Though Ren Yaoqi was on the painted boat and couldn’t hear the conversations on the high platform, she could tell from the situation that Old Master Su and Old Master Han got along very well. Afterward, Old Master Su introduced Old Master Han to many people who came forward to greet them.

Although Old Master Ren was talking with First Master Ren, he kept paying attention to the situation over there. Then Old Master Ren seemed to give First Master Ren some instructions, and First Master Ren went to speak with Old Master Han and Old Master Su. Later, Old Master Su and First Master Ren seemed to discuss something amusing and burst into hearty laughter, even having someone invite Old Master Ren over.

Ren Yaoqi sat in the painted boat watching intently without blinking, but her brow couldn’t help but furrowed.

Previously, the family had reconsidered Ren Yaohua and Han Yunqian’s marriage out of caution, but as the Su family had increasingly established its footing in Yanzhou afterward, given Old Master Ren’s temperament, bringing up old matters again was quite possible. Ren Yaohua might still repeat the same tragic fate as in her previous life.

At this time, several more people climbed the steps from the shore onto the high platform. Many people on the platform greeted the person walking in front, while others, even if they didn’t deliberately approach to greet him, cast their gazes toward him consciously or unconsciously, and some were whispering to each other.

Ren Yaoqi instinctively studied the man walking in front – probably twenty-five or twenty-six years old, handsome with sharp features, and like most Yanbei people, very upright in stature. He wore a plain dark blue robe that made his temperament appear even more mature and steady.

Just as Ren Yaoqi was guessing this person’s identity, she turned and saw a youth closely following beside this man – upon closer inspection, it was exactly the youth called Lei Zhen who had appeared on the bridge with the Yun Wenfang brothers when she saw them on the inner city river earlier. Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but feel stirred, thinking this person might be Lei Zhen’s older brother, Lei Ting.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but keep her gaze fixed on that man. Though his expression was serious, he was also very skilled in dealing with everyone, completely at ease. Just watching from afar, Ren Yaoqi could tell from this man’s minimal expressions and gestures that he was someone with excellent control abilities. Though he looked young, he could give people a feeling of stability and trustworthiness.

Adjacent to the high platform where the family heads sat were several well-built pavilions. The two on the right were for the young masters from various families, while the two on the left were for the madams and young ladies from each household. Ren Yaoqi saw Old Madam Ren leading several young ladies from the family to the first pavilion on the left.

In Yanbei, there were various large and small competitions throughout the year for wealthy families’ entertainment, such as the ice festival competition Ren Yaoqi had seen before, and this dragon boat race. The venue arrangements were all similar, differing only in scale.

This indirectly showed that Yanbei people had a warlike mentality in their bones – even their daily entertainment mostly involved competition.

As Ren Yaoqi watched while thinking, Xiao Jinglin patted her shoulder.

Ren Yaoqi turned her head to meet Xiao Jinglin’s always calm and unruffled eyes.

“Don’t you want to go see your grandmother?” Xiao Jinglin asked.

Ren Yaoqi was startled, then followed Xiao Jinglin’s gaze to see a madam with two maid-dressed women getting out of a carriage stopped by the riverbank, walking toward the pavilions.

Looking at that madam with her serene demeanor and gentle smile, whose noble temperament couldn’t be concealed even in simple clothing, Ren Yaoqi was momentarily speechless with shock.

That was her grandmother. The noble-born former Princess Consort Xian.

Princess Consort Xian had already passed the first pavilion and was walking toward the second one when a maid behind her looked back, came forward to say a few words to Princess Consort Xian, and she stopped, also turning to look toward the first pavilion.

Ren Yaoqi also turned to look, just in time to see Nanny Gui beside Old Madam Ren, instructing a maid about something outside the pavilion.

Princess Consort Xian only looked back once before walking toward the first pavilion without hesitation. The Prince Xian mansion’s maid called out to Nanny Gui, who then led Princess Consort Xian into the pavilion.

Ren Yaoqi understood immediately – Princess Consort Xian was going to see Old Madam Ren in the first pavilion. Given Princess Consort Xian’s former status, Old Madam Ren should be the one visiting her.

Actually, compared to her mother Li Shi’s pride and arrogance as a royal princess carved into her very bones, her grandmother was more open-minded and better able to accept and integrate into ordinary people’s lives.

But Ren Yaoqi felt that her mother had only learned the superficial forms of royal demeanor, while her grandmother possessed the true royal bearing that made ordinary people feel genuinely inferior from their bones – no amount of financial hardship could shake it in the slightest.

This was also why Old Madam Ren disliked meeting Princess Consort Xian. Though she was the one sitting in the high position, acting arrogantly, she could never find any sense of superiority when facing Princess Consort Xian.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then said to Xiao Jinglin: “I’ll go see her when my grandmother comes out.” In front of those Ren family people, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t say much to her grandmother anyway, and she was certain Princess Consort Xian wouldn’t stay there long because Old Madam Ren didn’t welcome her.

Xiao Jinglin nodded and quietly instructed her maid to have the boat woman prepare to dock first.

Princess Consort Xian didn’t stay long in the first pavilion. Soon she came out again with her maid. Princess Consort Xian’s face was as usual, no different from when she arrived, but the maid beside her looked somewhat displeased.

By this time, the painted boat had already stopped by the shore. Ren Yaoqi stood up: “I’m going to see my grandmother.”

Xiao Jinglin nodded: “I’ll wait for you on the painted boat.” Xiao Jinglin had previously arranged to watch the dragon boat race with Ren Yaoqi, saying they would have the boat woman paddle and follow the racing boats from a distance.

Ren Yaoqi smiled in agreement, then supported Pingguo’s hand as she got off the boat. Though it was just a temporarily erected pavilion, it was arranged very comfortably. Ren Yaoqi even saw many large ice cauldrons emitting cool air. Though the breeze here was pleasant and cool enough without needing ice cauldrons for cooling, these were used to chill fruits and tea.

Ren Yaoqi brought her maid directly into the second pavilion on the left. By now, quite a few madams and young ladies had arrived, all engaged in quiet conversations. Ren Yaoqi spotted Princess Consort Xian at a glance.

Princess Consort Xian sat in an inconspicuous corner, with no one around actively approaching to speak with her. She wore a serene smile and was elegantly sipping tea from her bowl.

“Grandmother.” Ren Yaoqi came forward to pay her respects.

Ren Yaoqi’s sudden appearance surprised Princess Consort Xian, but she quickly became happy, setting down her tea bowl and smiling warmly at Ren Yaoqi: “Is this Yaoqi? You’ve grown so tall!”

Li Shi looked Ren Yaoqi up and down, her gaze gentle and caring, but she maintained proper restraint, not appearing too eager or enthusiastic, and didn’t even actively draw Ren Yaoqi over to pat her head or hands like other elders might do to express affection – she just looked at her warmly like this.

Ren Yaoqi actively went to stand beside Princess Consort Xian Rong Shi, showing a brilliant smile: “Grandmother, Mother asked me to send you her regards and send regards to Grandfather.”

Rong Shi gestured for Ren Yaoqi to sit in the seat beside her, smiling gently: “We’re all well, very well. Tell her when you return not to worry about us, and to live her own life well. I just saw your older sister too – she’s also grown quite a bit taller.”

Ren Yaoqi sat down beside Rong Shi. Ren Yaohua had gone to the adjacent pavilion with Old Madam Ren. When Rong Shi went to see Old Madam Ren earlier, she must have seen Ren Yaohua. However, Ren Yaohua had always been biased against people from her grandmother’s family and wasn’t as close to Rong Shi as she was to Old Madam Ren, so she didn’t follow Rong Shi out.

Afterward, Ren Yaoqi accompanied Rong Shi in casual conversation. Though Rong Shi found it somewhat strange that Ren Yaoqi was more lively now than before, she was very happy to see this change in her granddaughter and maintained a gentle smile throughout their conversation, giving off a very warm feeling.

While they were talking, Ren Yaoqi saw someone walking past the pavilion entrance. Glancing casually, she saw Han Yunqian walking alongside the young man she had seen on the high platform earlier – the one she guessed was the eldest young master of the Lei family.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi looking outside, Rong Shi also looked over. The young man seemed very perceptive and immediately looked their way. Seeing two unfamiliar female family members, he nodded politely. Han Yunqian also looked over, and upon seeing Ren Yaoqi, his gaze paused slightly before he also nodded politely.

“Is that young man in white clothing the Han family’s young master?” Rong Shi asked Ren Yaoqi.

The reason Rong Shi knew about Han Yunqian was because of Ren Yaohua’s marriage prospects. Li Shi had certainly written letters to Rong Shi detailing the entire course of events. That Rong Shi could think of him upon first seeing Han Yunqian meant she had paid attention to the Han family.

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “Yes, Grandmother.”

Rong Shi looked at the two men’s departing figures thoughtfully, pondering for a moment as if wanting to say something, but ultimately swallowed her words.

Instead, Ren Yaoqi asked: “Who is the person beside him? He looks unfamiliar.”

Actually, most people in Yunyang City were unfamiliar with Ren Yaoqi, but Rong Shi didn’t quibble with her words and patiently replied: “His surname is Lei. He’s the head of the Lei family. He just moved back to Yanbei recently.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “I see. But is the Lei family head so young?” Ren Yaoqi was somewhat puzzled.

This time, Ren Yaoqi wasn’t pretending – she was genuinely confused. She always felt something strange about the Lei family.

Setting aside everything else, given the Lei family’s status among Yanbei’s aristocratic families and Lei Ting being such a young family head, even if she hadn’t heard of them at the time, she should have heard some rumors afterward. But why did she have no impression of the Lei family whatsoever?

Rong Shi thought for a moment and sighed: “The Lei family lineage now has only the two Lei brothers left, so only Lei Ting can be the family head.”