Ren Yaoqi didn’t decline further and accepted the Xu family’s gifts.

The day before the Thousand Gold Banquet, the Ren family’s Eldest Madam and Fifth Madam arrived in Yunyang City with their daughters.

This year, all the Ren family’s young ladies, whether legitimate or concubine-born, had received invitations to the Thousand Gold Banquet, which was the Yun family’s way of expressing gratitude for the Ren family’s previous care of Yun Wenfang.

Old Madam Ren hadn’t come a day early for some unknown reason, but Eldest Madam Wang, worried about her daughter Ren Yaoyin, had come ahead of time and brought the outfits the Ren family had prepared for the young ladies.

Ren Shijia brought Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin to the Ren family’s separate residence. All five young ladies from the Ren family’s first branch were present. Ren Yaoting from the second branch hadn’t come – Eldest Madam had ordered her portion to be sent to the Su family.

A roomful of women gathered in the main hall of the separate residence to select clothes and jewelry, creating quite a lively scene. Among them, Fifth Madam Lin was the most active, holding up a grass-green gold-threaded jacket and skirt with twining floral patterns, constantly comparing it against her daughter Ren Yaoyu, with a somewhat dissatisfied expression on her face.

“This color doesn’t complement our Yu’er’s complexion.”

Lin Shi looked at the clothes in the other young ladies’ hands. When she saw the rouge-colored jacket and skirt in Ren Yaoyin’s hands, decorated with large hibiscus flowers the size of rice bowls that were both dignified and charming, her eyes lit up.

“The outfit in Yin’er’s hands is quite nice. Sister-in-law, why don’t we have Yin’er and Yu’er exchange outfits? I think with Yin’er’s fair complexion, green would look even better on her.”

Ren Yaoyin’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly before quickly smoothing out. She smiled at Lin Shi without speaking, only glancing at her mother.

Eldest Madam Wang had always been accommodating to Fifth Madam, but this time she wasn’t so agreeable. She said slowly, “Sister-in-law, I remember that Yu’er’s fabric was personally selected by you back then? This grass-green gold-threaded fabric and that piece of bright red gold-threaded material were both obtained through the Gu family of Jiangnan Textile Manufacturing, said to be woven in the style of tribute goods. Chi’er only managed to find these two pieces. The bright red piece was requested by Old Madam for Hua’er, and the grass-green one was originally for Yin’er. It was you, sister-in-law, who said Yu’er would look good in green and earnestly requested it from me. Now that the clothes are finished, you’re saying you don’t want them? The sisters have different builds – even if they exchanged, the clothes wouldn’t fit.”

The eldest Madam understood very well how important the Thousand Gold Banquet was for daughters. Those two precious fabrics had been specially requested by Eldest Madam through a letter to her eldest daughter, Ren Yaoichi, who had married into the Gu family of Jiangnan Textile Manufacturing, hoping to make her younger daughter shine at the Thousand Gold Banquet.

Later, when Old Madam requested the bright red piece for Ren Yaohua, since Ren Yaohua suited bright red better than Ren Yaoyin, Wang Shi had readily given it up.

Fifth Madam Lin Shi had heard about it from somewhere and insisted on having the grass-green piece for Ren Yaoyu. Since Ren Yaoichi had also sent along an exceptionally skilled embroiderer when delivering the fabrics, and Ren Yaoyin didn’t particularly like wearing green clothes anyway, Eldest Madam had given the fabric to Fifth Madam.

Unexpectedly, the embroiderer’s hibiscus flowers were indeed lifelike, making the originally unremarkable rouge-colored fabric extremely dignified and luxurious after being made into clothing, perfectly suiting Ren Yaoyin’s temperament.

Now Fifth Madam wanted to exchange it again upon seeing it.

No matter how good Eldest Madam’s temperament was, she was somewhat displeased now.

Fifth Madam also knew she was in the wrong and coughed lightly: “If it doesn’t fit, we can alter it. It’s not like we don’t have anyone skilled with needlework. I just like that embroidery work.”

Eldest Madam smiled: “The embroidery work is indeed excellent – the embroiderer was specially found by Chi’er. In about half a month, she only finished this one piece. If my sister-in-law likes it, I’ll lend it to you when we return.”

Hearing this response meant she didn’t want to exchange clothes. Fifth Madam couldn’t help but speak sourly: “Chi’er too – if she was looking for embroiderers, why didn’t she know to find a few more? Yin’er is her sister, but isn’t our Yu’er also her sister?”

Even though Eldest Madam had long been accustomed to Fifth Madam’s unreasonable behavior over the years, she was now somewhat angry and couldn’t help but frown.

Ren Yaoyin chuckled softly and said gently: “Fifth Aunt doesn’t know – ordinary embroiderers are easy to find. What Elder Sister found wasn’t ordinary – she’s retired from the Jiangnan Textile Manufacturing Bureau.”

Ren Yaoyin’s maid Hanlu interjected: “I heard she even embroidered dragon robes for the current Emperor.”

Hearing this, Lin Shi’s tone became somewhat sour: “Oh my, what a precious person indeed. Speaking of our Ren family’s young ladies, Chi’er married the best. What kind of family is the Jiangnan Gu family? They’re always dealing with the nobles in the palace. Sister-in-law, you’re truly blessed.”

Eldest Madam didn’t want to discuss these matters further with Lin Shi, so she just smiled, gave a few perfunctory responses, and quietly discussed with Ren Yaoyin whether the clothes needed alterations.

Ren Yaoying, who had been silent, suddenly said: “I heard that Fifth Sister’s clothes were prepared by the Yun family long ago? Fourth Sister frequently visits the Yun Manor and is close with the Yun family’s eldest daughter – she must have some too?”

Ren Yaoyin paused in her movements, then smiled slightly: “I don’t. When I visit the Yun Manor, I just chat about poetry with Miss Yun.”

Ren Yaoqi waved for Sangshen to put away her two sets of clothes and said indifferently: “Ninth Sister hasn’t been in Yunyang City long, but your information is quite well-informed. I was just at the Yun family when I happened to encounter Old Madam Yun preparing new clothes for Miss Yun and the Princess. The Princess gave me two pieces, and I couldn’t politely refuse.”

Hearing this, Lin Shi examined the clothes in Sangshen’s hands: “Oh my, what the Yun family prepared must be better than what our Ren family has. Qi’er, why don’t you show us? But since you have better ones, you probably don’t need these two sets, right?”

The more Lin Shi looked, the more vulgar she found the grass-green jacket and skirt in her hands. She wanted to get her daughter a different outfit. Ren Yaoqi had been given one ginger-yellow set and one lake-green set, which she wanted to try on Ren Yaoyu.

Ren Yaoqi was already accustomed to Lin Shi’s constant desire to take advantage and smiled good-naturedly: “I heard the clothes were all personally selected fabrics and styles by Grandmother, Eldest Aunt, and Elder Sister. I naturally need the elders’ thoughtful intentions very much. However, if Eighth Sister doesn’t have enough clothes, I wouldn’t mind lending out one or two pieces – we’re all family after all.”

Hearing this, Lin Shi showed a smile of “you know what’s good for you” and was about to pull Ren Yaoyu over when Ren Yaohua frowned and scolded Ren Yaoqi: “What nonsense are you talking about! Our Ren family isn’t some poor, declining household. Where would the Ren family daughters lack a few outfits to wear? Eighth Sister is Fifth Aunt’s precious treasure, much more valuable than you! If she wore your clothes, wouldn’t people scold her for being shabby and our Ren family for being petty?”

Lin Shi stopped in her tracks, glaring at Ren Yaohua with such anger that her face became distorted.

Ren Yaoqi sighed and nodded, accepting the correction readily: “I misspoke.” She fell silent after this.

At this moment, someone came in from outside reporting that the Yun family had sent someone requesting an audience.

Everyone was somewhat surprised and couldn’t help but look toward Ren Yaoyin. Recently, among the Ren family, only Ren Yaoyin had frequent contact with the Yun family’s eldest daughter, but Ren Yaoyin also appeared ignorant of the situation.

When the person entered, it was indeed Nanzhu, the senior maid from Yun Qiuchen’s side.

“Did your young lady send you to find me?” Ren Yaoyin asked with a gentle expression.

Nanzhu nodded and smiled: “Tomorrow is the Thousand Gold Banquet, and these past few days our eldest miss has been busy helping Madam without time to entertain Miss Ren. Today, Miss remembered there are some matters about tomorrow’s banquet she wanted to discuss with you, so she requests you visit for a chat.”

Ren Eldest Madam was very pleased to see her daughter on such good terms with Yun Qiuchen.

Ren Yaoyin had previously mentioned that this was her first time attending the Thousand Gold Banquet and hoped Yun Qiuchen could advise her on the etiquette when she had time. However, Yun Qiuchen had been busy for several days, but unexpectedly came calling today.

Though she was also happy about Yun Qiuchen’s closeness, her expression remained gracious and gentle, neither servile nor arrogant: “Since she’s calling me over at this time, it must be something important. I’m currently selecting clothes and jewelry for tomorrow. Miss Nanzhu, please wait a moment.”

Lin Shi, never one to read situations properly, interjected again: “Miss Yun only invited our Yin’er? Our Yu’er also greatly admires Miss Yun.”

Nanzhu was an experienced maid who, upon hearing this, didn’t hesitate and immediately smiled: “This servant thought Miss Ren was still at the Lin family and went there first, only to find no one. My young lady also thought that since all the Ren family young ladies are attending the Thousand Gold Banquet for the first time, having invited Miss Ren, how could she show favoritism? If the young ladies don’t mind, why don’t you all come together?”

Fifth Madam hadn’t expected that her casual comment would result in a real invitation from the Yun family, and she was overjoyed.

“Oh my, that would be wonderful! I was just planning to bring Yu’er to pay a visit. I was thinking that with Miss Yun’s fairy-like appearance and character, my foolish daughter could also absorb some of that celestial aura.”

Previously, when Ren Yaoyin visited the Yun family, Yun Qiuchen had also suggested that Ren Yaoqi join them. For some unknown reason, Ren Yaoyin wasn’t enthusiastic about her sister becoming familiar with Yun Qiuchen, and Ren Yaoqi, due to the situation with Yun Wenfang, simply didn’t want to go to the Yun family. Unexpectedly, today’s coincidence had the Yun family’s invitation arriving just when Fifth Madam was present.

Ren Yaoqi felt almost helpless.

However, most people present wanted to go to the Yun family. After all, tomorrow’s Thousand Gold Banquet was hosted by the Yun family, so whatever etiquette Yun Eldest Miss wanted to tell Ren Yaoyin would naturally benefit tomorrow’s event.

Thus, Ren Eldest Madam made the final decision, and the Ren family’s young ladies took three carriages to the Yun family.

The five Ren family young ladies had originally planned to first pay respects to Old Madam Yun, but unfortunately, today happened to be when the Yun family’s married daughter, Eldest Madam Su, had returned to her natal home. Old Madam Yun and her daughter were having a rare private conversation behind closed doors, with guards posted outside to prevent interruptions.

So Yun Qiuchen led everyone to her courtyard instead.