the carriage, but she persisted through the curtain, "Two jars!"
Xiao Jingxi smiled helplessly and replied, "Not disappointing you doesn’t include indulging your drinking habits."
Xiao Jinglin fell silent inside the carriage.
Meanwhile, in Yunyang City, Ren Yaoqi remained unaware of these events, and the Ren Family was also experiencing its own turmoil.
First, Ren Yaohua and Concubine Fang’s daughter clashed once again.
The incident stemmed from the maid Chuner, who had been sold off by Ren Yaohua after splashing wine on Ren Yaoqi during the Thousand Gold Banquet.
Chuner had been sent back to White Crane Town by Ren Yaohua, punished with beatings by Nanny Zhou, and then sold off. Logically, Ren Yaohua had overstepped, as Chuner was her sister’s maid, not hers, and she had no authority to punish her. Moreover, First Madam, a senior family member present in Yunyang City at the time, could have handled the matter.
However, since Ren Yaoqi had greatly enhanced the Ren Family’s reputation at the Thousand Gold Banquet and Ren Yaohua’s performance had also been commendable, Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren were also considering arranging a marriage for Ren Yaohua at the time. Thus, they turned a blind eye to the incident. As for First Madam, due to Ren Yaoyin’s schemes against Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, she did not bring up the matter in front of Old Madam Ren upon her return.
Now that Ren Yaoying was short one senior maid, she naturally needed to promote one of her second-tier maids and bring in a third-tier maid to fill the vacancy.
Following past practices, Concubine Fang held considerable influence, and she and her daughter had always selected their own maids and servants without anyone deliberately opposing them.
This time, however, Ren Yaohua had Nanny Zhou pre-select the maids for Ren Yaoying and sent them directly to her. Since Concubine Fang and her daughter belonged to the third branch of the family, it was not unreasonable for the main household to oversee their staffing arrangements. Yet, Ren Yaoying found this utterly unacceptable. If not for Concubine Fang stepping in to accept the maids on her behalf, Ren Yaoying would have insisted on having them driven out of the courtyard.Yet despite Concubine Fang's suppression, Ren Yaoying was so furious she hardly slept all night. The next day, after the newly arrived maid began serving Ren Yaoying, she was reported to the inner courtyard steward by Ping'er—the senior maid newly promoted by Ren Yaoying—for allegedly stealing a gold hairpin belonging to Ninth Miss. Another maid claimed to have seen her secretly rummaging through Ninth Miss's dressing case.
The new maid wept and wailed in terror, swearing she had stolen nothing and had no idea how the young lady's hairpin ended up in her bundle. But with evidence so clear, there was no room for denial.
The inner courtyard steward had seen such matters often enough and was about to follow protocol by having the maid beaten and sold off, when Third Miss Ren Yaohua happened to pass by.
Ren Yaohua glanced at the maid a few times and casually pleaded for leniency: "It's just a hairpin—no need for such harsh punishment. If outsiders heard, they'd think our Ren Family members are petty and shallow. Besides, this maid strikes me as honest and sincere; perhaps she offended someone and was framed. Let's just send her back to the estate. Consider it an act of kindness."
Nowadays, Ren Yaohua held increasing favor in Old Madam Ren's eyes, and given her temperament, few maids or matrons in the Ren Family dared cross her. Even the inner courtyard steward could only smile apologetically and say he would first seek instructions from First Madam.
First Madam was currently busy preparing luggage for Ren Yaoyin and had no time to meddle in the grudges between Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoying. Upon hearing the steward's report, she agreed without a second thought.
Thus, Ren Yaohua smoothly saved the young maid.
When Ren Yaoying learned of this, her resentment deepened. She rushed to Concubine Fang and complained, "Mother! Will there even be a place for us in this household anymore? She disposes of my maids as she pleases, yet I can't even dismiss my own servant?"
Concubine Fang was seated behind the desk in the study, brush in hand, writing. Ren Yaoying's frantic voice did not disturb her in the slightest. Only after finishing her writing and setting down the brush did she look up at Ren Yaoying, speaking calmly: "Didn't I tell you not to act against that maid yet?"
Ren Yaoying protested indignantly, "Should I just tolerate her planting eyes and ears beside me?"
Concubine Fang frowned slightly but maintained patience. "Even if someone is placed near us, she may not be able to command them. Ying'er, your temper is too rash."
Ren Yaoying felt wronged. "Mother, we never had to endure her disdain like this before. She truly cares less and less about us now! Is it because Uncle can't come to Yanbei? Or because Grandmother intends to marry her into the Qiu Family? I've heard the Qiu Family will eventually pass to Cousin Qiu, making her the clan matriarch of the Qiu lineage. Now every maid and matron in the household is currying favor with her."
Concubine Fang sighed, rising from behind the desk and walking slowly to Ren Yaoying. She gently stroked her daughter's cheek and said softly, "Since you understand the reasons, why can't you endure this temporary grievance? I've taught you before—never clash head-on with someone whose momentum is stronger than yours."Ren Yaoying bit her lip, placing her hand over Concubine Fang’s hand that was caressing her cheek. “Mother, I just can’t swallow this anger! If she treats us like this now, once she really marries into the Qiu Family, Grandfather and Grandmother will surely value her even more. Where will we have any good days left? Grandmother favors her, and Father only has eyes for Ren Yaoqi as his daughter… Mother, can’t we stop her from marrying into the Qiu Family? If we could just delay her marriage for a few years… by then, Uncle might have come to Yanbei, and our lives might become much easier…”
Concubine Fang pulled Ren Yaoying into her arms and gently patted her back, remaining silent for a long time. Her gaze lingered on the silhouettes of mother and daughter cast upon the window lattice, as if lost in thought.
It was unclear how much time had passed before Concubine Fang’s gentle voice finally broke the silence in the study. “You are my daughter, and I will do everything in my power to give you the best. You will surely live more comfortably than any of them.”
After learning about the conflict between Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoying, Ren Yaoqi asked her, “Third Sister, did you deliberately provoke Ren Yaoying this time?”
Ren Yaoying’s temperament might not be as proud as Ren Yaohua’s, but perhaps because she was born a concubine’s daughter, she couldn’t bear the thought of her two elder sisters being superior to her. At the Thousand Gold Banquet, Ren Yaoqi had stolen the spotlight, while Ren Yaoying, despite her great efforts, had failed to attract any attention and even lost a maid. This had already dealt her a heavy blow, and upon returning home, she had to face Ren Yaohua’s marriage negotiations.
For Ren Yaohua to humiliate her under the pretext of selecting maids at such a time was something Ren Yaoying simply couldn’t endure.
Ren Yaohua sneered mockingly. “Don’t they all think I’m impulsive and leave no room for others? What’s wrong with me taking advantage of my position to bully them once or twice? I can’t always be the one being schemed against, can I?”
Ren Yaoqi sighed. “Third Sister, provoking them at this time is practically forcing them to sabotage the marriage alliance between the Ren Family and the Qiu Family. We both know Concubine Fang’s methods. What if she resorts to underhanded tricks?”
Ren Yaohua, however, snorted coldly. “The Qiu Family might not even want this marriage. Why should I offer myself up to be looked down upon? If it’s sabotaged, all the better! Let’s see what Concubine Fang is capable of.”
Although Ren Yaohua’s idea of using Concubine Fang’s hand to sabotage her marriage with Qiu Yun wasn’t wrong, Ren Yaoqi was still somewhat worried about Concubine Fang’s methods. She was truly afraid that the tragedy of Ren Yaohua’s previous life would repeat itself.
Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to say something, Ren Yaohua spoke first. “Since we’ve already confronted them, backing down now is out of the question. I know you’re smarter than me, but… I can’t rely on you to solve everything for me. You can help me once, but can you help me for a lifetime?”
Ren Yaohua’s words weren’t without reason. Ren Yaoqi could protect her now, but once Ren Yaohua married, could she go to her in-laws’ home to protect her? By then, Ren Yaohua would have to face everything on her own. Moreover, Ren Yaoqi knew that Ren Yaohua had her own pride, which made her swallow her objections.
Ren Yaoqi thought to herself: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” It wouldn’t be a bad idea to let Ren Yaohua try to deal with these inner-household schemes herself. She would just keep a close watch from the sidelines.
Two days later, a family surnamed Li from a neighboring town came knocking.Ren Yaoying's former head maid Chuner had already been betrothed before leaving for Yunyang City. The man was the son of a small merchant family from a neighboring town. Though not extremely wealthy, they lived comfortably without want, which was considered a good match for a maid serving a concubine-born daughter.
The Li family had already paid the betrothal gifts and was only waiting for the bride to enter their household. However, as the wedding date drew near, Chuner had disappeared. Naturally, the Li family came to the Ren Family to demand her return.
Apologies for the delay again. I did say the author's schedule announcements were unreliable...
I won’t announce the next chapter’s timing anymore—it’ll definitely be late at night... 〒_〒
Lastly, to all the ladies planning to go all out on Double Eleven, take it easy—don’t leave your men silently weeping and complaining everywhere...
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