Nanny Zhou curled her lips, her face full of disdain. "Master Ren said he would send her back, but then she threw herself against a pillar, breaking her own head, saying she would rather die than go back."
In fact, after Nanny Zhou's dose of medicine, Ren Yaoying had been unconscious for two full days. When she woke up yesterday, Master Ren announced he would send her back to the Ren Family. At first, Ren Yaoying said nothing, but as she was being led out of her room, she took advantage of the maids and servants' lack of vigilance and threw herself headfirst against a pillar in the courtyard. Fortunately, the servants reacted quickly and pulled her back, so she only suffered a minor scrape.
Ren Yaoying cried and shouted in the courtyard, insisting she was Master Ren's daughter and asking why she was being driven out of her home. She declared this was her home and she would rather die here than leave.
Ren Yaoqi had only been married for two days, and here Ren Yaoying was, causing trouble and making everyone miserable with her threats of suicide. Even Madam Li, who was usually good-tempered, was infuriated by her. However, Madam Li truly didn't want any deaths or bad rumors at this time to trouble Ren Yaoqi, so she still had Ren Yaoying sent back. This time, however, Madam Li absolutely forbade Ren Yaoying from leaving her room, following Nanny Zhou's advice and assigning four strong, sturdy servants to watch over her.
Ren Yaoying remained quiet for a day, but unexpectedly, today, when Ren Yaoqi returned for her bridal visit, she stirred again. Madam Li now felt a headache at the mere mention of her name.
The Ren Family hadn't come to demand her return, and Madam Li couldn't force her to leave. Yet, keeping Ren Yaoying locked up indefinitely wasn't appropriate either—those unaware might think she, as the legal mother, was mistreating a concubine's daughter. However, if Ren Yaoying were allowed out, Madam Li would be on edge, fearing she would cause trouble.
Fortunately, Master Ren had always been indifferent to how Madam Li handled Ren Yaoying and wouldn't be displeased that she had confined her. In Master Ren's mind, such matters of the inner courtyard were Madam Li's responsibility—as long as they didn't trouble him.
Madam Li said to Ren Yaoqi, "You'd better not see her today either. It's your and your husband's bridal visit day, and we mustn't let anything happen that would embarrass you in front of him."
Ren Yaoqi wasn't afraid of being embarrassed in front of Xiao Jingxi. He probably knew more about her family affairs than even Madam Li did. After some thought, she said to Madam Li, "Have her brought over. We need to understand what she wants to resolve this. You can't keep her locked up forever."
Madam Li rarely contradicted her daughter. Seeing that Ren Yaoqi wanted to meet Ren Yaoying, she didn't insist otherwise and instructed Xier to bring Ren Yaoying over. Before Xier left, Madam Li added uneasily, "Send more people with her. Don't let her cause trouble."
Xier obeyed and left, returning shortly with Ren Yaoying.
When Ren Yaoying entered, she was indeed surrounded on all sides by people, leaving her no opportunity to cause any mischief.
Ren Yaoying looked much thinner than the last time Ren Yaoqi had seen her. She had always inherited her mother's delicate, willow-like figure, but now she appeared even more frail. However, with her lovely features and having matured somewhat, she still possessed a uniquely pitiable charm.
As Ren Yaoying entered, she glanced up at Ren Yaoqi—a look filled with complexity.Ren Yaoqi had dressed meticulously for her return visit today. As she was now a married woman of the Xiao Family, her appearance represented the dignity of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion whenever she went out. Naturally, her attire was exquisite, especially the set of head ornaments she wore, which had been part of her dowry from the Hezhong Prince's Mansion. At a glance, it was clear they were extraordinary.
Ren Yaoqi remained seated on the heated brick bed, watching as Ren Yaoying approached with her head lowered to pay respects to her and Madam Li.
Madam Li gestured for her to rise and had a chair brought over for her to sit. Madam Li had never been one to deliberately mistreat a concubine-born daughter over such minor details.
As Ren Yaoying took her seat, she smiled at Ren Yaoqi with a hint of delight. "Fifth Sister, you look so beautiful and dignified today."
In response to her praise, Ren Yaoqi smiled. "How have you been lately, Fifth Sister?"
At these words, Ren Yaoying’s eyes reddened. She wiped them with her hand and sighed bitterly. "What can I do? I’m just a lowly life, not as fortunate as my two elder sisters, who both married well-suited husbands. Only I..."
Here, she looked at Ren Yaoqi, her eyes pleading. "Fifth Sister, may I ask you for a favor? You are now a noble lady of high status. Please, have pity on your younger sister..."
Ren Yaoqi remained composed. "How do you want me to help you?"
Tears streamed down Ren Yaoying’s face again as she spoke, her pitiful appearance evoking sympathy. "I have no other request, only... I don’t want to marry into the He Family. I’ve heard that the He patriarch is old enough to be my grandfather. I... I don’t want to marry him... Fifth Sister, please, for the sake of our sisterhood, help me."
Ren Yaoqi looked at her, inwardly marveling at the skill of crying on command while still looking graceful—a talent not everyone possessed. In this regard, Ren Yaoying was indeed remarkable.
"You don’t want to marry into the He Family? But I seem to recall that when Grandmother first proposed this match, you were willing," Ren Yaoqi said gently.
Hearing this, Ren Yaoying’s sobs faltered for a moment before she cried even more sorrowfully. "No, how could I have agreed? But as you know, what say does a junior like me have in front of Grandfather and Grandmother? Even if I objected, it would be useless."
"Then why do you want to resist now?" Ren Yaoqi asked, her tone clearly curious. She was genuinely interested in understanding Ren Yaoying’s thoughts.
Nanny Zhou, standing nearby, curled her lips into a cold smile. She had seen many like Ren Yaoying, and Ren Yaoying’s temperament was just like her mother, Concubine Fang. Having dealt with Concubine Fang for so many years, Nanny Zhou knew exactly what such people were thinking.
Ren Yaoying was simply envious of her two elder sisters’ advantageous marriages. Comparing herself to them in secret, she now felt the He Family match was unsuitable. Before Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua married, Ren Yaoying had never expressed such strong opposition to the He Family match. Perhaps she had initially been dissatisfied with the He patriarch’s age, but the He Family was wealthy and influential, and the patriarch had no legitimate sons. As the wife, she would become the mistress of the household, which Ren Yaoying had reluctantly accepted.
Ren Yaoqi’s question made Ren Yaoying sob softly, as if she were carefully considering how best to answer.Ren Yaoqi had originally intended to take advantage of today to settle her affairs. In truth, Ren Yaoqi thought that her father was also dissatisfied with this marriage arrangement. Although breaking off the engagement might invite gossip, it wasn’t entirely impossible. Finding another family for Ren Yaoying to marry into was also an option.
However, she also understood this half-sister of hers. If the alternative candidate chosen for her didn’t meet her expectations, Ren Yaoying would still prefer to marry Master He. Moreover, if she or Madam Li interfered in her marriage, and if anything went wrong in the future, Ren Yaoying would undoubtedly and unhesitatingly blame them for it.
So, it wasn’t that Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to do a good deed or act kindly for once. It was just that, in front of certain people, being kind wasn’t easy. One only needed to think of the outcome of Mr. Dongguo to understand.
While everyone in the room was lost in their own thoughts, Chunlan, Ren Yaoqi’s maid, suddenly requested an audience outside. Her voice sounded urgent.
Madam Li gave the order, and Chunlan was allowed in.
As soon as Chunlan entered, her face was flushed with urgency, as if she were about to cry. After hastily performing a curtsy, she said, “Miss, you must go and see what’s happening. For some reason, the young master seems to have quarreled with the master. We could hear the master shouting and the sound of things being smashed outside.”
Xiao Jingxi had not brought any attendants with him to the Ren Family. Earlier, when he and Master Ren went to the study, Ren Yaoqi had sent her maids Chunlan and Chunyan to attend to them. However, Master Ren disliked having servants enter his study, so the maids waited outside the door in the courtyard.
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was momentarily stunned. Madam Li, however, stood up anxiously from the kang: “The master and the young master quarreled? How is that possible? What happened?”
Madam Li understood Master Ren’s temperament. Although his temper wasn’t the best, he wasn’t one to lose his temper easily. For him to shout and even smash things, something serious must have occurred.
Chunlan had been standing under the corridor and couldn’t hear clearly what was being said inside the study. After a moment’s thought, she replied tearfully, “This servant doesn’t know either. Everything was fine at first, and there was no commotion in the study. The master only called for tea once and didn’t ask for further service. Then, after a long while, the master and the young master suddenly started arguing. The master seemed to shout at the young master a few times, and the young master said something in response. Then the master started smashing things. We were anxious listening from outside but couldn’t barge into the study, so we came here to report to you.”
How could Madam Li not be anxious after hearing this? Just moments ago, she had been pleased that her daughter’s marriage into the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion had not only earned her husband’s respect but also the favor of her in-laws. This marriage couldn’t have been more perfect! But in the blink of an eye, her husband had shouted at the young master and even resorted to violence. If anything were to happen to the young master, how would her daughter ever face her in-laws again?
For the first time, Madam Li felt a trace of resentment toward her husband.
“Let’s go, we must hurry over and see what’s happening,” Madam Li said, stepping down from the kang and rushing out before her shoes were properly fastened.
Nanny Zhou quickly stopped her and bent down to help her put on her shoes properly.
Madam Li turned to Ren Yaoqi and said, “You come too. Your father listens to you the most.”
Ren Yaoqi, who had been lost in thought with her head lowered, stood up upon hearing Madam Li’s words. Her expression wasn’t as anxious as Madam Li’s, but she followed her mother out nonetheless.After Madam Li and Ren Yaoqi had left, Ren Yaoying remained where she was. The maids tasked with watching over Ren Yaoying said, "We will escort Ninth Miss back to her room first."
Ren Yaoying lowered her eyes to conceal the emotions within them and replied obediently, "Mother has not permitted me to leave, so I dare not go. I will wait here for Mother and Sister to return."
Hearing this, the maids could hardly force her to return to her room.
Second update～o(∩_∩)o.
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