Although the romantic entanglements between the Jiang sisters and Second Young Master Yun caused quite a stir in Yunyang City, since Jiang Yuanniang and Jiang Xiniang weren’t Yanbei ladies after all, the matter gradually died down after they left Yunyang City. People were more concerned with which family would ultimately win the prize of Second Young Master Yun, this sought-after bachelor. However, because of this incident, the Yun family had also lost considerable face, so Yun Wenfang’s marriage was temporarily postponed.

As for Guo Yujiao, whose reputation had been damaged in this affair, she was taken back to Weizhou by her family not long after Jiang Yuanniang’s scheme to harm her cousin was exposed.

The Guo family elders were now filled with regret. The Qiu family had expressed interest in forming a marriage alliance with the Guo family two years ago, but Guo Yujiao’s mother had been somewhat hesitant at the time, wanting to wait until Qiu Yun passed the provincial examinations before formally settling the engagement. Qiu Yun had indeed lived up to expectations and achieved second place in this year’s autumn examinations. The Guo family was just beginning marriage negotiations with the Qiu family when this incident occurred. The Qiu family had gone silent, and this marriage prospect was falling through.

Not long after this matter passed, the New Year season arrived. On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Kitchen God Festival, Second Master Ren Yongxiang and his wife, along with Second Master Ren, returned to Yanbei. The eastern mansion of the Ren family’s old residence became lively again, though this liveliness gave Old Master Ren quite a headache.

All of the Ren family’s properties in the capital and Jiangnan had been completely squandered by the second branch, and squandered in a bewildering manner at that. Compared to their triumphant departure from Yanbei, the second branch of the Ren family returned this time like stray dogs.

Headache aside, Old Master Ren couldn’t very well throw Ren Yongxiang’s family out on the street, so he could only let them continue living in the eastern mansion, separated by just a wall.

Third Master Ren didn’t return to Baiheng Town with his wife and daughter until the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth month. When they went to pay their respects to Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren, they were refused entry. It turned out that since returning, the Ren Yongxiang couple had been making daily trips to the western mansion, with Madam Liao completely changing her previous confrontational attitude toward Old Madam Ren, saying all manner of pleasant things to Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren. Her words invariably hinted at wanting to return and jointly manage the family business with the first branch, working together through thick and thin.

Old Master Ren was so infuriated by their unreasonable demands that he nearly fell seriously ill. Old Madam Ren then used the excuse of Old Master Ren’s poor health to close their doors to visitors, refusing to see anyone who came.

Ren Yaoqi felt this was for the best – she could enjoy some peace without having to perform the daily charade of filial piety at Ronghua Garden.

Because of the second branch’s disruptions, the Ren family was destined not to celebrate this New Year properly. So after the third day of the New Year passed, Third Master Ren used the excuse of visiting relatives and friends to take his wife and daughter back to Yunyang City.

Although Ren Yaoqi had returned to Yunyang City, she knew the Han family would certainly take further action, so she left people in Yunyang City to monitor the Ren family’s movements. While she didn’t plan to interfere in the grudge between the Han family and the Ren family, she needed to ensure she had time to react appropriately when changes came.

After the New Year, Old Master Ren finally called Ren Yongxiang over for a discussion. Old Master Ren entrusted several coal yards in Shunzhou and Jizhou to the second branch to manage. Ren Yongxiang was naturally dissatisfied – he considered himself someone meant for great things, having originally managed half of the Ren family’s empire, but now he was reduced to being a mere manager of a few small coal yards. Ren Yongxiang inevitably harbored resentment toward his elder brother, and the two brothers parted on bad terms.

However, no matter how indignant Ren Yongxiang felt, he still swallowed his displeasure and accepted the coal yards Old Master Ren had given him. The second branch of the Ren family was no longer what it once was. Although his second son, Ren Shixu, still planned to make a comeback with his in-laws’ help and hadn’t returned with him this time, he understood that he couldn’t afford to antagonize the first branch at this juncture.

However, after the first lunar month, Ren Yongxiang handed the coal yard affairs to his subordinate managers, while he became enthusiastic about drinking and listening to opera with old friends. Old Master Ren hadn’t held much hope for him in the first place, and seeing that he wasn’t making a fuss about demanding another division of the Ren family property, he let him be, not reducing his annual allowance by even half a coin.

In mid-February, Prince Xian’s manor held a joyous occasion – the wedding of former Crown Prince Li Tianyou.

Prince Xian’s manor didn’t hold an elaborate wedding banquet, only sending invitations to families they had dealings with in recent years, keeping things much more low-key than Yanbei’s prominent families. The invitation listed Li Tianyou’s bride as “Miss Ji.” Most people in Yanbei didn’t know who this “Miss Ji” who seemed to appear out of nowhere was, but families familiar with that period of history, recalling the engagement Li Tianyou had once made, had their suspicions.

Regardless of how outsiders viewed Li Tianyou’s marriage, Li Shi was extremely happy that her younger brother was finally getting married. She even made several trips back to her natal family to help with the arrangements.

On Li Tianyou’s wedding day, Li Shi brought Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua back to observe the ceremony. Third Master Ren naturally couldn’t be absent at such a moment, so he finally stepped through his father-in-law’s door again.

Since Ji Fuying no longer had a natal family, Madam Rong arranged a residence outside for Ji Fuying to move into a few days early, so Li Tianyou could come to fetch his bride on the wedding day.

Ren Yaoqi stayed by Madam Rong’s side with Li Shi throughout. When someone came to report that the bride’s sedan chair had entered the alley, Ren Yaoqi saw Madam Rong’s eyes redden.

Although Li Tianyou’s wedding was low-key, families ranging from the Yanbei Prince’s manor to the Yun, Su, and Lei families – all prominent houses with significant influence in Yanbei – sent generous congratulatory gifts. Lei Ting, the family head, attended in person, and the Su and Yun families also sent representatives to the banquet. Compared to the cold reception of previous years, this situation was both surprising and moving. Some people judged from this that Prince Xian’s manor was likely not far from restoration.

Ren Yaoqi remained by Madam Rong’s side throughout, helping her receive the female guests, while Ren Yaohua stayed with Li Shi. Although Li Shi and her daughter were technically half-guests, since Prince Xian’s manor had so few masters, no one present would criticize this arrangement. Third Master Ren accompanied his father-in-law in receiving male guests outside.

The banquet had barely begun when someone came to report that the Yanbei Princess Consort and Princess had arrived, shocking everyone present.

Everyone knew that the Yanbei Prince’s manor had sent congratulatory gifts for the crown prince’s wedding, but no one had expected the Yanbei Princess Consort to personally attend the wedding banquet. Although the Yanbei Princess Consort had once come to Prince Xian’s manor to invite the Princess Consort to be the honored guest at the Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony, she hadn’t entered Prince Xian’s manor under public scrutiny, so her sudden attendance at Prince Xian’s manor’s wedding banquet still shocked many people.

Madam Rong’s face showed no sign of surprise. She rose to personally welcome them.

When the Yanbei Princess Consort appeared before everyone, they saw that she and Madam Rong entered hand in hand. Everyone present stood and respectfully greeted the Yanbei Princess Consort.

Madam Rong invited the Yanbei Princess Consort to take the seat of honor. As the Yanbei Princess Consort sat down, she saw Ren Yaoqi and, with a beaming smile, beckoned to her in full view of everyone: “Yaoqi, come here and sit beside me.”

Ren Yaoqi was startled and glanced at Madam Rong, who nodded at her. She then rose and sat between Madam Rong and Xiao Jinglin. Xiao Jinglin secretly winked at her, then resumed her expressionless, dignified, and aloof demeanor.

Everyone present had similar thoughts upon witnessing this scene.

Although many people knew that Fifth Miss Ren was not only on good terms with Princess Xiao but also enjoyed the Yanbei Princess Consort’s favor, they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes.

Throughout the banquet, the Yanbei Princess Consort was all smiles and often leaned down to speak quietly with Ren Yaoqi, making everyone even more certain that Ren Yaoqi was highly regarded by the Yanbei Princess Consort.

Naturally, the Yanbei Princess Consort couldn’t sit through the entire banquet like the other guests. After making her point, she left with an excuse. Madam Rong and Ren Yaoqi rose to see her off. Xiao Jinglin didn’t leave early, but after the Yanbei Princess Consort left, she sat beside Ren Yaoqi. Though she hardly spoke throughout the banquet, she silently drank most of a wine pot. Only when Ren Yaoqi signaled the maidservant to stop pouring did she desist.

When leaving Prince Xian’s manor, Xiao Jinglin waited to leave with Ren Yaoqi and insisted on having her ride in her carriage to escort her home.

Seeing Xiao Jinglin’s flushed face, Ren Yaoqi thought she was somewhat drunk from the wine and complied with her request to board her carriage.

They left later than the other guests. When they emerged, there were few carriages left in the alley. Li Shi and Ren Yaohua’s carriage was ahead, while Xiao Jinglin had her guards ride beside their carriage for protection.

After traveling some distance from Prince Xian’s manor, their carriage encountered a patrol of city guards.

Xiao Jinglin had the carriage stop. The leader of the city guards waved his subordinates forward while he dismounted and approached.

“This subordinate pays respects to Vice General Xiao!” The man performed a military salute toward the carriage with perfect form. Ren Yaoqi was startled before realizing he was addressing Xiao Jinglin as Vice General Xiao, and couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Jinglin with interest and curiosity.

Xiao Jinglin lifted the carriage curtain and nodded slightly at him: “Is there any situation?”

The man glanced into the carriage and, seeming to see that Xiao Jinglin wasn’t alone, hesitated: “This subordinate will report to the young master later. Could the Princess inquire then?”

Xiao Jinglin glanced at him and, apparently knowing his character, didn’t blame him but simply waved him away.

However, the man jogged after the carriage and stammered: “Princess, the, the weather is still cold. Please wear more layers when going out.” After a pause, he added bashfully in a low voice: “And Miss Hongying too.”