Han Yunqian looked at the young girl before him who remained silent, carefully concealing his own despondency.
Ren Yaoqi had not seen him for a long time, but he had seen her.
Once, when he was passing through Zhengyang Street on his way to Yunyang Academy, he saw her carriage stop ahead of him. She instructed her maid to buy pastries from Fumanlou.
Another time, he saw her and Third Miss Ren going out with Third Madam Ren, waiting for Lady Xu outside the gates of Yunyang City.
And on the day she returned from Yunyang City, he stood on the bridge at the entrance of the town and happened to see her carriage passing beneath it.
Han Yunqian felt that the reason he always noticed her was because she was, so far, the only woman who had ever bested him.
As for anything else, Han Yunqian was unwilling to dwell on it.
Regarding his current behavior, Han Yunqian was also puzzled. Although he believed that grievances had their source and debts their debtor, and did not entirely approve of his grandfather’s ruthless methods of wiping out the opposition, he did not have much sympathy to spare for the Ren Family.
Yet, for some reason, whenever he saw her, he could not help but want to offer her a few words of caution, even though he knew his warnings would not have any substantial effect.
The noise gradually grew louder as they left the lakeside. Han You stopped ahead and glanced back.
After a moment of thought, Ren Yaoqi said, "If the Han Family merely wishes to reclaim what is rightfully theirs, I believe that is reasonable, and I will not interfere in this matter. However, I owe you nothing, nor do my father, mother, or sister, nor do my Third Brother and the others. If the Han Family’s methods are used against us, then, Young Master Han..."
Ren Yaoqi smiled as she looked at Han Yunqian. "Since I have bested you once, twice, I can best you three times, four times. So, I advise you to tread carefully."
Ren Yaoqi’s words left Han Yunqian stunned, but she merely nodded and walked away on her own. When she reached Han You’s side, Ren Yaoqi said with a smile, "Miss Han, my Third Sister is still waiting for me, so I must take my leave. Next time you visit Yunyang City, you can come find us at Treasure Vase Alley to play."
Although Han You did not know what her brother and Ren Yaoqi had discussed, judging by Ren Yaoqi’s attitude, it did not seem like anything unpleasant had been said. She could not help but sigh in relief and replied with a smile, "Alright, I will certainly come to disturb you."
Ren Yaoqi smiled and nodded before leaving.
Han Yunqian stood in place, silently watching her figure gradually disappear into the lantern-lit shadows ahead.
Han You, who had walked back at some point, observed her brother for a long while, hesitating to speak.
"Brother, do you have feelings for the Fifth Miss of the Ren Family..."
Before Han You could finish her sentence, Han Yunqian interrupted her calmly, "Let’s go. Grandmother is still waiting for you."
Recalling the trace of despondency she had just seen in her brother’s eyes, Han You wanted to say more. However, Han Yunqian’s distant and unapproachable expression clearly indicated he did not wish to discuss Ren Yaoqi with her. Feeling somewhat defeated, Han You fell silent, and for reasons unknown, her own expression also turned despondent.
After returning from the Sun Family, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua stayed in White Crane Town for another day before heading back to Yunyang City. However, Ren Yaoying fell ill and could not return with them.
The doctor summoned by the Ren Family examined Ren Yaoying’s pulse and diagnosed her with a cold.Ren Yaohua said to Ren Yaoqi, "How could it be such a coincidence that she fell ill at this very moment? Could she be faking it?"
Ren Yaoqi shook her head. "This doctor has a good reputation and cannot be bribed by her, so the illness is real. However, it is indeed rather suspicious."
"What should we do then? Should we tell Grandmother to take her back for treatment?" Ren Yaohua frowned.
Ren Yaoqi shook her head again. "It's only a minor illness now. If we insist on taking her back and her condition worsens, what then? Let her stay here and have someone keep an eye on her."
Ren Yaohua nodded and sneered, "I’d like to see what tricks she’s up to. I’ll go and arrange for someone to watch her."
Thus, Ren Yaoying remained at the Ren Family’s old residence in White Crane Town, while Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua returned to Yunyang City.
After returning, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua went to visit Ren Yaoyu.
Although Ren Yaoyu had regained consciousness, the previous poisoning had severely damaged her health, and she had lain unconscious in bed for a long time afterward. By the time she woke up, she had become emaciated, with the baby fat that had troubled her and Fifth Madam Ren for years completely gone. Moreover, due to prolonged inactivity, her bones and muscles seemed to have rusted, leaving her unable to move freely. She could no longer walk or eat independently.
Seeing Ren Yaoyu, who had always been domineering in front of them, reduced to such a state, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua both felt a pang of sorrow.
Fortunately, Ren Yaoyu had woken up. The doctor had said that if she hadn’t regained consciousness by then, she would never have woken up again.
Some time later, news indeed arrived from the capital that the Ren Family’s businesses there had encountered major problems.
For some unknown reason, Second Old Master Ren had mortgaged a large portion of the coal mines and coal depots under his control to a major bank in the capital to secure the operating rights for coal depots in six southeastern provinces. However, when the deadline arrived, they were unable to raise the funds to redeem the assets. In the end, the Ren Family’s businesses inexplicably fell into the hands of others.
Ren Yaoqi learned about this from Third Master Ren. Although Third Master Ren explained it simply, Ren Yaoqi understood clearly that Ren Yongxiang had likely fallen victim to a carefully orchestrated scheme.
Second Master Ren was now anxiously rushing around with his son, pulling strings and seeking connections, hoping to sue the bank for fraud. He had also written a letter back, begging Old Master Ren for help.
When Old Master Ren learned that Ren Yongxiang had, without his consent, secretly mortgaged the Ren Family’s assets under his control to pursue the operating rights for the six southeastern provinces, he was so furious that he nearly coughed up blood again.
Old Master Ren was also anxious. Naturally, he did not want the Ren Family’s businesses to fall into the hands of others, but he was too far away to do anything about it. He asked Old Madam Ren to write a letter to the Fang Family’s matriarch, requesting the Fang Family’s assistance. Although Fang Yacun had lost his influence, the Fang Family had not yet collapsed, and the marital ties between the Fang and Ren families remained.
Unfortunately, the Fang Family was powerless in this matter.
However, the situation did not end there. Not long after, the remaining assets under Ren Yongxiang’s control were also divided among creditors who came knocking one after another.It turned out that Ren Yongxiang and his son had secretly collaborated with some people behind Old Master Ren's back, aiming to seize the entire market of the six southeastern provinces originally held by the Wan Family Coal Depot. The Wan Family Coal Depot was the largest coal depot in Great Zhou, and replacing the Wan Family had always been Old Master Ren's long-cherished wish. If they could swallow up the Wan Family's coal depots in the southeast, this wish might not be impossible to achieve. Ren Yongxiang had originally believed he could accomplish what his elder brother Ren Yonghe could not, bringing glory to the Ren Family under his leadership. Little did he expect such an outcome.
Upon hearing this news, Old Master Ren was so overwhelmed that he fainted once again.
During this period, Ren Yaoqi heard that members of the Jiang Family had come to Yunyang City. However, Han You never came to see her. Ren Yaoqi wondered if Han You had learned from Han Yunqian that the Ren Family was currently facing turbulent times and thus felt it inappropriate to disturb her.
As for Yun Wenfang, who had been rumored to return two months ago, he still hadn't come back.
Whether the Ren Family was secretly maneuvering for matters in the capital, Ren Yaoqi did not know, because Third Master Ren had also become busy since August and had no time to concern himself with the "mundane affairs" of the Ren Family.
Early August was the time for scholars in Yanbei to take the autumn imperial examinations, and Third Master Ren was assigned by Yunyang Academy to supervise the exams.
During this period, the weather fluctuated between cold and hot. On the day before the autumn examinations began, it suddenly started raining. Although it was autumn, it felt as if winter had arrived early.
Starting the next day, Third Master Ren would officially reside in the examination hall. Madam Li, fearing he might catch a cold, prepared several sets of thick clothing for him to take along.
That very evening, Ren Yaohua called Ren Yaoqi over and said to her, "Today, Ren Yaoying found an excuse to go to the Dragon King Temple. Do you know what she went there for?"
Ren Yaoqi knew that the person keeping an eye on Ren Yaoying must have just reported her whereabouts to Ren Yaohua. "Oh? To have her fortune told? To fulfill a vow? Or to make an offering?"
Since returning to White Crane Town, Ren Yaoying had few opportunities to go out. The reasons Old Madam Ren allowed her to leave were limited to just a few.
Ren Yaohua sneered, "Hmph! Do you remember Young Master Zhou Wen from the Zhou Family? Ren Yaoying went out to meet him!"
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but frown. "Zhou Wen? Isn't he supposed to take the autumn examinations tomorrow? How does he have time to go to White Crane Town?"
Ren Yaohua replied, "I don't know. All I know is that he waited for Ren Yaoying at the Dragon King Temple for an hour, and then the two of them talked for half an hour. When Ren Yaoying returned, she was smiling."
Ren Yaoqi thought to herself that this Young Master Zhou was truly a devoted soul. However, the fact that he still had the leisure to meet Ren Yaoying on the eve of such an important exam showed he had great confidence in himself.
Ren Yaoqi smiled and said, "Why did you just have someone watch them talk? Why not have them taken away?"
Ren Yaohua said coldly, "As long as she isn't plotting against us, I don't care if she dies! She can do whatever she wants."
Ren Yaoqi shook her head and chuckled. Ren Yaoying's poor reputation was actually no benefit to them, but Ren Yaohua clearly had no interest in dealing with Ren Yaoying's affairs and was content to let her fend for herself.Ren Yaoying was in quite a good mood at the moment. That afternoon, Zhou Wen had made a special trip to White Crane Town just to tell her that he would be taking the provincial examination the next day. Zhou Wen was very confident about passing and becoming a provincial scholar. He asked Ren Yaoying to keep the jade pendant he had given her safe and wait for him. Once he passed, he would ask his mother to send a matchmaker to the Ren Family to propose marriage.
It really takes the author three hours to write one chapter... 〒_〒
Speed is nothing but an illusion...
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