The consort dowager of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion is the Old Princess Consort. Her Highness the Consort Dowager dislikes being addressed as such, because if she were called Consort Dowager Li, her rival, Consort Yun, who is only half a rank below her, would also become Consort Dowager Yun, making it impossible to distinguish their difference in status from their titles. Therefore, Her Highness the Consort Dowager instructed others to address her as the Old Princess Consort, while Consort Yun is addressed as Old Madam Yun, clearly establishing their hierarchy.
Birthdays come every year, and celebrations are held annually, so there is nothing particularly unusual about them. However, this year seems a little different because the Prince of Yanbei had submitted a memorial early on, requesting permission for the Yanbei Prince's heir, who was held as a hostage in the capital, to return to celebrate the Consort Dowager's birthday.
The Yanbei Prince's heir, Xiao Jingkang, was summoned to the capital as a hostage by the imperial court from a young age and had hardly returned to Yanbei since then. Even his marriage was arranged entirely by the court. This time, under the pretext of Consort Dowager Li's birthday, the heir requested permission to return to Yanbei, which was a joyous occasion for the people of Yanbei.
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was somewhat surprised, as she did not recall the heir Xiao returning to Yanbei at this time in her previous life. Moreover, given the current tense situation between the court and Yanbei due to the Ningxia affair, coupled with the involvement of the Xianwang Residence, wouldn’t the court fear releasing the tiger back to the mountains by allowing the heir to return? It probably wouldn’t be easy for the heir to return to Yanbei, would it?
Over there, Lei Ting had only mentioned it in passing before continuing his conversation with Third Master Ren about the compilation of books. Ren Yaoqi did not dwell on it further.
After the meal, Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi, the two sisters, went aside for a private conversation. Ren Yaohua told Ren Yaoqi about Madam Xiao Qiao’s situation. Ren Yaoqi only reminded Ren Yaohua to pay attention to Madam Xiao Qiao’s movements and see if she had any contact with outsiders, but she didn’t say much else.
Ren Yaohua and Lei Ting stayed until after dinner before returning home. When it was time to leave, the most reluctant to part was Lei Pan'er. There was a pomegranate tree in the backyard of the Ren Family bearing fruit, and Lei Pan'er had spent the day directing the maids to pick all the pomegranates from the tree. Although the fruit wasn’t very sweet, the little girl had a great time playing and even insisted that next year’s pomegranates be saved for her to pick. Lei Pan'er was clever and lively, and everyone in the Ren Family adored her. Even Third Master Ren gave her a Tianhuang stone seal he had carved himself, featuring flowers and birds.
Madam Li and Ren Yaoqi personally escorted Ren Yaohua to the Inner Gate and only turned back to the inner courtyard after their carriage had driven away. However, as soon as they reached the Chuihua Gate, they saw Ren Yihong approaching with an unfamiliar young man.
Seeing Madam Li and Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yihong hurried forward to greet them. Earlier, Ren Yihong had also come to meet his brother-in-law, Lei Ting, but was later sent by Third Master Ren to the outer courtyard to study.
"Mother, this is Father’s student, Meng Shilin. Father asked me to bring him here, saying he has something to give to Brother Shilin," Ren Yihong explained quickly as Madam Li looked at the young man beside him.
Meng Shilin promptly bowed to Madam Li, addressing her as "Shimu" (teacher’s wife).
Ren Yaoqi also glanced at the young man. Though his appearance was ordinary, his demeanor was refined, and his movements carried the scholarly air of a well-read person. When meeting Madam Li and Ren Yaoqi, his attitude was composed, yet he respectfully avoided looking directly at Ren Yaoqi’s face. His poised and dignified manner clearly indicated a good upbringing. However, although the fabric of his clothes wasn’t too poor, it appeared to have been washed many times and was quite worn."You're surnamed Meng?" Madam Li smiled kindly at Meng Shilin and asked casually.
The Meng family was also a prominent clan in Yanbei. The aunt of the Guo family's eldest daughter, Guo Yujiao, was the current matriarch of the Meng family. Hearing his surname was Meng, Madam Li assumed he was a member of the Meng family.
Meng Shilin bowed his head respectfully and replied, "Reporting to Madam, I am from a collateral branch of the Meng family."
Hearing he was only from a collateral branch, Madam Li did not look down on him and still spoke amiably, "I've heard my husband mention he has a talented student surnamed Meng—that must be you. Don't stand outside; come in and sit while waiting. I'll have someone fetch my husband."
Meng Shilin quickly expressed his thanks. Just then, Third Master Ren walked out from inside, holding several books. Everyone promptly greeted Third Master Ren.
Madam Li felt it inappropriate to stay longer and took Ren Yaoqi back with her.
In the evening, when Ren Yaoqi went to bid her parents goodnight, she happened to hear Third Master Ren and Madam Li discussing Meng Shilin in the side room as she approached the main quarters.
Third Master Ren asked Madam Li, "You just met Meng Shilin. What do you think of him?"
Madam Li paused for a moment before replying, "He seems like a well-mannered young man."
Ren Shimin nodded with satisfaction. "Not only is he well-mannered, but he's also quite scholarly, with excellent calligraphy. Among my many students, his aptitude is the best. It's a pity he missed the autumn imperial examinations this time and will have to wait another three years." At this point, Ren Shimin sighed regretfully.
"I heard he's from a collateral branch of the Meng family?" Madam Li asked.
Ren Shimin nodded. "His branch is quite distant from the main lineage. His father and legal mother have passed away, and he lives with his concubine mother. They have no stable property. Fortunately, as a member of the Meng family, he still receives support from the clan; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to enter Yunyang Academy."
Prominent families typically ran clan schools to provide education for their younger members. In Meng Shilin's situation, he still received monthly assistance from the clan.
It was rare for Madam Li to hear Ren Shimin discuss a student's family background in such detail, so she cautiously probed, "From what you've said, it seems you hold him in high regard?"
Ren Shimin readily admitted, "Yes. Although Meng Shilin's family background is lacking, I am not one to judge by status. That's why I want him to become my 'half-son.'"
"Half-son" meant son-in-law. Did Third Master Ren want Meng Shilin to become his son-in-law?
Madam Li was taken aback again and couldn't help but ask cautiously, "Which daughter do you intend to marry to Meng Shilin?"
Third Master Ren replied matter-of-factly, "Which daughter? Of course, it's Yaoying. They're both of concubine-born status, so they're well-matched. Yaoqi is still young; there's no hurry!"
Madam Li: "..."
Third Master Ren seemed to have forgotten that Ren Yaoying was younger than Ren Yaoqi.
Nevertheless, Madam Li breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing how highly Third Master Ren regarded Meng Shilin, she had feared he intended to marry Ren Yaoqi to him. Although Madam Li did not look down on Meng Shilin, that didn't mean she was willing to marry her own daughter to a concubine-born son. Fortunately, Third Master Ren hadn't let his admiration for talent cloud his judgment."Yaoying is still in White Crane Town, and her marriage will likely require Mother's opinion." Madam Li thought for a moment, tactfully reminding Third Master Ren. Third Master Ren was a man who valued talent, but others in the Ren Family might not see it that way. Although Meng Shilin was not from a poor family, he was not much better off, and Old Madam Ren might not approve.
However, Third Master Ren had too favorable an impression of Meng Shilin and replied dismissively, "I can still decide the marriage of a concubine-born daughter. You needn’t worry about Mother; I’ll bring it up with her myself."
Seeing that Third Master Ren had made up his mind, Madam Li said nothing more. Aside from his family background, there was nothing particularly wrong with Young Master Meng.
After hearing this conversation, Ren Yaoqi shook her head. Third Master Ren’s wish to marry Ren Yaoying off to Meng Shilin would likely not be so easy. Even if she was just a concubine-born daughter, she was still a bargaining chip for the elders of the Ren Family to exchange for benefits. How could Third Master Ren casually meddle with her?
Nevertheless, Ren Shimin took this matter to heart. A few days after discussing it with Madam Li, he personally went to White Crane Town to discuss his plan to marry Ren Yaoying to Meng Shilin with Old Madam Ren.
Unfortunately, Old Madam Ren was very dissatisfied with Ren Shimin’s arrangement and flatly rejected it.
Ren Yaoying had become a laughingstock due to the incident with the concubine, so naturally, prominent families in Yan Prefecture would not consider her at this time. However, Old Madam Ren had other plans in mind.
The Ren Family was visibly declining day by day, and the He Family of Zhuozhou, who had long been business partners with the Ren Family, seemed to be looking for other collaborators. The He Family was in the porcelain business and had been a significant partner of the Ren Family over the years. Moreover, after generations of operation, the He Family held a respectable position in Zhuozhou’s business circles. If the He Family abandoned their business dealings with the Ren Family at this time, the Ren Family would lose far more than just one business partner.
Thus, Old Madam Ren wanted to form a marriage alliance with the He Family by marrying Ren Yaoying to Eldest Master He as a second wife. Eldest Master He was the eldest legitimate son and head of the He Family. His first wife had passed away two years ago, and he had two legitimate daughters, three concubine-born daughters, and two concubine-born sons. However, Eldest Master He was already nearly fifty years old, only a few years younger than Old Madam Ren herself.
Old Madam Ren favored Eldest Master He because he was the eldest legitimate son of the He Family. Once the head of the He Family passed away, Eldest Master He would take over. Moreover, Eldest Master He only had two concubine-born sons and no legitimate sons. Old Madam Ren hoped that after Ren Yaoying married into the family, she would strive to bear a son, which would be ideal.
Old Madam Ren shared her plans with Third Master Ren, who was naturally extremely unwilling. Marrying a concubine-born daughter off as a second wife was one thing, but having a son-in-law older than himself was something Third Master Ren felt he could not bear. If this marriage were to proceed, he would never be able to hold his head up among his friends again.
In the end, neither Old Madam Ren nor Third Master Ren could persuade the other, and they parted on bad terms.
Old Madam Ren, being cunning, feared that Third Master Ren would be difficult to handle. To preempt him, she secretly began marriage negotiations with the He Family behind Third Master Ren’s back, intending to marry Ren Yaoying off before he could arrange her marriage to his impoverished student. Third Master Ren was no match for Old Madam Ren in such matters and fell a step behind.
Ren Yaoqi watched coldly from the sidelines, neither interfering nor inquiring.Yet no one could have anticipated that shortly thereafter, a major incident would occur in the capital: the Crown Prince Xiao was assassinated and severely wounded.
Update for March 6th added.
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