However, this time the situation was special. Old Madam Ren wanted to understand the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion’s attitude, so she thought of looking at the letter that the Princess had written to Ren Yaoqi.

But the old woman, who had been sent secretly, shook her head at Old Madam Ren.

It turned out that after Ren Yaoqi got into the carriage first, the old woman returned, using the excuse that Fifth Miss had left something in the study and she needed to go help Fifth Miss retrieve it.

Ren Yaoqi had left with her maid, Nanny Xu had gone to the back courtyard, and only a few second and third-class maids remained in the study. Ren Yaoqi had never issued any prohibitions regarding her study on ordinary days. Several senior maids and second-class maids who cleaned and served had entered before, and Ren Yaoqi had never deliberately hidden anything, so the maids didn’t find anything suspicious about this old woman.

The old woman rummaged through boxes and cabinets in the study for a long time but couldn’t find the letter. When she discovered a small locked drawer under the desk and wanted to use her hairpin to open it, Ren Yaohua came in with people.

Seeing the old woman’s behavior, Ren Yaohua flew into a rage, saying she was stealing and should be dragged away to be beaten with boards. In the end, the old woman could only say she was sent by Old Madam Ren to find something.

Ren Yaohua pressed her about what she was looking for, and knowing Ren Yaohua’s fierce reputation, the old woman could only confess.

But in the end, the old woman was still driven out by Ren Yaohua’s people. Ren Yaohua’s exact words were: “I don’t believe Grandmother would have you secretly do such disreputable things! If there was a good reason, wouldn’t Grandmother ask Fifth Sister directly? If it were truly something important, wouldn’t Fifth Sister give it to her? I think you’re just here to steal! But since you serve in my grandmother’s courtyard, I won’t punish you. Go back to my grandmother and receive your punishment yourself!”

The old woman returned alone, completely unable to resist the several people Ren Yaohua had sent to escort her out. In the end, she could only catch up with Ren Yaoqi’s carriage and return to report to Old Madam Ren.

When Old Madam Ren saw the old woman shake her head, she frowned and signaled her maid Shanhu to go over and ask in detail what had happened.

Meanwhile, Ren Yaoqi had already received a secret message that Ren Yaohua had someone deliver while she was in the carriage. She learned that Old Madam Ren had tried unsuccessfully to obtain the letters she had exchanged with Xiao Jinglin. Speaking of which, in her usual correspondence with Xiao Jinglin, she hadn’t mentioned anything about the Ren family, but there were some things in the letters that Ren Yaoqi didn’t want exposed for others to see.

However, she pretended to know nothing and replied: “I did receive a letter from the Princess a few days ago, and I also sent a reply to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. The Princess wrote about some interesting things that happened to her at Jiajing Pass, and also said she would return in about two months. Apart from that, there was nothing else.”

Shanhu came forward to tell Old Madam Ren that they hadn’t obtained the letters between Ren Yaoqi and the Princess. Old Madam Ren felt somewhat displeased and secretly blamed Ren Yaohua for being spoiled by her and acting willfully.

But at this point, Old Madam Ren couldn’t say much more. She could only temporarily set this matter aside and asked again: “Did the Princess not mention anything about our family in her letter?”

Ren Yaoqi looked puzzled: “What about our family?”

Old Madam Ren guided her patiently: “Did she say whether the Prince’s Mansion was dissatisfied with the Ren family in any way?”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “She never said anything like that. Grandmother, why do you ask?”

Seeing that she couldn’t get anything more out of her, Old Madam Ren glanced at Old Master Ren.

Old Master Ren’s expression had been serious throughout. Everyone present looked rather stern, and Ren Yaoqi made sure to show a trace of unease after noticing this.

Old Madam Ren persisted with Ren Yaoqi: “Could it be that you didn’t understand the Princess’s letter clearly? Perhaps she made some hints? How about this – tell me where you keep the letters, and I’ll have someone fetch them. Let Grandmother take a look for you.”

Ren Yaoqi frowned: “But the Princess doesn’t allow others to read her letters. Last time, when Second Young Master Xiao accidentally opened her letter by mistake, she flew into a terrible rage.”

Old Madam Ren said, displeasedly: “Then just don’t let her know!”

Ren Yaoqi lowered her head but shook it nonetheless.

Old Madam Ren had been feeling very unsettled lately, or rather, many people in the Ren family were feeling unsettled. When dealing with Ren Yaoqi, because of certain concerns, Old Madam Ren had still shown patience and a pleasant face.

However, seeing Ren Yaoqi dare to openly resist, Old Madam Ren still flew into a rage: “What’s wrong with letting Grandmother take a look?”

Third Master Ren couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up for Ren Yaoqi despite the pressure: “Mother, letters are private items. If both the Princess and Yaoqi don’t want others to read them, let’s forget about it. This wouldn’t be very respectful to the Princess. Even if Yaoqi doesn’t tell the Princess, she’ll still feel guilty when she sees the Princess later, and if the Princess finds out eventually, wouldn’t that be even worse?”

Old Madam Ren angrily pointed at him and scolded: “Shut up! What do you understand?”

Old Master Ren, who had been silent all along, slammed the table: “Enough! What’s all this arguing about!”

Old Master Ren glanced at Ren Yaoqi, who kept her head down in silence, then said gently: “If we’re not reading the letters, then we won’t read them. But Yaoqi, the Ren family needs you to help with something now.”

Ren Yaoqi looked up at Old Master Ren: “What is it, Grandfather? Please tell me.”

Old Master Ren nodded with satisfaction, then said: “You’ll return to Yunyang City shortly, then go to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion to pay respects to the Princess Consort. Remember her attitude toward you and every word she says to you, then come back and tell me.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded, then asked with some confusion: “But why?”

Lin Shi murmured from the side: “What else could it be? Someone dug up last year’s mine collapse incident and reported our family’s coal mines. Now all three of the Ren family’s major coal mines have been sealed with official notices.”

Ren Yaoqi heard this with her sharp ears and showed a dazed expression: “But what does this have to do with the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion?”

Eldest Young Master Ren Yiyan said quietly from the side: “In previous years, such incidents also occurred, but generally after settling the families of the deceased miners and offering some tribute to the officials, the matter would be passed over. This time, when Father and the others went to the officials to offer silver, the officials said nothing and just told Father to go home and wait for news. But Father had barely returned when official soldiers arrived at the mines and sealed them. Even several coal shops in Yanzhou were taken over by officials who began examining the accounts.”

Any family with coal mines – whose family’s coal mines hadn’t had accidents? But such things were truly unavoidable, and the deceased miners had all signed death contracts, so these matters were generally settled with silver.

But this time, the officials suddenly took action against the Ren family. If there wasn’t the intention of Yanbei’s ruling power behind it, the Ren family would never believe it.

Old Master Ren said, “Alright, go ahead. Even if I told you more, you wouldn’t understand. When you’re before the Princess Consort, no matter what her attitude is, you must behave obediently.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “I understand, Grandfather.”

Old Master Ren instructed Old Madam Ren: “Have someone prepare a carriage to send her back to Yunyang City.”

So Ren Yaoqi stayed at the Ren family’s ancestral home for less than half an hour before being sent back by the Ren family’s carriage, heading directly to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion.

Old Madam Ren also sent her maid, Shanhu, to accompany Ren Yaoqi.

When the carriage arrived at the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, Ren Yaoqi properly presented her calling card, requesting an audience with the Princess Consort.

Usually when Ren Yaoqi came to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, she actually didn’t need to follow these procedures. Today Ren Yaoqi followed the mansion’s proper etiquette.

However, Ren Yaoqi waited with Shanhu and the others outside the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion for nearly half an hour before a nanny came out saying that the Princess Consort had no free time today and would not receive visitors.