The Little White River was located in the southern outskirts of White Crane Town. By the time the Ren Family's carriages arrived, the warming sheds along the shore had already been set up the day before. The Ren Family had also sent people to erect countless colorful flags on the river surface, enclosing a vast space to keep out onlookers and unrelated individuals.
When Ren Yaoqi and the other female family members stepped out of the carriage, they saw that a large crowd of spectators had already gathered outside. Some older children were dragging flat-bottomed sleds made of wooden planks with coarse hemp ropes across the unenclosed ice, while others, wearing homemade ice skates, whooshed back and forth, laughing and shouting loudly.
The Ren Family's steward found them too noisy and sent servants to chase them away several times, but as soon as they left, other children would return, making it impossible to keep them all away. In the end, it was the Ren Family's eldest young master, Ren Yiyan, who spoke up, saying that today's outing was meant for enjoyment and that liveliness was even better, so the matter was dropped.
Aside from Fifth Master Ren Shimiao and Fifth Madam Lin, everyone else present today were younger members of the Ren Family. Before the group set out, the Fifth Master and his wife had mentioned having some matters to attend to first and would not be traveling with them, so for the time being, the eldest young master Ren Yiyan and his wife, Eldest Young Madam Zhao Shi, were in charge.
Ren Yaoqi and the other sisters of the Ren Family followed Zhao Shi to the warming shed. As soon as they took their seats, they saw another group of people enter—it was actually the young lady of the Han Family, who rarely ventured out.
Ren Yaoqi looked outside and indeed saw the Han Family's young master, Han Yunqian, walking toward them while chatting and laughing with Ren Yiyan, Qiu Yun, and a few others.
"Huh? Who is this?" asked the seventh young lady from the East Mansion, Ren Yaoting, looking puzzled at the approaching Han Family young lady. She had never met Han You before.
Ren Yaoyin smiled and said, "This is the young lady of the Han Family. Her elder brother is a close classmate and friend of our third cousin and the others at Yunyang Academy, so our cousin sent an invitation to the Han Family."
Han You stepped forward with a smile to greet everyone, and Eldest Young Madam Zhao Shi arranged for her to sit between Ren Yaoyin and Ren Yaoqi.
"When I heard my cousin and elder brother discussing sending an invitation to the Han Family, I was worried you might not be able to come. I'm glad you made it," Ren Yaoyin said to Han You with a friendly smile.
Han You's eyes sparkled as she looked around. Hearing Ren Yaoyin's words, she replied shyly in a soft voice, "Last month, when I received your invitation, my... my mother happened to fall ill, so... This time, my mother and brother persuaded my grandmother, and I was able to come."
Han You's explanation was a bit disjointed, but the others had heard about her family situation from her before, so they understood what she meant and couldn't help but feel even more sympathy for her.
Although Han You was somewhat shy due to rarely going out, she was gentle and well-mannered, so after interacting with her, none of the Ren Family sisters disliked her.
Everyone sat drinking tea and eating snacks, but the competition outside was delayed in starting. Eldest Young Madam Zhao Shi explained that they were waiting for Fifth Master and Fifth Madam Lin to arrive.
After waiting for a long time, Eldest Young Master Ren Yiyan sent someone back outside to look for Fifth Master and Madam Lin while announcing that the competition here would begin.
At that moment, Yun Wenfang, Han Yunqian, Qiu Yun, and the Ren Family's fifth young master, Ren Yijian, came out wearing thin clothing. Several maids were tying leg wraps and ice skates onto their legs.
The ice skates were made of iron and fastened to their feet with straps.
"Is Fifth Brother going to compete?" Eldest Young Madam Zhao Shi was taken aback and looked at the Ren Family sisters, clearly unaware of this beforehand.The Ren sisters exchanged glances, but the Han family's young lady spoke up: "On the way here, I heard Young Master Qiu telling my brother that each of them would lead a team of servants."
Sure enough, everyone noticed they wore four different colored belts around their waists.
The young masters of the Ren family had played this game before, but had never personally participated in the competition. They were merely there to watch the excitement.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shi grew anxious. With Madam Lin and Fifth Master absent, she and the eldest young master were in charge here. She feared that if anything went wrong, she would have no way to explain it to Old Madam Ren and First Madam. So she hurriedly rose to discuss the matter with Eldest Young Master Ren Yiyan.
Ren Yaoyu curled her lip and complained, "Eldest Sister-in-law is just too timid, never daring to make decisions on anything. If my mother were here, it wouldn't be so troublesome."
Ren Yaoyin frowned slightly and softly defended her sister-in-law: "Eldest Sister-in-law is also worried about our cousins' safety. I heard last year someone broke their neck during an ice-skating competition."
Eldest Young Madam Zhao Shi also came from a prominent and noble family, gentle and demure in temperament, always adhering to rules and conventions. On the second day of her marriage, when she and Eldest Young Master Ren Yiyan went to serve tea to the elders of the Ren family, it was raining outside and the path was slippery. As they ascended the steps, Ren Yiyan inadvertently supported her in front of everyone, causing her to blush so fiercely she nearly tumbled down the stairs. Her face remained flushed the entire day, and she was too embarrassed to leave her room for half a month.
After two years of marriage, Zhao Shi still showed no signs of pregnancy, making her even more cautious and reserved within the Ren family. Fortunately, Ren Yiyan had a gentle disposition, and the couple had always been harmonious.
A short while later, Zhao Shi returned somewhat dejected. Clearly, the young masters over there had refused to listen to her advice and insisted on participating.
Ren Yijian, still dressed in his gear, ran over, winking and bowing with clasped hands: "Dear sisters-in-law and sisters, when it's time to give rewards later, be sure to recognize this red waistband of mine! Be generous—I'm the only one from the Ren family competing."
Saying this, Ren Yijian proudly twirled in front of everyone, making sure they all saw the red belt tied around his waist.
Qiu Yun teased him from the side: "If your skills aren't up to par, just admit defeat. With your approach, most of the people sitting here today are from the Ren family anyway."
Everyone couldn't help but laugh. Ren Yijian's face flushed red, and he made a funny face before running off.
Qiu Yun winked at Yun Wenfang: "Should we also learn from that kid and go curry some favor? Otherwise, what if no one cheers for us later?"
Yun Wenfang glanced toward the women's section, his gaze pausing briefly on Ren Yaoqi before shifting away. He smirked and joked, "Sure, but if you lose, will you also cry like he did?"
Qiu Yun chuckled, remembering how he had once teased Ren Yijian for crying and throwing a tantrum after losing a childhood chess game.
Outside, the sound of a gong rang out, signaling the start of the competition. Everyone headed outside. On the ice, four teams of eight people each were already lined up.
The first event was "racing for first place," which was an individual competition without team divisions. After three drumbeats, everyone wearing ice skates would speed across the river and back. The first to return would be the winner.
Hearing the cheers outside, those inside the warm shed could no longer remain seated. They crowded toward the entrance to watch. With no elders present today, even Zhao Shi felt much more relaxed and was pulled along by Ren Yaoyu to join them.Seeing Han You was also eager to watch, Ren Yaoyin took the initiative to invite her along. The two asked Ren Yaoqi if she wanted to go outside, but Ren Yaoqi shook her head. "You go ahead, I'll sit a while longer."
Noticing Ren Yaohua hadn't left either, Ren Yaoqi smiled and asked, "Third Sister, aren't you going to take a look? The steward has already sent many strong laborers from the mines to surround the area outside, and there are plenty of matrons guarding the greenhouse. Unauthorized people won't be able to enter."
Ren Yaohua wasn't usually easy to get along with, so when the sisters of the Ren Family went out in twos and threes, no one had invited her.
Ren Yaohua seemed lost in thought. Hearing this, she looked up but hadn't yet replied when the sound of gongs and drums erupted outside. Then several maids, each carrying a shallow basket, began weaving through the crowd, asking for tips. They wore red, yellow, blue, and green belts around their waists, representing the teams of the four young masters.
Led by Ren Yiyan and Zhao Shi, everyone generously opened their purses to show support.
Ren Yaoqi turned and instructed Xueli, "Give a silver coin to that little maid with the red belt." Then she asked Ren Yaohua, "What about you, Third Sister? Who will you choose?"
Ren Yaohua ordered her maid Wujing, "Give to the red belt for Fifth Brother."
Xueli and Wujing happily went off.
Seeing the other two maids behind her craning their necks and looking eager, Ren Yaoqi smiled and said, "You two go as well. Xiangqin and the others can attend to things here." Maids and matrons could also give tips—it was considered auspicious.
Xiangqin was Ren Yaohua's maid, but the maids around Ren Yaoqi were more playful. Hearing this, they withdrew cheerfully.
"You're too indulgent with them!" Ren Yaohua frowned disapprovingly.
Ren Yaoqi smiled. The maids by her side were still those given by Concubine Fang for the time being—they were rather lively and would mostly be replaced later.
Just then, a maid wearing a green belt approached. Holding her basket, she bowed properly, her gaze sweeping over Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua before settling on Ren Yaoqi with a smile. "This servant has come to ask for a tip for Young Master Wen."
Ren Yaoqi was slightly taken aback. Who to tip and how much were matters of personal choice—how could someone actively ask for one?
Beside her, Ren Yaohua glanced at the maid, then frowned at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi smiled. "The maids by my side have all gone to watch the excitement. I'll have someone send it to you for the next round. Which courtyard are you from? I don't recall seeing you before."
The maid pursed her lips into a smile. "This servant was sent by my family's elderly madam to attend to my young master. I'm not from the Ren residence, which is why Fifth Miss doesn't recognize me."
After a moment's thought, she added, "A tip is just for good fortune—it doesn't have to be money. Fifth Miss could give something else instead..."
Before she could finish, Ren Yaohua said sternly, "Even if you're not a maid of our Ren Family, hasn't your household taught you any manners? It's not your place to dictate how a mistress gives rewards!"
Completed Works:
[bookid=2288861,bookname=The Noble Daughter's Murder]
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