Second Miss Yun, Yun Qiuping, was a very introverted person by nature. Ren Yaoqi had seen her many times before, and each time she saw her following close behind Third Miss Yun Qiufang, inseparable from the Yun family’s third miss. So, although Yun Qiuping had quite decent looks and dressed no worse than the other two Yun family misses, she was the one with the least presence.

When the three sat together, Yun Qiuping never initiated conversation. When Ren Yaoqi invited her to sit, she would sit; when offered tea, she would pick up the tea bowl; when told which refreshment tasted good, she would try it. Perhaps Consort Dowager Yun also knew that Second Miss Yun was the type who wouldn’t speak even if beaten with three sticks, which is why she didn’t have them go there to chat, but rather to practice calligraphy.

After settling her guest, Ren Yaoqi dutifully followed Consort Dowager Yun’s instructions and found a copy of the “Lotus Sutra” to transcribe.

Yun Qiuping also took out a scripture and quietly began copying. Xiao Jinglin wrote a few strokes, then set it aside, pulling out a military strategy book from somewhere and sitting to the side, reading it alone.

Since none of the three in the outer room spoke, the voices from the inner warm pavilion came through clearly.

“The Han family has already come to propose marriage?” Consort Dowager Yun asked.

Old Madam Yun said quietly, “Yes, Consort Dowager. After discussing with the old master, we’ve decided to have Qiuping marry into the Han family.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but glance at Yun Qiuping. Although Yun Qiuping continued to keep her head down writing, her face had reddened, and there was an undisguisable joy in her eyes and brows.

Consort Dowager Yun asked: “Wasn’t it said before that Qiuchen would marry into the Han family? Why has it changed?”

Yun Qiuping’s face suddenly paled somewhat.

Both Old Madam Yun and Second Madam Yun fell silent for a moment, and Yun Qiuping couldn’t help but shift her eyes, looking quite uneasy.

After a while, Old Madam Yun sighed, her tone somewhat strained: “Qiuchen… her left ear still can’t hear, and… and both the old master and I feel it’s better to let her rest at home for a while before discussing marriage. I know you’ve always been very fond of Chen’er, Consort Dowager. It’s her lack of ambition, and this incident has made things difficult for you and the Princess Consort. Both her grandfather and I feel very ashamed.”

It was impossible for Old Madam Yun not to feel heartache over what Yun Qiuchen had become. The Yun family had invested so much thought and energy in cultivating Yun Qiuchen, only to end up in this situation. If not for Consort Dowager Yun’s presence, the entire Yun family might have been implicated. The current Yun Qiuchen was no different from a useless piece in the Yun family. Even for something like marrying into the Han family for alliance, the Yun family hadn’t chosen Yun Qiuchen. At this critical juncture, the Yun family worried that the Han family might have opinions and was even more concerned about other aristocratic families laughing at them.

Consort Dowager Yun also sighed but didn’t mention Yun Qiuchen again. Yun Qiuping finally breathed a sigh of relief and continued copying her scripture with her head down. However, Ren Yaoqi glanced at Yun Qiuping’s writing and felt that by the standards Consort Dowager Yun had previously required of her, Second Miss Yun’s scripture copying would… definitely be disdained by Consort Dowager Yun.

Later, the Princess Consort asked, “Wenfang is getting married next month. Is the Yun family prepared?”

Old Madam Yun said, “Every family has established procedures for happy occasions. Just following the procedures, there isn’t much special preparation needed.” Even Old Madam Yun, who extremely doted on Yun Wenfang, didn’t want to mention this grandson now. She only hoped he would honestly marry Miss Meng and settle his heart afterward, causing less trouble for the family.

The Princess Consort smiled: “If there’s anything you need help with, just come and let us know.”

Old Madam Yun hurriedly thanked her politely.

They discussed Yun Qiuping’s and Yun Wenfang’s marriages, but no one mentioned Yun Wenting’s, as if they had all tacitly forgotten about it.

Afterward, they chatted about other trivial matters, all family gossip. Finally, perhaps seeing that Consort Dowager Yun, who was accustomed to afternoon naps, was getting tired, Old Madam Yun and Second Madam rose to take their leave. Their main purpose in coming today was to discuss the marriage alliance between the Yun and Han families with Consort Dowager Yun.

Consort Dowager Yun didn’t insist they stay longer.

When Old Madam Yun and Second Madam emerged from the warm pavilion, only then did Yun Qiuping put down her brush and stand up, walking to Second Madam’s side.

Second Madam’s face also bore a smile, presumably pleased that Consort Dowager Yun hadn’t opposed Yun Qiuping marrying Han Yunqian, though she hadn’t spoken a word throughout.

Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin also rose.

Old Madam Yun smiled kindly at them: “Continue with your writing, don’t get up.” When Old Madam Yun faced Ren Yaoqi, her smile didn’t change by a fraction, as if Ren Yaoqi had no grievances or entanglements with her grandsons and granddaughters.

The Princess Consort remained inside, attending to the Old Princess Consort’s rest. Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin insisted on escorting Old Madam Yun out of Lanxi Hall before returning.

Second Madam must have been truly happy today. When people are happy and there are no outsiders around, they tend to talk more.

As soon as the Yun family’s carriage left the Prince of Yanbei’s manor, she smiled and said: “This newly entered young madam of the Prince of Yanbei’s manor is indeed beautiful. Especially now, she’s even more radiant than the previous few times I saw her. I imagine even the famous Noble Consort Wan in her youth was no more than this.”

The second Madam was truly opening the wrong pot to lift. Old Madam Yun’s face immediately darkened as she scolded: “Shut your mouth!”

Second Madam was stunned and immediately lowered her head, acknowledging her mistake submissively.

Old Madam Yun pointed at her and scolded: “How did I teach you back then? If a person is neither smart nor good at speaking, they should try not to open their mouth – this is called concealing one’s inadequacies! You did well for over ten years before, and you must continue to do well in the future! Don’t think that because your daughter is getting married, you can let your temperament float up again.”

Then Old Madam Yun turned to look at Yun Qiuping: “I taught your mother this way back then, which is why she hasn’t made any major mistakes these years and has walked smoothly to now. Now I’m teaching you the same thing! Remember these words firmly! Even after marrying into your husband’s family, you must be like this!”

Second Madam responded with red eyes and grievance, and Yun Qiuping also bit her lip and lowered her head in agreement.

Looking at them, Old Madam Yun sighed with some fatigue: “Don’t resent me – I’m doing this for your good. Clever people think they can get everything they want with their little bit of cleverness, but often end up outsmarting themselves and meeting bad ends. Instead, foolish people, as long as they act carefully and control their mouths, usually end up with good outcomes. You, mother and daughter, can’t be considered clever people, so pretend to be wise through great foolishness.”

Speaking of which, Old Madam Yun’s approach could be considered teaching according to individual aptitude. When Second Madam first married into the Yun family, she wasn’t like this. She loved to talk, but what she said wasn’t particularly pleasant to hear, causing quite a few embarrassing incidents. Old Madam Yun was very strict with her daughters-in-law. She spent time severely training Second Madam, and gradually Second Madam stopped speaking much in front of others. However, no more jokes about Second Madam Yun being dull and simple-minded circulated outside.

Second Miss Yun wasn’t always so wooden and introverted when she was small. However, her temperament followed her mother’s, even including the aspect of not being clever or good at speaking. As soon as Old Madam Yun noticed this tendency, she began preventing problems before they occurred, strictly training Second Miss Yun.

Regardless of whether Old Madam Yun’s methods were too harsh and unfeeling, at least the most well-behaved and obedient miss recognized throughout the Yun family was now Yun Qiuping. When others commented on Second Miss Yun, although they couldn’t say too many good things, her obedience was undeniable.

So, despite Yun Qiuping’s usual quiet demeanor, among those who previously wanted to form marriage alliances with the Yun family but couldn’t reach Eldest Miss Yun, more families preferred Second Miss Yun over Third Miss Yun.

Once the Yun family left, Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin returned to Lanxi Hall, only to discover that Consort Dowager Yun hadn’t gone for her afternoon nap but was still sitting on the southern kang in the warm pavilion, talking with the Princess Consort.

When Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin returned, Consort Dowager Yun looked up at them and suddenly beckoned a maid over, instructing: “Bring me all the scriptures they copied earlier to look at.”

The maid responded and quickly brought in the papers with writing from the table in the outer room.

Ren Yaoqi glanced at Xiao Jinglin, who looked up at the sky expressionlessly.

Sitting on the southern kang, Consort Dowager Yun picked up the papers and flipped through them, selecting four sheets and pointing to them as she asked Ren Yaoqi, “Did you write these?”

The Princess Consort leaned over to look and smiled slightly, lowering her head to drink tea.

Ren Yaoqi also leaned over to look and nodded: “Yes, Consort Dowager, though I only copied five pages.”

Consort Dowager Yun glanced at her without saying anything, placing Ren Yaoqi’s papers on the low table beside her. She then looked up at Xiao Jinglin: “Where are yours?”

Xiao Jinglin: “…”

Consort Dowager Yun had expected this and said nothing, but when she looked down at the remaining two sheets in her hands, she couldn’t help but frown: “Did Yun Qiuping write these?”

Ren Yaoqi replied: “Yes, Consort Dowager.”

Consort Dowager Yun looked at them twice more, then shook her head and sighed.

The Princess Consort smiled: “You should rest now. It’s already past your usual nap time.”

Consort Dowager Yun nodded. Elderly people tend to sleep lightly at night and habitually rise early in the morning, so Consort Dowager Yun was accustomed to taking a half-hour afternoon nap.

The Princess Consort had people attend to Consort Dowager Yun as she lay down, then said to Ren Yaoqi: “You continue staying here to copy scriptures. Jinglin and I will go back first.”

With her eyes closed, Consort Dowager Yun said, “Go back today. Come an hour later than today tomorrow.”

Ren Yaoqi agreed, and the Princess Consort took both Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi away.

After leaving Lanxi Hall, the Princess Consort smiled at Ren Yaoqi: “Congratulations on passing the Consort Dowager’s test. From now on, she can feel at ease having you copy her scriptures.”

Ren Yaoqi blinked.

The Princess Consort smiled: “Do you know why the Consort Dowager had you go next door to copy scriptures?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “I didn’t know before, but after what you’ve said, Mother, I think I understand somewhat.”

The outer and inner rooms of the warm pavilion were only separated by a hollow antique shelf and a curtain, which couldn’t block out conversation at all. Yet the Consort Dowager arranged for the three of them to copy scriptures next door precisely to test their composure and sincerity.