After leaving the Yun residence, Xiao Jinglin had originally planned to go eat roasted duck with Ren Yaoqi, but halfway there, people from the Yanbei Prince’s mansion came looking for her, saying that Xiao Jinglin’s aunt Xiao Wei had arrived from Ningxia. It turned out that Wu Yiyu and her mother Xiao Wei hadn’t come to the Yanbei Prince’s mansion together.

Although Xiao Jinglin was very reluctant, since the Old Princess Consort had sent people to summon her back to the mansion, she could only bid farewell to Ren Yaoqi.

Since the two had been sharing the same carriage, Xiao Jinglin gave the carriage to Ren Yaoqi and directly mounted the horse brought by the people from the prince’s mansion.

Watching Xiao Jinglin nimbly mount the horse’s back, spur the horse, and gallop away, her vigorous figure disappearing, even Pingguo, who rarely voiced her opinions, exclaimed in surprise.

Dongsheng remained behind to drive the carriage for Ren Yaoqi, and the carriage carried Ren Yaoqi and her servant back to the Ren family’s separate residence.

As soon as Ren Yaoqi entered the gate, she was wondering whether to return to Ziwei Courtyard first or go to Ronghua Garden to report to Old Madam, when she saw the Ren family’s eldest young madam Zhao Shi walking toward them while talking with an elderly woman from Eldest Madam’s side.

Ren Yaoqi stopped and waited for Zhao Shi to approach and greet her.

“Where is the eldest sister-in-law going?”

Seeing Ren Yaoqi, Zhao Shi quickly smiled: “Fifth Miss has returned? Aunt Fang arrived today and is currently with the grandmother. Mother just discussed several dishes with me, and I was heading to the kitchen. All the young ladies in the family are at Ronghua Garden. If Fifth Miss has nothing else to do, it would be good to go and pay your respects.”

Aunt Fang… Ren Yaoqi lowered her head in thought.

The Aunt Fang that Zhao Shi mentioned should be their great-aunt’s daughter-in-law, which is to say, Concubine Fang’s sister-in-law.

A while ago, there was talk of coming to attend Master Ren Shijia’s son’s full moon celebration. Tomorrow was the actual day, so arriving today was normal.

Thinking this, Ren Yaoqi smiled and nodded at Zhao Shi: “I understand, eldest sister-in-law. I’ll go over right now.”

Zhao Shi returned Ren Yaoqi’s smile, then led the elderly woman toward the kitchen.

When Ren Yaoqi arrived at Ronghua Garden, she indeed heard it was very lively inside Old Madam Ren’s room, very similar to the liveliness she had heard outside Old Madam Yun’s room earlier.

After the maid at the door went in to announce her, Ren Yaoqi entered the room.

Sitting in the chair next to Old Madam Ren was a woman in her twenties, with plain features and a square face. Although she appeared to have dressed up carefully, she still had nothing to do with beauty. Fortunately, her temperament was rather gentle, so she couldn’t be called ugly either.

Madam Fang, née Liu, came from a wealthy family in Jiangnan.

Standing behind Liu Shi was a young man who appeared younger than her. The young man’s appearance took after his mother, looking quite ordinary, except for a pair of rather spirited eyes – presumably the eyes resembled his father.

Although Ren Yaoqi had never seen this young man, she knew he was Fang Yasun’s only son, Fang Shuzhou, who was a year younger than Ren Yaoying. When the Ren family fell into decline in her previous life, Concubine Fang had taken Ren Yaoying back to her natal family and married Ren Yaoying to Fang Shuzhou.

Only now, Fang Shuzhou stood obediently behind his mother, while Ren Yaoying sat on a small stool in front of Old Madam Ren, massaging the old madam’s legs, with not even an exchange of glances between the two.

Originally, the target Concubine Fang had set for Ren Yaoying wasn’t Fang Shuzhou either – that final step was purely an act of desperation.

“This is our Fifth Miss.” Concubine Fang’s gentle voice said, addressing Liu Shi.

Originally, Concubine Fang wouldn’t have had the qualification to sit here and receive guests, but now she was properly seated below Liu Shi.

Old Madam Ren was also very amiable today, beckoning to Ren Yaoqi: “Qi’er, come meet your aunt.”

Ren Yaoqi obediently stepped forward, paid respects to Liu Shi, and called her aunt.

Liu Shi smiled and took a pink pouch from a maid’s hands, handing it to Ren Yaoqi: “This is the aunt’s meeting gift.”

Ren Yaoqi knew this was proper etiquette, so she thanked her and accepted it, then stepped aside to sit with Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoyin.

Before Ren Yaoqi entered, Old Madam Ren and Concubine Fang had been telling Liu Shi about the Dragon Boat Festival dragon boat race, and now they continued the conversation. Ren Yaoqi maintained her usual reticent and taciturn appearance.

When their conversation reached a pause, Liu Shi proactively addressed Ren Yaoqi: “I heard Fifth Miss has a very good relationship with the Princess of Yanbei Prince’s mansion? You went out together today as well?”

Ren Yaoqi glanced at Liu Shi: “We’ve met a few times. The Princess… the Princess is a very good person.”

Liu Shi studied Ren Yaoqi for a moment, then turned to Concubine Fang: “No wonder you often say Fifth Miss is blessed. Blessed people always encounter noble patrons. I think Ying’er should spend more time with her elder sister, Fifth Miss, to absorb some good fortune.”

Just as Concubine Fang was about to say something, Ren Yaoqi said softly: “I heard that when great-grandfather was alive, he once had someone calculate fortunes for our Ren family, saying that the ancestors and forefathers of the Ren family accumulated much merit during their lifetimes, which would benefit their descendants. So Yaoqi, like the other Ren family sisters, is blessed.”

Liu Shi glanced at Ren Yaoqi and smiled: “Fifth Miss is right. Aunt spoke clumsily.”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head, her voice still gentle: “Therefore, everyone should accumulate virtue and do good deeds – if not for themselves, then for their descendants. If one harbors a mindset of chance and commits evil acts, even if retribution doesn’t come in this life, it will bring disaster to one’s descendants. Buddhism emphasizes karmic retribution for precisely this reason.”

As soon as these words were spoken, quite a few people in the room changed expressions. Ren Yaoqi maintained an appearance of complete obliviousness, slightly lowering her head.

Old Madam Ren’s expression also turned somewhat unpleasant: “Where do all these words come from?”

Ren Yaoqi looked at Old Madam Ren, pressed her lips together, and said no more. After this, indeed no one brought up Ren Yaoqi again, and neither Liu Shi nor Concubine Fang spoke to Ren Yaoqi anymore.

Ren Yaoqi also stayed to have lunch in the old madam’s courtyard. Afterward, Old Madam Ren had Concubine Fang lead Liu Shi and her son to the lodgings the Ren family had arranged. The old madam also called over several young masters of the Ren family, having them take Fang Shuzhou around to see the sights.

When the Ren Yaoqi sisters came out from Old Madam Ren’s quarters, Ren Yijian, Ren Yixin, and the other brothers were discussing where to go sightseeing, while Fang Shuzhou and Ren Yihong stood obediently to the side without joining the conversation. These two had somewhat similar personalities – more taciturn compared to the other brothers.

A woman from the Liu family seemed to step forward and say something to Fang Shuzhou. Fang Shuzhou glanced at the boisterous cousin brothers, frowned, then, somewhat reluctantly, went over there. Ren Yihong, who had been instructed by Concubine Fang to entertain his cousin well, also followed.

Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yaohua, and Ren Yaoyin walked behind them. After all those brothers had left, Ren Yaoyin suddenly asked: “Fifth younger sister, I heard you went to the Yun family today?”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was startled and looked at Ren Yaoyin. Ren Yaoyin returned a gentle smile to Ren Yaoqi.

“Yes, originally I didn’t know we were going to the Yun family either. I only found out after getting in the Princess’s carriage.” Ren Yaoqi nodded.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t know why Ren Yaoyin would suddenly bring this up. Previously, when she went out with Xiao Jinglin, Ren Yaoyin never asked anything, not even showing curiosity. So if Ren Yaoyin was asking her about this now, was the focus on the Yun family?

Ren Yaoqi recalled that in her previous life, Ren Yaoyin did have connections with the Yun family – she had married Yun Wenting as a concubine.

Just as she was thinking this, Ren Yaoqi heard Ren Yaoyin say: “Did you see the Yun family’s eldest miss, Yun Qiuchen?”

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “Yes, I saw her.”

Ren Yaoyin smiled at Ren Yaoqi: “How is the Yun family’s eldest miss? Is she a breathtakingly beautiful woman?”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t know what Ren Yaoyin was up to, but still nodded and went along with her words: “Miss Yun is indeed a beauty, and her conduct and social skills are extremely proper.”

Ren Yaoyin said casually, “That’s natural, because the Yun family had always been grooming her as the future principal consort of the Prince of Yanbei.”

Ren Yaoqi was startled, but Ren Yaohua asked: “You said ‘had been’? What about now?”

Ren Yaoyin glanced at Ren Yaohua and smiled: “Now… hasn’t the Crown Prince of Yanbei, who’s far away in the capital, already married? He wed the daughter of Princess Chang’an. I once saw Miss Yun, and I feel that with her pride, she wouldn’t be willing to become a concubine.”

Ren Yaohua raised an eyebrow: “Could it be that the Yun family plans to marry her to Second Young Master Xiao?”

Ren Yaoqi also looked at Ren Yaoyin, but Ren Yaoyin didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she pondered for a while, then looked at Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua with a smile: “That’s not necessarily so. Aren’t there still two Young Masters Yun?”

Ren Yaoyin’s gaze toward Ren Yaoqi carried some meaningful implications. Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but glance at Ren Yaoqi as well, then frowned slightly.

“If the Yun family wants to strengthen their marriage alliance with the Yanbei Prince’s mansion, they don’t necessarily have to marry off a daughter. As long as either Eldest Young Master Yun or Second Young Master Yun marries the Princess, that would be the same.”

Ren Yaoqi remained expressionless on the surface, but knew in her heart that Yun Wenting indeed had feelings for Xiao Jinglin, though whether these feelings were genuine or due to the Yun family’s inclinations was unknown. What puzzled her most was why Ren Yaoyin would suddenly discuss these matters with them.

If it were someone else speaking, it would be one thing, but Ren Yaoyin was someone who was cautious with her words and actions – she rarely spoke about others’ affairs.

Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi: “Even if the Yun family wants to marry the Princess, it would be Eldest Young Master Yun, right?”

Ren Yaoyin smiled: “Not necessarily. Eldest Young Master Yun… is certainly excellent, but Eldest Young Master Yun excels in literary pursuits. Yet the Yanbei Prince’s mansion is one where even the Princess practices martial arts, so presumably the Prince of Yanbei prefers those who can lead troops in battle. I’ve heard that Second Young Master Yun not only has good martial skills but has also been well-versed in military strategy since childhood.”

If Ren Yaoqi were an ignorant, delicate maiden confined to her chambers, she might have believed Ren Yaoyin’s explanation. Unfortunately, what Ren Yaoqi was more curious about now was why Ren Yaoyin was telling her these things, so she put on a somewhat angry expression: “Fourth elder sister, why are you telling us all this?”

Ren Yaoyin sighed lightly, looking at Ren Yaoqi with eyes full of genuine kindness: “Fifth younger sister, don’t blame fourth sister for meddling. Fourth sister just doesn’t want to see… I heard that on the day of the dragon boat race, Second Young Master Yun specifically came looking for you… I just want to give you a heads-up in advance. Your connection with the Princess is your fate together – just don’t let other matters hurt that friendship.”