Reborn of the Rightful

Ren Yaohua frowned and said, "Then when do you expect to be able to repay the debt owed to the Yu Family?"

Old Madam Ren and First Madam exchanged a glance. Finally, First Madam said with a bitter smile, "Our Ren Family is no longer what it used to be. Some of our external businesses are still struggling to stay afloat. Under these circumstances, to repay the Yu Family's debt... it would take at least three to five years."

Ren Yaohua looked at the gloomy and distressed Old Madam Ren and First Madam. "In that case, why not temporarily give the East Mansion to the Yu Family? Once we repay the silver, we can redeem it back."

As soon as Ren Yaohua's words fell, Old Madam Ren's expression changed sharply, and she said sternly, "How can that be done!"

Everyone turned to look at Old Madam Ren. Sensing that she had been too agitated, Old Madam Ren composed herself and put on a sorrowful expression again. "This is the ancestral home of our Ren Family, the very root of our lineage! Although your grandfather is no longer with us, I cannot let the Ren Family fall into ruin under my watch. Otherwise, how could I face the ancestors of the Ren Family when I pass on?"

Ren Yaoyin walked over and gently patted Old Madam Ren's chest, her expression dim. "Before Grandfather passed away, he also told my father that the Ren Family ancestral home must not be sold. After all, this was Grandfather's dying wish."

Old Madam Ren sighed softly and patted Ren Yaoyin's hand. "Yin'er is right."

Ren Yaoqi watched their performance coldly. If she didn't know the secret of the Ren Family's mansion, she might have been moved by them. Unfortunately, she understood better than anyone the real reason they didn't want to give up the mansion.

After Old Madam Ren and the others had finished their lamentations, Ren Yaoqi finally spoke up. "Then, according to Old Madam, how should this matter be handled?"

Thinking that Ren Yaoqi was offering to help, Old Madam Ren quickly replied, "Naturally, we must make the Yu Family hand over our Ren Family's property deed! Who knows how that deed ended up in their hands? I think they’ve been scheming for a long time to swindle our mansion—they’re definitely not good people!"

Ren Yaoqi sighed inwardly as she looked at Old Madam Ren's self-righteous expression. "Is the property deed genuine?"

Old Madam Ren paused, then reluctantly said, "Your uncle has examined it. It might be genuine."

Ren Yaoqi asked again, "Is the loan agreement in their hands genuine?"

First Madam glanced at Old Madam Ren and nodded. "It is genuine."

Ren Yaoqi shook her head. "Then there’s no reason to demand they hand over the property deed. Repaying a debt is a matter of course. Even if this were taken to the authorities, the Ren Family would be in the wrong."

Old Madam Ren’s expression immediately darkened. "The Yu Family might not care about anyone else’s face, but with one of you from the Yanbei Prince's Mansion and the other from the Lei Family, your combined influence is immense. How would the Yu Family dare not give you face? It seems to me it’s not that you can’t help—it’s that you’re unwilling to lend a hand to your own family!"Ren Yaohua had initially felt some sympathy for the Ren Family's predicament, especially moved by Old Madam Ren's pitiful state. But now, Old Madam Ren's words struck her as off-key, and she immediately retorted with a stern expression, "Old Madam, that's not right. No one, no matter who they are, can owe money and not repay it! Even the Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as commoners, let alone Yaohua and me—mere women. How could we have such audacity? To give an example, my younger uncle accidentally broke a celadon cup at Jubao Zhai earlier this year. The owner said he didn’t need to compensate, and my uncle didn’t think much of it at the time. But when his elder brother found out, not only did he send the steward to pay for it, but he also gave my uncle a stern lecture. Does Old Madam want me to go back and get scolded too? I am, after all, the mistress of the Lei Family, but Yaohua doesn’t run the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. I’ve heard that the Prince of Yanbei and the Princess Consort are upright and fair in their dealings. If Yaohua were to use the name of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion to throw her weight around, how could she ever hold her head high there in the future?"

Ren Yaohua’s sharp rebuttal left Old Madam Ren fuming. In the past, she would have certainly given Ren Yaohua a piece of her mind, but First Madam Ren, standing nearby, kept signaling her with her eyes, afraid that she would fall out with the Ren sisters—something that would do the Ren Family no good in their current situation.

In the end, Old Madam Ren could only swallow her anger, clutching her chest and taking several deep breaths before saying with a dark expression, "Then what do you suggest we do? Let the whole family be driven out to face the bitter wind?"

Ren Yaohua was unfazed by Old Madam Ren’s grim expression. "I say we give the East Mansion to the Yu Family first. After all, those courtyards are empty now. In three to five years, once the debt is repaid, we can buy it back. As for whether it’s disrespectful to our ancestors, we can worry about that later. I believe if our ancestors were watching from above, they’d rather we keep our descendants safe than cling to a house. Otherwise, if the Yu Family takes us to court, will Eldest Master end up imprisoned like Grandfather did back then?"

As soon as Ren Yaohua finished speaking, First Madam’s expression changed first.

With Old Master Ren gone, the head of the Ren Family was now Master Ren the Elder. If the Yu Family sued the Ren Family, it would be Master Ren the Elder who suffered.

"Mother, let’s discuss this properly. The Yu Family only holds the deed to the East Mansion—they can’t touch the West Mansion," First Madam said, also worried that Old Madam Ren’s temper might cause a rift with the two young mistresses. In the Ren Family’s current state, although Ren Shimin was unwilling to return, outsiders would still show some respect for the sake of these two young mistresses. Otherwise, the Ren Family’s situation would likely worsen.

First Madam was also hinting to Old Madam Ren that even if there were valuables hidden in the mansion, they would be in the West Mansion, the main residence. The East Mansion was unlikely to hold anything of significance, so even if they gave it to the Yu Family, they wouldn’t find anything there.

Though Old Madam Ren was unhappy and reluctant to give up half the mansion, she also feared that the Yu Family might actually take them to court. With Old Master Ren recently deceased, if something happened to Master Ren the Elder as well, the Ren Family would truly be finished.Her expression changed several times before she finally said, "I think the Yu family is after our house. What if we repay the money later, but they refuse to return the deed?"

Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and said, "Then we should make an agreement with the Yu family beforehand. The East Mansion will be temporarily mortgaged to them. If the Ren Family repays the debt within three years, they will return the deed."

"And if we can’t repay it within three years?" Old Madam Ren said irritably.

Ren Yaoqi replied calmly, "Then the East Mansion will have to go to the Yu family. After all, the deed is mortgaged to them. If they’re willing to wait three years, that’s already more than generous."

First Madam hesitated and said, "But judging by the Yu family’s attitude, they seem determined to get the house. They might not agree to give us three years to repay the money. After all, three years isn’t too long, but it’s not too short either."

Ren Yaoqi nodded and sighed, "That’s true. Since the house was originally mortgaged to them, and the Ren Family can’t come up with the money now, it wouldn’t be wrong for them to take the house and not return it. So we’ll have to negotiate carefully."

Old Madam Ren said, "Since you say that, does that mean you have a solution?" First Madam also looked at Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi, however, shook her head. "What can a woman like me do? It’s just that a while ago, I heard my teacher, Lady Xu, mention this Yu family. It seems that Mrs. Yu is somewhat related to one of the ladies at the academy. I thought perhaps we could try approaching Mrs. Yu. As for whether it will work, I can’t guarantee anything."

Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but glance at Ren Yaoqi. Why hadn’t she heard Ren Yaoqi mention before that Lady Xu knew this Mrs. Yu?

Old Madam Ren and First Madam exchanged a look. Both were weighing the situation in their minds. Originally, most of their external debts had fallen to the Yu family. If they could stabilize the Yu family, three years would be enough for them to roughly gather the money. Besides, the Ren Family’s house still contained many valuables, and three years would be enough time for them to search every corner and find them.

So Old Madam Ren was somewhat satisfied in her heart, though she still showed reluctance on her face. "If there’s really no other way, then we’ll have to do this. The old master is gone, and there aren’t many sons we can rely on. We’ll just take it one step at a time."

Ren Yaoqi smiled. "My father is a man of true character and always keeps his word. When the Ren Family drove us out, he was heartbroken, which is why he doesn’t want to come back."

Ren Yaoqi brought up the past again, and Old Madam Ren’s expression darkened once more.

"He’s my son! The Ren Family raised him for so many years. What’s a little grievance?"

Ren Yaoqi nodded. "You’re right. That’s why, even though my father no longer has any ties to the Ren Family, he still rushed back to see the old master one last time. My sister and I are no longer daughters of the Ren Family, but we’re still willing to step in and help the Ren Family at this time, as a way of repaying the years of upbringing."

Old Madam Ren was taken aback. First Madam quickly reacted and said, "What are you saying, Fifth Young Miss? We’re all one family—there’s no need to speak like strangers. You and Third Young Miss are both daughters of our Ren Family."Old Madam Ren pushed First Madam aside and frowned at Ren Yaoqi, saying, "What do you mean by that?"

Ren Yaoqi replied earnestly, "You are well aware of my father's temperament, Old Madam. Since he has been expelled from the clan, he will never return to the Ren Family, and no amount of persuasion will change his mind. However, our branch ultimately originated from the Ren Family. Now that the Ren Family is in trouble, I am willing to do my best to help, as a way to repay the Ren Family for raising me."

Old Madam Ren was so enraged by these words that she was left speechless. She pointed at Ren Yaoqi, ready to scold her, but was quickly pulled back by First Madam, who rushed over in fear that Old Madam Ren might resort to violence. If Ren Yaoqi were harmed, it would be disastrous.

Fortunately, Old Madam Ren did not dare to strike. She fumed, "The Ren Family raised you for so many years—how could it be so easy to settle the debt? If you want to leave, you must first repay everything you owe the Ren Family!"

I missed posting last night... 〒_〒.