Although Concubine Fang did not immediately agree, which somewhat disappointed Ren Yaoying, the thought that Ren Yaohua might actually be married off to that ugly, ghost-like son of the Zeng family filled Ren Yaoying with excitement.
The following month passed with unexpected calmness until a few days before Ren Shimin was to leave for Yunyang City, when the third branch of the Ren Family began to bustle with activity.
Ren Shimin had told Madam Li that he would take her along to manage the inner household and care for the children. Half a month in advance, Madam Li began organizing the items to be brought to Yunyang City with Nanny Zhou. Fortunately, since Yunyang City was very close to White Crane Town and they would still return for holidays and festivals, most of their belongings would remain in the old residence. Third Master Ren had directly instructed the stewards to purchase new items for Yunyang City, so Madam Li only needed to pack the personal belongings for herself, her husband, and the children.
Third Master Ren had also made it clear that he would not take Concubine Fang along but would bring Ren Yihong and Ren Yaoying. Madam Li had no objections to this.
Old Madam Ren had originally hoped that Third Master Ren would take Concubine Fang along, but Ren Shimin was unwilling. Considering Concubine Fang’s current condition, Old Madam Ren thought it would indeed be unseemly to bring her out, so she said nothing more. However, she still sent many items to Fangfei Courtyard to console Concubine Fang. Fortunately, Concubine Fang accepted this calmly and did not cause any trouble.
But just before the departure, Old Madam Ren suddenly changed her mind—she did not want Ren Yaohua to go to Yunyang City. Old Madam Ren’s reasoning was simple: Ren Yaohua was already sixteen, and the unfavorable rumors about her had long since dissipated. Instead, there were now rumors circulating about her being strict and proper in conduct. Recently, two families had come to the Ren Family to inquire about Ren Yaohua.
One of these families was of similar social standing to the Ren Family—a merchant family from Shunzhou surnamed Fan. The second wife of this family had her maternal home in White Crane Town. When she brought her children back to attend her mother’s birthday banquet at the end of the previous year, she had seen Ren Yaohua accompanying Old Madam Ren to the banquet and was impressed by her dignified and composed demeanor, thus taking an interest in her.
The other family was from White Crane Town, surnamed Tang. They had started their business in timber and had some dealings with the Ren Family. In terms of family wealth, they were not as well-off as the Ren Family and could be considered an ordinary merchant household.
Old Madam Ren was not very satisfied with either family. As for the Fan family, she disliked that the young master in question was not the eldest son of the main branch and would not inherit the family business. The second branch of the Fan family, which had made the proposal, would eventually split off.
Although the Tang family’s candidate was the eldest son of the main branch, Old Madam Ren believed that daughters should marry upward. The Tang family’s wealth was too meager, and she had met the eldest young master of the Tang family—he was not tall, his talents were unremarkable, and he was not as sharp as the other two young masters of the Tang family.
Although neither family was ideal, Old Madam Ren felt this was a signal. If she took Ren Yaohua out more often, she would surely find a suitable match. Ren Yaohua’s age could no longer be delayed.
When Ren Yaohua learned that her grandmother did not want her to leave, she said nothing. Unlike Ren Yaoqi, Old Madam Ren had always treated her well. Although she often disapproved of Old Madam Ren’s attitude toward Concubine Fang, she was well aware that the old madam cared for her deeply.Ren Yaoqi felt troubled upon hearing this. She simply did not want Old Madam Ren to arrange a marriage for Ren Yaohua, as she had no trust in the elders of the Ren Family.
However, on this matter, even Ren Shimin and Madam Li had not voiced any opinions. After all, Ren Yaohua had indeed reached the age for marriage discussions, and the marriages of the Ren Family’s daughters had always been decided by Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren. For the time being, Ren Yaoqi could not find a good way to ensure Ren Yaohua would leave with them.
What Ren Yaoqi had not expected was that, just two days before their departure for Yunyang City, another family came to propose marriage to Ren Yaohua. The visitors were accompanied by the chief steward of the Su Family.
At the time, Ren Yaoqi was personally overseeing the maids as they organized her study. She intended to bring most of the books with her and did not trust the maids and servants to handle the task.
When she heard that the chief steward of the Su Family had brought two people to the Ren Family, Ren Yaoqi initially paid little attention. It was only when Old Madam Ren sent someone to summon Ren Yaohua that she grew alert.
Given that Old Madam Ren had been preoccupied with Ren Yaohua’s marriage lately, Ren Yaoqi felt a sense of unease, suspecting that this was not good news.
Sure enough, when Nanny Zhou returned with the news she had gathered, Ren Yaoqi’s shock and anger were beyond words.
"Nanny, what did you say? Which Zeng Family came to propose?"
Nanny Zhou was surprised by Ren Yaoqi’s agitation but quickly replied, "It’s the newly appointed Ningxia Regional Commander, Lord Zeng. He sent someone to propose marriage for his only son."
Ren Yaoqi staggered, and Nanny Zhou quickly steadied her. "Fifth Young Miss, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Should we call a physician?" Nanny Zhou anxiously helped Ren Yaoqi to a chair.
Ren Yaoqi’s mind was in turmoil. She could not understand why, in this lifetime, the Zeng Family would still come to propose marriage to Ren Yaohua. How long had the Zeng Family been in Ningxia? They had barely settled in, and it was uncertain whether they even knew of the Ren Family’s existence. Did the Ren Family still have something worth exploiting?
In her previous life, it was the second wife of the second branch who had advocated for the Zeng Family. This time, although the second wife had not appeared, the Su Family had sent someone, likely due to the connection with Eldest Young Madam Zeng of the Su Family.
"What are Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren’s thoughts on this?" Ren Yaoqi waved her hand to indicate she was fine and asked with a frown.
Nanny Zhou replied, "Old Master Ren had the Su Family’s chief steward received in the outer courtyard, while Old Madam Ren met with the people sent by the Zeng Family. However, I heard that Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren did not immediately agree."
Ren Yaoqi sneered, "Of course they wouldn’t agree quickly this time. After all, the Zeng Family is merely living under someone else’s roof. However, out of respect for the Su Family, the Ren Family cannot outright refuse."
Nanny Zhou was puzzled by Ren Yaoqi’s mention of "this time." Was there a "last time"? But she did not ask, assuming it was merely a slip of the tongue.
"Fifth Young Miss, I’ve also heard that the young master of the Zeng Family has some physical flaws. However, in marriage, one cannot judge solely by appearance. Why do you harbor such strong resentment toward the Zeng Family?"Although Nanny Zhou also disapproved of Ren Yaohua marrying into the Zeng Family, Ren Yaoqi's reaction was somewhat unexpected. She had previously thought that Ren Yaoqi disliked the Zeng Family because she was close with the Commandery Princess of Yanbei Prince's Mansion, and the Zeng Family served the imperial court. However, judging by Ren Yaoqi's demeanor, it didn't seem that simple.
Ren Yaoqi couldn't hide the disgust in her eyes as she said, "I heard some rumors about the Zeng Family last time. This Young Master Zeng not only has physical flaws but also a very peculiar temperament."
These were actually things Ren Yaoqi had learned in her previous life, after Ren Yaohua had already married.
Zeng Kui enjoyed others fearing him—the more they feared him, the happier he was. But Ren Yaohua had a stubborn temperament; she was not one to bow her head easily. So, in order to make Ren Yaohua fear him, Zeng Kui had used some despicable means in their previous life to torment her, eventually pushing her to the brink until she could bear it no longer and resorted to killing her husband.
While others preferred gentle and considerate women, Zeng Kui was an exception—he enjoyed resistance. Although Zeng Kui was only a few years older than them, since he became aware of such matters, many maids and servants had fallen victim to him. Once, a newly taken concubine of his father, Zeng Pu, who didn’t recognize Zeng Kui, arrogantly told him to stay away and not dirty her eyes. Zeng Kui immediately dragged her back to his own courtyard, disregarding the fact that she was his father’s new favorite.
However, Zeng Pu had only one son, Zeng Kui, and doted on him excessively. Thus, these matters were well concealed by the Zeng Family. Moreover, since they had now left the capital and come to Yanbei, no one knew about these sordid affairs within the Zeng household. Ren Yaoqi only learned of these things after going to the capital, when Mr. Pei told her.
So, in the eyes of others, Zeng Kui might merely be a young man with physical flaws, but in Ren Yaoqi’s eyes, even flies and maggots were cleaner than him.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s expression, Nanny Zhou knew that the rumors she had heard were likely quite unpleasant, and she couldn’t help but feel concerned as well.
After Ren Yaohua returned, Ren Yaoqi went to see her. When she learned from Xiangqin that Ren Yaohua had once crossed paths with Zeng Kui in Yunyang City, Ren Yaoqi was speechless for a long time.
Could this be a cursed fate? After going through so much to avoid it, they still ended up encountering it.
In their previous life, when Zeng Pu first came to Yanbei, Zeng Kui did not accompany him; he arrived later on his own. At that time, Ren Yaohua was already under house arrest and had no chance of meeting Zeng Kui. In this life, although Ren Yaoqi had schemed to make Zeng Pu, the Ningxia Regional Commander, a figure in name only, she still couldn’t help Ren Yaohua escape this cursed fate.
But even if it was a cursed fate, Ren Yaoqi absolutely could not stand by and watch Ren Yaohua fall into the fire pit.
Unbeknownst to them, shortly after the Zeng Family’s envoy left, the Ren Family simultaneously received letters from the Second Branch’s Old Master in the capital and Fang Yacun.The second branch's Old Master, from who knows where, learned of the Zeng family's intention to seek marriage with a daughter of the Ren Family. He either did not inquire about Zeng Kui's disgraceful affairs in the inner courtyard or perhaps did not take them seriously. Instead, he found out that Zeng Pu had been a favorite of the emperor over the past six months, making him a rising star in the court. He also advised Old Master Ren not to set his sights too low, focusing only on the Zeng family's current disadvantages in Yanbei. He reminded Old Master Ren that Zeng Pu was a capable official; given even the slightest opportunity, he could turn his fortunes around, gain fame, rise to prominence, and have a future of limitless potential.
If Old Master Ren merely glanced at the letter from the Ren family's second branch and set it aside, then the letter from Fang Yacun gave him some pause.
In his letter, Fang Yacun casually mentioned that Eunuch Lu, who had been of great help to him, actually had some acquaintance with Zeng Pu. Upon learning of this matter, Eunuch Lu even joked that he would come to ask for a cup of wedding wine.
Making up for yesterday's update～〒_〒.
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