Ren Yaohua hadn’t expected Lei Ting to suddenly say such a thing, and couldn’t help but be startled.

Although it was somewhat presumptuous for someone she had only met twice to say such words, thinking of how she had spoken quite bluntly when she last saw him, Ren Yaohua couldn’t get angry. Moreover, she wasn’t someone who didn’t know good from bad – she could tell whether Lei Ting was giving well-intentioned advice or deliberately mocking her.

So Ren Yaohua curtsied again and said quietly, “I’ve had this temperament since childhood, so I’ve suffered quite a few losses. I’ll be more careful in the future. Thank you for Master Lei’s guidance.”

Seeing Ren Yaohua admit this so readily, Lei Ting was somewhat surprised and couldn’t help but look at her more closely.

Last year, rumors about the Third Miss of the Ren family had spread like wildfire, and he had heard some of them. Although after contact, he didn’t quite believe those groundless rumors, he still thought in his heart that this Third Miss Ren should be a straightforward person with a quick temper. Generally, such people are very stubborn and don’t easily listen to advice. He hadn’t expected this Third Miss Ren to be someone willing to humbly accept guidance.

Thinking this, Lei Ting’s usually cold and serious expression softened somewhat. He nodded toward Ren Yaohua, the two said their farewells, Lei Ting mounted his horse, and Ren Yaohua turned to get in her carriage.

Ren Yaoqi only saw Ren Yaohua in the afternoon when seeing Ren Shimin off from Yunyang City. After Ren Yaohua parted from Lei Pan’er, she returned to the Ren family’s retreat house. Although the matron left at the retreat house had conveyed the message that Ren Yaoqi had sent Sangshen to find her, Ren Yaohua still hadn’t gone to Bottle Gourd Alley. Regarding her maternal family, she always had a grudge in her heart.

There were quite a few scholars who came to see Ren Shimin and the others off. Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua sat in one carriage and could only follow far behind, unable to see Ren Shimin at all.

Ren Yaoqi asked Ren Yaohua, “Uncle said he saw you with Pan’er today?”

Ren Yaohua frowned, not knowing where Li Tianyou had seen her. She told Ren Yaoqi everything about her day.

Ren Yaoqi said, “Fortunately, the Lei family helped out, otherwise, there would have been more trouble today.”

At this time, there was some commotion outside, and the crowd that had come to see them off suddenly became lively.

“What’s happening?” Ren Yaohua frowned and lifted part of the carriage curtain to look outside.

Someone outside was shouting, “Look, it’s Second Young Master Xiao’s carriage. Second Young Master Xiao has come.”

A carriage from the Yanbei Prince’s mansion slowly drove over from the back of the procession. The people and carriages that had come to see them off all stopped and made way for Xiao Jingxi’s carriage. Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua’s carriage also temporarily stopped by the roadside.

Ren Yaohua didn’t put down the curtain. After all, at this time, everyone had lifted their carriage curtains to look outside, although as the carriage approached, no one dared to make loud noises.

Ren Yaoqi saw Xiao Jingxi’s large carriage pass in front of her. She couldn’t help but glance at the carriage curtain several times, and just at that moment, the curtain of that carriage that was the center of attention moved slightly before being lifted from inside. Ren Yaoqi unexpectedly met a pair of dark, smiling eyes.

The crowd let out exclamations and cheers of surprise. Someone said softly, “Look, Second Young Master Xiao, it is Second Young Master Xiao.”

Unfortunately, Second Young Master Xiao only lifted the curtain to smile, then put the curtain back down. Even so, that brief glimpse still excited the crowd.

One couldn’t blame the people of Yanbei for not having seen the world. Xiao Jingxi rarely showed his face in public and was always like a dragon – you could see his head but not his tail. Yet there were many rumors about him, and some said his appearance surpassed even that handsome and elegant Young Master Yun. So every time Xiao Jingxi appeared in public, it would make the crowd extremely excited.

Ren Yaoqi watched as Xiao Jingxi’s carriage slowly passed by and disappeared from view.

After seeing Ren Shimin off, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua returned to Baique Town together with the other Ren family members.

Ren Yijun had also come today. Apart from the people from the third branch, he was the happiest about Ren Shimin going to the capital to participate in the Literary Contest, setting aside any utilitarian factors.

When Ren Yijun was seeing Ren Shimin off, he smiled and said, “I’m afraid I’ll never be able to leave Yanzhou in this lifetime. Third Uncle, I envy you. You must compete well, and when you return victorious to Yanbei, we, uncle and nephew, will celebrate together with wine.”

However, things are unpredictable. One month after Ren Shimin left Yanbei, Ren Yijun suddenly became seriously ill.

Ren Yaoqi was greatly shocked when she heard this news in Li Shi’s room: “Third Brother is ill, very seriously?”

Nanny Zhou sighed, “They say he caught a chill last night and had a fever this morning. Originally, no one tookn’t take it seriously, after all, the Third Young Master always has minor illnesses every few days. The Great Madam even called the physician who usually treats the Third Young Master to the mansion to examine him. The physician also said there was nothing seriously wrong and prescribed a warming and tonifying medicine before leaving. But by this evening, Third Young Master’s condition suddenly became severe – his whole body was cold, his limbs were convulsing, and he couldn’t take any medicine or food. When they found another physician to come to the mansion, the physician was also startled when he saw him.” Nanny Zhou paused here, then lowered her voice and said quietly, “The physician told the Great Madam that Third Young Master has endured for so many years, taking medicine with every meal, but Third Young Master was born with a weak constitution. It’s already miraculous that he’s survived until today, but this time I’m afraid it won’t be good. The Old Madam has already secretly instructed the stewards to make preparations.”

Ren Yaoqi sat there somewhat dazed. The Third Brother suddenly became seriously ill? How could Third Brother become seriously ill? Hadn’t he lived well in her previous life? He might even have lived longer than her.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but say, “Have physicians examined him? Is there any possibility it’s due to other reasons? Such as eating something bad, poisoning?” Ren Yaoqi thought of Xiao Jingxi’s “illness.”

Nanny Zhou shook her head, “The Great Madam has already called three physicians to the mansion. They all said roughly the same thing, but no physician said Third Young Master might have been poisoned.”

Not poisoning? Then what was it? Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat worried.

In the Ren family, apart from her parents and sister, Ren Yaoqi only had good feelings toward this Third Brother Ren Yijun.

“I’ll go see Third Brother,” Ren Yaoqi said, standing up.

Nanny Zhou looked at the sky outside and advised, “Third Miss, it’s already very late now. It’s inconvenient for you to go over at this time. Why don’t you go early tomorrow morning? The Great Madam’s place is already in chaos now.”

Ren Yaohua looked outside and indeed saw that it was completely dark. If she went over now, not only would she be unable to help, but she would also add to the Great Madam’s troubles. So Ren Yaoqi could only nod, “Then I’ll go see Third Brother early tomorrow morning.”

However, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t sleep peacefully that entire night.

Ren Yijun’s place was also in turmoil all night. Several times, the Great Madam thought he was about to die. No matter how they tried to feed him the prepared medicine, they couldn’t get it down, and Ren Yijun had gone an entire day without a drop of water.

At this point, even the Great Master felt that Ren Yijun probably wouldn’t survive. However, the Great Madam still refused to give up, staying by Ren Yijun’s side all night without sleep. By early the next morning, she even sent someone to invite a spirit medium to the mansion, saying she wanted to see if Ren Yijun had been possessed by some evil spirit.

Early in the morning, after Ren Yaoqi paid her morning respects to the Old Madam, she went with Ren Yaohua to see Ren Yijun. At this point, Ren Yijun was already unconscious and couldn’t recognize anyone. His complexion was very poor, as if covered with a layer of gold paper, completely lacking vitality. A roomful of maids were hiding in the room, secretly wiping away tears.

Taking advantage of the Great Madam not being present at the moment, Ren Yaoqi deliberately moved closer to carefully examine Ren Yijun. As Nanny Zhou had said, there indeed were no signs of any poisoning.

At this time, the Great Madam came in, and with her came that spirit medium.

The spirit medium was in her fifties or sixties, with graying hair, but had a kind and benevolent appearance. At this moment, she was following behind the Great Madam, talking incessantly: “…that girl is pretty, skilled with her hands, and has a very good heart. Most importantly, her birth chart is heavy and can suppress the evil spirits in the Third Young Master’s body!”

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua exchanged glances. What was this about?

The Great Madam also saw Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, only nodded, then took the spirit medium to the outer room. Through the curtain, Ren Yaoqi heard her say, “I understand everything you’ve told me, but I can’t make this decision alone. I still need to consult with the elders in the family.”

When the spirit medium heard the Great Madam’s words, she knew the Great Madam was still unwilling, so she continued to persuade: “Great Madam, I know you think that girl’s background is too lowly, but that’s only relative to great families like yours. This girl has parents and brothers and over ten mu of good farmland at home. To ordinary people, she could be considered a refined young lady. Most importantly, the Third Young Master is waiting to be saved right now and can’t afford any delays! Besides, in such a short time, it’s not easy to find a girl with a clean background and a suitable birth chart, and not all families would be willing to let their daughters marry to bring good fortune.”

Bringing good fortune? Both Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua’s eyes widened, and they couldn’t help but turn back to look at Ren Yijun again.

Unfortunately, Ren Yijun was unaware of what was happening outside at this moment.

In the end, the Great Madam was somewhat moved by the spirit medium’s words and took her to Ronghua Garden to discuss with the Old Madam.

After Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua returned, they told Li Shi and Nanny Zhou about this matter. Nanny Zhou said, “It’s quite normal for the Great Madam to want to find a girl for Third Young Master to bring good fortune at this time. After all, it’s hard to say whether Third Young Master can pull through this time. If he… at least there would be someone to keep vigil for him, so he won’t be lonely. However, for this kind of fortune-bringing marriage, families of similar status to our Ren family probably wouldn’t be willing to let their daughters marry this way, so they can only look for those with somewhat lacking family backgrounds.”

Ren Yaohua frowned, “Did Great Aunt find a spirit medium? How did she look more like a matchmaker to me?”

However, Ren Yaoqi was thinking that with Ren Yijun’s pride, if his mind were still clear, he probably wouldn’t agree even if it meant death. Unfortunately, Ren Yijun couldn’t make decisions for himself now.

What Ren Yaoqi hadn’t expected was that by noon, news came from outside that the Old Madam had agreed to the fortune-bringing marriage for Ren Yijun, and the time was set for the next day.

The reason for such haste was that Ren Yijun’s condition was getting worse, and it was uncertain whether he could survive until tomorrow.