“The intention comes before the brush, and the painting is complete when the intention is fulfilled.” Ren Shimin moved closer and lowered his head to carefully examine the painting that had been enhanced by Ren Yaoqi, his face showing pleasant surprise as he praised: “Yaoqi, your progress over these six months is truly unbelievable.”

Six months? She had been painting for far longer than half a year…

Ren Yaoqi sighed inwardly but only pursed her lips in a smile.

“Fifth Sister paints well.” Ren Yihong looked at Ren Yaoqi with some shyness.

Ren Yihong was Ren Shimin’s only son.

Concubine Fang had high expectations for this son and never let him get involved in inner courtyard affairs. In Ren Yaoqi’s memory, this concubine-born younger brother had a shy disposition, and their relationship was fairly good.

He was currently studying classics and history with several other cousins in the household under an elderly scholar hired by the family. His studies were passable; he liked painting, but his natural talent wasn’t high.

Ren Yaoqi remembered that in her previous life, after Ren Shimin’s death, Ren Yihong had been arranged by Concubine Fang to go to the Fang family to study alongside the Fang family children. As for whether he eventually achieved success as Concubine Fang had hoped, she didn’t know. At least during her lifetime, she had never heard Ren Yihong’s name mentioned in the capital.

Ren Yaoqi smiled at him politely.

At this moment, a steward from the front courtyard came to report that the gifts of gratitude for the Han family were ready, and Fifth Master asked if Third Master had time to go to the Han family together with him.

Ren Yaoqi tugged at Ren Shimin’s sleeve, saying with dissatisfaction: “Father, you still haven’t told us about the painting gathering. Besides Master Chen and the Prince of Yan Bei, what other famous artists participated in this painting gathering? What schools of painting style do they represent?”

Seeing several children looking at him with curious faces, Ren Shimin thought for a moment and said to the steward: “The Han family has only just returned today as well. Taking too many people might cause them trouble. Let Fifth Brother go alone today. I’ll visit them another day.”

The steward acknowledged and withdrew.

Ren Yaoqi breathed a sigh of relief.

Ren Shimin spent the entire afternoon in his study discussing the painting with the children.

After the evening meal, the Ren family members all went to Ronghua Garden to pay their evening respects to Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren. Ren Yaoyu officially moved into Ronghua Garden.

To appease Ren Yaohua, Old Madam Ren rewarded her with a pair of pearl flowers and was particularly kind to her in her speech.

Fifth Madam appeared together with Fifth Master. Not knowing how Fifth Master had pleaded for Fifth Madam, Old Madam Ren surprisingly didn’t punish her to contemplate her faults in the ancestral hall. When the couple stood together, their eyes kept meeting constantly.

Finally, Fifth Master shamelessly pleaded for his daughter again, and Old Madam Ren reluctantly agreed to let Ren Yaoyu come out of the ancestral hall and be confined to her room instead.

After returning from Ronghua Garden, Ren Yaoqi had people sort out several portions from the chest of fabrics and jewelry that Ren Shimin had brought back for her, to be sent to Ren Yaoyin, Ren Yaoying, and Ren Yaoting from the second branch, respectively. Then she took the portion for Ren Yaohua and went to the east wing across the way.

Seeing the clothes and jewelry Ren Yaoqi had brought, Ren Yaohua said expressionlessly, “Father bought these for you. What are you bringing them to me for?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “Fourth Sister, Seventh Sister, Eighth Sister, and Ninth Sister all have their shares, so naturally I can’t leave out your portion, Third Sister. Father said he bought them for us sisters. How could I keep them all to myself?”

Hearing this, Ren Yaohua’s expression softened slightly.

Ren Yaoqi had Xi’er hand over the things she’d brought to Ren Yaohua’s senior maid, Wujing, for safekeeping.

A servant woman came in to report something to Ren Yaohua. Seeing that brushes, ink, and paper were spread out on the writing desk inside, Ren Yaoqi walked over and casually glanced at it, only to discover it was a half-finished snow landscape painting.

The ink marks on the painting were still wet. Ren Yaohua had been painting before she entered. Ren Yaohua’s painting was quite ordinary, with some traces of corrections and modifications, though one could see she had put effort into it. Painting and calligraphy were not Ren Yaohua’s strengths. Ren Yaoqi knew she disliked these things the most.

Ren Yaoqi had always thought that someone as proud as Ren Yaohua wouldn’t care about their father’s opinion of her. Her usual attitude toward Ren Shimin was also indifferent, and she rarely spoke in front of him.

At this moment, Ren Yaohua walked over, glanced at Ren Yaoqi, then pulled over the half-finished snow landscape from the desk, crumpled it into a ball, and casually discarded it on the floor.

Ren Yaoqi was startled. Ren Yaohua said coldly: “I was just painting casually for no reason. I ruined it. It’s getting late, you should go back.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded without asking further questions: “Then I’ll head back first.” After taking two steps, she paused again: “Third Sister might try fine brushwork painting, and if you’re uncertain about the composition, you could sketch it out with charcoal first.”

Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi for a long while. It wasn’t until Ren Yaoqi reached the doorway that she said quietly: “Thank you for your concern.”

The next day, after paying morning respects at Ronghua Garden and returning, Ren Yaoqi was talking in Li Shi’s main room when a servant woman from the outer courtyard came in to report that Third Master wanted Third Madam to send someone to deliver the jar of cloud mist tea he’d brought back from the capital to the front courtyard.

“Has a guest arrived?” Since Ren Shimin always treasured his collected teas and generally only used them to entertain his closest friends, Ren Yaoqi asked this question.

“Someone from the Han family has come,” the steward woman replied.

Ren Yaoqi’s expression changed slightly: “The Han family sent someone?”

“Yes, Madam Han brought Young Master Han and Miss Han.” The steward woman didn’t notice Ren Yaoqi’s expression and replied with a smile: “Fifth Master said he wants Young Master Han to taste the good tea he just brought back.”

Ren Yaoqi could no longer remember whether the Han family had visited in her previous life. Before the Han family broke off the engagement, she had paid no attention to this family at all.

But would this life still follow the same path as her previous one?

Thinking of this, Ren Yaoqi suddenly stood up.

“Qi’er?” Li Shi called out in surprise.

Ren Yaoqi came back to her senses and found everyone looking at her. She tried to calm her breathing and smiled: “Yesterday, I heard Father praise the Han family’s good family traditions. I’m very curious about what Miss Han looks like. Mother, I’ll go to Grandmother’s courtyard to see Miss Han.”