Ren Yaoqi found an opportunity to call Ren Yaohua aside for a private conversation.

“Send someone to keep watch over the East Manor. Report back immediately if there’s any movement.”

The two were still in the east side room of Ronghua Garden’s main hall. Old Madam Ren was in the adjacent bright hall listening to head maid Jin Lian’s detailed report of the gift list Eldest Madam Lin had brought today, personally instructing what return gifts to prepare. Her voice carried through the carved bamboo curtain.

Originally, Ren Yaoyin had also been in the east side room with a small embroidery basket working on shoe uppers, but had just gotten up to look for thread in her small warm pavilion.

Ren Yaoqi’s voice was very low, almost whispering in Ren Yaohua’s ear. Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua alertly glanced toward the bamboo curtain. Though not quite used to it, she leaned close to whisper back to avoid being overheard: “What’s wrong with the East Manor? What movement could there be?”

Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to speak, light footsteps came from the inner room—it seemed Ren Yaoyin was coming out of the warm pavilion. The sisters sat properly as if nothing had happened.

Sure enough, Ren Yaoyin emerged from the east inner room, still holding a strand of gold thread.

Old Madam had instructed the sisters to stay in the main hall, as she would keep Eldest Madam Lin for lunch and wanted them to accompany her.

It wasn’t convenient to talk now. Ren Yaohua lowered her head thoughtfully, put down her teacup, slowly rose, and said to the head maid Wujing attending nearby: “I need to change clothes.”

Ren Yaoyin came over, smiled warmly at Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, then sat back on the kang to busy herself with embroidery, not noticing anything unusual.

Ren Yaohua left with her maid.

Ren Yaoqi remained seated, drinking tea, occasionally leaning over to ask Ren Yaoyin about needlework techniques. Ren Yaoyin patiently answered each question, sometimes even stopping to take out scraps of unused fabric from her embroidery basket to demonstrate complex stitching patterns.

Regarding her sisters’ inquiries, no matter what they were, as long as Ren Yaoyin knew the answer, she always replied seriously without being perfunctory or keeping secrets. Undeniably, among all the Ren family sisters, Ren Yaoyin was the most skilled at interpersonal relations.

Before long, Ren Yaohua returned. Ren Yaoqi looked up at her, and Ren Yaohua nodded imperceptibly.

Although she hadn’t asked clearly what Ren Yaoqi intended to do, Ren Yaohua still went out to arrange for someone to watch the East Manor.

When it was nearly time for lunch, Old Madam Ren sent someone to Liuli Courtyard to invite Eldest Madam Lin over.

The eldest Madam didn’t come. It was eldest daughter-in-law Zhao Shi who accompanied Eldest Madam Lin, while Eldest Madam personally went to supervise the kitchen. After the sisters left the east side room, the eldest daughter-in-law, Zhao Shi called Ren Yaoyin out to give her instructions about something.

Just then, Ren Yaohua’s head maid Xiangqin came in, silently standing beside her mistress.

Seeing that Old Madam Ren and Eldest Madam Lin were talking nearby with no attention to spare for them, Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi returned to the east wing.

With no outsiders watching, Xiangqin immediately reported quickly and quietly: “Miss, several servants from the East Manor came over today to visit, and one has been chatting at the gatehouse the whole time. Other than that, there hasn’t been any other movement.”

The East and West Manors were originally one family, and many servants on both sides were related, so such interactions were normal. Although the East Manor’s old madam disliked contact between the two sides, Second Madam Su Shi wasn’t very strict about managing these things.

Ren Yaoqi nodded and instructed: “Just keep a distant watch on those people for now. Don’t let them discover you.”

Both Ren Yaoqi and Xiangqin spoke very quietly. Ren Yaohua also deliberately lowered her voice: “What action might the East Manor take?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: “I hope she will take action. Otherwise, I’ll have to spend considerable effort setting things up.”

Ren Yaoqi wanted to drag the East Manor into the mess. Based on her understanding of Su Shi, Su Shi should be suspicious of Concubine Fang.

Last time, when she used Ren Yaoting to bring down the Su family, Ren Yaoqi deliberately didn’t distance herself too cleanly. Given Su Shi’s shrewdness, she would connect Ren Yaoting’s abnormal behavior with their contact.

Ren Yaoqi wasn’t afraid of Su Shi thinking too much—she was afraid she wouldn’t think enough.

However, she couldn’t be certain whether Su Shi would wade into these muddy waters. After all, she wasn’t a deity.

“Fifth Miss, what should we do next? Just continue watching?” Xiangqin seemed to half-understand.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and instructed: “Just keep watching for now. If people from the East Manor have any contact with Eldest Madam Lin, find a way to let someone else witness it—anyone will do, but clean up our people first.”

Xiangqin quickly nodded: “This servant understands. I’ll go instruct those two servants right away.”

Ren Yaoqi gave a few more quiet instructions before dismissing her.

Ren Yaohua didn’t quite understand Ren Yaoqi’s arrangements either, but this wasn’t the time for conversation, so she didn’t ask further.

Later, eldest daughter-in-law Zhao Shi brought Ren Yaoyin to ask Old Madam Ren if they could serve the meal. After receiving Old Madam Ren’s instructions, Zhao Shi led Ren Yaoyin in directing the maids to set the table.

Presumably, Zhao Shi had called Ren Yaoyin away earlier to teach her some household management. Ren Yaoyin was close in age to Ren Yaohua and also at marriageable age. Since Eldest Madam was usually too busy with affairs to manage, it was more often eldest sister-in-law Zhao Shi who taught her. Because of this, Ren Yaoyin and Zhao Shi had a good relationship.

Since Zhao Shi and Ren Yaoyin were of the same generation as Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, while they were busy, the Ren Yaoqi sisters couldn’t just watch, so they also went out to help, though there weren’t many times when they needed to do things themselves.

Zhao Shi had an honest nature. Though inevitably showing some favoritism, when she saw Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua come over, she was willing to teach them too.

The Ren family treated Eldest Madam Lin’s visit quite seriously, setting out eight cold dishes, sixteen hot dishes, plus eight types of congee and pastries.

Eldest Madam Lin’s expression had returned to normal. Although great families observed the rule of no talking during meals, the entire meal was enjoyed by both the host and the guests.

After the meal, they sat for a while longer drinking tea before Eldest Madam Lin suggested taking her leave. After leaving Liuli Courtyard, Eldest Madam Lin didn’t mention her daughter and granddaughter’s situation to Old Madam Ren again, as if she was confident in leaving everything to Old Madam Ren’s handling.

Old Madam Ren tried to keep Eldest Madam Lin several times before finally rising to personally see her out, instructing Nanny Gui to have the Ren family’s return gifts loaded onto the Lin family’s carriage.

The two old madams walking ahead held each other’s hands with mutual courtesies and pleasantries, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Old Madam Ren accompanied Eldest Madam Lin to the second gate before turning back to Ronghua Garden.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua didn’t follow Old Madam Ren back, as she had a habit of afternoon naps. The sisters went directly back to Ziwei Courtyard.

Third, Madam Li Shi had briefly shown her face earlier before Old Madam Ren dismissed her, not asking her to stay and entertain guests. Li Shi was already used to this. Seeing the sisters return, she pulled them aside to ask if they had eaten enough.

Though there were many dishes at formal banquets, not eating enough was common.

Ren Yaoqi wasn’t hungry. She ate when she should eat and drank when she should drink, casually instructing maids to serve quite a few dishes, eating the same amount as usual with perfect etiquette. So no one criticized her for anything.

Soon after, Xiangqin also returned. Ren Yaohua gave her a look, and the two took their maids to the east side room where they usually talked and had tea.

Xiangqin didn’t hesitate and directly reported: “While Eldest Madam Lin was in the manor, people from the East Manor didn’t approach. However, when the Lin family carriage left the manor, the East Manor servant who had been chatting at the gatehouse also took the opportunity to leave. Our servant assigned to watch was clever—she immediately found ways to have two gatehouse servants run errands while another quietly went out through the side gate to look. She happened to see that servant being allowed onto Eldest Madam Lin’s carriage at the alley entrance.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi felt relieved and told Xiangqin: “Very good. Give each person a reward of one tael of silver.”

Xiangqin’s eyes rolled as she joked: “That’s several taels of silver! Should it come from Fifth Miss’s account or our Third Miss’s account?”

Ren Yaoqi glanced at Ren Yaohua and said calmly: “Naturally, whoever assigned the people should pay the silver.”

Xiangqin was speechless.

Ren Yaohua glanced sideways at Ren Yaoqi and snorted softly, but didn’t say much more.

Xiangqin stuck out her tongue and went down.

“What are you plotting?” Ren Yaohua finally got a chance to ask.

Ren Yaoqi stopped joking and quietly explained a few things to Ren Yaohua.

After listening, Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but frown slightly: “Second Aunt can find a way to bring down Concubine Kang?”

Ren Yaoqi held up a finger and shook it: “Second Aunt doesn’t want to bring down Concubine Kang. She just wants to give Concubine Fang a warning. What does it matter to her who wins between Concubine Kang and Fifth Aunt? You see this Concubine Kang as someone with means and schemes, right? But no one in the Ren family takes her seriously.”

Ren Yaohua thought for a moment: “Is it because of Fifth Uncle’s attitude toward her?”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but smile: “Then what do you think Father’s attitude toward Concubine Fang is like?”

Ren Yaohua was stunned.

Their father, Third Master Ren, didn’t pay much attention to Concubine Fang either, spending only a few nights per month in her courtyard. But everyone in the Ren family knew that Concubine Fang wasn’t simple—no one in the Ren family dared to underestimate her.

“This is the Ren family. Your status in the Ren family depends on the family behind you.” Ren Yaoqi’s voice was extremely light. “Concubine Kang’s background destines her to be nothing more than a chess piece that can be discarded at any time, no matter how deep her schemes or brilliant her intelligence.”

“No wonder Eldest Madam Lin was much more at ease after seeing Concubine Kang.” Ren Yaohua had an epiphany.

“Eldest Madam Lin is a smart person, so she didn’t take Concubine Kang’s matter to heart, instead worrying more about whether her daughter and granddaughter were suffering. Concubine Kang’s only purpose is to strike at Fifth Madam.”

Those involved are confused, while observers see clearly. Only the Fifth Madam would lose her composure over someone like Concubine Kang.

“So from the beginning you wouldn’t let me interfere in Fifth Branch’s affairs,” Ren Yaohua concluded, musing: “Because you knew Concubine Kang couldn’t cause too much trouble, and even if Fifth Madam and Ren Yaoyu fell from favor, the real reason couldn’t be Concubine Kang?”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t deny this.

“Second Aunt also knows this, so her interference is just a painless warning to Concubine Fang, without any real intention of becoming Concubine Fang’s enemy?”

Though Ren Yaohua had an impulsive nature, she was smart, so gradually she thought further ahead.

“If that’s the case, then Second Aunt’s interference won’t help us much, and Concubine Fang might curry favor with her out of consideration for Second Aunt, and the two might end up allied.”

Concubine Fang had always been clever. She wouldn’t do things that involved head-on confrontation, and if something benefited her, she wouldn’t mind lowering herself a bit.

Ren Yaoqi looked at Ren Yaohua and showed an appreciative smile: “Originally, that would indeed be the case.” She hadn’t expected Ren Yaohua to progress so quickly.

Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but frown, showing some confusion: “Originally?”

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “So what we need to do is make Second Aunt interfere more deeply.”

Ren Yaohua was startled: “Would Second Aunt do that?”

Su Shi was a shrewd person who naturally wouldn’t deliberately make enemies with the Fang family, but…

“Isn’t there still Eldest Madam Lin?” Ren Yaoqi winked at Ren Yaohua, showing some playfulness.

“If Second Aunt wants to withdraw in time, would it be that easy? Since she’s already interfered, she shouldn’t think about staying uninvolved.”

This was Ren Yaoqi’s calculation.

The dispute between Concubine Kang and Fifth Madam was just Fifth Branch’s family affair that had nothing to do with her. She didn’t care at all who gained the upper hand or who suffered. She had just been waiting for an opportunity—an opportunity to drag Su Shi into the mess.

Due to the relationship between Ren Shijia and his wife, the future of the Lin and Ren families was still uncertain, so Fifth Madam Lin Shi could only passively take beatings when facing Concubine Fang.

So Concubine Fang’s days were too leisurely. She needed a real opponent.

“But you also said Eldest Madam Lin is a smart person. Would she wade into these muddy waters?” Ren Yaohua said with some uncertainty.

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “Eldest Madam Lin is indeed smart, but she’s also a mother. Concubine Kang doesn’t matter to her, but she knows what Concubine Kang’s existence means to her daughter. If there’s an opportunity, Eldest Madam Lin wouldn’t mind helping her daughter remove this eyesore.”

Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but fall silent.

After a long while, she couldn’t help but sigh, looking at Ren Yaoqi with complex emotions: “Your calculations are indeed precise, even considering human nature.”

Though Ren Yaohua’s tone rarely carried admiration, Ren Yaoqi felt no joy or pride upon hearing it.

She understood in her heart that she could calculate everything so clearly because she didn’t consider these people her family. Due to her previous life’s experiences, Ren Yaoqi found it difficult to have good feelings toward the Ren family members.

From the moment she and Ren Yaohua were pushed out as sacrifices, she had seen many things.

After the Ren family’s downfall, the Lin, Qiu, and Fang families—these in-law families who usually had close dealings and mutual exchanges with the Ren family—all avoided them as much as possible. Not only did they not help, but incidents of taking advantage of their misfortune to embezzle joint business ventures were common.

Several days later, Concubine Kang seemed much better and actively requested to return to her small courtyard. Old Madam Ren let her move back and assigned several more maids to serve her.

Fifth Master Ren Shimao seemed to be truly accompanying Fifth Madam in her confinement for reflection. Ever since entering the room, he hadn’t shown his face again, handling all his daily needs inside the room. However, he would send people daily to check on his daughter or call his son in to test his studies.

Old Madam Ren was somewhat displeased with this and sent people several times to call Ren Shimao. But Ren Shimao seemed determined and refused to come out. However, he didn’t act spoiled or throw tantrums to ask Old Madam Ren to plead for his wife and daughter’s mercy, instead seeming quite satisfied with the current situation.

After Old Madam Ren had managed him several times, she finally had no choice but to let him be.

On this morning, Ren Yaoqi was learning needlework with Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoyin from an old nanny beside Old Madam Ren in Ronghua Garden when a servant from the gatehouse came to report that someone from outside was looking for Concubine Kang—it was Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law from her maternal family.

Old Madam Ren initially didn’t pay much attention to this news, thinking it was Concubine Kang’s family coming to visit after learning of her miscarriage.

Since Concubine Kang’s miscarriage, though Old Madam Ren had arranged for people to care for her daily, since Fifth Master didn’t show concern, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to pay too much attention to a concubine, lest others think she was deliberately stirring up trouble between her son and daughter-in-law.

So, upon hearing someone had come for Concubine Kang, she only instructed the servants below to receive them. After all, she was just a concubine—her family visiting couldn’t be considered proper relatives. Her asking about it was already giving considerable face.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua sat facing each other by the south window, while Ren Yaoyin was quietly asking the old nanny about needlework techniques. After hearing the report, Ren Yaohua’s eyelid involuntarily twitched, and she looked up at Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi was holding up her small embroidery frame toward the south window, examining it carefully. Her slightly furrowed brow seemed troubled about what color to use for the small lotus pod beside the water duck, paying no attention to Ren Yaohua’s gaze.

Ren Yaohua only glanced once before lowering her head again to continue her work as if nothing had happened.

Before long, someone else came to report.

This time it wasn’t from the gatehouse, but the servant from Ronghua Garden whom Old Madam had sent out earlier.

Seeing her hurry back, Old Madam Ren knew the situation might not be simple and frowned: “Why are you back? Weren’t you told to take them to see Concubine Kang?”

The servant quickly said: “This servant originally intended to take them to see Concubine Kang, but Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law said… said she wanted to see you.”

Old Madam Ren was somewhat displeased: “No need. I don’t want to see guests now.” Old Madam Ren had no intention of meeting a concubine’s relatives—it would be beneath her status.

But the servant looked uneasy, glancing at Old Madam Ren hesitantly: “Concubine Kang’s sister-in-law didn’t come alone. She… brought a family surnamed Liu, saying they have matters to request an audience with you.”

Just then, another courtyard gate servant entered. Ren Yaoqi, sitting by the south window, heard the newcomer say outside: “Please help me report quickly—there’s trouble outside.”

Old Madam Ren had sharp hearing. Hearing the commotion outside, she shouted: “Who’s outside? Come in and report!”

The newcomer was a servant from the second gate. Hearing Old Madam Ren speak, she quickly entered.

“What’s the matter? Making such a racket—do you have no manners?” Old Madam sat in the place of honor, naturally commanding without anger.

The servant wiped cold sweat from her forehead: “Old Madam, please forgive us. Those people outside insist on seeing you. Since we had no orders from you, we servants didn’t dare bring them over, but they wouldn’t listen and tried to force their way in. We couldn’t stop them.”

“What?” Old Madam Ren was stunned.

The earlier servant was also surprised: “Weren’t they well-behaved before? How did they suddenly start making trouble?”

It turned out that when Sister-in-law Kang and the people she brought were outside the manor, though they remained silent, they also didn’t speak. After entering the manor, when the servant said she would take them to Concubine Kang, Sister-in-law Kang said she wanted to see Old Madam.

Seeing something was wrong, the servant hurried to Ronghua Garden to report. Unexpectedly, soon after she left, trouble broke out outside.

Old Madam Ren asked coldly: “How many people?”

The second gate servant replied: “Including Sister-in-law Kang, three women, and four men. Those men aren’t convenient for the inner courtyard, so they’ve been arranged to have tea in the outer courtyard. Only the three women entered the second gate. Just now, Eldest Madam heard about it and has already gone over.”

Hearing that Eldest Madam had gone to handle it, Old Madam Ren’s expression improved somewhat.

“What’s the background of this Liu family who came with Sister-in-law Kang?” Old Madam Ren wasn’t naive and quickly spotted the suspicious point.

The servant who had been sent to receive them said, “Sister-in-law Kang only said they were relatives from Concubine Kang’s mother’s side.”

Old Madam Ren thought for a moment and instructed: “Invite Sister-in-law Kang over to speak. As for the Liu family people, have them wait in the outer courtyard for tea first.”

The servant agreed and was about to leave when Old Madam called her back: “Find a secluded small courtyard in the outer courtyard and have people watch them—don’t let them wander around.”

The servants all withdrew. Old Madam Ren lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then looked up to see the three sisters Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yaohua, and Ren Yaoyin still sitting nearby. After hesitating briefly, she said to them, “Grandmother needs to see guests. Go to the inner room for now, and everyone else withdraws.”

Old Madam Ren didn’t send the granddaughters away but had all the servants dismissed, leaving only Nanny Gui and a few head maids.

Ren Yaoqi followed her two sisters into the inner room.

During this period, Old Madam Ren’s education of her granddaughters was different from before. When the granddaughters came for morning greetings, she would keep them for meals, then have them stay at Ronghua Garden all morning. Usually, she would find servants skilled in embroidery to teach them tailoring and needlework. When discussing matters with Eldest Madam or handling household affairs, she would also have them listen nearby, rarely avoiding them. Sometimes she would even ask their opinions, though she might not adopt them, she at least let them participate.

Today’s visit from the Kang family was suspicious, but Old Madam Ren only had the three sisters go to the inner room without sending them away entirely.

Soon after Ren Yaoqi and the others sat in the east side room, they heard someone outside report that Sister-in-law Kang had arrived.

After a series of soft sounds, a young woman’s voice sounded next door: “This humble woman of the Kang family greets Old Madam. May Old Madam live in peace and health.”