Third Master Ren's words left Fifth Master Ren somewhat satisfied. He was also considering that this Madam Fang had borne a male heir for the Ren Family; otherwise, he definitely wouldn't have let her be driven out of the Ren Family so easily.
Madam Lin, however, still felt somewhat unwilling. Simply kicking Concubine Fang out was letting her off too lightly! But with Fifth Master Ren comforting her by her side, Madam Lin thought she would settle accounts with that bitch after she left the Ren Family. She was determined to take revenge! By then, no one would be able to stop her! Thinking this, Madam Lin's heart calmed down a little.
Old Madam Ren was still hesitant about Third Master Ren's decision, as it involved the Fang family. She didn't know what Old Master Ren thought about it, especially since Concubine Fang had just gone to see Old Master Ren, though it was unclear what she had said.
Although Old Madam Ren was also displeased that Concubine Fang had bypassed her to see Old Master Ren and even dared to bribe her trusted confidante, when it came to major matters in the Ren Family, Old Master Ren still had the final say.
After some thought, she called the maid Shanhu and instructed, "Go see if Old Master Ren has gone to the study. Please ask him to come over."
Shanhu acknowledged and left. Old Madam Ren said to Ren Shimin, "Although Madam Fang is your concubine, she is, after all, a legitimate concubine and has contributed to the Ren Family by bearing children. Her natal family is also related to the Ren Family by marriage, so this matter still needs to be handled carefully."
Fifth Master Ren disagreed, "It's true that the Fang family is related to us by marriage, but the marital ties between the Ren Family and the Fang family have nothing to do with a concubine. Since ancient times, the relatives of a concubine's family are not considered proper relatives. Even if she bore a son and a daughter for Third Brother, the children are counted under Third Sister-in-Law's name. What does it have to do with her? At most, Third Brother can give her some silver and send her away! That would already be considered merciful! If the Fang family has any objections, let them come and talk to us!"
At that moment, Old Master Ren's reprimanding voice sounded at the door, "You can't even manage your own household affairs properly, yet you dare to meddle in your elder brother's matters?"
The previously imposing Fifth Master Ren immediately wilted upon seeing Old Master Ren. Remembering his own recent absurdities, Fifth Master Ren felt somewhat embarrassed. In the end, it was his own incompetence that had caused trouble.
Everyone in the room stood up to greet Old Master Ren. Old Madam Ren waited for Old Master Ren to sit down before taking a seat beside him.
"Third Son's intention is to send Concubine Fang back to the Fang family. What do you think?" Old Madam Ren whispered.
Concubine Fang spoke up at this moment, "This humble concubine is willing to leave the Ren Family!" As she said this, tears welled in her eyes, and her face was filled with sorrow and despair.
Fifth Master Ren and his wife breathed a sigh of relief.
Unexpectedly, Old Master Ren asked Old Madam Ren, "Is the evidence for this matter already conclusive? Has Madam Fang confessed?"
Old Madam Ren glanced at Granny Gui, who had already fainted on the floor, and whispered, "Roughly so."
Concubine Fang rarely contradicted Old Madam Ren, "No, this humble concubine only agrees to leave the Ren Family, but this humble concubine does not confess to any crime! This humble concubine has been wronged!"
Old Madam Ren frowned.
Old Master Ren asked calmly, "Oh? Then who wronged you?"
Concubine Fang glanced sideways toward Madam Li with the corner of her eye. Madam Li was taken aback when their eyes met. However, Concubine Fang said nothing more and lowered her head again.Old Master Ren glanced at Madam Li, a thoughtful look in his eyes, then slowly said, "Since there are still doubts about this matter, let's investigate further. We must not wrong an innocent person, especially a virtuous concubine who has borne children."
Investigate again? With all the evidence laid out, what more could be investigated? Until Concubine Fang is cleared of the charges and someone else is implicated?
Old Master Ren's words clearly showed his intention to gloss over the matter.
Everyone present was shocked. Even Old Madam Ren sensed that Old Master Ren wanted to favor Concubine Fang. Only Concubine Fang allowed a faint, almost imperceptible smile to touch the corners of her lips.
Third Master Ren said in confusion, "Father, with both witnesses and material evidence present, how can this be considered wronging an innocent person? If we proceed this way, I fear nothing else will come to light."
Old Master Ren shot Third Master Ren a look, effectively silencing him.
Madam Lin could no longer hold back. "Father, I cannot accept this! You are clearly favoring her!"
Fifth Master Ren was so startled he tried to cover Madam Lin's mouth, but it was too late. In the next moment, Old Master Ren's cold, stern gaze turned toward them.
"Outrageous!" Old Madam Ren scolded.
Madam Lin remained unconvinced, biting her lip as tears threatened to fall again.
Unmoved, Old Master Ren issued a cold command. "Madam Fang shall return to her courtyard to reflect on her actions behind closed doors. Punishment will be decided once the truth comes to light. Shimiao and Shimin, stay. The rest of you may leave."
Fifth Master Ren looked at his wife, who was sobbing so hard she nearly fainted in his arms, and felt a flicker of resentment toward his father. She was merely a concubine, yet Old Master Ren seemed to value her more than his own granddaughter.
Third Master Ren felt increasingly guilty toward his fifth brother. However, he dared not say anything more in front of Old Master Ren. He decided to discuss the matter with Ren Shimiao afterward and find a way to compensate the fifth branch.
Madam Li obediently bowed and prepared to leave. Concubine Fang glanced at Madam Li, then at Madam Lin, who was glaring at her with hatred. She stood up, lowered her head, and followed behind Madam Li as they left the main hall.
Old Madam Ren cast a look toward Madam Lin, who sniffled and also withdrew.
As soon as Madam Lin left the main hall, she wanted to confront Concubine Fang. However, Concubine Fang, who had initially been following Madam Li, parted ways with her after exiting the hall and hurried toward the courtyard gate. Gritting her teeth, Madam Lin chased after her. "Fang Yaru, you wretch! Stop right there!"
Concubine Fang, walking ahead, pretended not to hear and quickened her pace. Seeing that things were about to turn ugly, Madam Li glanced back at the main hall, then at the direction Madam Lin and Concubine Fang had gone, hesitating whether to follow.
Xier said, "Madam, didn't you just twist your ankle? You certainly won't be able to catch up with them. This is Glory and Splendor Courtyard. Perhaps you could inform Sister Shanhu by Old Madam Ren's side and have her send someone to keep an eye on them? Let us help you back."
Madam Li hadn't actually twisted her ankle, but she understood Xier's meaning. After a moment's thought, she nodded. "Then go quickly and tell Shanhu." Xier hurried off to do so.
Meanwhile, despite Concubine Fang's usual delicate and frail appearance, Madam Lin was panting heavily and still couldn't catch up, which only fueled her anger.Concubine Fang had made up her mind to ignore Madam Lin. As soon as she returned, she had the courtyard gate closed. Wasn't the Old Master ordering her to reflect behind closed doors? But just as she reached the garden, she heard quarreling voices ahead. She had intended to avoid them, only to realize that one of the voices belonged to Ren Yaoying.
Concubine Fang halted her steps and hurriedly followed the sound. There, she saw Ren Yaoying being held firmly by two maidservants, each gripping one of her arms, while Ren Yaoyu pulled a dagger from her sleeve. Waving it menacingly in front of Ren Yaoying's face, she said venomously, "Your mother tried to drive me mad, didn't she? Then I'll show her what madness looks like! Once I carve up your face and turn you into a hideous monster, let's see how you'll ever show yourself in public again!"
Ren Yaoying was terrified to tears. "No, stay away! Grandfather and Grandmother won't let you get away with this!"
At this, Ren Yaoyu grabbed her hair and pressed the dagger against her cheek. "Then let's see if they'll spare me!"
Concubine Fang was nearly scared out of her wits at the sight. She rushed over immediately. "Stop!"
Ren Yaoyu had only intended to frighten Ren Yaoying; she didn't dare actually disfigure her face. However, Concubine Fang's piercing scream startled her, causing her hand to tremble. The dagger slipped and grazed Ren Yaoying's neck. Though it was only a thin cut that didn't sever any major veins, it still drew blood. Ren Yaoying fainted from fright, leaving Ren Yaoyu stunned as well. The memory of Concubine Kang bleeding profusely from her lower body flashed before her eyes, making her legs go weak.
Concubine Fang, now even more frantic, charged forward and shoved Ren Yaoyu away with great force. Ren Yaoyu stumbled and fell to the ground with a muffled groan, her wrist twisted and the dagger clattering to the ground.
Concubine Fang pushed aside the two equally terrified maidservants and carefully picked up Ren Yaoying, examining her wound while calling out, "Ying'er? Ying'er?"
Just then, Madam Lin also rushed over. Seeing Ren Yaoyu on the ground, clutching her wrist and moaning, she grew anxious. "Yu'er, what happened?"
"Mother, my hand..." Ren Yaoyu burst into tears as soon as she saw Madam Lin, overwhelmed by a wave of grievance.
Madam Lin looked down at Ren Yaoyu's hand and was startled to see her right wrist swollen all around. From a distance, she had seen Concubine Fang shove Ren Yaoyu to the ground, but she hadn't expected it to be this severe.
Ren Yaoyu's hand throbbed with excruciating pain. "Wah... Mother, my hand is broken..."
Madam Lin turned and glared coldly at Concubine Fang, who stood nearby.
This was simply too much!
Hatred for Concubine Fang, the humiliation and frustration she had endured earlier in Glory and Splendor Courtyard, and now the heartache and fear at seeing her daughter's injury—all of it ignited a furious rage within Madam Lin, driving her to the brink of madness.
Afterward, Madam Lin couldn't even recall what she had done in that moment.
But Ren Yaoyu watched as her mother picked up the dagger from the ground, rushed toward Concubine Fang and her daughter, and without a word, raised the dagger and slashed it across Concubine Fang's face—once, twice, three times...
Blood splattered onto the pink petals of a nearby rose bonsai, like drops of a beauty's tears.
Ren Yaoyu was so terrified she even forgot her pain, completely frozen in shock.
Concubine Fang only snapped back to reality at the screams of the maidservants and old women around her.She only felt a burning, stinging pain on her face, and a thick, viscous liquid dripped from her chin onto her skirt. The sound—"drip, drip, drip"—seemed to pierce her eardrums.
At that moment, Concubine Fang thought of her own short-lived mother. She was using her withered hand, so incongruous with her age, to lift the heavy blue coarse cloth curtain, revealing a face etched with hardship and sickness. She leaned out to spit thick phlegm into the spittoon held in her hands, but that mouthful of phlegm, heavy with the scent of blood, ended up landing on her dark cloth shoes.
Her feelings then were just like now—disgusted, panicked, hopeless...
Author, may I ask for more pink votes? Blushing...
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