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Seeing Ren Yaoqi's expression, Rong Shi knew she hadn't understood her meaning, so she said directly, "I'm asking about Yaohua's potential husband."
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but be taken aback upon hearing this.
Ren Yaohua and Lei Ting?
She had never considered this possibility before, especially since Lei Ting had been married before—taking him as a husband would mean being a second wife.
Even from the perspective of society, Lei Ting was the head of the prestigious Lei Family clan. Not only was he tall and handsome, but he was also young, capable, steady, and reliable. Even though he had been married once, he only had a daughter and no sons, and he didn't even have any concubines by his side. He could indeed be considered a good match.
Yet Ren Yaohua was merely the legitimate daughter of a merchant family.
However, everyone has their biases, and Ren Yaoqi was no exception. In her heart, Ren Yaohua deserved the best man, and becoming someone's second wife would be too unfair to her.
"Why did Grandmother suddenly think of him?" Ren Yaoqi asked.
Rong Shi smiled. "It wasn'tt that I suddenly thought of him, but today's events forced me to consider it. Originally, since Lei Ting saved Yaohua, it was only right for us to express our gratitude, and the Lei Family should also explain the details of the incident to us. After all, we are Yaohua's family."
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi began to understand and added, "But Lei Ting doesn't seem to want our gratitude. He hasn't even come to explain the matter to us. His intention..." Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, "Could it be that he wants to bring it up at another time?"
Rong Shi nodded meaningfully. "That's what I think too, but what he proposes might not be simple."
Ren Yaoqi was stunned, recalling how Ren Yaohua had called Lei Ting "Brother Lei" the day before. Yesterday, seeing how tired Ren Yaohua was, Ren Yaoqi hadn't pressed for details. Could something have happened when Lei Ting saved Ren Yaohua that they didn't know about?
Seeing that Rong Shi didn't seem opposed, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but ask, "Does Grandmother think Lei Ting is suitable?"
Rong Shi thought for a moment. "To be honest, there aren't many men in Yanbei more outstanding than Lei Ting. Although it would be a second marriage, from society's perspective, the Ren Family would actually be the one marrying up."
Rong Shi was well aware of the eligible young men in Yunyang City and throughout Yan Prefecture. There were indeed unmarried men more outstanding than Lei Ting, but while you might find them suitable, they might not find your family background acceptable.
Rong Shi had also considered that once the Xianwang Residence was truly restored, the granddaughter of the residence might rise in status, and Ren Yaohua would have more potential marriage prospects. However, Ren Yaohua was already fifteen this year. While they could afford to wait, she couldn't. Moreover, by that time, political factors in marriage would become even more significant, and Ren Yaohua might not find anyone more suitable than Lei Ting.
Ren Yaoqi understood all this, so she remained silent.
Rong Shi smiled. "Looking at it now, the destined person your mother mentioned when she had Yaohua's fortune told seems to match Lei Ting's conditions."
Ren Yaoqi thought about it and realized it was indeed true.
Rong Shi said, "Alright, for now, we're just speculating. We'll see when the time comes."
Although Rong Shi said this, after leaving her room, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but think about Lei Ting and Ren Yaohua.The elders of the Ren Family were naturally more than willing—a thousand times, ten thousand times willing—to have Ren Yaohua marry Lei Ting. With the fortune-teller's words from last time, Madam Li likely wouldn't oppose it either, and Third Master Ren simply didn't concern himself with such matters.
But what about Ren Yaohua herself?
Was Ren Yaohua willing to become someone's second wife?
When Ren Yaoqi returned to the west wing, Xiangqin had already changed her clothes and was clinging to one of Ren Yaohua's arms, crying uncontrollably. Ren Yaohua looked at her with restrained patience, but in the end, she didn't push Xiangqin away—perhaps because the foot she had extended was the injured one.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi enter, Ren Yaohua finally found an opportunity to push Xiangqin aside. "Enough, go find me a change of clothes."
Xiangqin sniffled, her eyes swollen like peaches, and said, "Miss, didn't you just change?"
Ren Yaohua glanced at the mysterious stain on her sleeve, and a vein twitched on her forehead.
Xiangqin immediately sprang to her feet, walking backward as she flashed an ingratiating smile. "Ah, I'll go right away. Who picked out these clothes for you? This dull green doesn't do justice to your stunning beauty."
Finally having sent Xiangqin away, Ren Yaohua asked Ren Yaoqi, "Are we going back now?"
Ren Yaoqi walked over and sat down beside Ren Yaohua, smiling. "Mother will send someone to fetch us in a little while."
Ren Yaohua nodded without saying anything.
"Have the Lei Family members already left?" Ren Yaohua asked.
"Yes, it was a steward from the Lei Family who delivered them and left afterward. Oh, by the way, Grandmother was just talking to me about the Lei Family's Eldest Master."
Ren Yaoqi's words made Ren Yaohua look over. "Oh?"
Ren Yaoqi smiled. "Grandmother said that Eldest Master Lei took on the responsibility of clan head at a young age, is steady and reliable, and has a generous heart. No wonder so many families in Yunyang City are eyeing the position of the Lei Family's First Lady."
Ren Yaohua frowned. "Why are you picking up the habit of gossiping like those women?"
Ren Yaoqi smiled dismissively. "It's just idle talk among family, nothing serious! In my opinion, Eldest Master Lei is indeed excellent in every way, except for one flaw."
Ren Yaohua asked, "What flaw?" She forgot that she had just scolded her sister for gossiping, yet she couldn't help wanting to know what flaw Lei Ting had.
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Ren Yaohua and smiled. "Naturally, it's the 'second wife' part. Which proper, legitimate daughter from a family comparable to the Lei Family would willingly become a second wife?"
Hearing this, Ren Yaohua chided Ren Yaoqi with slight displeasure. "Is it his fault that his first wife passed away? As a man, he must first stand firm, be responsible, and then harbor no wicked intentions, only thoughts of benevolence and helping others. I don't see any flaws in Eldest Master Lei."
Ren Yaoqi was inwardly startled by Ren Yaohua's resolute tone—she had never heard Ren Yaohua speak so highly of a man before.
No flaws at all?
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and said seriously, "Speaking of standing firm, I recall something. When Madam Lei passed away, wasn't there a rumor that Lei Ting's branch wasn't the legitimate line of the Lei Family? If that's true, Third Sister, do you still think Lei Ting has no flaws?"Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua fell silent for a moment before saying, "If that's truly the case, I don't see anything wrong with him. A person cannot choose their birth, only the path they take. The reason I despise Concubine Fang and dislike Ren Yaoying isn't because they aren't of the main line, but because they are malicious and devious. If they had used their cleverness for good, I might not have liked them, but I wouldn't have opposed them at every turn."
Ren Yaoqi didn't know what to say. Ren Yaohua's words indicated that if Lei Ting truly came to propose marriage to the Ren Family, Ren Yaohua wouldn't refuse to marry him because he was taking a second wife, nor would she change her opinion of him because of the Lei Family's background.
Ren Yaoqi herself had no ill feelings toward Lei Ting; she merely wanted to clarify Ren Yaohua's stance.
Suddenly, Ren Yaohua frowned and asked, "You were involved in the Lei Family's affairs back then, weren't you?"
Although Ren Yaohua hadn't interfered when Ren Yaoqi was handling those matters, Ren Yaoqi hadn't deliberately hidden them from her either.
Ren Yaoqi nodded frankly. "Yes, but I didn't do anything harmful to the Lei Family." On the contrary, she had done the Lei Family and Lei Ting a great favor.
At the time, Ren Yaoqi hadn't anticipated any future involvement with Lei Ting. Now, thinking back, if Lei Ting truly intended to marry Ren Yaohua, she wondered if he might hold a grudge over the past events. After all, family scandals should not be aired in public, and the Lei Family's origins were a major secret.
Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi, thought for a moment, but ultimately didn't press further.
The sisters' conversation ended there. Not long after, Madam Li sent someone to fetch Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua home.
Upon returning to the Ren Family, Madam Li and Ren Yaohua were naturally emotional upon reuniting, and the slight unpleasantness before Ren Yaohua's departure was completely forgotten by both.
When Ren Yaoying heard that Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had returned, she also came to the main room. Seeing Ren Yaohua's injured leg, she was quite surprised, but Madam Li brushed it off. Still, Ren Yaoying harbored many doubts, though she didn't show them outwardly.
As for Lei Ting, the reason he didn't reappear before everyone in the following two days to explain the situation to the Xianwang Residence was that he was waiting for an auspicious day suitable for travel, visiting friends and relatives, praying for blessings, making alliances, sending betrothal gifts, and holding weddings.
Thus, two days later, Rong Shi sent a message to Ren Yaoqi, saying that Lei Ting, the head of the Lei Family, had come to visit.
Rong Shi was quite interesting—she didn't send the message to Ren Yaohua or even to her daughter Madam Li, but only to Ren Yaoqi, who should have had no connection whatsoever to Lei Ting.
Upon receiving Rong Shi's ambiguous message, which others might have found meaningless, Ren Yaoqi understood her intention. It was likely that Lei Ting had genuinely expressed his desire to marry Ren Yaohua before her maternal grandparents.
However, Lei Ting probably hadn't formally sent a matchmaker to propose marriage yet, because Li Qian and Rong Shi were only Ren Yaohua's maternal grandparents. Ren Yaohua bore the Ren surname, so Lei Ting should propose to the Ren Family. Although Ren Yaoqi disliked the Ren Family and wished the elders wouldn't interfere in their affairs, proper etiquette was essential. Any misstep could give others grounds for criticism.Before proposing marriage, Lei Ting first gauged the stance of the Xianwang Residence, which was a gesture of respect toward Li Qian and Rong Shi. It also made clear that he intended to proceed with this marriage alliance with the Prince Xian's household.
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