The Lei family’s unexpected move completely disrupted Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren’s calculations. With Old Master Ren still bedridden and unable to devise any countermeasures, Old Madam Ren was beside herself with anxiety.

Old Madam Ren was unwilling to accept this outcome, but the Lei family’s reasoning was quite sound. According to Lei family rules, Lei family sons could only take concubines after reaching forty without producing an heir—this was an ancestral precept of the Lei family. Even Lei Ting, as the family head, could not violate this rule, and Old Madam Ren could hardly argue with the Lei family ancestors. If Old Madam Ren had discreetly arranged a few chamber maids for Lei Ting, that would have been one thing, but she insisted on openly having both granddaughters marry into the Lei family simultaneously.

The person most anxious about this outcome was naturally Ren Yaoying. She had already torn her face with Ren Yaohua, making any reconciliation impossible. If she failed to marry this time, her legitimate mother would no longer show her any kindness, and as for Ren Yaohua’s methods…

Ren Yaoying began having nightmares again, night after night.

In her desperation, Ren Yaoying also considered striking first, having some substantial contact with Lei Ting before Ren Yaohua’s marriage to force him to accept her into the household. However, she had no opportunity to even see Lei Ting, let alone employ any underhanded schemes.

The Lei family was quite honorable. Although they refused the Ren family’s proposal for a concubine, they only declined privately without making the matter public. Unfortunately, paper cannot wrap fire, and since the Ren family hadn’t deliberately concealed the news beforehand, shortly after the Lei family’s refusal, the matter spread throughout the city like wildfire.

Initially, some people criticized the Lei family for not respecting their in-laws and deliberately embarrassing them. However, later on, the rumors that Zhou Rong had deliberately spread earlier took effect, and more people began to laugh at Ren Yaoying.

When the Ren family learned of this, they were also ashamed and angry. Now, the outside world was spreading increasingly unseemly stories about Ren Yaoying. Especially under Zhou Rong’s gloating and fanning of flames, most people in Yunyang City believed that Ren Yaoying had first taken a fancy to her brother-in-law and wanted to become a concubine in the Lei family, only to be ruthlessly rejected. Ren Yaoying had become a complete laughingstock.

When Ren Yaoying learned of this, she nearly fainted from anger. She went to Old Madam Ren, crying and making a scene, begging Old Madam Ren to seek justice for her. However, Old Madam Ren now had no time to deal with her. Seeing that Ren Yaoying’s entry into the Lei family was now a foregone impossibility, she turned her attention to those dowry maids and tried to curry favor with Ren Yaohua.

But the current Ren Yaohua could no longer be appeased by Old Madam Ren’s few kind words. After comparing everything, Ren Yaohua had realized who truly treated her with genuine sincerity.

In mid-July, Third Master Ren suddenly received an official appointment from the Yanbei Prince’s mansion. The Yanbei Prince’s mansion had commanded Scholar Sheng, Master Sheng Shihong, to oversee the compilation of a series of books about the geography, mountains, rivers, customs, and traditions of Yanbei’s sixteen prefectures, titled “Yanshan Geographic Records.” The participants included several civil officials from the Yanbei Prince’s mansion, some literary luminaries and scholars from Yanbei, as well as several masters from Yunyang Academy.

Third Master Ren was also on the selection list. Although he was not very old, his achievements in painting had impressed many people. Especially in the past year or two, perhaps due to his broadened state of mind, his artistic realm had also reached a new level.

This geographic and customs chronicle, to be edited by Master Sheng, would involve painting aspects, and the dean of Yunyang Academy had recommended Ren Shimin to Master Sheng.

“Yanshan Geographic Records” was an official document, so naturally, all participants needed official status. Although Ren Shimin was only temporarily seconded, he still secured a seventh-rank position.

When Ren Yaoqi received this news, she understood the meaning of the “opportunity” that Xiao Jingxi had mentioned earlier.

By participating in compiling “Yanshan Geographic Records,” Ren Shimin obtained an official position. Although it was normally just a nominal sinecure, it fundamentally changed his status. Moreover, through this transfer, Ren Shimin had essentially been gilded once more. Combined with the merit he had established when he went to the capital to participate in the literary competition, he would be able to prosper at Yunyang Academy in the future.

What Ren Yaoqi cared about, however, was that with Ren Shimin having official status, the third branch would find many things much more convenient in the future.

As for Yun Wenfang, there had been no news since he left the Ren family last time. Ren Yaoqi had previously worried he might pull some foolish stunt and had people watch for any disturbances in Yunyang City. Later, she learned that Yun Wenfang had left on business and was no longer in Yunyang City.

Xiao Jinglin had written to ask Ren Yaoqi about Yun Wenfang’s affairs, making Ren Yaoqi wonder if Yun Wenfang’s sudden departure might be related to the Yanbei Prince’s mansion.

It must be said that Ren Yaoqi still understood a certain someone quite well. How could Yun Wenfang’s visit to the Ren family escape Xiao Jingxi’s notice? It’s just that, given Xiao Jingxi’s character, he naturally wouldn’t learn from Yun Wenfang and run to Ren Yaoqi to seek attention—that wasn’t Second Prince Xiao’s style.

Meanwhile, Yun Wenfang was quite frustrated. He had returned to Yunyang City intending to have a showdown with the Yun family about his marriage prospects. Second Young Master Yun had indeed grown considerably in recent years. The Yun family and the families dependent on them controlled many businesses, with a large portion of profits coming from salt well operations and salt trading.

During his three years at the border, Yun Wenfang hadn’t just buried his head in charging into battle. Especially in this last year, Yun Wenfang had made many moves behind the scenes. He now had plenty of people under him and was the legitimate master of the Yun family, so the salt wells that the Yun family had originally obtained from the Su family were gradually being brought under his control.

This became Yun Wenfang’s bargaining chip in negotiations with the Yun family. Yun Wenfang didn’t intend to use a few salt wells to force the family elders to submit; he wanted the Yun family to recognize his capabilities and no longer dare to arbitrarily decide his matches.

It must be said that Second Young Master Yun’s direction was correct. Unfortunately, before he could find the right moment for a showdown with the Yun family, he received news that there were problems with those salt wells under his control. Although Yun Wenfang didn’t care about salt wells or not, this was a critical moment that didn’t allow him to ignore them. So Yun Wenfang left Yunyang City without another word.

Ren Yaoqi only knew that Yun Wenfang had left, but since no one informed her of the specific details and she didn’t deliberately inquire, she didn’t know the full story.

Ren Yaohua’s wedding date was set for August 29th. About a month before Ren Yaohua’s wedding, Third Master Ren sent people to bring Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua back to Yunyang City.

Old Madam Ren was unwilling to let Ren Yaohua return to Yunyang City. She still wanted to use this last opportunity to repair her relationship with Ren Yaohua, so she used the excuse that, with the wedding approaching, it was inauspicious to go out, refusing Third Master Ren’s request to take Ren Yaohua back.

However, after just a few days, the matchmaker employed by the Lei family came again. It turned out that the Lei family had strict rules and had specifically consulted an expert to calculate auspicious times and the route for the wedding procession before the bride-fetching ceremony. The result showed that the location of the Ren family’s old residence was positioned in direct conflict with the Lei family’s mansion. If Ren Yaohua were to board the bridal sedan from the Ren family’s old residence, it would be very inauspicious and would affect both families’ fortunes in the future.

It was normal for prestigious families to have more rules, but the Lei family’s repeated actions that troubled Old Madam Ren made her somewhat displeased. However, the Ren family dared not offend the Lei family, especially with Old Master Ren bedridden and unable to manage affairs. The current head of household, First Master Ren, advised Old Madam Ren not to worry about such ceremonial matters, while Ren Yaohua’s biological father, Third Master Ren, directly sent people to bring Ren Yaohua back to Yunyang City.

In the end, Old Madam Ren could only yield, reluctantly allowing Third Master Ren to take Ren Yaohua away. Third Master Ren had already received his appointment from the Yanbei Prince’s mansion and could now establish his household, so no one could find fault with Ren Yaohua marrying from Yunyang City.

However, although Old Madam Ren agreed to let Third Master Ren take Ren Yaohua away, she also sent all the dowry maids prepared for Ren Yaohua to Yunyang City. Additionally, Old Madam Ren sent one of her trusted nannies to Ren Yaohua—the same Nanny Maidong who had previously been sent to monitor Ren Yaoqi. Old Madam Ren took the indenture contracts of the dowry maids from Ren Yaoying and handed them to Nanny Maidong.

Ren Yaohua merely watched Old Madam Ren’s actions with cold eyes, expressing no opinions. When people were given to her, she kowtowed in thanks, then left with them without looking back.

After returning to the Ren family, Nanny Maidong and the eight dowry maids were all properly settled by Nanny Zhou. No one stopped Nanny Maidong from sending messages to White Crane Town, and everyone lived in peace. Even the issue of the maids’ indenture contracts that Nanny Maidong had previously worried about was never questioned, which greatly relieved her and made her extremely happy about her prospects.

On this day, Ren Yaoqi was doing embroidery with Ren Yaohua in Li Shi’s room when they suddenly received a letter from the Lei family, written by Lei Pan’er.

Lei Pan’er had suddenly stopped writing to the Ren family recently. Ren Yaoqi had written to ask her the reason, and Lei Pan’er had replied that her family had hired a teacher for her, and her aunt supervised her studies daily, so she had less time for letter writing. Since then, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had occasionally received letters from her. Lei Pan’er’s letters maintained her mischievous tone until Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua returned to White Crane Town, when Lei Pan’er’s letters became fewer again.

Today’s letter, however, was inviting Ren Yaohua to meet.

Lei Pan’er had often invited Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua to the capital to accompany her in conversation and play, so this letter wasn’t particularly unusual. It’s just that with Ren Yaohua’s wedding approaching, going out wasn’t very appropriate.

After considering for a while, Ren Yaohua planned to decline. Ren Yaoqi, however, held the letter thoughtfully.

“Let me go see Pan’er instead,” Ren Yaoqi said with a smile, stopping Ren Yaohua from replying.

Hearing this, Ren Yaohua frowned and said, “Better not go today. I find it strange that Pan’er would invite me out at this time. Since this is indeed Pan’er’s handwriting, let me first send someone to the Lei family to inquire.”

Ren Yaoqi naturally knew this matter was strange, which was precisely why she planned to meet Lei Pan’er.

Some things needed to be clarified now, or they would become more troublesome after Ren Yaohua married into the Lei family.

Seeing that Ren Yaoqi was still determined to keep the appointment, Ren Yaohua said, “Then I’ll come with you. Two people together make better companions.”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “I’ll ask the Princess to accompany me. The Princess has nothing to do and is quite idle these days.”

Hearing that Ren Yaoqi wanted to bring Xiao Jinglin along, Ren Yaohua felt relieved. Although she had never seen Princess Xiao in action, she knew her martial arts must be excellent. Moreover, on Yanbei territory, no one would dare harm a princess of the Yanbei Prince’s mansion.

So Ren Yaohua sent someone to find Xiao Jinglin.

Xiao Jinglin arrived quickly. During Ren Yaoqi’s time back in White Crane Town, Princess Xiao had been quite bored. Now that Ren Yaoqi had finally invited her out, she was naturally delighted.

Xiao Jinglin had ridden over with Hong Ying, but upon arriving at the Ren family, she left her horse there and got into the Ren family’s carriage with Ren Yaoqi.

Seeing that she had ridden a chestnut-colored horse today, Ren Yaoqi teased, “Is it called Little Red?”

Before Xiao Jinglin could speak, Hong Ying burst out laughing.

Xiao Jinglin glanced at her mount without changing expression and said, “This was randomly selected from the prince’s mansion stables. I don’t know what it’s called.”

Hong Ying, however, said, “Princess, isn’t this precious Liangshan horse named ‘Red Dragon’?”

Ren Yaoqi looked at Xiao Jinglin with amusement. Xiao Jinglin pretended not to hear and pulled Ren Yaoqi into the carriage.

Only after getting in the carriage did Ren Yaoqi look at Xiao Jinglin with a smile and say, “I suddenly remember something.”

Xiao Jinglin felt a bit uneasy under Ren Yaoqi’s gaze: “What is it?”

Ren Yaoqi propped her chin on her right hand and slowly blinked: “When we first met years ago, once when we were riding in a carriage together, you told me your first warhorse was one you raised from young. Its name was Snow Eagle.”

Xiao Jinglin: “…”

“Wasn’t it called Little White?” Ren Yaoqi said with a smile.

Xiao Jinglin said awkwardly, “Little White was her nickname. Snow Eagle was the name my master gave her.”

On this point, Xiao Jinglin wasn’t lying. Although she had only said that to deliberately divert Ren Yaoqi’s attention from pursuing those little names she had thought up, she had to admit, though reluctantly, that the little names she had conceived weren’t as pleasant as those Xiao Jingxi had come up with.

Ren Yaoqi was just joking with her and wouldn’t fuss over such trivial matters. After some playful banter, they moved on.

In her letter, Lei Pan’er had arranged to meet at a teahouse where they had often met before.

After the carriage arrived, Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin went directly through the back courtyard up to a private room on the second floor.

When they pushed open the door, they saw Lei Pan’er sitting properly at the round table in the center, swinging her little legs while gnawing on a piece of taro cake. A young woman in a lotus-green jacket sat beside her, watching her with a smile, holding a handkerchief ready to wipe her mouth at any moment.

When Lei Pan’er looked up and saw Ren Yaoqi, her eyes lit up. She quickly stuffed the taro cake in her hand into her mouth, then was about to get down and rush into Ren Yaoqi’s arms. But before she could leave her chair, the woman beside her caught her small body.

“Little ancestor, sit properly! Look at all the cake crumbs on your hands.”

Hearing this, Lei Pan’er felt too embarrassed to rush over and instead stood up to bow to Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin.

The woman beside her seemed surprised to hear that one of the visitors was a princess and also bowed to Xiao Jinglin according to protocol.

“Why didn’t Sister Yaohua come?” Lei Pan’er poked her head out to look around, then pouted at Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi patted Lei Pan’er’s head and smiled: “Your Sister Yaohua is confined at home by her mother to do embroidery. What, aren’t you happy to see me?” Ren Yaoqi pinched Lei Pan’er’s little nose.

Lei Pan’er’s nose tickled and she giggled while dodging, finally simply throwing herself into Ren Yaoqi’s arms and burying her head against her chest: “Pan’er wanted to see both of you.”

The woman beside her gently chided: “Pan’er, sit properly. Don’t be rude to Miss Ren.”

Ren Yaoqi, however, naturally took Lei Pan’er into her arms and smiled at the woman: “It’s fine. Pan’er is used to playing with us. If she were to be all proper, I’d feel uncomfortable instead. But may I ask who you are…?”

Properly speaking, in such situations, if this woman weren’t a servant of the Ren family, Lei Pan’er should have made introductions. However, Lei Pan’er was young and didn’t understand such etiquette, so no one had identified this woman.

“I am Pan’er’s aunt.”

Though Ren Yaoqi had already guessed her identity, she still acted as if she had just learned it. She looked around and, seeing only two small maids standing by to serve, asked: “Where is Pan’er’s wet nurse? Why don’t I see her?”

Little Qiao Shi frowned almost imperceptibly: “She’s old and returned to her hometown to retire recently.”

Ren Yaoqi seemed somewhat surprised, but Lei Pan’er said innocently: “Aunt discovered that my wet nurse was secretly embezzling Pan’er’s monthly allowance, so she had her go live on the estate.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

In her view, although Lei Pan’er’s wet nurse tended to take small advantages, she genuinely cared for Lei Pan’er. With Lei Pan’er still so young, dismissing her wet nurse like this wasn’t appropriate.

Little Qiao Shi seemed to guess what Ren Yaoqi was thinking and shook her head: “The Lei family entrusted Pan’er’s affairs to her because they trusted her, but she used this trust for personal gain. If she can betray her conscience for a bit of money today, she can betray her master for money in the future. I really couldn’t feel at ease having such a person around, Pan’er.”

Little Qiao Shi touched Lei Pan’er’s head with gentle, doting eyes. Lei Pan’er didn’t seem to dislike her and even smiled at her.

Ren Yaoqi let this topic pass and asked Lei Pan’er with a smile: “Does the little girl have some business today?”

Lei Pan’er nodded with a grin, then had a nearby maid bring several rolls of paper, spreading them on the table for Ren Yaoqi to see: “Sister Yaoqi, look at Pan’er’s paintings and calligraphy.”

Ren Yaoqi looked down and asked with some surprise: “You drew all of these?”

When Ren Yaoqi had previously seen Lei Pan’er’s writing, she had noticed great improvement, with far fewer circles marked above. But she hadn’t expected Lei Pan’er’s painting to improve as well, though she had only drawn simple flowers and plants.

Lei Pan’er nodded proudly, then put on a pitiful expression: “Pan’er practiced for so long that her hands almost swelled up.”

Little Qiao Shi said, “Only through hardship can one become superior. Can’t Pan’er even endure this small hardship?”

Lei Pan’er lowered her head in embarrassment.

Ren Yaoqi hadn’t forgotten her purpose for coming today. While chatting with Lei Pan’er, she inconspicuously observed Little Qiao Shi. Little Qiao Shi was quite beautiful, though her appearance was somewhat old-fashioned. Apart from a silver hairpin, she wore no other jewelry, making her look older than her actual age.

Her gaze never left Lei Pan’er, showing great concern and attention for her. Otherwise, nothing seemed amiss.

However, Ren Yaoqi still had doubts about Little Qiao Shi’s background, wondering why the Lei family would feel comfortable entrusting Lei Pan’er to her.

Xiao Jinglin, who had been silent, whispered in Ren Yaoqi’s ear while Little Qiao Shi was looking down to speak with Lei Pan’er: “The Lei family has people secretly watching. Right now, three people are monitoring this room, all experts.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi felt relieved.

Just then, as Little Qiao Shi was giving Lei Pan’er water, Lei Pan’er used too much force and spilled water on Little Qiao Shi’s clothes.

Little Qiao Shi had to go change out of her wet clothes first, instructing Lei Pan’er to be good and not mischievous before leaving.

Lei Pan’er obediently agreed.

After Little Qiao Shi left, Lei Pan’er stuck out her tongue cutely at Ren Yaoqi and whispered: “Aunt manages me in everything.”

Ren Yaoqi also whispered, “Do you like your aunt or not?”

Lei Pan’er hesitated for a while, then nodded and earnestly told Ren Yaoqi, “I heard that aunt looks like my mother.”

Ren Yaoqi patted Lei Pan’er’s head.

Lei Pan’er snuggled into Ren Yaoqi’s arms, then suddenly whispered: “Sister Yaoqi, I think aunt doesn’t like you and Sister Yaohua.”

Ren Yaoqi’s heart stirred: “Oh? Why does Pan’er think so?”

Lei Pan’er blinked and thought: “Aunt doesn’t like me writing letters to you. She doesn’t like me coming to see you. But today, for some reason, when I mentioned Sister Yaohua, she agreed to let me write, inviting Sister Yaohua to meet.”

Just then, Lei Pan’er heard footsteps outside. She quickly pulled a pouch from her waist and handed it to Ren Yaoqi, whispering quickly: “Sister Yaoqi, please help Pan’er give this money to my wet nurse. Tell her that compared to silver, Pan’er still prefers her.”

Ren Yaoqi put the pouch in her sleeve: “If you can’t bear to part with your wet nurse, why don’t you plead for her?”

Lei Pan’er shook her head.

At this moment, Little Qiao Shi returned, and Lei Pan’er said nothing more.