After Ren Yaoqi returned to her room, she remained quietly inside without going out. She wondered what actions Ren Shijia and Lin Kun might take on their end, and as an outsider, she felt it best to avoid involvement if possible.

However, even after the sky darkened, there was no major commotion in the courtyard. But according to Xiangqin, not long after she left the main house that afternoon, Lin Kun had invited a physician into the manor. The eldest madam’s side learned of this and sent someone to inquire. Ren Shijia only replied that she had accidentally gotten caught in some rain while going out during the day and felt a bit uncomfortable. She didn’t mention that it was to examine Lin Cen’s pulse.

That evening, when Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin went to have dinner with Ren Shijia, Ren Yaoqi observed her carefully. Though she appeared somewhat preoccupied, her spirits weren’t too poor, and there was nothing particularly unusual about her expression. Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed Brother Cen was fine. Ren Yaoqi had always felt that while family power struggles might inevitably lead to life-and-death conflicts, harming children truly damaged one’s moral virtue.

Lin Cen was unusually not sleeping, but was being held by the senior maid Chunlan, sitting to the side with his eyes open watching them eat. The wet nurse also stood nearby, but occasionally rubbed her hands uneasily, looking toward Ren Shijia with somewhat anxious eyes.

Even while eating, Ren Shijia’s gaze never left her son.

Ren Yaoyin seemed to sense the strange atmosphere and took her leave after finishing dinner. Ren Yaoqi originally wanted to leave as well, but was stopped by Ren Shijia, who asked whether one carriage would be enough for her outing tomorrow. So Ren Yaoyin went back alone first.

After Ren Yaoyin left, Ren Shijia called Ren Yaoqi into the inner room. The wet nurse and Chunlan holding the child also came in together.

Ren Yaoqi had originally wanted to ask about Lin Cen’s condition, but seeing outsiders present, she wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to ask now. However, after Ren Shijia instructed the maid Chunmei to go outside and keep watch, she grasped Ren Yaoqi’s hand firmly.

Ren Yaoqi immediately realized her earlier assessment that Ren Shijia showed no abnormalities was wrong, because the hand holding hers was ice-cold and trembling uncontrollably.

Ren Yaoqi was startled: “Aunt…”

Ren Shijia’s eyes immediately turned red, her voice somewhat choked: “Qi’er, this time it’s all thanks to you, all thanks to having you. If you hadn’t noticed something was wrong, my Brother Cen would have fallen victim to someone’s poison.”

But Ren Yaoqi breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at the wet nurse standing to the side.

Noticing her gaze, Ren Shijia sniffled and explained: “It’s alright. This wet nurse was also deceived by others this time. She was found by my mother. There’s no problem.”

Hearing this, the wet nurse, who had been somewhat anxious, said gratefully, “Madam, thank you for trusting this servant. It was this servant’s carelessness…”

Ren Shijia waved her hand dismissively.

Ren Yaoqi asked: “Did the physician come today? What did he say?”

At the mention of this, Ren Shijia’s eyes reddened again, though they also held a cold severity not usually present: “Brother Cen’s recent excessive sleepiness was indeed due to poisoning. Fortunately, the poison wasn’t given directly to the child. The poisoner used slow-acting drugs to avoid detection. It would take at least half a year to take full effect. The physician said it was fortunate we discovered it early. As long as the medication is stopped, there will be no lasting effects. My Brother Cen nearly became a fool. The physician said that while the poison wouldn’t be fatal, it would affect the child’s development.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi frowned. The person behind this was truly vicious.

“Qi’er, Aunt doesn’t know how to thank you. It was your alertness that saved Brother Cen.”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “Brother Cen is my younger brother, and you are my aunt. Family members don’t need to speak of thanks.”

Ren Shijia touched Ren Yaoqi’s head, her expression complex with grief and anger: “Yes, family. But how can some people be so cruel? Brother Cen is still so small and has never harmed anyone. I truly hate…” She paused and said in a low voice, “It’s good that Brother Cen is fine, otherwise I would definitely… definitely…”

What she would definitely do, Ren Shijia ultimately didn’t say aloud. But precisely because she didn’t say it, Ren Yaoqi understood her hatred and determination as a mother. Ren Yaoqi didn’t doubt for a moment that Ren Shijia would fight someone to the death, despite this woman’s usual kindness and gentleness.

At this moment, Lin Cen began crying. The wet nurse instinctively wanted to go to him, but was avoided by the maid, leaving her somewhat dejected. Ren Shijia immediately walked over and took the child herself.

“Madam, the young master should be hungry,” the wet nurse said quietly.

Ren Shijia nodded, carrying the child to sit aside and then unfastening her clothing.

Ren Yaoqi was stunned: “Aunt, what are you…?”

With Chunlan’s help, Ren Shijia unfastened her clothing buttons: “Mother originally found two wet nurses for me, but after the physician examined them today, he found that neither can currently nurse the child. I’ve already written to Mother asking her to find another trustworthy one to send over. But Brother Cen can’t just go hungry like this. Fortunately, when I was at my maternal home, I refused to listen to advice and secretly nursed the child a few times, so my milk hasn’t dried up yet. So I plan to nurse him myself.”

Ren Shijia’s previous nursing of Lin Cen was purely due to maternal instinct wanting to be close to her son. Each time after just a few sips he would be taken away by the maids, since in wealthy households no woman nursed her own children. This was because if a nursing woman accidentally wet her chest while going out, it would be unseemly.

Ren Shijia wasn’t very skilled at nursing her son yet. But this time she was truly frightened. No matter how the maids tried to persuade her, she insisted on nursing the child herself. Only after Lin Kun agreed to let her did the maids stop their persuasion.

Ren Shijia looked at her son in her arms, his eyes open as he suckled, her own eyes full of tenderness.

After watching for a while, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help asking: “Aunt, has the person who poisoned from behind been found?” Actually, judging from the situation, Ren Yaoqi somewhat suspected Lin Kun planned to continue enduring, though she wondered how he had convinced Ren Shijia.

Ren Shijia paused and said, “My husband says he’ll handle it. He says he’ll give me and the child an explanation.” Ren Shijia grasped her son’s restlessly waving little hand, staring at his tender little face somewhat dazedly. Her slightly lowered eyes concealed the true emotions within.

Looking at Ren Shijia like this, Ren Yaoqi sighed inwardly. Presumably, Ren Shijia harbored some resentment toward Lin Kun as well.

“Aunt, then I won’t go out tomorrow. I’ll stay home to accompany you,” Ren Yaoqi ultimately sympathized with this kind woman.

But Ren Shijia shook her head upon hearing this, looking at Ren Yaoqi with very gentle eyes: “You’ve already made an appointment with the Princess. How can you break your word? Besides, my husband said not to startle the snake by hitting the grass for now. We should do whatever we normally do. Don’t worry, I’ll be extremely careful now and absolutely won’t give anyone another chance to harm my child.”

Since Ren Shijia insisted that she go out, Ren Yaoqi said nothing more. After chatting with her for a while, she withdrew.

The next day, Ren Shijia instructed a nanny early in the morning to prepare for Ren Yaoqi’s outing.

However, before leaving, Ren Yaoqi received a message that Ren Yaohua had someone deliver to her. Yesterday, Old Woman Luo had said she wanted to take her granddaughter out to buy some things to bring back to the estate. Unexpectedly, they hadn’t returned even after dark.

Old Woman Luo had disappeared along with her granddaughter, Shui Ai.

Nanny Zhou had sent people to search all night, but still couldn’t find them.

When Ren Yaoqi received the message, she was stunned for quite a while, then frowned with worry about whether Old Woman Luo had escaped on her own or been captured by someone.

If she had left on her own, the reason must be that she knew about the grievances between the Zhai and Ren families but didn’t want to tell her, so she secretly slipped away. If she had been captured, then those who took her must be connected to the Han family, because the Han family had recognized her.

Comparing the two possibilities, she preferred the first one.

After all, if Old Woman Luo had left on her own, she wouldn’t be in mortal danger. But if she had been taken away by the Han family people, she very likely wouldn’t return.

Old Woman Luo’s disappearance made Ren Yaoqi extremely worried. She immediately sent a message back telling Nanny Zhou to search for her, but not to make a big show of it.

Only when the appointed si hour was nearly upon them did Ren Yaoqi hurriedly board a carriage and leave the Lin family. But sitting in the carriage throughout the journey, she was somewhat distracted.

From the Lin family to Tan’s Shop required going around most of Yunyang City – quite a distance. The route even passed the street where the Lei family was located. But because the Lei family was conducting funeral rites, the driver took a detour.

When the carriage approached the alley where the Lei family lived, Ren Yaoqi finally managed to temporarily collect her scattered thoughts. She lifted the carriage curtain and looked out from afar. Several carriages were parked in the alley where the Lei family was located, blocking most of the view. She could only see a bit of white.