But now that Xiao Qiao Shi had brought this up directly, Ren Yaohua found herself in a difficult position. To say that Yanbei didn’t have such customs would inevitably give Xiao Qiao Shi ammunition against her, especially in front of Lei Pan’er. But Ren Yaohua also couldn’t truly reopen the ancestral hall to perform the rites just because of Xiao Qiao Shi’s words. She was now the Lei family’s mistress and couldn’t allow a guest staying at the Lei family to usurp her authority, lest she be looked down upon.

Lei Ting frowned and was about to speak when Ren Yaohua glanced in his direction, stopping his intended words. She knew that at this moment, she couldn’t let Lei Ting rescue her from this situation.

Just then, Lei Pan’er spoke up in confusion: “What are the concubine’s rites?”

“Pan’er, come here. Let the second uncle take you back to pack up your little things first?” Lei Zhen is called Lei Pan’er.

Lei Pan’er looked at the adults in the room. Though young, she could sense something was wrong with the atmosphere. As she hesitated about leaving with Lei Zhen, Xiao Qiao Shi said coldly with pursed lips: “Why is Second Master Lei so eager to take Pan’er away? Pan’er is the only flesh and blood my sister left behind, and she should rightfully be present at this time.”

Even the good-tempered Lei Zhen was displeased now. Lei Pan’er was just a child – how could such matters be discussed in front of a child?

But before Lei Zhen and the others could stop her, Xiao Qiao Shi directly explained to Lei Pan’er: “Concubine’s rites mean that Madam needs to kowtow and pay respects to your mother’s memorial tablet. Those who enter the family later must follow the proper rules, just like the principles of respecting elders and distinguishing between legitimate and concubine-born children.”

Once Xiao Qiao Shi said this, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat frozen.

Lei Pan’er turned to look at Ren Yaohua and fell silent.

Xiao Qiao Shi couldn’t help but curve her lips slightly, about to step forward and pull Lei Pan’er to her side, when Lei Pan’er suddenly looked up and said: “My mother wouldn’t do that.”

Xiao Qiao Shi’s expression stiffened: “What?”

Lei Pan’er said seriously: “Though Pan’er has somewhat forgotten what mother looked like, Pan’er knows mother was a very kind and good person. Everyone in the household says so, too, so Mother would never make things difficult for someone Pan’er likes. Just a few days ago, Pan’er dreamed of her. Pan’er told mother that Sister Yaohua was going to become Pan’er’s mother, and mother said she would bless us from heaven. She also said Sister Yaohua was a good person and told me to be obedient from now on.” By the end of her words, Lei Pan’er’s eyes were already filled with tears, and she began to sob quietly.

Naturally, a child like Lei Pan’er couldn’t have thought up such words on her own. It was just that her wet nurse had always told her that her birth mother’s spirit in heaven would surely bless her, and Lei Zhen often taught his little niece that when the new mother entered the family, she must listen to her mother obediently. That’s why Lei Pan’er would dream of Qiao Shi saying these things to her.

Seeing Lei Pan’er like this, Ren Yaohua’s heart ached terribly. She quickly pulled Lei Pan’er to her side, carefully embracing her and gently comforting her, while feeling utterly disgusted and revolted by Xiao Qiao Shi. Adults scheming against each other was one thing, but involving a child, Ren Yaohua, now, couldn’t believe that Xiao Qiao Shi truly cared for Lei Pan’er. She secretly resolved never to let Xiao Qiao Shi get close to Lei Pan’er again.

However, Lei Pan’er’s words just now had warmed Ren Yaohua’s heart. Though Lei Pan’er might not understand what she had just said, she had timely helped Ren Yaohua out of her predicament.

Lei Ting couldn’t appropriately rescue Ren Yaohua at this moment, but Lei Pan’er could.

Xiao Qiao Shi’s expression was very ugly. She hadn’t expected Lei Pan’er to say such things. Usually, when she said anything, Lei Pan’er never contradicted her, but now she was doing so for an outsider. Xiao Qiao Shi felt very hurt.

Lei Ting stood up and said coolly, “Pan’er, go back with your mother first. Second brother, come with me to the outer courtyard to handle some matters.” With that, Lei Ting strode out with his long legs, his face showing no emotion.

Seeing that Lei Pan’er had stopped crying, Ren Yaohua took her hand and walked out, not even glancing at Xiao Qiao Shi.

Xiao Qiao Shi opened her mouth, looked at Lei Pan’er, and hesitantly started to follow, but was blocked by Xiangqin, who squeezed forward.

Xiangqin looked at Xiao Qiao Shi with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, though her manner of speaking was very respectful and polite: “Concubine, please stay. Right now, our Madam is taking our young miss back to the main courtyard. Given your status, following along might be somewhat inappropriate, don’t you think? After all, that place is still considered the bridal chamber! This servant will have someone escort you back. Oh, if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask – don’t be polite. Since you’re temporarily staying at the Lei family, you’re naturally our Lei family’s honored guest, and we’ll certainly treat you well.”

By this time, Ren Yaohua had already taken Lei Pan’er and walked ahead. Xiangqin glanced from the corner of her eye, then forced a smile and lowered her voice: “However, since you are a guest after all, doesn’t the saying go ‘guests should follow their hosts’? So, in order not to trouble the host family, could you perhaps not be too casual during your stay at our Lei family? Tsk, you’re so familiar with everyone – it puts us in a difficult position sometimes! Guests should act like guests! Someone as knowledgeable about all those complicated ‘etiquette rules’ as you surely can’t fail to understand these principles, right?”

Listening to this bold servant’s lecture, Xiao Qiao Shi’s face went white with anger: “You…”

Taking advantage of no one watching, Xiangqin rolled her eyes most inelegantly and said viciously in a low voice: “That’s right, this servant is indeed being snobbish and bullying others with her master’s power! Who told you to be dependent on others, yet still so arrogant? With no money and no backing, if I don’t step on you, who should I step on?”

Xiao Qiao Shi was nearly driven to faint by these words and raised her hand to slap Xiangqin’s face. Xiangqin originally raised her hand to block, but seeing some Lei family maids and servants approaching from the corner of her eye, she quickly switched to a pitiful expression on the verge of tears: “Concubine, please don’t be angry. Our Madam only took the young miss back first because she felt sorry for her – she didn’t mean to slight you by having a lowly servant like me attend to you. Please don’t scold our young miss for not knowing proper etiquette. This servant apologizes to you.”

The Lei family maids and servants who saw this all looked at Xiao Qiao Shi with her raised hand ready to strike, their eyes showing disapproval. They all recognized Xiangqin as the head maid brought by their mistress – one must consider the master when beating the dog. Moreover, judging from the maid’s words, Xiao Qiao Shi’s temper seemed rather excessive. Did she think she was the Lei family’s master?

Xiangqin didn’t look at Xiao Qiao Shi’s expression, curtsied to her, and walked away with a sad and aggrieved look, leaving Xiao Qiao Shi unable to defend herself.

Xiangqin strutted proudly to catch up with her mistress, and before going far, she saw Wujing waiting for her. Seeing her smug appearance, Wujing knocked her on the head and warned: “Restrain yourself a bit! Don’t cause trouble for our mistress!”

Xiangqin’s nose was practically pointing skyward: “Hmph! Any random cat or dog dares to make our miss suffer! This servant won’t rest until I’ve thoroughly dealt with her!”

Wujing helplessly glared at Xiangqin but couldn’t help laughing: “Where did you learn all that?”

Wujing and Xiangqin had grown up together and had a great understanding. Seeing Xiangqin block Xiao Qiao Shi earlier, she knew she was definitely up to mischief, so she had been standing nearby keeping watch. Seeing her make Xiao Qiao Shi tremble with rage also gave her great satisfaction.

Xiangqin pulled Wujing toward the main courtyard while waving her hand: “It’s just the old ‘curry favor with the powerful and step on the weak’ routine! Which servant doesn’t know how to read the situation? It’s just that I’m usually too kind-hearted to stoop to such things!”

Wujing nearly choked on her shamelessness.

Ren Yaohua didn’t know that her fierce maid had already secretly vented her anger for her. She simply took Lei Pan’er back to the main room.

“Pan’er, would you like to live in the main courtyard with your father and me from now on?” Ren Yaohua sat down with Lei Pan’er on the southern kang and looked down to ask her.

Lei Pan’er’s eyes were still red. Hearing this, she nodded, her voice soft: “Yes.”

Ren Yaohua stroked her head.

“Mother, is Auntie unhappy?” Lei Pan’er fingered the tassels on Ren Yaohua’s skirt and asked gloomily.

“Why would she be unhappy?” Ren Yaohua asked.

Lei Pan’er pouted: “Because auntie has always wanted me to move over and live with her, but I never went. And when I said those words just now, she seemed very angry.”

Ren Yaohua was somewhat curious: “Doesn’t Pan’er like auntie? Why didn’t you agree to live with her?”

Lei Pan’er frowned and thought for a long time, then shook her head: “I don’t know. Daddy didn’t agree either.”

Ren Yaohua sighed and stroked her head again. Lei Pan’er was so well-behaved and sensible that it was heartbreaking.

In the afternoon, after Ren Yaohua had the west wing tidied up, she had Lei Pan’er’s belongings moved back. Though Lei Pan’er was small, she had quite a lot of things, all prepared for her by her second uncle Lei Zhen over the years. Just the small dolls carefully sewn by the maids filled two boxes, showing how much Lei Zhen truly doted on this niece. No wonder Lei Pan’er was closer to her second uncle than to her father.

Thus, on Ren Yaohua’s second day after marrying into the Lei family, Lei Pan’er moved back to the main courtyard, causing all of Xiao Qiao Shi’s schemes to come to nothing. And whether or not Xiao Qiao Shi had been provoked by Xiangqin, she remained quiet for two consecutive days, not only failing to ask to see Lei Pan’er, but not even leaving her room, reportedly falling ill. Ren Yaohua even had a physician brought to the estate to treat her.

On the third day came the occasion for Ren Yaohua’s three-day return to her natal family.

Early in the morning, Lei Ting took Ren Yaohua and Lei Pan’er to the Ren family home in Treasure Vase Alley.

As soon as Ren Yaohua entered the room, Ren Yaoqi looked over her complexion. Seeing her bright eyes and rosy face, the flowing light in her eyes when exchanging glances with Lei Ting, and her subtle shyness, the last stone in Ren Yaoqi’s heart finally settled.

Afterward, Lei Ting went with Third Master Ren to the study to play chess, while Lei Pan’er was taken by Shui Ai and Xiangqin to the back courtyard to pick pomegranates. Li Shi kept Ren Yaohua in the room for an intimate conversation. Ren Yaoqi also naturally stayed, sitting to the side and smiling as she listened to Li Shi’s detailed inquiries without offering her own opinions.

When the family was dining together, Ren Yaoqi heard Lei Ting casually mention to Third Master Ren that the Dowager Consort of Yanbei Prince’s mansion was planning a grand celebration for her sixtieth birthday this year.