Eldest Master Ren still felt somewhat guilty in his heart and subconsciously took a few steps forward, wanting to call out to Ren Shimin.
But then Nanny Zhou’s voice drowned out Eldest Master Ren’s hesitant “Third Brother”: “Eldest Master, after you return, please plead for our master. Although this time we’ve been implicated by Prince Xian’s mansion and our future is uncertain, our master still bears the surname Ren.”
Ren Shizhong’s attention was drawn by Nanny Zhou’s words, and he frowned and sighed: “So it really is because of Prince Xian’s mansion.”
“Our Third Master was implicated—Prince Xian’s mansion’s affairs have absolutely nothing to do with our master and madam. Eldest Master, can you think of a way to save our master and madam? I heard that not long ago, Eunuch Lu sent by the court also came, wanting to arrest our master, madam, and miss to take them to the capital for the court to deal with. Fortunately, this Eunuch Lu later had business and didn’t enter the gate, but you can run from the monk but not the temple—who knows if the court will send others to arrest people in the future? Eldest Master, what should we do about this?”
Ren Shizhong was shocked upon hearing this: “The court wants to arrest Third Brother and sister-in-law to the capital for punishment?”
Nanny Zhou wiped tears behind the door.
The Third Branch’s Old Master was also somewhat frightened and hurriedly said: “This… common people shouldn’t fight with officials. Grand-nephew, why don’t we go back first? The clan’s decision to expel Third Nephew… to expel Ren Shimin from the clan doesn’t require his consent.” If they encountered people coming to make arrests and discovered they were related to the people in this residence, it wouldn’t be good if they were all detained together.
The other Ren family members were also afraid and hurriedly agreed.
“Eldest Master…” Nanny Zhou was still pleading there.
Ren Shizhong glanced at those upright Yanbei Prince’s mansion guards: “Did the Prince’s mansion people say anything?”
Nanny Zhou shook her head: “They said we’re not allowed to come and go, to await judgment.”
Ren Shizhong sighed: “I’ll go back and discuss with the elders.” With that, Ren Shizhong left with the clan members.
After they left, Nanny Zhou smiled coldly and also turned to go back.
Ren Shizhong still cherished some brotherly affection in his heart, so after returning to Bailu Town and explaining the situation in Yunyang City to Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren, he suggested: “Father, since the matter arose because of Prince Xian’s mansion, if we have Third Brother divorce his wife…”
The reason the Ren family hadn’t proposed divorce earlier was because they couldn’t be certain about why Ren Shimin’s family was surrounded by soldiers—being implicated by Prince Xian’s mansion was just one speculation.
Old Master Ren’s spirits had greatly deteriorated since he last woke up, and he lay in bed every day. Although his mind was still relatively clear, his speech was somewhat unclear, and he was very drowsy.
“Would it be too late to divorce the wife now?” Old Madam Ren spoke up.
Ren Shizhong said, “If Third Brother agrees to divorce his wife, then we would have no relationship with Prince Xian’s mansion, and whatever happens to Prince Xian’s mansion naturally couldn’t implicate us.”
Old Master Ren lay with his eyes closed, not responding.
Old Madam Ren said angrily, “I knew Li Shi was a jinx! It’s bad enough she can’t bear sons, now she’s even implicating the whole family! We should have divorced and expelled her from the Ren family long ago!”
At this moment, someone at the door said coldly, “Who does the Ren family want to divorce?”
Old Madam Ren was startled and looked up to see Ren Yaohua had appeared in the room.
“Hua’er? How did you come back? Why was there no announcement?” Old Madam Ren was stunned.
Ren Yaohua walked to the center of the room, her gaze slowly sweeping over Old Madam Ren, Old Master Ren, and Eldest Master Ren: “What were you just saying about the Ren family divorcing someone?”
Seeing her enter without a sound and not bowing to her elders upon seeing them, with insolent speech, Old Madam Ren felt somewhat displeased: “When elders are speaking, where is your place to interrupt! Go out first!”
Ren Yaohua laughed coldly: “What did my mother do wrong to deserve being divorced?”
Seeing her attitude, Old Madam Ren was furious: “What did she do wrong? She remains childless, violating one of the seven grounds for divorce! The Ren family raising this useless woman for so many years has been more than generous!”
Ren Yaohua looked at Old Madam Ren, anger, disappointment, and sadness flashing in her eyes: “Then what crime did my father commit to be expelled from the clan?”
It turned out that today, when Ren Yaohua heard her maternal family was surrounded by soldiers, she was also startled and was about to return home to see, but Lei Ting persuaded her to stop. Lei Ting explained about Prince Xian’s mansion and told her not to worry. Third Master Ren and the others being confined was only temporary—they would be fine soon.
Ren Yaohua knew Lei Ting wouldn’t lie to her and felt much more at ease. But since it was her parents and sister who were surrounded by soldiers, she would still worry. Finally, Lei Ting agreed to accompany her back to her maternal home to see. As they were approaching her family’s gate, they happened to see Eldest Master Ren and the others leaving. Ren Yaohua questioned the Ren family’s gatekeeper about the situation and learned that her father had just been expelled from the Ren clan, all because of a pile of baseless charges. She was immediately enraged and rushed back, wanting to question the Ren family members. Unexpectedly, when she reached the main hall, she heard the Ren family talking about divorcing her mother.
Old Madam Ren was embarrassed and angry, suddenly remembering how Ren Yaohua had come back by herself. She had Maidong’s wife and several dowry maids with her—why hadn’t Maidong’s wife had someone give advance notice?
“Where is Maidong’s wife? I have matters to instruct her—have her come see me later!” Old Madam Ren had recently only received verbal messages sent back by Maidong’s wife, saying Ren Yaohua was doing well at the Lei family, and the dowry maids would be useful soon. With too many matters at the Ren family, Old Madam Ren hadn’t summoned Maidong’s wife back for a face-to-face inquiry.
Ren Yaohua was already angry in her heart and sneered upon hearing this: “What, Maidong’s wife? I’ve never seen her.”
Only then did Old Madam Ren sense something was wrong: “Never seen her? How could you not have seen her? Isn’t she your nanny? And what about Chunfang, Qiuyue, and those other maids?”
“I don’t know! My nanny is Nanny Gao, and my dowry maids are only Wujing, Xiangqin, Shuiai, Handong, and the others. I don’t know a single one of those people you mentioned!” Ren Yaohua no longer feared tearing off the facade with Old Madam Ren and felt some satisfaction saying these words.
Old Madam Ren finally realized she had been deceived, becoming shocked and furious, pointing at Ren Yaohua: “You actually dare… You all dare…” Old Madam Ren looked around and picked up an empty medicine bowl nearby to throw at Ren Yaohua.
Ren Yaohua was about to dodge when she was pulled into a warm, broad embrace. The medicine bowl shattered at her feet without splashing her at all, while Lei Ting’s steady, calm voice sounded behind her: “My wife was rude—please forgive her, Old Madam Ren.”
Old Madam Ren was stunned—Lei Ting had also come? What did his words mean? What was this “my wife” and “Old Madam Ren”?
Old Master Ren, lying in bed, suddenly began coughing violently, drawing everyone’s attention and breaking the somewhat awkward atmosphere.
Old Madam Ren, feeling somewhat unable to save face, hurried to tend to Old Master Ren upon seeing this.
Seeing Old Master Ren was fine, Eldest Master Ren rose to greet Lei Ting: “Third son-in-law has also returned? Someone come, have the madam quickly check the kitchen and add several more dishes.”
Lei Ting politely nodded to Eldest Master Ren, addressed him as “Eldest Master Ren,” then lowered his head to look at Ren Yaohua.
Ren Yaohua watched her grandparents putting on their act there and said coldly: “No need to trouble yourselves—aren’t we already expelled from the Ren family? We can’t afford to eat the Ren family’s food.”
Ren Shizhong looked at Lei Ting with some embarrassment on his face: “Child, what kind of talk is this? Your grandparents have always doted on you—how could they bear to drive you away?”
Ren Yaohua remained unmoved: “My father has been expelled from the clan, so naturally I’m no longer a Ren family member either. Let’s go.” The last sentence was directed at Lei Ting.
Lei Ting said nothing, politely nodded again to the people in the room, then pulled Ren Yaohua out.
Old Master Ren, lying in bed, was so angry that veins bulged on his forehead, and Old Madam Ren took a long time to react, saying angrily: “Rebellion! All rebellion!”
Eldest Master Ren smiled bitterly and shook his head—now they had offended the Lei family too.
“Father, Mother, what do we do now?” Eldest Master Ren asked helplessly.
Old Master Ren lay in bed panting heavily, the sound like a bellows. After a long while, he squeezed out two words: “Di-vorce wife!”
Though Old Master Ren’s mind was still clear, if they expelled Third Master Ren, they couldn’t acknowledge the Lei family connection either. Ren Yaoying’s marriage would also become problematic.
Though Old Madam Ren’s anger was hard to dispel, she could only say: “Tomorrow, you make another trip to Yunyang City and tell your third brother to divorce Li Shi. After a while, when the rumors die down, we’ll let him come back.”
Eldest Master Ren acknowledged the order.
After leaving the main hall, Ren Yaohua walked quickly with her head down, as if she couldn’t bear to stay at the Ren family for another moment. Originally, Lei Ting was leading her, but it ended up with her pulling Lei Ting along. Only when boarding the carriage did Ren Yaohua realize she had pulled Lei Ting along the entire way, making her extremely embarrassed and diminishing some of her sadness and anger.
Lei Ting accompanied her into the carriage and held her in his arms.
Ren Yaohua said quietly: “I’ve made you witness another embarrassing scene.”
“Nonsense!”
“This place won’t be my maternal home anymore.” Ren Yaohua bit her lip.
“Mm.” Lei Ting gently patted her back.
“Won’t you express an opinion?” Ren Yaohua felt Lei Ting’s reaction was too calm—wasn’t it a big matter that her father’s branch had been expelled from the clan? So Ren Yaohua was dissatisfied with her husband’s attitude again.
Lei Ting raised an eyebrow, then said quietly: “You are the Lei family’s head madam, the clan leader’s wife—that’s what’s most important.”
With just one sentence, Ren Yaohua’s heart settled.
“Are my father and the others all right?” Ren Yaohua asked again.
Ren Yaohua had asked this question no fewer than ten times today, and Lei Ting still patiently answered her: “Really, nothing’s wrong. I’ve already spoken with Second Young Master Xiao.”
Ren Yaohua was completely at ease.