The winter of the seventeenth year of Chengqian came earlier than usual.

Only a few days had passed since the Double Ninth Festival when several northern prefectures and counties welcomed the first heavy snowfall of winter.

The previous day had been clear and crisp with high skies, but by noon this day, the horizon was suddenly shrouded by rolling curtains of gray tinged with orange. After this brief warning, dense snowflakes eagerly swept across the entire landscape.

In just one night, all regions north of Yanzhou had changed their appearance, with silver-wrapped scenery meeting the eye everywhere.

In the side chamber warmed by heated floor channels, Ren Yaoqi lay on the heated kang with her eyes closed, the quilt covering her somewhat heavily.

Fine, dense beads of sweat had already seeped out on her forehead and neck, her cheeks flushed crimson from the heat of the kang, her breath filled with the scent of menthol.

Through the thick cotton curtains of the inner room came the quiet conversation of two maidservants.

“Your embroidery pattern is truly beautiful – it doesn’t look like something you drew yourself. Where did you get it?”

“I asked Sister Jinju, who serves beside Concubine Fang, for this. I heard it’s the most fashionable pattern currently popular in the southern capital, not even available in Yunyang City.”

“Sister Jinju? You were able to get something from her?”

“Hehe, I said it was to help Fifth Young Miss embroider shoe uppers – how dare she refuse?”

“You cunning little wench, be careful or Fifth Young Miss will find out and have Concubine Fang drag you out to marry you off to a servant!”

“You wicked hoof… watch me not tear that foul mouth of yours.”

Through the curtain came the playful sounds of two maidservants chasing each other around the table. The tea set on the table clattered loudly, then suddenly fell silent for a moment before resuming the commotion, though they finally showed consideration for the person in the inner room and kept the noise much quieter.

At this moment, a stern scolding voice suddenly interrupted: “What are you doing here?” It was the voice of a somewhat older woman.

Outside, suddenly fell quiet again.

“Nanny Zhu, forgive us, this servant…” The two young maidservants hurriedly tried to explain.

But Nanny Zhu impatiently interrupted: “Has the young miss awakened?”

Her voice was not deliberately lowered and carried some irritation. Though she asked this question, her footsteps did not pause as she headed toward the inner room.

“She just took medicine and rested – she must be sleeping soundly now,” one maidservant hurriedly replied, also quickly following up, seeming ready to help the nanny lift the curtain to the inner room.

“You two go out and keep watch – don’t let anyone enter,” Nanny Zhu stopped the maidservant’s movement.

“Yes.” The two maidservants’ footsteps paused, then they efficiently withdrew.

Ren Yaoqi lay there with her eyes closed without moving, as if she were asleep.

The cotton curtain separating the inner room from the main chamber was lifted, stirring the stuffy air in the inner room as slightly cooler air flowed in.

“Young Miss? Young Miss, wake up quickly, Young Miss…”

The person hurriedly rushed to the kang side, calling several times. Seeing Ren Yaoqi did not react, she reached out through the bedding to gently push her arm.

Ren Yaoqi finally opened her eyes, though somewhat drowsily.

“Nanny Zhu?” Her voice was somewhat hoarse – lying on the heated kang for long periods required frequent sips of tea.

“Yes, it’s this servant. Would Young Miss like some water?” A smile immediately squeezed on Nanny Zhu’s round face, though anxiety showed in her eyes.

Ren Yaoqi nodded.

Nanny Zhu immediately walked to the long, low table placed against the north wall of the inner room, where a complete set of famille rose teapots and cups were arranged, and poured a cup of water to bring back.

She placed the teacup on the kang table, then helped Ren Yaoqi sit up, supporting her back with one hand while bringing the teacup to her lips with the other to feed her.

However, she tilted it too hastily. Ren Yaoqi turned her head slightly, and water from the teacup dripped onto the cotton quilt covering her. The pine flower’s green satin surface immediately became wet in one spot.

“Cough, cough…”

Nanny Zhu quickly set down the teacup and gently patted her back: “Young Miss, are you alright?”

Ren Yaoqi was now fully awake. She pushed away Nanny Zhu’s hand and gave her a sidelong glance: “The water is cold.”

Nanny Zhu hurriedly smiled apologetically: “Oh my, it must be those two maidservants on duty being lazy and slacking off, forgetting to change to hot tea. This old servant will go teach them a lesson later.”

As she spoke, Nanny Zhu took a padded jacket from nearby and draped it over Ren Yaoqi’s shoulders, saying: “Young Miss, Concubine just received news that Third Madam and Third Young Miss are on their way back to the residence. Although the heavy snow came suddenly and several roads outside the city were blocked overnight, with the cavalry guards from Yan Bei Prince’s residence clearing the way, the carriage should enter the city by evening at the latest.”

Ren Yaoqi’s body stiffened: “Mother and Third Sister are returning?”

She lowered her eyes so no one could see the emotions within them, but her fingers gathered at her collar couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

Nanny Zhu’s tone finally revealed undisguised anxiety: “Yes, I heard they’re being escorted back by the old Princess Consort of Yan Bei Prince’s residence’s carriage. They left the estate yesterday morning, and the residence only received word this morning. Young Miss, what should we do now?”

Ren Yaoqi quickly blinked her eyes, concealing the moisture welling up in them. She took off the padded jacket draped over her and wanted to put it on properly. Nanny Zhu immediately came to help, while continuing to mutter in Ren Yaoqi’s ear: “Who knows what methods Third Young Miss used to persuade the old Princess Consort of Yan Bei Prince’s residence. Fifth Young Miss, once Third Young Miss returns, where will there be any place for you in Ziwei Courtyard?”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi glanced lightly at Nanny Zhu, who was lowering her head and hastily fastening her jacket buttons. In her heart, she couldn’t help but sneer coldly – the Ren family of over ten years ago indeed had quite a few demons and monsters.

These past two days, she had watched coldly, wanting to carefully see through the filth behind each of these heavily painted masks.

Nanny Zhu had not noticed Ren Yaoqi’s unusual behavior. After helping her fasten the buttons, she looked up and continued: “Old Madam has always favored Third Young Miss more than you. Third Madam also defers to her in everything. All matters in our courtyard, large and small, are decided by her word. She particularly dislikes you and makes things difficult for you everywhere, causing Third Madam to also disregard you as her daughter and believe only in her bewitchment…”

Speaking to this point, Nanny Zhu secretly glanced at Ren Yaoqi. What surprised her was that Ren Yaoqi was only leaning against the red-background square victory pattern backrest at the head of the kang, quietly watching her with clear eyes like fine glass, serene and transparent.

Ren Yaoqi remembered that Third Sister Ren Yaohua had been punished to the estate to reflect on her actions in autumn of the sixteenth year of Chengqian for pushing Sixth Brother Ren Yihong into the lotus pond.

Their mother, Third Madam of the Ren family, had gone to plead with Old Madam but was refused entry to the courtyard, so she finally accompanied Third Sister to the estate. Nine-year-old Ren Yaoqi was left at the Ren residence.

Mother Li Shi was a timid and weak woman.

Li Shi’s weakness stemmed not only from her childhood experiences of displacement and hardship.

She married into the Ren family in the forty-seventh year of Qinglong. The first two years bore no children, in the third year she gave birth to a daughter who died within a hundred days, and in the fifth year she bore another daughter.

By this time, Old Madam Ren was already quite dissatisfied with Li Shi, but fortunately Li Shi became pregnant again the year after giving birth to her second daughter.

Unfortunately, Li Shi was destined to have no sons – her third child was still a daughter, who became Fifth Young Miss Ren Yaoqi of the Ren family.

Old Madam Ren therefore completely turned cold toward Li Shi, and three days after Ren Yaoqi’s birth, she took it upon herself to arrange for Third Master Ren to take a concubine daughter from her maternal family’s younger sister as a noble concubine.

Noble Concubine Fang became pregnant within six months of entering the household, and after ten months of pregnancy, she gave birth to dragon and phoenix twins, establishing her position in the Ren family.

Ren Yaoqi’s birth not only made her mother’s position in the Ren family precarious, but also made her an existence that her grandmother detested.

From the time Li Shi first became pregnant with Ren Yaoqi, Old Madam Ren had held high hopes for this pregnancy. She had consulted accomplished monks for fortune-telling, experienced midwives to feel the belly, and even had shamans perform divination. All these people unanimously said this child would be a boy, so Old Madam Ren firmly believed her daughter-in-law’s third pregnancy carried a son.

Therefore, when Ren Yaoqi was born, Old Madam Ren decided the newborn granddaughter was a demon who had squeezed out her original grandson’s position, and could not bring herself to like her.

In contrast, Third Young Miss Ren Yaohua, also born to Li Shi, resembled Old Madam Ren in her youth and was clever and intelligent, thus earning the old lady’s special favor.

“Fifth Young Miss?” Seeing Ren Yaoqi staring at her without speaking, Nanny Zhu thought she might be drowsy and gently pushed her, wondering whether to force another cup of cold water down her throat.

Ren Yaoqi glanced at the hand Nanny Zhu had placed on her arm.

Nanny Zhu’s body stiffened. She lifted that hand in a concealing manner to smooth her hair while smiling: “Young Miss, Concubine Fang says your illness has greatly improved. If we continue with the original prescription, she worries the medicine might be too strong in effect. She said she’ll have a physician come to the residence later to take your pulse and prescribe a new formula.”

Ren Yaoqi hummed in acknowledgment without objection.

But Nanny Zhu was secretly muttering in her heart – why did Fifth Young Miss seem somewhat different these past two days? She was only a child who had just turned ten, yet those calm eyes occasionally revealed expressions that made people feel unsettled.

Regarding the servants and maidservants around her, Ren Yaoqi had little impression of most of them, because they had not served by her side for long before being sent away.

She did remember this Nanny Zhu, though. In her childhood memories, Nanny Zhu seemed to be a very kind and caring servant who would give her advice and could be considered her confidant.

She remembered even quarreling with Third Sister Ren Yaohua over this Nanny Zhu, and they had almost come to blows.

But with her current experience and wisdom, she did not find Nanny Zhu to have any redeeming qualities whatsoever.

She served her carelessly, was lax in disciplining the maidservants in her courtyard, and while her words seemed entirely focused on planning for her master, they actually served to constantly drive a wedge between her and Ren Yaohua’s relationship.

Ren Yaohua had a domineering and fierce temperament, while her childhood self had been stubborn and willful. With such two people under the instigation and manipulation of those with ulterior motives, how could Ziwei Courtyard ever have peace?

This time, she would never again allow those people to use the conflicts between the sisters to make their schemes and calculations.

Father… Mother…

Ren Yaoqi murmured silently in her heart. In this lifetime, you must both live long and healthy lives.