At this moment, Ren Yaoqi spoke up, "Grandmother, I heard this matter has spread so widely that even the maids and old servant women in the mansion know about it?"
Old Madam Ren frowned, "It was all because of those two gossipy old women who spread it! I’ve already had each of them beaten with a cane and locked up. They’ll be dealt with after this matter is settled. I’ve also given orders to everyone in the mansion not to spread rumors anymore. If anyone is caught gossiping again, they’ll be beaten to death and thrown out!"
Ren Yaohua snorted coldly, "Those two old women are quite capable, aren’t they? They managed to spread such baseless rumors until everyone in the mansion knew about them." Ren Yaohua was hinting that someone was secretly stirring up trouble.
Old Madam Ren, however, said, "I’ve already had someone investigate. They happened to meet someone yesterday afternoon, and coincidentally, there was a birthday banquet in the Glory and Splendor Courtyard last night where an old nanny invited them to drink. The two got drunk and couldn’t keep their mouths shut at the table, talking about this matter. Since there were maids and old servant women from various rooms and courtyards present, the news spread like this."
What a coincidence! Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua exchanged a glance.
Ren Yaohua asked, "Grandmother, what about Mei Hong? What should we do about her?"
Hearing Ren Yaohua mention this, Old Madam Ren’s anger flared up again, "What else can we do? Your grandfather has already sent people to find her! Whether she came from our mansion or not, she can’t stay in White Crane Town anymore. Otherwise, whenever she appears, there will be gossip again. The Ren Family can’t afford to lose face like this!"
As expected, the Ren Family wouldn’t sit idly by. Sending her away without distinguishing right from wrong was the safest course of action.
But if the Ren Family could think of this, would Concubine Fang not have considered it? What other tricks did she have up her sleeve?
Ren Yaohua was harshly scolded by Old Madam Ren and punished to copy scriptures.
Ren Yaoqi didn’t stay in the Glory and Splendor Courtyard. After leaving, she immediately returned to her room and wrote a letter with her left hand. She then called for Pingguo and instructed, "Go find Yuan Dayong and have him deliver this letter to Zhu Ruomei as soon as possible."
Pingguo took the letter, carefully tucked it into her sleeve, and without another word, turned and ran off.
This wasn’t the first time Pingguo had interacted with the Yuan family. After delivering the letter, she returned quickly.
"Miss, Yuan Dayong has taken the letter and left. He said he would definitely deliver it before noon today."
Ren Yaoqi glanced at the sky outside. It was less than two hours until noon. She nodded, "Keep an eye on the Yuan family. If they need anything, let me know."
The Yuan family had helped her a great deal. Reciprocating kindness, it was only right for her to look after them within her means. Previously, through the connections of Third Master Ren Shimin, Ren Yaoqi had promoted Yuan Dayong from a small accountant in the coal mine to the assistant manager of the Ren Family coal depot in White Crane Town.
Ren Yaoqi didn’t just bring him back and consider the favor done. She also instructed Ren Shimin’s servant to observe Yuan Dayong’s conduct and interactions. It turned out that Yuan Dayong was actually a promising talent. Since he had only been a small accountant in the coal mine before, some people naturally didn’t accept him as the assistant manager at the White Crane Town coal depot. Yet, in just a few months, he had firmly established himself and blended in well with the supervisors and workers at the depot, earning high praise from the chief manager, who even commended him in front of Eldest Master Ren.
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but feel pleased.She might be able to give him opportunities, but those opportunities were limited, so whether he could rise to prominence still depended on his own abilities. Fortunately, Yuan Dayong did not disappoint her.
Ren Yaoqi originally intended to dismiss Pingguo, but Pingguo thought for a moment and said, "Miss, if the Yuan family has any needs, would you be able to help them?"
Ren Yaoqi was taken aback by this, then smiled and nodded, "Tell me first. If I can help, I naturally will."
Pingguo said, "The last few times I saw Sister-in-law Yuan, I heard her say she wanted to arrange a marriage for Yuan Dayong. Originally, since Yuan Dayong often stayed at the coal mines in the Western Hills, it was difficult to find a match. But now that he’s come to town, Sister-in-law Yuan wants to find him a wife. Today, Sister-in-law Yuan even asked me about the sisters in the courtyard. Miss, could you go and ask the Madam?"
Pingguo usually carried out her duties meticulously but rarely spoke much. Today, however, she had surprisingly said quite a bit.
Ren Yaoqi thought Yuan Dayong was a good person, and the Yuan family was easy to get along with, kind-hearted and sincere. If possible, she would really like to keep Yuan Dayong as a right-hand man. Having her mother assign him a good maid wouldn’t be a problem.
But why had Sister-in-law Yuan asked Pingguo about these things?
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and asked Pingguo, "Did Sister-in-law Yuan ask about your age or your family?"
Pingguo was stunned, then seemed to realize something, her face flushing bright red as she stammered, "No, well, maybe, yes..."
Ren Yaoqi found her reaction amusing and deliberately teased her, "Is there or isn’t there?"
Pingguo lowered her head, "There is, I suppose..."
Ren Yaoqi understood perfectly now. Sister-in-law Yuan had likely taken a liking to this silly girl, Pingguo.
But Pingguo had thought Sister-in-law Yuan was asking about the maids in Purple Magnolia Courtyard, so she had come back to ask Ren Yaoqi to request her mother to assign a maid to Yuan Dayong.
Pingguo was so embarrassed she didn’t dare lift her head. She felt she was truly too foolish! Now, thinking back to Sister-in-law Yuan’s expression and tone when she spoke to her, as well as the helplessness and disappointment on her face when Pingguo introduced the other sisters in the courtyard, she understood everything.
She had always thought her appearance was ordinary, and she was dull and unlikable, that no one besides her mistress would ever like her. So she had never considered the possibility that it might be about her.
Ren Yaoqi looked at Pingguo’s rare display of shyness and embarrassment and noticed she didn’t seem disgusted or resistant. Smiling, she said, "Next time you see Sister-in-law Yuan, tell her that I plan to keep the maids by my side for a few more years. If their family can wait, they should wait. If they can’t, I’ll have my mother assign an older maid to Yuan Dayong." Her mother’s room also had two maids who were of age to be married off, both with good looks and honest dispositions.
Pingguo bit her lip, her face still flushed, and agreed. Ren Yaoqi, afraid she might truly embarrass her further, smiled and dismissed her.
In the afternoon, word came from Sister-in-law Yuan that Yuan Dayong had already delivered the letter to Zhu Ruomei. After reading it, Zhu Ruomei had asked him to relay the message: "I will not fail this mission!"The news was brought in by Pingguo. The little maid, whether due to her nature or something else, had regained her serious expression, only showing a slight hint of awkwardness when mentioning Yuan Dayong. Ren Yaoqi knew she had already relayed her earlier words to Sister-in-law Yuan. Pingguo wasn’t the type to beat around the bush.
Sure enough, before retreating, Pingguo lowered her head and said, "Miss, Sister-in-law Yuan said their family can wait."
Pingguo’s barely settled complexion flushed again as she recalled Sister-in-law Yuan’s delighted smile when she held her hand and said those words.
In the evening, Ren Yaohua returned after serving her punishment, and Ren Yaoqi went to speak with her.
Ren Yaohua had Xiangqin massage her sore wrist and said to Ren Yaoqi, "Grandfather returned this afternoon. I overheard him telling Grandmother that the woman really is that Meihong from back then. He asked her a few questions, and her answers matched."
Ren Yaoqi frowned. She wasn’t surprised, but Concubine Fang truly had some skill—she managed to find such a person. Or had she been planning this all along? However, Meihong hadn’t appeared in her previous life. Perhaps that move hadn’t been used back then?
If that were the case, she truly was scheming meticulously.
"How did she return to Yanbei, and how did she end up in such a place?" Ren Yaoqi asked.
Ren Yaohua waved Xiangqin away and said, "She didn’t claim the Ren Family sold her to such a place. She only said she was sold as a maid to a household, then was driven out after offending the mistress. After that, she was resold twice before finally returning to Yanbei. But her story was jumbled, and the timeline was vague. Grandfather said we could only believe two or three parts of it."
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment. "Did Grandfather have her redeemed and sent away?" Whether Meihong was acting under someone’s orders or had unintentionally been sold back, how she explained herself to the Ren Family wasn’t the main point. Words could change at any time.
Ren Yaohua nodded. "She was sent away this afternoon."
Just then, Wujing rushed in, her face pale. "Third Miss, Fifth Miss, things are taking a turn for the worse. Just now, some maids in our courtyard heard that this matter has somehow spread outside. Maids from other families have even sneaked into our estate to inquire. Some are even spreading rumors that Meihong was once a personal maid serving Third Miss."
These were only the words spoken openly; who knew what was being said behind their backs.
Ren Yaohua’s face also turned grim. "Do we know who spread it?"
Ren Yaoqi said calmly, "Grandmother has already issued strict orders not to let this leak, so the fact that it spread so quickly likely means someone arranged it from the outside."
Ren Yaohua said, "Fortunately, Meihong has already been sent away. Otherwise, if she were bribed to speak nonsense, it would be even harder to explain."
Ren Yaoqi shook her head. "I’m afraid it might not be so fortunate."
Ren Yaohua frowned.
Ren Yaoqi looked at her. "Did Grandfather only order her to be sent away earlier? Now that the matter has blown up, what do you think the Ren Family will do?"Ren Yaohua thought about the words she had heard earlier, her grandfather's tone at the time, and the usual conduct of the Ren Family. Her expression changed: "Is it likely that Mei Hong won't survive?"
The Ren Family held Mei Hong's deed of sale. She was of lowly status, so for the Ren Family to end her life would be all too simple. All they would need to do is pay the authorities a sum of money to file the record, and the officials wouldn't bother inquiring into such matters of a master beating a servant to death.
Ren Yaoqi smiled faintly and sighed, "What a clever scheme! She anticipated that the Ren Family would send her away, and after she was truly taken by the Ren Family, she would stir up even more trouble. At that point, to quell the rumors, even if the Ren Family didn't have Mei Hong killed, they would no longer allow her to appear in White Crane Town."
"What happens next?" Ren Yaohua asked.
Seeking pink votes, rolling around and pleading for pink votes...〒_〒.
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