Although the marriage alliance between the Qiu and Ren families proceeded very discreetly, with only a few people in power in the Ren family knowing about it, Ren Yaoqi was constantly paying attention. Since she couldn’t inquire herself, she went to Ren Shimin, claiming she wanted to gather information for her mother, asking Third Master Ren to relay the news he had heard from Old Master Ren.

The Qiu family’s marriage concerned Ren Yaohua, and Ren Yaohua was Ren Shimin’s daughter. So, although Third Master Ren was still constantly preoccupied with his unfinished ancient painting restoration, he would attend every time the Qiu family sent people, and he also listened attentively during the twice-daily serious conversations among the men that Old Master Ren convened every morning and evening.

Third Master Ren had no choice but to pay attention. Ren Yaoqi questioned him daily, and if he couldn’t answer, she would cause all sorts of trouble, threatening to take an axe to the sandalwood box hidden in the secret compartment of his study. That sandalwood box was the only thing in Ren Shimin’s study that he didn’t allow Ren Yaoqi to touch. What Ren Shimin didn’t know was that in her previous life, Ren Yaoqi had already secretly opened the box and looked inside – it contained a scroll of extremely ornate spring palace paintings by Jiang Yuanyi that Third Master Ren had obtained in the capital when he was young and infatuated with figure paintings. This scroll held extraordinary significance for Third Master Ren.

Third Master Ren was extremely troubled. Even the young servants and maids attending him received special attention. Whenever Third Master Ren wanted to escape, they would carefully remind him: “Master, about Fifth Young Lady…”

Third Master Ren, who greatly feared trouble and his daughter’s tantrums, could only resign himself to his fate.

Old Master Qiu and Old Madam Ren were siblings from the same mother, so there was still some brotherly-sisterly affection. Therefore, Old Master Qiu didn’t oppose the marriage alliance with the Ren family. After receiving the Ren family’s letter, he even sent people to negotiate with the Ren family.

Compared to Old Master Qiu’s attitude, Old Madam Qiu and Eldest Madam Qiu weren’t so enthusiastic. Old Madam Qiu had her eye on the legitimate eldest daughter of the Guo family from Weizhou – Guo Yujiao, who had also been named champion at this debutante banquet. Old Madam Qiu’s natal family was also in Weizhou, and she was close friends with Old Madam Guo. Qiu Yun’s mother, Eldest Madam Qiu, wanted her son to marry her own natal family’s niece. It was said that this Qiu family cousin and Qiu Yun were childhood sweethearts.

However, in any case, it was still the men who were in charge of a family clan. Although Old Master Qiu had been somewhat timid before the previous Qiu clan leader when he was young, as he aged, his temper became increasingly fierce, especially regarding Qiu family affairs – he couldn’t stand anyone defying him.

Precisely because Old Madam Qiu and Eldest Madam Qiu looked down on his dear sister’s granddaughter, which made him feel angry and feel that his wife and daughter-in-law looked down on his background, he became even more determined about the marriage alliance with the Ren family.

On the Ren family’s side, they were deliberating over the candidate selection. No matter how much Old Master Ren favored the first household, Ren Yaoyin’s incident had indeed caused quite a stir. Moreover, with Old Madam Qiu and Eldest Madam Qiu worried about finding reasons to refuse the Ren family’s daughter, Old Master Ren could only settle on Ren Yaohua, which perfectly suited Old Madam Ren’s wishes. Although First Master Ren and First Madam Ren were somewhat worried about their daughter, they didn’t dare mention Ren Yaoyin at this time. Old Master Ren not making Ren Yaoyin become a nun, was already considering the first household’s reputation.

All this was what Ren Yaoqi deduced from the information Ren Shimin gathered. It must be said that Third Master Ren wasn’t entirely useless – at least when he put his mind to it, he could handle information gathering meticulously.

Compared to Ren Yaoqi’s concern, Ren Yaohua, the person involved, didn’t pay much attention to this matter. When the Qiu family sent people and Old Madam Ren called her to dress up nicely to meet them, she complied obediently, but she wasn’t particularly enthusiastic. At most, she showed obedience to her elders’ commands.

Sometimes Ren Yaoqi would reflect on whether she had become a startled bird due to her previous life’s influence. Where in this world were there perfect marriages? In her previous life, it was Ren Yaoyin who had no fate with Qiu Yun, or perhaps Ren Yaoyin brought it upon herself, but that didn’t mean Ren Yaohua marrying into the Qiu family wouldn’t have a good outcome. After all, each person had their destiny.

Although Ren Yaoqi occasionally comforted herself this way, she still couldn’t help paying attention to the Qiu family.

Early this morning, Ren Yaoqi was with Ren Yaohua in Ronghua Garden, accompanying Old Madam Ren and Ren Shijia in conversation. Old Madam Ren was asking Ren Shijia when she planned to return to Yunyang City when a woman servant came in to report that Third Young Master Qiu had arrived.

Third Young Master Qiu was indeed Qiu Yun. His father was the legitimate eldest son, and he ranked third among the grandsons.

What was Qiu Yun doing at the Ren family at this time? Logically, since the Ren and Qiu families were currently discussing marriage, he should avoid suspicion. However, because this marriage discussion was only conducted privately between the Qiu and Ren families without a public announcement, and Qiu Yun was accustomed to visiting the Ren family, his arrival didn’t attract too much attention.

At least Old Madam Ren was very happy about this nephew-grandson’s visit. She couldn’t be more satisfied with her future grandson-in-law being close to her.

Because they were close relatives, Old Madam Ren didn’t have Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua avoid them. After Qiu Yun entered, he first paid his respects. He was still sweet-tongued, coaxing Old Madam Ren and Ren Shijia into smiles with just a few words.

Ren Yaohua showed no shy expression on her face and didn’t speak much, her attitude no different from when Qiu Yun visited the Ren family before. Seeing this, Old Madam Ren was extremely satisfied, feeling that Yaohua was becoming more composed and suitable to be the head mistress.

Several people accompanied Old Madam Ren in conversation for a long time. Only when Old Madam Ren showed some tiredness did Qiu Yun take the initiative to bid farewell, saying he wanted to go to the outer courtyard to find the Ren family’s male cousins.

After Qiu Yun left, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua also rose to bid farewell and return to Ziwei Courtyard.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the two left Ronghua Garden, they saw Qiu Yun, who should have already left the inner courtyard, standing under a Chinese scholar tree on the path from Ronghua Garden to Ziwei Courtyard.

Seeing them approach, Qiu Yun, who had been leisurely fanning himself, paused, folded his fan, and bowed to them with elegant posture, smiling broadly: “Greetings to my two cousin sisters.”

Looking at this setup, was he here to block their path?

Ren Yaoqi had no good feelings toward Qiu Yun. She returned his greeting and then said nothing.

Ren Yaohua frowned and looked around. Qiu Yun was only accompanied by a young servant with his hair in twin buns, with no other attendants: “Wasn’t Cousin going to the outer courtyard? Did you lose your way? I’ll have a woman servant escort you out.”

Qiu Yun walked over slowly, examining the serious-faced Ren Yaohua with a smile: “Third-Cousin Sister is always so cold toward me. This truly breaks my heart.” As he spoke, he even shook his head theatrically.

These words carried a teasing tone. Ren Yaohua was somewhat angry, but thinking of both families’ reputations, she held back and said coldly: “Cousin, please don’t speak nonsense! Lest it spread and embarrass everyone.”

Qiu Yun chuckled and was about to say more when Ren Yaoqi smilingly interrupted: “Cousin Qiu, if you have something to say, speak directly. You didn’t wait here specifically today hoping we’d have to call servants to carry you out of the inner courtyard, did you?”

The elegant, rakish smile on Qiu Yun’s face froze as he looked at Ren Yaoqi in disbelief.

Ren Yaohua was already thoughtfully casting her gaze toward several burly women servants not far away.

Qiu Yun coughed lightly and smiled stiffly: “Fifth Cousin Sister knows how to joke.”

Ren Yaohua said coldly, “My Fifth Sister never jokes.”

Looking at Ren Yaohua’s expression, Qiu Yun felt he couldn’t afford the embarrassment of being carried out of the inner courtyard by servants in public. So he finally spoke seriously: “I did come today for a reason.”

As he spoke, his gaze rested on Ren Yaoqi, and he said sincerely, “Actually, I have something to say to Fifth Cousin Sister. Could we speak privately?”

Ren Yaohua frowned and looked toward Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi’s expression was cold: “No. There’s nothing that can’t be said in front of others. Cousin, whatever you have to say, say it here. Otherwise, if the elders found out, I’d certainly be scolded.”

She couldn’t trust Qiu Yun’s character, and they weren’t familiar enough to warrant a private meeting.

Ren Yaohua simply stood there unmoved, looking at Qiu Yun with some scrutiny.

Qiu Yun smiled bitterly and shook his head, only able to settle for second best: “Then could you have your attendants step back a bit?”

Ren Yaoqi thought about it and had Pingguo send the servants and second-class maids a bit farther away, though still within sight of their every move, just unable to hear the specific content of their conversation. However, she kept the head maids Pingguo, Sangshen, Xiangqin, and Wujing.

“Rules cannot be abandoned. Please understand, Cousin. But these few are mine and Third Sister’s maids who would never gossip, so Cousin may speak freely.” Ren Yaoqi spoke in a gentle, sincere tone.

Although Qiu Yun was somewhat dissatisfied, he couldn’t say more. When people wanted to seriously discuss rules with you, there wasn’t much to refute.

So Qiu Yun nodded and looked at Ren Yaoqi meaningfully: “Actually, I came to Baijin Town today at someone’s request.”

Ren Yaoqi’s heart stirred, immediately thinking of Yun Wenfang. It wasn’t surprising that Ren Yaoqi thought of Yun Wenfang – after all, in her previous life, when Yun Wenfang bullied her and Qiu Yun kept watch, such things had happened before.

However, Ren Yaohua’s eyes narrowed slightly as she asked alertly: “At whose request?”

Qiu Yun smiled without answering, only saying: “By the way, Zishu will depart for Jiajing Pass the day after tomorrow.”

Ren Yaoqi was startled. She knew that Zishu was Yun Wenfang’s courtesy name. She had also learned from the County Princess that Old Princess Consort and Xiao Wei had been searching for Yun Wenfang these days but hadn’t found him. So Yun Wenfang planned to go to Jiajing Pass.

But why was Qiu Yun telling her this?

Qiu Yun looked around, then, using the two maids’ bodies as cover, took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Ren Yaoqi: “You’ll understand after reading this.”