Li Shi welcomed the Princess Consort into the main hall’s seat of honor and had the maids serve tea and refreshments. The Princess Consort first chatted with Ren Shimin and Li Shi for a while, then beckoned Ren Yaoqi to come before her, asking what books she had been reading recently and how the progress was going with organizing the incomplete musical scores together with Madam Xu. The Princess Consort’s attitude was very amiable. Ren Yaoqi answered everything respectfully, and the Princess Consort looked at Ren Yaoqi with great satisfaction.

When the pleasantries were nearly finished, the Princess Consort took Ren Yaoqi’s hand and patted it gently, saying quietly, “I have some things I want to discuss with your parents. Good child, go out first and come back in later.”

Ren Yaoqi glanced at Ren Shimin and Li Shi, lowered her head in agreement, rose to bow, and withdrew.

After leaving the main house, Ren Yaoqi waited under the corridor eaves, staring blankly at a winter plum tree in the corner of the wall. Nanny Zhou, standing guard by the curtain, looked up at Ren Yaoqi and thought to herself that her young miss must be thinking about her marriage prospects. Actually, at this moment, Ren Yaoqi was only wondering whether this newly transplanted winter plum tree would bloom this year.

After an unknown amount of time, the conversation in the main house had nearly concluded, and Ren Shimin came out first. Seeing Ren Yaoqi waiting under the corridor eaves, he beckoned to her, indicating she should follow him. Ren Yaoqi then followed Ren Shimin to the winter plum tree at the corner.

“Why did Father come out?” Ren Yaoqi asked.

“Everything that needed to be discussed has been concluded. The Princess Consort is speaking with your mother about matters between women of the inner quarters – it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be present.” Ren Shimin said with a slight frown.

Ren Yaoqi looked at Ren Shimin, waiting for him to speak.

Ren Shimin gazed at the winter plum tree in quiet contemplation for a while, then turned to look at Ren Yaoqi. “Father has just realized that Yaoqiao has grown up too.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh. “Father, I’ve already had my coming-of-age ceremony.”

Ren Shimin also smiled, but his tone carried some melancholy. “Yes, you’ve already come of age. But Father has always felt you were still young and originally wanted to keep you home for a few more years.”

“Then daughter will stay home to accompany Father for a few more years.” Ren Yaoqi blinked and said with a smile.

Ren Shimin glanced sideways at Ren Yaoqi and snorted with laughter.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but remember her earlier instruction for her parents to agree to Xiao Jingxi’s marriage proposal, and she too blushed a little.

However, Ren Shimin spoke seriously. “Yaoqiao, tell me honestly – how much do you know about Second Young Master Xiao’s situation?”

“What is Father referring to?”

Ren Shimin’s previously relaxed brow furrowed again. “Naturally, his illness. I’ve heard he was very seriously ill before, hovering at death’s door several times, but just now from the Princess Consort’s words, it seems there might be other hidden circumstances. Speaking fairly, Prince Yanbei’s residence’s second son is impeccable, whether in family background, appearance, or talent and learning. Father’s only concern is his physical condition. You’re so young – surely you can’t marry only to…” Ren Shimin paused and still swallowed back the words “become a widow.”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and said carefully, “I’m not very clear on the specifics either, but it shouldn’t be as serious as the outside rumors suggest.”

Ren Shimin nodded knowingly. “Given his background, it’s not surprising.” But after thinking it over, Ren Shimin frowned again in distress. “But Father also feels that Prince Yanbei’s residence environment is too complex. If he, as Prince Yanbei’s legitimate son, still can’t avoid others’ schemes, then you…”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi looked at her father with a smile but said nothing. She knew Ren Shimin wasn’t seeking any response from her with these words – at this moment, whoever it was, Master Ren would find a host of faults.

As Ren Yaoqi expected, Ren Shimin was indeed just being conflicted, temporarily unable to adapt to his youngest daughter getting married.

Actually, in Ren Shimin’s view, someone like Meng Shilin would make the best son-in-law – impeccable in character and learning, with no elders above to oppress, and with him as the father-in-law present, Meng Shilin wouldn’t dare bully his daughter. Otherwise, Ren Shimin would accuse him of betraying his teacher. But while that was the reasoning, having his most precious youngest daughter marry Meng Shilin still didn’t feel quite right to Ren Shimin, falling into common prejudices.

“So has Father agreed to this marriage proposal?” Ren Yaoqi didn’t have so many concerns in front of Ren Shimin and asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Ren Shimin looked at Ren Yaoqi with a somewhat sullen expression. “Aren’t you willing? Won’t you resent Father if he doesn’t agree?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled with pursed lips and gently tugged at Ren Shimin’s sleeve with her finger. “I’ll listen to Father. If Father truly thinks it’s not good, then refuse it.”

Ren Shimin’s expression finally improved, and his previously gloomy mood lifted considerably. After thinking it over, he said seriously, “However, the Princess Consort’s temperament does seem very easy to get along with, and you can see she likes you very much. Father has been pondering – when marrying someone, whether the husband is good or not is secondary; having the elders like you is most important.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was stunned, not expecting her father to say such words.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s expression, Ren Shimin knew what she was thinking and sighed, “Just look at your mother to understand.”

Ren Yaoqi: “…”

“Go in and chat with the Princess Consort. Father is going to study.” Ren Shimin stood in contemplation for a while longer, then turned to look at the main house, waved at Ren Yaoqi, and walked toward the study with flowing robes, his every gesture still carrying that refined scholarly air.

Ren Yaoqi shook her head, went to the tea room to personally brew a cup of tea for Ren Shimin and had a maid deliver it to him, then arranged several plates of pastries on a tray and carried them to the main house.

When Ren Yaoqi entered, the Princess Consort and Li Shi were chatting happily. They didn’t seem to be discussing anything important – the Princess Consort was telling amusing stories from when she was Madam Xu’s student, and Li Shi was laughing delightedly beside her.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi enter, the Princess Consort stopped talking and said half-jokingly to Li Shi, “We two can talk about such things between ourselves, but we mustn’t let Yaoqi know. I am an elder, after all – if younger generations learn of my embarrassing moments from youth, I won’t be able to maintain my dignity in the future.”

Li Shi laughed again and nodded. “That makes sense. Sister Yun, rest assured, I’ll keep it sealed.”

Ren Yaoqi arranged the tea and pastries one by one on the tea table, lowering her head with a smile. “Had I known the Princess Consort was discussing such important matters, I should have come in earlier to eavesdrop.” But she couldn’t help thinking that the Princess Consort was indeed worthy of being the mother of that black fox Xiao Jingxi – after just this brief conversation, Li Shi had already dropped her guard and formality, calling her Sister Yun.

Upon hearing this, the Princess Consort made a show of lightly tapping Ren Yaoqi.

The Princess Consort sat for a little while longer, then rose to take her leave. Li Shi and Ren Yaoqi together saw her out to the second gate. As the Princess Consort was boarding her carriage, she looked at Ren Yaoqi and said to Li Shi, “Those guards outside the mansion will be withdrawn tomorrow, making it more convenient for you to go about your business.” After a pause, she added with meaningful laughter, “In a few days, I’ll send someone over to discuss the formal matters.”

The “formal matters” the Princess Consort spoke of were undoubtedly about the marriage.

Li Shi also smiled and nodded, seeing her into the carriage and watching until Prince Yanbei’s residence’s carriage left the mansion before returning with Ren Yaoqi.

“The Princess Consort has a good temperament.” After the mother and daughter returned to their room, Li Shi sighed.

Ren Yaoqi nodded, thinking privately that she was also a formidable figure.

Ren Shimin and Li Shi had previously been reluctant about this marriage proposal, but in just the time she had stood outside, both their attitudes had changed to some degree. Ren Shimin no longer opposed it, and Li Shi was also pleased with it. Regarding the Princess Consort’s abilities, Ren Yaoqi felt inferior.

News of the Princess Consort’s visit to the Ren family spread after her carriage left the Ren residence. Almost every household in Yunyang City knew about it. Combined with the previous rumors of Second Young Master Xiao’s marriage proposal to the Ren family, it wasn’t hard to guess the reason for the Princess Consort’s visit to the Ren family. For a time, people in Yunyang City couldn’t help but envy Ren Yaoqi.

Even when taking a wife, to have the Princess Consort value someone so highly as to lower herself and personally visit to request the marriage wasn’t a blessing everyone could have.

The Princess Consort’s maternal family, the Yun family, learned of this immediately. Eldest Madam Yun immediately went to see Old Madam Yun.

Old Madam Yun’s expression wasn’t very good at the moment. Although she had anticipated some interest entanglements between Prince Xian’s residence and Prince Yanbei’s residence, and guessed that Prince Xian’s residence might not be willing to remain in Yanbei dependent on others’ favor and might still have some secretly preserved forces, she hadn’t expected Prince Xian to possess a posthumous edict left by the old emperor. This move of secretly crossing to Chencang was executed so brilliantly that it dropped everyone’s jaws.

Who could have predicted that with such great backing, Prince Xian would still be willing to pretend madness and foolishness while remaining in Yanbei for over a decade?

The timing of Prince Xian’s transformation into Prince of Hezhong was too coincidental – just when the heir apparent died, leaving Prince Yanbei with only Xiao Jingxi as his son. To avoid being constrained by the court, Prince Yanbei’s residence could only first settle Xiao Jingxi’s marriage.

Old Madam Yun had originally thought Yun Qiuchen would be the most suitable bride for Prince Yanbei’s residence at this time. Before Prince Xian became Prince of Hezhong and Li Shi regained her title as Princess Jiayi, Ren Yaoqi’s status could never have matched that of the heir apparent’s consort of Prince Yanbei’s residence, but it had to happen at this moment…

Old Madam Yun felt the timing was too coincidental, almost as if someone had arranged it all behind the scenes. But thinking carefully, if someone truly was orchestrating from the shadows, this scheme would have calculated the court, Prince Yanbei’s residence, and Prince Xian’s residence all into it – who could possess such cunning and calculation? The thought made Old Madam Yun feel chilled, and she couldn’t help shaking her head to suppress such speculation.

“Mother, what should we do now?” Eldest Madam Yun asked. Who could have anticipated a granddaughter of the Prince of Hezhong appearing midway?

Old Madam Yun leaned against the backrest, pressing her brow with her hand. “Let’s continue to observe.”

Eldest Madam Yun frowned. “But the Princess Consort has already personally visited the Ren family. I heard that the officials in charge of ceremonial matters at Prince Yanbei’s residence have already begun preparations.”

Old Madam Yun looked up at Eldest Madam Yun, her expression calm. “What else can be done? Prince Xian’s residence and Prince Yanbei’s residence are making a political marriage alliance. Even our Yun family must stand aside and watch at this point!”