In front of the several matrons who had come to fetch them, Ren Yaoying said she missed the elders of the Ren Family and wished to return with Ren Yaohua to visit her grandfather and grandmother. She also mentioned that she had personally sewn several pairs of shoes and socks and wanted to deliver them herself so her grandparents could try them on and see if they fit.
With Ren Yaoying speaking like this, Madam Li naturally could not stop her from fulfilling her filial duties.
Ren Yaoqi, worried about Ren Yaohua, also accompanied them on the journey.
Upon returning to the Ren Family in White Crane Town, the three sisters were immediately surrounded by a crowd of maids and matrons who had long been waiting at the Inner Gate and escorted to Glory and Splendor Courtyard. The maids and matrons were all beaming with smiles, showering Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi with clever words and flattery.
One matron said, "Old Madam Ren misses Third Miss and Fifth Miss dearly. She sent us early to the Inner Gate to welcome you both. Even Shanhu, the maid by Old Madam Ren’s side, comes over every quarter of an hour to ask, saying Old Madam Ren has been constantly talking about you two and urging her to come check." Not a word in her speech mentioned Ren Yaoying, as if only Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had arrived.
Everyone in the Ren Family knew of the feud between Ren Yaohua and Concubine Fang and her daughter. Now, Concubine Fang had disappeared under a disgraceful reputation and had been removed from the Fang family register, while Fang Yacun was gradually losing influence within the Fang family. Meanwhile, Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi—one had connections with the Commandery Princess of Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, and the other was about to marry into the Lei Family and become its mistress, enjoying boundless glory. These maids and matrons were all shrewd and naturally knew how to curry favor.
Ren Yaoying lagged a step or two behind, ignored by everyone. Although she had mentally prepared herself before returning, truly experiencing such neglect felt like being slowly stabbed in the heart with a blunt instrument, the pain so intense she nearly fainted.
She glanced at her two elder legitimate sisters walking ahead, lowered her eyes, and slowly clenched her fists.
Old Madam Ren, in high spirits from recent joyous events, had shed her previous haggardness, anxiety, and moodiness. When she saw Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua enter, she laughed heartily and beckoned them over, "Come quickly, come quickly, let your grandmother take a good look at you."
Just as Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were about to kneel and pay their respects to Old Madam Ren, she pulled them one by each hand to sit on the Arhat Bed. Ren Yaoying, who had also followed behind to pay her respects, saw Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua being helped up by Old Madam Ren, but received no instruction to rise herself.
Biting her lip, she could only kneel down and silently complete her bow. When she rose, she saw Old Madam Ren holding Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi’s hands, affectionately calling them "good children" and "darlings" while inquiring about their well-being. Old Madam Ren’s gaze never once lingered on her, and Ren Yaoying felt as though her earlier kneeling had been a bow to Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua as well, filling her with deep humiliation.
Old Madam Ren acted as if she did not see Ren Yaoying. Without instructions, Ren Yaoying dared not take a seat on the nearby chairs. All the maids and matrons in the room were busy echoing Old Madam Ren’s cheerful mood, and no one reminded her that Ninth Miss was still standing without a seat. Thus, Ren Yaoying could only stand there with her head bowed.
Seeing this scene, Ren Yaoqi sighed inwardly. She had witnessed such situations before, but they had always happened to her mother, Madam Li. When Old Madam Ren favored Concubine Fang and suppressed Madam Li, she would often grant Concubine Fang a seat while ignoring Madam Li entirely.Now that the tables had turned, before Ren Yaoqi could even take action to teach Ren Yaoying a lesson, Old Madam Ren had already jumped out to vent their grievances for them, as if this could offset what had happened before. Unfortunately, Ren Yaoqi did not feel the slightest bit of satisfaction; she only found it ironic.
It wasn't until the grand performance of mutual affection between grandmother and granddaughter had concluded that Ren Yaoying finally found an opportunity to interject and present the shoes and socks she had made for Old Madam Ren.
Old Madam Ren finally noticed Ren Yaoying's presence, but her expression remained indifferent. She directly instructed a maid to take away the shoes and socks Ren Yaoying had made—not even trying them on, nor even taking a glance at them.
"You may leave now. I still have some words to share with Hua'er and Qi'er," Old Madam Ren waved her hand, not offering a seat, and directly sent Ren Yaoying away.
Ren Yaoying had long wanted to leave this place to avoid further humiliation, so she obediently withdrew.
After Ren Yaoying left, Old Madam Ren dismissed all the maids and elderly servants from the room, leaving only Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi.
Seeing this situation, Ren Yaoqi knew that Old Madam Ren was about to reveal the purpose of summoning Ren Yaohua back today. However, the fact that she was also kept behind left her feeling somewhat "overwhelmed by the unexpected favor."
Old Madam Ren stroked Ren Yaohua's head and sighed, "My Hua'er has grown up in the blink of an eye, and your grandmother has grown old too."
Unlike Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yaohua still held deep affection for this grandmother who had always doted on her. Seeing a few strands of white hair indeed appearing on Old Madam Ren's head, she couldn't help but feel a pang in her nose. She clung to Old Madam Ren's arm and protested, "How can Grandmother be old? Grandmother is still full of energy!"
Old Madam Ren laughed heartily and patted Ren Yaohua's head. "You always know how to make Grandmother happy. Everyone grows old, and Grandmother is no exception. But what makes Grandmother happy is that, before my eyes grow dim, I can finally see my Hua'er have a bright future. That alone brings me contentment."
Ren Yaohua was both moved and blushed at these words, which only deepened the smile on Old Madam Ren's face. She gently teased her by tapping her nose, saying, "Oh, look what Grandmother sees? My Hua'er can actually blush? Today, the sun must have risen from the west."
Ren Yaoqi watched the interaction between this grandmother and granddaughter coldly from the side. She did not resent Ren Yaohua for being close to Old Madam Ren. Ren Yaohua was different from her—at least up to now, Old Madam Ren had always played the role of a doting elder in front of Ren Yaohua. Although Ren Yaohua occasionally blamed Old Madam Ren because of Madam Li, the affection cultivated over the years still remained.
Old Madam Ren spoke earnestly to Ren Yaohua, "But Hua'er, you must remember that once you leave this household, you will still be a daughter of the Ren Family. Only when the Ren Family thrives can you stand firm in your husband's family. The Ren Family is your strongest support. A woman without the backing of her natal family is like a rootless duckweed, unable to earn respect from her husband's family. Marriage alliances are about uniting two families and surnames; supporting each other and standing together is the proper way."
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but let a cold smile curl at the corner of her lips.
It was indeed the same old talk again.
Ren Yaohua, who now often stayed with Ren Yaoqi, had come to understand her quite well. While others might not have noticed, she recognized the sarcasm in Ren Yaoqi's smile. She glanced at Old Madam Ren and nodded, "I understand, Grandmother."Old Madam Ren was very satisfied with her answer. She would often bring up such words that prioritized her natal family's interests in front of Ren Yaohua in the future, so that she would firmly remember them in her heart. Since Ren Yaoqi would also receive this kind of education later, Old Madam Ren had her stay behind to listen to the instruction as well.
"By the way, I heard you are very close to that child from the Lei Family?" Old Madam Ren asked.
Ren Yaohua nodded: "Pan'er sometimes writes to us and invites us to meet."
Hearing this, Old Madam Ren couldn't help but give Ren Yaohua a meaningful look: "So that's why you met the Eldest Master of the Lei Family?"
Ren Yaohua frowned and immediately said: "It's not convenient for us to visit the Lei Family, so Pan'er usually arranges to meet us outside. She always comes alone; Eldest Master Lei does not accompany her."
Old Madam Ren teased playfully: "Oh? So you haven't seen Lei Ting?" Now that Lei Ting had become the Ren Family's prospective grandson-in-law, Old Madam Ren directly addressed the head of the Lei Family by his name.
Ren Yaohua paused and said: "We've encountered each other once or twice, all by chance, and we didn't really speak much."
Old Madam Ren was also somewhat puzzled by Lei Ting's sudden proposal. After all, there were many families who wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Lei Family, and quite a few were in better circumstances than the Ren Family. Moreover, not long ago, the Ren Family's coal mine had suffered a setback, and nearly half of the family assets had been divided due to the family split. Although they were not yet in decline, they had still suffered some losses.
Old Master Ren felt this was likely because the Xianwang Residence was about to be restored. However, Old Madam Ren wondered if it might be because Lei Ting had taken a liking to Ren Yaohua. She had secretly inquired and learned that Ren Yaohua was on good terms with the eldest daughter of the Lei Family, had met Lei Ting a few times, and had even spoken with him.
Now, seeing Ren Yaohua deny it, Old Madam Ren naturally did not believe her, but she did not expose it. She just patted Ren Yaohua's hand and said: "Alright, alright, grandmother was just asking casually."
Old Madam Ren thought for a moment and added: "However, it would be best if you don't meet with that child from the Lei Family for now. Now that you are engaged to Lei Ting, you need to be careful to avoid suspicion. Otherwise, if any idle gossip spreads outside, it won't be good for your reputation. As for the child, you can just coax her casually after you enter their household."
There was a hint of dismissiveness toward Lei Pan'er in Old Madam Ren's words. Ren Yaohua felt uncomfortable upon hearing this and was about to speak.
But Ren Yaoqi defended first: "Sister always finds it hard to refuse Pan'er's invitations because she pities her for having no mother, no sisters, and no brothers. It's certainly not to get close to someone by using a child."
Ren Yaoqi's words made Ren Yaohua pause. Thinking carefully about the logic in Old Madam Ren's words, wasn't she implying that Ren Yaohua had deliberately schemed to get close to Lei Pan'er because she wanted to marry Lei Ting? Now that the marriage alliance between the two families was settled, Lei Pan'er naturally had no more use.
Ren Yaohua felt deeply offended, as if she had been insulted.
Old Madam Ren gave Ren Yaoqi a light slap and chided her to cover up: "You child, how can you speak like that! Grandmother was just reminding Hua'er, that's not what I meant at all."Although Old Madam Ren said this, her face still showed a hint of poorly concealed discomfort. Ren Yaohua understood then that Old Madam Ren indeed harbored such thoughts in her heart.
She bit her lip. Though she said nothing more, the earlier feelings of gratitude and affection stirred by Old Madam Ren’s emotional words had faded considerably.
She was a proud person and could not bear the thought that in others’ minds—especially in the mind of her grandmother, whom she had always respected—she was seen as a woman of such character.
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Ren Yaohua. Although she did not resent Ren Yaohua’s closeness to Old Madam Ren, she did not welcome it either. For the sake of the future, it would be better for Ren Yaohua to distance herself from Old Madam Ren, lest she find herself torn between her natal family and her marital family when faced with such a choice.
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