Ren Yaoqi smiled and interrupted: “Besides the difficulty of finding painting restoration materials in Baijin Town, are there any other reasons?”

Sun Eleventh Lady hesitated for a while and glanced at Ren Shimin. Seeing that Ren Shimin didn’t speak, she said: “There aren’t any. But those materials…”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “Master Sun is a painting restoration master my father hired at great expense. You should just focus on the restoration work. How can we let you worry about such trivial matters? Why don’t you make a list of what you need, and I’ll have people go find them.”

Sun Eleventh Lady frowned, somewhat disapproving: “Thank you for Fifth Young Lady’s kind intention, but it’s not that this humble woman is unwilling to accept help. It’s just that the pigment materials I need may differ from some of the general materials sold outside. Even if I make a list, people who don’t understand these things wouldn’t even recognize them, let alone know where to find them.”

Sun Eleventh Lady’s words were rather impolite, but Ren Yaoqi showed no sign of anger. She smiled and walked to the two writing desks placed side by side, bending slightly to examine one of the paintings.

When people said Jiang Yuanyi’s painting style was magnificent, it wasn’t just referring to his painting techniques. He was also extremely particular and picky about the materials used for painting, with some pigments being very difficult to obtain. It was precisely because of his almost pathological fastidiousness that he appealed to the imperial family and noble houses. Even if outsiders wanted to forge his paintings, they would have difficulties.

Ren Yaoqi gently pointed with her right index finger at the gorgeous clothes of the palace-dressed woman whose features could barely be made out in the painting, her finger not touching the painting: “The red color on this woman’s silk skirt is still so bright – it’s made from a mixture of cinnabar, bloodstone, germanium stone, animal blood, and castor oil.”

Sun Eleventh Lady was stunned, staring at Ren Yaoqi and forgetting her next words.

Ren Yaoqi continued examining the pair of silk flowers on the woman’s head in the painting: “Purple is uncommon. The purple that ordinary people use for painting is just purple grass juice, which makes the color pale and prone to fading. But the purple used on this pair of silk flowers is from a rare mineral called ‘purple stone’ by the locals of Northern Yue. Very few people would use it for painting, but Master Jiang liked to use this pigment. This blue pigment is somewhat complex, not that the materials are rare, it’s just using navy blue. Navy blue pigment looks rather rough, so the process to achieve this smooth blue color is somewhat complex. I remember it’s recorded in the ‘Comprehensive Records of Miscellaneous Knowledge’ – mix navy blue into thick glue and let it dry, then mix it into thin glue, apply it and let it dry again, then apply a layer of clear water. After it’s completely dry, polish it with an agate stone. The blue color produced this way will be very smooth and rich, without any rough texture.”

Sun Eleventh Lady stood there dumbfounded, completely unable to react.

Ren Shimin laughed heartily, stood up, and patted Ren Yaoqi’s forehead: “Alright, stop showing off here. I know you’re knowledgeable!” Though he said this, his expression was very proudly pleased – this was his youngest daughter, whom he had personally taught!

Sun Eleventh Lady also came back to her senses and quickly said: “Fifth Young Lady is truly learned and knowledgeable. This humble woman admires you.”

What Ren Yaoqi had said wasn’t something that could be known by someone who merely knew how to paint. Even she had only figured out roughly what materials were used in the painting after deliberating with Third Master Ren for several days. She hadn’t expected this Fifth Miss Ren to have such insight – just from looking a few times, she could guess several of the main pigments and even know the mixing methods. This couldn’t help but startle her and made her put away some of her previous contempt.

Ren Yaoqi had greatly enhanced Ren Shimin’s reputation, and he was extremely pleased. With a wave of his hand, he made the decision: “Then the matter of materials is entrusted to Yaoqi! Master Sun, just make a list of whatever you need and give it to her.” Then he said to Ren Yaoqi, “Father will have someone send you the silver later. Get everything ready within five days!”

Sun Eleventh Lady said, “Some materials are not easy to find. This humble woman should still…”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “If we can’t find them in one place, I’ll have people search several places. I also know several friends in Yunyang City. If worst comes to worst, I’ll ask them for help. Master Sun can rest assured.”

Ren Shimin also disagreed with Sun Eleventh Lady’s words: “No matter how rare, they’re just some minerals and medicinal materials.” Some pigments were made from minerals, while some pigments were medicinal materials themselves.

In Master Ren’s eyes, trivial matters like finding things had never been a big deal. Once he gave the word, naturally, someone would bring them to him. He only needed to provide the silver, so he truly didn’t think it was difficult. The reason he had previously considered agreeing to Sun Eleventh Lady’s suggestion to go to Yunyang City was merely because he feared that laypeople might find the wrong things and ultimately delay his painting restoration.

Now, having his daughter do the searching, he had no worries. His daughter was so capable because he had taught her well.

Since Third Master Ren had spoken, Sun Eleventh Lady couldn’t say anything more. She also couldn’t use the excuse that Fifth Young Lady was still young, as Fifth Young Lady’s performance just now had been greatly impressive while also easily inspiring trust in her capabilities.

She couldn’t help but glance toward where Concubine Fang was standing.

Concubine Fang had been serving tea and water to Third Master Ren here and hadn’t spoken throughout. At this moment, she stood there with her head slightly lowered, not knowing what she was thinking, though one could still see the gentle, shallow smile hanging at the corners of her mouth.

Ren Yaoqi smiled and clapped her hands: “Then it’s settled. When Father finishes restoring these two paintings, you must credit your daughter with merit!”

Third Master Ren laughed: “You want to claim credit before the work is even done? There will be rewards if you succeed, but what if you fail? Will you accept punishment?”

Ren Yaoqi made a face: “If I fail, Father will cover for me, so I’m not afraid!”

Ren Shimin was both amused and exasperated: “You’re nothing but a shameless rascal!”

Sun Eleventh Lady and Concubine Fang both watched this father-daughter pair’s intimate interaction, oblivious to others around them.

Finally, when Ren Yaoqi was leaving, she asked Sun Eleventh Lady: “Where is Master Sun currently staying?”

Although Sun Eleventh Lady had returned to Yunyang City yesterday, she couldn’t possibly go back every day, so the Ren family must have arranged lodging for her.

Sun Eleventh Lady lowered her head: “Concubine Fang has arranged for this humble woman to temporarily stay in Fangzhi Courtyard.”

Ren Yaoqi thought about it: “Although Fangzhi Courtyard lacks nothing, the space is quite small. The west wing’s three rooms house Ninth Sister, two rooms in the east wing have been converted for painting restoration, my Sixth Brother occupies one room, and the main house can’t be used for receiving guests. When Master Sun came, you could only squeeze in with the maids and women servants in the south rooms, which is quite unfair to you.”

Just as Sun Eleventh Lady was about to say it wasn’t unfair, Ren Yaoqi continued: “Moreover, it’s not very convenient for my father to come and go here.” Sun Eleventh Lady swallowed the words that had reached her lips.

Ren Yaoqi continued: “How about this – I’ll have someone arrange a guest courtyard for you and assign two maids to serve you.”

“Concubine has arranged for people to take care of this humble woman’s daily needs. There’s no need to trouble anyone.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled as she glanced at Concubine Fang: “My concubine mother is probably afraid that arranging more people would trouble my mother too much, so she assigned her maids to serve you. My concubine mother is always kind-hearted and helpful. The last time I was ill and my mother wasn’t by my side, she took care of me day and night. I’ve kept this matter in my heart. So I can’t let Master Sun use her maids and leave her short-staffed.”

Concubine Fang quickly smiled: “Fifth Young Lady, you’re too kind. That was what this concubine should do – it’s not worth your remembering.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled at her, then turned to Sun Eleventh Lady: “Then let’s leave it at that. I’ll have someone come pack your things and take you to the guest courtyard later. Father, what do you think?”

Ren Shimin never concerned himself with such matters, so when asked, he naturally nodded: “That would be excellent. We’re just troubling Master Sun to walk a bit farther.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi added: “That’s easily solved. How about we move the painting restoration location to Linxian Pavilion in the outer courtyard? Father, your restoration work here has occupied Sixth Brother’s study room. Now he has to go to the outer study room to read, which isn’t good. We should give Sixth Brother back his study room. Linxian Pavilion is spacious with a quiet environment. Father used to like meeting guests and friends there, and it has everything needed. It would be perfect as a painting restoration venue.”

Sun Eleventh Lady moved her lips, but seeing that Concubine Fang didn’t speak, she also said nothing. There was no longer any room for her to interject.

Ren Shimin was, in some ways, the most agreeable person. He nodded without objection: “Then let’s move everything to Linxian Pavilion.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “Your daughter will arrange it right away.”

Whatever Concubine Fang’s expression was at this moment, outsiders couldn’t tell from the surface, but her hands still trembled uncontrollably before she hid her fingers in her wide sleeves.

Ren Yaoqi acted quickly. After leaving Fangzhi Courtyard, she informed Nanny Zhou to arrange a guest courtyard in the outer courtyard for Sun Eleventh Lady and assign two trustworthy maids to serve her personally. She also secretly instructed the two maids to keep a close watch on her, keeping Sun Eleventh Lady under tight surveillance. Whether she was an accomplice brought by Concubine Fang or an innocent bystander, keeping a close eye on her was never wrong.

Since Ren Yaoqi’s return from Yunyang City, Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren’s attitudes toward her had become increasingly amiable and affectionate. The maids and women servants of the Ren family also became much more respectful toward the third household’s people. After all, even if Li Shi couldn’t produce sons, both daughters were not to be trifled with. Therefore, when Nanny Zhou went to the outer courtyard to arrange personnel, everything went smoothly.

Then Ren Yaoqi had people clean up Linxian Pavilion and move all of Ren Shimin’s painting restoration materials from Fangzhi Courtyard.

As an inner courtyard woman, it would be much more troublesome for Concubine Fang to meet with Sun Eleventh Lady, who now lived in the outer courtyard guest rooms. If she wanted to use the painting restoration matter to create any schemes, it wouldn’t be easy anymore.

Although Ren Yaoqi hadn’t yet figured out Concubine Fang’s true intentions, this strategy of removing the firewood from under the cauldron had proven repeatedly effective.

If Concubine Fang were to make another move, not being on her territory would greatly increase her chances of revealing flaws.

Ren Yaoqi was hoping she would make a move!