After thinking it over, Xiao Jinglin nodded: “That would be good.”
Ren Yaoqi was, after all, a member of the Ren family. If Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua sisters, were to expose Ren Yaoyin themselves, it would inevitably offend the people from the main branch where Ren Yaoyin belonged. Moreover, Ren Yaoyin’s birth mother was the current lady in charge of the Ren family, so Ren Yaoqi might face secret retaliation within the Ren family in the future.
If Yanbei Prince’s mansion stepped forward, it would be different. After all, it was she, Xiao Jinglin, the princess, whom Ren Yaoyin had schemed against. This way, Old Madam Ren and the people from the Ren family’s main branch would not only refrain from blaming Ren Yaoqi but would be grateful to her. Because if not for Ren Yaoqi’s friendship with her, Yanbei Prince’s mansion would not have let Ren Yaoyin and the Ren family off so easily.
For Ren Yaoqi’s sake, Xiao Jinglin didn’t mind playing the role of a princess who abused her power once.
Thinking this way, Xiao Jinglin truly had to admire her brother.
Ren Yaoqi was extremely intelligent and perceptive, so she naturally understood Xiao Jingxi’s intentions in this move. She couldn’t help but be touched by his thoughtful consideration.
Xiao Jinglin had Hongying take Ren Yaoyin out. Xiao Jingxi had thought very thoroughly—a sedan chair was already waiting in front of Lanyue Pavilion, avoiding having Ren Yaoyin’s unsightly appearance appear in public and cause gossip.
Ren Yaohua said, “I’ll go back first. I still need to explain things to Great Aunt.” Last time, she had secretly sent away Ren Yaoying’s maid without greeting the eldest lady, but that was just a maid after all. Ren Yaoyin, however, was the eldest lady’s daughter.
Xiao Jinglin said, “That nanny just now must have already gone to speak with Madam Ren.” Without asking, Xiao Jinglin knew that since Xiao Jingxi had already intervened, he would certainly be thorough and would find a way to completely clear the Ren Yaoqi sisters.
No matter how proud Ren Yaohua’s nature was, she couldn’t help but say gratefully, “This time we owe much to the princess consort and the princess.”
Xiao Jinglin was startled, then realized that Ren Yaohua must think that the nanny just now was the princess consort’s person, thinking it was she and the princess consort helping Ren Yaoqi.
However, Xiao Jinglin didn’t correct this. When Nanny Duan had entered earlier, she had addressed Xiao Jingxi as “master” rather than “Second Young Master,” which had its purpose too.
Ren Yaohua still didn’t stay long at Lanyue Pavilion. After saying a few words to Ren Yaoqi and sincerely apologizing to the princess once more, she left. The eldest lady would certainly want to ask her to clarify the situation.
Ren Yaohua said to Ren Yaoqi: “You don’t need to go—just stay here. I’ll tell Great Aunt that the princess and princess consort were greatly angered, and you need to stay behind to clean up after Ren Yaoyin.” When it came to disciplining Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yaohua could be ruthless, but when it came to protecting her, she truly protected her.
Today, Ren Yaoqi had been protected by everyone as if she were a weak, wronged child. She felt strange psychologically, yet warmth spread through her from the inside out. This warmth made her eyes almost heat up, and it made her feel that being weak once in a while didn’t seem so bad.
After Ren Yaohua left, Xiao Jinglin asked Ren Yaoqi, “Has your sister ever learned martial arts?”
Thinking, Xiao Jinglin felt Ren Yaohua had been too harsh when hitting Ren Yaoyin, Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “No. She was just too angry today.”
Xiao Jinglin rested her chin on her hand with a regretful expression.
“What’s wrong?” Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat puzzled.
Xiao Jinglin slowly blinked: “I’ve always wanted to establish a female cavalry unit. Today, seeing your Third Sister, she has some bearing. It’s just a pity she hasn’t practiced martial arts—at her age, it would be too late to start learning now.”
Ren Yaoqi: “…”
As Xiao Jinglin had expected, the eldest lady of the Ren family had already been informed by someone that Xiao Jingxi had sent Ren Yaoyin had been sent back to the Yunyang City villa for framing the princess. When the eldest lady first heard this, she nearly fainted from shock.
To be sent away in the middle of the thousand gold banquet—this was losing face in front of all the prominent families of Yanbei. Ren Yaoyin’s life was ruined. Moreover, having offended Yanbei Prince’s mansion, not just Ren Yaoyin, but their entire Ren family would suffer.
When the eldest lady came to her senses and wanted to ask for details, the nanny had already left. The eldest lady was extremely anxious, sending people to chase back to the Yunyang City villa on one hand, while thinking that Ren Yaoqi was staying in Yanbei Prince’s courtyard, she sent people to call Ren Yaoqi back, wanting Ren Yaoqi to take her to the princess consort and princess to plead for Ren Yaoyin.
But Ren Yaoqi couldn’t be brought back. Ren Yaohua came back instead.
When Ren Yaohua came to find the eldest lady, her expression was even worse than hers. She recounted how Ren Yaoyin, infatuated with Yun Wenting, had used Ren Yaoqi to frame Xiao Jinglin and Wu Yiyu, and was finally discovered by the princess and the princess consort’s people. The eldest lady had already heard this once before, when she was somewhat confused and incredulous, but now she heard it crystal clear.
She remembered that although Ren Yaoyin was usually well-behaved, she had shown some resistance to marrying into the Qiu family. She recalled seeing poetry collections and calligraphy works by the Yun family’s eldest son in Ren Yaoyin’s study. At the time, Ren Yaoyin had deflected by saying they belonged to her third brother, and she hadn’t investigated further. But now thinking about it, Yijun’s things were never lent out—how could those items be in his sister’s study?
The eldest lady felt dizzy and fainted this time.
Ren Yaohua quickly had the eldest lady’s nanny help revive her. The eldest lady sat up with a start, then grabbed Ren Yaohua’s hand with reddened eyes: “Hua’er, where is Qi’er? She’s on good terms with the princess—have her plead for Yin’er. Yin’er can’t be ruined like this! This time it was Yin’er’s fault, and Great Aunt will compensate her well in the future, but you are blood relatives after all—glory and loss are shared!” At this moment, the eldest lady had none of the bearing of a lady in charge.
Ren Yaohua showed displeasure: “Great Aunt should say this to Fourth Sister! When she used her sisters as stepping stones, she didn’t consider blood relations!”
The eldest lady wanted to speak, but Ren Yaohua interrupted: “Given my temperament, I would want those who harm me to suffer. However, Ren Yaoqi is like my mother—always soft-hearted. She’s already asked the princess consort and princess for mercy.”
Seeing hope, the eldest lady’s eyes brightened: “What did the princess consort and princess say?”
Ren Yaohua pursed her lips: “The princess consort originally wanted to teach Fourth Sister a lesson, but Ren Yaoqi persuaded the princess, who helped plead with the princess consort. In the end, the princess consort agreed not to pursue Fourth Sister’s scheme against the princess, only having a nanny from her side escort Fourth Sister back to the mansion, saying Grandmother should discipline her well. Tomorrow, Great Aunt should tell others that Fourth Sister fell ill and returned to Yunyang City early.”
The eldest lady had been terrified before, almost thinking her daughter’s life was ruined. Hearing this outcome, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, even feeling somewhat fortunate.
She said sincerely, “Thank you and Qi’er for this. After returning, Great Aunt will have Yin’er apologize to Qi’er.”
Ren Yaohua was still somewhat displeased: “Ren Yaoyin should thank me. If I hadn’t struck her first and taught her a lesson, the princess and princess consort might not have calmed down so easily. Just don’t feel sorry for her and blame me for being heavy-handed when Great Aunt sees her.”
Hearing that Ren Yaoyin had been beaten by Ren Yaohua, how could the eldest lady not feel heartache? But the current outcome was already good, and after returning to the Ren family, she would still need Ren Yaoqi’s help in pleading for Ren Yaoyin with the old madam. So she could only say: “You’re Yin’er’s sister. If she did wrong and you disciplined her, that’s appropriate.”
Ren Yaohua’s lips curved almost imperceptibly, but her face showed: “Great Aunt, if you’re unwell, rest a bit. I’ll go out first.” After speaking, she bowed and withdrew.
Only then did the eldest lady slowly sink back into her chair.
The eldest lady didn’t doubt that Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi had falsely accused Ren Yaoyin of deceiving her. After all, people from the princess consort and the princess had stepped forward. In Yanbei, the Yanbei Prince’s mansion represented absolute authority. The eldest lady wouldn’t doubt that people from Yanbei Prince’s mansion could be wrong, and given the princess consort and princess’s status, they wouldn’t stoop to framing or wronging Ren Yaoyin.
What that nanny had said earlier was almost identical to what Ren Yaohua said, so the eldest lady believed it. Even if she didn’t believe it, it wouldn’t change anything, because Old Madam Ren would believe Yanbei Prince’s account.
When Ren Yaoyin was supported by Hongying and knelt before Old Madam Ren, the old madam didn’t react for a long moment. After coming to her senses and hearing what the nanny from the prince’s mansion said, she was shocked and furious.
“Nanny Gui, bring the family discipline rod!” Old Madam Ren didn’t even wait for Ren Yaoyin to speak in her defense before instructing Nanny Gui to fetch the punishment rod to discipline Ren Yaoyin. As for the ghastly injuries on Ren Yaoyin’s face, Old Madam Ren ignored them completely, thinking they were inflicted by people from the prince’s mansion.
Nanny Duan said unhurriedly: “Old Madam, using family discipline is your Ren family’s business, but could you wait until this servant finishes conveying our masters’ words before taking action?”
Old Madam Ren’s eagerness to punish Ren Yaoyin was to show her stance before the prince’s mansion people, so she immediately said: “This old woman was too hasty, making a spectacle for the nanny to see. Please, nanny, speak.”
Nanny Duan glanced down at Ren Yaoyin and said flatly: “Our princess, in consideration of Fifth Miss Ren’s plea, has agreed not to pursue your Fourth Miss’s actions and not to publicize this matter to damage the Fourth Miss’s reputation. However, our prince’s mansion doesn’t wish to see similar incidents occur again.”
Old Madam Ren smiled apologetically: “Please ask the nanny to convey to the princess consort and princess that the Ren family won’t let such things happen again. If she dares to cause trouble again,” Old Madam Ren glanced at Ren Yaoyin—”the Ren family won’t tolerate her first.”
Although Old Madam Ren’s last sentence sounded mild, it carried bone-chilling coldness that made even Ren Yaoyin’s heart tremble.
Nanny Duan nodded: “This servant has delivered the person and conveyed the message. I’ll take my leave now.”
Old Madam Ren immediately stood up to personally see her off, while signaling Nanny Gui to prepare monetary gifts for Nanny Duan and Hongying.
Nanny Gui quickly went into the inner room, took two pouches containing fine monetary gifts, then thought better of it and poured out the silver ingots. She opened the old madam’s bedside cabinet drawer and took out a mutton-fat jade toad ornament and an emerald thumb ring, placing them respectively in the two pouches before hurrying back out.