HomeScheme of the Legitimate DaughterYao Yao You Qi - Chapter 477: Difficult Times at Year's End

Yao Yao You Qi – Chapter 477: Difficult Times at Year’s End

Since Nanny Gong herself had no issues, Ren Yaoqi began using the prescription she had provided. When Princess Consort learned of this, she was extremely pleased, as she truly longed to hold a grandchild.

Although Xiao Jingxi’s Zhaoning Courtyard wasn’t a place just anybody could enter at will, Xiao Jingxi didn’t dare be careless in the slightest regarding Ren Yaoqi’s medication. From preparing the herbs to brewing the medicine, he had people carefully supervise every step.

Ever since Prince Yanbei had established his heir, Yanbei had returned to tranquility. Even the court’s censors and imperial historians no longer created obstacles for Prince Yanbei’s Manor. In the blink of an eye, it was already year’s end.

This was Ren Yaoqi’s first New Year in Prince Yanbei’s Manor. At year’s end, everyone in the manor from top to bottom became busy. Various prefectures and counties in Yanbei began sending New Year gifts to Prince Yanbei’s Manor. Princess Consort also had to receive those officials’ wives who came to Yanbei with their husbands at year’s end. She was busy every day. Ren Yaoqi was occasionally called over by the Princess Consort to accompany guests or help handle some manor’s internal affairs. Even Grand Imperial Consort Yun began giving Ren Yaoqi time off at year’s end, no longer requiring her to come copy scriptures daily. On the surface, it appeared that the most leisurely person in all of Prince Yanbei’s Manor was Xiao Jingxi, this “patient.” Only Ren Yaoqi knew that although Xiao Jingxi was much more relaxed than before, he still spent long periods each day in his study.

Originally, thinking this year would pass peacefully to the end, unfortunately, heaven didn’t comply with human wishes. On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Ren Yaoqi was in Nine Yang Hall organizing gift lists from Shunzhou, Wuzhou, and Jizhou prefectures with Nanny Xin, registering the year’s final batch of New Year gifts into storage. This year, Prince Yanbei’s Manor also needed to add a gift list to be sent to Prince Hezhong’s Manor. Princess Consort had Ren Yaoqi first prepare a list for her to review.

Just as Ren Yaoqi was frantically busy, Li Shi sent Xi’er to Prince Yanbei’s Manor to tell her that Old Master Ren was gravely ill and probably wouldn’t survive this New Year. The Ren family’s eldest master had sent the Ren family’s eldest young master to find Ren Shimin, begging him to return and see Old Master Ren one last time, or else Old Master Ren would die with his eyes unclosed.

The reason Li Shi had Xi’er come find Ren Yaoqi was because over these years, Li Shi had grown accustomed to listening to her daughter’s opinions and letting her make decisions on important matters. Although Ren Shimin still didn’t want to return to the Ren family, Old Master Ren was after all his birth father. Even if there had been enormous grievances between father and son, at this final moment of Old Master Ren’s life, he couldn’t possibly remain unmoved.

When Ren Yaoqi heard this news, she too was stunned for a long while. Xi’er was still waiting for Ren Yaoqi to decide so she could return with a reply. When Princess Consort learned of this, she had Sujin call Ren Yaoqi over.

Ren Yaoqi had Xi’er wait in the side hall while she first went to see Princess Consort.

Princess Consort had called Ren Yaoqi over precisely about Old Master Ren’s matter. After Princess Consort dismissed the idle servants, she spoke very directly: “I heard the Ren family sent someone to invite your father back to attend Old Master Ren’s deathbed?”

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “Yes.”

Princess Consort pondered for a moment, then said: “Originally, this is your maternal family’s household affair, and I shouldn’t interfere, but I’ve always regarded you as a daughter, so I can’t help wanting to remind you of some things. To prevent you from suffering losses.”

Ren Yaoqi quickly said: “Please speak, Mother. I know right from wrong.”

Princess Consort nodded: “Regarding that previous matter, the Ren family was indeed in the wrong first, expelling your branch from the Ren clan. It’s perfectly reasonable that you’re unwilling to return, and the world wouldn’t think you were wrong either. But in this life, aside from death, nothing else is truly significant. With Old Master Ren dying and requesting to see your father, if you still ignore this completely at such a time, it would seem somewhat heartless in people’s minds.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded. What Princess Consort said was also her concern, so she hadn’t thought to prevent her father from returning to the Ren family.

“Of course, whether to return to the Ren clan is another matter, but when one should appear, one still must appear.”

“I understand, Mother,” Ren Yaoqi replied.

Princess Consort smiled: “Hand over the manor’s affairs to Nanny Xin and Sujin for now. They’ve managed things in previous years too, so nothing will go wrong. You attend to the Ren family’s matters first, don’t give people opportunities to gossip about you.”

Ren Yaoqi agreed and then withdrew.

Xi’er was still waiting for Ren Yaoqi in the side hall. Ren Yaoqi instructed Pingguo to prepare a carriage, as she needed to return to her maternal home.

Pingguo, who had already become a steward of Zhaoning Hall, quickly prepared the carriage. Ren Yaoqi brought several maids and returned to Baoping Alley with Xi’er.

When Ren Yaoqi returned, Ren Yiyan had already left, and Master Ren was in his study and hadn’t come out. After thinking, Ren Yaoqi still went to the main house first. Nanny Zhou received the news and quickly came out to greet her.

Li Shi was very pleasantly surprised to see Ren Yaoqi return, but thinking of the Ren family matter, she couldn’t help sighing: “Why did you come back? It’s almost New Year, the manor surely has plenty of affairs. You could have just had Xi’er come back and tell me whatever you wanted to say.”

Li Shi’s words had barely finished when Ren Yaoqi hadn’t had time to reply, and someone outside came in to report that the eldest young madam had returned.

Although Li Shi was happy in her heart, she still said: “What are you all coming back for!”

Ren Yaohua had also rushed back upon hearing news of Old Master Ren. Seeing Ren Yaoqi was also there, she was startled and immediately said: “How did you come back too? Is everything fine at the manor?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled helplessly and explained to both Li Shi and Ren Yaohua: “It’s fine, Princess Consort, let me come back. I’ll return later, it won’t delay anything.”

The three women looked at each other. Ren Yaohua said, “Let’s discuss the main matter first, then. What does Father say? Will he return to the Ren family or not?”

Li Shi couldn’t help glancing toward the study: “Your father has been in the study and hasn’t come out, but I think he probably still wants to see Old Master Ren one last time.”

Ren Yaohua was silent for a moment, then looked at Ren Yaoqi: “What do you say?”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t beat around the bush and said directly: “We definitely must return, otherwise Father and Mother will certainly be criticized behind their backs in the future. But seeing Old Master Ren off one last time doesn’t mean our branch will return to the Ren clan.”

Ren Yaohua nodded. Although Li Shi didn’t say anything outwardly, she still felt a sense of relief. Having been away from the Ren family for so long, she was unwilling to return to the Ren family.

“What if your father wants to return to the Ren family…” Li Shi was somewhat troubled. Although she was extremely unwilling to return in her heart, if Ren Shimin wanted to return, she wouldn’t object.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and shook her head: “Father has already said he won’t return to the Ren family, so naturally he won’t change his mind so easily. It’s just…”

Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi and continued with a frown: “It’s just that if Old Master Ren’s dying words hope for Father to return, plus Grandmother’s entreaties… Father probably won’t be able to refuse.”

Ren Yaoqi sighed and nodded.

Even someone as carefree and unrestrained as Ren Shimin often couldn’t act according to his heart’s desire – this was the constraint of morality.

“Then what should we do?” Nanny Zhou, who had been listening nearby, said anxiously. Having come this far, if Li Shi still had to return to the Ren family and be constrained by Old Madam Ren, that would be truly frustrating.

Everyone couldn’t help but look toward Ren Yaoqi.

This was also because, these recent years, Ren Yaoqi had made the decisions on major matters. Although she was the youngest, they had all grown accustomed to it, so it was all subconscious.

Ren Yaoqi had been thinking about this problem all along the way. They had to return to the Ren family once, but how to return and how to respond afterward required careful planning.

Once Old Master Ren passed away, Old Madam Ren would be in charge of the Ren family. Given her habit of making unreasonable trouble, they would probably face major problems next.

But if Old Master Ren died and Old Madam Ren used tearful tactics on Master Ren and Li Shi, they couldn’t truly ignore it completely. After all, the world sympathized with the weak.

Ren Yaoqi sighed: “At this juncture, we can’t refuse outright; we can only drag things out first. Once Old Master Ren passes away, the Ren family will first need to handle the funeral. Even if they want to return to the ancestral clan, it’s not something that can be done just by saying so. We’ll make plans after this New Year passes.”

Li Shi and Ren Yaohua exchanged glances.

Ren Yaoqi then said to Li Shi: “Mother, if Old Madam and the others call you over separately, don’t agree but don’t refuse either. Push everything onto Father, saying you can’t make decisions on this matter. At most, promise them you’ll help persuade Father to return to the Ren family. You must remember, you are now a County Princess, representing the dignity of the imperial family and Prince Hezhong’s Manor. Listening to them speak a few words gives them face out of respect for their age. If anyone dares give you attitude, just give them a cold face. The world can demand that Father fulfill his filial duties, but can’t force you to endure humiliation silently. As long as you don’t clash with them directly or speak harshly, let them make a fuss if they want to. No one can do anything to you.”

Li Shi nodded: “I understand.”

Ren Yaoqi then looked at Ren Yaohua: “I may also need to go to Baihe Town in a few days. Come back with me then.” When Ren Yaoqi returned to Baihe Town, it would probably be when Old Master Ren passed away, when she went to pay her respects.

Since they were already married and separated by a generation, they didn’t need to return with Master Ren without special reason, especially since they now nominally had no relationship with that Ren family.

Ren Yaohua looked at Li Shi with some concern: “Should I accompany Mother instead?”

Li Shi quickly said: “No need to accompany me. I know how to handle things, and isn’t Nanny Zhou there? If anything comes up, she’ll remind me. Don’t worry.”

After thinking, Ren Yaohua no longer insisted.

With Li Shi reassured, Ren Yaoqi was about to go find Ren Shimin in the study when Master Ren came out himself.

Seeing both Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had returned, Ren Shimin wasn’t too surprised. He just said to Li Shi, “Have someone pack up. We’ll return to Baihe Town tomorrow.”

Li Shi asked no questions and immediately agreed, hurriedly instructing people to prepare.

Only then did Ren Shimin ask Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, “Why did you both come back?”

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