At this moment, another nanny came running in and nearly collided with Ren Yaoqi. After hastily performing a bow and apologizing, she rushed toward Eldest Young Master Ren Yiyan. Ren Yaoqi recognized her as the managing nanny by her eldest sister-in-law’s side, which made her feel slightly suspicious.

After avoiding the crowd, Ren Yaoqi turned to the woman behind her and asked, “What happened? Why haven’t Third Sister and the others returned yet?”

Upon hearing this, the woman moved closer and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Fifth Miss, Third Miss is still at the lavatory over there. Fifth Madam and the others have also returned there just now. It’s Ninth Miss who had an accident.”

Ren Yaoqi’s heart jumped in alarm, and the woman continued on her own accord, “Ninth Miss doesn’t like having people follow her when she uses the lavatory, so today she also dismissed everyone and went to the privy alone.”

The woman’s expression was somewhat strange, as if she wanted to laugh but was desperately trying to hold it back. “Everyone waited outside for a while, when suddenly they heard a scream from inside the lavatory. The maids and women outside rushed in immediately, and Eldest Young Madam, Miss Han, and others who were washing their hands in the adjacent outer room also came over. But they saw… they saw Ninth Miss somehow sitting collapsed on the floor of the privy with her eyes closed, screaming incessantly. She had also overturned the chamber pot, and her entire body… her entire body was filthy beyond description.”

How could this happen? Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but be astonished.

Even when they went out normally, the lavatories were clean and tidy with little odor, precisely because besides having incense, the chamber pots were constantly cleaned and filled with fine sand. When being particularly elaborate, they would even pour in mercury.

So chamber pots were generally very heavy. How could Ren Yaoying possibly overturn one? Moreover, it was a chamber pot full of filth.

“Why was Ninth Sister in such a state?” Ren Yaoqi asked.

The woman also looked puzzled upon hearing this, “After Eldest Young Madam went in, she quickly ordered Ninth Miss’s women and maids to help her out. Only then did everyone hear that Ninth Miss seemed to be shouting ‘there’s a snake’ in her mouth. Eldest Young Madam immediately ordered people to search the entire lavatory from top to bottom, but they found nothing.”

“How could there be snakes in such cold weather?” Ren Yaoqi frowned.

The woman also nodded, “Exactly! Everyone searched everywhere, not sparing even the roof and corners, but they didn’t see a snake, not even a rope that looked like a snake. So everyone says Ninth Miss is possessed, or perhaps she offended some deity, not only seeing things she shouldn’t see but also pouring filthy water on herself.”

Ren Yaoqi remained noncommittal about the possession theory. “Didn’t Fifth Aunt come out first?”

“Fifth Madam did bring Eighth Miss and the others out first, saying they wanted to walk along the riverbank for some fresh air. Later, when they heard the commotion at the lavatory, they all went back. They’re still there now helping Eldest Young Madam with the aftermath.” Though the woman said Fifth Madam had returned to help with the aftermath, her expression showed disapproval. Lin Shi already hated Concubine Fang and her daughter to the extreme; not adding fuel to the fire would already be considered decent.

“Would you like to go have a look, Fifth Miss?” the woman asked, her tone somewhat gloating. The people around Li Shi from Ziwei Courtyard all looked unfavorably upon Concubine Fang’s side, so seeing Ren Yaoying suffer misfortune, they couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and shook her head, “I won’t go over. Third Sister and the others should be back soon.”

Thinking that she had said earlier she would come out to welcome her sister-in-law and the others, Ren Yaoqi casually strolled around outside.

When she walked to the shed where the servant women were resting, two people quickly approached her.

Ren Yaoqi turned to look and saw the young man called Yuan Dayong, who had been with Zhu Ruomei earlier. Secretly pulling him back was a middle-aged man around forty years old. Seeing the middle-aged man’s appearance, Ren Yaoqi realized he was probably Yuan Dayong’s father, Steward Yuan, who worked in the outer courtyard’s affairs office of the Ren residence.

“Your humble servant Yuan Zhi pays respects to Fifth Miss.” Steward Yuan bowed to Ren Yaoqi. Though Yuan Dayong didn’t speak, he also respectfully bowed behind his father.

Ren Yaoqi looked at Yuan Zhi and nodded with a smile.

Though Yuan Zhi had refined features and wore a short goatee, despite being just a minor steward, he carried himself with the bearing of a scholar.

Ren Yaoqi thought that his willingness to risk his connections to help Zhu Ruomei showed he must be a person of upright character.

“Your humble servant has brought my unworthy son to apologize.” Yuan Zhi glanced at his son and bowed again to Ren Yaoqi. “Earlier, it was my son’s improper behavior that disturbed Fifth Miss. Fortunately, Fifth Miss is magnanimous and didn’t hold it against him. You wretch, come kowtow!” The last sentence was directed at Yuan Dayong.

Ren Yaoqi raised her hand to stop Yuan Dayong’s movement and smiled at Yuan Zhi, “He merely took a wrong turn by chance. In the end, he also avoided me in time without actually colliding with me. It’s not a serious matter. Steward Yuan is making too much of a small issue.”

Yuan Zhi looked at Ren Yaoqi, then at his son, and finally had him step back behind himself.

“Thank you, Fifth Miss.” Yuan Zhi thought for a moment, then hesitantly said, “That person Zhu—”

Before he could finish, Ren Yaoqi gently interrupted, “As I said, it was just taking the wrong path. It’s not a serious matter.”

Only then did Yuan Zhi breathe a sigh of relief. He had just heard from his son that he and Zhu Ruomei had barged into a place where male servants were forbidden and had an argument, and they encountered the Fifth Miss of the Ren family. Though his son said Fifth Miss didn’t blame them, he still felt uneasy.

He knew that Zhu Ruomei’s status meant he shouldn’t have participated in the ice sports competition. Because his son came to plead with him, and seeing that Zhu Ruomei’s mother was seriously ill and truly needed a lot of money, he had asked the head steward, with whom he had a good private relationship, to let Zhu Ruomei replace another guard who had coincidentally injured his leg.

This matter could be big or small. If the higher-ups investigated, not only would Zhu Ruomei and his son lose their positions, but even the head steward who had done him this favor would suffer consequences.

So he quickly lowered his head and said happily, “Yes, yes, yes, your humble servant understands. Thank you, Fifth Miss.”

Ren Yaoqi also understood that while Yuan Dayong had told his father about their argument being witnessed by her, he had concealed the fact that she had rewarded Zhu Ruomei with one hundred taels of silver.

Ren Yaoqi looked at the father and son, then suddenly smiled, “However, such things can happen once but not twice. I know that Steward Yuan is kind-hearted and managed this affair once, but if you encounter someone who’s more particular about rules, I’m afraid it would implicate many people. I’m not a meddlesome person, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t meddlesome people around.”

Yuan Zhi wiped the sweat from his forehead and replied with a lowered head, “Your humble servant understands. Thank you for your guidance, Fifth Miss.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded, then suddenly said, “I remember now, you’re that Steward Yuan from the outer courtyard’s affairs office? I once heard Father mention that your cursive script is exceptionally well written.”

Yuan Zhi looked up with some surprise and honor, “Third Master remembers your humble servant?”

Ren Yaoqi looked at him with a smile but said nothing.

At this moment, the woman behind reminded Ren Yaoqi, “Fifth Miss, Third Miss, and the others have returned.”

Ren Yaoqi looked up and indeed saw Ren Yaohua, Ren Yaoyin, Ren Yaoyu, Ren Yaoting, and Han You following behind Fifth Madam Lin Shi as they approached. Eldest Sister-in-law Zhao Shi and Ren Yaoying were nowhere to be seen, presumably Zhao Shi was still there comforting Ren Yaoying.

Ren Yaoqi said to Yuan Zhi and Yuan Dayong, “You may withdraw now.”

The father and son quickly bowed again and respectfully withdrew.

After the father and son walked away, Yuan Dayong suddenly asked his father with some confusion, “Father, when did Third Master see your cursive script?”

Yuan Zhi glanced at his son and said calmly, “What I write most in the affairs office are invitations and reply letters. These are all required to be written in regular script. Tell me, where would Third Master have seen my cursive script?”

Yuan Dayong frowned, “Then what Fifth Miss said—”

Yuan Zhi sighed softly, “Third Master doesn’t know, but Fifth Miss can remind him to know. You, though clever, still lack some experience.”

Though Third Master didn’t manage much in the Ren family, he still had the authority to promote one or two people. Nominally, he was also in charge of three coal stores in Yan Bei and the south, as well as a coal mine in the western mountains.

Of course, Third Master himself never concerned himself with such mundane matters. He left all these affairs to several trusted stewards under his command.

He could make decisions about minor stewards himself. To appoint or dismiss major stewards and second stewards, though he still needed to consult with Eldest Master and have Eldest Master help evaluate them, Eldest Master was fairly lenient with his younger brothers and wouldn’t refuse their requests unless they were too excessive.

Yuan Dayong carefully pondered his father’s words and asked with some surprise, “Father, aren’t you overthinking this? How old is Fifth Miss?”

After saying this, he remembered the calm eyes he had met when he and Zhu Ruomei encountered her earlier, as well as the words she had conveyed when she later had the nanny by her side deliver one hundred taels of silver notes to Zhu Ruomei. He became uncertain again.

While Yuan Dayong was puzzling over what kind of person Ren Yaoqi was, Ren Yaoqi had already gone to meet Fifth Madam Lin Shi and the others.

“Fifth Sister, you didn’t see it just now. Ninth Sister looked so pitiful earlier. Sigh! Does she have hysteria? How will she face people when she goes out in the future?” As soon as Ren Yaoyu saw Ren Yaoqi, she said loudly. Though her tone was sympathetic, her expression couldn’t help but show gloating.

Ren Yaoqi glanced at Lin Shi, whose mouth corners were slightly raised, and silently shook her head. Ren Yaoying had probably been deliberately targeted this time.

When several people entered the warm pavilion, everyone inside looked over. Seeing their gazes and looking at the few women and maids whispering behind them, Ren Yaoqi knew that someone had already spread the news about Ren Yaoying’s incident.

After Lin Shi and Ren Yaoyu came in, they didn’t continue their loud chatter, but Ren Yaoyu would occasionally whisper mysteriously with Ren Yaoyin and Han You, wearing an expression of great sympathy on her face. However, both Ren Yaoyin and Han You kept their heads down without much reaction.

Instead, Lin Shi sighed and instructed Ren Yaohua, “Yaohua, Yaoqi, you should comfort Yaoying more later. It’s just… cough… It’s nothing serious. I’ve already instructed them not to spread it around. Fifth Aunt knows you sisters don’t get along well usually, but Yaoying is your biological sister after all. What grudges could there be between sisters that last overnight?”

Lin Shi’s voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the people in the warm pavilion to hear the general idea. These words both indirectly confirmed Ren Yaoying’s ordeal and took the opportunity to step on the Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi sisters.

Ren Yaohua immediately smiled sarcastically, “So Fifth Aunt did instruct people not to spread it around? Why didn’t you stop Eighth Sister when she was shouting for everyone to know earlier?”

Lin Shi’s face changed slightly, and Ren Yaoyu was already glaring at Ren Yaohua with displeasure, “What do you mean by that? When did I shout?”

Ren Yaohua glanced toward the other side of the warm pavilion, where several maids and women were whispering, and smiled coldly without speaking.

Everyone followed her gaze and discovered that among those maids and women, two had accompanied Ren Yaoyu to the lavatory earlier.

Just as Ren Yaoyu was about to jump up and argue with Ren Yaohua, Lin Shi quickly held her back. Glancing at the men on the other side of the warm pavilion, she suppressed her temper and said to Ren Yaohua, “Yaohua, don’t say things without basis. As an elder sister, you should act like one. How can you randomly make accusations against your younger sister?”

Ren Yaohua said with some disgust, “At least I wouldn’t viciously target my family sisters to death over minor conflicts!”

Upon hearing this, Lin Shi’s eyes flashed, and she snorted coldly, “I say one sentence and you can counter with ten. Where did you learn such manners?”

Ren Yaohua was about to retort when Ren Yaoqi pinched her arm, signaling her to look at their surroundings.

Ren Yaoqi knew that Ren Yaohua suspected Lin Shi and her daughter of targeting Ren Yaoying and was extremely disgusted by their behavior of doing bad things and then turning the tables. But Lin Shi was an elder and she was a junior. Even if she had every reason in the world, it wasn’t her place to criticize Lin Shi. Because even if she won the argument, she would still be the loser.

Ren Yaohua was also afraid that Lin Shi would eventually use the excuse that she lacked manners to implicate their mother, so she could only take a deep breath to suppress her anger and turn her head away from looking at Lin Shi.

After a while, Han You stood up somewhat restlessly, “I… when I came out, Grandmother instructed me to return early. I’ll leave with my brother first.” Everyone saw that Han Yunqian had already walked toward them.

Lin Shi’s face showed a loving smile as she touched Han You’s hair, “Good child, you’re the most sensible and obedient, and you know how to respect your elders, unlike some… sigh! Today, you and Yunqian go back first. Come play at our residence another day. Our Yueer likes you very much.” Ren Yaoting affectionately held Han You’s hand and even leaned over to whisper something in her ear, making Han You giggle before quickly suppressing it.

Lin Shi found it somewhat strange that Ren Yaoting, who usually had a rather proud temperament, would get along so well with a shy girl like Han You. When she caught sight of Ren Yaoting secretly glancing at Han Yunqian, she suddenly understood and couldn’t help but slightly raise the corners of her mouth.

Han You said goodbye to Ren Yaoting and walked to Han Yunqian’s side. The siblings together bowed to Lin Shi and the others in farewell.

Ren Yaoqi rose to return the courtesy. When she raised her head, she met Han Yunqian’s calm and profound eyes. Han Yunqian’s gaze contained a trace of inquiry that hadn’t been there before. Ren Yaoqi met his eyes for a moment, then looked away as if nothing had happened.

Han Yunqian also turned and left.

At this time, Eldest Young Madam Zhao Shi returned. Lin Shi quickly stood up with an anxious expression and asked Zhao Shi, “Yan’er’s daughter-in-law, is Yaoying feeling better? Have you found out what happened earlier?”

Zhao Shi’s brows were tightly furrowed, and she was somewhat worried, fearing she would be blamed by the Old Madam and her mother-in-law when she returned. Seeing Lin Shi’s question, she glanced toward her husband and shook her head, “Fifth Aunt, let’s talk about it when we get back.”

Lin Shi looked surprised. “What exactly did you find out? You should still tell us, otherwise, some people might falsely accuse good people.” Lin Shi glanced meaningfully at Ren Yaohua.

Zhao Shi hesitated for a while, then thinking that Lin Shi was an elder and it would be improper not to answer when asked, she leaned close to Lin Shi’s ear and whispered a few sentences.

Lin Shi looked shocked, widening her eyes, “How could it be her?” Zhao Shi nodded and said vaguely, “We can’t be certain either. We’ll have to wait until we return and ask Old Madam to decide. After all, she’s not from our residence, so we can’t casually deal with her.”

The others who heard only fragments were also somewhat surprised. Was there someone who had deliberately caused Ren Yaoying to fall into the filthy water? And it wasn’t someone from the Ren family.

Ren Yaohua looked suspiciously at Ren Yaoyu and Lin Shi. She still felt that Ren Yaoying’s misfortune was connected to this mother-daughter pair. Their earlier eagerness to rush back and watch the excitement was too coincidental. However, Ren Yaoyu glared at Ren Yaohua triumphantly.

“In that case, shall we return to the residence first?” Lin Shi said to Zhao Shi. Zhao Shi nodded and instructed the nanny behind her to inform Fifth Master, Eldest Young Master, and the others. The several ice sports performances that were originally scheduled for later were all canceled.

The Ren family members began their journey back to the residence. On the return trip, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua rode in the same carriage. When the carriage was about to start moving, Ren Yaohua called over her maid Xiangqin and had her go inquire with people around the Eldest Young Madam. Xiangqin had some family connection with a Nanny Feng who served beside Eldest Young Madam Zhao Shi.

“I don’t believe this matter has anything to do with Fifth Aunt and them. When Ren Yaoyu rushed over earlier, her expression looked like she was in the know.” Ren Yaohua frowned.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t stop her, just smiled and said, “Earlier, I was very worried you would get into an argument with Fifth Aunt. Speaking of which, isn’t it what we hoped to see before, having those two sides clash?”

Though she really couldn’t approve of Lin Shi’s methods—instead of dealing with Concubine Fang, she vented her anger on a child like Ren Yaoying.

Ren Yaohua was silent for a while. “You also think Fifth Aunt was behind this?”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t directly answer Ren Yaohua’s question. She tilted her head in thought, then suddenly smiled, “Third Sister, I’ve been wanting to tell you something for a long time.”

Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi suspiciously.

Ren Yaoqi said deliberately, “Before you decide to argue with someone in the future, you should first consider whether the other party is an unreasonable shrew. If they are, you should stop at the right time, calm yourself down, and not argue with them. Because when arguing with a shrew, regardless of whether you win or lose, you’re the loser. If you lose the argument, the shrew won’t let you off easy and you’ll lose face while wasting your energy. If you win the argument, others will say you’re even more shrewish and unreasonable than the shrew. Either way, you can’t win.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua stared at Ren Yaoqi in stunned silence, “You—”

The maids and women serving in the carriage couldn’t help but burst into laughter with a “pfft.”

Ren Yaoqi winked at Ren Yaohua, “Third Sister, don’t you think that’s the truth?”