Madam Li also noticed Ren Shimin's attire and quickly asked, "Master, would you like to bathe first?"
Ren Shimin looked down at his clothes and frowned, "I've gotten so used to wearing these for so many days. Only when you reminded me did I realize I must smell awful. Go prepare some hot water."
Madam Li hurried off to instruct the servants to heat water and fetch clothes for Ren Shimin.
Ren Yaoqi moved closer and asked, "Father, was your journey not peaceful?"
Ren Shimin reached out and gently pushed Ren Yaoqi's head away, "Don't come too close. Your father smells terrible."
Ren Yaoqi grinned, "A dog doesn't mind its mother's ugliness, and I don't mind my father's stench."
Ren Shimin was both amused and exasperated by her words but didn't push her away again, "Originally, I planned to depart right after attending the palace's Mid-Autumn banquet, but I was delayed by a certain matter, followed by various large and small banquets."
"Oh? Was there some major incident?" Or had Xiao Jingxi's condition worsened? Had the return journey become problematic? Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but worry.
Ren Shimin took the tea brought by a maid, setting aside his usual fussiness. He lifted the lid and drank directly. Fortunately, the weather was cold, so the tea was just right for drinking.
After taking a few sips of the hot tea, Ren Shimin said, "This matter could be considered both major and minor. Second Young Master Xiao made an appearance at the literary contest, and somehow, Madam Yan, the wife of Chancellor Yan, caught sight of him. Madam Yan then told the Empress Dowager that she wanted to marry the Yan family's young lady to the Second Young Master."
Ren Yaoqi was taken aback, "Miss Yan?"
Ren Yaoqi remembered that in her previous life, Miss Yan had also taken a liking to Xiao Jingxi and had even pursued him all the way to Yanbei.
"Wasn't it said that Second Young Master Xiao was ill?" Ren Yaoqi asked. It seemed his illness couldn't have been too severe.
Ren Shimin nodded, "The Second Young Master only appeared at the literary contest. After that, he stayed in the guesthouse to recuperate, only emerging briefly for the final Mid-Autumn banquet, which he couldn't miss." At this point, Ren Shimin sighed, "I wonder how Second Young Master Xiao is doing now."
Ren Yaoqi frowned, "He didn't return with you this time?"
Ren Shimin sighed, "We were supposed to travel together initially, but the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were unwilling to let him go. Finally, after much difficulty, he managed to leave. However, the journey wasn't very peaceful—we encountered two groups of assassins along the way. In the end, Second Young Master Xiao suggested that he separate from us. After that, his carriage disappeared. But once he left, the rest of the journey became peaceful. It seems those assassins were targeting Second Young Master Xiao."
After hearing this, Ren Yaoqi's heart, which had just settled, tightened again.
So Xiao Jingxi still hadn't returned?
He encountered assassins again? Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but recall the assassination attempt when she had ridden in his carriage and the poison in his body. How many times a year did he have to face such incidents?
Ren Yaoqi wanted to ask Ren Shimin for more details, but at that moment, Madam Li arrived and announced that the bathwater was ready, inviting Ren Shimin to go bathe. Seeing how exhausted Ren Shimin looked, Ren Yaoqi ultimately restrained herself, deciding to wait until he had rested before asking further questions.Several days after Third Master Ren returned, there was still no news of Xiao Jingxi. For reasons unknown, Yanbei Prince's Mansion had not publicly disclosed that Second Young Master Xiao had not returned to Yanbei, even instructing Ren Shimin and others not to speak of it. However, Ren Yaoqi heard from Ren Yijun that recently, the number of people and horses traveling back and forth on the official road to the capital had more than doubled compared to usual.
On the surface, the situation outside appeared calm, but beneath it, tensions were already stretched to the breaking point.
Earlier, when Ren Shimin was still in the capital, Eldest Master Ren had sent someone to gather information there. Now that Ren Shimin had returned, the messenger brought a letter from Second Old Master Ren, who remained far away in the capital.
Early that morning, Old Master Ren summoned all the adult men of the Ren Family, and Ren Shimin attended as well. After returning, he had rested well for several days and gradually recovered.
Upon learning this, Ren Yaoqi gave instructions to be informed as soon as Third Master Ren returned. She speculated that Second Old Master Ren’s letter was likely about the Ren Family’s coal depots in the south, and this matter might very well involve Fang Yacun.
Ever since Ren Yaoqi learned of Fang Yacun’s connection to Eunuch Lu, she had paid close attention to news from the capital.
At noon, when Ren Shimin returned, Ren Yaoqi went to his study to see him.
Ren Shimin was puzzled as to why his daughter would take an interest in such trivial matters, but he patiently explained to Ren Yaoqi: "Father said that with the Fang family’s help, the Ren Family’s coal mines in Jiangnan have shown some improvement. It’s said that next year, the Ren Family may open four more coal depots in the capital area, and the relevant documents are already being prepared."
Ren Yaoqi probed further: "I recall that the paperwork required for coal depots in the capital is extremely cumbersome, and the silver needed to smooth out relationships is no small amount?"
Ren Shimin thought for a moment and said, "I heard Father mention something about having help from a noble patron."
Ren Yaoqi pursed her lips, her tone somewhat stiff as she asked, "What noble patron?"
"Well... Father didn’t seem to specify." Ren Shimin was too embarrassed to admit he hadn’t paid close attention.
Ren Yaoqi lowered her head and said softly, "In this world, where are there so many easy gains? When others give you something, they always expect to get even more in return from you. I just wonder if the Ren Family will be able to afford what that ‘noble patron’ wants."
"What return? The Ren Family isn’t short on silver," Ren Shimin said dismissively.
Ren Yaoqi sighed. Remembering that Ren Shimin had mentioned he might go to teach at Yunyang Academy after the New Year and the start of spring, she asked, "Father, if you go to teach at Yunyang Academy, how much salary will the academy pay you each year?"
Ren Shimin gave Ren Yaoqi a strange look upon hearing this, frowned, and said, "Money is merely an external concern. Yao Yao, you shouldn’t pay too much attention to such things. If you lack anything, I’ll have someone buy it for you. As for the academy, I was actually planning to discuss with Headmaster Xu about not taking a monthly salary."
Third Master Ren simply didn’t care for that bit of money. He was going to the academy only because there were many like-minded individuals there with whom he could delve into subjects that interested him. During his recent trip to the capital, he had already gained much.
Ren Yaoqi had expected as much.She sighed inwardly and said, "Father, it's not that I care about those material possessions, but do you remember when the fifth branch was penalized with a year's allowance?"
Third Master Ren suddenly realized, "Oh, that matter? I remember. Fifth Brother even came to borrow money from me, but somehow Father found out later and had the money taken away. He even said if I dared to secretly give Fifth Brother money again, I'd be punished too."
Ren Yaoqi nodded, "Have you seen how the fifth uncle's family has been living this year?"
When Old Master Ren said he wouldn't give money, he truly meant it. Originally, Fifth Madam Ren had a considerable dowry, which could have supported the fifth branch's expenses without issue. However, most of Fifth Madam Ren's dowry consisted of valuable jewelry. After she pawned it several times, Fifth Master Ren forbade her from doing so and also prohibited her from borrowing money from her maternal family.
When Fifth Madam Ren married into the family, the Lin Family had given her an excellent dowry, which many people had seen. Some items were easily recognizable once taken out. Fifth Master Ren was also a man who valued face—he felt deeply ashamed to rely on his wife's dowry for support.
Yet without Fifth Madam Ren using her dowry to subsidize the household, Fifth Master Ren truly couldn't produce any money, and the fifth branch immediately found themselves in dire straits. Fifth Madam Ren, who had never endured such hardship before, couldn't hold out for more than half a year and began secretly pawning her jewelry again.
Fifth Master Ren, who had never raised his voice to his wife in over a decade of marriage, flew into a rage. They quarreled several times and ignored each other for most of the year, only recently beginning to reconcile gradually.
"Father, what if one day you're also penalized by Grandfather with a loss of allowance?"
Fifth Master Ren hesitated, "This... that wouldn't happen, would it?"
Ren Yaoqi shook her head, "Better safe than sorry. So, you should accept the salary from Yunyang Academy for now. At most, you can just save it without spending it. In a few years, you could donate all that money to the academy to build a painting gallery or a library—wouldn't that be wonderful? This money would be earned by you yourself, unlike using the Ren Family's funds to build a gallery."
Ren Shimin was persuaded by this idea. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and said, "Then let's do it that way."
The next day, Ren Shimin went to Yunyang Academy as invited. Those who had returned from the capital with Ren Shimin were all scheduled to give lectures at Yunyang Academy during this period. Ren Yaoqi used the excuse of needing to deliver a letter to the Commandery Princess to go along. Old Madam Ren, thinking it would be good for Ren Yaoqi to visit the Prince's residence more often and build a relationship with the Princess Consort, permitted her to go.
However, what Ren Yaoqi hadn't expected was that as soon as she arrived in Yunyang City, the first news she heard was of the sudden death of Ningxia Regional Commander Wu Xiaohe.
Although Ren Yaoqi vaguely remembered that in her previous life, Wu Xiaohe had died around this time, her expression still couldn't help but change upon hearing the news.
Now the entire Yunyang City was abuzz with this news.
Everyone knew that Ningxia Regional Commander Wu Xiaohe was the brother-in-law of the Prince of Yanbei. Wu Xiaohe held military authority over the entire Ningxia region, playing a pivotal role in the stability of the northwestern frontier.
The position of Ningxia Regional Commander was somewhat special—it was hereditary, passed from father to son, and then from son to grandson. The critical problem was that Wu Xiaohe had no sons; he only had one daughter.
The sudden death of Wu Xiaohe created a vacuum in military authority in the northwestern region. Although temporary, it was certain to make various forces restless and eager to act.But at this time, there was still no news from Xiao Jingxi, and it was unknown whether he had returned safely.
Ren Yaoqi hesitated for a moment, then finally found an envelope, placed a few pieces of angelica root inside, left no words or signature, and had it sent along with her letter to Xiao Jinglin to the Yanbei Prince's Mansion.
Sorry for the late update, I struggled with the writing for a long time today...
I hope you all listened and didn't wait for the update...
P.S.: Everyone... it's the end of the month, do you still have any votes? ^^~
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