Seeing her like this, Lei Ting couldn't help but feel a surge of pity. However, he was not a man skilled at comforting women, and he found himself pondering how to console Ren Yaohua. Thus, a brief silence fell between them.
It was Ren Yaohua who lowered her head slightly and spoke first: "Brother Lei, just now... do you think my actions were underhanded and ruthless?"
Ren Yaohua was someone who could not tolerate the slightest impurity in her heart or eyes. Although Lei Ting's words had dispelled much of her earlier unease, she still wanted to know what he truly thought of her. Unbeknownst to her, despite her efforts to keep her tone calm when asking the question, her deliberately slowed breathing betrayed the unease in her heart.
Upon hearing this, Lei Ting did not answer immediately. He took a moment to think, first noting with relief that Ren Yaohua had reverted to her previous form of address for him. Earlier, when Ren Yaohua approached, her words and demeanor had been so distant and aloof that Lei Ting felt somewhat helpless.
"Did you take someone's life?" Lei Ting finally asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ren Yaohua was taken aback for a moment before shaking her head: "No..."
Lei Ting nodded and said lightly, "I didn't see anything underhanded or ruthless about it. In fact, I'm quite pleased that you acted more cautiously this time. Striking back within a controllable situation is nothing to be ashamed of." He paused, then added with an undeniable emphasis, "You did nothing wrong."
Ren Yaohua looked at Lei Ting, listening as he spoke these words in a low, firm tone. She felt a part of her heart quietly give way, a sensation so unfamiliar that it left her feeling both tender and vulnerable.
"If there's anything you can't handle on your own in the future, just send someone to inform me," Lei Ting added after a moment of thought.
Ren Yaohua lowered her head and softly agreed.
She had initially felt somewhat awkward about Lei Ting's sudden proposal to her family. Her unease stemmed not from anything else but from the worry that Lei Ting wanted to marry her only because he had held her while rescuing her and felt compelled to protect her reputation. Ren Yaohua had once thought that when she saw Lei Ting again, she would ask him whether he truly wanted to marry her or if he was forced into it out of necessity.
But now, Ren Yaohua suddenly felt a sense of relief. She no longer wanted to ask Lei Ting whether he was willing or not.
Lei Ting glanced in the direction behind Ren Yaohua: "It's getting late. If we don't leave now, someone will come looking for us."
Ren Yaohua also looked back and saw Xiangqin standing there, peering around as if she had something to report but hesitated to approach. Ren Yaohua guessed that Ren Yaoying had likely finished changing her clothes and come out.
She hadn't planned to stay long anyway, so she nodded and said softly, "I'll go now." She looked up at Lei Ting, but for some reason, her feet refused to move.
"You go first," Lei Ting said, thinking she was waiting for him to leave first.
Ren Yaohua pressed her lips together and finally turned to leave.
As expected, Ren Yaoying had already changed her clothes and emerged, with all her attendants in tow. However, Ren Yaoying now looked as pale as paper and extremely frail. Her eyes were still swollen, and she coughed from time to time, appearing more disheveled and wretched than ever before.When Ren Yaoying looked up and saw Ren Yaohua approaching, a flicker of fear appeared in her eyes, and she even involuntarily took a step back. Ren Yaohua gave Ren Yaoying a cold glance, quite satisfied with her fear. Everything she had done today was to teach Ren Yaoying a harsh lesson, to make her afraid, to ensure she would never dare provoke her again.
Ren Yaohua said nothing more to Ren Yaoying and led her own entourage down the mountain.
Ren Yaoying stood there in a daze for a long while. Ping’er stepped forward to help her down the mountain, but when Ren Yaoying snapped back to reality and looked at Ping’er, her gaze was filled with hatred. Ping’er lowered her head, not daring to meet her eyes. Ren Yaoying then swept her gaze over her maids and elderly servants, all of whom kept their heads bowed and remained silent.
Ren Yaoying’s face grew as pale as paper, and she even felt unsteady on her feet. She understood that this was the reality Ren Yaohua wanted her to recognize today: in the Ren Family, she was nothing, and no one truly cared about her. Even these maids, who had once been her confidantes when her mother was still around, had now turned against her.
If her uncle had not fallen from power, if her mother were still here, how could she be treated like this? With these thoughts, sorrow welled up in Ren Yaoying’s heart. Covering her face, she began to sob again, feeling like the most helpless and pitiful person in the world.
Seeing that Ren Yaoying seemed to be crying uncontrollably, Ping’er mustered her courage and advised, “Miss, Madam and Third Miss are still waiting for you at the foot of the mountain. It’s best to go down soon.”
Ren Yaoying recalled the scene where Ren Yaohua had coldly ordered the servants to feed her leeches, and her heart trembled. She finally managed to stop crying.
When Ren Yaoying descended the mountain, Madam Li and Ren Yaohua were indeed waiting for her. Ren Yaoying was not foolish enough to complain about Ren Yaohua in front of Madam Li. She didn’t know how Ren Yaohua had explained things to Madam Li, but Madam Li didn’t question her about being late.
Because of this incident, they returned to Yunyang City a bit later than the others. However, Ren Shimin and Ren Yihong did not return with them. The scholars had other activities and would only return after dinner in the evening.
Ren Yaoqi learned of their return as soon as Madam Li and the others entered the residence, and she quickly went out to greet them. But as soon as she caught sight of Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoying, she knew something was wrong. She glanced at Ren Yaoying, whose face still bore traces of sickness and fear, then looked at Ren Yaohua. She didn’t ask anything in front of everyone but followed Ren Yaohua when she returned to her room to change clothes.
Before Ren Yaoqi could even ask, Wujing came in to report that Ping’er, Ren Yaoying’s maid, had arrived. She said Ren Yaoying was unwell and wanted to request a physician to come and examine her.
If Ren Yaoying was unwell and needed a physician, why didn’t Ping’er go to Madam Li or seek out Nanny Zhou? Instead, she came to Ren Yaohua? Ren Yaoqi raised an eyebrow and looked at Ren Yaohua.
Ren Yaohua sneered, “She certainly values her life. But being afraid of death has its advantages. Since she’s worried, let’s have a physician come and examine her.”
Wujing acknowledged the order and left.
Only then did Ren Yaoqi ask Ren Yaohua what had happened.
Ren Yaohua didn’t hide anything from Ren Yaoqi and recounted how Ren Yaoying had stirred up trouble with Lei Pan’er on the mountain that day, and how she had ultimately ordered someone to feed Ren Yaoying leeches.
Ren Yaoqi listened calmly and did not blame Ren Yaohua for acting recklessly. Instead, like Lei Ting, she was most concerned about how Ren Yaohua had handled the aftermath.Ren Yaohua hesitated for a moment before finally telling Ren Yaoqi, "The Yun family's second young master has returned, and he saw me today."
Only then did Ren Yaoqi's brow furrow slightly.
Ren Yaohua continued, trying to maintain a calm tone, "Master Lei has also come. He said... he would handle Yun Wenfang's matter."
Ren Yaoqi sensed something in Ren Yaohua's forced composure, but to avoid provoking her embarrassment or anger, she pretended not to notice. As for Yun Wenfang's situation, Ren Yaoqi did not inquire further.
Afterward, Ren Yaoqi still sent someone to ask about the doctor's diagnosis for Ren Yaoying. It wasn't that Ren Yaoqi particularly cared for Ren Yaoying; she was simply afraid that Ren Yaohua might inadvertently harm Ren Yaoying beyond repair, which would then require Ren Yaoqi to clean up the mess. However, after examining Ren Yaoying's throat, the doctor said she only had minor injuries to her throat and had lost some blood, but otherwise, she was fine.
From that day on, Ren Yaoying indeed became more subdued. For a long time, she would try to avoid Ren Yaohua whenever she saw her. Perhaps the scene of Ren Yaohua feeding her leeches was too terrifying, as Ren Yaoying began having nightmares every few days and often felt something in her throat, coughing frequently for no apparent reason. Madam Li, unaware of the cause, called in doctors several times, but none could determine why Ren Yaoying was coughing so persistently. They could only prescribe medicine to soothe her lungs and throat.
Ren Yaohua hadn't expected Ren Yaoying to be so easily frightened, but considering Ren Yaoying's actions, she felt no sympathy or guilt. Having already done what she did, pretending to be remorseful or claiming it wasn't intentional was something Ren Yaohua couldn't bring herself to do. Moreover, if Ren Yaoying dared provoke her again, she would follow through on her warning and continue feeding her leeches, spiders, and cockroaches until she was satisfied.
Over the next two months, Ren Yaoqi did not see Yun Wenfang. After the Double Ninth Festival, Yanbei grew colder day by day. Although the first snowfall of the year was somewhat late, the biting north wind was relentless, making the people of Yunyang City lethargic.
During this time, even when Ren Yaoqi went out, she only accompanied Madam Li to visit neighbors in Treasure Vase Alley, rarely appearing in public. It wasn't that she was deliberately avoiding Yun Wenfang, but Ren Yaohua's wedding had been set for August of the following year. Madam Li was busy preparing Ren Yaohua's dowry, and Ren Yaohua herself was confined at home by Madam Li to embroider her wedding dress and dowry items. Ren Yaoqi, who was never one for socializing, was naturally content to stay home with her mother and sister.
Since parting after the Double Ninth Festival, Ren Yaoqi had not seen Xiao Jingxi or Xiao Jinglin. However, she continued exchanging letters with Xiao Jinglin, a habit likely formed during Xiao Jinglin's time at Jiajing Pass. The two were accustomed to corresponding every few days.
Once, however, when Ren Yaoqi received a letter from Xiao Jinglin and opened it, she felt something was off. After carefully examining the letter, she confirmed that although the handwriting closely resembled Xiao Jinglin's, it was not hers. While Ren Yaoqi was no calligraphy master, she had a natural talent for painting and calligraphy and had worked hard at it, so recognizing handwriting was no challenge for her.
The next update will likely be around one o'clock.
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