Ren Yaoqi, having said all that needed to be said, rose and said, "It's getting late, I should head back now."
Recently, due to her illness, she had been taking her medicine and going to bed early. Today, she had stayed up far past her usual bedtime and spoken so much that she was utterly exhausted.
Nanny Zhou, noticing her unsteady steps, knew she must be feeling unwell and quickly instructed Xier to step forward and support her. "Fifth Miss, let Xier escort you back to your room. Have her keep watch for you tonight. The nannies and maids around you aren't reliable—it's better to be cautious."
Ren Yaoqi allowed Nanny Zhou to carefully adjust her cloak and hood. "After Sister Xier sees me back, she should return to serve Mother. You've only just returned, and with so many outsiders now in Purple Magnolia Courtyard, you're short-handed. The two maids assigned to me by Concubine Fang may have been sent by her, but because of that, they don't dare disobey me lightly. They've been serving me for a while now and haven't made any major mistakes. Besides, my illness is improving, unlike Mother, who truly needs care."
Hearing this, Nanny Zhou's expression softened. "Madam still has this servant by her side. Fifth Miss, you needn't worry."
Ren Yaoqi shook her head again. "It's better to avoid unnecessary trouble right now. Let's leave it as it is for now. If I'm still not better in a few days, you can send Sister Xier to look after me then."
Nanny Zhou was the most trusted stewardess by Madam Li's side. Xier, Que'er, along with Ying'er and Zhu'er—who had been married off and sent to the outer courtyard—were the four senior maids she had meticulously trained to be Madam Li's confidantes. It was best to keep such people by Madam Li's side.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi's insistence, Nanny Zhou didn't press further. She personally escorted her out, only turning back to the main room after watching her disappear through the corner gate of the front hall, surrounded by several maids.
Entering the eastern side chamber, she saw Ren Yaohua still sitting in her original spot, idly toying with the wick of the blue-and-white porcelain candleholder with a small silver pair of scissors, causing the candlelight to flicker unsteadily.
Nanny Zhou sighed softly and walked over, gently taking the scissors from Ren Yaohua's hand. "Third Miss, be careful not to burn yourself."
Ren Yaohua had always respected Nanny Zhou, her mother's longtime servant, and said nothing more.
"Third Miss, if Concubine Fang proposes to attend to Madam when she comes to pay her respects tomorrow, have Madam decline. She is cunning by nature, while Madam is honest and kind-hearted. We mustn't let her suffer a hidden loss without even realizing it. Although you can keep her in check, you are still of a different generation. No family has the precedent of a legitimate daughter disciplining her father's concubine. If word got out, it would harm your reputation."
Ren Yaohua gave a faint "Mm" in response.
Although she wasn't afraid of damaging her reputation, Ren Yaoqi's words weren't without reason. There was no need for her to fall into that vile woman's trap at this time. There would be plenty of opportunities to deal with her later.
"This Concubine Fang truly has a clever scheme. I never expected her to be so sinister and malicious. If you fell into her trap and ruined your reputation, not only would you lose Old Madam Ren's favor, but you'd also offend the other masters in the household. Without you to mediate with Old Madam Ren in Purple Magnolia Courtyard, Madam's days would become even more difficult. Wouldn't our entire third branch then fall entirely into her hands, to be manipulated as she pleases?"Thinking of this, Nanny Zhou couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Although Concubine Fang had schemed to make Ren Yaohua offend those around Old Madam Ren, First Madam, Second Madam, and Madam Lin, Nanny Zhou knew all too well what kind of influence these trusted maids and matrons could wield at critical moments.
"I'll remember this debt!" A fierce expression flashed across Ren Yaohua's still somewhat youthful face, causing Nanny Zhou, who had accidentally glimpsed it, to shiver involuntarily.
Seeing Ren Yaohua's dark and unreadable expression, Nanny Zhou felt somewhat worried. "Third Miss, since Fifth Miss has already extended an olive branch to you, why don't you two sisters get along well from now on?"
Ren Yaohua glanced at Nanny Zhou and said coldly, "Should I just forget about how she schemed to have me driven away from the Ren Family?"
Nanny Zhou was at a loss for words and could only cautiously advise, "Fifth Miss was only nine years old at the time, and Concubine Fang is so cunning. It's understandable that she couldn't tell right from wrong and was used by others. Just look at what she said today—wasn't every word for your own good? You are full sisters and should support each other through thick and thin. Otherwise, wouldn't you be playing right into that woman's hands, while causing your mother to weep secretly over your discord?"
Ren Yaohua sat there expressionless, not saying a word.
Nanny Zhou carefully observed her expression and wanted to persuade her further, but Ren Yaohua had already stood up. "We've been traveling day and night, and everyone is tired. Let's rest early today. I'll head back now and come visit Mother again tomorrow morning."
Seeing her like this, Nanny Zhou could only hold back her words for the time being, thinking she would find an opportunity to mediate slowly in the future. These two sisters—one decisive, the other clever. If they could unite as one, why would they need to worry about that Concubine Fang?
Ren Yaoqi had caught a chill the previous night and woke up late the next day, feeling somewhat groggy.
However, thinking about how Concubine Fang would go to pay her respects to Madam Li in the morning and wondering if anything had gone wrong, she couldn't stay lying down any longer. Just as she was about to call her maids in to help her get up, she heard the voice of Xier, Madam Li's head maid, from the outer room.
"...Now that the weather has turned cold, hot tea must be kept warm on the charcoal stove at all times, ready for the masters to quench their thirst whenever needed. But you should also know that even the finest silver charcoal, if burned for too long indoors, can cause chest tightness and discomfort. So the charcoal stove must be placed in the well-ventilated hall, while the tea in the master's inner chamber must be replaced every three quarters of an hour."
"When we entered the mansion, the concubine sent us to learn the rules from Steward Yan beside First Madam, but Steward Yan never taught us these rules," Qingmei muttered somewhat defiantly.
Xier said coldly, "Am I not teaching you now? If you can't even learn such basic rules, go tell your Concubine Fang to send a clearer-headed maid to serve our Fifth Miss! Do you think the monthly allowance of eight hundred coins for a second-rank maid by the young lady's side is so easily earned?"
Both maids fell silent.
Ren Yaoqi then called out softly to the outer room.
Before long, Xier lifted the curtain and entered, quickly walking to the bedside to bow to Ren Yaoqi. She smiled and said, "Fifth Miss, you're awake? Would you like to get up and have breakfast now? I had them fetch the meal and keep it warm on the stove. By the time you finish breakfast, the medicine should also be ready."In the Ren Family, aside from festival occasions, the three daily meals were collected from the main kitchen by each household and courtyard according to their numbers at mealtimes. Apart from this, only Old Madam Ren's Glory and Splendor Courtyard had a small kitchen; even First Madam, who managed the household, took her meals from the main kitchen.
Of course, if one paid extra beyond the allotted rations, the main kitchen could also prepare special dishes.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi nod, Xier immediately instructed the maids Qingmei and Xueli to fetch water for Ren Yaoqi to wash up. She herself stepped forward to help Ren Yaoqi put on a small lotus-blue jacket with a Songjiang cotton outer layer.
This type of jacket was worn indoors during winter when there was no need to go out or receive guests—comfortable, lightweight, and warm.
"How did you come over?" Ren Yaoqi asked, noticing that only she and Xier were in the room.
Xier, fastening the buttons for her, smiled and replied, "Madam knew you were ill and couldn't rest easy. If I didn't come to watch over you, Madam would have gotten out of bed herself. Fifth Miss, please think of Madam's well-being and don't send me away."
Hearing that Madam Li had sent her, Ren Yaoqi couldn't bring herself to tell Xier to return.
"Also, Nanny Zhou asked me to inform Fifth Miss that Concubine Fang insisted on staying to attend to Madam when she came to pay her respects this morning, but Madam kindly persuaded her to leave. Nanny Zhou said for you to focus on recovering well—that would be the best filial piety to ease Madam's worries. With her keeping an eye on Madam, nothing major will go wrong."
Such words couldn't be spoken by others, but Nanny Zhou, by Madam Li's side, dared to say them. She was straightforward and strict, never hesitating to point out faults even among the younger masters and mistresses, unafraid of resentment or reprimand.
Ren Yaoqi nodded to show she understood.
Soon after, Qingmei and Xueli led the young maids in, carrying copper basins, face towels, spittoons, and other items.
Xier had Qingmei and Xueli watch from the side as she personally demonstrated how to serve the mistress in washing her face and cleaning her teeth.
Xier had been personally trained by Nanny Zhou, and her meticulousness and attentiveness naturally surpassed that of Qingmei and Xueli.
After the washing was done, Xier personally attended to Ren Yaoqi's breakfast.
When the medicine was brought in, Ren Yaoqi sniffed it and realized it had been changed back to the original prescription she had been taking.
It was unclear whether this was because they feared Madam Li and others would discover something amiss with the medicine upon their return, or because seeing that their attempts to prevent her from reconciling with Madam Li and Ren Yaohua had failed, they simply gave up.
Concubine Fang had always been someone who knew how to assess the situation and act decisively.
By the third day, Ren Yaoqi had almost fully recovered.
This meant she would resume the daily morning and evening visits to pay respects to Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren.
After more than a decade, she would once again face those so-called blood relatives.
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