On Ren Yaoqi’s side, she received news that Concubine Fang’s maid had gone to the outer courtyard.

Ren Yaohua frowned and said, “Why send someone to the outer courtyard? Sixth Brother came to Ziwei Courtyard, and Father went to Ronghua Garden.”

Ren Yaoqi was also pondering this question. Concubine Fang must have already realized by now that it would be very difficult for her to escape unscathed this time. She needed to find a way to protect herself.

So what could she still do?

Ren Yaoqi quickly sorted through the various people in the Ren family and their complicated relationships, when suddenly her heart stirred as she thought of something.

Nanny Zhou asked, “Fifth Miss, should this servant send someone to intercept that little maid as well? Whatever she’s going to do, as long as we control all her people, let’s see how she can still cause trouble!”

Ren Yaohua also nodded, “That’s right. Whatever she wants to do, as long as we prevent her from succeeding, that’s enough.”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head, “We can still say that intercepting Sixth Brother was because Father and Mother had given prior instructions, but if we intercept all her people, Grandfather and Grandmother will know that we’re secretly interfering.”

However, this wasn’t the main point. The main point was that Ren Yaoqi had thought of what bargaining chips Concubine Fang might have in her hands, and these chips could save her life at a critical moment. So what Concubine Fang was looking for now should be someone in the Ren family who could make decisions. Even if they stopped Concubine Fang’s people, as long as she still held her bargaining chips, she wouldn’t be afraid of not being able to see anyone.

Regarding the temperaments of the Ren family elders, no one in the Ren family understood them better than Ren Yaoqi.

But what bargaining chips could Concubine Fang have in her hands? No matter how clever and skilled at maneuvering she was, she was still just a concubine. If she had bargaining chips, then these chips must be related to the Fang family, or rather, they were bargaining chips that Fang Yacu had in his hands.

Ren Yaoqi carefully recalled the events of her previous life. Unfortunately, when she was in the Ren family back then, she didn’t pay attention to the Ren family’s affairs, and so many years had passed that what she could remember was really limited.

Ren Yaohua said, “If we can’t beat Concubine Fang to death with one blow this time, then it will probably be difficult to completely ruin her in the future. Right now is when Fang Yacu is facing setbacks in his official career and has no backing.”

Unexpectedly, Ren Yaohua’s words reminded Ren Yaoqi of something.

Was Fang Yacu facing setbacks in his official career? He was doing well in the south. Although his official rank wasn’t high yet, because he was deeply appreciated by his superiors, his prospects were limitless. But he was abandoning the excellent situation in the south and insisting on coming to Yanbei to do what?

Through this incident with Lady Fang coming to Yanbei, Ren Yaoqi increasingly understood that although Yanbei nominally still belonged to the Great Zhou Dynasty’s territory, the Yanbei Prince’s mansion had long since established its own system of appointing and dismissing officials, making it very difficult for the capital to interfere.

The Fang family only had one marriage connection in Yanbei – the Ren family, who couldn’t help with anything. They had no foundation or sufficiently broad connections at all. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been thwarted by her few small schemes.

Even for Concubine Fang’s sake, Fang Yacu couldn’t possibly risk his future. Even if Fang Yacu wanted to do this, he would have to consider his wife and children. Moreover, leaving the south would weaken Fang Yacu’s control over the Fang family. Was it worth it?

But judging from the eager enthusiasm shown by various families when Lady Fang came to Yanbei, she felt it was worth it.

Could it be that Fang Yacu had other reasons for coming to Yanbei?

Ren Yaoqi felt that perhaps Fang Yacu was a more complex person than she had imagined.

“Say something!” Ren Yaohua had been talking to Ren Yaoqi for a long time without getting a response, so she couldn’t help but raise her voice.

Ren Yaoqi came back to her senses, “Say what?”

Ren Yaohua’s mouth twitched, feeling that she was about to lose her temper again, “I’m asking what to do about Concubine Fang’s situation!”

Nanny Zhou was also looking at Ren Yaoqi, waiting for her answer.

But Ren Yaoqi said, “Don’t act rashly for now. Let’s wait and see.” Seeing Ren Yaohua’s displeased expression, Ren Yaoqi smiled to comfort her, “We’ve endured for so long, we can endure a little longer.”

Before Concubine Fang could summon Old Master Ren back, the little maid keeping watch outside came back to report that people sent by Old Madam Ren had arrived.

Concubine Fang thought for a moment. Right now, Fifth Madam Lin Shi was still at Ronghua Garden. With Lin Shi’s fierce temperament, if she went to the Old Madam first, she would end up in a mess. So she instructed Jinju, “I’ll leave through the back door first. You stall them for a while. Tell them I’m not feeling well today and haven’t gotten up yet. I’ll go with them after I’m properly dressed.”

Jinju responded with a “yes,” and Concubine Fang immediately put on a dark blue thin silk cloak and quietly left Fangfei Courtyard through the back door.

After leaving Fangfei Courtyard, Concubine Fang took a small path to avoid people and went to the second gate. From afar, she could see that the drooping flower gate at the second gate was already guarded by several old women. Fortunately, Concubine Fang hadn’t planned to go out. She quietly hid behind an artificial rock hill, from where she could see people coming in from outside.

Concubine Fang waited for a long time, even seeing those old women and maids who had been sent to find her apparently discovering that she wasn’t at Fangfei Courtyard and running hastily toward Ronghua Garden, taking her maid Jinju with them.

Concubine Fang watched them pass by without moving at all.

Until she saw Old Master Ren entering through the second gate.

Concubine Fang hurriedly came out from behind the artificial rock hill and rushed to meet him.

When Old Master Ren saw Concubine Fang, he frowned. After she finished her greetings, he said, “For inner courtyard matters, you should go to Ronghua Garden to see the Old Madam.”

When Concubine Fang sent someone to summon Old Master Ren, he might not necessarily have come back, but he had also heard about the incidents in the inner courtyard, so he still hurried back.

But Concubine Fang lowered her head and said, “Old Master, this concubine knows that coming to find you is improper, but this concubine truly has urgent matters that I want to discuss with you.”

Old Master Ren still frowned and didn’t speak.

Concubine Fang glanced at Old Master Ren and continued, “Old Master, this concubine heard that Yacu mentioned in a recent letter that the several coal yards that the Ren family opened around the capital seem to have been operating at a loss?”

Upon hearing this, Old Master Ren couldn’t help but be surprised. He wasn’t surprised that Fang Yacu would discuss these matters with Concubine Fang. What surprised him was that the Ren family had never made public the losses of the coal yards around the capital. Even within the Ren family, only he, his eldest son, and the father and son of the second branch in the capital knew about it. How did Fang Yacu learn of this?

Although Fang Yacu was an official in the south, he wasn’t a capital official, and his position wasn’t high either.

Seeing Old Master Ren’s expression, Concubine Fang knew that what she said was correct, and continued, “Old Master, I heard Yacu say that the reason the Ren family’s coal mines in the south aren’t operating as well as those in Yanbei isn’t because the Ren family’s coal can’t be sold, but because they have to deal with a bunch of officials large and small every year, which leads to expenses exceeding income.”

What Concubine Fang said was correct. The Ren family had started in Yanbei, so their connections in the south were much weaker. Although the second branch’s old master had been operating in the capital area, he still couldn’t compare to the local power brokers. So even though the coal from the Ren family’s coal yards was of better quality than other coal yards, the Ren family was barely maintaining operations.

Old Master Ren had considered abandoning the business in Jiangnan, but as a businessman, Old Master Ren’s ambitions were not small. The Ren family was reluctant to give up that large market in Jiangnan, even though it was like a useless appendage.

At this point, Concubine Fang’s next words greatly surprised Old Master Ren. Concubine Fang said, “This concubine can have Yacu introduce someone to the Ren family. As long as we have this person’s connections, the Ren family’s coal yards in the south will be revived. It’s only a matter of time before they spread throughout the entire Great Zhou like the Wan family’s coal yards in the capital.”

The Wan family’s coal yards were the largest coal business in the south, with their main store located in the capital. They were also the biggest obstacle to the Ren family’s coal yard operations in the south. The Wan family had been operating in the south for several generations to achieve their current scale.

“What person?” Although it was very strange for Concubine Fang, as a concubine, to speak with such authority, Old Master Ren couldn’t help but ask following her words.

Concubine Fang smiled slightly, her usually gentle and water-like eyes carrying a trace of certainty and confidence, “This person’s surname is Lu, and he is a eunuch.”

Old Master Ren was shocked upon hearing this, “A eunuch? A palace eunuch?”

Concubine Fang nodded, “Old Master has always been in Yanbei, so you might not have heard of this Eunuch Lu. He is a first-class favorite by Empress Dowager Yan’s side, having served the Empress Dowager for more than ten years and is deeply trusted by her.”

The shock in Old Master Ren’s heart was beyond words. After a long pause, he asked, “How did Yacu get to know this Eunuch Lu?”

Concubine Fang said, “This concubine doesn’t know the specifics very clearly, but it seems that Yacu’s superior adopted this Eunuch Lu as his foster father, and since Yacu’s superior has always appreciated him, Yacu had the fortune to meet Eunuch Lu. Last time Yacu wrote, he mentioned planning to introduce Eunuch Lu to the Ren family. In the capital, which official, big or small, doesn’t have to give Eunuch Lu some face? Eunuch Lu’s face represents Empress Dowager Yan’s face.”

Although Old Master Ren was quite tempted after hearing this, he was ultimately a cautious person and asked somewhat suspiciously, “Since Nephew Yacu has such connections in the capital, why would he still try every means to become an official in Yanbei? With this Eunuch Lu as backing, wouldn’t his future in the capital be limitless?”

“This…” Concubine Fang paused, seeming to hesitate before saying, “This concubine, being a woman, doesn’t understand official matters very well, but I think Yacu coming to Yanbei naturally has his considerations.”

Old Master Ren didn’t seem very satisfied with Concubine Fang’s answer.

Concubine Fang thought for a moment, then said quietly, “However, this concubine heard that this Eunuch Lu might very likely be sent to Yanbei as an imperial commissioner in the future.”

Upon hearing this, Old Master Ren’s heart stirred. If this were true, it would explain why Fang Yacu would try every means to come to Yanbei.

Fang Yacu’s coming here was on the orders of his superior or Eunuch Lu, to prepare for Eunuch Lu’s future arrival in Yanbei.

Old Master Ren couldn’t help but start calculating in his mind.

Although Fang Yacu’s attempt to come to Yanbei this time hadn’t gone smoothly, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t have opportunities in the future. If he had truly connected with that great favorite of Empress Dowager Yan…