Madam Qi blinked, then walked toward Ren Yaoyin, complaining with a pitiful tone, "Fourth Sister, what do you mean by that? I was just kindly coming to see you off."
Just as Ren Yaoyin was about to flare up, Madam Qi suddenly broke into a wide grin and waved her hand with an imposing air.
A tall, sturdy maidservant who had been standing behind Madam Qi suddenly darted forward and, without a word, struck Ren Yaoyin on the neck. Ren Yaoyin didn’t even make a sound before her eyes rolled back and she slumped into the maidservant’s arms.
Everyone: "..."
"Carry Fourth Young Miss onto the carriage. Be careful not to bump or hurt her," Madam Qi instructed calmly, her expression unchanged.
Eldest Young Madam stood dazed for a long while before snapping back to reality. She swallowed hard and said, "Yuegui... this... isn’t this going too far?" Eldest Young Madam’s legs had gone weak with fright. Ren Yaoyin was her mother-in-law’s precious darling! She never imagined Madam Qi would do something like this.
Madam Qi gave Eldest Young Madam a reassuring smile, patted her shoulder, and said breezily, "It’s fine. We’re doing this for her own good. She’ll understand someday."
Eldest Young Madam, her face pale, was speechless.
It wasn’t until Ren Yaoyin was carried onto the carriage that Eldest Young Madam finally reacted. "Those maidservants just now..."
Originally, Eldest Young Madam had intended to bring her own maidservants, but Madam Qi said she would bring people instead, so Eldest Young Madam didn’t think much of it. However, those maidservants looked somewhat unfamiliar, especially the one who knocked Ren Yaoyin unconscious. Eldest Young Madam felt deeply uneasy.
Madam Qi said carelessly, "Oh, those are people I borrowed from my husband. Don’t worry—if anyone wants to settle accounts, it won’t fall on us."
Ren Yijun sneezed.
Eldest Young Madam hesitated before saying, "But aren’t we going too far? What if Fourth Sister complains to Mother later? We..."
As an obedient daughter-in-law, Eldest Young Madam was terrified of her mother-in-law.
Madam Qi comforted her, "Even if Fourth Sister complains, she’ll be complaining about me. Eldest Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I won’t drag you into it."
Eldest Young Madam grew anxious. "I... I didn’t mean that. You came here to help me. How could I let you take the blame? If Fourth Sister tells Mother, I... I’ll take full responsibility."
Madam Qi looked at Eldest Young Madam, whose face was deathly pale with fear but still resolute, and sighed inwardly. She gently took Eldest Young Madam’s arm and said earnestly, "Eldest Sister-in-law, don’t be afraid. If Fourth Sister doesn’t learn her lesson, I guarantee she won’t have a chance to complain to Mother. And even if she does, my husband will take the blame. We’ll be fine."
Eldest Young Madam was surprised. "But what if Mother misses Fourth Sister and goes to visit her..."
Madam Qi interrupted, "I’ll handle all of that. I have a plan."
Looking at Madam Qi’s confident expression, Eldest Young Madam didn’t know what to say. She only managed, "Aren’t... aren’t you afraid?" Afraid of being scolded by her mother-in-law, afraid of being cast out by the Ren Family?
Madam Qi smiled faintly and sighed, a rare moment of seriousness. "I’m not afraid, because I have nothing to lose. And what I want is already mine. No one can take it away."
Eldest Young Madam stared blankly at Madam Qi. She never expected the usually carefree Madam Qi to say something like this, and she couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration and envy.At this moment, Madam Qi thought of that person and felt filled with courage, secretly clenching her fist: Don't be afraid, young master, I will protect you! I will help you eliminate all the demons and monsters around you! Eliminate them all!
Third Young Master Ren Yijun rubbed his nose and sneezed again.
After waking up in the nunnery, Ren Yaoyin trembled with rage.
She had thought that with her abilities, escaping from the nunnery would be easy, and she planned to make Madam Qi, that wretched woman, pay dearly once she returned. However, she never expected that no matter how she tried to bribe the nuns in the nunnery, all her messages sent out vanished without a trace. Confined to a remote courtyard, she didn't even know which nunnery she was being held in. Every day, she could only smell the scent of incense and hear the monotonous sound of wooden fish.
At first, Ren Yaoyin thought her mother was too disappointed in her and wanted to teach her a lesson, as she couldn't believe Madam Qi had such capability. She considered humbling herself before her mother first and making plans after getting out. But after attempting to communicate with the young nun who brought her meals, she despairingly realized she couldn't even contact her mother. She was being held captive by unknown people in an unknown nunnery, with no one she could rely on. Ren Yaoyin had never felt so hopeless in her life.
Meanwhile, Ren Yaoqi received a thank-you letter from her third sister-in-law, Madam Qi. Madam Qi's handwriting was crooked and barely legible, and the content of the letter was simple: "Great place! Thanks for the help!" At the end of the letter, she had drawn a big smiling face.
Naturally, Madam Qi couldn't possibly have confined Ren Yaoyin to the nunnery on her own, but she had allies!
In the Ren Family.
Master Ren the Elder, his head still wrapped in bandages, asked First Madam guiltily, "How is Mother's illness? Every time I visit her, she's still unconscious. It's all my unfilialness..."
First Madam gently interrupted Master Ren the Elder, saying, "It has nothing to do with you, Master. Since the old master passed away, Old Madam Ren's health has been poor. The doctor has examined her and said there's nothing seriously wrong, just that she's in low spirits and needs more rest. With proper care, she will recover in time."
Master Ren sighed and nodded, "Please take good care of her, and I'll rely on you to manage the household affairs as well."
First Madam lowered her head and replied, "I understand, Master. Please rest assured."
And so, Old Madam Ren was confined by her own daughter-in-law. With Old Madam Ren out of the way, Master Ren the Elder's dealings with the Gao family proceeded smoothly. The Gao family was willing to purchase the Ren family's residence and mines, and negotiations were ongoing in recent days.
What First Madam never expected was that her tactic of dealing with her mother-in-law was now being used against her by her own daughter-in-law.
First Madam asked Eldest Young Madam, "How has Yaoyin been lately?"
Eldest Young Madam lowered her head and replied, "Fourth Sister is in good health and her mood has improved a lot. She spends her days reading, painting, and occasionally copying Buddhist scriptures. A few days ago, she even secretly asked a young nun to buy her some snowflake cream and hair oil from outside."
Eldest Young Madam never lied. She had heard this from Third Young Madam and believed it, so First Madam believed it too.
First Madam sighed and nodded, "Then let her stay a while longer. We'll bring her back once her heart has truly settled."Recently, there were too many matters in the Ren Family. After selling the Ren Family's mansion, they would have to move out of the Ren residence. Although they had already purchased another spacious four-courtyard house, many things in the home needed to be organized, and the storeroom accounts had to be reconciled again. First Madam was so busy she barely had time to touch the ground, leaving her no opportunity to trouble Ren Yaoyin. Thus, she was unaware that her daughter was being bullied to death by her daughter-in-law.
Instead, First Madam discovered that although her younger daughter-in-law could barely recognize a few characters, she learned tasks like bookkeeping remarkably quickly. It was unclear how she managed the account books, but even when entrusted with minor tasks, she completed them efficiently. This led First Madam to view her in a new light, and recently, she had kept both daughters-in-law by her side for guidance.
Although the Ren Family had fallen, they could still ensure the family's basic needs were met. First Madam hoped both her sons would fare well.
And so, while Old Master Han had not yet returned and Old Madam Ren was "bedridden," the Han Family, behind the Ren and Gao families, quietly completed a transaction.
The ancestral home of the Zhai Family and the mines originally held by the Zhai Family's young mistress were returned to the hands of the Han Family. The foundation built by the Ren Family over three generations had finally collapsed completely. Apart from a modest sum of silver retrieved from the Gao Family, the Ren Family was left with nothing. At least, all their debts were cleared.
In May of that year, the Ren Family finally moved out of the "ancestral home" they had lived in for decades. As the family left the Ren residence, they suddenly realized that only their immediate branch remained, with so few people left. The items from the storeroom and some furniture had been moved to the new residence a few days earlier, so when they departed from the Ren Family mansion early in the morning, it felt unusually desolate. This desolation filled Eldest Master and First Madam with sorrow, leaving them feeling lonely and disheartened.
Old Madam Ren remained weak and drowsy. When she was carried onto the carriage, her fingers merely twitched spasmodically, and her lips moved, but no words came out. Murky tears, however, streamed continuously from her eyes.
Old Madam Ren's head maid took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped away her tears, saying softly, "Old Madam, it has been a long time since you went out, and your eyes are sensitive to the light, aren't they? It’s all right. We’ll arrive at the new residence soon, and then you can rest properly."
Old Madam Ren shuddered and fell still. The head maid adjusted her collar and gently fanned her.
Inside the carriages of the two young masters of the Ren Family, it was quiet. No one heard the occasional low, furious scolding of their third young master.
"Stupid girl! Can't you keep your feet in place? You stepped on me!"
"That’s the rice paper I use for painting, not for you to wipe your nose with, you fool!"
"Stop! Put down my..."
Not far away, Han Yunqian quietly watched as the Ren Family's carriages slowly drove out of the Ren Family's main gate. He walked to the entrance, looked up at the two characters "Ren Residence" on the lintel, now somewhat dusty, and stood there for a long time before sighing and turning away without entering the residence.
By the time Old Master Han hurried back from the northwest, everything had already been settled.
Old Master Han Dongshan stared darkly at his grandson standing before him, raised his hand, and slapped him hard—so forcefully that the sound of bones cracking could almost be heard. Yet, the Han Family's eldest young master remained expressionless, not even frowning, and his stance was steady as ever."Who gave you the nerve!" Han Dongshan spat out each word through gritted teeth, leaving no doubt that he would pounce the next second to tear his own grandson apart.
Han Yunqian calmly swallowed the blood in his mouth and said softly, "Grandfather, it is time to end this."
Han Dongshan paced back and forth like a trapped beast, then suddenly turned and kicked Han Yunqian in the abdomen.
Han Yunqian paused but still did not move, taking the kick head-on. The intense pain finally made him frown, and the blood rising in his throat spilled from the corner of his mouth. Han Dongshan had shown no mercy with this kick, leaving Han Yunqian with severe internal injuries. Yet, pale as he was, he still straightened his body and stood firm.
As if blind to his grandson's suffering, Han Dongshan's face twisted with ferocity as he snarled, "End it? Dream on! This will only end when every last member of the Ren Family is dead or when I die!"
"What does it matter if we've taken back the mansion and the mines? Don't think this is over! I originally planned to let them live a little longer to toy with them, but since you lack the patience, I'll give them a swift end." Han Dongshan looked at Han Yunqian, a strange smile suddenly twisting his originally handsome features.
Han Yunqian gazed at his grandfather, his dark eyes devoid of any emotion.
Han Dongshan said coldly, "Since you refuse to do it, I won't force you. Until every last one of them is dead, you will stay confined to the courtyard and not set foot outside!"
With that, Han Dongshan called for someone to come in and take Han Yunqian away.
As Han Yunqian lifted his foot to leave, his steps were somewhat unsteady, but he quickly regained his balance.
"Grandfather, even if your actions bring catastrophic disaster upon the entire Han Family, you still insist on doing this?" Han Yunqian's voice remained steady, betraying no emotion.
Han Dongshan's expression was icy. "No matter the cost, this vengeance must be carried out!"
Han Yunqian closed his eyes and sighed softly. "I understand." After saying this, he walked step by step out of the old master's study. Though his pace was slow, it showed no sign of instability, and he even closed the study door behind him.
Han Dongshan watched his grandson's retreating figure and snorted coldly, paying it no mind. His thoughts were now entirely focused on how to exterminate every member of the Ren Family.
After Han Yunqian left, Han Dongshan summoned his trusted aide. "Where have the Ren Family members moved to?"
The aide gave an address, still in White Crane Town, though far from the original Ren Family mansion and in a somewhat remote location.
Han Dongshan revealed a chilling, sinister smile. "A four-courtyard residence? That location is quite suitable. In this dry weather, a single fire could burn it all to ashes!"
The aide dared not lift his head, asking cautiously, "Does the master mean... to set a fire?"
Han Dongshan smiled with satisfaction. "I can think of no more fitting death for them. Send someone to handle it, and make sure it's done cleanly. Remember, I want them burned alive! And leave no survivors."
Upon hearing this, the aide broke into a cold sweat. "Burned alive" meant setting the fire while the people were still inside, not killing them first and then burning the bodies.
"This subordinate understands," the aide replied, bowing his head as he withdrew.When only Han Dongshan remained in the study, he suddenly couldn't contain himself and burst into wild laughter. This laughter sent chills deep into the hearts of the attendants waiting outside the study.
That day, Old Master Han was in excellent spirits, eating an extra bowl of rice at dinner compared to usual.
Han You, who was dining in her grandmother's room, seeing her grandfather in a good mood, cautiously asked, "Grandfather, may I bring some food to visit my brother? I heard he's ill. Could I also request a physician to come to the estate?"
Old Madam Ren glanced at Old Master Han. Though she didn't speak, her eyes were filled with concern.
Madam Jiang, standing behind Old Madam Ren to serve the dishes, calmly scooped a spoonful of tofu into her ladyship's plate.
Old Master Han's face turned cold as he looked at Han You. "Who told you your brother is ill?"
Han You trembled in fright, nearly falling off her chair. With reddened eyes, she stammered, "I... I... I heard it from the guards outside when I went to see my brother."
Old Master Han snorted coldly, threw down his chopsticks, and stormed off in a huff.
Tears immediately welled up in Han You's eyes. Old Madam Ren sighed softly, pulling Han You into her arms and patting her back to comfort her. "Don't cry. Your grandfather didn't mean to scold you."
Madam Jiang watched Han You sobbing uncontrollably, then glanced in the direction Old Master Han had left, lost in thought.
At the third watch that night, Old Master Han got up. Old Madam Ren, startled awake, rose in confusion. "Husband?"
Old Master Han replied calmly, "I have business to attend to outside." After saying this, he fastened his outer robe and left.
After leaving his courtyard, Old Master Han saw his trusted aide waiting at the gate. He approached and asked, "Is everything prepared?"
The aide bowed his head. "Everything is ready. We only await the appointed hour to act. Master, perhaps you should wait for news in the estate?"
Han Dongshan laughed. "At a time like this, I must see them burned to ashes with my own eyes to truly savor it."
Han Dongshan stepped out, and the aide followed with his head lowered.
To avoid being seen, Han Dongshan boarded a carriage. The carriage departed from the Han Family estate and slowly headed toward the southern part of White Crane Town.
Han Dongshan sat in the carriage with his eyes closed, a contented smile on his lips. His long-held wish was finally within reach tonight, and his delight was beyond words.
Along the way, he couldn't help but recall the sight of his dearest loved ones lying in pools of blood years ago. Tonight, the hatred in his heart would be cleansed by a great fire.
Just as Han Dongshan was imagining the tragic deaths of the entire Ren Family, the carriage suddenly came to a halt.
Han Dongshan frowned. By his estimation, they shouldn't have arrived yet.
He called out his aide's name, but there was no response from outside. Sensing something amiss, Han Dongshan flung open the carriage curtain.
He saw that his carriage had stopped in a secluded alley. A cold crescent moon hung overhead, barely illuminating the road ahead. A tall, straight figure stood in front of his carriage, blocking the way. The dim light made it hard to discern his features, but Han Dongshan recognized the person at once.
Han Dongshan narrowed his eyes slightly and jumped down from the carriage. His fierce gaze fixed on the familiar figure before him. "Who gave you permission to come out? Step aside!"Compared to Han Dongshan's ferocity, Han Yunqian's voice was much calmer: "Grandfather, let's go back. There's still time."
Han Dongshan sneered, "You have quite the nerve!" As if remembering something, he couldn't help but glance to the side, where a figure stood in the distance with his head deeply bowed—it was his trusted aide.
Han Dongshan narrowed his eyes and looked at Han Yunqian. "Has Li Wei also been bribed by you?"
Han Yunqian remained silent, which was as good as an admission.
Han Dongshan laughed in anger, pointing at Han Yunqian and nodding. "Very well! You're doing great! I certainly didn't train you wrong! How many more people around me are already yours? Tell me, let me see."
Han Yunqian ignored Han Dongshan's rage and simply said, "I can't stand by and watch the Han Family be buried along with your hatred."
Han Dongshan roared, "I am the head of the Han Family. If I want someone dead, who dares to live? Who are you to interfere?"
Han Yunqian fell silent for a moment before speaking calmly, "Grandfather, you've forgotten that this is the Han Family, not the Zhai Family. You may have forgotten, but I cannot."
These words made Han Dongshan's expression turn extremely grim.
Most people had nearly forgotten that Old Master Han was not originally surnamed Han—he had married into the Han Family. Years of smooth sailing and unchallenged authority had made Han Dongshan forget this himself. He never expected that one day, his own grandson would be the one to point it out. He was the head of the Han Family, but he did not bear the Han surname. In truth, the Han Family had little to do with him.
"I haven't bribed anyone. They were always people of the Han Family," Han Yunqian said expressionlessly.
Because you never considered yourself a member of the Han Family, you would never understand this. This last thought, Han Yunqian kept to himself.
"Very well, so you intend to move against me?" Han Dongshan's voice was icy.
Han Yunqian paused and asked earnestly, "Will Grandfather let go of the Ren Family and return with me?"
Han Dongshan sneered, "Impossible."
Han Yunqian sighed, then without the slightest hesitation, raised his hand and said, "Escort the Old Master to the carriage."
As soon as he spoke, several attendants who had originally accompanied Old Master Han on his outing quickly surrounded him from behind the carriage.
Han Dongshan was both shocked and furious. "Han... Yun... Qian!"
Han Yunqian paid no heed, standing motionless in place and silently watching as the attendants subdued Han Dongshan and escorted him into the carriage.
Only when Old Master Han's carriage disappeared from view along the original road did Han Yunqian press his lips together and turn to Li Wei, who stood motionless to the side. His tone was completely flat. "You did well. From now on, continue serving by Grandfather's side as before."
Li Wei discreetly wiped the cold sweat from his hands on his clothes and bowed his head respectfully. "Yes."
Han Yunqian nodded, glancing at his grandfather's former trusted aide and offering reassurance. "If you hadn't done this, the Han Family would have been destroyed. There's no need for you to blame yourself."
Li Wei was grateful that Han Yunqian would comfort him in return at such a moment and couldn't help but ask, "What about the Old Master..."
Han Yunqian's expression remained unchanged. "Grandfather will come to understand one day. The Han Family should not be buried along with the Zhai Family's hatred."Li Wei pondered for a moment, then couldn't help but say, "Young Master, this time we were also forced by circumstances. Who would have thought that the Ren Family's attempt to climb the social ladder back then actually succeeded? If we didn’t have to worry about the people from the third branch of the Ren Family, Young Master, you would help Old Master Han seek revenge, wouldn’t you?"
Han Yunqian remained silent for a while, then turned and walked away without saying a word.
Li Wei watched Han Yunqian’s tall and solitary figure, letting out a heavy sigh.
The reason he had betrayed Old Master Han was also because he understood the pressure of circumstances. He had a family to care for, and like the young master, he was unwilling to let his entire family be sacrificed for Old Master Han’s vendetta.
The reason Old Master Han had failed was that, in the end, he did not bear the Han surname.
The members of the Ren Family who had already moved into the new residence were sleeping soundly at this moment, completely unaware that they had just narrowly escaped death's door.
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