Ren Shimin’s face stiffened as he glared at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi glared back without backing down. Father and daughter stood facing each other in the cold wind, eyes locked in a stubborn standoff.
In the end, Ren Shimin felt that arguing with a child like this was beneath his dignity. He cleared his throat, giving himself an excuse to back down, and said gently, “Your father practices swordplay to strengthen his body and to admire the elegance of ancient scholars, not to show off or pick fights.”
Ren Yaoqi looked at the expensive longsword in his hand, its silver hilt inlaid with amber and agate, its blade sharpened to a fine edge. She suddenly reached out to take it.
Ren Shimin hastily stepped back, surprised. “Yao Yao, this is a real sword. Don’t touch it—you might cut your hand.”
Of course she knew it was real. She also knew that her father, having listened to someone’s flattery outside, believed he had exceptional talent for swordplay. After practicing for a few years, he considered himself a rare master.
That was why, in her previous life, when she went to Ren Shimin in tears, crying that the Ren Family was going to give her to Supervisor Lu, Ren Shimin first went to argue with Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren. When that failed, he took this very sword down from the wall in the right side room of his study.
“Don’t be afraid, Yao Yao. Your father will go find that Zeng Pu right now,” he comforted her, patting her head. Then, brimming with confidence, he rushed out with the sword in hand.
When he returned, they were already separated by life and death.
Ren Yaoqi took a step forward and resolutely grasped the hilt. “Father, if you practice swordplay only to strengthen your body and emulate ancient scholars, then you shouldn’t use this sword.”
Ren Shimin was taken aback by Ren Yaoqi’s serious expression and unconsciously released his grip. “Why?”
The sword fell into Ren Yaoqi’s hands. It was heavy, and she struggled to hold it, but she gripped it tightly nonetheless, her expression one of disdain. “Because this sword looks utterly vulgar. Ancient sages were elegant and refined—how could they use a sword adorned with gold and jade? Besides, for strengthening the body, there’s no need for a blade this sharp.”
Ren Shimin examined the sword in Ren Yaoqi’s hands closely. He hadn’t thought much of it before, but after her words, he did feel it looked rather garish. He sighed helplessly. “Your fifth uncle found this sword for me, and it cost quite a bit of silver. But it does seem a bit too flashy. Perhaps I’ll have the steward find me a plainer-looking one tomorrow?”
Ren Yaoqi shook her head. “Father, why not consider carving a bamboo sword yourself? ‘With joints, it stands firm; without vanity, its character is upright. Through storms and tempests, it bends but does not break. Ever green through the seasons, it does not vie with the flowers for beauty.’ That is the elegance of a true scholar! Don’t you often say, ‘Without meat, one grows thin; without bamboo, one becomes vulgar’?”
Ren Shimin stroked his chin thoughtfully. “A bamboo sword? Wouldn’t that be too childish?”
Ren Yaoqi shook her head earnestly, her tone carrying a hint of criticism. “You practice swordplay not to brawl like those uncouth warriors! In the eyes of vulgar people, it might seem childish, but what does their opinion matter to us? Surely you’re not insisting on using such a vulgar object just because you care about what others think?”
Ren Shimin shot Ren Yaoqi a glare. “Of course not.”
After a moment’s thought, he smiled and nodded in agreement. “You do have a point. When I have time, I’ll carve myself a ‘gentleman’s sword.’”Ren Yaoqi breathed a sigh of relief. Many people act impulsively because they feel they have a sharp weapon in hand, something to rely on. Weapons can embolden people.
From now on, she would diligently urge her father to practice that "gentlemanly" swordplay that only strengthens the body!
"I'll dispose of this sword for you," Ren Yaoqi said, handing the sword in her hand to the maid behind her, not bothering to wait for Ren Shimin's agreement.
Fortunately, Ren Shimin was, for the most part, a soft and good-natured person. He waved his hand indifferently.
Satisfied, Ren Yaoqi took Ren Shimin's sword and left. Before leaving, she didn't forget to admonish the maids serving in the study, instructing them to praise Third Master more often for his elegant demeanor when wielding a bamboo sword compared to a real one!
Time flew by, and soon it was the twelfth lunar month. The original external affairs stewardess of Purple Magnolia Courtyard, Nanny Jian, had grown old and accidentally injured her leg while getting up at night. She was sent to an outer estate to recuperate.
The position of external affairs stewardess held considerable authority, especially since she was also responsible for some procurement matters.
As the New Year approached, the Ren Family's preparations for New Year goods and other affairs were naturally handled by First Madam's people. However, it became somewhat inconvenient for Purple Magnolia Courtyard to arrange certain things. In principle, since the Ren Family had not yet divided the household, most items needed by each branch could be obtained from the common pool. Yet, there were still some things that required spending one's own silver to procure.
For example, today Third Master suddenly took a fancy to the pomegranate flower bonsai in his courtyard, finding them vulgar, and insisted on replacing them with Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata'. When the old master was in such a mood, demanding a change, it had to be done immediately. Thus, the people of Purple Magnolia Courtyard had to go out and find several pots of Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata'.
Or, on another day, while painting, Third Master suddenly recalled lines of poetry like, "Plucking the first remnants from the bamboo basket in the rain, chilling like millet, crimson as a crane's crown. All mouths find it sweet as honey, yet who knows its wonder lies in a hint of sourness?" This meant the people of Purple Magnolia Courtyard had to search far and wide for bayberries for him.
Such sudden demands were quite common in Purple Magnolia Courtyard, especially as the New Year approached, when such situations would only increase.
Third Master was picky and had high standards—this was well-known within the Ren Family.
But Third Master was generous! As long as you could immediately procure what he wanted, he didn't care how much silver you spent.
Additionally, with other masters and maids in the courtyard privately needing to arrange for clothing, accessories, needles, threads, and other small items... the external affairs stewardess position was quite lucrative. Of course, one also needed some connections and networks to be competent in the role.
Thus, the minds of the matrons in Purple Magnolia Courtyard began to stir.
Madam Li, Third Madam, currently had only one senior and trusted nanny by her side—Nanny Zhou. The others who could be entrusted with important tasks were a few senior maids. Moreover, with the New Year approaching, Nanny Zhou also had many matters to attend to. In the end, the external affairs stewardess would have to be selected from among the matrons and wives in the courtyard.
Sure enough, the very next day, word came from the masters that they would select one from among the second-rank nannies of Purple Magnolia Courtyard to temporarily act as the external affairs nanny.
Immediately, the second-rank nannies of Purple Magnolia Courtyard began trying every means to gather information. Most of these matrons had nephews or sons working in the outer court. If they could secure this position and later gain Third Master's favor by taking advantage of opportunities, it would be the best possible outcome.
The youngest son of the former Nanny Jian, for instance, had handled a few tasks for Third Master. In the end, Third Master found him clever and capable, keeping him by his side as a personal attendant, specifically accompanying him on outings.Even Nanny Zhu from Ren Yaoqi's room began to indirectly seek information from Ren Yaoqi.
"What? Nanny, are you no longer willing to serve in my room and looking for another path?" Ren Yaoqi rested her cheek on one hand, smiling as she glanced at Nanny Zhu.
"No, no, I was asking on behalf of Nanny Guan from the backyard." Nanny Zhu had no other relatives in the Ren residence, but Nanny Guan had a nephew living in the outer courtyard's group quarters, who had not been assigned any proper duties and only waited for the household to assign him odd jobs from time to time. Nanny Guan had promised Nanny Zhu some fabric in exchange for her help in gathering information.
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: "I seem to recall Nanny Zhou mentioning a word or two, saying that Mother has taken a liking to Nanny Wei from the Tea Water Room and Wife Niu, who manages the keys to our courtyard gate."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Zhu’s eyes shifted, and she promptly relayed the news to Nanny Guan. Additionally, she presented the matter as a piece of good news to Nanny Wei and Wife Niu, hoping to earn some goodwill in return.
Within less than a day, all the maids and servants in Purple Magnolia Courtyard had learned that either Nanny Wei or Wife Niu would be taking over the position of external affairs steward.
*********Thank you, enigngli, for the reward~^^
[bookid=2288861,bookname=《The Scheming Belle》]
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