Fifth Madam Lin Shi and Concubine Fang had known each other since childhood, and in name, could even be considered cousins.
However, as the legitimate wife, Lin Shi had always held herself above others based on her status, and had never deigned to associate with the likes of Concubine Fang. Even when she encountered her in daily life, she would pretend not to see her.
Ren Yaoqi lingered at Lin Shi’s place for a while longer, her words implying nothing more than that Ren Yaohua was the mastermind behind framing Ren Yaoyu.
After Ren Yaoqi left, Lin Shi summoned her trusted confidant, Nanny Sun, to investigate this matter in the outer courtyard.
Nanny Sun was also a respected nanny in the Ren household, and she quickly investigated this web of relationships thoroughly.
“Madam, this Third Miss’s nature is too vicious! To resort to such methods!” Nanny Sun said angrily.
However, Lin Shi tapped lightly on the small table and pondered for a long time: “I rather think this matter isn’t as simple as it appears on the surface.”
“What do you mean, Madam?”
Lin Shi spoke deliberately: “My grandmother once said that anything that comes chasing after you isn’t a good deal, and news that people are eager for you to know is often not the truth. If that Nanny Zhu hadn’t instigated Fifth Miss to make this trip today, I might have believed it.”
Nanny Sun was startled: “Madam, do you mean someone is deliberately trying to sow discord between you and that side?”
Lin Shi smiled without warmth: “Whether it’s deliberate discord or wanting to kill two birds with one stone through this opportunity, we might as well wait and see. With that woman’s scheming nature, when she makes a move, she’ll keep backup plans.”
Nanny Sun pondered for a moment, then suddenly understood: “Madam is referring to Concubine—”
Lin Shi casually used a bronze poker to stir the incense ash in the bronze tripod incense burner carved with Sanskrit text: “Even when I was an unmarried girl, I most detested her pretentious ways. Born with the lowly fate of a concubine’s daughter, yet she puts on airs grander than anyone else’s. And she particularly likes to play dirty tricks. Look at my cousin aunt—she’s formidable too, isn’t she? A whole house full of concubine-born sons and daughters, and which one of them doesn’t cower submissively before her, not even daring to let out a fart? Yet those two siblings alone prospered, and now her brother has already become a seventh-rank county magistrate.”
Nanny Sun smiled: “This servant rather thinks this aunt is a kind and gentle person. It’s said that the concubine-born young master of the Fang family also benefited from her arrangements and connections to secure his position. If it were any other household’s main wife, not actively suppressing him would already be considered good.”
Lin Shi glanced at Nanny Sun with a smile: “Do you think my cousin’s aunt is a vegetarian? Though she only gave birth to one foolish son, she has five or six concubine-born sons. Do you think she chose to cultivate Concubine Fang’s brother alone for no reason back then?”
“Why was that?”
Lin Shi curled her lip in extreme disdain: “Wasn’t it because Fang Yaru rushed to her legitimate mother to pledge loyalty, eagerly coming to the Ren family as a concubine? You must know that becoming a concubine means entrusting your life and property to others. Our Old Madam and Fang Yaru’s legitimate mother are biological sisters, so by doing this, she was telling her legitimate mother that she would never escape from her palm in this lifetime. This gesture hit exactly what her legitimate mother wanted, and her brother thus stood out among the many concubine-born sons in the Fang family.”
“Speaking of it this way, this Concubine Fang is quite good to her brother, willing to make such sacrifices for his future.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Shi laughed coldly and shook the bronze poker in her hand: “Ah, you don’t understand her. My cousin’s aunt has six concubine-born daughters, each married more poorly than the last, with only one married slightly better—and that man is a consumptive! Only she, because she came to the Ren family as a concubine, received a dowry from my cousin’s aunt that was more than ten times larger than the other concubine daughters, out of consideration for their relationship. Moreover, our Old Madam also treated her with special regard for the sake of my cousin’s aunt. Her brother, having benefited from her situation, is now her greatest support in the Ren family. Look at her calculations—can you scheme as precisely as she does?”
Nanny Sun shook her head with a sigh: “This servant cannot. This servant was born to be a servant.”
Lin Shi sneered: “She refuses to accept her fate. Not only does she refuse to accept it, but she also likes to strive and snatch, while keeping herself completely clean. To put it crudely, she wants to be both a whore and erect a memorial arch!”
“Then, for this matter, shall we just watch for now?” Nanny Sun asked hesitantly.
Lin Shi frowned, worry evident in her eyes: “I’ve already made arrangements for Yaoyu’s situation, but I don’t know when Old Madam’s anger will subside.”
Speaking of this, Lin Shi’s expression turned vicious: “My mother repeatedly warned me not to easily oppose her, saying her thoughts are too deep and she feared I would suffer. But if she dares to set her sights on my daughter, I will make her pay! Continue to watch the outer courtyard carefully, and if there’s anything amiss, report to me immediately.”
“Yes, Madam.”
In the afternoon, Xi’er came to tell Ren Yaoqi that everything had been arranged according to her instructions.
Ren Yaoqi had sent Xi’er back to serve Li Shi early that morning, and she was now here to relay a message from Ren Yaohua.
While speaking, Xi’er couldn’t help but curiously observe Ren Yaoqi, her expression showing genuine joy.
Everyone serving Li Shi was happy about the current harmony between the two sisters.
In the evening, when everyone went to Ronghua Garden for the evening greeting ceremony, Old Madam Ren publicly announced that Ren Yaohua would move to Ronghua Garden.
Fifth Madam Lin Shi, whose plea for her daughter had been ignored by Old Madam, looked at Ren Yaohua and began to waver in her suspicions again.
She had questioned Ren Yaoyu, and that cloth doll, even including the birth date and time, had come from her own hand—only one character had been changed by someone else, so she couldn’t defend her daughter even if she wanted to.
Originally, she had suspected that Concubine Fang wanted to use her to eliminate Ren Yaohua, but it wasn’t impossible that this incident was really orchestrated by Ren Yaohua to make Ren Yaoyu give up her position.
Everyone knew that Ren Yaohua’s ability to act domineeringly in the Ren family depended entirely on Old Madam Ren’s affection. Having been away for a year, this was precisely the time when she needed to make up for their grandmother-granddaughter bond.
Ren Yaohua happily agreed.
Lin Shi felt displeased and was considering whether to drag Ren Yaohua down first, when Ren Yaoqi beside her quietly took half a step closer and gave her an anxious look, urging her to speak up.
Lin Shi thought it over and didn’t want to be used as a weapon by someone like Concubine Fang, so she simply turned her head away and pretended not to see.
The next morning, Ren Yaohua’s maids and servants began moving clothes and belongings to Ronghua Garden with great fanfare, as if they were afraid that people in the mansion wouldn’t know that Third Miss Ren had regained Old Madam’s favor.
In the morning, the gatekeeper from the outer courtyard came to report that Great Aunt Xiao had arrived.
“Great Aunt” was considered an honorific title, mostly referring to women who held high prestige in specific circles and possessed various skills. Such women were often either past marriageable age and unmarried, or widowed. They frequently appeared in the inner courts of wealthy households and were treated as honored guests.
Such people were not to be easily offended by any household. Not only because of their high skills and wide connections, but also because if she said one bad word about you, by the next day, the entire town would know about it.
Just like midwives and matchmakers who divided their territories, “Great Aunts” also had their own “domains.” Great Aunt Xiao was known to everyone in Bathe Crane Town. Of course, such famous Great Aunts only frequented wealthy and noble families—ordinary households were beneath their notice.
“How does Great Aunt have time to visit today?” After being seated, Old Madam Ren greeted her with a broad smile, her attitude very courteous and warm.
Great Aunt Xiao was also a regular visitor to the Ren family. She was only in her thirties, with delicate features and simple, neat clothing. She wore no accessories, clearly a very proper and respectable person.
“Today I’ve come to deliver next year’s imperial calendar to your household.” Great Aunt Xiao wore an appropriate smile, speaking at a moderate pace, neither making people feel she was aloof nor that she was servile. She easily won the favor of those in high positions.
Old Madam Ren laughed and gently patted her forehead: “Look at my memory! I forgot about this matter.”
“It’s not that Old Madam’s memory is poor, but rather this year’s imperial calendar was printed half a month earlier than usual.” Great Aunt Xiao gestured for the servant woman who had entered with her to present an exquisite red lacquered wooden box.
Old Madam Ren had Nanny Gui step forward to receive it: “Now that you mention it, I remember—in previous years, you always delivered it in early October. Why is it so much earlier this year?”
Great Aunt Xiao said: “In previous years, the imperial calendars were printed by various bookshops in Yan Bei after being issued by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. This year is somewhat special—it passed through Prince Yan Bei’s palace.”
Old Madam Ren was startled upon hearing this, and smiled: “I’ve only heard of the court issuing imperial calendars, but never—” Realizing this topic was inappropriate, Old Madam Ren smiled and lifted her teacup for a sip.
Great Aunt Xiao pretended not to hear Old Madam Ren’s slip of tongue, only saying: “Last year’s imperial calendar in Yan Bei had several errors, resulting in several bookshops being implicated and closed—”
This matter was known to everyone in Yan Bei.
“After what happened last year, which family would dare to get involved with this?” Old Madam Ren asked strangely.
Imperial calendars had always been printed by local bookshops in various prefectures and counties after being issued by the court’s Imperial Astronomical Bureau, and generally, there would be no errors. Last year, for unknown reasons, Yan Bei’s calendar had multiple errors compared to the one issued by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Eventually, someone reported it to the court, and many people lost their lives because of it. Some even impeached Prince Yan Bei’s palace for condoning this behavior, claiming it was an attempt to change dynasties.
“I heard that this year the clerks at Prince Yan Bei’s palace checked no fewer than ten times, so there will be no errors.” Great Aunt Xiao smiled. “Moreover, the calendars for several prefectures in Yanbei this time were all printed by the Han family.”
“The Han family?” Old Madam Ren thought for a moment. “Could it be the Han family that moved from Jizhou to our Bahe Crane Town just last year?”