Expulsion from the clan was a serious matter, traditionally reserved only for those who had committed shameful wrongs that brought disgrace to the family and earned the contempt of clan members—the disloyal and unfilial. For a person’s reputation, this was a major stain.
Ren Shimin had never been a reliable head of household, but the scholarly concepts of “benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness” were deeply ingrained in his bones. So, although he had initially looked down on his father-in-law’s family, he hadn’t prevented Li Shi from providing them assistance. This time, when their residence was surrounded by officials because of Prince Xian’s mansion, he also hadn’t blamed Li Shi.
He was a simple and pure person, so he couldn’t understand why his family would expel him from the clan for no reason.
“This is… why?” When Third Master Ren asked this question, there was some anger and some bewilderment in his voice.
Ren Yaoqi asked the gatekeeper woman: “Which master from the Ren family came?” There had to be a Ren family member present for it to be convincing.
“The Third Branch’s Old Master came with several masters, and the Eldest Master also came, though he stood to the side without speaking.”
The Third Branch’s Old Master was the concubine-born brother of Ren Yonghe and Ren Yongxiang, who had been separated early and only had contact during holidays and festivals. However, because the Third Branch had always depended on the main branch, the Third Branch people had always been subservient to Ren Yonghe as the family head. So this time, they were again pushed forward by the Ren family to handle the matter of expelling Ren Shimin from the clan.
The Eldest Master was Ren Shimin’s legitimate older brother, Ren Shizhong.
Hearing that Ren Shizhong had also come, Ren Shimin said: “I’ll go ask my elder brother what exactly is happening.”
As Ren Shimin was about to walk out, he was stopped by Ren Yaoqi: “Wait, Father, I have something to tell you.”
Though Ren Shimin felt troubled and anxious, he still stopped: “You go back to your mother first. I’ll go see your uncle and ask them what exactly is going on.”
Ren Yaoqi signaled for the gatekeeper woman to withdraw first, and when Nanny Zhou said she wanted to go out and look, she stopped her. Nanny Zhou then stood behind Ren Yaoqi.
Only then did Ren Yaoqi say to Ren Shimin: “Father, I know what’s happening.”
Ren Shimin frowned and looked at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi sighed: “Maternal grandfather’s family has disappeared, and we’re surrounded by soldiers. Grandfather and Grandmother are afraid of being implicated by us.”
Ren Shimin couldn’t help but be stunned: “Didn’t you say earlier that nothing serious would happen?”
Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “Nothing serious will happen, but Grandfather and Grandmother have always been cautious… Father, do you remember what happened with Fifth Aunt and Eighth Sister back then?”
Ren Shimin immediately remembered the matter of the Ren family not allowing Lin Shi and her daughter to return home, which had caused Fifth Master Ren to leave the Ren family. He had originally thought his fifth brother was being somewhat extreme, but now that it was his turn, he also felt that uncontrollable anger.
“Just for this baseless matter, they want to expel me from the clan?” Ren Shimin found it hard to believe.
Ren Yaoqi nodded: “Abandoning pawns to protect the king…”
Ren Shimin’s face alternated between red and white—he had never been this angry in his entire life.
Ren Yaoqi comforted him: “Father needn’t worry too much. I guess when the guards outside withdraw and the rumors outside die down, Grandfather and Grandmother will welcome us back.”
Ren Shimin pressed his lips together, was silent for a moment, then said coldly: “I’ll go find my elder brother to ask clearly. If the Ren family wants to expel me from the clan over this matter, then in the future… in the future I won’t go back either.”
Third Master Ren had never been good-tempered. He had the common faults of scholarly gentlemen—pride and stubbornness. Face was more important than heaven to him, and once his sensitive spots were touched, he wouldn’t give face even to the King of Heaven. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have met such an end in the previous life.
This time, Ren Yaoqi didn’t stop Ren Shimin. When he was about to walk out of the courtyard gate, she instructed Nanny Zhou: “Nanny Zhou, you follow and take a look.”
Nanny Zhou acknowledged and was about to leave when Ren Yaoqi glanced at her: “You know what should and shouldn’t be said, right?”
Nanny Zhou was startled and asked probingly: “Fifth Miss’s meaning is…?”
Ren Yaoqi said calmly: “That matter when Third Sister got married—you don’t want it to happen again, do you?”
Nanny Zhou was shocked, pondered briefly, then immediately understood Ren Yaoqi’s meaning. Fifth Miss wanted to use this opportunity to completely break away from the Ren family?
“Maternal grandfather’s family has now gone to Hezhong. No one knows what will happen next. You surely understand how Grandfather and Grandmother conduct themselves. If they’re used by people with ulterior motives in the future, the consequences would be unthinkable.”
Upon hearing this, Nanny Zhou felt a chill in her heart and immediately said: “Yes, Miss, this servant knows what to do.” After saying this, Nanny Zhou hurriedly walked out, wanting to catch up with Ren Shimin.
Nanny Zhou was someone who came from Prince Xian’s mansion. Her loyalty to Prince Xian’s mansion far exceeded her loyalty to the Ren family. So she understood that her task today was to make the Ren family feel that their branch was in a very dangerous situation, to make the Ren family’s expulsion of them a fait accompli. Different paths cannot work together—this in-law family would only bring endless troubles to Prince Xian.
Ren Yaoqi knew that with Nanny Zhou there, this matter would succeed. She didn’t follow to watch but turned to go to the main hall to accompany Li Shi.
Li Shi was waiting for Nanny Zhou to return and report. Ren Yaoqi roughly explained what had happened outside. After hearing this, Li Shi was stunned for a long while, finally sighing: “I’ve implicated your father again.”
Ren Yaoqi didn’t speak.
Li Shi smiled bitterly and continued: “No one understands why I insisted on marrying him. Because they don’t know, but I know—your father is a good man. The first time I met your father, I was probably about your age. That year, during the Lantern Festival, your uncle secretly took me out to see the lanterns. Because there were too many people on the street, I was pushed by the crowd and bumped into your father, nearly making him fall. Guess what the first thing he said to me was?”
Speaking of this, Li Shi seemed to think of something amusing. The smile on her face made her look about ten years younger, returning to that Lantern Festival from over ten years ago.
“What did Father say?” Ren Yaoqi was somewhat curious—this was the first time she’d heard her mother talk about her and Father’s young days.
Li Shi smiled: “He said, ‘Miss, you’ve damaged my painting.'”
Li Shi remembered that young man frowning with an unhappy expression, glaring at her while protectively holding his scroll.
“I had gotten separated from your uncle and was very frightened. Since I had just arrived in Yanbei and didn’t even know the way back, seeing that he had the appearance of a scholar and didn’t seem like a bad person, I asked him to help me find your uncle.” Young Li Shi couldn’t avoid judging by appearances either. Among so many passersby around her, she specifically approached Ren Shimin, who was looking at her with displeasure, perhaps because young Ren Shimin was handsome.
“Did he help you find him?” Ren Yaoqi asked, tilting her head.
Li Shi nodded and smiled: “Yes, he did.”
Though Ren Shimin’s expression was very unpleasant at the time, he still sent his servant to help her find Li Tianyou. Li Shi from over ten years ago, having just arrived in Yanbei, still seemed to carry some of a Princess Consort’s willfulness. Seeing that Ren Shimin was willing to help her, she asked him to wait with her, saying she had just been targeted by some ill-intentioned people and was afraid of encountering danger.
Ren Shimin was quite impatient at the time and maintained a three-step distance, unwilling to get closer. However, until his servant found Li Tianyou and brought him over, he never left her alone.
Young and naive Li Shi had thought at the time: This young master is truly a good person.
While mother and daughter were reminiscing, Ren Shimin and Nanny Zhou returned.
Ren Shimin was the first to lift the curtain and enter. His expression was very unpleasant, expressionless, with even his eyes cold. Everyone in the Ren family knew that Third Master Ren was frightening when angry, but this was only the second time Ren Yaoqi had seen him this angry. The last time she’d seen her father like this was when the Ren family wanted to send her to a eunuch as a concubine.
Seeing him like this, Li Shi didn’t dare speak. She silently picked up the tea bowl she had just used from the low table and handed it to Ren Shimin. After Ren Shimin took it, he violently smashed the tea bowl to the ground. Li Shi glanced at the shattered tea bowl, her posture very submissive.
Ren Yaoqi stood to the side without speaking. She could roughly guess what had happened outside.
Nanny Zhou also quickly entered. She glanced at Ren Yaoqi and lightly nodded, then lowered her head and stood to one side, not hurrying to have someone clean up the broken tea bowl on the ground.
After Ren Shimin had smashed a tea bowl and sat down, Li Shi had a maid bring fresh tea. This time, when she received the tea bowl, she tested the temperature with her hand as usual before handing it to Ren Shimin again.
After receiving the tea, Ren Shimin didn’t smash it again. He removed the bowl cover, took a sip, then said calmly: “From now on, our branch will establish our household and have no more connection with the Ren family. Pass down the word—from now on, address me as ‘Master,’ not ‘Third Master’ anymore.”
Li Shi and Nanny Zhou paused, both obediently responding “Yes.”
Ren Shimin said nothing more, only silently finished the cup of tea, then put down the tea bowl and wordlessly rose to leave the main hall for his study.
Only then did Nanny Zhou instruct Xi’er to have people clean up the floor, then report to Ren Yaoqi and Li Shi what had happened outside.
The Ren family people had just publicly enumerated Third Master Ren’s crimes outside: arrogance, extravagance, disrespect for elders… listing them one by one, depicting Third Master Ren as utterly evil.
Third Master Ren had stood expressionlessly at the gate listening until they finished their accusations, his gaze fixed on Ren Shizhong, who stood to the side without saying a word. Eldest Master Ren Shizhong didn’t dare meet Ren Shimin’s eyes.
Finally, Ren Shimin asked his brother: “Is the Ren family truly going to be so heartless?”
Ren Shizhong opened his mouth, finally saying somewhat awkwardly while looking away: “I’ll go back and try to persuade Father and Mother again.”
Ren Shimin stubbornly asked: “Is the Ren family truly going to expel me from the clan over these baseless charges?”
Ren Shizhong fell silent.
Ren Shimin stared at him for a long while, then nodded: “Then so be it. From now on, I’m no longer a member of the Ren family.” After saying this, he turned and walked away.