Ren Yaoqi clapped her hands: “That would be good. If Father lives close to his colleagues, it will be convenient to discuss common interests in the future. I think the courtyard doesn’t need to be too large – with Father, Mother, and us, a two-courtyard compound would be sufficient.”

Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi, thinking that Father hadn’t said he would bring Mother and them to Yunyang City, had he? She really could make her own decisions!

Ren Shimin didn’t find anything inappropriate about these words and nodded: “These are all small matters. I’ll have the steward handle it.” Third Master Ren never worried about such mundane affairs.

Seeing that Ren Shimin seemed very agreeable today, Ren Yaohua also tried tentatively: “Father, will Concubine Fang also come along?”

Ren Shimin frowned: “Isn’t her face injured and unsuitable for meeting people? What would she do coming to Yunyang City? She should continue recuperating in Baihe Town.”

Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but curve her lips, taking the opportunity to add fuel to the fire: “But from Grandmother’s tone, it seems she wants her to come along to manage the inner courtyard for you. Father, when the wives and ladies from Yunyang Academy come to visit, would you have a concubine with a ruined appearance come out to receive them? Wouldn’t proper families secretly mock us for lacking propriety? Setting aside everything else, would you be able to hold your head up at the academy?”

Ren Shimin looked at Ren Yaohua, displeasedly: “Where did you hear such nonsense?”

Ren Yaohua wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Ren Yaoqi: “Third Sister just heard Grandmother mention it casually. It’s nothing concrete, Father, don’t get angry.”

Ren Shimin frowned and said no more, but he was somewhat angry about Old Madam Ren’s words. Since Ren Yaohua could say it, Old Madam Ren must have truly mentioned it.

After returning to Baihe Town, Ren Shimin instructed one of his stewards to go look for houses in Baoping Alley in Yunyang City – either two or three-courtyard compounds would be fine. It would be best if they could buy one, but if they couldn’t find a suitable one to purchase, renting would also work. There were still several months before going to Yunyang City next spring – plenty of time to find a house.

On this day, Ren Yaoqi went to visit Ren Yijun again.

Although Ren Yijun still occasionally caught colds, his spirits had improved greatly, and his face no longer bore the previous gloom. However, the maids and old women at Qingfeng Courtyard all knew that Third Young Master Ren’s temper hadn’t improved – it’s just that his target for venting anger had become the newly married Third Young Madam.

When Ren Yaoqi went to Qingfeng Courtyard, the maids told her that Third Young Master and Third Young Madam were in the study, so she went straight to the study. But before anyone could go in to announce her, she heard Ren Yijun’s exasperated roar from inside: “Stupid woman! It’s just a simple character for ‘gui,’ and you’ve been writing it from early morning until now. You’ve ruined eight sheets of paper and still haven’t learned it. Do you have a pig’s head on your neck!”

Qi Yuegui said aggrievedly: “Young Master, this brush of yours isn’t good. When I hold it in my hand, it keeps trembling, and then the characters become crooked… You make me rewrite it if it’s even slightly crooked. Can’t you just make do and accept it?”

Ren Yijun said angrily, “This is a fine Hu brush that Third Uncle gave me! You’re as dumb as a pig yourself, yet you blame the brush? Characters reflect the person – are you crooked?”

Ren Yijun’s maid coughed lightly, unsurprised, and announced: “Third Young Master, Third Young Madam, Fifth Miss has come.”

The room seemed to quiet down, then Qi Yuegui lifted the curtain and came out. When she saw Ren Yaoqi, her face clearly showed relief. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and stuck out her tongue, pulling Ren Yaoqi into the study while calling out to Ren Yijun: “Fifth Miss has come. Young Master, you two talk. I’ll go see what good tea and snacks I can bring you!”

Without waiting for Ren Yijun to respond, she ran off as if her feet were oiled.

Ren Yijun pointed at her retreating figure angrily: “No desire for improvement, crude and unbearable – how unreasonable!”

Ren Yaoqi had now learned to turn a blind eye to their peculiar way of getting along. Previously, the Eldest Madam had greatly disliked Qi Yuegui. Now, though she still couldn’t say she liked her, Ren Yijun’s health was indeed improving with better color, so the Eldest Madam said nothing.

After Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yijun sat down as host and guest, Ren Yijun said to Ren Yaoqi, “When you have time, come teach her more. Among all the women in this manor, you have the best learning. Let her see what true beauty paired with wisdom looks like! So she won’t make a fuss every time I ask her to write!”

Ren Yaoqi smiled without speaking and changed the subject: “How is Third Brother’s health now? Are you still taking medicine?”

Ren Yijun curled his lips, saying somewhat awkwardly: “I’ve been drinking medicine for over ten years with no effect.” He couldn’t very well tell Ren Yaoqi that Qi Yuegui always laughed at him, saying his body was spoiled by pampering – drinking medicine even when he didn’t need to, so that when he was truly ill, the medicine had no effect.

Ren Yaoqi looked at Ren Yijun and smiled: “I heard Third Brother now gets up every morning to practice boxing?”

Ren Yijun nodded: “I had Father hire a boxing instructor to come to the manor. Learning some martial arts for self-defense is good.”

Ren Yaoqi asked puzzledly: “Third Brother needs self-defense?”

Ren Yijun’s face suddenly became unpleasant. He snorted and turned his head away without speaking.

Could he tell her about how he was kicked off the bed by that shrew during their last fight? How unreasonable!

At that time, Qi Yuegui had helped him up while carefully apologizing: “Oh my, Young Master, I didn’t do it on purpose. I didn’t use any force at all just now! Look at your delicate frame… I’ll be gentler next time…”

Ren Yijun’s face had been as black as the bottom of a pot at that moment.

The next day, he went to find his father about hiring a boxing instructor to teach him martial arts. He refused to believe he couldn’t subdue even a woman! Third Young Master Ren had made a grand resolution in his heart – he would defeat that shrew Qi Yuegui and restore his husbandly authority.

After all, whether or not one beats his wife is a matter of character, but whether one can beat his wife is a matter of dignity as a man.

Seeing Ren Yijun’s expression, Ren Yaoqi knew this was another question she shouldn’t pursue, so she wisely closed her mouth and didn’t continue her curiosity.

A maid brought tea and snacks. Ren Yijun asked: “Where is Third Young Madam? Didn’t she say she was going to bring tea and snacks?”

The maid quickly replied: “Reporting to Young Master, Third Young Madam said she was going to make boots for you. Winter is approaching, and the new winter boots you requested still need a few more stitches.”

Ren Yijun snorted, but his expression softened somewhat.

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “Third Sister-in-law has skillful hands indeed.”

Previously, Qi Yuegui had made a pair of shoes each for Li Shi, Ren Yaoqi, and Ren Yaohua. She was quick and nimble – while others would take most of a month to make a pair of shoes, she could finish in two or three days, and each pair was exquisite and very comfortable to wear. Even Nanny Zhou had sighed that this Third Young Madam was thoughtful.

Ren Yijun waved his hand: “She only has those few skills worth showing.”

Ren Yaoqi looked at Ren Yijun and couldn’t help but smile.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under Ren Yaoqi’s gaze, Ren Yijun changed the subject: “By the way, I heard that the new general appointed by the court has already arrived in Yunyang City.”

The smile on Ren Yaoqi’s face faded: “Oh? He arrived quite quickly.”

Ren Yijun sneered: “If he had come a few days later, there probably wouldn’t even be scraps left in Ningxia. I heard that Young Madam Su has some family relationship with this new Ningxia general.”

Ren Yaoqi was all too familiar with these matters and just smiled upon hearing this.

Ren Yaoqi sat for a short while before taking her leave. As she was leaving, Qi Yuegui happened to bring a pair of new boots to have Ren Yijun try them for fit. Seeing Ren Yaoqi about to leave, she smiled: “Fifth Miss, why don’t you stay longer? Our Young Master can only have proper conversations with you. Though he won’t say it, he’s happy in his heart when you come. Of course, if you don’t mind his poor chess skills and play a couple of games with him, he’d be even happier.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “I’ll come play chess with Third Brother next time. I like the shoes Third Sister-in-law made for me last time. Thank you, Third Sister-in-law.”

Qi Yuegui laughed cheerfully: “What’s there to thank me for? Tell me what styles and patterns you like, and I’ll make you several more pairs – it won’t take much effort.”

Hearing her voice, Ren Yijun called from the study: “Qi Yuegui! Get over here now! If you can’t learn to write your name today, you won’t get dinner!”

Hearing this, Qi Yuegui chuckled, then said somewhat helplessly to Ren Yaoqi: “Your Third Brother is quite contrary. He means well and speaks kindly, but when it comes from his mouth, it changes flavor. Really…”

Qi Yuegui shook her head, said goodbye to Ren Yaoqi, and headed to the study with the boots in her hand: “Yes, yes, Young Master. I won’t eat dinner – I’ll just eat steamed buns to save you money, alright!”

Ren Yaoqi looked back with a smile, shook her head, and left.

After returning, Ren Yaoqi learned that Zeng Pu had indeed come to take up his post. However, this lifetime’s Zeng Pu didn’t have the confidence of the previous lifetime. When passing through Yanzhou, he specifically stopped for a day to send a visiting card to Prince Yanbei’s manor. Since Prince Yanbei wasn’t in Yunyang City, Second Young Master Xiao met with him.

Afterward, Zeng Pu hurried off to Ningxia.

However, news also spread that the former Ningxia general had left behind a posthumous son. Madam Wu refused to acknowledge that the child in noble concubine Lady Di’s belly was General Wu’s son. Miss Wu brought several fierce old women to force Lady Di to drink safflower, but they were stopped by some of Wu Xiaohe’s former subordinate generals who had received the news and rushed over.

When a new emperor ascends, new ministers follow. The calculation wasn’t difficult – whether to let an unknown court-appointed new general control Ningxia or support a baby left behind by the former general. So, although Xiao Wei and her daughter claimed in Ningxia that Lady Di was carrying only a bastard child, few people were willing to support them.

However, a few families had the idea of marrying Wu family’s eldest daughter, Wu Yiyu, and having their person succeed as Ningxia general in the capacity of Wu family’s son-in-law. Originally, since Xiao Wei was a county princess of Prince Yanbei’s manor, Prince Yanbei’s manor should have supported this approach. But Prince Yanbei’s manor had surprisingly not made any statement supporting Xiao Wei and her daughter. Xiao Wei had also sent messages back, but unfortunately, Prince Yanbei wasn’t at the manor, and the Princess Consort never interfered in such major matters.