Pink 120+
Yihong came in carrying a large porcelain plate. She took the candied haws from Li Qian and Li Tianyou, arranged them neatly on the plate, and placed it before Madam Li and the Ren sisters, Yaoqi and Yaohua.
Li Qian walked over to the kang and sat down, picking up a skewer of candied haws to hand to Madam Li. "Only hawthorn-filled ones were available at the entrance, so make do with these. We weren’t prepared today, but next time we come, we’ll make our own."
Li Tianyou chimed in from the side, "Yes, yes! Next time, let Yihong boil the sugar syrup. I want glutinous rice filling! And sprinkle a layer of dried fruits on top!"
Li Tianyou’s words stirred childhood memories in Madam Li. Forgetting what she had intended to say earlier, she took the candied haws from Li Qian with a smile and said, "Thank you, Father."
Rong Shi glanced at the father and son, who had shifted the topic so abruptly, and asked Li Qian, "What were you saying earlier, Master?"
Li Qian was in the middle of handing candied haws to Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi. Hearing the question, he replied casually, "What was I saying?"
Li Tianyou walked over, picked up a skewer of candied haws, and helpfully reminded his father, "The part about ‘return the silver to them first.’"
Li Qian let out an "Oh," his tone still casual. "Just return it if I say so. I’m the head of this household, so you listen to me!"
Rong Shi didn’t argue with Li Qian either. She smiled and turned to Madam Li, saying, "Since your father doesn’t wish to accept it, have someone send it back."
Li Qian clicked his tongue and waved his bamboo skewer, muttering quietly as he calculated, "Twenty thousand taels! That’s really not a small sum. Let me think… that’s enough to buy several fighting cocks, several crickets, and then the cocks breed more cocks, the crickets breed more crickets… Tsk, are we really not keeping it? What a pity…" Even as he said this, his face showed little regret.
Ren Yaohua, listening from the side, couldn’t hold back any longer. With anger in her voice, she spoke up, "Return it? Should we return all the silver from before as well?"
Madam Li was taken aback, then frowned and scolded Ren Yaohua, "Hua’er, how can you be so ill-mannered!"
Ren Yaohua cast a cold glance at Li Tianyou, who was wiping his mouth with his own sleeve, and retorted sarcastically, "Manners? Whose manners?"
Li Tianyou wiped his mouth, unfazed, and flashed a toothy grin at Ren Yaohua.
But Madam Li suddenly raised her hand and slapped Ren Yaohua hard across the face.
The crisp "smack—" stunned everyone present.
Ren Yaohua hadn’t expected Madam Li to hit her either. She looked up in shock, murmuring, "Mother…"
After striking Ren Yaohua, Madam Li also felt some regret. However, the sarcasm in Ren Yaohua’s words had pierced her heart deeply, so she remained cold-faced, tears welling in her eyes, and demanded, "Apologize!"
Ren Yaohua hadn’t wanted to come today in the first place. If Madam Li hadn’t insisted on bringing her along, she wouldn’t have set foot in this place at all.
Even if the Xianwang Residence could be restored to its former glory, what difference would it make? If the Xianwang Residence had truly been concealing its strength all these years, her heart would only grow colder. All these years, when they were isolated and helpless, bullied by a concubine, where had her maternal family been? For the sake of their so-called "great cause," could they abandon even their own flesh and blood?
Since they had already decided to abandon them back then, who were they putting on this show of fatherly affection and filial piety for now?Over the years, how much silver had Madam Li secretly sent to her maiden family? Ren Yaohua might not say it out loud, but how could she not know in her heart? Yet they had accepted the silver Madam Li gave them before. Now that they saw a chance to turn their fortunes around, were they putting on airs?
Ren Yaohua covered her cheek and sneered coldly, "Admit my mistake? What mistake? I'm just heartbroken. Now that you've climbed up to the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, you look down on the Ren Family's silver? Then what were you doing earlier? If you wanted to act noble, you should have refused every coin from the start, not wait until now to complain that the Ren Family's silver reeks of copper! But have you even considered my mother when you rejected her so bluntly? Have you thought about how she'll explain this to her in-laws when she returns, or that she might be blamed by her husband's family for failing to handle such a small matter?"
Madam Li wanted to stop Ren Yaohua from saying more, but Ren Yaohua stood up. "I never intended to rely on my maternal family for anything. From now on, you can enjoy your wealth and prosperity without thinking about having a granddaughter like me." With those words, Ren Yaohua got up and left.
"Third Sister—" Ren Yaoqi called out, but Ren Yaohua had already hurried out of the room.
The room fell silent instantly. After a long pause, Li Tianyou let out a dry chuckle, glanced at everyone, and said stiffly, "Well, that girl really has a temper, huh? Wonder who she takes after."
Madam Li was both anxious and angry. She could only order Nanny Zhou to send someone after Ren Yaohua. Sitting there, she wiped her tears, unsure what else to say.
Ren Yaoqi had originally wanted to follow and check on her sister, but Madam Li grabbed her hand, so she could only sit down and gently comfort Madam Li.
After a long silence, Li Qian suddenly said, "All these years, you've suffered. That girl... though she's hot-tempered, what she said makes sense."
The fact that Madam Li and her daughter could be bullied so easily by a merchant family was precisely because they were unwilling to reveal their true strength too early. In other words, their maternal family wasn't reliable. No wonder Ren Yaohua resented them.
Rong Shi sighed but said nothing, asking Li Tianyou to send someone to follow Ren Yaohua and make sure nothing happened to her.
After Ren Yaohua's outburst, Madam Li no longer felt like staying at her maiden home. She worried whether Ren Yaohua had rushed home and whether the slap she had given earlier would leave Ren Yaohua's face swollen.
Rong Shi understood Madam Li's feelings and didn't try to keep her longer, saying, "Go back and check on Hua'er first. Yaoqi can stay and chat with me."
Ren Yaoqi was named to stay and didn't object.
Seeing that at least one of her daughters understood her maiden family and was willing to stay close to her maternal relatives, Madam Li felt somewhat comforted. She apologized to her parents on behalf of Ren Yaohua, then left with her attendants.
After everyone had left and Li Qian and Li Tianyou had also gone out, Rong Shi asked Ren Yaoqi, "Qi'er, don't you resent us?"
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and answered truthfully, "When I was young, I did resent you a little, and I envied Seventh Sister and Eighth Sister. But as I grew older, I realized that good days and bad days are both lived by oneself. The hardships we faced over the years were largely due to our own shortcomings. Look, aren't we doing quite well now?"
These were Ren Yaoqi's sincere thoughts—she had come to this realization long ago.In truth, the Xianwang Residence also faces difficulties. Their uncle, Li Tianyou, has yet to marry and has no children. While finding a suitable match is one reason, the greater concern likely lies in the court's wariness.
A Xianwang Residence without a male heir to carry on the lineage is far more reassuring to the court than one teeming with descendants.
Those who have sacrificed for the Xianwang Residence are certainly not limited to Madam Li alone, and they have all done so willingly.
Taking a step back, even if the Xianwang Residence could not resist revealing its strength prematurely, temporarily safeguarding their comfortable life within the Ren Family, would they be able to evade the court’s subsequent relentless pursuit of annihilation?
Once the Xianwang Residence ceases to exist, would life for her and her mother in the Ren Family truly improve?
All these years, the court has undoubtedly been watching their situation closely.
Hearing Ren Yaoqi speak this way, Madam Li was at a loss for words. She sighed and asked, "What do you think about your maternal grandfather’s refusal to accept the Ren Family’s silver? Do you also believe he wants to assert himself and provoke the two elders of the Ren Family?"
Ren Yaoqi shook her head. "Whether we, mother and daughter, can establish ourselves in the Ren Family does not depend on whether you accept their silver, but on the strength the Xianwang Residence can demonstrate in the future. Given my grandfather’s temperament, even if you refuse his silver now and openly slight him, he would not dare to turn against you at this moment. Instead, he would grow even more wary of you. As a result, the Ren Family would not dare to look down on us mother and daughter."
That was precisely Old Master Ren’s nature.
If the Xianwang Residence had accepted the money too readily this time, Old Master Ren might have privately speculated, thinking that even if the Xianwang Residence could make a comeback, it would not amount to much. If they could be swayed by the Ren Family’s silver now, they could be swayed by it in the future, and thus he would not feel particularly restrained in his treatment of Madam Li.
On the contrary, refusing the Ren Family’s silver would make Old Master Ren believe that Prince Xian surely had further plans up his sleeve and was currently displeased with the Ren Family’s mistreatment of Madam Li, intending to settle scores later. This would lead him to treat Madam Li with more respect in the future.
If Prince Xian truly did not care for Madam Li, he could have gladly accepted the Ren Family’s money, continuing to keep both the Ren Family and others in the dark, unable to see clearly.
Upon hearing this, Rong Shi said with relief, "Good child, you possess a keen and perceptive mind!"
Rong Shi thought to herself that this granddaughter not only resembled Consort Wan in appearance but also inherited her intelligence. At such a young age, she was already so insightful and broad-minded. Given time, she was sure to become someone remarkable.
No wonder even someone like Xiao Jingxi had taken an interest.
Unaware of Rong Shi’s thoughts, Ren Yaoqi smiled faintly upon hearing this.
Rong Shi continued, "By the way, there was something I originally intended to tell your mother, but she left first, so I’ll tell you instead."
Having interacted with Ren Yaoqi frequently, Rong Shi knew that although this granddaughter was young, she was more decisive and capable than her mother. Thus, she treated her as an adult.
Ren Yaoqi nodded. "Please go ahead, Grandmother."
Rong Shi pondered for a moment before saying, "Lately, many families have been seeking to arrange a marriage for your uncle."
Third watch, seeking votes…
Double Pink votes last until January 7th~
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