When Ren Yaohua heard this story, she snorted coldly and said, "A beautiful wife and lovely concubines, enjoying the blessings of both? I think this man is nothing but an ungrateful hypocrite! This story isn't something you made up, is it?" Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi with clear suspicion and disdain in her eyes.
Ren Yaoqi coughed lightly. "Of course not." She had never watched such messy plays—even if she wanted to make something up, she wouldn’t be able to.
Ren Yaohua frowned. "With this play out there, will people really forget the previous rumors?" Although she usually acted as if she didn’t care, as a woman, who could truly be completely indifferent to their reputation?
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment. "This is just a good start. However, time reveals a person’s true nature—they will gradually come to understand. And from now on, you must try to control your temper. If you want to reprimand someone, that’s fine, but the reason must be justifiable, with solid evidence. You absolutely cannot act on impulse."
Ren Yaohua’s nature was strong-willed and decisive. Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to force a gentle and virtuous facade onto her, as that would only make Ren Yaohua’s life exhausting. Any moment she failed to control her temper could cast doubt on the gentle image she had worked hard to build, giving others ammunition to attack her. So, Ren Yaoqi wanted outsiders to see an upright and dignified Ren Yaohua.
Not every family wanted a gentle and demure daughter-in-law. Ren Yaohua’s seriousness and dignity actually better suited the image of a matriarch in a prominent household.
It was unlikely that the rumors could be completely erased, but they could be guided—turning unfavorable gossip into something advantageous, gradually making outsiders understand that Ren Yaohua was indeed a strict and principled person. The rumors weren’t entirely baseless.
However, Ren Yaohua would never reprimand someone without reason. She wasn’t willful or reckless but rather upright and rule-abiding. Her strictness toward her sisters wasn’t due to arrogance or being difficult to get along with—it was because, as the eldest sister, she needed to maintain the dignity befitting her position.
But this wasn’t something Ren Yaoqi could achieve alone; she needed Ren Yaohua’s cooperation.
In Ren Yaoqi’s mind, it wouldn’t be difficult for Ren Yaohua to accomplish this, as it aligned with her inherent nature.
Ren Yaohua understood Ren Yaoqi’s meaning and gradually realized that this younger sister truly cared for her. However, on the surface, she still turned her head away awkwardly and pursed her lips, saying, "When have I ever reprimanded someone without a justified reason or acted on a whim?"
Ren Yaoqi smiled at her without arguing. After all, she would keep a close watch on Yaohua from now on, ensuring she didn’t act impulsively. After spending time together, she had come to realize that Ren Yaohua wasn’t stubborn. If she truly made a mistake and someone pointed it out, she would quietly and earnestly correct it, striving not to repeat the same error—a rare quality for someone as proud as her.
Ren Yaohua had many strengths, but Ren Yaoqi had failed to recognize them in her previous life. That was a regret from the past, but fortunately, such regrets would not continue.Meanwhile, when Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren learned that someone who was supposed to be dead had suddenly come back to life, they were greatly shocked. Old Master Ren even sent someone to contact Meihong, wanting to see what this woman was up to and whether she had returned for revenge. Unexpectedly, Meihong seemed to have no memory of the Ren Family at all. She insisted that her maiden name was Chen and her given name was Fujie, and that she was from Jiangnan. Her confident demeanor left the person sent by the Ren Family utterly confused, unable to tell whether she was lying or telling the truth.
The Ren Family also investigated her so-called fiancé but found not a single flaw. Old Master Ren even began to wonder if he had seen a ghost, and Old Madam Ren started fasting for several days.
The whole matter was rather eerie. Later, when rumors began to circulate about Ren Yaohua, Old Master Ren suspected that Madam Li of the third branch might have secretly orchestrated it. However, after Old Madam Ren summoned Madam Li several times to admonish her, no flaws were found. In the end, Old Master Ren couldn’t help but wonder if Madam Li’s maternal family, Prince Xian’s side, had done something behind the scenes, though he thought this possibility was quite unlikely.
Not long after, the courtesan openly left White Crane Town with a refined and dignified man who had come to fetch her, never to return. This incident became an unsolved mystery for the Ren Family, and Old Master Ren never figured out what had happened before his death.
After this turmoil, the Ren Family entered an unprecedented period of calm.
Ren Yaoying left for Jiangning, and Madam Lin and her husband were punished with house arrest for reflection. As for Concubine Fang, since she was sent back to Fangzhi Courtyard that day, she never appeared in public again. After waking up, she refused to see anyone except her personal maid and Nanny Yu. Even when Ren Yaoying and Ren Yihong went to visit, they were turned away.
Xueli, who had previously informed on Madam Lin, was summoned once by Old Madam Ren but still could not avoid being sold out of the Ren Family. Fortunately, she suffered no physical harm.
However, Ren Yaoqi had long been prepared. After Xueli was taken away by the matchmaker, she arranged for Zhu Ruomei to buy her back. Xueli temporarily lived with Zhu Ruomei’s mother and sister, and Ren Yaoqi continued to pay her the monthly allowance of a senior maid, along with additional rewards of gold jewelry and some silver.
Xueli was a clever, flexible, determined, and ambitious girl. Even after leaving the Ren Family, she did not lose hope or become discouraged. She knew this period was also a test for her, and she would eventually return to Third Miss’s side. Coming from a humble background, she never acted like a senior maid from a young lady’s household while staying with the Zhu family. Instead, she eagerly helped Sister Zhu with chores every day.
Such a pretty, kind, diligent, and well-mannered girl brought endless joy to Sister Zhu, who treated her even more affectionately than her own daughter.
Meanwhile, Sun Shiyi Niang, whom Ren Yaoqi had previously arranged to be transferred to the outer courtyard, caused no further trouble due to Concubine Fang’s silence.
As the two paintings were nearing completion, Sun Shiyi Niang had no excuse to remain in the Ren Family. One afternoon, Ren Yaoqi went to Linxian Pavilion to watch Fifth Master Ren add the final touches to the two portraits of beauties. As she approached the pavilion, she saw Sun Shiyi Niang speaking with someone under the nearby corridor."Huh? Isn't that Granny Xu? What is she doing here?" Sangshen pointed at the woman half-blocked by Sun Shiyi Niang.
Ren Yaoqi took a closer look—wasn't the person talking to Sun Shiyi Niang her own housekeeper, Granny Xu?
Ren Yaoqi frowned. Did these two know each other? Why hadn't Granny Xu ever mentioned it? But seeing them standing and talking openly in public, it didn't seem like they were hiding any dark secrets.
However, recalling events from her past life, Ren Yaoqi remained vigilant.
As they approached, Sun Shiyi Niang and Granny Xu noticed her and quickly stopped their conversation to curtsy in greeting.
Ren Yaoqi kept her expression neutral and nodded with a smile. "Granny Xu, what brings you here?"
Granny Xu hurriedly lowered her head and replied, "This servant is an old acquaintance of Madam Sun. I came to ask her about an old friend."
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Granny Xu, who showed no sign of evasion or unease. In contrast, Sun Shiyi Niang wore a faintly mocking smile, though she quickly concealed it.
Ren Yaoqi pondered this silently but did not linger. With a slight nod, she walked away, while Granny Xu and Sun Shiyi Niang bowed respectfully as she left.
When Ren Yaoqi arrived at Linxian Pavilion, Third Master Ren had already been there for some time, meticulously preparing the pigments he would use that day. Ren Yaoqi stood beside him for quite a while before he noticed her, delightedly exclaiming, "Yao Yao, in just two more days, this painting will be finished. I don't know how Headmaster Xu of Yunyang Academy heard about my restoration of these two paintings, but he specially wrote to me, hoping I could bring them to Yunyang City for him to see once they're complete."
Although Xu Wanli, the headmaster of Yunyang Academy, was not particularly skilled in painting, he was a renowned connoisseur. Third Master Ren held great respect for scholars like Headmaster Xu, who possessed genuine expertise, and he hoped to earn his approval. As a result, he had been devoting even more care to the restoration of these paintings lately.
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but smile, seeing her father as happy as a child who had received praise from an elder.
Ren Shimin's work on restoring ancient paintings had been mentioned by Ren Yaoqi when she delivered the repaired musical score to Lady Xu. Ren Yaoqi knew that her father had been passionate about painting all his life. She didn't mind his lack of worldly affairs—at least he was purer and more sincere than most members of the Ren Family. She only hoped that in this lifetime, he could continue to focus on what he loved, living peacefully and happily.
Moreover, Ren Shimin had his own strengths. Isolating himself within the small world of the Ren Family would only drag him down into its filth. She hoped he could step out of there and into the public eye.
Ren Shimin might not care about fame, but often, it served as a powerful shield of protection.
"Father, once the painting is restored, will Shopkeeper Sun be leaving?" Ren Yaoqi asked casually.
In truth, Sun Shiyi Niang had only been helpful during the earlier stages of repairing the backing and remounting. The actual restoration work had always been done by Ren Shimin himself.
Ren Shimin nodded, brush in hand. "Yes, she'll be leaving in a couple of days."
Ren Yaoqi breathed a sigh of relief, but then Ren Shimin added, "Oh, by the way, she asked me to find a job for her husband."Ren Yaoqi frowned, "Oh? Isn't her husband back in their hometown?" She remembered that Sun Shiyi Niang's husband had broken his leg and was now living with their daughter in the ancestral home in their hometown.
Ren Shimin said, "She said she wanted the family to be together. Although her husband broke his leg, he used to be a shopkeeper and is literate and good with calculations."
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