Since Nanny Gong herself was not an issue, Ren Yaoqi began using the prescription she had provided. The Princess Consort was overjoyed to hear this, as she genuinely longed to hold a grandchild in her arms.
Although Xiao Jingxi’s Zhaoning Courtyard was not a place where just anyone could come and go as they pleased, he dared not take any chances when it came to Ren Yaoqi’s medication. From procuring the herbs to brewing the decoction, he had people keep a close watch over every step.
Ever since the Prince of Yanbei had established the heir, Yanbei had settled into a period of calm once more. Even the imperial censors and officials at court no longer sought to cause trouble for the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. In the blink of an eye, the year-end approached.
This was Ren Yaoqi’s first New Year celebration at the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. As the year drew to a close, the entire household grew busy. The various prefectures and counties of Yanbei began sending their New Year gifts to the mansion, and the Princess Consort was kept occupied receiving the wives of officials who had accompanied their husbands to Yanbei for the year-end. Ren Yaoqi was occasionally summoned by the Princess Consort to assist with entertaining guests or handling some of the mansion’s internal affairs. Even Consort Dowager Yun began giving Ren Yaoqi time off during this period, no longer requiring her to copy scriptures daily. On the surface, it seemed that the most leisurely person in the entire Yanbei Prince’s Mansion was Xiao Jingxi, the "patient." Only Ren Yaoqi knew that although Xiao Jingxi had more free time than before, he still spent long hours in his study every day.
It was initially thought that the New Year would pass uneventfully, but unfortunately, fate had other plans. On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Ren Yaoqi was in the Jiuyang Hall with Nanny Xin, sorting through the gift lists from Shunzhou, Wuzhou, and Jizhou, registering the final batch of New Year gifts into the inventory, and preparing a separate gift list to be sent to the Hezhong Prince’s Mansion, as instructed by the Princess Consort.
Just as Ren Yaoqi was swamped with work, Madam Li sent Xier to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion to inform her that Old Master Ren was critically ill and unlikely to survive the New Year. The Eldest Master of the Ren Family had dispatched the eldest young master of the Ren Family to seek out Ren Shimin, pleading with him to return and see Old Master Ren one last time, lest the old man pass away with regrets.
The reason Madam Li sent Xier to find Ren Yaoqi was that she had grown accustomed to seeking her daughter’s advice on major matters over the years. As for Ren Shimin, although he still had no desire to return to the Ren Family, Old Master Ren was, after all, his biological father. No matter how deep the grievances between father and son had been, he could not remain indifferent at this final moment of the old man’s life.
Upon hearing this news, Ren Yaoqi was stunned for a long while. Xier, on the other hand, was waiting for Ren Yaoqi’s decision so she could return with a reply. When the Princess Consort learned of this, she sent Sujin to summon Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi asked Xier to wait in the side hall while she went to see the Princess Consort first.
The Princess Consort had called Ren Yaoqi over precisely to discuss the matter of Old Master Ren. After dismissing the attendants, she spoke candidly: "I heard that the Ren Family has sent someone to invite your father back to see Old Master Ren off?"
Ren Yaoqi nodded. "Yes."
The Princess Consort pondered for a moment before saying, "Originally, this is a family matter of yours, and it would be inappropriate for me to interfere. However, I have always regarded you as my own daughter, so I cannot help but want to remind you of certain things to prevent you from being taken advantage of."
Ren Yaoqi quickly replied, "Please speak, Mother. I understand what is at stake."The Princess Consort nodded. "Regarding that previous matter, the Ren Family was indeed in the wrong first, driving your branch out of the Ren clan. It's only natural that you wouldn't want to return, and no one would blame you. However, in life, nothing matters more than death. Now that Old Master Ren is on his deathbed and has expressed a wish to see your father, if you still refuse to acknowledge it, people might think you somewhat heartless."
Ren Yaoqi nodded. In fact, what the Princess Consort said was also her concern, so she had no intention of stopping her father from returning to the Ren Family.
"Of course, whether to rejoin the Ren clan is another matter, but you should still make an appearance when necessary."
"I understand, Mother," Ren Yaoqi replied.
The Princess Consort smiled. "For now, leave the matters of the Prince's residence to Nanny Xin and Sujin. They've handled them in previous years and won't make any mistakes. Focus on the Ren Family first, so no one has a chance to gossip about you."
Ren Yaoqi agreed and then withdrew.
Xier was still waiting for Ren Yaoqi in the side hall. Ren Yaoqi instructed Pingguo to prepare the carriage, as she needed to return to her maiden home.
Pingguo, now the steward of Zhaoning Hall, quickly had the carriage ready. Ren Yaoqi took a few maidservants and returned to Treasure Vase Alley with Xier.
By the time Ren Yaoqi returned, Ren Yiyan had already left, and Master Ren had not yet emerged from his study. After some thought, Ren Yaoqi decided to go to the main room first. Nanny Zhou, upon hearing the news, quickly came out to greet her.
Madam Li was pleasantly surprised to see Ren Yaoqi back, though she couldn't help but sigh when she thought of the Ren Family matters. "Why have you come back? With the New Year festivities, the Prince's residence must be busy. If you had something to say, you could have just sent Xier to tell me."
Before Ren Yaoqi could reply, someone came in to announce that the eldest young lady had returned.
Though inwardly delighted, Madam Li said with a straight face, "Why have you both come back?"
Ren Yaohua had also rushed back upon hearing the news about Old Master Ren. Seeing Ren Yaoqi there, she was momentarily taken aback and asked bluntly, "Why are you back too? Isn't the Prince's residence busy?"
Ren Yaoqi smiled helplessly and explained to both Madam Li and Ren Yaohua, "It's fine. The Princess Consort allowed me to return. I'll go back later; it won't delay anything."
The three women exchanged glances. Ren Yaohua said, "Let's discuss the main matter first. What does Father say? Will he return to the Ren Family?"
Madam Li couldn't help but glance toward the study. "The master hasn't come out of his study yet, but I think he'll most likely want to see Old Master Ren one last time."
Ren Yaohua fell silent for a moment, then looked at Ren Yaoqi. "What do you think?"
Ren Yaoqi didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "We must go back. Otherwise, Father and Mother might be criticized later. But it's only to see Old Master Ren off on his final journey, not to rejoin the Ren clan."
Ren Yaohua nodded. Though Madam Li said nothing, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Having been away from the Ren Family for so long, she had no desire to return.
"But if your father wants to return to the Ren Family..." Madam Li hesitated. Though she was utterly unwilling to go back, if Ren Shimin wanted to, she wouldn't oppose it.Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and shook her head. "Father has already said he won't return to the Ren Family, so naturally he won't change his mind easily. It's just..."
Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi and continued with a frown, "It's just that if Old Master Ren's dying wish is for Father to return, coupled with Grandmother's pleas... Father probably won't be able to refuse."
Ren Yaoqi sighed and nodded.
Even someone as free-spirited and unrestrained as Ren Shimin often couldn't act entirely as he wished—such was the constraint of morality.
"What should we do then?" Nanny Zhou, who had been listening nearby, anxiously interjected. After coming this far, if Madam Li still had to return to the Ren Family and be constrained by that old woman, it would truly be frustrating.
Everyone couldn't help but look at Ren Yaoqi.
This was because, over the past few years, major decisions had been made by Ren Yaoqi. Although she was the youngest, they had all grown accustomed to it, so it was almost instinctive.
Ren Yaoqi had been pondering this issue all along the way. They would definitely have to return to the Ren Family once, but how to go back and how to handle things afterward required careful planning.
With Old Master Ren gone, the one in charge of the Ren Family would be Old Madam Ren. Given her meddlesome and unreasonable nature, they were likely to face significant trouble ahead.
However, if Old Master Ren passed away and Old Madam Ren resorted to tearful pleas toward Master Ren and Madam Li, they couldn't simply ignore it, as the world always sympathized with the weak.
Ren Yaoqi sighed. "At this juncture, we can't openly refuse. We can only stall for now. Once Old Master Ren passes, the Ren Family will first have to arrange the funeral. Even if they want to formally recognize us as part of the family again, it's not something that can be done overnight. We'll make plans after the New Year."
Madam Li and Ren Yaohua exchanged glances.
Ren Yaoqi then said to Madam Li, "Mother, if Old Madam and the others call you over alone, don't agree or refuse outright. Shift the responsibility to Father, saying you can't make decisions on such matters. At most, promise them you'll help persuade Father to return to the Ren Family. Remember, you are now a Commandery Princess, representing the dignity of the imperial family and the Hezhong Prince's household. Listening to them for a while is giving them face out of respect for their age. But if anyone dares to treat you disrespectfully, you can simply respond coldly. The world may expect Father to fulfill his filial duties, but they cannot force you to endure humiliation. As long as you avoid direct conflict and refrain from harsh words, let them make a scene if they want. No one can hold it against you."
Madam Li nodded. "I understand."
Ren Yaoqi then looked at Ren Yaohua. "I might have to go to White Crane Town in a few days. You can come back with me then." Ren Yaoqi's return to White Crane Town would likely coincide with Old Master Ren's passing, when she would go to pay her respects.
They were already married and belonged to a different generation, so there was no special reason for them to return with Master Ren. Besides, nominally, they no longer had any connection to that Ren Family.
Ren Yaohua glanced at Madam Li with some concern. "Maybe I should accompany Mother."
Madam Li quickly replied, "There's no need for you to accompany me. I know how to handle things. Isn't Nanny Zhou here? She'll advise me if anything comes up. Don't worry."
After thinking it over, Ren Yaohua didn't insist further.
With Madam Li reassured, Ren Yaoqi was about to go to the study to find Ren Shimin when Master Ren himself came out.Seeing that both Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had returned, Ren Shimin showed little surprise. He simply said to Madam Li, "Have someone pack our things. We'll return to White Crane Town tomorrow."
Without asking any questions, Madam Li immediately agreed and hurriedly instructed the servants to prepare.
Only then did Ren Shimin ask Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, "Why have you both come back?"
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The author is traveling this month, so updates will generally be in the evening or morning, depending on the day's circumstances. Sometimes, the editor will post on my behalf, so if there's no update by around 12 a.m., please check again in the morning...〒_〒... This author has been very diligent lately... While traveling, I'll try to squeeze in time every day to write and update.
Also, I expect this book won't be too much longer—it's currently wrapping up...^^~
Lastly, I’d like to ask for your pink votes at the beginning of the month～Meow～
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