After coming out of Ronghua Garden, Ren Yaohua’s expression had been poor the entire time. Ren Yaoqi naturally knew what was troubling her, but she didn’t take the initiative to console her. Instead, Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but ask Ren Yaoqi: “In Grandmother’s heart, am I a woman who is calculating and shameless?”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi glanced at Ren Yaohua and then said flatly: “In Grandmother’s heart, being calculating and shameless isn’t considered a flaw, so why should you mind?”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua suddenly frowned deeply and glared at Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “You know my attitude, and you’re not unclear about what kind of person Grandmother is in your own heart, so don’t look at me like that.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaohua paused, then pursed her lips and said: “I grew up by Grandmother’s side. Even if she has countless faults… she has always been good to me.”

Ren Yaoqi said quietly: “Is that so? I hope it will continue to be so in the future.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, and Ren Yaohua didn’t hear clearly: “What?”

Just then, a gatekeeper’s wife led a maid hurriedly through the second gate. Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua both stopped and looked over, only to discover that the maid was Bi He, the head maid serving Fifth Madam.

After Fifth Madam and Ren Yaoyu were poisoned together last time, all the maids and servants around them had been replaced. This maid called Bi He was someone their mother Li Shi had Nanny Zhou train before sending her to serve Lin Shi. Later, Lin Shi was very satisfied with Bi He and kept her by her side.

Bi He came from the third branch and naturally recognized Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua. Upon seeing them, she immediately came over to pay her respects: “This servant greets Third Miss and Fifth Miss.”

Seeing the joy all over her face, Ren Yaoqi smiled and asked: “In such a hurry, is there some matter?”

Bi He immediately replied: “In response to Fifth Miss, it’s great news! Eighth Miss just woke up!”

“Eighth Sister woke up?” Ren Yaoqi was very surprised and delighted to hear this.

Ren Yaohua also said, “When did she wake up? How is her health? What did the physician say?”

Bi He said, “She woke up about two hours ago. The physician said that although Eighth Miss is still somewhat weak and cannot get out of bed and walk around, if she recovers well for another year, she can gradually recover. Fifth Master and Fifth Madam are overjoyed. Third Madam immediately went over after learning the news and sent this servant back to inform Old Master and Old Madam of this good news.”

Fifth Master hadn’t returned since moving out of the Ren family. He had opened his own brush and ink shop in Yunyang City. Although the storefront was small, with Ren Shimin’s help, he had connected with the external affairs steward of Yunyang Academy. With the academy as a major customer, his small shop’s business was naturally quite good.

It was said that recently, Ren Shimao was also planning to send people to collect fur goods from beyond the northeastern passes to do fur business.

Fifth Master Ren was using practical actions to show that he intended to establish his household. Old Master Ren was furious at his behavior and declared that the Ren family no longer had a person named Ren Shimao as Fifth Master.

After learning of this, Ren Shimao still went his own way and refused to bow his head and return to seek Old Master Ren’s forgiveness.

Because of this matter, Ren Yaoqi somewhat admired Ren Shimao, even though she hadn’t particularly liked this fifth uncle before.

Ren Yaoqi thought that since Li Shi had sent Bi He, Li Shi probably wanted to smooth things over, using Ren Yaoyu’s awakening to ease the relationship between the fifth branch and the two elders of the Ren family.

Although Ren Yaoqi felt that her mother’s efforts would be futile, she had to admit that after leaving the Ren family, Li Shi had become increasingly skilled at handling these household matters.

“Then you should go quickly,” Ren Yaoqi smiled and nodded at Bi He.

Bi He responded and happily headed toward Ronghua Garden.

“Should we return to Yunyang City to see Eighth Sister?” Ren Yaohua asked. Although she didn’t like Ren Yaoyu, she was happy that Ren Yaoyu had awakened.

Ren Yaoqi said, “Didn’t Grandmother say she wanted to keep us for two days? She probably won’t let us return to Yunyang City now.”

Old Madam Ren’s instruction about cultivating loyalty to the family clan among daughters about to marry wasn’t finished yet, so she kept them for two more days. Ren Yaohua frowned: “Eighth Sister waking up is a major matter.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi just smiled and didn’t argue.

Not long after they returned to Ziwei Courtyard, where they had been staying, Old Madam Ren sent someone over to carefully inquire whether they lacked anything and rewarded them with a pile of food, clothing, and trinkets. In the end, she indeed didn’t mention a single word about Ren Yaoyu waking up.

Ren Yaohua sent someone out to inquire and learned that after Bi He told Old Madam Ren the news of Ren Yaoyu’s awakening, Old Madam Ren only said very flatly that she knew, then dismissed the person. She also didn’t send anyone to Yunyang City to see Ren Yaoyu.

Ren Yaoqi felt that Old Madam Ren’s reaction was still considered “generous.” If it had been Old Master Ren, he would have thrown Bi He out.

Since the fifth branch was no longer part of the Ren family, they naturally couldn’t enter the Ren family’s main gate.

Ren Yaohua rarely sighed, sitting on the edge of the kang for a long while without speaking, not knowing what she was thinking.

On the second day after returning to Yunyang City, Old Madam Ren took the Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua sisters out to attend Old Madam Sun’s birthday banquet.

Now, whether it was Ren Yaoqi or Ren Yaohua, both were daughters who brought honor to the Ren family, so they naturally became Old Madam Ren’s most favored granddaughters. Taking them out to meet guests was perfectly normal. Ren Yaohua had often accompanied Old Madam Ren out to meet guests before, but Ren Yaoqi rarely encountered such “honor.”

Originally thinking this was just a banquet where the wealthy households of Baihe Town would compete and flatter each other, Ren Yaoqi hadn’t expected to encounter Miss Han Jia, Han You here.

Since Han Madam’s death, Han You had been living in seclusion. Even after her mourning period ended, she still rarely went out, so Ren Yaoqi hadn’t seen her for a long time.

After several years, Han You had also grown into a beautiful young lady. Her personality was still somewhat shy. She sat quietly in a corner listening to the surrounding young ladies talk, with a smile on her face, but didn’t interject.

She also saw Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, and was slightly stunned, hesitated for a moment, then got up to walk toward them.

“Are you Sister Yaohua and Sister Yaoqi from the Ren family?”

Ren Yaohua knew some things about the Han family and didn’t think much of the Han family members. When Han You took the initiative to greet them, she only nodded indifferently, though her attitude was already quite polite.

Ren Yaoqi had no ill feelings toward Han You and smiled while nodding, saying cordially, “Sister Han, I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

Seeing Ren Yaoqi show goodwill, Han You was very happy, her face slightly reddening: “I heard before that people from the Ren family would also come, and I was wondering which sisters I might encounter. By the way, I don’t know if Sister Yaoting will come today?”

Han You wasn’t familiar with many peers. The Ren family’s several daughters left deep impressions on her, especially Ren Yaoting, with whom she had the best relationship at the time.

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “My second aunt took Fourth Sister to Yunyang City, so she can’t come today.”

Hearing this, Han You’s face showed some disappointment, but she soon smiled shyly again: “It’s also very good to meet Sister Yaohua and Sister Yaoqi. I don’t know the people here.”

Ren Yaohua glanced at Han You and said to Ren Yaoqi: “I’ll go greet Miss Sun first. You should come over quickly, too.” After saying this, she nodded at Han You and walked away by herself.

Ren Yaohua didn’t want to make small talk with Han You.

Having encountered people like Ren Yaoyin, who appeared gentle and mild on the surface but were vicious and shameless inside, Han You’s shyness and timidity couldn’t win Ren Yaohua’s favor. Knowing people’s faces but not their hearts was a truth Ren Yaohua had already grasped, and she would never again be deceived by others’ appearances for the rest of her life. From this perspective, she needed to thank Ren Yaoyin.

After Ren Yaohua left, Han You quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Being a very sensitive person, she naturally sensed that Ren Yaohua was somewhat rejecting her. Since she wasn’t good at dealing with people, facing only the kind-hearted Ren Yaoqi made her more comfortable.

“Sister Yaoqi, shall we find a place to sit?” Han You looked at Ren Yaoqi and said carefully, as if afraid that Ren Yaoqi would refuse.

Hearing her speak as if she had something to say to her, Ren Yaoqi thought briefly, then nodded: “Sure, how about we go to the pavilion over there to enjoy the breeze? I’ve long heard that the Sun family’s lake is the best-designed in all of Baihe Town. I was just wanting to take a look.”

The Sun family was also one of the wealthiest households in Baihe Town. The Sun family’s residence was built in the style of southern gardens, complete with pavilions, towers, lakeside waterside pavilions – everything needed for hosting banquets.

Han You naturally agreed.

The two, each with their maids, slowly strolled along the shore of the lake that the Sun family had dug using manpower.

It was already evening. Although the sky wasn’t completely dark yet, the Sun family had hung red silk lanterns every three or four steps along the lakeside, making even the lake water glow red, looking very festive.