Since coming to Yunyang City this time, Ren Yaoyin had frequently visited the Yun family under the pretext of discussing poetry and literature with Yun Qiuchen. With her talents and her subtle, deliberate flattery of Yun Qiuchen, their friendship had progressed by leaps and bounds.

The Yun family spared no effort in cultivating Yun Qiuchen, and she regularly helped with entertaining guests, so when five Ren family young ladies came to visit today, she didn’t appear flustered.

Yun Qiuchen led everyone to sit in the reception hall, where they exchanged greetings and courtesies.

“I should have invited you earlier, but unfortunately, I’ve been helping Mother with tomorrow’s Thousand Gold Banquet preparations and haven’t had time,” Yun Qiuchen said apologetically to Ren Yaoyin.

Ren Yaoyin quickly replied, “I should have realized you’d be busy recently. Speaking of it, it’s my fault. I hope I haven’t delayed your important matters today?”

Yun Qiuchen shook her head: “There’s nothing left for today. Mother and my two aunts will arrange the rest.” She then turned to look at Ren Yaoqi, saying warmly, “Sister Yaoqi, it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen each other? I’ve been asking Yaoyin to invite you to visit together, but she said you go to the Yanbei Prince’s Manor daily to accompany the Princess in Qin practice. How is the Princess’s qin practice progressing?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “The Princess has been very diligent recently, and her music teacher says she’s made great progress.”

Hearing this, Yun Qiuchen smiled: “That’s good.”

Worried that the other Ren family young ladies might feel neglected, Yun Qiuchen asked after Ren Yaohua and the others one by one. Ren Yaoqi noticed that Yun Qiuchen had some understanding of each Ren family sister’s preferences, deliberately or inadvertently choosing topics they liked when speaking with them. She wondered whether this information came from Ren Yaoyin or whether she had researched them before their visit.

From this point, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but admire Yun Qiuchen’s thoughtfulness and the Yun family’s education of her. The previous rumors about the Yun family cultivating Yun Qiuchen as the next Yanbei Princess Consort weren’t groundless.

Next, Yun Qiuchen discussed the Thousand Gold Banquet with them. Since all the Ren family young ladies were attending for the first time, they listened very attentively.

Though the Thousand Gold Banquet was organized by the Yun family, the venue was provided by the Yanbei Prince’s Manor. This was because the attendees were renowned young ladies from all of Yanbei, and the banquet would last three days – only the Yanbei Prince’s Manor had such spacious facilities.

This year, the Yanbei Prince’s Manor had arranged for the event to be held at the Sun Moon Springs hot spring villa – the same place where Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had encountered Lei Pan’er previously.

Ren Yaoying was quite talkative today. Hearing Yun Qiuchen mention the Sun Moon Springs, she said: “Last time, I went there with Third Sister and Fifth Sister too. Unfortunately, we didn’t see the Yanbei Prince’s Manor’s hot spring villa or the Sun Moon Springs.”

Yun Qiuchen explained gently: “The Yanbei Prince’s Manor’s hot spring villa normally doesn’t receive outsiders. The Sun Moon Springs are enclosed within the villa, named for one large and one small hot spring. When we go tomorrow, I can take you to see the Sun Radiance Spring.”

Ren Yaoyin asked with interest: “The Sun Radiance Spring is the ‘Sun’ spring, right? What about the ‘Moon’ spring?”

“The large one is called Sun Radiance Spring, and the small one is called Moon Flower Spring. However, I haven’t seen Moon Flower Spring either – it’s probably used for bathing by the Prince and Princess Consort.”

While everyone was chatting happily, Yun Qiuchen’s senior maid Nanzhu approached and whispered a few words in her ear.

Yun Qiuchen’s expression remained unchanged. After Nanzhu finished speaking, she smiled at everyone: “I’ve just invited my second and third sisters to join us. With so many of us sitting idly in this courtyard, it’s rather boring. Why don’t we move to the water pavilion?”

With Yun Qiuchen’s suggestion, naturally, no one objected. They rose to follow her to the water pavilion, and halfway there, they encountered the Yun family’s Second Miss Yun Qiuping and Third Miss Yun Qiufang.

Yun Qiuchen introduced the Ren family young ladies to the two Yun sisters, addressing them all as cousins, and they chatted as they walked to the water pavilion.

The Yun family residence was generally dignified and grand. Even the garden, which wealthy families typically used to display their status, was proper and restrained, showing formality without flashiness. However, a water pavilion by the half-moon-shaped pond in the garden was built with exquisite delicacy and great elegance. In summer, all four sides of the pavilion’s windows were wide open, making it like a waterside gazebo. Being inside the pavilion, one felt refreshing breezes and cool comfort.

“Second Sister and Third Sister, please help me entertain our cousin sisters while I check on the tea and refreshments,” Yun Qiuchen said with a smile after everyone was seated.

Yun Qiufang glanced at Yun Qiuchen and forced a smile: “Elder Sister speaks as if we’re strangers. Third Sister and I are hosts, and the Ren family cousin sisters are guests. Even without your instructions, we would naturally entertain them well. Could it be that in Elder Sister’s heart, only you are a Yun family daughter?”

Though Yun Qiufang had been chatting and laughing along the way, it was just out of courtesy and politeness. If one looked carefully, her expression wasn’t pleasant at all. Now, seizing upon Yun Qiuchen’s words, she couldn’t help but make pointed remarks.

The Ren family sisters also heard something amiss in Yun Qiufang’s words, but everyone pretended not to notice.

Yun Qiuchen was extremely well-mannered. Despite Yun Qiufang’s barb, she showed no annoyance, only smiled and nodded to everyone before leaving with her two senior maids.

Only after leaving the water pavilion did Yun Qiuchen stop, frowning slightly as she asked her senior maid Nanzhu: “Has Mother returned?”

Nanzhu lowered her head: “Yes, Miss. As soon as the married aunt arrived, you had me send someone to fetch Eldest Madam back. Eldest Madam has just entered the manor and gone to Old Madam’s courtyard.”

Yun Qiuchen nodded, lowering her eyes slightly to gaze at the pond before her. The two senior maids knew their young lady was contemplating matters in this posture and didn’t disturb her, standing quietly behind her.

After a while, Yun Qiuchen asked: “Did the person sent to gather information hear what Aunt and Grandmother discussed?”

“Last time, because the stewardess nanny in Old Madam’s courtyard took silver from Third Madam to copy one of the Yun family’s ancestral medicinal recipe books, Old Madam dismissed a group of people, and several senior maids were sent away. Only a second-class maid who went in to serve tea heard the married aunt mention horse ranches.”

“The Su family’s border horse ranch?” Yun Qiuchen was somewhat surprised.

“Yesterday, didn’t Madam mention that the Su family’s horse ranch suffered heavy losses due to the Tangut invasion? The married aunt probably returned to discuss this matter with Old Madam.”

Yun Qiuchen pondered slightly: “This is Su family business. Aunt wouldn’t make a special trip back to the Yun family just to complain about this, especially dismissing everyone. There must be other matters.”

“Should this servant send someone to inquire further?”

Yun Qiuchen shook her head: “Never mind. Since Mother has returned, let’s wait for news from Mother’s side.”

“Indeed, Madam never keeps things from Miss. If there’s anything important, she’ll certainly tell Miss.”

The other senior maid, Yinzhu, was younger and less steady than Nanzhu. She couldn’t help but say: “Our Yun family is the married aunt’s natal family. Surely she wouldn’t return to scheme against her own family?” Yinzhu sensed that both Eldest Madam and Miss were somewhat guarded against the aunt who had married into the Su family.

Seeing the maid’s question, Yun Qiuchen wasn’t angry, only said indifferently: “As women, at home we follow our fathers, when married we follow our husbands, when widowed we follow our sons. Though Aunt bears the Yun surname, after a hundred years, it will be Su family members offering incense at her memorial.”

Yinzhu thought about this and found it very reasonable, so she dared not say more.

Nanzhu couldn’t help but think that the current Yanbei Princess Consort was also a married aunt of the Yun family, yet she always prioritized the Yanbei Prince’s Manor’s interests. Even when Old Madam had repeatedly hinted to the Princess Consort that she hoped the eldest son would marry the Princess, the Princess Consort had deflected by saying the Princess’s marriage must be decided by the Prince.

“At home follow the father, when married follow the husband, when widowed follow the son” – this had always been the Yun family’s teaching for women, a family rule for the children.

“Miss, should we have Madam arrange a few more people in Old Madam’s courtyard?” Nanzhu asked.

Yun Qiuchen thought for a moment and shook her head: “Never mind. Grandmother is very sensitive about this now.”

Yinzhu pursed her lips: “Speaking of Third Madam and Third Miss, they truly are like mother, like daughter. If Third Madam hadn’t tried to steal the Yun family’s medicinal recipe book last time, the two sisters in Old Madam’s room wouldn’t have been implicated. She knows very well that the Yun family’s ancestral recipes are only passed to the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law and eldest daughter. Third Miss is the same – today she embarrassed you in front of guests, just because Old Madam only entrusted the Thousand Gold Banquet to the madams and you, Miss, without letting her and Second Miss participate. She should consider her capabilities…”

“Yinzhu.” Seeing Yinzhu becoming increasingly talkative, Nanzhu immediately stopped her. Only then did Yinzhu realize she had said too much, even gossiping about her masters. She nervously glanced at Yun Qiuchen. She was just defending her young lady. Third Miss Yun Qiufang had been making cold, sarcastic remarks to Yun Qiuchen lately, and while Miss Yun was too magnanimous to argue with her, the maids found it hard to swallow.

Yun Qiuchen glanced at Yinzhu and sighed softly, telling Nanzhu, “She’s young and impetuous. Teach her more in the future. Some things can be thought but not said, some things can be done but not spoken of, and often it’s best not to speak at all. ‘Trouble comes from the mouth’ and ‘much talk leads to mistakes’ – that’s the principle.”

Both Nanzhu and Yinzhu lowered their heads and acknowledged this.

At that moment, footsteps could be heard on the garden path – someone was approaching.

Yun Qiuchen frowned and looked back, seeing Second Young Master Yun Wenfang emerge quickly from behind a clump of shrubs. She relaxed her brow and smiled: “Second Brother? Why are you here?”

Seeing Yun Qiuchen here with only two maids, Yun Wenfang was also startled. He glanced toward the water pavilion and raised an eyebrow: “What? I can’t come if you can. This morning I heard sparrows calling – there should be visitors coming?”

Yinzhu giggled: “Second Young Master, it’s ‘magpies call, guests arrive,’ isn’t it?”

Yun Qiuchen understood Yun Wenfang’s thoughts. Seeing his somewhat distracted state, she sighed: “Second Brother, Third Sister, and I are entertaining several Ren family cousin sisters.”

After a pause, Yun Qiuchen added gently: “They are guests, and all young ladies. When you see them later, please be mindful of your words and actions.”

Yun Qiuchen had heard about Yun Wenfang stopping Miss Ren at the Yanbei Prince’s Manor last time and had originally planned to apologize to Fifth Miss Ren on her second brother’s behalf today. She hadn’t expected Yun Wenfang to come himself. Since he probably couldn’t be driven away, she could only resolve to keep a close eye on this usually willful second brother to prevent him from causing trouble.

Yun Wenfang curled his lips: “Do I look so hideous that you fear I’ll frighten the guests?”

Yun Qiuchen knew this second brother’s temperament – he wasn’t easy to get along with. But since they were born of the same mother, she truly had his best interests at heart and could only gently persuade: “Second Brother, you know that’s not what I mean. I understand your feelings, but if you act as rashly as you did at the Yanbei Prince’s Manor last time, I fear that not only will you fail to achieve your desires, but you’ll push her further away.”

Yun Wenfang snorted coldly, his expression turning somewhat cool.

Yun Qiuchen wasn’t afraid of him and continued persuading: “Take your gift of the painting last time – if she had accepted your painting, wouldn’t that be improper private contact between unmarried men and women? From the few times I’ve interacted with her, Fifth Miss Ren is a dignified and proper young lady. How could she possibly accept your gift and ruin her reputation?”

Yun Wenfang became irritated: “This won’t work, that won’t work – then tell me what I should do?”

Yun Qiuchen wanted to say that marriages were always arranged by parents and weren’t for the parties themselves to decide, but knowing this second brother would have no patience for such talk, she could only say tactfully: “Fifth Miss Ren can’t make decisions for herself either. Rather than hitting walls with her, you’d be better off working on Mother and Grandmother.”

Yun Wenfang frowned: “Didn’t Grandmother already agree that I could choose my wife?”

Hearing this, Yun Qiuchen felt somewhat helpless. This second brother was clever enough, but truly clueless about inner courtyard matters. How could the Second Young Master Yun’s marriage be so simple? When Grandmother said he could decide for himself, she was just humoring him. He could choose concubines as he pleased, but a legitimate wife was impossible.

However, Yun Qiuchen dared not tell him this now, lest he cause a scene in the manor.

Yun Wenfang finally listened to some of his sister’s words. Thinking of Ren Yaoqi’s attitude of avoiding him like the plague, beyond his anger and resentment, he wondered if his actions were truly inappropriate as they claimed.

Second Young Master Yun didn’t know that someone was indeed scheming about his marriage at this very moment.

After Eldest Madam Yun hurried back from outside, she went directly to Old Madam’s courtyard. Having someone announce her, Old Madam Yun allowed her into the main room.

When Eldest Madam Yun entered, she heard Eldest Madam Su saying: “Fangfei is your granddaughter, raised by you and sister-in-law. Her character needs no elaboration from me. As for Wenfang, this child…”

Seeing Eldest Madam Yun enter, Eldest Madam Su stopped mid-sentence, rose from the heated brick bed, and called out warmly: “Sister-in-law.”

Having heard only this much, Eldest Madam Yun didn’t know what Eldest Madam Su was plotting. She smiled and returned the greeting, then paid respects to Old Madam Yun.

Both Old Madam Yun and Eldest Madam Su were sitting on the heated brick bed in the west room. Eldest Madam Yun sat on a chair brought by a maid.

“You’ve come at just the right time, eldest daughter-in-law. I was about to send someone to fetch you,” Old Madam Yun said, maintaining a perfectly straight posture even while sitting on her bed with her daughter.

Eldest Madam Yun lowered her head: “What instructions does Mother have?”

Old Madam Yun glanced at Eldest Madam Su and said slowly: “Shuhe wants to discuss Fang’er’s marriage with you.”

Eldest Madam Yun’s heart jumped, recalling the words she’d heard upon entering. Could it be that the Su family wanted to marry Su Fangfei to her son? Though Eldest Madam Su was born a Yun, due to the grudge between the Yanbei Prince’s Manor’s Old Princess Consort and Old Madam Yun, the Su and Yun families had never been aligned.

What did the Su family mean by this?

Eldest Madam Yun raised her eyes slightly, glancing at Old Madam to gauge her attitude toward this matter. But Old Madam Yun’s face revealed no emotion whatsoever – it was impossible to tell whether she supported or opposed this marriage.

Eldest Madam Yun could only smile: “With Mother and Father present, Fang’er’s marriage is naturally for the elders to decide.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Yun said: “What do you think of Fangfei?”

Su family’s eldest daughter, Su Fangfei, was Eldest Madam Su’s legitimate eldest daughter and also Old Madam Yun’s granddaughter. Eldest Madam Yun naturally couldn’t speak ill of Su Fangfei: “Fangfei is beautiful and kind-hearted – excellent in every way.”

Hearing this, Eldest Madam Su smiled and looked at Old Madam Yun.

Eldest Madam Yun also looked at Old Madam Yun. Though Old Madam had asked her opinion, she knew her son’s marriage wasn’t hers alone to decide – ultimately it depended on Old Master and Old Madam Yun’s wishes. Though she didn’t hope to take a Su family daughter as daughter-in-law.

Old Madam Yun seemed oblivious to her daughter and daughter-in-law waiting for her opinion. She leisurely picked up her teacup, took a sip, then said to Eldest Madam Yun: “The tea has grown cold. Have someone come change it.”

Eldest Madam Yun complied.

After the tea was changed, Old Madam Yun accepted the teacup handed to her personally by Eldest Madam Yun, skimmed the tea foam, and said indifferently: “Since you’ve come back for a rare visit, stay for lunch.”