Since Ren Yaoying had spoken this way, Li Shi naturally couldn’t prevent her from fulfilling her filial duty. Ren Yaoqi was worried about Ren Yaohua, so she also accompanied them on the journey.

Upon returning to the Ren family residence in Baihe Town, the three sisters were immediately surrounded by a crowd of maids and elderly servants who had been waiting at the second gate, all escorting them to Ronghua Garden. Each of the maids and servants wore beaming smiles, showering the Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi sisters with eloquent compliments and extreme flattery.

One elderly servant said, “Old Madam has been missing Third Miss and Fifth Miss terribly. She sent us servants to the second gate early this morning to welcome you two. Coral, the girl by Old Madam’s side, has been coming over every quarter-hour to ask, saying Old Madam keeps mentioning you two and urging her to come out and look.” Her words didn’t mention Ren Yaoying even once, as if only Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had come.

Everyone in the Ren family knew about the grievances between Ren Yaohua and Concubine Fang and her daughter. Now, Concubine Fang had disappeared under disgraceful circumstances and had been expelled from the Fang family register, while Fang Yacun was gradually losing power within the Fang family. Meanwhile, one of the Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi sisters had a friendship with the Princess of the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion, and the other was about to marry into the Lei family as the head lady with unlimited glory. These maids and servants had all become shrewd and naturally understood how to curry favor.

Ren Yaoying fell back a step or two, with no one paying her any attention. Although she had mentally prepared herself before returning, when she encountered such neglect, her heart still ached as if someone were slowly stabbing her heart with a blunt instrument, the pain nearly making her faint.

She glanced at her two legitimate older sisters walking ahead and slowly clenched her fists as she lowered her eyes.

Old Madam Ren was in high spirits due to the joyous occasion, having swept away the haggard anxiety and unpredictable moods of the past period. When she saw Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua enter, she laughed heartily and beckoned to them: “Come here quickly, let Grandmother take a look at you.”

Just as Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were about to kowtow and pay their respects to Old Madam Ren, she pulled them each by the hand to sit down on the arhat bed. Ren Yaoying had originally followed behind to pay her respects as well. When Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were pulled up by Old Madam Ren, she wasn’t told to rise.

She bit her lip and could only kneel to silently complete her obeisance. When she rose, she saw Old Madam Ren pulling Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi close, calling them “good children” and “darlings” while inquiring about their well-being with great concern. Her gaze never lingered on Ren Yaoying for even half a moment. Her recent kowtow seemed as if she had also bowed to Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, making her feel extremely humiliated.

Old Madam Ren acted as if she hadn’t seen Ren Yaoying. Without receiving instructions, Ren Yaoying didn’t dare sit in a nearby chair. The roomful of maids and servants was all busy echoing Old Madam Ren and trying to please her, and no one reminded anyone that Ninth Miss was still standing without a seat. So Ren Yaoying could only stand there with her head lowered.

Seeing this scene, Ren Yaoqi sighed inwardly. She had witnessed such situations before, but they had all happened to her mother Li Shi. When Old Madam Ren favored Concubine Fang and suppressed Li Shi, she would often grant Concubine Fang a seat while turning a blind eye to Li Shi.

Now the tables had turned. Even before Ren Yaoqi had made a move to teach Ren Yaoying a lesson, Old Madam Ren had already jumped out to vent their anger, as if this could offset what had happened before. Unfortunately, Ren Yaoqi didn’t feel even the slightest bit of satisfaction; she only felt it was ironic.

Only after the grand performance of familial love and filial piety had finished did Ren Yaoying find an opportunity to interject and present the shoes and socks she had made for Old Madam Ren.

Old Madam Ren finally noticed Ren Yaoying’s existence, but her expression remained indifferent. She had a maid collect the shoes and socks Ren Yaoying had made. Forget about trying them on – she didn’t even glance at them.

“You may go now. I still have some things to discuss with Hua’er and Qi’er,” Old Madam Ren waved her hand dismissively, not granting her a seat and driving Ren Yaoying out directly.

Ren Yaoying had long since not wanted to stay there and humiliate herself. She obediently withdrew.

After Ren Yaoying left, Old Madam Ren also dismissed all the maids and servants from the room, leaving only Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi.

Seeing this situation, Ren Yaoqi knew that Old Madam Ren was about to reveal the purpose of calling Ren Yaohua back today. She was somewhat “flattered” that she was also kept behind.

Old Madam Ren stroked Ren Yaohua’s head and sighed: “My Hua’er has grown up in the blink of an eye, and Grandmother has also aged.”

Unlike Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yaohua still had deep feelings for her grandmother, who had always doted on her. Seeing that Old Madam Ren’s hair indeed showed several white strands, her nose couldn’t help but tingle as she took Old Madam Ren’s arm and chided: “Where has Grandmother aged? Grandmother is still so spirited!”

Old Madam Ren laughed heartily and patted Ren Yaohua’s head: “You only know how to make Grandmother happy. Everyone ages, and Grandmother is no exception. However, what makes Grandmother happy is that she can finally see my Hua’er have a good future before her eyes grow dim. Grandmother is content.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaohua felt both moved and somewhat embarrassed, which made Old Madam Ren’s smile even broader. She gently scratched Ren Yaohua’s nose teasingly: “Oh my, look what Grandmother has discovered! My Hua’er knows how to be shy now? Today, the sun truly rose from the west.”

Ren Yaoqi watched this interaction between grandmother and granddaughter with cold eyes from the side. She didn’t blame Ren Yaohua for being close to Old Madam Ren. Ren Yaohua was different from her. At least until now, Old Madam Ren had always played the role of a doting elder when facing Ren Yaohua. Although she would occasionally blame Old Madam Ren because of Li Shi, the affection cultivated over the years was still there.

Old Madam Ren spoke earnestly to Ren Yaohua: “However, Hua’er, you must remember that even after you leave this house, you will always be a daughter of the Ren family. Only when the Ren family prospers can you stand firm in your husband’s family. The Ren family is your most solid support. A woman without her maternal family’s backing is like duckweed without roots and cannot earn respect from her in-laws. Marriage alliances are bonds between two families and surnames. Supporting each other with shared interests is the proper way.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but let a cold smile appear at the corner of her mouth.

Indeed, it was this speech again.

Ren Yaohua was always with Ren Yaoqi now and understood her quite well, so although others hadn’t noticed, she caught the irony in Ren Yaoqi’s smile. She glanced at Old Madam Ren and nodded: “I understand, Grandmother.”

Old Madam Ren was very satisfied with her response. She would frequently mention such words, prioritizing the maternal family’s interests for Ren Yaohua in the future to ensure she remembered them firmly. Since Ren Yaoqi would also receive such education in the future, Old Madam Ren had her stay to listen to the instruction as well.

“By the way, I heard you’ve been quite close to that child from the Lei family?” Old Madam Ren asked.

Ren Yaohua nodded: “Pan’er sometimes writes to us and arranges to meet with us.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Ren couldn’t help but look at Ren Yaohua meaningfully: “So that’s how you met the Lei family’s eldest master?”

Ren Yaohua frowned and immediately said, “It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to visit the Lei family, so Pan’er usually arranges to meet us outside. She has always come to appointments alone. Master Lei, Master Lei has never accompanied her.”

Old Madam Ren joked teasingly: “Oh? So you’ve never met Lei Ting?” Now that Lei Ting had become the Ren family’s prospective grandson-in-law, Old Madam Ren directly addressed the Lei family head by name.

Ren Yaohua paused and said: “I’ve encountered him once or twice, all chance meetings, and we haven’t spoken.”

Old Madam Ren was also somewhat puzzled by Lei Ting’s sudden proposal. After all, many families wanted to form marriage alliances with the Lei family, and quite a few had better conditions than the Ren family. Moreover, not long ago, the Ren family’s coal mine had suffered damage, and they had divided nearly half their family property due to the family split. Although they hadn’t reached the point of decline, their vitality had certainly been injured.

Old Master Ren felt this was very likely due to the Prince of Xian’s mansion about to regain its status. Old Madam Ren, however, was wondering if Lei Ting had taken a fancy to Ren Yaohua. She had also secretly inquired and learned that Ren Yaohua had a good relationship with the Lei family’s eldest daughter and had met Lei Ting several times, even apparently speaking with him.

Now seeing Ren Yaohua’s denial, Old Madam Ren naturally didn’t believe it, but she didn’t expose her either. She just patted Ren Yaohua’s hand: “Alright, alright, Grandmother was just asking casually.”

Old Madam Ren thought for a moment and continued: “However, it would be best if you don’t meet with that Lei family child for now. Since you and Lei Ting are now engaged, you need to be mindful of propriety to avoid any gossip, which would be bad for your reputation. As for the child, you can just coax her after you enter their household.”

Old Madam Ren’s words carried dismissiveness toward Lei Pan’er, and Ren Yaohua felt uncomfortable hearing this. She was about to speak when Ren Yaoqi interjected first: “Sister has always been unable to refuse Pan’er’s invitations because she pities her for having no mother, sisters, or brothers. It’s not like she’s trying to get close to someone or use a child.”

Ren Yaoqi’s words stunned Ren Yaohua. Thinking carefully about the logic in Old Madam Ren’s words, wasn’t Old Madam Ren assuming that she had deliberately used schemes to get close to Lei Pan’er because she wanted to marry Lei Ting? Now that the marriage contract between the two families was established, Lei Pan’er naturally had no more value to exploit.

Ren Yaohua felt extremely disgusted and insulted.

Old Madam Ren patted Ren Yaoqi and scolded her dismissively: “Child, how can you speak like that! Grandmother was just reminding Hua’er. How could you interpret it that way?”

Although Old Madam Ren said this, there was still some poorly concealed discomfort on her face, and Ren Yaohua understood that Old Madam Ren had indeed meant exactly that.

She bit her lip. Although she didn’t say anything more, the emotion and attachment that Old Madam Ren’s touching words had evoked earlier had diminished considerably.

She was a proud person who couldn’t bear the thought that in someone else’s mind, especially in the mind of the grandmother she had always respected, she was a woman of such character.

Ren Yaoqi glanced at Ren Yaohua. Although she didn’t blame Ren Yaohua for being close to Old Madam Ren, she wasn’t pleased to see it either. For future considerations, it would be better to create distance between Ren Yaohua and Old Madam Ren, lest Ren Yaohua fall into a dilemma when facing choices between her maternal family and in-laws in the future.