After leaving Yanbei Prince's Mansion, Ren Yaoqi pondered where to go next.
Ren Shimin had already gone to Yunyang Academy, and she couldn't very well visit such a place. However, her maternal grandfather's home was also near the academy, so she thought it would be good to go to Treasure Vase Alley for a visit.
Thinking that Ren Yaohua might be at the Ren Family Villa at this time, Ren Yaoqi instructed Sangshen to inform Ren Yaohua and ask her to come to their maternal grandfather's home as well.
When Rong Shi saw Ren Yaoqi, she didn't say much outwardly but was inwardly delighted. She called her into the main room to chat and asked about Ren Shimin's recent trip to the capital for the literary competition.
During their conversation, Sangshen returned and reported that Ren Yaohua was not at the Ren Family Villa. The gatekeeper at the villa said that Third Miss had not returned that day.
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but feel puzzled. Where could Ren Yaohua have gone? Could she have gone to the Lin Family? Ren Yaohua didn't have any particularly close acquaintances in Yunyang City whom she could visit casually.
Rong Shi assumed that Ren Yaohua was deliberately avoiding coming to Treasure Vase Alley and sighed softly, asking Ren Yaoqi, "Does she have enough people with her? Should we send someone to look for her?"
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment. "Third Sister has several maids and elderly servants with her, so she should be fine. Still, I'll send a few family members to search for her. It's almost noon, and she'll need to eat."
Rong Shi nodded and watched as Ren Yaoqi instructed Sangshen to send servants outside to check the Lin Family and other places.
Just before noon, her maternal grandfather and uncle returned.
Ren Yaoqi stepped forward to greet them. Prince Xian stroked his beard and nodded calmly. "Since you're here, stay for lunch. Today, I caught two big fish. Rong Shi, have someone take them to the kitchen to prepare a stew."
Li Tianyou gestured with his hand beside him and grinned. "Dad, are two palm-sized fish considered big? You're fooling a child!"
Prince Xian snorted and glared. "If you hadn't been sleeping and had a leg cramp, kicking my fish basket into the river and letting the big fish I worked so hard to catch escape, we wouldn't be left with only two!"
Li Tianyou hissed as if in pain and muttered, "What big fish? That fish basket only had a little turtle you picked up from the shore! Did you think I didn't see it?"
"What are you muttering about?" Li Qian frowned and glared at his son.
Yihong immediately handed a bowl of tea to Li Tianyou. Thirsty, he grabbed the bowl and gulped it down, sighing contentedly.
After finishing the tea, Li Tianyou forgot about exposing his father's secret and remembered something else instead. "Dad, I told you I wasn't mistaken, didn't I? Since the younger girl is here, the one we saw on the road must be the older one."
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but ask Li Tianyou, "Uncle, did you run into my Third Sister? Where did you see her?"
Li Tianyou replied, "Just on our way back. The older girl seemed to be with a little child. I only saw her from the side. When I pointed her out to Dad, he said I was mistaken and that you couldn't possibly be as small as that child." As he spoke, Li Tianyou gestured with his hand at knee height.
Ren Yaoqi twitched her lips, speechless.
Rong Shi asked in confusion, "Where did that little child come from?"
Li Qian said, "According to Chunsheng, the carriage following them looked like it belonged to the Lei Family.""The Lei Family?" Rong Shi grew even more astonished. "How could Yaohua be familiar with people from the Lei Family?"
Ren Yaoqi, however, had already figured it out. The little child Li Tianyou mentioned was likely Lei Pan'er from the Lei Family.
Ren Yaoqi's guess was correct—Ren Yaohua was indeed with Lei Pan'er at that moment.
To say Ren Yaohua had an unlucky start to her outing today would be an understatement.
She had originally intended to go to the Ren Family Villa, but thinking it rare to visit Yunyang City and with no one to restrict her, she instructed the coachman to take a detour through the bustling areas of the city, planning to circle around a bit before heading back.
Unexpectedly, while the carriage was on the road, two old women started arguing in the street, accidentally knocking over a vendor's stall selling early-season peaches. Peaches scattered all over the ground, and as Ren Yaohua's carriage passed by, it happened to crush a few of them.
Ren Yaohua told the coachman to give the vendor some money to pay for the crushed peaches, but the vendor turned out to be unscrupulous. Hearing that a young girl was inside the carriage and that she seemed easy to deal with, he complained that the money given was too little. He insisted they buy all the peaches on the ground, regardless of their condition, or he wouldn't let them leave.
If it had been another young girl who wanted to avoid trouble, she might have just paid extra, but unfortunately for the vendor, he had encountered Ren Yaohua.
If the vendor had spoken a few soft words, Ren Yaohua wouldn't have minded the small sum. However, seeing the growing crowd of onlookers, the vendor assumed Ren Yaohua's servants wouldn't dare to confront him publicly and began spewing vulgarities, which infuriated Ren Yaohua.
Ren Yaohua coldly ordered the coachman to leave, but the vendor persisted relentlessly.
At that moment, Lei Ting happened to be returning from outside with his daughter Lei Pan'er and came across the scene. Lei Ting sent his steward to help Ren Yaohua deal with the vendor.
When Lei Pan'er saw that it was the sister she hadn't seen in a long time inside the carriage, she immediately wanted to get down and ride with Ren Yaohua. In the end, Lei Pan'er and Ren Yaohua ended up riding together in the carriage, leisurely touring the streets. Lei Ting, left with no choice, sent some attendants to follow them while he returned first to attend to other matters.
Logically, given Lei Pan'er's age, it would be difficult for her to remember someone she had only met once or twice for a long time. Yet, Lei Pan'er had always remembered Ren Yaohua and felt particularly close to her. It had to be said that this was a special bond between the two.
Seeing that Lei Pan'er seemed tired after not playing for long and was snuggling into her lap, unwilling to move, Ren Yaohua reached out to touch her forehead. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Where did you just come from?"
Lei Pan'er found Ren Yaohua's embrace fragrant and soft and couldn't help nuzzling against her. "A few days ago was my mother's memorial day. Daddy took me to pay respects to her. Sister, what is a memorial day?"
Ren Yaohua was taken aback, her hand stroking Lei Pan'er's little head growing even gentler. "Pan'er, do you miss your mother?"
Lei Pan'er nodded, then after a moment of thought, slowly lifted her little head from Ren Yaohua's embrace, looking both puzzled and aggrieved. "I do, but Pan'er has already forgotten what Mother looked like. Sister, will Mother blame Pan'er?"
Ren Yaohua felt a pang of sadness. She gently touched Lei Pan'er's cheek and spoke with rare tenderness. "No, she won't. Pan'er is just too young to remember."Lei Pan'er nodded with partial understanding, glanced around, then leaned close to Ren Yaohua's ear and whispered mysteriously, "But Pan'er heard that Daddy will find me a new mother. Sister, Pan'er doesn't want a new mother."
Ren Yaohua was at a loss for words, unable to think of anything comforting to say to the child. She wanted to say that the new mother would also like her and treat her well, but Ren Yaohua herself couldn't be sure of that, so she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Lei Pan'er, however, rolled her eyes and clapped her hands, saying, "Sister, why don't you become Pan'er's mother? Pan'er likes you, and you like Pan'er too. If you become Pan'er's mother, Pan'er won't be afraid of being bullied anymore."
Though children's words are innocent, Ren Yaohua still felt somewhat embarrassed.
Xiangqin, standing nearby, grew angry, placing her hands on her hips and saying, "Little girl, what nonsense are you spouting without knowing anything? Be careful a tiger comes to snatch you away!"
Lei Pan'er was frightened, her lips trembling as she looked at Xiangqin with teary eyes. "Sister Xiangqin is so mean. Pan'er won't like you anymore."
Xiangqin trembled at the accusation, but remembering what the child had said, she stubbornly retorted, "Don't like me then! Hmph!"
Wujing gave Xiangqin a light slap. "You're really something, arguing seriously with a five-year-old child."
Xiangqin protested indignantly, "What's wrong with being serious? If she talks nonsense here, we can dismiss it as childish ignorance. But if she says such things outside, how will our young lady ever get married?"
Wujing then gently coaxed Lei Pan'er, "Miss Lei, please don't mention such things in front of others in the future, or it will cause trouble for our young lady."
Lei Pan'er nodded tearfully, glancing at Ren Yaohua. "Pan'er won't say it then. Pan'er will just think it in her heart and won't tell anyone." The little girl then looked at Xiangqin and added, "Pan'er isn't stupid either."
"Ha! Little girl, are you challenging Xiangqin?" Xiangqin crossed her arms, squinting and giving Lei Pan'er a sidelong glance.
Lei Pan'er pouted and threw herself back into Ren Yaohua's arms, leaving only her little upturned bottom facing Xiangqin.
Ren Yaohua glanced at Xiangqin, and the previously imposing maid immediately lowered her head and sat properly in front of Lei Pan'er. Lei Pan'er turned back and stuck her tongue out at Xiangqin.
Xiangqin gritted her teeth, thinking, That little imp is so mischievous! Not likable at all!
Around noon, Lei Ting came to take Lei Pan'er back home.
Lei Pan'er clung reluctantly to Ren Yaohua's sleeve, unwilling to let go. "Sister Yaohua, when will you come see me again?"
Ren Yaohua rarely visited Yunyang City, and with the Lei Family lacking a mistress, she had no excuse to visit. Yet she didn't want to lie to Lei Pan'er, so she fell silent.
Lei Ting stood some distance away but had overheard the conversation. He instructed the nursemaid to come and take Pan'er away.
The nursemaid approached with a smile and said, "Young Miss, it's getting late. Third Miss Ren also needs to return for her meal. The master says you can visit Miss Ren in the future."
Lei Pan'er turned to look at her father. Having spent more time together recently, she had grown slightly closer to Lei Ting and obediently released her grip.
Ren Yaohua couldn't help but stroke her soft hair. "Go back now."Lei Pan'er was eventually carried away by her wet nurse. Ren Yaohua curtsied to Lei Ting and said, "Thank you, Eldest Master Lei, for your assistance today." Earlier, with all the commotion caused by Lei Pan'er, Ren Yaohua hadn't even had the chance to offer a proper, face-to-face expression of gratitude.
Lei Ting nodded. "Third Miss Ren, it would be best for you to bring more guards when you go out in the future." After a moment's thought, he added, "People who are too stubborn often end up at a disadvantage. What harm is there in compromising when the situation calls for it?"
As for the update schedule... just ignore it...
The author has long given up on treatment... 〒_〒
See you tonight...
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