In a private room on the second floor of a teahouse next to Fumanlou, two men sat by the window.
After the carriage and crowd downstairs had dispersed, the younger boy finally spoke: "Brother, was that the only son of the newly appointed Ningxia Regional Commander Zeng Pu? His face..."
Sitting opposite the boy was a young man with a calm and steady demeanor. He frowned slightly, thoughtfully watching the direction in which the carriage had departed. Only upon hearing his brother's question did he reply: "Why bother inquiring about such matters? Just keep your distance from him."
The boy looked at his brother in surprise: "Brother, how can you judge someone by their appearance too?"
Lei Ting held his teacup and said calmly: "I never judge by appearance, but I believe that character is reflected in one's face. This Young Master Zeng has a peculiar temperament and is not someone to befriend deeply."
The boy frowned, puzzled: "Brother, how can you tell he has a peculiar temperament? He seemed quite cheerful to me, and he didn't seem to feel inferior because of his appearance."
Lei Ting chuckled lightly: "Finding amusement in others' fear of him—isn't that peculiar? Not feeling inferior? Perhaps he just hides it well."
Lei Zhen frowned and pondered. He was still young and not yet deeply perceptive of human nature, but he felt his brother's words made sense. He thought to himself that he would simply keep his distance from this Young Master Zeng, and so he set aside thoughts of Zeng Kui, saying instead: "It's getting late. I'll go pick up Pan'er and take her back to the mansion."
Lei Ting glanced once more in the direction the carriage had gone, set down his teacup, and said calmly: "Wait a little longer. Otherwise, she'll make a fuss again."
Lei Zhen looked at Lei Ting curiously: "Brother, are the Third Miss and Fifth Miss of the Ren Family trustworthy? You seem quite comfortable with Pan'er being close to them?"
Lei Ting replied ambiguously: "Pan'er has her own judgment. She knows very well in her heart who genuinely cares for her and who is just using her, even if she doesn't say it."
Lei Zhen thought for a moment and smiled: "No wonder she never appreciated the efforts of that maid in your room, no matter how much she tried to please her. She's so shrewd for her age—I wonder who she takes after." He glanced at Lei Ting and joked, "Our late sister-in-law was gentle and honest in nature. Pan'er may resemble her in appearance, but her temperament is nothing like hers."
Lei Ting gave Lei Zhen a cool look, then picked up a peanut from the dish on the table. With a slight flick of his fingers, Lei Zhen let out a sharp "hiss—" and covered his forehead.
Ignoring Lei Zhen's indignant glare, Lei Ting brushed off his clothes and stood up: "I have matters to attend to. Finish your tea and go pick up Pan'er to take her back to the mansion." With that, he turned and left.
Lei Zhen rubbed his forehead helplessly and muttered: "So petty, can't even take a joke!"
When Ren Yaoqi returned to the villa with Third Master Ren, Lei Pan'er had already been picked up by a maid sent by Lei Zhen. Ren Yaohua hadn't taken the earlier encounter with Zeng Kui to heart, so she didn't mention it to Ren Yaoqi.
Third Master Ren stayed in Yunyang City for another day, completed the renovation plans for the villa, handed them over to the steward, and then took Ren Yaoqi and her two sisters back to White Crane Town. He would officially begin teaching at Yunyang Academy in two months, so it would also be two months later, after the villa was renovated, that he would move his family there.In Fangfei Courtyard, Concubine Fang rose from her afternoon nap. A newly arrived maid brought a copper basin of water into the room, placing it on the washstand in the outer chamber before quickly bowing her head and leaving.
The senior maid Jinjú came out and frowned at the sight of the copper basin. Just as she was about to call someone in to replace it, she heard Concubine Fang calling for her from the inner chamber. Thinking that Concubine Fang would not come out from the inner room at this moment, Jinjú dipped a cloth into the water in the copper basin, wrung it dry, and brought it inside.
After helping Concubine Fang wash her hands and face, Jinjú immediately went out and called a maid to empty the water. Unexpectedly, the new maid, unaware of the rules in Concubine Fang’s room, returned the copper basin to the washstand after emptying it.
When Concubine Fang emerged from the inner chamber, her eyes immediately fell on the copper basin on the washstand. She shuddered, her facial muscles twisting uncontrollably. Without warning, she grabbed a tea tray from the table and hurled it at the copper basin. The basin fell from the washstand and rolled to her feet. Concubine Fang glanced down, then covered her face and let out a short, sharp scream.
She seemed to be struggling to suppress her voice, forcing the scream back down her throat. Her pale, bloodless lips were bitten so hard that deep teeth marks appeared, tinged with blood.
Jinjú, who had been searching for clothes for Concubine Fang, rushed out at the commotion. Seeing the copper basin knocked to the floor and Concubine Fang’s cold, piercing gaze fixed on her, her legs went weak. "Madam, please don’t be angry, you…"
Nanny Yu hurried in and immediately understood the situation. She picked up the copper basin and threw it outside, scolding the maid at the door, "Who taught you the rules? Don’t you know only wooden basins are used in Fangfei Courtyard? Go and receive your punishment!"
The terrified maid sobbed and left.
Nanny Yu entered the room and glanced at Jinjú kneeling on the floor, sighing inwardly. She then helped Concubine Fang back to the inner chamber.
Concubine Fang regained her composure and absentmindedly touched her face. Just as Nanny Yu was about to comfort her, Concubine Fang took a deep breath and calmed down. She said to Nanny Yu, "Go and let Jinjú rise."
Nanny Yu breathed a sigh of relief and went to the outer chamber to tell Jinjú to stop kneeling.
Jinjú wiped her tears and entered to kowtow and thank Concubine Fang for her mercy.
At that moment, a trembling maidservant outside reported, "Madam, Ninth Miss is here."
Concubine Fang immediately stood up and rushed to her bedside, picking up the veil she had placed there earlier while washing her face and covering her face with it. Knowing that Concubine Fang was afraid of frightening Ren Yaoying, Nanny Yu hurried over to help adjust the veil.
Once Concubine Fang’s face was completely covered, she sat down at the table and calmly nodded to Nanny Yu. "Let Ying’er come in."
Nanny Yu complied, and soon Ren Yaoying entered.
Concubine Fang’s tone was as gentle as before. "Ying’er, you’re back?"
With Concubine Fang’s face veiled, Ren Yaoying was less afraid. She walked over to Concubine Fang and said, "Mother, I’m back. Father is also back. He… he is busy with matters now. Once he’s finished, I’ll ask him to come see you."Since Concubine Fang was injured, Ren Shimin had not set foot in Fangfei Courtyard again. Ren Yaoying felt that Concubine Fang must be harboring grievances in her heart. She had once pleaded with Ren Shimin to come see her mother, but Ren Shimin only replied indifferently, "Let your mother focus on recovering. When she has nothing to do, she should read Buddhist scriptures to calm her mind. If there’s anything she needs, you can go speak with your mother."
Later, Ren Yaoying came to understand that her father no longer favored her mother, so she dared not voice her requests again.
Concubine Fang seemed to smile upon hearing this. She reached out and stroked Ren Yaoying’s cheek, changing the subject: "Have you chosen a courtyard? When will you move?"
Ren Yaoying recalled Ren Shimin’s earlier statement about not taking her mother to Yunyang City, and her heart ached. Forcing a smile, she said, "Father said it still needs some repairs before it’s habitable. We’ll probably move around the end of March."
Concubine Fang nodded and asked in detail about Ren Yaoying’s affairs in Yunyang City.
Remembering the purpose of her visit today, Ren Yaoying lowered her voice and recounted her encounter with Zeng Kui on the street two days earlier.
Concubine Fang remained silent for a long time after listening.
Ren Yaoying grasped Concubine Fang’s hand and said hopefully, "Mother, do you think that ugly Zeng family young master has taken a liking to Ren Yaohua? Mother, you haven’t seen what Young Master Zeng looks like—your daughter was nearly scared to death."
Concubine Fang was taken aback and instinctively raised her hand to touch her veil.
Only then did Ren Yaoying realize she had said the wrong thing in front of Concubine Fang. It was all because she had been thinking about the possibility between Zeng Kui and Ren Yaohua these past two days, and now, speaking of it to Concubine Fang, she had gotten a bit carried away.
"Mother, I... I didn’t mean..."
Concubine Fang snapped out of her thoughts and saw Ren Yaoying’s remorseful expression. She smiled and said, "It’s fine, go on."
Seeing that Concubine Fang didn’t seem angry, Ren Yaoying breathed a sigh of relief. She had previously overheard the maids outside whispering that ever since her mother’s face was injured, her temperament had changed drastically—she would lose her temper easily, especially when others mentioned appearance in front of her. Now, mirrors, bronze utensils, and overly smooth porcelain were forbidden in her mother’s room.
But Ren Yaoying felt that Concubine Fang hadn’t changed at all. She was still the same gentle, caring mother.
So Ren Yaoying continued, "Mother, since Third Sister is bound to marry out anyway, why not find a way to have her marry the Zeng family young master? Young Master Zeng will surely return to Ningxia in the future, and once Third Sister goes to Ningxia, there will be no one to oppose us."
Ren Yaoying thought that as long as Ren Yaohua married that ugly man, she could never surpass her in this lifetime, because anyone would be better than Zeng Kui.
With this thought, Ren Yaoying hadn’t been able to sleep well for the past two days. As soon as she returned, she rushed to see Concubine Fang. Ren Yaoying knew that her mother had always granted her every wish.
Concubine Fang pondered and said, "The Zeng family young master? Zeng Pu’s son? Ying’er, do you know that Zeng Pu is currently the Ningxia Regional Commander appointed by the court?"
Ren Yaoying replied, "I’ve inquired about it. Zeng Pu’s title as Ningxia Regional Commander is just for show—he has no soldiers or authority. What is there to fear?"
Concubine Fang’s thoughts were not as simple as Ren Yaoying’s. After a moment of consideration, she said, "I need to look into this matter further before making a decision."
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