Expulsion from the clan was a grave matter, typically reserved only for those unfilial and disloyal individuals who had committed shameful acts that brought disgrace upon the family and earned the contempt of the clan. It was a significant stain on one's reputation.
Ren Shimin had never been a reliable head of the household, but the Confucian values of "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness" were deeply ingrained in his bones as a scholar. Thus, although he had once looked down upon his wife's family, he had not stopped Madam Li from providing them with support. This time, when their residence was surrounded by officials due to the Xianwang Residence affair, he did not blame Madam Li either.
He was a simple and pure-hearted man, so he could not understand why his own clan would expel him without cause.
"Why... is this?" Third Master Ren asked, his voice tinged with anger and confusion.
Ren Yaoqi inquired of the gatekeeper, "Which member of the Ren Family has come?" After all, only a representative of the Ren Family could lend credibility to the matter.
"The elders from the third branch and several masters have come. The Eldest Master is also here, though he is standing to the side and hasn't spoken."
The elder of the third branch was a half-brother of Ren Yonghe and Ren Yongxiang, who had been separated from the main family early on and only maintained contact during festivals. However, as the third branch had always been dependent on the main lineage, its members had always been subservient to Ren Yonghe as the head of the family. This time, they were once again pushed forward by the Ren Family to handle the matter of expelling Ren Shimin from the clan.
The Eldest Master was Ren Shimin's own elder brother, Ren Shizhong.
Upon hearing that Ren Shizhong had also come, Ren Shimin said, "I will go ask my elder brother what exactly is going on."
As Ren Shimin made to leave, Ren Yaoqi stopped him. "Wait, Father. I have something to say to you."
Though troubled and anxious, Ren Shimin halted. "You should return to your mother first. I will go see your uncle and ask them what this is all about."
Ren Yaoqi signaled for the gatekeeper to withdraw. When Nanny Zhou offered to go out and see what was happening, Ren Yaoqi stopped her, and Nanny Zhou stepped behind Ren Yaoqi instead.
Only then did Ren Yaoqi speak to Ren Shimin. "Father, I know what is happening."
Ren Shimin frowned and looked at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi sighed. "Grandfather and Grandmother are afraid of being implicated by us because of Grandfather Li's family's disappearance and the officials surrounding our residence."
Ren Shimin was taken aback. "Didn't you say before that nothing serious would happen?"
Ren Yaoqi shook her head. "Nothing serious will happen, but Grandfather and Grandmother have always been cautious... Father, do you remember what happened with Fifth Aunt and Eighth Sister?"
Ren Shimin immediately recalled the incident when the Ren Family had forbidden Madam Lin and her daughter from returning, which had led Fifth Master Ren to leave the family. He had once thought his younger brother was being extreme, but now that it was his turn, he too felt an uncontrollable rage.
"For something so baseless, they would expel me from the clan?" Ren Shimin could hardly believe it.
Ren Yaoqi nodded. "Sacrificing a pawn to save the chariot..."
Ren Shimin's face flushed and paled alternately. He had never felt such anger in his entire life.
Ren Yaoqi comforted him, "Father, don't worry too much. I suspect that once the guards outside are withdrawn and the rumors subside, Grandfather and Grandmother will surely accept us back."Ren Shimin pursed his lips, remained silent for a moment, then said coldly, "I'll go ask Eldest Brother for clarification. If the Ren Family really intends to expel me from the clan over this matter, then... then I won't return in the future."
Third Master Ren had never been one with a good temper. He suffered from the common flaws of a literati and renowned scholar—pride, stubbornness, and a face-saving attitude that outweighed all else. Once his reverse scale was touched, not even the highest authority could sway him. Otherwise, in his previous life, he wouldn't have met such an end.
This time, Ren Yaoqi did not stop Ren Shimin. Only when he was nearly out of the courtyard gate did she instruct Nanny Zhou, "Nanny Zhou, go out and keep an eye on things."
Nanny Zhou acknowledged and was about to leave when Ren Yaoqi glanced at her. "You know what to say and what not to say, right?"
Nanny Zhou paused, tentatively asking, "What does Fifth Miss mean...?"
Ren Yaoqi replied calmly, "That incident when Third Sister got married—you wouldn’t want to see it happen again, would you?"
Nanny Zhou was startled. After a moment of contemplation, she immediately understood Ren Yaoqi's meaning. Did Fifth Miss intend to use this opportunity to completely break away from the Ren Family?
"My maternal grandparents' family has now gone to Hezhong. No one knows what will happen next. You must be aware of how my paternal grandparents conduct themselves. If someone with ulterior motives takes advantage in the future, the consequences could be unimaginable."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Zhou felt a chill in her heart and immediately said, "Yes, Miss, this servant knows what to do." After saying this, she hurried out, hoping to catch up with Ren Shimin.
Nanny Zhou was from Xianwang Residence, and her loyalty to Xianwang Residence far exceeded that to the Ren Family. Thus, she understood that her task today was to make the Ren Family believe their branch was in a precarious situation and to solidify the Ren Family's decision to expel them from the clan. When paths diverge, there is no common purpose. The Ren Family as in-laws would only bring endless trouble to Prince Xian.
Ren Yaoqi knew that with Nanny Zhou involved, this matter would surely succeed. She did not follow to observe but instead turned and went to the main room to accompany Madam Li.
Madam Li was waiting for Nanny Zhou to return and report. Ren Yaoqi briefly explained what had happened outside. Upon hearing this, Madam Li was stunned for a long while before finally sighing, "I've implicated your father again."
Ren Yaoqi remained silent.
Madam Li continued with a bitter smile, "No one understands why I insisted on marrying him. Because they don’t know, but I do—your father is a good man. The first time I met your father, I was about your age. It was during the Lantern Festival that year. Your uncle secretly took me out to see the lanterns. The streets were so crowded that I was pushed and bumped into your father, nearly causing him to fall. Guess what the first thing he said to me was?"
As she spoke, Madam Li seemed to recall something amusing. The smile on her face made her look as if she had grown ten years younger, returning to that Lantern Festival over a decade ago.
"What did Father say?" Ren Yaoqi was curious. This was the first time she had heard her mother speak of her and her father's youth.
Madam Li said with a smile, "He said, 'Miss, you've damaged my painting.'"
Madam Li remembered the young man from back then, frowning and glaring at her unhappily, while firmly protecting the scroll in his arms.“I was terrified when I got separated from your uncle, and having just arrived in Yanbei, I didn’t even know the way back. Seeing he had the appearance of a scholar and didn’t seem like a bad person, I begged him to help me find your uncle.” In her youth, Madam Li was not immune to the mistake of judging by appearances. Among all the passersby around her, she had to ask Ren Shimin, who happened to dislike her at the time—perhaps because Ren Shimin was exceptionally handsome in his youth.
“Did he help you find him?” Ren Yaoqi asked, tilting her head.
Madam Li nodded with a smile. “Yes, he did.”
Although Ren Shimin’s expression was unpleasant at the time, he still sent his servant to help find Li Tianyou. In her early days in Yanbei over a decade ago, Madam Li still carried some of the willfulness of a Commandery Princess. Seeing that Ren Shimin was willing to help, she begged him to stay and wait with her, adding that she had been eyed by a few ill-intentioned people earlier and was afraid of encountering danger.
Ren Shimin was extremely impatient at the time and kept a distance of three steps, refusing to get close. However, he did not abandon her and leave on his own until his servant found Li Tianyou and brought him over.
In her youthful naivety, Madam Li thought to herself, “This young master is truly a good person.”
As mother and daughter were reminiscing about the past, Ren Shimin and Nanny Zhou returned.
Ren Shimin entered first, lifting the curtain. His expression was grim, devoid of emotion, and even his gaze was icy cold. Everyone in the Ren Family knew that Third Master Ren was terrifying when angry, but Ren Yaoqi had only seen him this furious once before—the last time was when the Ren Family tried to give her away as a concubine to a eunuch.
Seeing him like this, Madam Li dared not speak. Silently, she picked up the teacup she had just used from the low table and handed it to Ren Shimin. He took it and smashed it fiercely onto the ground. Madam Li glanced at the shattered pieces, her demeanor exceedingly gentle and submissive.
Ren Yaoqi stood to the side without speaking either, having roughly guessed what had just happened outside.
Nanny Zhou soon entered as well. She glanced at Ren Yaoqi and gave a slight nod before lowering her head and standing aside, not rushing to have anyone clean up the broken teacup on the floor.
Only after Ren Shimin had smashed the teacup and sat down did Madam Li instruct the maid to bring a fresh cup of tea. This time, as she took the teacup, she tested its temperature with her hand as she always did before handing it to Ren Shimin again.
Ren Shimin took the tea but did not smash it this time. He lifted the lid, took a sip, and then said calmly, “From now on, our branch will be independent and have no further ties with the Ren Family. Pass down the order: from now on, address me as ‘Master,’ not ‘Third Master’ anymore.”
Madam Li and Nanny Zhou paused briefly, both responding respectfully, “Yes.”
Ren Shimin said nothing more. He silently finished his tea, set the cup down, and wordlessly rose to leave the main room, heading to his study.
Only then did Nanny Zhou instruct Xier to have someone clean up the floor and report to Ren Yaoqi and Madam Li what had just happened outside.
The Ren Family had publicly listed Third Master Ren’s offenses outside: arrogance, extravagance, disrespect for elders… item by item, they condemned Third Master Ren as if he were utterly wicked.Third Master Ren stood expressionless at the door, listening until they finished their litany of complaints. His gaze remained fixed on Ren Shizhong, who stood silently to the side. Eldest Master Ren Shizhong of the Ren Family, however, dared not meet Ren Shimin’s eyes.
Finally, Ren Shimin asked his elder brother, “Is the Ren Family truly going to be this heartless?”
Ren Shizhong opened his mouth, then somewhat awkwardly averted his eyes and said, “I’ll go back and try to persuade Father and Mother again.”
Ren Shimin persisted, “Is the Ren Family truly going to expel me from the clan over these baseless accusations?”
Ren Shizhong fell silent.
Ren Shimin stared at him for a long moment, then nodded. “So be it. From now on, I am no longer a member of the Ren Family.” With that, he turned and walked away.
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