The two sisters walked around the lotus pond in the garden twice before slowly returning to Ziwei Courtyard. Today’s conversation had a tremendous impact on Ren Yaohua. Many things she had never considered before, and she was quite surprised that Ren Yaoqi could think so far ahead with such clarity.

Fifth Madam Lin Shi eventually returned to her natal family, and Fifth Master Ren Shimao did not stop her.

As evening approached, people from the Lin family of Yunyang City arrived.

This time it was still Nanny Rong from beside the Lin family’s eldest madam, the same one who had come last time. However, last time Nanny Rong had come regarding Ren Shijia’s matter, but this time it was for Lin Shi.

When Nanny Rong arrived at the Ren residence, the gatekeepers recognized her and were as enthusiastic and attentive as always. Nanny Rong first requested to see Old Madam Ren, but it was Eldest Madam Wang Shi who received her. The eldest madam didn’t say that Old Madam Ren wasn’t receiving guests, but personally led her toward Ronghua Garden while saying, “Early this morning, fifth sister-in-law made a fuss about returning to her natal family. The fifth brother tried to stop her from leaving, but she scolded him back in front of the servants and even got physical. Yesterday, when Old Madam saw the fifth brother’s face was injured, she only thought it was a minor domestic quarrel between husband and wife, saying it was the fifth brother’s fault first, and telling us not to make a big fuss. Speaking of which, our Old Madam has always treated the fifth sister-in-law like her own daughter, and we daughters-in-law would be lying if we said we weren’t envious.”

Nanny Rong smiled apologetically and said, “Our Old Madam and Eldest Madam also often tell us that it was the eldest young lady’s fortune from several lifetimes that allowed her to marry into the Ren family. Every time the eldest young lady returns to her natal home, she always speaks of how well she’s treated in the Ren family. It’s just that the eldest young lady is our madam’s only daughter and has been pampered since childhood, so her temperament is inevitably somewhat strong-willed. This morning, when the Ren family sent someone to inform us about the incident, our madam helped persuade Old Madam, saying she believed the son-in-law wasn’t the type to act recklessly and that there must be some misunderstanding. So when we saw the eldest young lady run back home by herself at noon today, our madam scolded her first thing.”

As the two conversed while walking, when they reached Ronghua Garden, they saw Nanny Gui from beside Old Madam quietly emerge from the main room carrying a medicine bowl.

“What’s wrong with Old Madam?” Nanny Rong asked in surprise, looking at the bowl of black medicinal liquid that was mostly consumed.

Nanny Gui said quietly, “This morning, when Fifth Madam made a fuss about returning to her natal family and got physical with Fifth Master, our Old Madam became extremely anxious. She was about to rush over to mediate when she nearly collapsed to the ground.”

“Did you call a physician? What did the physician say?” Nanny Rong asked anxiously.

Eldest Madam replied, “We did call a physician, but he couldn’t determine anything specific. He only said it was due to her advanced age and anger attacking her heart. Old Madam herself said she was fine and instructed us that if people from the Lin family came, we should bring them to see her.” Then Eldest Madam asked Nanny Gui, “How is she now? Can Old Madam receive guests?”

Nanny Gui looked troubled: “Old Madam didn’t sleep all night yesterday. After taking her medicine just now, this servant saw she seemed drowsy, so I helped her lie down to rest.”

Eldest Madam frowned thoughtfully, then said to Nanny Rong, “Should we still go report to her?”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Rong quickly waved her hands: “Absolutely not, absolutely not. Let Old Madam rest – she’s still ill. My madam sent me here only to inquire about the situation so she could better advise our eldest young lady.”

Eldest Madam said, “If that’s the case, then let me tell you about it. I’m also clear about the details of this matter.”

Nanny Rong quickly said, “Eldest Madam, you’re such an important person with so many responsibilities. How could I trouble you like this?”

Eldest Madam said amiably, “What responsibilities? You should come with me to my courtyard.” She then instructed Nanny Gui, “If Old Madam wakes up, send someone to inform us.”

Thus, the person sent by the Lin family did not see Old Madam but was received by Eldest Madam instead.

Eldest Madam told Nanny Rong everything about Concubine Kang’s situation, including her family background. This was consistent with what the Ren family’s messenger had told the Lin family today. The Lin family’s main purpose in sending someone was to gauge the Ren family’s attitude.

Eldest Madam understood this clearly, which was why Old Madam had arranged for her to receive the Lin family’s representative.

Through their back-and-forth conversation, Nanny Rong understood the Ren family’s intentions.

The Ren family wanted to bring Concubine Kang into the household officially. Thinking of her own young lady’s temperament, Nanny Rong could only sigh inwardly.

Old Madam Ren slept for over two hours and only woke after it had grown dark.

Nanny Rong was staying at the Ren residence that day, and shortly after Old Madam Ren woke up, she went to Ronghua Garden again to pay her respects.

This time, Nanny Rong smoothly met Old Madam Ren, and coincidentally, Ren Shijia was also present in Old Madam Ren’s room.

Ren Shijia had been staying at her natal home for two months now. Initially, the Lin family had sent people to fetch her several times, but seeing that Ren Shijia was determined not to return, Old Madam Lin would send a nanny every few days to visit and bring medicinal herbs and supplements.

Nanny Rong hurried forward to pay respects to Old Madam Ren and Ren Shijia.

“I heard you came this afternoon, but I happened to fall asleep. I just woke up and heard about it. I was about to have someone bring you over when Jia’er happened to come see me about something,” Old Madam Ren said amiably to Nanny Rong as she leaned against the heated bed platform.

Nanny Rong said with concern, “This servant heard you were ill as soon as I arrived and was extremely worried. Old Madam, you must take care of your health first. You still have so much fortune from your children and grandchildren to enjoy.”

Old Madam Ren sighed, “What fortune is there to enjoy? Children are debts, all debts. If they would just stop angering me, I’d be satisfied.”

Hearing this, Nanny Rong thought Old Madam Ren might be referring to Lin Shi’s troublemaking and was considering how to respond appropriately. But Old Madam Ren pointed at Ren Shijia and said, “When I was your age, I was already managing the household, handling all the big and small matters of the Ren family from top to bottom. You’ve been married into the Lin family for so many years, but haven’t made any progress at all. You even come to me for such trivial matters. It shows you’ve experienced too little and lack training!”

Only then did Nanny Rong understand that Old Madam Ren was talking about Ren Shijia. She quickly spoke up in her defense: “Old Madam, you’re wronging our sixth young madam with those words. This old servant speaks truthfully – who in our Lin family doesn’t praise the sixth young madam when they see her? Our Old Madam treasures her like the apple of her eye.”

Old Madam Ren nodded upon hearing this: “That’s true. She was pampered and spoiled at her natal home, and after marrying into the Lin family, her in-laws also raised her like an unmarried daughter. No wonder she hasn’t made any progress! I should ask your family’s Old Madam to toughen her up!”

Hearing this, Nanny Rong’s heart stirred, wondering if Old Madam Ren’s words had some hidden meaning. She couldn’t help but look up at Old Madam Ren, but saw she was still quietly lecturing Ren Shijia, saying, “Just pick whichever of those two maids you like. I think they’re both quite good. It won’t wrong the son-in-law either. While I’m still alive, you can still come to me with your schemes. What will you do when I’m no longer here? I’ve told you countless times not to rely on your elders’ favoritism and become spoiled. When you should make your own decisions, you must make them yourself.”

Old Madam Ren lectured Ren Shijia in front of Nanny Rong without giving her any face. Ren Shijia just kept her head down without speaking, seeming somewhat embarrassed.

Only after Old Madam Ren had finished most of her lecture did the astonished Nanny Rong carefully ask, “Old Madam chose two maids for the sixth young madam to use?”

Old Madam Ren said indifferently, “You’re not an outsider, so I won’t speak in riddles. Jia’er is selecting concubines for our son-in-law. She doesn’t have suitable ones among her servants, so she’s turned to her natal family for help.”

Nanny Rong was stunned and looked at Ren Shijia again, finding it difficult to understand.

Sixth Young Madam had been childless for so many years without mentioning taking concubines or arranging bed-warmers for Sixth Young Master. Now that she was pregnant and about to give birth, why would she think of finding bed-warmers for Sixth Young Master? And even ask her mother for help?

Nanny Rong wanted to speak but hesitated. She wanted to ask, but felt it inappropriate given her status.

Old Madam Ren said, “Previously, she thought she was young and everything could wait. Now she can’t afford to delay anymore. In this regard, Jia’er hasn’t disappointed our teachings. Since she married into her husband’s family, she must put her husband’s family first in everything.” Old Madam Ren’s tone carried a hint of pride.

Hearing this, Nanny Rong felt uneasy. Although Old Madam Ren had been talking about Ren Shijia, it made people wonder if she was alluding to Lin Shi. Ren Shijia, despite being pregnant, was arranging bed-warmers for her husband, while Lin Shi had actually hit her husband over his confused affair outside and angrily returned to her natal home.

But wasn’t Ren Shijia’s original reason for returning to her natal home because the Sixth Young Master had been flirting with her maid behind her back? How did she change her attitude after one trip home? Could it be that Old Madam was still hinting that the daughters’ lack of understanding was due to their mothers’ poor teaching? Did she want her to go back and advise Eldest Madam to teach the young lady to be more magnanimous?

Nanny Rong truly couldn’t fathom Old Madam’s meaning and felt increasingly anxious.

Originally, she had thought that because of Sixth Young Madam’s situation, Old Madam Ren might show some flexibility regarding Concubine Kang’s matter. But seeing Old Madam Ren’s attitude today – supporting her daughter in finding bed-warmers for her son-in-law to expand the family line – if the Lin family continued to blindly protect Lin Shi, wouldn’t that seem too domineering and unreasonable?

With these thoughts, Nanny Rong was already breaking out in a cold sweat.

Old Madam Ren kept lecturing her daughter, and Nanny Rong had no opportunity to bring up Lin Shi’s matter. Moreover, it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask now. She naturally sensed that Old Madam Ren’s attitude was somewhat strange, but she couldn’t articulate exactly what was odd about it.

She only thought that she needed to hurry back and tell everything to Eldest Madam. With Eldest Madam’s wisdom, she would surely understand what medicine Old Madam Ren was selling in her gourd.

Not until Old Madam Ren yawned and Ren Shijia asked if she was tired did Nanny Rong understand she should take her leave, even though she hadn’t said anything yet.

When Nanny Rong emerged from Old Madam Ren’s room, she shook her head and sighed. Previously, Lin Eldest Madam had always worried about her daughter, and Nanny Rong had thought it was because Eldest Madam spoiled the young lady too much. Now it seemed that Eldest Madam was right after all.

No matter how good the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law might be, it ultimately wasn’t the same as between mother and daughter. In this world, only parents truly had their daughter’s best interests at heart, not in-laws.

Nanny Rong hurriedly took her leave and returned home early the next morning, without even meeting Concubine Kang. Originally, she had wanted to probe this suddenly appeared concubine, but now she felt Old Madam Ren’s attitude was more pressing.

After Nanny Rong returned, she didn’t come back for a while, but every few days, the Lin family would send someone to deliver supplements to Ren Shijia or Old Madam Ren.

Old Madam Ren also sent several groups of people to bring Lin Shi back, but Lin Shi still refused to return. Surprisingly, Fifth Master had not gone to Yunyang City to fetch her since Fifth Madam left.

It turned out that after Lin Shi left, Ren Shimao had wanted to go, but Old Madam Ren fell ill from anger, so Ren Shimao couldn’t leave. Later, Old Madam Ren lectured her son, saying, “If you go chasing after her so eagerly, don’t expect her to come back. Just stay home properly, and she’ll return by herself within half a month.”

Although Ren Shimao was skeptical of his mother’s words, considering Lin Shi’s attitude, he didn’t want to lose face at home and then continue losing it at his in-laws’ house. With this thought, Ren Shimao harbored some resentment toward Lin Shi.

During Lin Shi’s absence from the Ren family, Concubine Kang would occasionally go care for Ren Shimao. Her status in the Ren family was now officially recognized, so this was perfectly normal. With the legitimate wife gone, wasn’t the concubine allowed to care for her master?

As Lin Shi’s absence grew longer, not only did Ren Shimao not go looking for her, but he became increasingly harmonious with Concubine Kang.

After half a month, Lin Shi returned with her daughter.

At that time, Ren Shimao was dining with Concubine Kang. Originally, Concubine Kang was supposed to stand and serve, but seeing her pregnancy, Ren Shimao felt pity and had her sit down as well.

Upon hearing that Lin Shi had returned, Ren Shimao immediately stood up to rush out and greet her, but Concubine Kang stopped him: “Master, if you rush out like this, won’t our half month of effort be wasted? You should sit here calmly and wait for Madam to come and find you. Otherwise, if Madam can leave once, she can leave a second and third time. Do you want that?”

Ren Shimao thought about it and felt Concubine Kang made sense. After all, Lin Shi had indeed returned on her own as predicted, so Ren Shimao sat back down: “Then I’ll listen to you and wait for her here.” Ren Shimao said gratefully, “Li Niang, thank you for this time. If you hadn’t helped me think of a solution, she definitely wouldn’t have returned.”

Concubine Kang smiled and gently touched her still-flat belly: “Li Niang also wants to see Master and Madam harmonious, so that the child and I can have easier lives.”

Ren Shimao looked at her still-flat abdomen with some guilt: “Li Niang, although I can’t give you that kind of love, I will take good care of you and the child. Hui Jun has had a bad temper since childhood. You must be more patient with her in the future. If you really can’t stand it, just avoid her, but don’t provoke her.”

Concubine Kang looked at Ren Shimao and quietly responded, “Alright.”

Ren Shimao increasingly felt that Concubine Kang was understanding and reasonable, a rare good woman.

Ren Yaoqi had been paying attention to Fifth House’s affairs all this time, and Ren Yaohua had arranged for people to watch Concubine Kang’s every move. Speaking of which, Ren Yaohua had more available personnel than Ren Yaoqi, many of whom had been trained by Nanny Zhou.

Regarding Concubine Kang’s rapidly advancing relationship with Ren Shimao during this period, everyone in the residence was talking about it. Those who originally thought this Concubine Kang would fall out of favor immediately upon entering suddenly felt the wind was changing direction. It turned out Fifth Master didn’t dislike Concubine Kang; it was just that Fifth Madam had been blocking the way before. Now that the Fifth Madam wasn’t in the residence, the Fifth Master became intimate with Concubine Kang.

Regarding these rumors, Ren Yaoqi told Ren Yaohua to just watch and listen without getting involved.

On this day, as soon as news came that Lin Shi’s carriage had returned, Ren Yaohua came to find Ren Yaoqi and asked in surprise, “How did you guess that Fifth Aunt would return in the next few days?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled, “Didn’t you have people watching over there? Although Fifth Aunt returned to her natal family, she still left people in the residence. Originally, those people would only quietly go to Yunyang City every three days to report, but these past few days, someone has been going back and forth daily. Fifth Aunt couldn’t sit still at her natal home anymore.”

“What does Fifth Uncle mean? These past few days, he’s appeared very indifferent about Fifth Aunt’s situation, only having that Concubine Kang accompany him daily.”

Ren Yaohua was still just a child after all and couldn’t understand these matters between men and women.

Ren Yaoqi sympathized with Ren Yaohua’s experiences in her previous life and had been giving her guidance and instruction in their recent conversations.

“This is precisely where Concubine Kang’s brilliance lies. Haven’t you seen? Originally, because she lived in a remote location and the people left behind by the Fifth Madam deliberately created difficulties, when she first arrived, she couldn’t even command a maid. She silently fetched her washing water daily. But now, those maids and servants no longer dare to look down on her. Why do you think that is?”

Ren Yaohua thought for a moment: “Because of Fifth Uncle’s attitude?”

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “You and I have both lived in this inner courtyard for so many years. How could we not understand those games the servants play? For someone like Concubine Kang, who has no foundation or backing, they all judge by appearances. If I assume Concubine Kang convinced Fifth Uncle to deliberately act intimate with her for Fifth Aunt to see, what benefits could she gain?”

“First, those servants who don’t know the truth no longer dare to look down on her or give her attitude, and second, Fifth Uncle would think she’s understanding and considerate, viewing her differently?” Ren Yaohua analyzed.

Ren Yaoqi nodded and smiled: “Exactly.”

Ren Yaohua frowned: “But doesn’t this bring Fifth Aunt back? If Fifth Aunt and Fifth Uncle reconcile, won’t all her scheming be wasted?”

Ren Yaoqi blinked: “Then let’s wait and see. I bet Fifth Aunt is going to suffer again, and it’ll be a silent loss.”

Before long, more news came from outside.

Fifth Madam Lin Shi had been quite well-behaved when she first returned, going to Old Madam’s courtyard to pay respects. Old Madam didn’t scold her much, just sent her back to rest in her courtyard.

But as soon as Fifth Madam returned to her courtyard, she saw that Concubine Kang was indeed there, as the servants had reported, wearing her clothes. Meanwhile, Ren Shimao sat there chatting and laughing with Concubine Kang, not even noticing that she had returned to the courtyard and entered the room.

How could this be tolerated?

Originally, Lin Shi’s temper had calmed considerably after being lectured by her mother at her natal home for so long, but this immediately reignited her anger.

She immediately ordered her servants and maids to seize Concubine Kang, strip her naked, and throw her out. She turned a deaf ear to Concubine Kang’s explanation that she had accidentally spilled tea on herself, soaking her clothes, and Fifth Master had someone find old clothes from Lin Shi’s discarded garments meant for rewarding servants.

What was surprising was that when the maids and servants grabbed Concubine Kang to strip her clothes, Fifth Master, who had never raised his voice in front of Fifth Madam before, suddenly flew into a rage. He pulled away all the maids and servants restraining Concubine Kang one by one and pointed at Fifth Madam, calling her a “shrew!”

Fifth Master had called Lin Shi a “shrew” before during their playful domestic spats, but this time he had stirred up a hornet’s nest. Lin Shi became so angry that she forgot all her mother’s recent teachings and threw herself at the Fifth Master in a fight. In the end, Fifth Master’s face was injured again.

Finally, Fifth Master took Concubine Kang to her courtyard – this was the first time Fifth Master had entered Concubine Kang’s courtyard since she entered the residence.

After hearing all this, Ren Yaohua pondered silently. Only after the maid left did she say quietly to Ren Yaoqi, “You guessed correctly again.”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “It wasn’t a guess, but because I understand Fifth Aunt’s temperament. When it comes to matters concerning Fifth Uncle, Fifth Aunt simply cannot tolerate anything.”

Ren Yaoqi had no good feelings toward Lin Shi. In her previous life, if Lin Shi hadn’t fanned the flames and kicked Ren Yaohua and Li Shi when they were down, Ren Yaohua might not have ended up in such a state. Although Lin Shi had also been manipulated into opposing Ren Yaohua, her willingness to crush a junior so thoroughly showed she wasn’t a good person.

However, in this matter, Ren Yaoqi still sympathized with Lin Shi. Regardless of Lin Shi’s character, her feelings for Ren Shimao were genuine.