“What should we do now? Should we help her?” Ren Yaohua stood up and paced around the room before asking Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi remained silent for a long time before finally shaking her head: “It’s not the right time yet.”

Ren Yaohua was stunned and stared at Ren Yaoqi: “What do you mean it’s not the right time? When will be the right time?”

Faced with Ren Yaohua’s convoluted questioning, Ren Yaoqi didn’t answer but asked instead: “Then Third Sister, how do you think we should help?”

Ren Yaohua was at a loss for words. At this moment, even though she didn’t want to admit it, she had to acknowledge that Ren Yaoqi was smarter than her. No wonder their father favored her more. Although she knew they should help Lin Shi, she didn’t know how to proceed.

Ren Yaoqi said seriously, “What can we do now? Whatever we do now will only involve us in the muddy waters of the Fifth House’s wife-concubine disputes, which won’t benefit us at all. Fifth Aunt might not even appreciate it. Never forget your purpose when doing anything, otherwise you’ll be led around by your opponents’ noses.” Ren Yaoqi’s words unconsciously carried a lecturing tone.

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua fell silent for a moment before turning and leaving without a word.

Ren Yaoqi watched her retreating figure with a bitter smile. Was she being too hasty? Should she give Ren Yaohua more time to grow?

Because of living an extra lifetime, her memories of Ren Yaohua from her previous life had become blurred. The current Ren Yaoqi regarded Ren Yaohua as her younger sister.

However, Ren Yaohua had always been strong-willed since childhood and was accustomed to making decisions even in front of their mother Li Shi. Now that the roles between Ren Yaoqi and her had suddenly reversed, Ren Yaohua might need some time to adjust.

But how much time did she have to let Ren Yaohua slowly adapt?

Although Ren Yaohua had left without a word, she didn’t take any unauthorized action. That evening, when Ren Yaoqi went to bid Li Shi goodnight, she saw her again, and Ren Yaohua no longer showed any signs of displeasure.

When they emerged from Li Shi’s room, Ren Yaoqi said to Ren Yaohua, “Third Sister, I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful with my words next time. Please don’t be angry with me.” Having lived another lifetime, Ren Yaoqi always showed more tolerance toward Ren Yaohua.

Ren Yaohua paused in her steps and said indifferently: “There’s nothing to apologize for. I’ve thought it over, and you indeed think further ahead than I do and have more solutions. From now on, just do whatever you think is best.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t tell if Ren Yaohua was still angry or had already cooled down from her words. She remained silent for a moment, and when she wanted to say something more, Ren Yaohua had already turned and left.

Ren Yaoqi sighed softly and returned to her west wing room.

The maids and servants in the courtyard noticed that the atmosphere between Third Miss and Fifth Miss had become strange again in recent days. Fifth Miss was more careful when speaking to Third Miss, while Third Miss’s attitude toward Fifth Miss was much more polite than her previous disapproval.

Li Shi was somewhat worried about her two daughters and asked Nanny Zhou, “What’s wrong with these two this time? They haven’t quarreled again, have they?”

Nanny Zhou comforted her: “This servant doesn’t think so. Don’t you understand, Third Miss? If she had truly quarreled with Fifth Miss, how could she possibly show her a pleasant face?”

Li Shi thought about it and found it made sense. She finally concluded that Ren Yaohua had become more mature.

After several days like this, the residence was unusually peaceful. Even at Fifth House, after Fifth Madam Lin Shi had made a fuss twice following Ren Shimao’s actual move to Concubine Kang’s courtyard, she seemed to have become much quieter due to disheartened feelings. When she had left the Ren family to return to her natal home, Lin Shi couldn’t wait to have people report on the Ren family’s affairs three or four times daily. Now that she was back at the Ren family, she ordered that she didn’t want to hear half a word about Concubine Kang’s side.

This afternoon, Ren Yaoqi was still holed up in the study of the west side courtyard, practicing calligraphy and reading, when she heard several maids outside the study chattering excitedly, as if something had happened.

Since Ren Shimin disliked having maids and servants enter the study, Ren Yaoqi didn’t call anyone in to inquire. Instead, she set down her brush and walked out herself.

“What happened?” Ren Yaoqi asked several maids with excited faces.

Sangshen quickly replied: “Miss, news just came from Aunt Madam’s side saying that Aunt Madam has gone into labor. Old Madam has already instructed the midwife to wait at Aunt Madam’s courtyard. She and Eldest Madam have also gone over. Our Third Madam is about to go as well.”

Was Ren Shijia giving birth?

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: “Is it a few days early?”

Xueli said, “They say labor started two days early.” Xueli looked around and lowered her voice: “I heard that this morning, Aunt Madam went to see Fifth Madam, and she seemed unhappy when she came out. Then at noon she felt stomach pains, and when the servants checked, they realized she was going into premature labor.”

Did it involve Lin Shi again? Ren Yaoqi shook her head.

At this moment, Ren Yaoqi saw a group of people hurrying past outside the west side courtyard – it looked like her mother leading people out. They were probably going to Ren Shijia’s place.

Since Ren Yaoqi was an unmarried young lady, she couldn’t enter the delivery room or even the courtyard where the delivery room was located. Ren Yaoqi wasn’t particularly curious either. In her previous life, she had witnessed childbirth, and the scene wasn’t particularly pleasant.

Ren Shijia’s husband didn’t arrive until nearly evening. By the time he came, Ren Shijia had been in pain for almost two hours, and the child still hadn’t been born.

The third Madam had been staying there the whole time without returning, so Ren Yaoqi dined alone. Ren Yaohua was at Old Madam’s courtyard and hadn’t returned, while Ren Shimin had gone out to drink and dine with friends.

That evening, Ren Yaoqi initially couldn’t fall asleep. Just as she was finally getting drowsy and about to sleep, she heard the courtyard gate opening and someone entering. Ren Yaoqi heard Li Shi’s voice and knew she had returned.

Putting on her shoes and getting out of bed, Ren Yaoqi quickly put on her outer robe and ran out. Li Shi was already nearly in the main room.

“Mother, how is Aunt? How is the child?” Ren Yaoqi asked.

Li Shi turned around and, seeing Ren Yaoqi running out, her smile was gentle. She nodded: “Mm, you have a new little cousin. You can go see him tomorrow.” Ren Shijia had given birth to a son.

Ren Yaoqi had a fairly good impression of her aunt Ren Shijia and was also happy for her upon hearing this news.

The next day, just as Ren Yaoqi was about to go out, she heard several maids and servants whispering nearby. As Ren Yaoqi approached, she heard a servant saying: “They say Qingliu has been chosen. When Aunt Madam leaves, Qingliu will go with her to Yunyang City, and Fifth Madam will arrange for her afterward.”

“It’s Qingliu? That girl looks quite ordinary and isn’t very clever either. How did Old Madam and Aunt Madam choose her?” a maid said with a slightly sour tone.

The servant glared at her: “What do you know? This is choosing a bed-warmer for a son-in-law, not for a son! Naturally, the selection criteria are different.”

Somehow, everyone in the Ren family, from top to bottom, had learned about Ren Shijia arranging a bed-warmer for her husband. There had been quite a lot of speculation over the past few days, and apparently, some gambling addicts had even opened a betting pool on who would win in the end. “She’s quite fortunate – no one noticed her before,” someone sighed.

The servant who had spoken earlier laughed again, repeating: “Didn’t I say? This is choosing a bed-warmer for a daughter, not a son. What good could come of it? Sister Jin Lian from Old Madam’s room was hoping she wouldn’t be chosen. Hearing that it’s Qingliu, Jin Lian couldn’t be happier!”

Ren Yaoqi pretended not to hear these conversations and turned to leave.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua went together to see the child.

Ren Shijia’s delivery had gone relatively smoothly without any dangerous complications, so apart from exhaustion, she had no other problems, finally allowing Old Madam Ren to relax.

Since she hadn’t yet completed her month of confinement, neither the mother nor child should be moved, so Ren Shijia could rightfully stay at her natal home for another month.

This time, her husband Lin Kun also stayed.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua took a small path that usually had few people because it was a shorter route to Ren Shijia’s courtyard.

However, when they reached a small trail behind the bamboo grove near Ren Shijia’s courtyard, they discovered two people hiding to the side, talking. Hearing someone approaching, the two people panicked and immediately separated – one running east while the other dove directly into the bamboo grove, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

“Who’s there!” Nanny Xu, behind Ren Yaoqi, had sharp eyes and called out first.

Everyone looked up and only caught sight of two figures, one in yellow and one in blue.

“Miss, this servant will take some people to investigate. Those two were acting sneaky, talking here in secret. As soon as they heard someone coming, they ran away – they must have been plotting something bad.”