Madam Li ushered the Princess Consort to the seat of honor in the main hall and instructed maids to serve tea and refreshments. The Princess Consort first exchanged a few words with Ren Shimin and Madam Li, then beckoned Ren Yaoqi to her side, asking what books she had been reading recently and how the progress was on restoring the incomplete musical scores with Lady Xu. The Princess Consort’s manner was very amiable, and Ren Yaoqi answered each question respectfully. The Princess Consort looked at Ren Yaoqi with evident satisfaction.
Once the pleasantries were nearly concluded, the Princess Consort took Ren Yaoqi’s hand and patted it gently, whispering, "I have some matters to discuss with your parents. Be a good child and step outside for now. You may return later."
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Ren Shimin and Madam Li, then lowered her head in acknowledgment. She rose, bowed, and withdrew.
After leaving the main room, Ren Yaoqi waited under the eaves of the corridor, staring absently at a wintersweet tree in the corner. Nanny Zhou, standing guard by the curtain, glanced at Ren Yaoqi, thinking to herself that the young lady must be pondering her own marriage prospects. In truth, Ren Yaoqi was only wondering whether this newly transplanted wintersweet tree would bloom this year.
After some time had passed, the conversation inside the main room was nearly finished, and Ren Shimin emerged first. Seeing Ren Yaoqi waiting under the eaves, he waved her over, signaling for her to follow him. Ren Yaoqi accompanied Ren Shimin to the corner where the wintersweet tree stood.
"Why has Father come out?" Ren Yaoqi asked.
"The important matters have been discussed. The Princess Consort is now speaking with your mother about affairs among the women of the inner household. It wouldn’t be proper for me to remain," Ren Shimin replied, his brow slightly furrowed.
Ren Yaoqi looked at Ren Shimin, waiting for him to continue.
Ren Shimin gazed quietly at the wintersweet tree for a moment, then turned to look at Ren Yaoqi. "It has only just occurred to me that Yaoyao has grown up."
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but smile at this. "Father, I have already had my coming-of-age ceremony."
Ren Shimin also smiled, though his tone carried a hint of melancholy. "Yes, you have. But I’ve always felt you were still young. I had originally hoped to keep you at home for a few more years."
"Then I shall stay and accompany Father for a few more years," Ren Yaoqi said, blinking playfully with a smile.
Ren Shimin gave her a sidelong glance and chuckled softly.
Ren Yaoqi was reminded of the matter of her parents agreeing to Xiao Jingxi’s marriage proposal, and she couldn’t help but blush slightly.
Ren Shimin, however, grew serious. "Yaoyao, tell me honestly, how much do you know about Second Young Master Xiao?"
"What does Father mean?"
Ren Shimin’s previously relaxed brow furrowed again. "Naturally, about his illness. I had heard he was gravely ill, that he had teetered on the brink of death several times. But from what the Princess Consort implied just now, it seems there might be more to the story? Objectively speaking, the second son of Yanbei Prince’s Mansion is impeccable in terms of family background, appearance, and talent. My only concern is his health. You are so young; you cannot possibly marry into his family only to..." Ren Shimin paused, swallowing the words "become a widow."
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "I don’t know the specifics, but it likely isn’t as severe as the rumors suggest."
Ren Shimin nodded understandingly. "Given his background, such things are hardly surprising." Yet after a moment’s thought, his brow furrowed again with concern. "However, I also feel that the environment in Yanbei Prince’s Mansion is far too complex. As the legitimate son of the Prince of Yanbei, he still struggles to evade others’ schemes. You..."Ren Yaoqi smiled at her father without speaking, knowing that Ren Shimin wasn't seeking any particular response from her. At this moment, no matter who it was, Master Ren would find plenty of faults to pick.
As Ren Yaoqi expected, Ren Shimin was simply conflicted, unable to adjust to the idea of his youngest daughter getting married.
In Ren Shimin's view, a son-in-law like Meng Shilin was still the best—impeccable in character and scholarship, with no elders above to pressure him. With him as the father-in-law, Meng Shilin wouldn't dare bully his daughter, or else Ren Shimin would accuse him of betraying his teacher and ancestors. But even so, when it came to marrying his most precious little daughter to Meng Shilin, Ren Shimin couldn't help feeling it wasn't quite suitable.
"Then does Father agree to this marriage?" Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile, feeling no reservations in front of Ren Shimin.
Ren Shimin looked at Ren Yaoqi, appearing somewhat sullen. "Aren't you willing yourself? Wouldn't you resent Father if I disagreed?"
Ren Yaoqi pursed her lips in a smile and gently tugged at Ren Shimin's sleeve. "I'll listen to Father. If you truly think it's not good, just refuse it."
Ren Shimin's expression finally brightened, and his previously gloomy mood improved considerably. After a moment's thought, he said seriously, "But the Princess Consort seems easy to get along with, and it's clear she likes you very much. I've been thinking—when marrying someone, whether the husband is good or not is secondary. What matters most is that the elders like you."
Ren Yaoqi was taken aback, never expecting her father to say something like this.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi's expression, Ren Shimin knew what she was thinking and sighed. "Just look at your mother."
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
"You go in and keep the Princess Consort company. I'm going to the study." Ren Shimin drifted off in thought for a while longer, then glanced toward the main room, waved at Ren Yaoqi, and strode toward the study, his sleeves fluttering gracefully, every movement still carrying the air of a distinguished scholar.
Ren Yaoqi shook her head, went to the Tea Water Room to personally brew a cup of tea for Ren Shimin, had a maid deliver it to him, then arranged several plates of pastries on a tray and carried it to the main room.
When Ren Yaoqi entered, the Princess Consort and Madam Li were chatting happily. They didn't seem to be discussing anything particularly important—the Princess Consort was sharing amusing stories from her time as Lady Xu's disciple, and Madam Li listened, laughing merrily.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi come in, the Princess Consort stopped mid-sentence and said to Madam Li, half-jokingly, "This is just between the two of us—we mustn't let Yaoqi know. As an elder, if my youthful embarrassments become known to the younger generation, I won't be able to maintain my dignity anymore."
Madam Li laughed again and nodded. "That makes sense. Don't worry, Sister Yun, I'll keep my lips sealed."
Ren Yaoqi arranged the tea and pastries one by one on the tea table, smiling as she lowered her head. "If I'd known the Princess Consort was discussing such important matters, I should have come in earlier to eavesdrop." But inwardly, she couldn't help thinking: The Princess Consort truly is Xiao Jingxi's mother—that sly fox. In just this short conversation, Madam Li had already let down her guard and formality, addressing her as "Sister Yun."
Hearing this, the Princess Consort playfully gave Ren Yaoqi a light pat.The Princess Consort sat for a little while longer before rising to take her leave. Madam Li and Ren Yaoqi escorted her out to the inner gate. As the Princess Consort was about to board her carriage, she glanced at Ren Yaoqi and said to Madam Li, "The guards outside your residence will be withdrawn tomorrow, so you can go about your business more conveniently." After a pause, she added meaningfully with a smile, "In a few days, I will send someone over to discuss the important matter."
The "important matter" the Princess Consort mentioned was undoubtedly the marriage proposal.
Madam Li also smiled and nodded, watching as the Princess Consort boarded her carriage. Only after the carriage from the Yanbei Prince's Mansion had left the residence did she lead Ren Yaoqi back inside.
"The Princess Consort has a good temperament," Madam Li sighed after the mother and daughter returned to their room.
Ren Yaoqi nodded in agreement, thinking to herself that she was also a formidable figure.
Ren Shimin and Madam Li had previously been reluctant about this marriage proposal, but after just a short while standing outside the door, their attitudes had changed to some extent. Ren Shimin no longer objected, and Madam Li was now willing. Ren Yaoqi felt she couldn't match the Princess Consort's skill in this regard.
News of the Princess Consort's personal visit to the Ren Family spread quickly after her carriage left their residence. Almost every household in Yunyang City soon knew about it. Combined with the earlier rumors of Second Young Master Xiao proposing to the Ren Family, it wasn't difficult to guess the reason for the Princess Consort's visit. For a time, people in Yunyang City couldn't help but feel envy and jealousy toward Ren Yaoqi.
Even when taking a daughter-in-law, not everyone had the fortune to receive such high regard from the Princess Consort, who personally lowered her status to visit their home and propose the marriage.
The Yun Family, the Princess Consort's maternal family, learned of this matter immediately. First Madam Yun promptly went to see Old Madam Yun.
Old Madam Yun's expression was not good at the moment. Although she had anticipated some interests between the Xianwang Residence and the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, and guessed that the Xianwang Residence might not be content to remain in Yanbei under someone else's thumb—perhaps even retaining some hidden forces—she had never expected Prince Xian to possess the late emperor's secret edict. This clever maneuver of secretly transferring provisions had shocked everyone.
Who could have imagined that, with such a significant advantage in hand, Prince Xian would willingly pretend to be mad and foolish, staying in Yanbei for over a decade?
The timing of Prince Xian's transformation into the Prince of Hezhong was just too coincidental—right after the death of the heir, leaving the Prince of Yanbei with only Xiao Jingxi as his son. To avoid being constrained by the imperial court, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion had no choice but to finalize Xiao Jingxi's marriage.
Old Madam Yun had originally believed that Yun Qiuchen was the most suitable candidate for the Yanbei Prince's Mansion at this time. Before Prince Xian became the Prince of Hezhong and Madam Li regained her title as Commandery Princess Jiayi, Ren Yaoqi's status would never have been worthy of the position of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion's heir's wife. Yet, it happened precisely at this moment...
Old Madam Yun felt the timing was too coincidental, almost as if someone had arranged it behind the scenes. But upon careful consideration, if someone truly had orchestrated such a scheme, it would have involved calculations against the imperial court, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, and the Xianwang Residence. Who could possess such cunning and strategic mind? The thought chilled Old Madam Yun, and she shook her head, suppressing this speculation.
"Mother, what should we do now?" First Madam Yun asked. Who could have anticipated the sudden appearance of the granddaughter of the Prince of Hezhong?
Old Madam Yun leaned back against the cushion, pressing her fingers to her temples. "Let's wait and see a little longer."First Madam Yun frowned. "But the Princess Consort has already personally visited the Ren Family. I heard that the officials in charge of etiquette at Yanbei Prince's Mansion have already begun preparations."
Old Madam Yun glanced at First Madam Yun, her expression remaining calm. "What else can we do? The marriage between Xianwang Residence and Yanbei Prince's Mansion is clearly a political alliance. Even our Yun Family must step aside and watch for now!"
Recent updates have been during the daytime—no need to wait for updates in the evening o(∩_∩)o.
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