In the afternoon, just as Ren Yaoqi had woken from her nap, Nanny Zhou personally came to the west wing where Ren Yaoqi lived.

“Eighth Miss has indeed been taking medicine during this period. It’s said that Fifth Madam felt Eighth Miss was somewhat plump, and when she returned to her maternal home last time, she obtained a prescription from her sister-in-law there for Eighth Miss to take. Eighth Miss has been taking it for some time now. But because Eighth Miss is thin-skinned, Fifth Madam was afraid she’d be embarrassed, so she told the servants below not to make it known.”

Among the Ren family sisters, Ren Yaoyu was the most round-figured and shortest, which greatly displeased Fifth Madam, who liked to compete in everything, fearing that Ren Yaoyu would still look this way when she grew older.

Although generally speaking, elders liked to choose plumper-figured daughters-in-law for their descendants, thinking they were good for childbearing, Fifth Madam Lin Shi scoffed at this standard because she understood that what elders liked, young men might not necessarily prefer. So even though Ren Yaoyu was still young, she had already begun paying attention to Ren Yaoyu’s figure.

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi raised her eyebrows. She remembered that in her previous life, Lin Shi had secretly found some prescription for Ren Yaoyu, claiming that taking it would make a woman’s figure more slender. Ren Yaoyu had indeed seemed to lose quite a bit of weight later. However, Ren Yaoqi knew that such medicines were often cold and harmful to women if taken frequently.

Hearing now that Ren Yaoyu was taking medicine, Ren Yaoqi didn’t find it strange. Since the prescription came from the Lin family, and no problems had occurred in her previous life, someone must have tampered with the medicine during preparation, adding things that shouldn’t have been added.

“Did you find any medicine dregs?” Ren Yaoqi asked thoughtfully.

Nanny Zhou shook her head with regret: “Yesterday Eighth Miss was punished to the ancestral hall, so no medicine was used today. Yesterday’s dregs have already been discarded and can’t be retrieved.”

Ren Yaoqi had originally only tried with an experimental attitude. Although hearing Nanny Zhou’s words made her somewhat regretful about the lack of evidence, she wasn’t too disappointed.

Seeing that Nanny Zhou seemed to feel somewhat guilty for not completing the task, Ren Yaoqi was about to say some comforting words when there was sudden movement outside.

“Who’s out there?” Seeing Ren Yaoqi frown, Nanny Zhou immediately stepped forward to lift the curtain without another word.

Ren Yaoqi had just woken from her afternoon nap earlier. When she saw Nanny Zhou arrive, she had directly dismissed the attending servants and let her in. At this moment, the two were talking alone in the right side room.

Ren Yaoqi sat on the kang by the window, her eyes lowered as if thinking about something, not following Nanny Zhou to check who it was.

“Is it you?” Nanny Zhou’s voice carried both surprise and what seemed like relief, then she turned back to look at Ren Yaoqi: “Miss, it’s—”

Before Nanny Zhou could finish, the person outside had already appeared at the curtain’s edge, holding a red lacquered tea tray. She stood with lowered head, very respectfully and calmly, looking extremely deferential and composed, though her hands gripping the tray’s edges were somewhat tense.

Seeing her enter, Nanny Zhou stopped speaking. Ren Yaoqi remained sitting on the kang, neither moving nor speaking, only her clear, crystalline eyes steadily gazing at the newcomer.

Ren Yaoqi’s eyes were very beautiful. When she smiled, they would curve into crescents, gentle and lovely, making people think her harmless. At this moment, Ren Yaoqi wasn’t smiling, nor had she darkened her expression – she was just calm, as if conducting an ordinary appraisal.

The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.

“Nanny Xu?” Ren Yaoqi smiled slightly and called out gently.

Only then did Nanny Xu step forward with lowered head, silently placing the tea tray in her hands on the kang table, then kneeling before Ren Yaoqi with lowered head: “This servant deserves death.”

“Deserves death?” Ren Yaoqi looked at the person kneeling respectfully before her, her smile carrying a hint of mockery: “Our Ren family isn’t such an unreasonable household, is it? Casually making people die? Nanny Xu, are you trying to frighten me?”

Nanny Xu hadn’t expected the usually gentle and easy-going Ren Yaoqi to suddenly seize on such an ordinary phrase and not let go. She couldn’t help being slightly stunned. “This servant deserves death” was just what servants used when apologizing to their masters after making mistakes – no one wanted to die. Otherwise, they should say, “Master, spare my life.”

Although Nanny Xu felt somewhat uneasy, she quickly composed herself: “This servant came to bring almond dew. This servant didn’t intend—”

Ren Yaoqi looked at her, patiently listening to her explanation, but didn’t tell her to rise. Nanny Xu seemed to feel that whatever she said sounded like making excuses, so she sighed somewhat defeatedly and said instead: “This servant has committed an error. Please punish me, Miss.”

Ren Yaoqi’s gaze remained on Nanny Xu. Hearing her say this, she didn’t immediately respond, as if truly considering how to punish her.

Instead, Nanny Zhou looked between Ren Yaoqi and Nanny Xu and couldn’t help but speak: “Miss, when this servant entered, I instructed Nanny Xu to bring the almond dew that Madam prepared for you. Speaking of it, this was also this servant’s oversight.”

During this period, Nanny Zhou had also been secretly observing Nanny Xu. After all, Nanny Xu and Nanny Gao were the ones she had selected for the Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua sisters. She thought that if they weren’t suitable, she’d replace them early.

However, after this period of observation, Nanny Zhou was very satisfied with both Nanny Xu and Nanny Gao. Nanny Gao was warm-hearted and generous, perfectly complementing Ren Yaohua’s stern and proud temperament – the master and servant were surprisingly harmonious. As for Ren Yaoqi’s house-managing nanny, Nanny Xu was steady and meticulous, handling affairs with perfect balance – someone capable of handling important matters.

Li Shi and Nanny Zhou had originally wanted to select capable assistants and support for the two sisters, but Nanny Zhou felt that Ren Yaoqi’s attitude toward Nanny Xu was somewhat puzzling. Although she had entrusted all the affairs of her room to Nanny Xu, and Nanny Xu had completed everything very well, Nanny Zhou still felt that Ren Yaoqi somewhat distrusted Nanny Xu, even showing some rejection toward her.

Nanny Zhou had always wanted to ask Ren Yaoqi what she truly thought, but had never found the opportunity to ask. In her view, Nanny Xu was really an invaluable right-hand person. If Ren Yaoqi could accept her, it would certainly be very helpful in the future. She felt Nanny Xu was trustworthy.

Ren Yaoqi had also been inconspicuously observing Nanny Xu during this time. It must be said that this Nanny Xu was indeed capable. If not for Ren Yaoqi’s previous life experiences, she would try to win over such talent for her use.

Ren Yaoqi had never discovered anything suspicious about Nanny Xu. She had secretly had Yuan Dayong investigate Nanny Xu and learned that she indeed only had one son, with a completely unsuspicious background. The mysterious daughter who had appeared in her previous life seemed never to have existed at all.

Instead, Nanny Xu had always worked diligently and conscientiously, being strict with the maids when necessary and tolerant when appropriate. Last time, when she reminded Ren Yaoqi that the maid Qingmei sent by Concubine Fang couldn’t be kept around, Ren Yaoqi had given her the task to handle. Soon after, she found an excellent excuse to transfer Qingmei out of Ren Yaoqi’s room without involving Ren Yaoqi at all. Instead, she made Qingmei feel that leaving Ziwei Courtyard offered better prospects, and Qingmei was very grateful to both Nanny Xu and even Ren Yaoqi when she left.

As for the maid called Xueli, because Ren Yaoqi said she could be used, Nanny Xu didn’t mention her again and treated Xueli no differently from the other maids.

No wonder even Nanny Zhou looked favorably upon Nanny Xu and was now trying to plead for her.

Ren Yaoqi herself also had a strange feeling that this Nanny Xu seemed to have no problems for now.

After thinking, Ren Yaoqi bent slightly forward and personally helped Nanny Xu up, her tone very gentle: “Rise. I was just joking earlier.”

Nanny Xu breathed a sigh of relief, thanked her, and got up from the ground.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t ask when Nanny Xu had arrived or how much she had heard, as if she had forgotten that she had just been discussing secret matters with Nanny Zhou. She only focused on picking up the bowl of slightly cool almond dew and drinking it in small sips.

Instead, Nanny Xu, seeing Nanny Zhou signal for her to withdraw, immediately bowed and retreated without another word.

Once Nanny Xu left, Nanny Zhou said: “Miss, this servant and Madam both think this Nanny Xu is a good, usable person. You could test her further. If you feel there are no problems, you can assign her tasks in the future. From the incident with Maid Qingmei last time, you can see that Nanny Xu is capable. Having her assist you will make many things more convenient.”

Ren Yaoqi knew Nanny Zhou was genuinely concerned for her. Seeing her say this, she didn’t contradict her but nodded and smiled: “I’m just not used to it yet. After some time, I’ll naturally use her. Nanny, don’t worry about me.”

Nanny Zhou was now even more at ease with Ren Yaoqi than with Ren Yaohua. Hearing her say this, she dropped the matter and spoke with Ren Yaoqi about Ren Yaoyu’s situation.

Later, Li Shi sent Xi’er from the main room to fetch Nanny Zhou. Ren Yaoqi gave Nanny Zhou some instructions and let her return.

Ren Yaoqi hadn’t yet decided Nanny Xu. She planned to wait until she had dealt with all these miscellaneous matters before deciding.

In any case, according to her previous life’s trajectory, even if this Nanny Xu harbored ill intentions, it would be several years later. During her time with the Ren family, Nanny Xu was truly beyond reproach. Otherwise, with Nanny Zhou’s capabilities, she wouldn’t have allowed her to accompany Ren Yaohua to the Zeng family.

However, what Ren Yaoqi hadn’t expected was that the next day, again during her post-nap time, Nanny Xu approached her proactively, carrying something in her bosom.

Looking at the half-dried medicine dregs wrapped in dark blue coarse cloth, now spread on the kang table and emitting an unpleasant medicinal smell, Ren Yaoqi lowered her eyes slightly to conceal the inscrutable look in them.