In a private room on the second floor of a teahouse next to Fumanlou, two men sat by the window.

After the carriages and crowds below had dispersed, the younger man finally spoke: “Brother, was that young man just now the only son of the new Ningxia General Zeng Pu? His face…”

Sitting across from the young man was a mature young man with a steady temperament. He frowned slightly as he looked thoughtfully in the direction the carriages had left. Only when he heard the question did he speak: “What’s there to inquire about such things? Just stay away from him.”

Hearing this, the young man looked at his brother with some surprise: “Brother, how can you also judge people by their appearance?”

Lei Ting held his teacup and said indifferently: “I never judge people by appearance, but I believe that one’s appearance reflects one’s heart. This Young Master Zeng has a strange temperament and is not someone to befriend deeply.”

The young man frowned at this, asking in confusion: “Brother, how did you see that his temperament is strange? I thought he seemed quite cheerful and didn’t appear to feel inferior about his appearance.”

Lei Ting chuckled: “Taking pleasure in others’ fear of him – isn’t that strange? Not feeling inferior? Perhaps he’s just hiding it deeply.”

Lei Zhen frowned and thought for a moment. Being still young, he didn’t see through human nature very clearly, but he felt his elder brother’s words made some sense. He thought at worst he would just stay away from this Young Master Zeng, so he dismissed the matter and changed the subject: “It’s getting late. I’ll go pick up Pan’er and return to the manor.”

Lei Ting glanced once more in the direction the carriages had left, put down his teacup, and said indifferently: “Wait a bit longer, or she’ll make a fuss again.”

Lei Zhen looked at Lei Ting with some curiosity: “Brother, are Third Miss Ren and Fifth Miss Ren trustworthy in character? You seem very comfortable letting Pan’er be close to them?”

Lei Ting answered ambiguously: “Pan’er has her judgment. Who truly treats her well and who uses her – she may not say it, but she understands clearly in her heart.”

Lei Zhen thought about it and also smiled: “No wonder, no matter how much that maid in your room tried to please her before, she never appreciated it. Being like a little spirit at such a young age – who does she take after?” As he spoke, Lei Zhen glanced at Lei Ting and joked, “When sister-in-law was alive, she also had an honest temperament. Though Pan’er resembles her in appearance, her personality doesn’t match.”

Hearing this, Lei Ting looked at Lei Zhen coolly, then picked up a peanut from a plate on the table. With a slight rub of his fingers, Lei Zhen immediately went “Hiss—” and covered his forehead with his hand.

Ignoring Lei Zhen’s angry gaze, Lei Ting brushed off his robes and stood: “I have business to attend to. You finish your tea and go pick up Pan’er.” With that, he turned and left.

Lei Zhen helplessly rubbed his forehead and muttered quietly: “Really petty – can’t even take a joke!”

When Ren Yaoqi returned to the retreat house with Third Master Ren, Lei Pan’er had already been picked up by a maid sent by Lei Zhen. Since Ren Yaohua didn’t take the encounter with Zeng Kui to heart, she didn’t mention it to Ren Yaoqi.

Third Master Ren stayed in Yunyang City for another day, drew up renovation plans for the retreat house, and gave them to the steward, then returned to Baihe Town with the three Ren sisters. He wouldn’t officially begin teaching at Yunyang Academy for another two months, so it would be two months before the courtyard renovations were complete and they could move there with the whole family.

In Fangfei Courtyard, Concubine Fang woke from her afternoon nap. A new little maid brought in a copper basin of water, placed it far away on the washstand in the outer room, then quickly lowered her head and left.

Seeing the copper basin, head maid Jin Ju frowned and was about to call someone to replace it when she heard Concubine Fang calling her from the inner room. Thinking that Concubine Fang shouldn’t come out at this time, Jin Ju soaked a cloth in the copper basin, wrung it out, and took it inside.

After helping Concubine Fang wash her hands and face, Jin Ju immediately went out to have a maid come empty the water. But the new maid, not knowing the rules of Concubine Fang’s room, put the copper basin back on the stand after emptying it.

When Concubine Fang came out of the inner room, she immediately saw the copper basin on the stand. She couldn’t help but tremble, and the muscles in her face began to contort. Without warning, Concubine Fang grabbed the tea tray from the table and hurled it at the copper basin. The basin fell from the stand and rolled to her feet. Concubine Fang looked down at it, then covered her face and let out a short, sharp scream.

She seemed to be desperately suppressing her voice – the scream had barely escaped before she forcibly swallowed it back down. Her pale, bloodless lips bore a deep bite mark from her teeth, showing threads of blood.

Jin Ju, who had been finding clothes for Concubine Fang, heard the commotion and ran out. Seeing the copper basin knocked to the floor and Concubine Fang looking up at her coldly, her legs went weak: “Aunt, please don’t be angry, you…”

Nanny Yu hurried in. Seeing the situation, she immediately understood what had happened. She quickly picked up the copper basin and threw it out, scolding the little maid at the door: “Who taught you these rules? Don’t you know Fangfei Courtyard only uses wooden basins! Go receive your punishment!”

The terrified little maid sobbed as she left.

Nanny Yu entered the room, glanced at Jin Ju kneeling on the floor, sighed inwardly, then helped Concubine Fang back to the inner room.

Coming to her senses, Concubine Fang raised her hand and absently touched her face. Just as Nanny Yu was about to comfort her, Concubine Fang took a deep breath, calmed down, and said to Nanny Yu: “Go tell Jin Ju to get up.”

Nanny Yu breathed a sigh of relief and went to the outer room to tell Jin Ju not to kneel anymore.

Jin Ju wiped her tears as she came in to kowtow and thank Concubine Fang for her grace.

At this time, an old woman outside tremblingly reported: “Aunt, Ninth Miss has come.”

Concubine Fang immediately got up and rushed to her bed, picking up the veil she had placed there when washing her face, and covering her face with it. Knowing Concubine Fang was afraid of frightening Ren Yaoying, Nanny Yu quickly stepped forward to help arrange the veil properly.

Only after Concubine Fang’s face was completely covered did she sit at the table and calmly nod to Nanny Yu: “Let Ying’er come in.”

Nanny Yu acknowledged and left. Soon, Ren Yaoying entered.

Concubine Fang’s tone was as gentle as before: “Ying’er, you’re back?”

With Concubine Fang’s face covered by the veil, Ren Yaoying wasn’t so afraid. She walked to Concubine Fang’s side: “Mother, I’m back. Father is back too. Father… he has business to attend to now. After he finishes, I’ll ask him to come see you.”

Since Concubine Fang’s injury, Ren Shimin hadn’t set foot in Fangfei Courtyard even once. Ren Yaoying felt that Concubine Fang must feel wronged in her heart. She had once asked Ren Shimin to come see her aunt, but Ren Shimin had only said indifferently: “Tell your aunt to recover well, read some Buddhist scriptures when she has nothing to do, and calm her spirit. If you need anything, go tell your mother.”

Later, Ren Yaoying understood that her father no longer favored her aunt, so she didn’t dare voice such requests again.

Hearing this, Concubine Fang seemed to smile. She reached out to touch Ren Yaoying’s cheek and changed the subject: “Have you chosen the courtyard? When will you move?”

Thinking of Ren Shimin’s earlier words about not taking her aunt to Yunyang City, Ren Yaoying’s heart ached. She forced a smile: “Father says it still needs renovation before we can live there. We should be able to move by the end of March.”

Concubine Fang nodded and carefully asked about Ren Yaoying’s experiences in Yunyang City.

Remembering her purpose for coming today, Ren Yaoying quietly told her about encountering Zeng Kui on the street.

After listening, Concubine Fang didn’t speak for a long time.

Ren Yaoying grasped Concubine Fang’s hand hopefully: “Aunt, do you think that ugly monster from the Zeng family has taken a fancy to Ren Yaohua? Aunt, you didn’t see Young Master Zeng’s appearance – your daughter was nearly frightened to death.”

Concubine Fang startled and instinctively raised her hand to touch her veil.

Only then did Ren Yaoying realize she had said the wrong thing in front of Concubine Fang. She blamed herself for thinking about the possibility between Zeng Kui and Ren Yaohua these past few days and getting excited when she saw Concubine Fang.

“Mother, I… I didn’t mean…”

Seeing Ren Yaoying’s regretful expression, Concubine Fang came to her senses and smiled: “Aunt is fine. Continue.”

Seeing that Concubine Fang didn’t seem angry, Ren Yaoying breathed a sigh of relief. She had heard the maids outside whisper that since her aunt’s facial injury, her temperament had changed greatly – she would lose her temper at the slightest provocation, especially when others mentioned appearance in front of her. Now her aunt’s room couldn’t have mirrors, copper items, or overly smooth porcelain.

But Ren Yaoying felt Concubine Fang hadn’t changed at all – she was still the gentle aunt who was good to her.

So Ren Yaoying continued: “Mother, Third Sister will marry out anyway. Why not find a way for her to marry Young Master Zeng? Young Master Zeng will surely return to Ningxia in the future. When Third Sister goes to Ningxia, no one will oppose us anymore.”

Ren Yaoying thought that as long as Ren Yaohua married that ugly monster, she would never be able to compete with her in this lifetime, because anyone would be better than Zeng Kui.

Thinking this way, Ren Yaoying hadn’t slept well these past few days. She had rushed over to find Concubine Fang as soon as she returned. Ren Yaoying knew her aunt had always granted her every request.

Concubine Fang pondered: “Young Master Zeng? Zeng Pu’s son? Ying’er, do you know that Zeng Pu is now the court-appointed Ningxia General?”

Ren Yaoying said, “I’ve inquired about it. Zeng Pu’s position as Ningxia General is just a nice title. He has no troops and no power. What’s there to fear?”

Concubine Fang’s thoughts weren’t as simple as Ren Yaoying’s. After thinking, she said, “I need to investigate this matter first before making a decision.”