Concubine Fang keenly observed the subtle changes on Old Master Ren's face, feeling a slight relief in her heart. She knew that as long as Old Master Ren harbored even a hint of hesitation, he would not allow others to deal with her arbitrarily. Her purpose for today had been achieved.
While others might not be clear, Concubine Fang saw it plainly: although matters of the inner courtyard should be managed by Old Madam Ren, it was Old Master Ren's will that ultimately held decisive power.
After some internal deliberation, Old Master Ren finally spoke in a calm tone, "I understand. You may leave now."
However, Concubine Fang's eyes suddenly reddened as she timidly said, "Old Master, this humble concubine has always had the Ren Family's best interests at heart, without any disloyalty. I beg you to save my life. In this lifetime and the next, I will serve the Ren Family with utter devotion."
Fortunately, Concubine Fang was clever enough to know that Old Master Ren still cared about maintaining appearances in public. Though her expression was sorrowful, she refrained from kneeling openly.
Old Master Ren frowned. "I have just heard about today's incident. If you are not responsible for Yaoqi's matter, you should return and explain properly to Old Madam. What is the meaning of all this weeping and wailing?"
Concubine Fang shook her head. "Someone has gone to great lengths to frame this humble concubine. No amount of explanation will be of use. Moreover, because of the incident with Ying'er last time, I cannot say I hold no resentment toward Madam Lin..."
At that moment, several maids and matrons approached from the direction of Glory and Splendor Courtyard—the same ones who had earlier been sent to summon Concubine Fang. It turned out that after returning and reporting to Old Madam Ren that Concubine Fang was not in Fangfei Courtyard, Old Madam had ordered them to search elsewhere.
The spot where Concubine Fang and Old Master Ren were speaking was not particularly secluded, so a sharp-eyed matron caught sight of Concubine Fang. Just as she was about to rush over, she realized that the person standing beside Concubine Fang was none other than Old Master Ren. The maids and matrons halted their steps, exchanging uncertain glances, unsure whether to approach or retreat.
Old Master Ren also noticed the people from Glory and Splendor Courtyard. His expression remained unchanged as he calmly asked, "Did Old Madam send you to invite Concubine Fang to Glory and Splendor Courtyard?"
The leading matron hurried forward to reply, "Yes, Old Master. Old Madam ordered us to come. Earlier, when we went to Fangfei Courtyard, we found that Concubine Fang was not there, so Old Madam instructed us to search further." Her peripheral gaze discreetly assessed Concubine Fang, whose eyes were slightly reddened, stirring a faint sense of unease within her.
Old Master Ren nodded. "Take Concubine Fang there."
Concubine Fang looked at Old Master Ren, a hint of pleading in her eyes.
Old Master Ren said, "Go. If you are not responsible, the Ren Family will naturally ensure justice is served." Even if Old Master Ren wished to protect Concubine Fang due to her family connections, he would not do so under the public gaze—such behavior would be unseemly.
Concubine Fang understood this well and could not help but sigh inwardly. Madam Lin was known for her reckless and unrestrained temperament when provoked. Fortunately, judging by Old Master Ren's words, it seemed he intended to protect her. She had narrowly escaped disaster today.
As for the person scheming against her... they would see what was to come!
Concubine Fang curtsied respectfully to Old Master Ren, then lowered her head and obediently followed the maids and matrons away, not uttering a single unnecessary word along the way.
Meanwhile, Ren Yaoqi had also received the news.Nanny Zhou exclaimed in shock, "What is she going to see Old Master Ren for? This... this is against the rules, isn’t it?"
Ren Yaohua sneered, "I’ve finally figured it out—in the Ren Family, rules are nothing but a joke!"
Nanny Zhou glanced helplessly at Ren Yaohua, too preoccupied to lecture her, and sighed, "No wonder we always end up at a disadvantage with her. That woman is truly not simple!" A sense of foreboding had already taken root in her heart—this time, Concubine Fang might very well slip away unscathed.
Ren Yaoqi had already anticipated Concubine Fang’s move, so she wasn’t particularly surprised. Instead, she was pondering what leverage Fang Yacun held in his hands.
Seeing the indignation on Ren Yaohua’s face and the unease in Nanny Zhou’s eyes, Ren Yaoqi smiled reassuringly, "What is there to fear? Even if she manages to persuade Old Master Ren this time, it won’t be easy for her to escape unscathed."
Even with Old Master Ren backing her, Concubine Fang had now offended even Old Madam Ren. Even if Old Madam Ren ultimately yielded to Old Master Ren’s wishes, how could she not harbor resentment? Coupled with Madam Lin, who thrived on chaos, this grand spectacle was bound to be quite entertaining.
As for the leverage in Fang Yacun’s hands, since Concubine Fang dared to use it as bait, it wouldn’t be long before it surfaced.
Concubine Fang’s reaction this time also reminded Ren Yaoqi of one thing: if you don’t uproot the weeds, they’ll grow back with the spring breeze. Fang Yacun, as a pawn, had to be completely neutralized.
She had been too lenient before.
The moment Concubine Fang stepped into the main hall of Glory and Splendor Courtyard, Madam Lin tried to break free from Fifth Master Ren and rush at her, only to be pulled back firmly by Fifth Master Ren.
Seeing Concubine Fang’s delicate, submissive appearance, Madam Lin’s hatred erupted in a hoarse, shrill cry, "Let me go! Let me settle the score with this vile woman!" She struggled desperately, kicking and punching to break free.
Fifth Master Ren nearly lost his grip on her, glancing nervously at Old Madam Ren’s expression while trying to soothe Madam Lin in a low voice.
But today, Madam Lin was like a lit firecracker, and Fifth Master Ren couldn’t calm her down no matter what.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
It was only when Old Madam Ren’s face darkened and she spoke sharply, "Enough! All of you, be quiet!" that Madam Lin’s voice finally softened. She collapsed sobbing into Fifth Master Ren’s arms.
The elderly servant who had gone to fetch Concubine Fang approached Old Madam Ren and whispered a few words in her ear. Old Madam Ren frowned, casting a suspicious glance at Concubine Fang.
Concubine Fang cautiously avoided Madam Lin, stepped forward, and kowtowed to Old Madam Ren. She then paid her respects to Third Master Ren and Madam Li, and even curtsied from a distance to Fifth Master Ren and his wife, her manners as impeccable as ever. Then, with tears in her eyes and a hesitant expression, she glanced timidly at Third Master Ren before standing silently in the center of the room.
That glance from Concubine Fang was filled with unspoken affection and hidden meaning—enough to stir pity in any man who saw it. However, Third Master Ren was no ordinary man. While he occasionally appreciated Concubine Fang’s beauty with the eye of an admirer, he lacked the innate sensitivity to perceive certain emotions.
Old Madam Ren began questioning her about the medicine, but Concubine Fang shook her head, denying everything and claiming she had been wronged. This only infuriated Madam Lin further, leaving her trembling and weeping on the side.Old Madam Ren then ordered Granny Gui, who was still kneeling weakly to the side, to repeat her earlier words in front of Concubine Fang.
Although Granny Gui felt somewhat intimidated by Concubine Fang for reasons unknown, she resignedly and numbly recounted how Concubine Fang had instructed her to drug Ren Yaoyu, causing Ren Yaoyu to clash with Concubine Kang.
Concubine Fang looked shocked: "Granny Gui, what grievance do you have against me? Why would you harm me?"
But by now, no one in the room believed Concubine Fang anymore, not even Old Madam Ren.
Fifth Master Ren glanced at Third Master Ren.
Third Master Ren frowned and said, "Madam Fang, with the evidence so clear, how can you still deny it? Apologize properly to Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law. Considering you have borne children for the Ren Family over the years, I won’t send you to the authorities. Go back, pack your things, bid farewell to Yaoyu and Yihong. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone escort you back to the Fang family!"
Concubine Fang, who had been hanging her head, suddenly looked up, disbelief in her eyes as she stared at Third Master Ren: "Master, are you sending me away?"
Third Master Ren frowned. Was his meaning not clear enough? Because Madam Fang had borne a son and a daughter, contributing to the Ren Family, he was already shielding her by doing this. He felt somewhat apologetic toward Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law.
Concubine Fang stared blankly at Third Master Ren, a look of despair and sorrow slowly spreading across her face: "Master, what will happen to Hong'er and Yu'er after I leave? I’ve served you for over a decade, always obedient in everything. Can’t you show me even a sliver of compassion?"
Third Master Ren frowned. "Raising children is the rightful duty of the principal wife."
Concubine Fang was left speechless.
She understood the expression in Ren Shimin’s eyes, and the despair and sorrow on her face became more genuine. Though she had sometimes deceived herself, at this moment, she fully realized that in this man’s eyes, she had always been nothing more than a concubine who could be summoned or dismissed at will.
Even though she had borne him children, even though she had stayed up late with him while he studied, he had never held her in his heart. Even the weak and useless principal wife by his side, who couldn’t even bear him a son, carried more weight than she did—at least he gave her respect and dignity.
And the only thing Fang Yaru had ever lacked in life was status. Why should she be trampled underfoot like mud, treated with contempt?
In her maternal home, there was a cruel principal mother and an elder sister who was inferior to her in every way yet still looked down on her. Back then, it was she whom her elder sister Fang Yahui’s husband had first taken a liking to, while Fang Yahui had always wanted to marry Ren Shimin, with whom she had shared a childhood affection.
Unfortunately, in the end, Ren Shimin married Madam Li, while Fang Yahui righteously snatched the principal wife position that should have been hers, hypocritically offering to let her marry into the same household as a secondary concubine.
With her principal mother’s temperament, how could she possibly allow her and Fang Yahui to share a husband? That would have been a death sentence! So she chose to come to the Ren Family, for her brother Fang Yacun and for herself.
In the Ren Family, there was the foolish Fifth Madam Lin, the hypocritically aloof principal wife Madam Li, and Ren Yaohua, who opposed her at every turn. These people, one after another, weighed down on her, making even her dreams suffocating.In this lifetime, what she hated most were those who dared to bully her simply because they were legitimate-born. She swore to drag them down one by one from above her head and make them fall into the mud!
Concubine Fang lowered her head slightly and closed her eyes, concealing the surging anger and hatred within them.
I promised an extra update, but the next chapter's timing is uncertain—probably around three o'clock.
Don't wait for the update...
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