Ren Yaoqi clapped her hands and said, "That's good too. If Father lives close to his colleagues, it will be convenient to discuss shared interests in the future. I think the courtyard doesn’t need to be too large. With Father, Mother, and us, a two-section courtyard should be enough to live in."
Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi, thinking to herself, Has Father even said he’ll bring Mother and us to Yunyang City? She really knows how to talk as if it’s already decided!
Ren Shimin, however, didn’t find anything inappropriate about her words and nodded, "These are all minor matters. I’ll just have the steward handle them." Third Master Ren never bothered with such mundane affairs.
Seeing that Ren Shimin was in a particularly agreeable mood today, Ren Yaohua tentatively asked, "Father, will Concubine Fang come along as well?"
Ren Shimin frowned. "Isn’t her face injured and unfit to be seen? What would she do coming to Yunyang City? It’s better for her to stay in White Crane Town and recuperate."
Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile, seizing the opportunity to stir trouble. "But from what I heard, Grandmother seems to want her to come and manage the inner household for you. Father, when the wives and ladies from Yunyang Academy come to visit, can you really have a concubine with a ruined face receive them? Won’t proper families secretly mock us for lacking decorum? Not to mention, how will you hold your head up at the academy then?"
Ren Shimin looked at Ren Yaohua, displeased. "Where did you hear such nonsense?"
Ren Yaohua was about to say something when Ren Yaoqi interrupted, "Third Sister only heard Grandmother mention it in passing. It’s nothing certain yet, Father, don’t be angry."
Ren Shimin frowned and fell silent, though inwardly he was somewhat upset by Old Madam Ren’s words. Since Ren Yaohua had brought it up, it must have been something Old Madam Ren had genuinely suggested.
After returning to White Crane Town, Ren Shimin instructed one of his stewards to look for a house in Treasure Vase Alley in Yunyang City. A two- or three-section courtyard would do, preferably to buy, but renting would also be acceptable if nothing suitable could be purchased. With several months left before moving to Yunyang City next spring, there was plenty of time to find a house.
One day, Ren Yaoqi went to visit Ren Yijun again.
Although Ren Yijun still occasionally caught colds or minor illnesses, his spirits had improved greatly, and his face no longer carried the gloom it once did. However, the maids and servants in Breeze Courtyard all knew that Third Young Master’s temper hadn’t changed—only now, the target of his outbursts was his newlywed wife.
When Ren Yaoqi arrived at Breeze Courtyard, the maids told her that the third young master and his wife were in the study, so she headed straight there. Before anyone could announce her arrival, she heard Ren Yijun’s exasperated roar from inside: "Foolish woman! It’s just a simple character for 'Gui,' and you’ve been writing it since early morning. You’ve ruined eight sheets of paper and still haven’t learned it. Do you have a pig’s head on your shoulders?"
Qi Yuegui said pitifully, "Young Master, your brush is no good. It keeps trembling in my hand, and then the characters come out crooked... If it’s even slightly off, you make me start over. Can’t you just make do and look at it?"
Ren Yijun fumed, "This brush is a fine Hu brush that Third Uncle gave me! You’re as stupid as a pig, and now you’re blaming the brush? The character reflects the person—are you crooked too?"
Ren Yijun’s maid, accustomed to such scenes, cleared her throat lightly and announced, "Third Young Master, Third Young Lady, Fifth Young Miss is here."The room seemed to fall silent for a moment before Qi Yuegui lifted the curtain and stepped out. Seeing Ren Yaoqi, her face visibly relaxed with relief. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, stuck out her tongue, and pulled Ren Yaoqi into the study, calling out to Ren Yijun, "Fifth Young Miss is here! Young Master, you two talk. I'll go see what good tea and snacks I can bring for you!"
Without waiting for Ren Yijun to respond, she slipped away like oil on a slippery floor.
Ren Yijun pointed at her retreating figure, fuming, "No ambition, utterly uncouth! How preposterous!"
Ren Yaoqi had by now learned to turn a blind eye to their peculiar way of interacting. Previously, First Madam had also disliked Qi Yuegui greatly. Though she still didn’t exactly favor her, Ren Yijun’s health had visibly improved, so First Madam no longer said anything about it.
After Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yijun took their seats as host and guest, Ren Yijun said to Ren Yaoqi, "When you have time, come over more often and teach her a thing or two. Among the women in this household, you have the most learning. Let her see what true grace and intelligence look like! Otherwise, every time I ask her to practice writing, she comes up with some excuse!"
Ren Yaoqi smiled without replying and changed the subject. "How is Third Brother’s health these days? Are you still taking medicine?"
Ren Yijun pursed his lips, looking somewhat awkward. "I’ve been drinking medicine for over a decade, and it hasn’t done much good." He couldn’t bring himself to tell Ren Yaoqi that Qi Yuegui often teased him, saying his health had been ruined by being overly coddled. He took medicine even when he didn’t need it, and now, when he truly fell ill, the medicine no longer worked.
Ren Yaoqi looked at Ren Yijun with a smile. "I heard Third Brother now practices martial arts every morning?"
Ren Yijun nodded. "I asked Father to hire a martial arts instructor for me. It’s good to learn some self-defense."
Ren Yaoqi asked curiously, "Third Brother needs self-defense?"
Ren Yijun’s expression suddenly darkened. He snorted and turned his head away without answering.
How could he admit that the last time he fought with Qi Yuegui, that shrew had kicked him off the bed? It was utterly preposterous!
At the time, Qi Yuegui had helped him up while apologizing cautiously, "Oh, Young Master, I really didn’t mean it! I didn’t even use much force just now! Look at how frail you are… I’ll be gentler next time…"
Ren Yijun’s face had turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
The next day, he went to his father and asked to hire a martial arts instructor to teach him self-defense. He refused to believe he couldn’t even subdue a woman! Right then and there, Third Young Master Ren made a solemn vow in his heart: he must defeat that shrew Qi Yuegui and restore the dignity of a husband.
After all, whether one hits one’s wife is a matter of character, but whether one can overpower one’s wife is a matter of a man’s dignity.
Seeing Ren Yijun’s expression, Ren Yaoqi knew she shouldn’t press the matter further. Wisely, she kept quiet and didn’t ask any more questions.
A maid brought in tea and snacks. Ren Yijun asked, "Where is Third Young Madam? Didn’t she say she was going to bring tea and snacks?"
The maid hurriedly replied, "Young Master, Third Young Madam said she went to make boots for you. Winter is coming soon, and the new winter boots you wanted still need a few more stitches."
Ren Yijun snorted, though his expression softened slightly.
Ren Yaoqi smiled and said, "Third Sister-in-law truly has skillful hands."Qi Yuegui had previously made a pair of shoes each for Madam Li, Ren Yaoqi, and Ren Yaohua. She was quick and skillful—while others might take over half a month to complete a pair, she could finish one in just two or three days. Moreover, each pair was exquisitely crafted, comfortable to wear, and even Nanny Zhou remarked with admiration that this Third Young Madam was thoughtful.
Ren Yijun waved his hand dismissively, saying, "That's about the only thing she can show off."
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but laugh as she looked at Ren Yijun.
Feeling somewhat uneasy under her gaze, Ren Yijun changed the subject, saying, "By the way, I heard the new regional commander sent by the court has already arrived in Yunyang City."
Ren Yaoqi’s smile faded. "Oh? That was quite fast."
Ren Yijun scoffed, "If he had arrived any later, Ningxia would have been picked clean. I heard the Eldest Young Madam of the Su family is somewhat related to this new Ningxia Regional Commander."
Ren Yaoqi was well aware of these matters and merely smiled in response.
After sitting for a while longer, Ren Yaoqi stood up to take her leave. As she was leaving, Qi Yuegui happened to bring a new pair of boots for Ren Yijun to try on. Seeing Ren Yaoqi about to depart, she smiled and said, "Why not stay a little longer, Fifth Miss? Our young master only really talks with you. Though he won’t say it, he’s happy when you visit. Of course, if you don’t mind his poor chess skills and play a few games with him, he’d be even happier."
Ren Yaoqi replied with a smile, "I’ll come back another time to play chess with Third Brother. I really liked the shoes you made for me last time, Third Sister-in-law. Thank you."
Qi Yuegui laughed cheerfully, "There’s no need to thank me. Just tell me what styles and patterns you like, and I’ll make a few more pairs for you. It’s no trouble at all."
Hearing her voice, Ren Yijun called out from the study, "Qi Yuegui! Get over here now! If you still can’t learn to write your own name today, don’t even think about eating!"
Qi Yuegui chuckled at this, then said somewhat helplessly to Ren Yaoqi, "Your third brother is such a difficult person. Even when he means well, his words come out all wrong. Really…"
Shaking her head, Qi Yuegui bid farewell to Ren Yaoqi and headed toward the study with the boots in hand. "Understood, Young Master. I won’t eat—I’ll just have steamed buns to save you money, how about that?"
Ren Yaoqi glanced back, smiled, shook her head, and left.
After returning, Ren Yaoqi learned that Zeng Pu had arrived to take up his post. However, unlike in her previous life, this time Zeng Pu lacked the same confidence. While passing through Yan Prefecture, he deliberately stopped for a day to send a visiting card to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. The Prince of Yanbei was not in Yunyang City, so Second Young Master Xiao received him.
Afterward, Zeng Pu proceeded to Ningxia.
Meanwhile, news spread that the former Ningxia Regional Commander had left behind a posthumous child. Madam Wu refused to acknowledge that the child carried by the noble concubine Di Shi belonged to Commander Wu. The eldest daughter of the Wu family, accompanied by several fierce maids, attempted to force Di Shi to drink safflower to induce an abortion. However, some of Wu Xiaohe’s subordinates got wind of the plan and rushed over to stop them.
With a new ruler comes new officials. The choice between allowing a newly appointed regional commander of unknown background to take control of Ningxia or supporting a young child left behind by the former commander was not a difficult calculation. Thus, despite Xiao Wei and her mother’s efforts in Ningxia to smear Di Shi’s child as illegitimate, few were willing to side with them.However, there were also a few families scheming to marry Wu Yiyu, the eldest daughter of the Wu family, so that their own people could succeed as the Ningxia Regional Commander under the identity of the Wu family's son-in-law. Originally, as the Commandery Princess of Yanbei Prince's Mansion, the mansion should have supported this approach. Yet, surprisingly, Yanbei Prince's Mansion did not express any intention to strongly back Xiao Wei and her mother. Xiao Wei had also sent a letter back, but unfortunately, the Prince of Yanbei was not in the mansion, and the Princess Consort never involved herself in such major matters.
The next chapter update will likely be after 1:30 a.m., so no need to wait for it～o(∩_∩)o
Lastly, dear readers, could you check if there are any votes available? The beginning of the month is when votes are distributed... covering face...
OpenNovel