Little White River was located in the southern outskirts of Baihei Town. When the Ren family’s carriage arrived, the warm pavilion on the riverbank had already been set up the day before. The Ren family had also sent people to erect countless colored flags on the river surface, enclosing a vast space and keeping all idle onlookers at bay.

When Ren Yaoqi and the other female family members alighted from the carriage, they saw that many curious commoners had already gathered outside to watch the excitement. There were also some half-grown children dragging makeshift flat-bottomed carts made of wooden planks tied together with thick hemp rope, racing back and forth on the ice surface that wasn’t cordoned off, or wearing homemade ice skates as they whooshed back and forth, laughing and shouting.

The Ren family’s steward found them too noisy and sent servants to drive them away several times, but as soon as people left, other children would run back again – they simply couldn’t be driven away completely. In the end, it was the Ren family’s eldest young master, Ren Yiyan, who spoke up, saying that today’s outing from the mansion was meant for entertainment, and that more liveliness would be better, before they finally gave up.

Those who came today, aside from Fifth Master Ren Shimao and Fifth Madam Lin Shi, were all the younger generation of the Ren family. The Fifth Master and his wife had said before everyone set out that they had matters to attend to first and wouldn’t travel together with them, so for now, eldest young master Ren Yiyan and eldest young madam Zhao Shi were in charge.

Ren Yaoqi followed the other Ren family sisters to the warm pavilion with Zhao Shi. Just as they sat down, they saw another group of people walking in – it was actually that Han family’s young lady, who rarely left her home.

Ren Yaoqi looked outside and indeed saw Han family’s young master Han Yunqian walking toward them while chatting and laughing with Ren Yiyan, Qiu Yun, and several others.

“Eh? Who is this?” Seventh Miss Ren Yaoting from the Eastern Mansion looked at the Han family’s young lady walking toward them and asked in confusion. She had never met Han You before.

Ren Yaoyin smiled and said, “This is Miss Han. Her elder brother is a close friend and fellow student with Third Cousin and the others at Yunyang Academy, so Cousin sent an invitation to the Han family.”

Han You smiled and came forward to pay her respects. Eldest young madam Zhao Shi arranged for her to sit beside Ren Yaoyin and Ren Yaoqi.

“That day when I heard Cousin and Elder Brother discussing sending an invitation to the Han family, I was still worried you wouldn’t be able to come. I’m glad you made it,” Ren Yaoyin said to Han You with a friendly smile.

Han You’s eyes sparkled brightly as she looked around at the surroundings. Hearing Ren Yaoyin’s words, she said somewhat shyly in a small voice, “Last month when we received your invitation, I… my mother happened to fall ill, so… This time it was Mother who spoke with Elder Brother to persuade Grandmother, so I was able to come.”

Han You’s explanation was somewhat disjointed, but they had heard Han You mention the Han family’s situation before, so they understood what was going on in their hearts and couldn’t help but feel even more sympathy for her.

Although Han You was somewhat timid due to rarely leaving home, she was gentle and well-mannered, so after the Ren family sisters interacted with her, none of them rejected her.

Everyone sat drinking tea and eating refreshments, but the competition outside was slow to begin. The eldest young madam Zhao Shi explained that they were waiting for Fifth Master and Fifth Madam to arrive.

After waiting for a long while, eldest young master Ren Yiyan sent someone back to look for Fifth Master and Lin Shi, while announcing that the competition here would begin.

At this time, Yun Wenfang, Han Yunqian, Qiu Yun, and the Ren family’s Fifth Young Master Ren Yijian came out wearing light clothing. Several older women were binding leg wrappings and ice shoes onto their legs.

The ice shoes were made of iron and fastened to the feet with straps.

“Fifth Brother and the others are going to compete?” Eldest young madam Zhao Shi was startled and looked toward the Ren family sisters, clearly not having known about this beforehand.

The Ren family sisters all looked at each other in confusion. It was Miss Han who said, “On the way here, I heard Young Master Qiu and Elder Brother saying that each of the four of them would lead a team of servants.”

Indeed, everyone saw that they had four different colored sashes tied around their waists.

The Ren family’s young masters had played this game before, but had never personally competed in matches. It was just for watching the excitement.

Hearing this, Zhao Shi became somewhat anxious. With Fifth Madam and Fifth Master not present, she and the eldest young master were in charge here. She was very afraid that if something happened, she wouldn’t be able to account for it to Old Madam Ren and the Grand Madam. So she hurriedly got up to go discuss with the eldest young master Ren Yiyan.

Ren Yaoyu pursed her lips and complained, “Elder Sister-in-law is just timid and doesn’t dare make decisions about anything. If my mother were here, there wouldn’t be such trouble.”

Ren Yaoyin frowned slightly and softly defended her sister-in-law, “Elder Sister-in-law is also worried about Cousin and their safety. I heard that last year someone broke their neck in an ice skating competition.”

Eldest young madam Zhao Shi also came from a prestigious family and had a gentle, rule-abiding temperament. On the second day after her wedding to the eldest young master Ren Yiyan, when they went to serve tea to the Ren family elders, it was raining outside, and the roads were slippery. When going up the steps, Ren Yiyan inadvertently supported her arm in front of everyone, which embarrassed her so much that she nearly fell down the steps. Her face remained red for an entire day, and she was too embarrassed to leave her room for half a month.

Zhao Shi had been married for two years, but her belly had never shown signs of pregnancy, making her even more cautious in the Ren family. Fortunately, Ren Yiyan had a gentle temperament, and the couple had always been harmonious.

A moment later, Zhao Shi returned somewhat dejectedly, clearly having failed to persuade the young masters who insisted on competing.

Ren Yijian, still wearing his outfit, came running over with winks and gestures, cupping his hands in salute, “Dear sisters-in-law and sisters, when you give prize money later, make sure to recognize my red waist sash! Be generous – I’m the only one from the Ren family competing.”

Ren Yijian proudly turned in a circle in front of everyone, letting them see the red sash tied around his waist.

Qiu Yun teased him from the side, “If your skills are inferior, just admit defeat. The way you’re acting, nearly everyone sitting here today is from the Ren family.”

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh. Ren Yijian’s face reddened, and he made a funny face before running away.

Qiu Yun winked at Yun Wenfang, “Should we also learn from that boy and go curry favor? Otherwise, what if no one cheers for us later?”

Yun Wenfang glanced toward the women’s area, his gaze pausing slightly on Ren Yaoqi before turning away. He tugged at the corner of his mouth teasingly, “Fine, but if you lose, will you also learn from him and cry?”

Qiu Yun chuckled with a “puchi,” remembering how he had previously teased Ren Yijian about crying and throwing tantrums when he lost at chess as a child.

The sound of gongs rang out from outside – the competition was about to begin. Everyone headed outside. Four teams were already lined up on the ice, eight people per team.

First was “seizing rank” – this event didn’t divide by teams. After three drum beats, everyone wearing ice skates would race across the river surface and back, with the first to arrive being the winner.

Hearing the cheering outside, those in the warm pavilion couldn’t sit still either and crowded toward the pavilion entrance to watch. With no elders present today, even Zhao Shi relaxed considerably and was pulled along by Ren Yaoyu.

Seeing that Han You also wanted to watch, Ren Yaoyin took the initiative to invite her along. The two asked Ren Yaoqi if she wanted to go outside to watch, but Ren Yaoqi shook her head, “You go ahead, I’ll sit a while longer.”

Seeing that Ren Yaohua also hadn’t left, Ren Yaoqi smiled and asked, “Isn’t Third Sister going to watch? The steward has already sent many strong workers from the mines to surround the outside, and many older women are guarding outside the warm pavilion – idle people can’t get in.”

Ren Yaohua was generally not very approachable, so when the Ren family sisters went out in twos and threes, no one had invited her along.

Ren Yaohua seemed to be thinking about something. Hearing this, she looked up. Before she could respond, the sound of gongs and drums rang out from outside, followed by several maidservants, each carrying a basket, weaving back and forth, asking everyone for prize money. They wore red, yellow, blue, and green sashes around their waists, representing the four young masters’ teams respectively.

Led by Ren Yiyan and Zhao Shi, everyone generously opened their purses to show support.

Ren Yaoqi turned and instructed Xueli, “Give one tael of silver to the maidservant with the red sash.” She then asked Ren Yaohua, “What about Third Sister? Who will you choose?”

Ren Yaohua instructed her maidservant Wujing, “Give to Fifth Brother’s red sash.”

Xueli and Wujing went off happily.

Ren Yaoqi saw that the other two maidservants behind her were craning their necks and looking eager to participate, so she smiled and said, “You can go too. Xiangqin and the others are here to serve.” The maidservants and older women could also give some prize money as a good luck charm.

Xiangqin was Ren Yaohua’s maidservant. However, Ren Yaoqi’s maidservants were playful by nature, and hearing this, they happily withdrew.

“You spoil them too much!” Ren Yaohua couldn’t stand it and frowned.

Ren Yaoqi smiled. The maidservants around her were still mostly those given by Concubine Fang, with rather lively temperaments. Most of them would need to be replaced eventually.

At this moment, a maidservant wearing a green sash came over. Holding her basket properly, she performed a respectful curtsy. Her gaze swept over both Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, then she looked at Ren Yaoqi with a smile and said, “This servant has come to ask for prize money for Young Master Wen.”

Ren Yaoqi was slightly surprised. Giving prize money and how much to give were entirely voluntary – how could there be someone actively soliciting?

Ren Yaohua, beside her, glanced at the maidservant, then frowned as she looked at Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi smiled and said, “My maidservants have all gone to watch the excitement. I’ll have someone send it to you after the next round. Which courtyard are you from? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

The maidservant smiled with pursed lips, “This servant was sent by my old madam to serve my young master. I’m not from the Ren mansion, which is why Fifth Miss doesn’t recognize me.”

After thinking, the maidservant added, “Prize money is just for good luck and isn’t limited to silver coins. Fifth Miss could give something else just the same.”

Before she could finish speaking, Ren Yaohua said with a stern expression, “Even if you’re not a maidservant of our Ren family, hasn’t your household taught you proper manners? How dare you interfere when masters are giving rewards!”