No sooner had they taken their positions than they heard the maids outside greeting Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren in unison.
Ren Yaoqi's upright back stiffened for a moment before she slowly inhaled and exhaled, forcing herself to relax.
The several gentlemen who had been sitting in the eastern inner room immediately rose from their seats. First Madam, who had been personally arranging the dishes, quickly placed a plate of cold Fu Lu tofu on the southeast side of the kang table and hurriedly went to meet them at the carved moon gate.
Like everyone else in the room, Ren Yaoqi leaned slightly forward, standing straight with her hands hanging at her sides and her eyes half-lowered.
First Madam had only taken three or four steps when Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren entered.
Old Master Ren was fifty-six this year, yet he was tall, imposing, vigorous, and sharp-eyed. Standing beside him was Old Madam Ren, a few years younger, with a round face, slender eyebrows, and narrow eyes. Though no longer young, she had dimples on both cheeks, making her appear to be smiling even when she wasn't, which added an unwarranted touch of kindness.
Ren Yaoqi watched as the two entered, each taking a seat on the kang on either side. She lowered her head and followed the others forward to kowtow to Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren.
Her movements in performing the greeting were flawless. As she listened to Old Master Ren's deep, resonant voice above her, like the morning bell, saying, "All rise," she inexplicably recalled the moment in her previous life when she left the Ren Family. It was the same voice that spoke over her head with an authoritative and unquestionable tone: "Even after leaving the Ren Family, you must always remember that you are a member of the Ren Family. Remember that it was the Ren Family that clothed and fed you, allowing you to grow up. Only if the Ren Family stands firm can you Ren women stand firm outside!"
She didn't know if every woman leaving the Ren Family received such instruction from the family's old master before departing. At the time, however, she only felt like sneering. It was the first time she had heard someone speak such shameless words with such a righteous and lofty tone.
Old Master Ren seemed to have forgotten that she, the Ren woman about to leave, was not going out to marry.
Her life had been utterly ruined, yet he could calmly instruct her to exert the last bit of usefulness for the family.
Ren Yaoqi's right arm was gently nudged, snapping her back to reality. She turned her head and met the slightly surprised face of the Fourth Young Miss, Ren Yaoyin.
It turned out that everyone had already stood up, leaving only her still kneeling there motionless.
Ren Yaoqi pretended to be somewhat weak as she stood up. Ren Yaoyin reached out to support her: "Fifth Sister, are you still not fully recovered from your illness?"
Everyone's attention was drawn over. First Madam also hurried over and reached out to touch her forehead: "What's wrong? Weren't you already better?"
Ren Yaoqi subtly loosened the tightly clenched fist hidden under her sleeve and said softly, "I took the last dose of medicine when I got up this morning. It must be the medicine taking effect. The illness is indeed completely cured."
Old Madam Ren said lightly, "If you're not feeling well, why did you come? Do I lack one or two people to greet me here?"
First Madam quickly smoothed things over with a smile: "Fifth Girl is just filial. She came as soon as she recovered from her illness."
"Alright, let the children withdraw to have their meal," Master Ren's hand lightly tapped on the table, and the room immediately fell silent.Old Madam Ren waved her hand, her eyes sweeping over the younger generation. "Hua'er and Yin'er will stay and eat in my room. The rest of you may leave."
Everyone bowed and prepared to withdraw. Ren Yaoying pursed her lips, glanced at Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoyin, and looked somewhat unwilling.
Just then, a burst of silver-bell-like laughter sounded from outside. The curtain was lifted, and a young woman in her twenties entered, holding the hand of a little girl who looked quite reluctant.
The woman wore a fox-fur jacket with a purple satin surface embroidered with a hundred butterflies pattern, a yellow pleated skirt, and her hair was styled in an ingot-shaped bun. Jewelry jingled as she moved. Her appearance was sweet and pleasing, with a pair of dimples on her cheeks that somewhat resembled Old Madam Ren's.
"Oh, am I late today?" The woman looked around in surprise, as if taken aback by her tardiness, then immediately put on a sweet smile. "Father, Mother, please forgive your daughter-in-law this once? You both know that I am usually the most diligent in coming to pay my respects, rarely ever late. I kowtow to you both."
With that, she quickly pulled the little girl standing beside her to kneel properly in the center of the room and respectfully kowtowed.
After she rose, Ren Yaoqi and the other younger generation members stepped forward to bow and greet her, calling her "Fifth Aunt."
Old Madam Ren glanced at her. "I thought the rules of this household were about to be abandoned, with everyone claiming illness and not coming. I was just considering discussing with the old master about abolishing the morning and evening greetings to suit your wishes."
Upon hearing this, Fifth Madam Lin was not afraid but instead covered her mouth and laughed, looking quite charming. "What are you saying, Mother? I don't know about others, but if I didn't come to Glory and Splendor Courtyard every day to serve you, I wouldn't even have an appetite. My Yu'er is the same, isn't that right, Yu'er?" She didn't forget to gently tug at her daughter's sleeve.
Eighth Miss Ren Yaoyu, who bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to her mother, quickly glanced at Old Madam Ren and nodded.
Old Madam Ren gave a light hum, her expression unchanged and not displeased, clearly not truly angry.
"Father, Mother, allow your daughter-in-law to serve you the meal."
Lin made a show of taking off a pair of jade bracelets from her wrist, casually handing them to a maid standing nearby for safekeeping. She then stepped forward to stand beside Old Madam Ren, picking up a pair of silver chopsticks to serve the dishes.
Old Madam Ren glared at her. "Enough, why come now to show off? You're just getting in the way! You're not needed here. Let your elder sister-in-law and the younger daughters-in-law handle it."
Lin pursed her lips into a smile and did not insist, handing the silver chopsticks back to First Madam. She added with a laugh, "Mother thinks I'm too clumsy. Elder Sister-in-law is always more favored by her."
First Madam smiled modestly and did not argue with her.
Old Madam Ren looked at Lin, then at Ren Yaoyu, who had been fidgeting uneasily since entering and kept glancing toward the south window.
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