Reborn of the Rightful

The atmosphere in the carriage instantly became cheerful.

Although Ren Yaohua did not respond, a faint smile touched her eyes, even though her face remained stern.

This was the most harmonious moment between the sisters since Ren Yaoqi's return.

The carriage made its way back to the Ren Family residence. When Ren Yaoying stepped out, she had changed her clothes, washed her face and hair, and was wrapped from head to toe in a large cloak. Yet, standing in the wind, she still emitted a foul, pungent odor.

Though her expression was hidden, the sound of her suppressed sobs could be heard.

This time, she had lost face in a big way. Since the incident happened outside, it would easily spread. In the future, whenever people mentioned the Ninth Miss of the Ren Family, they would recall her falling into the cesspit, turning her into a laughingstock and an obstacle in her social interactions.

Eldest Young Madam and Madam Lin took Ren Yaoying to Old Madam Ren's Glory and Splendor Courtyard, while Ren Yaoqi and the others were sent back to their own courtyards.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua first went to Madam Li's place. After paying their respects, Ren Yaohua immediately summoned Xiangqin to the eastern side room for questioning, and Ren Yaoqi followed along.

"Did you find out anything? Who did Eldest Young Madam suspect earlier?" Ren Yaohua asked.

Xiangqin nodded. "Before Third Miss and Ninth Miss went to the privy, Madam Lin and the others went first. However, the privy Ninth Miss used was being cleaned and scented at the time, so Madam Lin and the others didn't use it."

The privy by the riverbank was divided into three separate compartments.

"Could it have been the person responsible for cleaning the privy who caused trouble?" Ren Yaohua frowned.

Xiangqin shook her head. "Before Ninth Miss went in, another person had entered. The old woman in charge of cleaning the privy stopped her, saying it was reserved for the masters and mistresses, but the woman complained that the servants' privy was too crude and there was no space left. She then bribed the matrons guarding the privy with some money. They turned a blind eye and let her use it quickly before leaving. Not long after she left, Ninth Miss arrived."

"Which courtyard does she serve in?" Ren Yaohua frowned. Was there such a bold servant in their household?

Xiangqin shook her head again. "She isn't from our household. She's one of the two maids recently sent to serve Young Master Wen."

This revelation took everyone by surprise.

Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but recall the maid who had approached her in the greenhouse earlier, asking for a reward on behalf of Yun Wenfang.

"Why would it be Young Master Wen's maid? What grudge could she have against Ren Yaoying to go to such lengths?"

Upon hearing this, Xiangqin's face flushed slightly with embarrassment. She glanced at Ren Yaohua, then at Ren Yaoqi, as if hesitant to speak.

Ren Yaohua glared at her. "Speak up! There are no outsiders here!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, not only were the others in the room surprised, but even she herself was taken aback.

In the past, Ren Yaohua had regarded her own sister, Ren Yaoqi, as no different from an outsider. Whenever they discussed matters, they would do so behind Ren Yaoqi's back, fearing she might find out.

But today, she had blurted out that there were no outsiders here.

Ren Yaoqi lowered her gaze slightly, her eyes filled with an indescribable complexity.Xiangqin gave a light cough and pleaded softly, "Miss, then please don't tell Nanny Zhou that I said these things." Seeing Ren Yaohua glare at her again, Xiangqin quickly added, "Earlier, someone overheard Ninth Miss privately telling those around her that the two maidservants by Young Master Wen's side were too beautiful in appearance—they must be the concubine maids prepared for Young Master Wen by the Wen family. She also said that Ninth Miss declared that if she were the mistress, such seductive maidservants would have to be driven out early to avoid causing trouble in the future. After learning of this, the maidservant named Yuzhu held a grudge against Ninth Miss and deliberately tampered with the washroom Ninth Miss was about to use."

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua's face flushed red, and she couldn't help but scold Xiangqin, "What nonsense have you been listening to!"

Xiangqin felt somewhat embarrassed and stammered awkwardly, "I also heard it from outside. Wasn't it you, Miss, who asked me to speak?"

Ren Yaohua was left speechless.

"Who spread these words Ninth Miss said?" Ren Yaoqi raised an eyebrow and asked.

She didn’t believe Ren Yaoying would let others overhear her saying such things.

No matter what, Ren Yaoying was still a young girl. These were not words she could utter openly. Even if she thought so in her heart, it was unlikely she would voice them.

"It was said by another maidservant named Jinzhu by Young Master Wen's side. She said she and Yuzhu heard someone talking, mentioning Young Master Wen or something similar, so they quietly went closer to listen. Then they heard two people discussing the words Ninth Miss had spoken. However, they didn’t see who the speakers were, only knowing they were two matrons. Later, Eldest Young Madam summoned several matrons from Ninth Miss's side and had them speak in front of Jinzhu. Jinzhu said the voices of two matrons somewhat resembled those she had heard earlier, but since she hadn’t seen their faces, she couldn’t be certain if it was really them."

"Hmph! If this matter really is Fifth Aunt playing tricks, I’d actually have to admire her a little. She can do something immoral and still keep herself completely clean. No wonder the formidable matrons and maidservants she brought as dowry were all eliminated earlier—otherwise, wouldn’t everyone in this household have to defer to her?" Ren Yaohua said sarcastically.

"Third Miss..." Wujing called out to her softly, glancing at Ren Yaoqi with some hesitation.

Clearly, the matter Ren Yaohua had just mentioned had previously been deemed a secret not to be leaked to "others."

After thinking for a moment, Ren Yaoqi understood what Ren Yaohua was referring to.

It was said that when Madam Lin married into the Ren Family, she originally had several formidable dowry attendants. Later, for unknown reasons, they were all sold off, leaving not a single one. Strangely, the Lin Family showed no dissatisfaction over this matter and didn’t even take the opportunity to send more helpers to Madam Lin’s side.

Madam Lin’s mother was someone who doted excessively on her daughter, as could be seen from Madam Lin’s temperament. The fact that she didn’t stand up for Madam Lin clearly indicated there were hidden circumstances surrounding the matter back then.

From Ren Yaohua’s meaning, it seemed that Madam Lin’s attendants had been deliberately eliminated, leaving both Madam Lin and the Lin Family to swallow their grievances in silence.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t know how Ren Yaohua had learned of this matter. In her previous life, she had been unaware, only knowing that most of the people serving Madam Lin now were born servants of the Ren Family, with few brought from her maiden home.If what Ren Yaohua said was not wrong, then the person with the most reason to act against Madam Lin was First Madam Wang Shi, and even Old Madam Ren, Madam Qiu, might also be involved.

This was truly interesting.

So the Ren Family and the Lin Family were not as close as they appeared on the surface.

Even though the old matriarch of the Lin Family was Old Madam Ren’s paternal aunt, and Old Madam Ren’s only daughter had married the grandnephew of the Lin Family’s old matriarch.

Ren Yaoqi understood now. In her previous life, she had been just like their father—someone who paid little attention to affairs—so there were many things others knew that she did not.

“Go and find out more about the follow-up to this matter. See what Grandmother plans to do about it,” Ren Yaohua instructed Xiangqin, then frowned. “But Grandfather and Grandmother don’t like people prying around…”

Ren Yaoqi looked up and smiled. “It’s fine. Just go outside and see what people from the other courtyards are doing. If they’ve also sent someone to inquire, then join them and listen. If they’re quiet, you stay quiet too, as if you just went out for a stroll.”

Xiangqin cheerfully acknowledged the instruction and even linked arms with Wujing. “Then Wujing and I will go ask the kitchen if they’ve prepared any snacks for the afternoon. Both young ladies only had some pastries for lunch.”

Xiangqin and Wujing walked out arm in arm, bold and unhesitant. Once outside the courtyard gate, Xiangqin whispered to Wujing, “Hey, don’t you think Third Miss and Fifth Miss have gotten along much better lately? In the past, Third Miss would never have discussed such matters in front of Fifth Miss. And Fifth Miss has changed a lot too. Even when Third Miss is rude to her, she always responds with a smile and never loses her temper.”

Wujing glared at her. “What? Aren’t you happy that the young ladies have reconciled?”

“Of course not! I was just thinking… they were at such odds before. Back at the estate, every time Third Miss heard Fifth Miss’s name, she’d grit her teeth. It got to the point where Madam and Nanny Zhou didn’t dare mention Fifth Miss in front of her. I thought they’d be enemies for life,” Xiangqin muttered.

Wujing fell silent for a moment, then sighed. “Third Miss and Fifth Miss are, after all, biological sisters, born of the same parents. But from now on, we must never bring up the past in front of Third Miss again. I think things are much more relaxed for us servants this way.”

Xiangqin quickly nodded. “You don’t have to tell me that! Nanny Zhou already warned us about it!”

By evening, news came from Glory and Splendor Courtyard. Old Madam Ren had summoned the two maids from the Wen Family for questioning, but after that, she took no further action and simply let the matter drop. She only had the matrons by her side lecture them and instructed them to serve Second Young Master Yun properly.

“What? Grandmother is letting them stay in the Ren Family?” Ren Yaohua exclaimed in shock.

Xiangqin nodded. “She said Yuzhu had only been inside for a short time and was alone, so it was unlikely she could have tampered with anything.”

Ren Yaohua frowned. “Even so, they should have sent them back! That maid doesn’t look like someone who’d keep out of trouble.”

Under normal circumstances, if the person who harmed Ren Yaoying couldn’t be found, the Ren Family would pin the blame on the most suspicious person, Yuzhu, to appease Ren Yaoying.

But now, Old Madam Ren had merely lectured them and let them go, without even sending them back to the Yun Family. This meant Ren Yaoying’s suffering could only be seen as something she brought upon herself."Could Grandmother truly be considering an alliance with the Yun Family..." Ren Yaohua murmured thoughtfully, lowering her head.

Old Madam Ren did not wish to leave any resentment in the hearts of the Yun family's matriarch or Madam Yun over this matter. It was highly likely that the Ren Family genuinely intended to form a marriage alliance with the Yun Family. Or rather, the Ren Family had this intention unilaterally.

Ren Yaoqi, however, was not the least bit surprised by Old Madam Ren's decision. For the sake of the Ren Family's interests, they would not hesitate to sacrifice the lives of several granddaughters. Now, it was merely about letting a concubine-born granddaughter suffer some humiliation.

Concubine Fang looked at her daughter lying in bed, completely covered by the quilt, her heart aching. Ever since Ren Yaoying returned, she had been crying and demanding to bathe. She had already bathed four times and vomited twice. If not for Concubine Fang's desperate efforts to stop her, Ren Yaoying would likely have scrubbed off a layer of her own skin before giving up.

"Mother, I smell so bad. Will I always smell like this?" Ren Yaoying's voice came muffled from beneath the covers.

Concubine Fang gently patted her and comforted her softly, "No, you won't. Mother smells fragrance on you."

From beneath the quilt came the sound of Ren Yaoying's sobs. "But everyone knows I fell into the cesspit. I... I don't want to show my face outside ever again..."

Concubine Fang closed her eyes, her clenched fists digging into her palms until they bled. When she opened her eyes again, a sharp, cold glint flashed within them, yet her tone remained gentle. "Others won't remember this for long. In a few days, everyone will forget."

"Mother, I hate them! They made me suffer such great humiliation!" Ren Yaoying suddenly threw off the quilt, her eyes swollen from crying, filled with shame and anger.

Concubine Fang stroked her head, soothing her gently. "Mother knows. Mother won't let those who harmed you get away with it."

Ren Yaoying fell asleep holding Concubine Fang's hand, a teardrop still clinging to her eyelashes.

Concubine Fang reached out to wipe it away, stayed by her side for a while, then rose and left.

"Go call Nanny Yu. I have something to instruct her," Concubine Fang ordered her maid.

The maid bowed and withdrew, while Concubine Fang went to the adjacent study.

Concubine Fang was literate and wrote quite a decent hand in hairpin-flower regular script. Since Ren Shimin always had a study wherever he went, Concubine Fang's courtyard also had a small study.

By the time Nanny Yu was summoned, Concubine Fang had already finished writing a letter. After blowing on it to dry the ink, she sealed it in an envelope.

"You will set off tomorrow and return to Jiangning," Concubine Fang said. Her maternal family was in Jiangning.

Nanny Yu bowed her head in acknowledgment without showing any discontent about having to travel far in such cold weather.

Meanwhile, Madam Lin and her daughter were in high spirits.

From Old Madam Ren's handling of Yun Wenfang's two maids, it was clear that the Ren Family was not without thoughts of forming a marriage alliance with the Yun Family.

Madam Lin believed that as long as the Ren Family had this intention, given her standing before Old Madam Ren and the support of her own maternal family, securing this marriage for her daughter would be as easy as turning her hand.

Ren Yaoyu, on the other hand, felt she had finally regained her dignity.

The incident where she was schemed against by Concubine Fang and her daughter and driven out of Glory and Splendor Courtyard had filled her with hatred every time she recalled it. Today, she had finally vented her anger.

After enduring for many years, Madam Lin had ultimately forgotten her mother's repeated warnings not to make an enemy of Concubine Fang lightly.

Thank you, Guoran Duo's mother, for the Heshibi reward~ ^^Thank you to Plump and smooth 8, Who is the Empress Dowager of my family?, Leaves dancing in the wind, Yongxin, tigerxuejun, Najia Xuefei, Seven Kill Lord, Evening lotus in the summer pond, Chu Yanxia, and grace108 for your pink votes~^^

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I rarely ask for rewards, but for the sake of that new book sales ranking, I’ll shamelessly ask once—hope I won’t be disliked…

Shouting out~ Asking for sisters’ votes and reward support…

(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)