Thus, on the second day, people were sent from Yunyang City to fetch Ren Yaoqi back. Ren Yaoqi would be coming of age in a few days, and both the Princess Consort of Yanbei and the Commandery Princess had sent gifts. It was said that the Commandery Princess had personally delivered them and even sent an invitation for Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua to go on a spring outing together.
Old Madam Ren had originally intended to keep Ren Yaohua confined in White Crane Town, but with the Commandery Princess personally extending the invitation, the Ren Family dared not refuse such a gesture. Moreover, the Ren Family had been dealing with far too many matters lately, and Old Madam Ren simply didn’t have the time to discipline Ren Yaohua. In the end, she allowed her to go. Old Madam Ren believed that Ren Yaohua was her granddaughter—she could summon her back whenever she pleased.
Thus, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua returned to Yunyang City, while Ren Yaoying remained behind. Ren Yaoying wouldn’t dare set foot in Ren Yaohua’s territory now.
As for the Ren Family’s plan to have Ren Yaoying accompany Ren Yaohua as part of the dowry, Madam Li was both shocked and resentful. She could endure the mistreatment she had suffered from the Ren Family over the years, but she couldn’t bear to see her daughter wronged. Surprisingly, it was Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua who managed to calm Madam Li down.
Nanny Zhou frowned and asked, “What about the dowry maids? Are we really going to follow the Ren Family’s arrangements?” As Madam Li’s chief steward of the inner household, Nanny Zhou understood better than anyone the importance of having reliable connections when first arriving at the husband’s family. Madam Li had suffered greatly in this regard back in the day. When she heard that Old Madam Ren intended to hand over the indentures of several maids to Ren Yaoying, Nanny Zhou spat in disgust.
Ren Yaoqi smiled and said, “Didn’t Nanny Zhou already select a few maids earlier? Just continue preparing the personnel for Third Sister.”
Madam Li and Nanny Zhou had long considered the issue of Ren Yaohua’s dowry maids. Nanny Zhou believed that Xiangqin and Wujing were still young enough to serve as dowry maids. Additionally, a few younger ones should be carefully selected and trained. Once Ren Yaohua had settled into her husband’s household, Xiangqin and Wujing could be married off to capable young stewards to manage the inner household, while the younger maids could then be promoted.
Nanny Zhou couldn’t help but ask, “Then what should we do with the maids prepared by the Ren Family?”
Ren Yaoqi looked puzzled. “Aren’t the ones Grandmother selected meant for Ninth Sister? Their indentures are still with her. Naturally, they’ll follow Ninth Sister.”
Nanny Zhou was taken aback for a moment before smiling in satisfaction. “Fifth Miss is right. Then this servant will continue selecting maids for Third Miss.”
“As for Yaoying…” Madam Li frowned.
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi glanced at Ren Yaohua and smiled. “When the boat reaches the bridge, it will straighten itself out. Mother need not worry about this for now. Just continue preparing for Third Sister’s wedding as before. Ren Yaoying’s matter will be resolved by someone else.”
If the elders of the Ren Family thought they could casually foist someone on Lei Ting, they’d have to see if he was willing to accept. Did they really think the Lei Family was marrying a Ren Family daughter?
Ren Yaohua seemed to understand something upon hearing this.
Next, Madam Li brought up the matter of Ren Yaoqi’s coming-of-age ceremony.
Both the Ren Family and the Xianwang Residence were currently in the midst of turbulent times, so it wasn’t appropriate to hold a grand celebration for Ren Yaoqi’s coming-of-age ceremony. Ren Yaoqi herself didn’t care much for such things and didn’t advocate for inviting guests. She only planned to have a small, lively gathering with the family.However, the Princess Consort of Yanbei had sent over a congratulatory gift early this morning: a phoenix-and-peony mutton-fat white jade hairpin and an exquisitely crafted crimson wide-sleeved jacket. Xiao Jinglin, on the other hand, sent a full box of pearls and gemstones, saying they were for Ren Yaoqi to make jewelry with. Madam Li and Nanny Zhou were startled by Princess Xiao's extravagant gesture. After seeing the gifts, Ren Yaoqi knew they were likely presents Xiao Jinglin had received from others during her own coming-of-age ceremony. Ren Yaoqi even wrote a letter teasing Xiao Jinglin, saying she was cutting corners by regifting and lacked sincerity.
Xiao Jinglin quickly replied with a stern letter, earnestly rebuking Ren Yaoqi. She had taken Ren Yaoqi's hint and brought gifts to help out. Princess Xiao had even specifically asked Hongying to inquire with Xiangqin, who had stayed behind in Yunyang City to deliver Ren Yaoqi's letters, about the most direct and effective approach.
As a result, that girl Xiangqin enthusiastically misled her: "What is Your Highness here to do? Intimidate! Intimidate them! I've heard that throwing money at people is the most satisfying!"
Although Hongying didn't quite understand the connection between intimidating people and throwing money at them, she dutifully relayed Xiangqin's words to the princess. This directly led to Princess Xiao's nouveau riche behavior of bringing a box of gemstones.
After reading the letter, Ren Yaoqi laughed until she trembled.
Another day passed, and Ren Yaoqi was sitting in the study reading when Pingguo came in to report that someone from the Xianwang Residence had arrived and had brought a person with them. After hearing this, Ren Yaoqi set down her book, stood up, and went to Madam Li's quarters, instructing Pingguo to also invite Ren Yaohua.
When Ren Yaoqi arrived at Madam Li's main room, she saw Chuchu, who served Rong Shi, standing in the middle of the room with a young maid, speaking with Madam Li. Upon seeing Ren Yaoqi, the two hurriedly bowed and greeted her.
Ren Yaoqi smiled and nodded, then beckoned to the delicate-looking maid beside Chuchu, signaling her to come stand by her side.
Madam Li, seeing this, was puzzled. "Who is this girl?"
Just then, Ren Yaohua also entered.
Ren Yaoqi gently patted the young maid's hand and said, "Tell Madam your name and how old you are."
The maid was not timid at all. She gracefully curtsied and said crisply, "This servant is Shui Ai, thirteen years old."
Ren Yaoqi was pleased and asked Madam Li and Ren Yaohua with a smile, "What do you think of this maid, Mother and Third Sister?"
Madam Li and Ren Yaohua examined Shui Ai. Her appearance was not stunning, but she was delicate and proper, with long limbs. Standing below, she appeared calm, respectful, and clear-eyed—clearly trained in a prominent household. However, beyond that, nothing particularly special stood out. With a few years of training, Nanny Zhou could also groom such a maid.
After thinking for a moment, Ren Yaoqi instructed Xier, "Call four or five coarse-working matrons."
Xier immediately complied and soon brought four or five stout, broad-shouldered coarse-working matrons to wait outside.
Ren Yaoqi invited Madam Li and the others into the courtyard. Pointing at Shui Ai, she instructed the matrons, "Seize this young maid."
Everyone was startled by her words.Shui Ai looked up at Ren Yaoqi and immediately understood her meaning, then turned and rushed outside. Though the coarse-working matrons didn’t know what Shui Ai had done wrong, upon hearing Ren Yaoqi’s order, they immediately surrounded Shui Ai, quickly trapping her in the middle.
What happened next left everyone present stunned. Shui Ai was tall but remarkably agile; even surrounded by five people, no one could lay a hand on her. When one matron tried to grab her shoulder from behind, Shui Ai seemed to have eyes on the back of her head. She reached back, seized the matron’s arm, twisted it, and executed a shoulder throw, sending the matron—who was more than a head larger than her—crashing to the ground. Then, in a flurry of bewildering movements, she swiftly subdued the remaining four matrons one after another.
Under the astonished gazes of everyone, Shui Ai knelt in the direction of Ren Yaoqi and the others, bowing her head as she said, “This servant acted rashly. Please punish me, mistress.”
Madam Li snapped back to her senses and looked inquiringly at Ren Yaoqi, who smiled and said, “She has been training in martial arts for several years, and her aptitude is quite remarkable. Third Sister, how about letting her serve you from now on?”
When Ren Yaoqi first sent Shui Ai to the Xianwang Residence, she hadn’t expected her to learn martial arts. After all, not everyone had the talent for it, nor could everyone endure the hardships of training. She never imagined that Shui Ai’s aptitude would be no less than that of Leshan and Leshui. Moreover, having worked in the fields with Old Woman Luo since childhood, Shui Ai possessed considerable brute strength. Coupled with her intelligence and ability to apply what she learned, Xia Sheng found that teaching two students or three made little difference, so he eventually took Shui Ai on as a disciple as well.
After several years of training, Shui Ai might still struggle against true masters, but she could easily handle several ordinary people at once.
This came as a pleasant surprise to Ren Yaoqi, who now wanted to assign Shui Ai as Ren Yaohua’s dowry maid. With a skilled martial artist like Shui Ai by her side after Ren Yaohua married into the Lei Family, it would make many things more convenient for her.
Ren Yaohua was taken aback for a moment, then glanced at Shui Ai a few more times. Taking Ren Yaoqi’s hint, Shui Ai immediately stepped forward to pay her respects to Ren Yaohua.
Though Ren Yaohua was somewhat fond of this martial arts-trained maid, she thought for a moment and shook her head. “I already have enough people around me. Let her stay with you instead.”
Only after everyone had returned to the room did Ren Yaoqi tease Ren Yaohua, “Third Sister, don’t tell me you’re looking down on her? Don’t underestimate Shui Ai just because she’s young—she knows quite a lot. Please accept her.” Ren Yaoqi had placed Shui Ai in the Xianwang Residence with the intention of nurturing a trusted confidante. Alongside martial arts, Shui Ai and the Leshan-Leshui sisters had also studied pharmacology, medicine, bookkeeping, accounting, and social etiquette—all in preparation for serving their future mistresses in significant ways.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s insistence, Ren Yaohua accepted her kindness.
And so, Shui Ai became Ren Yaohua’s dowry maid.
Before Chuchu left, she mentioned that Rong Shi had already invited Lady Xu and Ouyang Shi to serve as the principal officiant at Ren Yaoqi’s coming-of-age ceremony, while the commandery princess would act as Ren Yaoqi’s assistant. Both Lady Xu and Princess Xiao had readily agreed.
Rong Shi felt that it didn’t matter if Ren Yaoqi’s coming-of-age ceremony was quiet and low-key, but the proper rituals must not be omitted. While there was no need for extravagance, they also couldn’t afford to let others look down on it.
Ren Yaoqi knew that Rong Shi was planning for her future and felt grateful. Naturally, she couldn’t refuse such kindness, so she followed Rong Shi’s arrangements.Thus, within a few days, Ren Yaoqi welcomed her fifteenth birthday.
Adhering to the principle of keeping a low profile, Ren Yaoqi's coming-of-age ceremony only invited a few close friends and relatives. However, with the wife of the headmaster of Yunyang Academy serving as the principal guest and Princess Xiao as the assistant, there were few young ladies in all of Yanbei who could match Ren Yaoqi in terms of the ceremony's grandeur.
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