Ren Shimin’s words made the sobbing Ren Yaoying pause her crying and stare blankly at her father, somewhat confused: “Father…”

This version of Ren Shimin was one Ren Yaoying had never seen before. The cold, indifferent way he looked at her filled Ren Yaoying with intense unease, making her somewhat regret the words she had just spoken.

Ren Shimin didn’t even look at her again, as if one more glance at Ren Yaoying would pollute his eyes: “Don’t call me Father. I am not your father.”

Ren Shimin turned to look around, then beckoned to several maids standing at some distance in the courtyard.

The maids looked at each other for a moment, then one of them at the front handed her tray to another maid beside her and hurried over.

“Master.”

It happened to be Que’er, the senior maid from Li Shi’s quarters.

Ren Shimin didn’t care who had come, simply instructing her flatly: “Send Fifth Miss Ren back to the Ren family’s old residence. Send her there now.”

Que’er was stunned and looked at Ren Shimin, then at Ren Yaoying, but she still quickly responded with acknowledgment.

However, Ren Yaoying suddenly cried out: “No—I won’t go back! Father, this is my home. I won’t return to Baihezhen.” When she reached the last sentence, Ren Yaoying’s tone carried soft pleading.

Unfortunately, Ren Shimin was no longer susceptible to her act. He even smiled: “You don’t have to go back to Baihezhen if you don’t want to. You can go anywhere you like. From now on, this is no longer your home, and I am no longer your father. Didn’t you say before that you wanted to go to a nunnery? Going there would be fine too.”

Master Ren instructed Que’er again: “Go prepare a carriage. Send her wherever she wants to go, but from today onwards, I don’t want to see her in this household again.”

Que’er was one of Li Shi’s people, so she naturally disliked Ren Yaoying and couldn’t wait for her to leave. But when she heard Master Ren say these words, her heart still couldn’t help but turn cold, because Master Ren’s tone was too icy and callous, not like words a father could say.

Ren Shimin could indeed be considered a callous person. He did have things he loved, but they were too limited. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to sever ties with the Ren family so decisively back then, and no matter how many mediators the Ren family sent, even when Old Madam Ren used the excuse of Old Master Ren’s serious illness, they couldn’t persuade him to return.

Ren Yaoying was also somewhat incredulous. She had never understood her father—otherwise she wouldn’t have said such things in front of him just now. She reached out to tug at Ren Shimin’s sleeve, on the verge of tears: “Father…”

Ren Shimin frowned and avoided her pulling, even unconsciously brushing his sleeve with his hand.

Seeing Que’er still standing there, not understanding, Ren Shimin became somewhat impatient and frowned: “What are you still standing here for? Didn’t you hear what I said?”

Que’er immediately came to her senses and beckoned over several women who had been watching the commotion from the start, instructing them in a low voice: “First, take Ninth Miss back to pack up. Master wants to send her away immediately.”

Only then did Ren Yaoying become truly frightened and begin struggling desperately, not letting those women near her.

Ren Shimin turned and walked toward the main hall, ignoring the chaos here. Only after turning away did he impatiently add: “If she keeps making a fuss, knock her unconscious and then send her away. Don’t disturb the neighbors’ peace.”

Que’er broke out in a cold sweat, but looking at the continuously noisy Ren Yaoying, she still decisively gave a meaningful look to one of the women. That woman, who usually did rough work, immediately raised her hand and struck Ren Yaoying hard on the neck.

The world immediately became quiet.

When Li Shi heard the commotion and was about to come out, Ren Shimin had already reached the main hall.

Seeing the expression on Ren Shimin’s face, Li Shi’s heart skipped a beat. She had no other clever insights, but she understood Ren Shimin’s temperament very well. Ren Shimin was somewhat different from others—the angrier he became, the colder and expressionless he appeared, and at such times it was best not to go against his wishes.

Li Shi swallowed the words she had originally wanted to ask and silently followed Ren Shimin into the side room. After he sat down, she quietly brought a bowl of tea and placed it in his hands.

Ren Shimin took it and had originally wanted to smash it on the ground, but after raising his hand, he put it down again and placed the tea bowl on the table: “Although this teacup isn’t worth much money, the painting on it is quite good. It would be a pity to smash it, and it’s not worth it.”

Li Shi looked up at Ren Shimin and quietly acknowledged with a “yes,” her movements becoming even more careful.

Ren Shimin’s expression showed little emotion as he instructed Li Shi flatly: “Go prepare two hundred taels of silver for Ren Yaoying and send her away. Don’t let me see her in this household again.”

Li Shi had already heard the commotion earlier, but she still carefully confirmed: “Master wants to send her back to Baihezhen?”

Ren Shimin shook his head: “She can go to Baihezhen or a nunnery or anywhere she wants. From now on, it has nothing to do with me. From this moment, she has been expelled from my household.”

Li Shi couldn’t help but be stunned. Although she didn’t particularly like Ren Yaoying now either, as her legitimate mother, she still had to inquire: “Master, what grave mistake has Yaoying committed?”

Ren Shimin smiled, his tone cold: “Those who follow different paths cannot work together. If she remains in this household any longer and continues to call me father, I’m afraid one day I won’t be able to restrain myself from drowning her in the pond.”

Li Shi was startled and didn’t dare say anything more.

Ren Shimin glanced at Li Shi and said leisurely, “Just follow my instructions. No one will throw dirty water on you—it’s I who wants to expel her, and it has nothing to do with you.”

Li Shi hurriedly said, “Your concubine is not afraid.” She then went into the inner room and personally took out two hundred taels of silver, wrapping them properly in a cloth bag.

Que’er soon came in, along with Nanny Zhou.

As soon as Ren Shimin saw Nanny Zhou, he said: “Nanny Zhou, you’ve come at just the right time. You handle this kind of thing most efficiently—I’m leaving it to you.”

Hearing this, Nanny Zhou carefully observed Ren Shimin, then discovered that when her master said this, his tone was matter-of-fact without any intention of deliberately mocking her. So Nanny Zhou, who had weathered many storms, calmly agreed, naturally took the money bag from Li Shi’s hands, and without another word, lifted the curtain and went out. Que’er didn’t dare say another word and followed behind Nanny Zhou.

Under Nanny Zhou’s direction, the carriage was quickly prepared, and the unconscious Ren Yaoying was carried out by two women and swiftly loaded onto the carriage waiting at the second gate.

A woman presented a large bundle she had just packed for Ren Yaoying for Nanny Zhou’s inspection. Nanny Zhou merely glanced at it and waved her hand dismissively, then lifted the carriage curtain and tossed the bag of two hundred taels that Li Shi had just prepared into the carriage compartment, making a dull thud. Nanny Zhou wasn’t the least bit worried about accidentally hitting Ren Yaoying with it.

“Nanny, where… should we send her?” the woman responsible for driving asked quietly.

Master Ren’s instruction was to let Ninth Miss go anywhere she wanted, but now Ninth Miss had been knocked unconscious—who knew where she wanted to go?

Nanny Zhou thought for a moment: “Send her to the Ren family in Baihezhen. If the Ren family is willing to take her in, leave her there, and tell them that Ninth Miss has been expelled from our master’s household. If the Ren family is unwilling to take her, then send her to a nunnery.” She paused and added: “Send her to a distant nunnery, not in Yanzhou or Jizhou.”

The carriage driver acknowledged this. Nanny Zhou waved for four women to also board Ren Yaoying’s carriage to accompany the delivery, in case any trouble arose along the way.

So under Master Ren’s orders and Nanny Zhou’s swift and decisive action, Ren Yaoying was sent back to Baihezhen by carriage. It wasn’t until evening that the women who had delivered her returned to report that the Ren family had accepted Ren Yaoying and hadn’t driven her away. So in the end, Ren Yaoying remained at the Ren family’s old residence.

Nanny Zhou nodded, understanding the situation, then reported this matter to Master Ren and Li Shi.

Master Ren just nodded upon hearing this and never asked about Ren Yaoying again, as if he had truly never had such a daughter.

After Nanny Zhou left, she sent someone to the Yanbei Prince’s Manor to tell Ren Yaoqi exactly what had happened today.

When Ren Yaoqi received Nanny Zhou’s message, she wasn’t particularly surprised.

This outcome was one of the results she had anticipated, though her father’s decisiveness still made Ren Yaoqi sigh.

Master Ren’s decision to expel Ren Yaoying from the household wasn’t just empty words. The day after Ren Yaoying was sent back to the Ren family, Master Ren submitted written documents to the authorities, officially removing Ren Yaoying’s household registration from his branch. It was done quietly yet with absolute determination.