"Father, what is the Han Family up to with all this commotion?" Ren Shizhong asked after dismissing the messenger who had brought the news.
Ren Yonghe sat in the master's chair in his study, pondering for a moment. "The Han clan suspects that Han Dongshan used their clan's assets to build his fortune. Now, all this fuss is just an attempt to get a share of the pie."
A hint of worry appeared on Ren Shizhong's face. "I originally thought the Han Family's situation was straightforward, but it turns out to be like this..."
Ren Yonghe gently waved his hand to interrupt. "Whether the Han Family's waters are deep or shallow has nothing to do with us. Right now, I'm only considering whether the salt field deal can still proceed. If the Han Family is really secretly selling off their assets at this critical moment, then they aren't as financially solid as they've portrayed themselves to us. Han Dongshan has repeatedly, whether intentionally or not, displayed the Han Family's strength in front of us. I initially thought he was trying to reassure us, but now it seems a bit too deliberate."
Ren Shizhong couldn't help but frown. "Father, are you saying the Han Family is trying to deceive us?"
Instead of answering, Ren Yonghe asked in return, "What were the results of the investigation I asked you to conduct on the salt field? Is the information reliable?"
Ren Shizhong nodded. "It largely matches what the Han Family said. It doesn't seem like a trick."
Ren Yonghe thought for a moment and smiled slightly. "Since they made it clear for you to investigate, naturally there wouldn't be any obvious flaws."
"No wonder I always felt the Han Family seemed somewhat deliberate in getting close to our Ren Family. It's quite different from their usual way of doing things," Ren Shizhong mused thoughtfully.
"It's hard to draw a conclusion on this matter. Let's wait and see," Ren Yonghe said calmly.
"What about the marriage alliance between the Ren and Han Families... Should we also postpone it until the situation becomes clearer?"
"Naturally. The Han Family is bound to be in turmoil now, and they likely won't have time for marriage arrangements. It won't be too late for them to propose to our Ren Family after they've settled their own household affairs," Ren Yonghe said dismissively.
"Yes, I understand," Ren Shizhong replied respectfully.
"By the way, where is Yiyan? Didn't I tell you to keep him by your side?" Ren Yonghe frowned, realizing his eldest grandson hadn't appeared before him all morning.
Ren Shizhong quickly explained, "Yiyan caught a slight chill the day before yesterday, so I let him rest for a few days."
Ren Yonghe snorted coldly. "What I heard was that he argued with you over the two miners who died in the coal mine collapse a few days ago."
Ren Shizhong paused and lowered his head. "Yiyan just lacks experience. That day was his first time accompanying me to handle matters at the mine, so he wasn't quite used to it."
"There's no need to defend him," Ren Yonghe interrupted. "I know my own grandson. Raised in the inner quarters since childhood, spoiled by all of you, and now obsessed with the pleasures of the marital chamber, he's developed a soft-hearted, womanly disposition. How can someone like that accomplish great things in the future? How can I entrust the Ren Family's legacy to your hands after I'm gone?"
Ren Shizhong felt extremely awkward hearing his father so bluntly mention his son's indulgence in marital pleasures.
"I will discipline him properly from now on."
"Good, you may go."
And the Han Family was truly facing a headache this time.After the group had their midday meal, they still hadn't found a solution to the problem. The Han clan members demanded that Han Dongshan return the clan property he had allegedly embezzled, but Han Dongshan had never even seen those legendary items, so naturally, he couldn't satisfy the Han family's demands.
In the end, the Han family members decided that some would stay behind at the Han residence while the rest would return to Jizhou. Meanwhile, the Han family began searching for the person Han Zuwang claimed had come to buy the mermaid pearl necklace. Both sides were now engaged in a protracted battle.
The Purple Magnolia Courtyard had been closely following the Han family's affairs, with Nanny Zhou even assigning a servant specifically to gather news from the Han residence.
Although they couldn't know the exact details, the development of events was quite satisfying to Ren Yaoqi.
However, one thing worried Ren Yaoqi: Zhu Ruomei still hadn't contacted her.
Originally, she had instructed him that whether the matter succeeded or not, he should ask Sister-in-law Yuan to come to the Ren Family and inform her as soon as he returned to Yunyang City.
But there had been no news from Yuan Ruomei, and she had initially worried that something had gone wrong, that he hadn't managed to carry out her instructions.
Unexpectedly, today the Han family had already erupted into conflict.
This indicated that Yuan Ruomei had successfully used the Han family's fabricated legend to stir up conflict between Han Dongshan and the Han clan members, just as she had instructed.
But why hadn't Zhu Ruomei sent her any message?
After leaving the main room in the evening, Ren Yaoqi was about to have someone call Xiangqin over to ask when a maid from the western courtyard came to say that Ren Shimin wanted her to go to his study in the western courtyard.
Ren Shimin had many eccentric habits. Not only was he fastidious, but he also preferred to sleep alone. Sometimes, when he became engrossed in reading or painting in his study at night, he would simply stay in the western courtyard.
Although he had a wife and concubines, in his eyes, they were not as dear or pleasing as his beloved books and paintings.
At most, he would stay in the main room of Purple Magnolia Courtyard seven or eight days out of thirty in a month. As for Concubine Fang's Fangfei Courtyard, it was even less frequent—if he visited once a month, that was considered good.
But Ren Third Master's willfulness was well-known throughout the Ren Family, and even Old Madam Ren could do nothing about it.
When Concubine Fang first entered the Ren Family, she had exhausted every means to win favor, and initially, it had some effect, as Ren Shimin was, after all, a normal man. But over time, no method worked anymore. Once Concubine Fang had a child and could establish herself in the Ren Family, she gave up on the idea.
After all, competing with women for favor was one thing, but competing with Ren Shimin's hobbies was a battle she couldn't win.
When Ren Yaoqi entered the study, Ren Shimin was sitting on the soft couch in the inner room with his hair loose, absorbed in a book. Perhaps he was deeply engrossed, as he didn't notice Ren Yaoqi approaching until she was right in front of him.
Ren Yaoqi glanced at the candlestick on the table, and a mischievous idea came to her. She quietly moved to block the candlelight. The sudden dimming made Ren Shimin blink, and it took him a moment to realize what was happening before he looked up.
"What are you reading so intently, Father?" Ignoring Ren Shimin's annoyed expression, Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile.
Seeing that it was Ren Yaoqi, Ren Shimin's expression softened slightly as he chided, "Why didn't you say anything when you came in?"
Ren Yaoqi replied innocently, "I did call out to you, but you didn't hear me."Ren Shimin reluctantly set his book aside. "Alright. Step back a bit, you're blocking the light." He muttered, "Eating until you're six or seven-tenths full at dinner is enough. Don't get so fat that your own father won't recognize you."
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
"Why did Father call me here at this time?" Ren Yaoqi decided not to argue and found a small stool nearby to sit on.
Hearing this, Ren Shimin thought for a moment before saying, "Your grandfather called me over tonight and said we should set aside your Third Sister's matter for now and discuss it later."
Ren Yaoqi felt a surge of joy in her heart. "The marriage won't go through?"
Seeing Ren Yaoqi's delighted expression, Ren Shimin grew troubled again and said seriously, "Your grandfather only said to set it aside for now. Once the Han Family matter passes, it might still be brought up again."
Ren Yaoqi responded with a big, fake smile, though inwardly she dismissed the idea.
Having come this far, if she allowed Ren Yaohua and Han Yunqian to marry, she might as well die again.
Unaware of his daughter's thoughts, Ren Shimin continued rambling, "...Han Yunqian, aside from being somewhat handsome, having decent scholarship, and being clever and steady... doesn't have many other merits."
Ren Yaoqi glanced at the book Ren Shimin had placed on the couch. Seeing it was "Records of Ancient Mirrors," she said, "Father, 'Red head, white forehead, body in shades of blue and yellow. No scales but with saliva, snake-shaped with dragon horns, pointed mouth, resembling a sturgeon, glowing when moving. Stuck in mud and water, thus unable to travel far.' What is this describing?"
Ren Shimin was taken aback and picked up the book he had set aside earlier to examine it carefully.
Ren Yaoqi cleared her throat and stood up. "Father, I'll take my leave now. Don't read too late at night; it'll strain your eyes. If your eyes are damaged, you'll have to lean over the table when painting, which isn't very elegant."
Ren Shimin nodded while flipping through the book. "Understood, I'll sleep soon."
Ren Yaoqi turned and left, instructing a maid to light an extra candle inside and to cut the candles into shorter segments in the future to remind Ren Shimin not to read too late at night.
The next day, Ren Yaoting from the East Manor arrived.
Ren Yaoting had come to gather information. She had clearly heard some rumors but wasn't entirely sure, so she visited the West Manor. Surprisingly, she even came to Purple Magnolia Courtyard.
As a guest, Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi accompanied her in the western side room of the main hall.
At first, she restrained herself from asking about Ren Yaohua's marriage and instead brought up Ren Yilin's broken engagement.
Last time, the Second Madam Su Shi of the East Manor went to Jizhou to help Ren Yilin break off the engagement.
"...My mother offered the Liu Family many benefits, and Old Madam Liu agreed to return my second brother's betrothal card to my mother."
"What about the Liu Family's young lady?" Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but ask.
Ren Yaoting shook her head. "That's unclear. I heard it from one of my mother's maids. They only met Old Madam Liu; the Liu Family's young lady didn't come out to greet them."
Then she changed the subject and looked at Ren Yaohua. "This year seems plagued with misfortunes. First, my second brother's engagement fell through, and now I hear about you, Third Sister..."Upon hearing her opening words, Ren Yaohua immediately knew what she was about to say. Without sparing any face, she stood up at once and said coldly, "I just remembered there are some matters I haven't finished. Fifth Sister, you entertain Seventh Sister well." Without waiting for Ren Yaoting to react, she left.
Ren Yaoting's face flushed red and then turned pale, feeling thoroughly embarrassed.
Ren Yaoqi, however, smiled and poured a cup of tea for Ren Yaoting. "Seventh Sister, don't take it to heart. Third Sister will be back soon." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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