As for whom she had given the fabric to, Ren Yaohua didn’t say in front of the steward, and seeing her expression, Liu Gui didn’t ask further.

“You may go rest first.” Lei Ting nodded to Liu Gui, who immediately bowed and withdrew.

After Liu Gui left, Lei Ting said, “I’ll have someone send her to the estate to live tomorrow morning.” Lei Ting also knew exactly who was behind the mischief.

Ren Yaohua was silent for a moment, then nodded and said frankly, “That would be good, to avoid completely ruining even the little familial affection that remains in the end. I’ll maintain her food, clothing, and expenses at the same level as when she lived in the mansion.”

Little Qiao Shi living here was inappropriate to begin with. It was only because Lei Pan’er, having lost her mother at a young age, had some childish attachment to Little Qiao Shi, who resembled her birth mother, and because Lei Ting was somewhat suspicious of Little Qiao Shi’s sudden appearance in Yunyang City, that he had kept her under his watchful eye.

Lei Ting noticed the tiredness in Ren Yaohua’s eyes and stepped forward to take her hand, leading her toward the inner chamber. “Tomorrow’s matters can be handled tomorrow. It’s getting late – let’s rest.”

Ren Yaohua, who had originally been thinking about how to confront Little Qiao Shi the next day, saw the bed in the inner chamber covered with mandarin duck brocade quilts. Looking at Lei Ting holding her hand, her face reddened.

Lei Ting looked back at her, his eyes carrying some amusement but saying nothing. After the couple had removed their outer clothes and lay in bed, Ren Yaohua obediently moved forward to untie Lei Ting’s robes as she usually did when they were intimate, but Lei Ting caught her hands and held her in his embrace.

With his eyes closed, Lei Ting said, “Be good, your husband is tired. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Ren Yaohua: “…”

Realizing she had been teased, Ren Yaohua was indignant and kicked Lei Ting hard, eliciting a series of deep, pleased laughter from him.

Ren Yaohua’s previously troubled mood unknowingly improved, and she unconsciously fell into a deep, dreamless sleep in Lei Ting’s arms.

The next day, Ren Yaohua took her maids, matrons, and Steward Liu Gui to the courtyard where Little Qiao Shi lived.

Little Qiao Shi was having her morning meal. On the kang table were four main dishes, four cold plates, four refreshing side dishes, and a bowl of bird’s nest soup stewed with rock sugar. Little Qiao Shi’s food, clothing, and expenses were maintained at the same standard as those of Lei Ting and Ren Yaohua in the main courtyard.

Little Qiao Shi reluctantly rose to greet Ren Yaohua, who walked to the main seat and sat down without emotion. “Please finish your meal first.”

With Ren Yaohua sitting there and a group of maids and matrons waiting outside, Little Qiao Shi felt uneasy and couldn’t eat anymore. She hastily drank a few sips of bird’s nest soup and had the food cleared away.

“Are you accustomed to Yanbei’s cuisine?” Ren Yaohua had tea served and asked as if making casual conversation.

Little Qiao Shi glanced at her. “I’m accustomed to it. Thank you for your concern, Madam.”

Ren Yaohua smiled. The cook currently used in the mansion is from the south. If you like her cooking, I’ll have her accompany you to serve at the estate.”

Upon hearing this, Little Qiao Shi looked up sharply. “What estate?”

Ren Yaohua continued as if talking to herself. “I heard you enjoy bird’s nest soup in the morning? All the bird’s nest in the mansion is specially obtained by my Fifth Uncle from the south – it can’t be bought elsewhere. I’ll have some sent to you every ten days from now on.”

Little Qiao Shi looked at Ren Yaohua and sneered coldly. “You want to drive me away?”

Ren Yaohua looked at Little Qiao Shi over and somehow suddenly thought of Concubine Fang. Ren Yaohua dimly realized that if Fang Shi had possessed Little Qiao Shi’s temperament and methods back then, she and her mother and sister wouldn’t have been pushed to such extremes. So there were differences between people, and differences between enemies as well.

Ren Yaohua didn’t think deeply about it, but actually, Concubine Fang had played a very important role in her growth. Without such a formidable enemy as Concubine Fang watching her like a tiger all these years, she wouldn’t have been forced by Ren Yaoqi to become who she is now.

And if it were the former Ren Yaohua who was straightforward and reckless, the situation between her and Little Qiao Shi, who deliberately opposed her and constantly provoked her, would not be like today’s. The current Ren Yaohua was still straightforward, but only with her close ones. When facing someone like Little Qiao Shi, Ren Yaohua always remembered her status as the mistress of the Lei household and wouldn’t be foolish enough to lower herself by pouncing on every provocation like a snarling animal as she had in her youth.

So if Little Qiao Shi had truly been sent to the Lei family by someone, that person behind the scenes must have had some understanding of Ren Yaohua’s temperament. Unfortunately, that person hadn’t anticipated that Ren Yaohua had changed.

“How could that be? You are an honored guest of our Lei family. As long as you’re willing to live in the Lei residence, my husband and I welcome you.” Ren Yaohua spoke unhurriedly. “It’s just that some strange things have happened in the mansion lately – they say it’s haunted. Having you move to the estate is also for your good.”

Little Qiao Shi didn’t appreciate this gesture upon hearing it. “Even if it is haunted, the ghost would seek revenge on the enemies it finds displeasing. I’ve done nothing wrong – what should I fear?” Little Qiao Shi looked at Ren Yaohua with sarcasm.

Ren Yaohua wasn’t angry at her pointed words and merely instructed Wujing, who stood behind her, with a calm expression.

Wujing responded and left, soon returning with a matron carrying the paper figure from last night, placing it in front of Little Qiao Shi.

Little Qiao Shi instinctively stepped back. “Ren Yaohua, what do you mean by this?”

Ren Yaohua said nothing. Xiangqin, standing behind her, grinned and said, “Concubine doesn’t know what this means? Please do us the favor of examining this paper’s figure of clothing. Do you know what kind of fabric this is?”

The jacket on the paper figure was very roughly made, just sewn into the shape of clothing.

“Isn’t it just ordinary fine cloth?” Little Qiao Shi glanced down dismissively. Although she came from a wealthy family, she couldn’t compare to the Lei and Ren families. Ordinary households naturally wouldn’t use this cloud brocade that looked no different from regular fine cloth but cost dozens of times more.

So when she had sewn this jacket, she had only thought about how to hide her needlework and had found what she thought was the most ordinary fine cloth. Seeing that many maids and matrons in the Lei household also used this fabric for undergarments, she hadn’t thought much of it.

Xiangqin’s disdain was unconcealed as she muttered in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, “That’s why they say daughters should be raised in luxury, to prevent them from being narrow-minded and making jokes when they go out.”

Before Little Qiao Shi could get angry, Ren Yaohua coldly glanced at Xiangqin, suppressing the little maid’s triumphant arrogance.

Wujing quickly spoke up to help Xiangqin out of the awkward situation. “Concubine, this is cloud brocade, not ordinary fine cotton cloth. One bolt of this fabric could be exchanged for twenty bolts of silk. Our madam received four bolts of cloud brocade and had two bolts sent to you, with two more still stored in the warehouse.”

Upon hearing this, Little Qiao Shi’s expression changed, and she couldn’t speak for a moment. She knew Ren Yaohua wouldn’t lie about such things. Finally, she could only grit her teeth and deny it. “No matter how precious this fabric is, surely it exists elsewhere? Are you trying to say I was playing ghost tricks?”

Xiangqin couldn’t help but secretly roll her eyes. “Whether it exists elsewhere, we don’t know. But you certainly only have the two bolts my madam gave you. Why don’t you bring out those two bolts of cloud brocade and let everyone see if they’re still there?”

Little Qiao Shi naturally couldn’t produce them, and her face alternated between red and white.

Ren Yaohua suddenly smiled. “Concubine, you misunderstand. I don’t believe you would do such things either. So I think perhaps you clash with this Lei residence, attracting some spirits to give warnings. Otherwise, how could the fabric given to you end up on it? That’s why I’m having you stay at the estate for a while. This is good for both you and everyone else, don’t you think?”

Little Qiao Shi was furious inside, but couldn’t find words to refute for the moment. She had heard that when Ren Yaohua was a young woman, she had a very impulsive and easily angered temperament, brave but lacking in strategy. But now she felt that Ren Yaohua was an extremely scheming woman.

If Ren Yaohua hadn’t pretended to be ill these past few days, acting as if she feared ghosts and spirits, Little Qiao Shi wouldn’t have thought to frighten her again, hoping to make her bedridden with illness. In the end, this was just Ren Yaohua’s trap – where was there any fear of ghosts and spirits!

Little Qiao Shi didn’t want to leave, but couldn’t find a reason to stay. Ren Yaohua didn’t give her time to think carefully. Having said what needed to be said and unwilling to waste more time with Little Qiao Shi, she directly instructed Steward Liu Gui and his wife, who were waiting outside, to come in. She ordered them, “While the weather is good today, help Concubine move early. All the furnishings and staff in this courtyard that Concubine finds useful should be taken with her. If anything else is needed, just let me know. If the mansion doesn’t have it, we’ll buy it outside. We must ensure Concubine is satisfied.”

The Liu Gui couple immediately agreed.

Ren Yaohua politely nodded to Little Qiao Shi. “I have other matters today and won’t see you off later. I hope you don’t mind.” After saying this, Ren Yaohua walked out.

“Wait, I want to see Pan’er.” Little Qiao Shi suddenly softened her voice and pleaded.

Ren Yaohua paused and asked Steward Liu’s wife, “You’ve studied some feng shui. Tell me, if Concubine has been tainted by evil spirits, can she see the young miss?”

Steward Liu’s wife bowed her head respectfully and replied, “Children are all delicate. It’s better to avoid such things.”

Ren Yaohua nodded, her calm voice carrying some regret. “Then there’s no other way.” She then walked away without looking back.

While everyone was busy with their tasks and no one was paying attention nearby, Xiangqin smiled with her lips but not her eyes and whispered to Little Qiao Shi, “Someone like you who doesn’t even recognize cloud brocade… this servant just wants to say, being poor isn’t wrong, but trying to corrupt children – that’s your fault! This servant begs you to spare our young miss!”

After insulting her, Xiangqin walked away triumphantly, perfectly embodying a smug maid who loved to fawn over the powerful and step on the weak.

Little Qiao Shi had already suffered at Xiangqin’s hands. This time, although she was so angry she wanted to tear that mouth apart, she ultimately endured it without acting, even though her face was already twisted with suppressed rage.