"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Ren Yaohua frowned and asked. She knew Ren Yaoqi wouldn't bring this up without reason, and since Ren Yaoqi was set to marry into the Yanbei Prince's Mansion next month, Ren Yaohua couldn't help but become more sensitive.
Ren Yaoqi shook her head: "I just find it a bit strange, so I wanted to ask you. Perhaps I'm overthinking it."
Ren Yaohua's expression grew even more serious. She thought hard: "At that time, I was already quite exhausted. I can't really remember what happened outside, just vaguely recall many people talking around me, with Wujing standing by the bed... Right, Wujing was beside me the whole time, wiping my sweat. You could go ask her."
Seeing the weariness on Ren Yaohua's face and thinking she might be tired again, Ren Yaoqi nodded: "Then I'll go ask Wujing. Rest now, sister. I'll have someone wake you later to eat something."
Ren Yaohua agreed, letting Ren Yaoqi help her lie down. Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to leave, she added anxiously: "Oh, and please remember to thank that Madam Gong properly for me. I'll visit her personally to express my gratitude when I'm better. There's nothing more for me here—persuade Mother to go home first, and you should go back too. With your wedding next month, you must be swamped with preparations at home..."
Seeing her talk more and more, Ren Yaoqi helplessly interrupted: "I know. Actually, there's not much left to do at home—everything that needs preparing is already ready. Just let Mother stay here. Even if she leaves, she won't be at ease and will probably come running over every day."
With that, Ren Yaoqi lifted the curtain and went out before Ren Yaohua could say more.
Madam Li had no choice but to stay at the Lei residence. Since Ren Yaohua was currently unable to manage affairs, she had no elders above her, not even a sister-in-law who could help. If anything went wrong during this period, people would surely start gossiping about Ren Yaohua again. So, having no mother-in-law above and simple in-law relationships had both advantages and disadvantages.
In the outer room, Madam Li was chatting with Madam Qi about children. Ren Yijun sat to the side, drinking tea and eating snacks while pretending not to care, though he was actually listening intently. He even absentmindedly ate a piece of mung bean cake—his least favorite—without realizing it.
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but smile, though she feared her awkward third brother might lose his temper if she laughed. So she pretended not to notice and went to find Wujing.
Wujing was in the western side room with a few young maids, organizing the small clothes and diapers the baby had received over the past few days. Seeing Ren Yaoqi enter, she quickly came over: "Second Miss, do you need something?"
Ren Yaoqi nodded, and Wujing put down her work to follow her out.
"I heard you were in the delivery room the whole time yesterday. I wanted to ask if you remember who suggested sending for Madam Gong?"Although Wujing found Ren Yaoqi's question strange, she quickly replied, "I heard it was the midwife Granny Tang who delivered our young lady who mentioned it. She was the midwife Madam Li and Nanny Zhou found to deliver the young lady. At the time, both the young lady and the baby were in poor condition. Granny Tang told Madam Li that the baby was in a breech position, the umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck, and the amniotic fluid had broken too early. If they weren’t careful, not only would the baby be lost, but the mother would also be in great danger. Madam Li was terrified upon hearing this and begged her to think of a solution. She said she knew of someone who, if present, could definitely save both mother and child—that person was Nanny Gong. So Madam Li sent someone back to find you."
"Where is this Granny Tang from? Is she still in the residence?" Ren Yaoqi knew that since this Granny Tang had been employed, not only would her mother have investigated her background, but Ren Yaohua would also likely know.
"She’s a local of Yan Prefecture, from Rain Flower Town next to White Crane Town. She has quite a reputation in Yanbei, which is why Madam Li chose her from among the many midwives. Early this morning, she collected her payment from Nanny Zhou and left, saying she had another job in Rain Flower Town in the coming days and needed to return early to prepare."
Ren Yaoqi nodded, thinking there was nothing more to ask. On the surface, Granny Tang seemed unproblematic, but Ren Yaohua’s suspicions about her hadn’t diminished. However, since this matter likely wasn’t targeting the Lei Family or Ren Yaohua, Ren Yaoqi decided to investigate privately without worrying Ren Yaohua.
When she returned to the main room, Madam Li and Qi Yuegui were laughing about something, while Ren Yijun sat awkwardly to the side. Seeing Ren Yaoqi enter, Ren Yijun hurriedly stood up and said, "You’ve come just in time. I have something to discuss with you—I’ve been waiting for you for a while."
Ren Yaoqi thought helplessly, I’ve been in and out several times, and you only just noticed me? And you have the nerve to say you’ve been waiting for me?
Ren Yijun had already walked over, so Ren Yaoqi could only take him to the side room to talk.
Ren Yaoqi looked at Ren Yijun and teased with a smile, "What were they just talking to you about?"
Uncharacteristically shy, Ren Yijun replied in a gruff tone, "What do you, a child, know? Stop asking!"
Ren Yaoqi obediently nodded, her face still smiling. "Alright, I won’t ask then."
Ren Yijun snorted softly, but after a moment, he awkwardly added, "What else could it be? It’s about children. Third Aunt wants us to… ahem…"
Ren Yaoqi chuckled, "Isn’t that a good thing? Look at Sister’s little girl and Pan’er—they’re both so delightful."
At this, Ren Yijun fell silent for a moment and sighed.
Ren Yaoqi was surprised—she had never seen Ren Yijun sigh with such an expression. Her third brother had always been proud and prickly, but now he seemed somewhat hesitant and downcast.
He said softly, "It’s not that I don’t want children, but you know I’ve taken a lot of medicine over the years. I once read that long-term medication can be harmful to children, especially since some of the medicines I’ve taken contain ingredients that are harmful to ordinary people. Although I secretly stopped taking the medicine a while ago, now still isn’t the right time to have children…"Generally speaking, brothers shouldn't discuss such matters with unmarried sisters. However, Ren Yijun was too concerned with preserving his masculine dignity to speak of this with Madam Qi. He wasn't close with his brothers, and it was even more inappropriate to bring it up with elders. Thus, he could only talk to Ren Yaoqi, otherwise he would have been tormented by keeping it bottled up. Fortunately, Ren Yaoqi's temperament wasn't prudish, and her mental age was mature enough. If it had been any other young lady, she would likely have blushed and walked away long ago.
Ren Yaoqi asked, "Is it alright for you to stop taking the medicine? Have you consulted a doctor?"
"It's fine. They were just some mild tonic medicines that weren't very useful anyway. Taking them was worse than not taking them. Look, isn't my health much better now? I think what your third sister-in-law said makes some sense—my illness was probably caused by taking too much medicine."
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but chuckle. Her third sister-in-law always had such amusing things to say.
Ren Yijun also laughed, but after a moment, his expression turned serious again. "By the way, Second Young Master Xiao's health is probably even worse than mine. He must have taken plenty of medicine over the years. After you marry him, you should be careful about having children. After all, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion isn't like our small family. If something goes wrong, you'll regret it, but it'll be too late."
Now it was Ren Yaoqi's turn to feel awkward.
However, Ren Yijun's words weren't without reason. Moreover, Xiao Jingxi's "illness" was different from others—he had been poisoned. Ren Yaoqi recalled that he wasn't even afraid of spider venom before. If Xiao Jingxi had been taking medicine over the years, it must have involved using poison to counteract poison.
Although Ren Yaoqi didn't say it out loud, she wasn't without her own worries.
Still, Ren Yaoqi also believed in the saying, "What is meant to be will come, and what is not meant to be cannot be forced." If Xiao Jingxi's body wasn't suitable for having children, she wouldn't complain. The path was one she had chosen herself, and she had no regrets so far. What worried her was that Xiao Jingxi no longer had any blood brothers. If he couldn't have an heir, the power struggles within the Yanbei Prince's Mansion would likely intensify over time.
But these weren't things Ren Yaoqi should worry about at this moment. She felt it was better not to dwell on such matters now. The boat would straighten itself when it reached the bridge—there would always be a solution.
"By the way, do you know who the person was that wanted to buy the Ren Family ancestral home a while ago?" Ren Yaoqi changed the subject.
Ren Yijun didn't cling to the previous topic either. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "I heard my father mention it. He said it was an outsider, a merchant whose family deals in seafood and has plenty of money. When he came to the Ren Family, he brought a hundred thousand taels in silver notes and said the price was negotiable." Ren Yijun scoffed, "I think he had too much money to burn. Is that dilapidated house really worth a hundred thousand taels?"
Ren Yaoqi raised an eyebrow. "Did the Ren Family not agree?"Ren Yijun twitched the corner of his mouth. "Not only did he not agree, but when Eldest Brother said something like 'selling it might not be a bad idea,' the Old Master flew into a rage. Although he can no longer speak now, when he glares, he still carries the authority of a family head. My father gave Eldest Brother a good scolding. Actually, we all think Eldest Brother’s idea makes some sense. The Ren Family is no longer what it used to be. I’ve heard we might not even be able to keep a few of the mines. What’s the point of stubbornly holding onto that mansion? If it were truly a place the Ren Family had lived in for centuries, it would be understandable to be reluctant to part with what our ancestors left behind. But our family hasn’t even lived there for a few decades—calling it an ancestral home feels a bit forced."
Ren Yijun didn’t know, but Ren Yaoqi was well aware. Their great-grandfather had been an ambitious man, determined to elevate the Ren Family into the ranks of Yanbei’s prestigious clans. He had dedicated his entire life to this goal, even considering the family’s future in his final words.
The Ren Family’s "ancestral home" was their face. If it were truly sold, the Ren Family would drift further and further from their aspirations.
Moreover, there was a great secret hidden within the Ren Family’s ancestral home.
OpenNovel