Lin Kun looked at his wife, who wore an expression of firm resolve in his arms, yet his mind drifted back to the words Old Master Ren had spoken earlier.
"...Our Ren Family is not an unreasonable one. Jia'er has been married into your Lin Family for many years but has yet to bear any children. She is already three years older than you, and now at the age of twenty-nine by traditional reckoning, the physician says even if she safely delivers this child, it is unlikely she will conceive again in the future. Our Ren Family cannot stand by and watch the second branch of your Lin Family struggle to continue the lineage with you as the sole heir... Once you have several children, the Ren Family will be in a position to intervene on your behalf with the Lin Family. By then, the main branch of the Lin Family will no longer be able to use the excuse of your branch's lack of heirs to cause trouble..."
Lin Kun lowered his eyelids, concealing his thoughtful expression.
Suddenly, Ren Shijia let out a startled cry. Lin Kun snapped back to attention and quickly leaned in to ask, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Instead, Ren Shijia took his hand and pressed it against her abdomen, her face lighting up with joy. "Husband, he's moving. The child is moving."
Sure enough, Lin Kun felt a gentle kick against his palm resting on Ren Shijia's belly. He couldn't help but smile. "Yes, he's moving. He even kicked me."
Tears welled up in Ren Shijia's eyes, moved by the moment. She eagerly grasped her husband's hand, seeking reassurance. "This time it's a healthy child, right? He will surely be born safely, won't he?"
Hearing this, Lin Kun's open palm involuntarily twitched slightly. He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his expression was gentle and serene. "Yes, he will be safe and sound."
Ren Shijia sighed in relief, placing her own hand over Lin Kun's on her abdomen. She nestled into his embrace, a satisfied smile gracing her lips.
After dining in Ren Shijia's courtyard, Lin Kun prepared to return to Yunyang City.
This time, his visit to the Ren Family was ostensibly to bring his wife back to Yunyang City. However, Ren Shijia was still upset and insisted on staying at her parents' home to give birth. Despite Lin Kun's earnest pleas, she remained unmoved, forcing him to return to Yunyang City alone.
In private, the couple had agreed that Lin Kun would return in about two months, closer to Ren Shijia's due date.
As Lin Kun left the Warm Fragrance Pavilion, the elderly woman skilled in medicinal cuisine happened to pass by the entrance.
Lin Kun paused in front of her and spoke in a voice too low for others to hear, his tone icy. "Once the child is born, you will leave."
The woman bowed her head with a faint smile, replying in an almost inaudible whisper, "Rest assured, Sixth Master Lin. This servant will not overstay her welcome. I wish you success in all your endeavors!"
Lin Kun gave her one last glance. "Tell your master to tread carefully!" With that, he strode away.
After he left, the woman straightened up, curling her lip slightly in disdain.
In the afternoon, Old Madam Ren visited the Warm Fragrance Pavilion again, this time bringing four teenage maids for Ren Shijia to inspect.
All four maids were born into servitude within the Ren Family. Old Madam Ren planned to select from among them first; if none were suitable, she would then purchase maids from outside. After all, maids born into the household were generally more obedient and easier to manage.
The maids were all decent-looking but not overly striking, and their demeanor appeared proper and well-mannered. One of them, named Jinlian, had previously served in Old Madam Ren's own quarters.Although Ren Shijia still felt a bit of inner bitterness, she had come to terms with much of it, especially feeling increasingly guilty upon seeing her husband. So when Old Madam Ren brought people over, she was not as resistant as before.
She forced herself to glance at the maids a few times, and when Old Madam Ren dismissed them, she said, "Mother, you may choose whichever one you think is suitable. However, my husband said we should wait until after the child is born and I return to the residence before making any decisions, so it’s better to keep them for now and teach them the rules."
Old Madam Ren was not forcing Ren Shijia to send the maids to her son-in-law’s bed immediately. Seeing that she had now come around was satisfaction enough.
Hearing Ren Shijia’s words, Old Madam Ren sighed softly and said, "Then let it be as you wish."
The next day was the day they had agreed to go to White Dragon Temple with Qiu Yun and Yun Wenfang for vegetarian meals.
Ren Yaohua had also received instructions from Madam Li the day before, so when she went to Glory and Splendor Courtyard to pay her respects in the morning, she was already dressed for the outing.
It was the season when tender green buds adorned the trees and the first blossoms began to appear. Most people had shed their heavy fur garments in favor of lighter, thinner jackets, especially teenage girls, whose love for beauty drove them to don newly made spring dresses early on.
Beautiful as they were, they would shiver like quails on branches in the chilly morning and evening breezes. Strangely, this had become a fashionable trend, though no one knew where it originated.
Ren Yaoqi, however, lacked the youthful capriciousness typical of girls her age. Though she had shed her fur garments, her jacket was much thicker than those of others. The only things that matched the vibrant spring scenery were the light jade-green color of her fabric and the pale yellow silk apricot blossoms adorning her hair.
Nevertheless, with her fair complexion, delicate features, and ethereal grace, she appeared dignified and serene, even if her attire was not as slender and elegant as that of other girls.
Ren Yaohua wore a skirt and jacket in imperial concubine pink. She adored red clothing, which suited her temperament perfectly.
Ren Yaoqi had initially thought this spring outing would only involve the younger generation. However, when it was time to depart, she discovered that First Madam Wang Shi and Eldest Young Madam Zhao Shi were also joining them.
Ren Yaoqi was indifferent to this, even thinking that having elders present might keep the more unruly individuals in check.
Besides Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, the group included First Madam and her daughter-in-law, Qiu Yun and Yun Wenfang, Third Young Master Ren Yijun, Fifth Young Master Ren Yijian, Sixth Young Master Ren Yihong, as well as Ren Yaoyu and Ren Yaoting.
In the carriage, Ren Yaoqi glanced outside at the young men riding on horseback. Third Brother Ren Yijun was not on horseback but had been pulled by First Madam to sit in the carriage ahead.
Ren Yaoqi chatted casually with Ren Yaohua, saying, "I thought Third Brother’s promise to come was just a casual remark, but I didn’t expect him to actually show up. He used to dislike going out with everyone for outings."
This was because all the other boys in the Ren Family could ride horses, while he had to sit in the carriage with his sisters.
Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi, paused for a moment, and said, "He originally didn’t want to come, but First Madam lost her temper and gave a strict order, so he had no choice."
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi knew Ren Yaohua had more to say but had left it unsaid.Although Ren Yaohua no longer lived in Glory and Splendor Courtyard, she still spent more time there each day than in Purple Magnolia Courtyard because she had won Old Madam Ren's favor. She could also freely command the maids and servants in Glory and Splendor Courtyard, so she was well-informed about most of the happenings there.
Ren Yaoqi, with great interest, leaned closer and asked, "Is there something I don’t know about?"
Ren Yaohua had recently grown accustomed to Ren Yaoqi’s casual familiarity and did not hide anything when asked. "Yesterday, I overheard First Madam and Grandmother saying that today, the Second Madam of the Liu Family in Yunyang City would bring her two daughters to White Dragon Temple for a vegetarian meal."
"Second Madam of the Liu Family?" Ren Yaoqi was momentarily puzzled, unable to recall who that was.
"The Liu Family that runs an oil mill in Yunyang City. The oil used in our mansion is all purchased from their workshop." Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s confusion, Ren Yaohua added tactfully, "Both of the Liu Family’s young ladies are dignified and virtuous."
Ren Yaoqi understood—today was for arranging a match for Third Brother Ren Yijun.
Ren Yaoqi remembered that in her previous life, Ren Yijun had never found a suitable marriage partner. Either First Madam found the other family’s daughter too uncouth, or the girl’s mother thought Ren Yijun’s constitution was too weak.
Ren Yijun himself had a difficult temperament, and after several such incidents, he grew impatient.
Once, he accidentally overheard a young lady from one family whispering behind his back, saying he looked so frail that a gust of wind could knock him over, that he had the appearance of a short-lived person, and that marrying him would mean preparing for a life of widowhood.
Ren Yijun was furious and ordered his servant to set fire to the tails of the horses pulling that family’s carriages. The horses went wild as a result.
Although no one was in the carriages at the time, the mountain path where they were parked was narrow, and an elderly servant dozing beside the carriages was trampled to death by the horses.
That family later spread rumors that Ren Yijun was not only physically weak but also violent in temperament—that if he took a liking to a girl and she rejected him, he would resort to violence and even cause deaths.
In the end, the Ren Family spent a considerable amount of money to settle the matter, but Ren Yijun’s reputation was completely ruined. From then on, fewer and fewer respectable families were willing to marry their daughters to him.
Ren Yijun also began deliberately driving away potential matches whenever marriage arrangements were made. First Madam worried endlessly over this, but when Ren Yijun’s stubbornness flared up, he would only say one thing: "I will never marry in this lifetime!"
Before Ren Yaoqi left the Ren Family, Ren Yijun truly remained unmarried. Later, when the Ren Family fell into decline, she heard he had become a monk.
Recalling Ren Yijun’s past, Ren Yaoqi could only sigh.
She just didn’t know which matchmaking incident had led to Ren Yijun setting fire to the horse tails. Judging by the current situation, that incident had likely not yet occurred. At this point, Ren Yijun was still somewhat awkward about marriage but had not yet reached the point of dreading it.
If it hadn’t happened yet, could it be prevented?
However, before the upheaval in her previous life, she had little interaction with Ren Yijun and had not paid much attention to his affairs. She had only heard about these incidents from the servants in the courtyard. Thus, she didn’t know during which matchmaking arrangement or with which family the incident had occurred. Could it be this time?
Throughout the journey, Ren Yaoqi was preoccupied with this matter. Even as the carriage neared White Dragon Temple, she remained lost in thought, leaning against the carriage wall.Then the carriage wheel hit a large stone, and Ren Yaoqi lost her balance, nearly crashing into the tea cup in front of her. It was Ren Yaohua who grabbed and steadied her.
“What are you doing!” Ren Yaohua glared at her and scolded in a low voice.
The two maids attending in the carriage turned their heads away, suppressing their laughter.
Ren Yaoqi rubbed her forehead and silently pushed the tea cup and teapot toward Ren Yaohua.
Ren Yaohua: “…”
Thank you to Hualuo Ziguiti, Orchidliou, Christophe-Fengye, Man Kaixin 2, Xianren Zhong Taoshu, Angeljiang_s,
Xi＊Yan, Yinlingdd, Meimu Panxi YXQ, Aichichengzi de Chengzi, Hulibeibei 77, Najia Xuefei,
Hhy3302, Piao110, Xie Yongxin, Ailaogong de Xiaofeizhu, and all the other sisters for your support with the pink votes～^^~.
(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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