Seeing her stubborn obstinacy, Old Madam Ren was too weary to lecture her further and waved for the maids to drag Ren Yaoyu away.

Concubine Kang also left with Nanny Gui’s support.

Old Madam Ren returned to the room with a cold expression. Only the three sisters Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yaohua, and Ren Yaoyin remained inside, and all three tactfully remained silent.

Seeing Old Madam Ren call her head maid Jin Lian in to give instructions, Ren Yaoyin invited Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi to talk in the warm pavilion where she lived. Old Madam Ren waved for them to go.

Shortly after Ren Yaoqi followed Ren Yaoyin inside, she heard someone hurrying in outside, followed by Ren Shijia’s voice in the outer room.

Ren Shijia was already nine months pregnant and would give birth in less than a month. Because this pregnancy was hard-won, Ren Shijia was usually very careful, generally staying in her courtyard and rarely coming out. Old Madam Ren cherished her daughter and didn’t require her to pay daily respects, instead going to see her herself every two days.

Now that Ren Shijia had come with her big belly, it must be about Ren Shimao and Lin Shi’s matter. Ren Shijia and Ren Shimao were closest in age and had been close since childhood. After Lin Shi married into the Ren family, and she married into the Lin family, the three became even more intimate.

Seeing her arrive with such a big belly, Old Madam Ren quickly had maids help her sit down and scolded: “What are you rushing over here for at this time! Be careful not to disturb the fetal qi!”

Indeed, Ren Shijia said: “I came about Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law’s matter. Yesterday, Fifth Brother came to my place drunk, and I sent two women servants to escort him back, but Fifth Sister-in-law refused him entry.”

Old Madam Ren snorted lightly – she naturally knew about this. Originally, she had thought that after being angry for an afternoon and a night, Lin Shi should have come to her senses, but she was still so unreasonable. In the end, it was she who had someone call Ren Shimao to stay in the side room of Ronghua Garden.

“I sent a maid to check on Fifth Sister-in-law and heard that she cried all night until her eyes were swollen like walnuts, and she hasn’t eaten today either. I was somewhat worried and went to see her just now. I happened to see her directing her servants and maids to pack, saying she wanted to return to her natal family.” Ren Shijia was worried about her brother and sister-in-law’s situation.

Old Madam Ren was unmoved upon hearing this and said indifferently: “Since you can return to your natal family to live, she can naturally return to hers too – otherwise wouldn’t it appear that our family treats daughters-in-law harshly? We’ve tried to persuade her, but she won’t listen. Perhaps if the Lin family people counsel her, she’ll come to her senses.”

“But this matter is ultimately the Fifth Brother’s fault. If Fifth Sister-in-law returns like this, the Lin family might have opinions about the Ren family.” Ren Shijia was ultimately a Lin family woman, and since the first and second branches hadn’t yet divided the household, she least wanted to see the Lin and Ren families fall out at this time.

Old Madam Ren understood her daughter’s concern and comforted her: “Don’t worry about this matter – I have my arrangements. I sent word to the Lin family early this morning and said that in a couple days I’ll have Shimao go apologize. But given Great Madam Lin’s temperament, she’ll probably send someone over later, and they might just encounter your Fifth Sister-in-law.”

Ren Shijia was stunned: “Mother, you’ve already sent someone to the Lin family? I thought you…”

Ren Shijia had thought Old Madam Ren had developed opinions about the Lin family and Lin Shi because of her own situation, so was deliberately humiliating Lin Shi and the Lin family.

“In any case, appearances must be maintained,” Old Madam Ren said.

In other words, she could make Lin Shi suffer privately. However, the Ren and Lin families had many intertwined interests over the years, so it was unrealistic to fall out now. Therefore, the Lin family’s dignity must be preserved on the surface. This was what Old Master Ren had repeatedly instructed her.

The three sisters Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yaohua, and Ren Yaoyin sat quietly in the warm pavilion. Because summer was approaching and the weather was warming up, the heavy cotton curtains used in autumn and winter had been removed and replaced with light-colored gauze curtains for ventilation, so the mother and daughter’s conversation wasn’t difficult to overhear.

Old Madam Ren hadn’t thought to dismiss the granddaughters inside, so they felt justified in quietly listening to the conversation drifting in from outside.

Ren Shijia said, “Mother, are you going to let that Concubine Kang enter the family?”

Old Madam Ren was displeased: “Why do you concern yourself with such matters? Even if she stays, she’s just a concubine – it doesn’t affect anyone!”

Ren Shijia looked at her mother. She didn’t believe Old Madam Ren had minded such things when she was young. Didn’t their family have any concubines?

Unaware of her daughter’s inner criticism, Old Madam Ren only said: “Rather than worrying about others’ idle affairs, you should think about your matters. How have you considered those candidates I mentioned to you?”

Ren Shijia knew Old Madam Ren was asking about selecting a chambermaid for Lin Kun, and her expression indeed fell. During this period, because she was about to give birth, Old Madam Ren hadn’t mentioned that matter again to upset her. But she still said sullenly: “Didn’t I say to let you help me choose? Mother’s judgment has always been good.”

Old Madam Ren nodded: “The Jin Lian girl by my side is quite good-looking, proper-looking but not outstanding, with a gentle temperament. Her parents are honest people, and she has a younger brother working as a shop assistant at the coal depot in Tongzhou. In a few years, if you feel she’s still trustworthy, you can transfer her brother back from Tongzhou to Yunyang City as a deputy manager in your name. Their family’s future will depend on you, so you’ll be like her natal family, and she’ll naturally be obedient to you. Then there’s that younger maid called Qingliu, who’s fourteen this year. Her birth mother was a second-class maid in my courtyard when she was young, but she died early, and her father remarried. Because her stepmother is formidable, she’s closer to the brother and sister-in-law who raised her.”

Ren Shijia listened quietly, repeating the same phrase: “Which one does Mother think is better?”

Old Madam Ren sighed: “Both are good, but it depends on whether you give birth to a boy or a girl this time.”

Ren Shijia touched her abdomen and looked up in confusion: “What does this have to do with my child?”

Old Madam Ren glared at her: “How is it unrelated? Do you think I’m spending so much effort selecting a maid for you just to deliberately upset you? I’m doing this for you and the child in your belly! If you give birth to a girl, then choose Jin Lian – she’s seventeen and can conceive immediately upon entering, quickly giving you and your son-in-law a male heir to shut others’ mouths. If you give birth to a boy, then choose the younger Qingliu, keep her by your side for a few years first, temporarily not letting her conceive. Wait until your child is older before letting her have children, so they can become your son’s support in the future!”

So selecting a chambermaid involved so many complications? Ren Shijia couldn’t help feeling somewhat embarrassed, and she also appreciated Old Madam Ren’s careful planning. Only a birth mother would make such plans for her daughter.

Hearing these words from inside, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but sigh.

Because of Old Madam Ren and Old Master Ren’s actions in her previous life, she had thought they only cared about profit and had no feelings for their descendants. But hearing Old Madam Ren’s plans for Ren Shijia today, she realized that Old Madam Ren might not be completely cold-blooded toward her children – when it didn’t conflict with the Ren family’s interests, she would still try to plan for her children.

Old Madam Ren and Ren Shijia spoke a few more words outside, then seemed to suddenly remember there were three granddaughters in the warm pavilion, so they stopped talking and called Nanny Gui to lead Ren Yaoqi and the others out.

When the three came out, Ren Shijia looked somewhat embarrassed, but Old Madam Ren’s expression remained unchanged as she instructed Nanny Gui to escort them out.

After her nieces left, Ren Shijia complained quietly: “Mother, the children were still there. Didn’t they hear everything we said?”

Old Madam Ren said indifferently, “What children? They’re not young anymore. Third Girl and Fourth Girl will soon be discussing marriage prospects – they should gradually learn these things.”

Old Madam Ren glared at Ren Shijia and pointed at her forehead: “I deeply regret spoiling you when you were young, not letting you know this, not letting you know that, always thinking you were still small and it wasn’t good for you to know some things too early. In the end, I raised you with such a temperament! I finally understand – when raising daughters, if you can’t bear to let them worry about anything, after they marry, you have to worry about everything for them! How long do I have left to live?”

It turned out Old Madam Ren hadn’t forgotten there were three granddaughters in the inner warm pavilion. She hadn’t dismissed them because she thought Ren Yaoyin and Ren Yaohua were old enough and should learn these inner courtyard methods.

Some things weren’t convenient to teach openly now, but letting them absorb them gradually might not be a bad method.

Only in her old age did Old Madam Ren remember that her mother had taught her this way. Unfortunately, she hadn’t applied it to her only daughter, so at her advanced age, she still had to worry about her.

Ren Shijia had originally come to discuss Ren Shimao and Lin Shi’s marital issues with Old Madam Ren, but Old Madam Ren had diverted the conversation.

When the three sisters emerged from Ronghua Garden, they heard servants and maids quietly discussing that Fifth Madam had already ordered the carriage prepared and was about to return to her natal family with Eighth Miss.

Lin Shi’s son had to study in the outer courtyard, and Old Master Ren was quite strict with his grandsons, so she didn’t take her son with her.

“Fifth Master has a good temperament – in front of everyone, he softly begged Fifth Madam to stay, but Fifth Madam pointed at Fifth Master’s nose and gave him a thorough scolding without leaving any face. Sigh, if Old Madam doesn’t speak up, no one else dares stop Fifth Madam…”

The speaking servant looked up to see several young misses coming out and was frightened into immediate silence, standing aside with hands clasped.

Ren Yaohua scolded lightly: “Don’t you all have duties? Are you so idle that you’re out gossiping?”

The servants and maids hurriedly apologized and withdrew.

After parting with Ren Yaoyin, Ren Yaohua said: “Isn’t Grandmother going to stop Fifth Aunt somewhat? If she returns like this, won’t the Lin family have opinions?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “What opinions could they have? Didn’t Grandmother have our Ren family set the example first? The Ren family is planning so thoughtfully for the Lin family’s heir – how could the Lin family have the nerve to help their married daughter make unreasonable trouble?”

This was why Old Madam Ren had brought up the chambermaid maid being prepared for son-in-law Lin Kun, to shut the Lin family’s mouths. Even if the Lin family sent someone now, Old Madam Ren had nothing to feel guilty about.

Why should her daughter be able to endure what other people’s daughters couldn’t? She automatically ignored the fact that Lin Shi had already borne a son and daughter.

Presumably, that Concubine Kang could be so smoothly accepted into the Ren family because her timing was just right. Old Madam Ren was angry with the Lin family, and since her daughter was suffering such losses, she wanted to give the Lin family some trouble too.

If even these things were calculated by someone, then the person behind the scheme to deal with Lin Shi was truly terrifying.

Ren Yaoqi carefully explained her thoughts to Ren Yaohua, who couldn’t help but find it hard to believe: “You’re saying this might all have been planned by Concubine Fang? How is that possible? Aren’t you overestimating her?”

Overestimating? Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

Whether she was overestimating Concubine Fang or not, she didn’t know. She only knew that in her previous life, when everyone in the Ren family met with misfortune, Concubine Fang had timely abandoned the Ren family’s sinking ship and found a way out for herself and her children. Based on this alone, Concubine Fang was not to be underestimated.

Ren Yaohua still didn’t believe it: “She’s just a concubine. If she were so capable, how would she end up as someone’s concubine?”

Ren Yaoqi thought that if she wanted to avoid suffering losses from Concubine Fang in the future, making Ren Yaohua realize how terrifying this enemy she was underestimating was necessary.

Today’s weather is nice. Third Sister, shall we take a walk in the courtyard?” Ren Yaoqi suggested with a smile.

Although Ren Yaohua didn’t understand why Ren Yaoqi was in such a leisurely mood for a stroll today, she nodded without refusing.

Ren Yaoqi instructed those behind her: “You all go back first. Just leave Xiangqin and Pingguo to follow us. Taking a stroll in our family courtyard with a whole group of people trailing behind would spoil the mood.”

So, except for the two maids, all the other servants and maids were dismissed.

Ren Yaohua glanced at Pingguo standing alongside Xiangqin and asked: “Is this the maid you selected? She doesn’t look particularly clever.”

Ren Yaohua preferred to choose clever and quick-witted maids, but Ren Yaoqi didn’t think maids necessarily had to be perfect to be useful.

However, everyone had their own habits in using people, and Ren Yaoqi couldn’t say much, only replying: “She just has a quiet temperament – she’s not dull.”

She was quite satisfied with her maid, Pingguo.

Ren Yaohua had only spoken casually, and seeing Ren Yaoqi’s response, she stopped criticizing her maid.

Xiangqin secretly made a face at Pingguo, who maintained her honest appearance, making Xiangqin feel this girl was indeed as boring as her mistress had said.

“Third Sister, you just said that if Concubine Fang were as formidable as I described, she wouldn’t be someone’s concubine. That’s because you’ve reversed cause and effect,” Ren Yaoqi said softly when they stood by the lotus pond.

At this season, although there were no lotus flowers in the pond yet, the lotus leaves were already lush and verdant. The warm breeze blew past, creating undulating waves of green that lifted one’s spirits.

Ren Yaohua was in a fairly good mood and just looked at Ren Yaoqi, letting her continue.

“Given Concubine Fang’s circumstances, then, her current situation was already the best outcome she could achieve with her strength. You should have heard about the fates of Great Aunt’s other concubine-born daughters.”

Ren Yaohua thought about it dismissively: “I know Great Aunt’s concubine daughters all married poorly, but some married as principal wives, right? Isn’t that better than being a concubine in our family?”

Ren Yaoqi laughed upon hearing this and blinked: “Third Sister, is this what you call… judging a petty person’s heart with a gentleman’s mind?”

Ren Yaohua glared at her: “What nonsense!”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “In this world, there are women like you who think status is most important, and there are those like Concubine Fang who think obtaining real benefits is most important.”

Ren Yaohua couldn’t refute this statement. Marrying a poor or unsuitable man as a principal wife versus marrying a respectable and wealthy man as a concubine – different people make different choices.

“The reason Concubine Fang is so comfortable is because she has a reliable brother. Her younger brother Fang Yancun was recently promoted to a sixth-rank prefectural assistant in Chuzhou and is highly regarded by his superiors. He’s expected to be promoted again in the next couple of years.”

“I also heard he was promoted, but he’s just a local deputy position in the south – what does that have to do with us?”

Ren Yaoqi knew about the Fang family matters partly from asking Nanny Zhou and partly from remembering some things from her previous life.

“But you’ve forgotten the relationship between the Fang and Ren families. Moreover, now that the Ren family wants to open coal depots in the south, they’ll need to deal with local officials. Although a prefectural assistant isn’t the main official of a prefecture, he has real power. This Fang Yancun isn’t incompetent either. In a few years, the Fang family will probably be under his control. Great Aunt is getting old, and her biological son is mentally unclear. Although she’s still in charge of the family now, wait and see what happens in a few years.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua also carefully considered these relationships and found Ren Yaoqi’s words reasonable.

“And Fang Yancun was originally chosen by Great Aunt because of Concubine Fang’s relationship. If she hadn’t actively married into the Ren family as a concubine, deliberately letting Great Aunt hold her, this sister, in her palm, how would Great Aunt have felt comfortable planning for Fang Yancun? Back then, although Concubine Fang was also skilled at networking, given their status, the siblings could only live under their legitimate mother’s influence.”

“It can be said that without Concubine Fang, there would be no Fang Yancun of today, and today’s Fang Yancun is Concubine Fang’s greatest support. Presumably, Grandfather and Grandmother have also seen the Fang family’s future situation clearly, which is why they’re so tolerant of Concubine Fang and let her status in the Ren family be exceptional. In the future, Concubine Fang’s brother will likely head the Fang family. All our Ren family’s coal depots in the south have some connections with the Fang family.”

Ren Yaoqi had also wondered why Concubine Fang, a mere concubine, could occupy her courtyard, manage the third branch’s affairs in place of Li Shi, and even show her face before guests during festivals.

Later, she realized it wasn’t because their grandparents had lost their minds or because Concubine Fang was particularly likable, but because of the intertwined interests between the Ren and Fang families.

As long as the Fang family didn’t fall and Fang Yancun successfully took over the Fang family, Concubine Fang wouldn’t fall into the Ren family.

Ren Yaohua slowly thought it through and gradually understood, breaking out in a rare sweat on her forehead, murmuring: “Is it really like this?”

Ren Yaoqi sighed: “This reminds me of a story about cutting flesh to feed an eagle. A young man struggling to survive in chaotic times found an eagle chick. He could barely keep himself alive and had no extra food to feed the eagle, so every day he cut his flesh to feed the young eagle. Later, this eagle gradually grew up and became a divine eagle. Not only did it save the young man from danger several times, but it also became his secret weapon for victory in battle.”

Looking at the distant blue horizon, Ren Yaoqi said slowly: “Those who dare to sacrifice can gain, but how many people in this world dare to cut their flesh to feed an eagle like that young man?”

“Concubine Fang…” Ren Yaohua frowned and spoke the name.

After a long silence, Ren Yaohua said: “If she has such a disposition, would being an ordinary concubine in the Ren family’s third branch satisfy her?”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t answer.

In her previous life, Concubine Fang had become the actual mistress of their third branch’s inner courtyard, but unfortunately, the Ren family soon met with misfortune, and Concubine Fang had no further opportunities to gain anything from the Ren family.

But she knew that an ambitious person’s desires have no limits. This desire would drive her to constantly fight and compete, and all obstacles in her path would be swept away.

Ren Yaoqi had originally thought that bringing Lin Shi into the situation and having Lin Shi confront Concubine Fang might divert Concubine Fang’s attention. She hadn’t expected that after Lin Shi faced off against Concubine Fang, she would be dealt with so quickly.

This also reflected Concubine Fang’s scheming and ability to act. Presumably, Fang Yancun still felt guilt and gratitude toward his sister, and this certainly involved his strong support.

“I was thinking too simply before,” Ren Yaohua said quietly. “When Fifth Aunt was having bad luck, I was even gloating. Now thinking about it, we can’t let Fifth Aunt be defeated like this.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised. Although Ren Yaohua wasn’t stupid, she liked acting according to her preferences and couldn’t stand losses or grievances. This time, she actually thought of helping the Lin Shi she disliked, to achieve the goal of restraining Concubine Fang.

This was undoubtedly Ren Yaohua’s progress, and it wasn’t in vain that she had specifically called her here to tell her so much.

“So, how do you want to help Fifth Aunt?” Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile.

Ren Yaohua thought about it and shook her head: “How can you just help whenever you say so? Besides, I’m not helping her – I’m helping ourselves.”

Ren Yaoqi was relieved that Ren Yaohua could understand this point – this was her purpose in deliberately telling her these things today.

Ren Yaoqi said, “There’s no rush with this matter. Not only do Grandmother and Fifth Aunt need time, but the Lin and Ren families also need a period to buffer and calm down. After all, the interests of both families are involved.”

“Wouldn’t that make it even more complex?”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “Once interests are involved, everything can become very complex, but everything can also become very simple. On the contrary, if it were merely a matter of personal preferences, it would be much more difficult to handle.”

Ren Yaohua didn’t quite understand this, but she heard that there should be solutions and somehow felt more at ease.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t elaborate, only saying: “Isn’t Fifth Aunt going back to her natal family? Then let her go back first. Given her temperament, staying in the residence at this time would only give others opportunities to exploit.”