Early the next morning, before dawn broke, the Ren family servants began bustling about quietly. The masters would rise much later, so the maids and servants had to first load the travel necessities onto the carriages.
Ren Yaoqi woke relatively early. She finished washing and dressing early, sat in her room for a while, and only went to pay respects to her parents when she heard movement from the main room.
Today, Old Madam Ren exempted everyone from morning greetings, so Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua took breakfast together with Li Shi.
When someone came to request Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua to depart, Li Shi still held the two sisters back to give them careful instructions and had Nanny Zhou give each of them a heavy purse.
“If convenient, remember to visit your maternal grandparents,” Li Shi finally instructed.
Ren Yaohua remained silent, while Ren Yaoqi smiled and agreed: “I understand. I heard Grandmother will also go to watch the dragon boat races. We might even encounter her then. Does Mother have any message for me to relay to Grandmother, or anything to give her?”
Li Shi thought for a moment but still shook her head: “Just have a good talk with your grandmother. She always asks about you in her letters.”
Ren Yaoqi agreed again, then left with Ren Yaohua. At the courtyard gate, turning back, they could still see Li Shi standing under the corridor watching them.
Today’s travel convoy consisted of over twenty carriages, lined up in a long row in front of the second gate.
Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were arranged to share a carriage. In the past, neither would have been willing, but now that the sisters’ relationship had improved considerably, and being blood sisters, they were often arranged together when traveling.
The two were led out of the second gate by a steward. Their carriage, like those of the other Ren family young ladies, was arranged in the middle.
The two came out relatively early. Apart from Fifth Master and Fifth Madam who had arrived early with Ren Yaoyu, the family of three squeezed harmoniously into one carriage chatting and laughing, no one else had arrived yet. Only scattered servants waited beside the carriages to serve their masters.
Just as Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were about to board their carriage to wait, a little girl suddenly darted out from somewhere.
“Fifth Miss!”
Ren Yaoqi turned in surprise to find it was Granny Luo’s granddaughter.
Ren Yaohua also looked over and immediately frowned: “Which little maid are you? Under which nanny do you serve?”
The little girl had changed into the summer clothing of a third-rank maid in the residence today. Seeing her unfamiliar face, Ren Yaohua assumed she was a newly arrived maid who didn’t understand the residence’s rules.
The little girl glanced at Ren Yaohua, then looked toward Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi said to Ren Yaohua, “She came from the manor yesterday. You board the carriage first. I’ll be right there.”
Ren Yaohua looked suspiciously at the little girl before turning and leaving.
Only then did Ren Yaoqi speak gently to the girl: “Why did you come? Didn’t I have Nanny Zhou arrange for you and your grandmother to stay in the outer courtyard?”
Seeing the fierce Ren Yaohua gone, the little girl grew bolder and said crisply: “Grandmother says there’s still farm work unfinished at the manor. She wanted to ask Fifth Miss when we could leave. But the inner courtyard people won’t let us in or report for us. I saw you come out from far away and run over.”
Only then did Ren Yaoqi notice that though the little girl’s complexion wasn’t good, her voice was very pleasant. She couldn’t help smiling and asking: “What’s your name?”
The little girl blinked her bright eyes and smiled at Ren Yaoqi: “Shuiai. My name is Shuiai. It’s a type of wild vegetable. Grandmother says wild vegetables are the best – they can fill your stomach when you’re hungry and grow again when spring winds blow.”
At these words, the two senior maids behind Ren Yaoqi both giggled.
Ren Yaoqi also laughed, but looking up, she saw Granny Luo chasing after her from far away. Seeing the commotion here, the old woman wanted to approach but dared not, standing in the distance looking somewhat worriedly at Shuiai.
Ren Yaoqi pointed behind Shuiai: “Your grandmother is looking for you. Go support her. Walk slowly – running isn’t allowed in the residence, or the discipline nannies will catch you and slap your palms.”
Shuiai winked mischievously at Ren Yaoqi: “They can’t catch me.” Though she said this, she still lowered her head and imitated the way the residence maids walked, turning to leave. Her steps were quite proper, leaving Ren Yaoqi unable to find fault.
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh. After thinking, she still gave her maids some instructions, then walked toward Granny Luo with Pingguo and Sangshen.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi approach, Granny Luo quickly pulled Shuiai to bow, saying uneasily: “Miss, please forgive us! Shuiai doesn’t understand the rules and has offended you.”
Seeing her trembling appearance, Ren Yaoqi quickly had Pingguo step forward to support her, smiling: “Children are always lively. It’s nothing. I’m going to Yunyang City for a few days. You should stay in the residence. If anything happens, have someone find Nanny Zhou. I’ll give instructions shortly. I’ll also have someone inform the manor.”
“Will there be pastries to eat every day?” Perhaps seeing Ren Yaoqi’s gentle nature, Shuiai wasn’t afraid of her and couldn’t help quietly interjecting.
Before Ren Yaoqi could speak, Granny Luo immediately showed a stern face and scolded severely: “Where are the rules I taught you! Who permitted you to be so disrespectful?”
Shuiai seemed startled by her grandmother’s manner and lowered her head, not daring to speak.
Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to say something, someone approached along the corridor leading to the main gate.
The person wore a sky-blue silk robe – ordinary clothing that on him carried a unique elegance and composure different from others.
Ren Yaoqi was about to instruct Granny Luo and her granddaughter to return to their assigned quarters when she turned to see Granny Luo staring straight at the newcomer with a look of astonishment.
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but frown and looked toward the approaching person.
The person also sensed the gaze from this direction. His steps paused only briefly before he emerged from under the corridor and walked to within three or four steps of Ren Yaoqi, then calmly bowed: “Miss Ren Fifth.”
Ren Yaoqi curtsied in return: “Young Master Han.”
The newcomer was indeed Han Yunqian.
Han Yunqian straightened up, his gaze sweeping over the faces of Granny Luo and her granddaughter before turning away, seemingly unconcerned. By this time, Granny Luo had already suppressed the astonishment on her face, bending and lowering her head as she stood to one side.
“Isn’t Young Master Han going to Yunyang City today?” Ren Yaoqi asked with apparent casualness.
“My grandfather sent Yunqian to ask when the Ren family departs and how many carriages and horses there are, to avoid congestion at the city gates.”
Besides the Han and Ren families, several other households in Baihezhen were traveling. Each family had many carriages, and being blocked at city gates or narrow roads leading out of the city had happened in previous years. So coordinating from the start was better.
Ren Yaoqi nodded and said quickly: “My eldest aunt is in the meeting hall over there. She arranges all travel matters. You should go quickly to avoid delaying departure.”
Han Yunqian nodded slightly, glanced once more at Ren Yaoqi, bowed, and turned to leave.
“That young master… his surname is Han?” Granny Luo, who had been standing silently to one side, suddenly asked.
Ren Yaoqi looked at her and said matter-of-factly: “Yes, the Han family moved here from Jizhou only two years ago. Do you know Young Master Han?”
Granny Luo was startled and quickly shook her head: “I don’t know him, don’t know him. I just thought… thought he looked somewhat familiar.”
Ren Yaoqi smiled slightly: “Oh? Then, where might you have seen him?”
“I’ve always been at the manor without coming out, and this Young Master Han is so young. I couldn’t possibly have seen him. Perhaps my old eyes are dim and I saw wrong,” Granny Luo shook her head again.
“Then perhaps he resembles some elder of his whom you’ve seen,” Ren Yaoqi suggested.
Granny Luo thought for a moment and sighed: “I’m old and can’t remember.”
“No rush. Think slowly over the next few days, Nanny. You’ll remember eventually,” Ren Yaoqi said meaningfully, glancing back to see Ren Yaoyin and Ren Yaoyu also coming out.
“It’s getting late. I’ll go first. Rest assured and stay in the residence, Nanny. If you need anything, go find Nanny Zhou.” Ren Yaoqi nodded and, without waiting for Granny Luo to say more, turned and left.
Ren Yaoqi could now be certain that Granny Luo knew something about the Han family, but for some reason, she was unwilling to speak.
Having found the right person, Ren Yaoqi wasn’t anxious. She would find a way to make Granny Luo talk.
Granny Luo watched Ren Yaoqi’s figure gradually disappear, shook her head, and a bitter smile appeared at the corners of her mouth, making her wrinkled face look even more weathered.
“Grandmother?” Shuiai timidly tugged at Granny Luo’s sleeve and called softly.
Granny Luo came back to her senses. Her rough palm touched her granddaughter’s head lovingly: “Haven’t I told you many times? Be obedient in the residence, don’t speak carelessly, don’t do wrong things.”
Seeing her grandmother’s usual loving manner restored, Shuiai asked puzzledly: “Grandmother, I think this Fifth Miss is very nice. Why would you rather let a dog bite you than come to the residence?”
Granny Luo was so frightened she covered her granddaughter’s mouth, looked around, and only relaxed when she saw they were alone. She lowered her voice and scolded: “I told you to be careful with your words. Why won’t you listen? Do you want us grandparents to lose our lives before you regret it?”
Shuiai felt somewhat wronged by the scolding but still lowered her head to admit fault: “Grandmother, I was wrong. I’ll never dare again. Don’t be angry and harm your health.”
But Granny Luo was looking at the surrounding scenery with aged, mournful eyes, murmuring: “What’s meant to come will always come.”