After Ren Yaoying was confined to her quarters, life in the third branch of the Ren family in Yunyang City became much simpler and more peaceful.

During the first few days of her confinement, Ren Yaoying had cried and made a fuss, but she ultimately didn’t want to be seen as a shrew and was quite concerned about her image. What she had learned from her concubine mother was that even when crying, one should cry beautifully to evoke pity from others. Throwing tantrums, rolling on the ground, and wailing would be of no help to her situation whatsoever. Ren Yaoying had always been an excellent student in these matters. However, when no one in the Ren family was willing to pay her any attention, no matter how beautifully she cried or how pitifully she appeared, it was all useless. After two days of such behavior, aside from making her eyes swollen from crying, Ren Yaoying achieved no results whatsoever.

She had also considered secretly sending someone back to Baihe Town to seek help from Concubine Fang, but her maids were also ordered not to leave the courtyard. As for the other servants, since they could be brought to Yunyang City by Li Shi, they were all Li Shi’s people. With Nanny Zhou around, even if Ren Yaoying wanted to bribe them, she couldn’t manage it. Although Ren Yihong wasn’t restricted from going out, Ren Yaoying’s confinement was personally ordered by Third Master Ren. Even if Ren Yaoying pleaded with Ren Yihong, he deeply admired and respected his father and would never go against his wishes to help her deliver messages.

After struggling for two or three days like this, Ren Yaoying finally came to terms with the reality that when under someone else’s roof, one had no choice but to bow one’s head. She obediently stayed in her room, waiting for Third Master Ren’s anger to subside so he would let her out.

On this particular day, Third Master Ren returned from the academy. Because Ren Yaoqi had something to discuss with him, she went to the main room and happened to overhear Third Master Ren telling Li Shi that the Zeng family had sent people to the Ren family again yesterday to see Old Master Ren. They had brought a personally written letter from Zeng Pu, and besides having matchmakers present, they were also accompanied by the eldest master of the Su family. This time, Zeng Pu was formally requesting marriage for his son to Ren Yaohua. The display was quite grand, and their attitude was very humble and respectful.

“Did Grandfather agree?” Ren Yaoqi lifted the curtain and entered, asking with a frown.

Ren Shimin looked up to see Ren Yaoqi coming in. Knowing that she had always been very concerned about Ren Yaohua’s marriage prospects, he didn’t mind her interrupting the adults’ conversation and nodded, saying: “From what I could see, Father seems to have this intention. He specifically had someone send me a message today because he feels this marriage arrangement is feasible.”

Ren Yaoqi frowned as she thought for a moment, then said: “Father, have you heard any news from Ningxia regarding Zeng Pu at the academy?”

“Zeng Pu?” Ren Shimin thought seriously for a moment. “Ah! There has indeed been talk about Zeng Pu these past few days. I heard that this man has quite good capabilities. Previously in Ningxia, wasn’t it that no one was willing to listen to him? But over these past few months, Zeng Pu has already gathered around him some people who previously hadn’t received much favor from General Wu. Although their influence isn’t great, compared to his circumstances when he first arrived in Ningxia, things have improved considerably.”

Although Ren Shimin wasn’t interested in such matters, the place where he spent his days was, after all, Yunyang Academy. Since ancient times, when scholars gathered together, aside from romantic pursuits, they loved to discuss political affairs and criticize current events. No matter how much Ren Shimin tried to ignore worldly affairs, being in such an environment, he inevitably absorbed information through constant exposure.

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi curved the corner of her mouth slightly, though there was no trace of amusement in her eyes: “No wonder Grandfather wants to agree to this marriage arrangement.”

Li Shi had also heard about Zeng Kui’s situation and wasn’t very satisfied with this marriage proposal either. She asked Ren Shimin somewhat hesitantly: “Master, is there no room for reconsideration regarding Hua’er’s marriage?”

Ren Shimin looked at the expressions on his wife’s and daughter’s faces and understood what they were thinking. He sighed and said, “Marriage arrangements for the younger generation have always been decided by the elders. Father probably won’t allow me to interfere. However, if you both disapprove of the Zeng family’s young master, I can go back and discuss it with Father.”

Although Third Master Ren felt that even if he expressed disagreement, Old Master Ren wouldn’t adopt his opinion, even though he was Ren Yaohua’s father.

Ren Yaoqi also knew that Third Master Ren’s words might not carry much weight with Old Master Ren, but hearing that he was willing to go back and fight for Ren Yaohua made her happy, and Li Shi was also very pleased.

The next day, Third Master Ren indeed made a special trip back to Baihe Town for the sake of Ren Yaohua’s marriage.

However, the result was exactly as they had expected. Old Master Ren merely listened and didn’t take the opinion of Ren Shimin, who was the father, seriously at all. After weighing the pros and cons, Old Master Ren felt that forming a marriage alliance with the Zeng family was a good choice. As for the attitude of the Yanbei Prince’s Manor, wasn’t there still the Su family, who also had marriage relations with the Zeng family? The Su family had been stable and peaceful all these years, and had even gained considerable favor from the Yanbei Prince’s Manor.

The conflicts between the court and Yanbei weren’t something that had developed overnight, and these conflicts couldn’t be resolved in a short period either. But the exchanges between Jiangnan and Yanbei had never been affected. Taking ten thousand steps back, even if someday the Zeng family and Yanbei Prince’s Manor became bitter enemies and this affected the Ren family’s marriage connection, the Ren family could simply abandon one daughter.

Old Master Ren’s calculations were quite shrewd. In the current unclear situation, he was hedging his bets on both sides, waiting until the situation became clear before taking a firm stance.

Since they had already anticipated Old Master Ren’s attitude, when Third Master Ren returned and discussed this matter with Ren Yaoqi, she wasn’t too disappointed.

However, when Ren Yaohua heard about it, she sought out Ren Yaoqi and said bluntly: “I heard that Grandfather has already decided to formally agree to the Zeng family’s proposal, and the betrothal will be arranged soon? I would rather cut off my hair and become a nun than marry someone like Zeng Kui.”

If it hadn’t been for that encounter with Zeng Kui at White Dragon Temple last time, Ren Yaohua might not have been so resistant to this marriage arrangement. But since she had already witnessed Zeng Kui’s true nature, asking someone as proud as Ren Yaohua to marry Zeng Kui and let him humiliate her would be worse than death for her.

Ren Yaoqi smiled and comforted Ren Yaohua, saying, “Third Sister, don’t worry. Such a thing will never happen.”

I swear I won’t let you marry into the Zeng family! Ren Yaoqi silently vowed in her heart.

That afternoon, when Ren Yaoqi had someone send a letter to Xiao Jinglin at the Yanbei Prince’s Manor, she included an unsigned letter.

By evening, Ren Yaoqi received a similarly unsigned reply.

Under the lamplight, Ren Yaoqi silently read through the letter once, thought for a moment, then threw the letter into the incense burner and burned it.

The next day, Ren Yaoqi proposed to Li Shi that she wanted to visit her maternal grandfather’s family.

When they had just moved here, the Rong family had sent someone to deliver some items—all homemade delicacies. Although Ren Shimin didn’t think highly of his in-laws, he understood propriety and had generous return gifts sent back. However, the interaction between the two families was limited to just that.

Li Shi had been thinking that in just over a month, it would be her mother Rong Shi’s birthday, and she would need to make a trip back to visit her parents then. So aside from sending gifts to the Prince’s Manor twice, she hadn’t returned to her maternal home.

Hearing that Ren Yaoqi wanted to visit her maternal grandparents made Li Shi happy in her heart. She knew that when Ren Yaoqi was in Yunyang City before, she had often visited Rong Shi.

Since she couldn’t frequently return to her maternal home for various reasons without inviting gossip, there was nothing wrong with Ren Yaoqi going.

So Li Shi immediately agreed and even prepared some food and medicinal materials for Ren Yaoqi to take over. Li Shi had originally wanted Ren Yaohua to go along as well, but Ren Yaohua said that the eldest daughter of the Lei family had mentioned she would visit in the next few days, and she was afraid that if both she and Ren Yaoqi were away when Lei Pan’er came and found no one home, she would cry and make a fuss. Though she knew that everything Ren Yaohua said was just an excuse, Li Shi could only sigh and say nothing more.

Ren Yaoqi took two trusted maids and went alone in a carriage.

The courtyard where the third branch of the Ren family now lived could be said to be at the southwest of Baoping Alley, while the Prince’s family residence was at the northwest of Baoping Alley, with the expansive Yunyang Academy between them. Although this distance wasn’t too far, it wasn’t close either.

After the carriage emerged from the alley in front of the Ren family home, Ren Yaoqi instructed the carriage driver: “Take a detour to Zhengyang Street. I need to stop at Fumanlou to buy two boxes of pastries to take along.”

The carriage driver didn’t suspect anything and turned the carriage toward Zhengyang Street.

Ren Yaoqi had left quite early. The area near Fumanlou on Zhengyang Street was mostly filled with teahouses, restaurants, and pastry shops. Since it wasn’t mealtime yet, it wasn’t as lively as during lunch hours, and there were considerably fewer people around.

Ren Yaoqi’s carriage first stopped at the entrance of Fumanlou. Ren Yaoqi sent away the two women servants who had come along, saying: “You go in and help me buy two boxes of pastries, all freshly made. It’s still early, so I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a while.”

The two women servants quickly said it was no trouble.

Ren Yaoqi had Pingguo count out some silver coins for them: “Fumanlou has tea and pastries inside. You can drink tea while you wait. I’ll go to the teahouse ahead and wait for you.”

The two women servants happily accepted the money and went off.

Ren Yaoqi then had the carriage driver move the carriage forward a bit more, then entered a side alley behind a teahouse and went in through the side door.

This teahouse catered to female customers, so it had a special entrance for ladies.

As soon as Ren Yaoqi got off the carriage, she saw Tongxi.

Logically, since this was a place without male customers, Tongxi’s appearance was somewhat unusual, but Ren Yaoqi showed no surprise whatsoever. This was because, aside from them, this teahouse had no other customers today.

Upon seeing Ren Yaoqi, Tongxi immediately came forward and bowed: “Fifth Young Miss.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded and gestured for him to lead the way.

Tongxi led Ren Yaoqi and her two personal maids to the second floor of the teahouse, then stopped in front of a private room.

Tongxi glanced at Ren Yaoqi, then stepped aside.