“How do you want us to repay?” Ren Yaohua looked at Old Madam Ren and said coldly.

As soon as Ren Yaohua spoke up, Old Madam Ren and the Eldest Madam both fell silent instead.

Old Madam Ren remained quiet because she was weighing in her heart whether it would be worthwhile to have the third branch repay all at once for the Ren family’s kindness in raising them, and how she should make demands. Now, the Ren family was visibly declining day by day. Old Master Ren was gone, and Ren Shimin was unwilling to return to the Ren family. If she could use this opportunity to help the Ren family rise again, it wouldn’t be impossible.

The Eldest Madam’s heart was hesitating. Actually, from a long-term perspective, the Ren family shouldn’t give up on Ren Shimin’s branch at this time. Now, it was their first branch managing the Ren family, but the current Ren family indeed needed someone who could lend a helping hand.

Ren Yaohua looked at Old Madam Ren, whose eyes revealed calculation, and her heart grew increasingly cold and disappointed toward the Ren family and this grandmother. She had originally only spoken to test the waters, but unexpectedly, Old Madam Ren truly had no trace of familial affection for them, her heart and mind filled with exploitation and profit.

Ren Yaoqi originally hadn’t planned to let Old Madam Ren control the initiative, but since Ren Yaohua had already asked, she said nothing. No matter how much she rejected the Ren family in her heart, the Ren family did indeed have the grace of raising them, and no one could deny this point. So, although she hadn’t stopped the Han family’s revenge at the beginning, she also hadn’t planned to truly let the entire Ren clan be destroyed. It’s just that if Old Madam Ren wanted to take this opportunity to make outrageous demands, she was afraid the old lady would only be disappointed. The help she wanted to give the Ren family was likely different from what Old Madam Ren wanted.

After who knows how long, Old Madam Ren finally finished calculating in her heart. Looking at Ren Yaoqi with shrewd eyes: “Back then, to save your grandfather from prison, we took out one million five hundred thousand taels of silver. Since this money has already been spent, there’s no reason to take it back. However, those consecutive ten years of submitting sixty percent of profits… the Ren family’s current situation really can’t bear this burden. I wonder if this could be waived first?”

Everyone present was stunned upon hearing this, and couldn’t help but look toward Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “Old Madam, this silver is what the Ren family pays to the government. Whether it can be waived, you should ask the government officials.”

Old Madam Ren pursed her lips: “Aren’t all the officials in Yanbei following the orders of the Yanbei Prince’s Manor? If you go back and plead with the Prince, Princess Consort, or Second Young Master Xiao, what’s so difficult about that?”

Ren Yaohua sneered: “Why don’t you poke a hole in the sky and have her patch it up for you? That would be simpler.”

Old Madam Ren snorted coldly but didn’t argue with Ren Yaohua, only looking at Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi sighed and shook her head: “Not to mention me, even the Princess Consort cannot interfere with Yanbei’s political affairs. You’re making things difficult for me.”

Old Madam Ren saw that Ren Yaoqi didn’t seem to be lying, and felt somewhat disappointed in her heart. However, she originally hadn’t truly hoped to have the government waive the sixty percent profits the Ren family had to submit. She was merely testing the waters with her words.

After thinking in her heart, Old Madam Ren said again: “Since it can’t be completely waived, surely waiving thirty percent would be possible?”

Ren Yaoqi still shook her head: “I said I cannot interfere with Yanbei’s political affairs.”

Ren Yaoqi understood better than anyone that even if she could do it, she couldn’t act this way, because once this precedent was set, their branch would never be able to leave the Ren family. Old Madam Ren would not let go of someone so “useful” to her. Old Madam Ren knew how to push for maximum advantage, and Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to experience that.

Old Madam Ren frowned: “Who asked you to interfere with political affairs? You just need to go back and plead with the people in charge at the Prince’s Manor, isn’t that enough?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled and asked in return: “If the Eldest Madam came to plead with you, saying her maternal relatives wanted to buy the Ren family’s coal at ten percent of market price, would you and the Eldest Master agree?”

Old Madam Ren was rendered speechless upon hearing this, and the Eldest Madam also remained silent.

Ren Yaohua continued: “I remember once when the East Manor’s Second Sister-in-law’s maternal cousin wanted to rent a mountain under the Ren family’s name, but felt the price was too high, so he asked Second Sister-in-law to put in a good word. Later, Old Madam had Second Brother called over for a scolding, saying their branch had no rules and didn’t even understand the principle that women shouldn’t interfere with external affairs.”

Old Madam Ren’s face turned red and white alternately upon hearing this.

Ren Yaohua turned to Ren Yaoqi: “I think we should leave.” As she spoke, she took Ren Yaoqi’s arm to walk out.

Old Madam Ren became anxious, seeing this, and hurriedly signaled the Eldest Madam with her eyes.

The Eldest Madam quickly stepped forward to grab Ren Yaoqi’s other hand, while gently persuading Ren Yaohua: “Both young ladies, let’s talk things through properly. Your grandmother has been heartbroken and ill these past few days, so she speaks with some temper without realizing it. Even Yin’er has been scolded to tears several times while serving her these days. Don’t take it personally with the old lady.”

Old Madam Ren covered her chest, breathing heavily, while secretly glancing toward Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi pulled her hand back from the Eldest Madam and turned to the Old Madam: “Old Madam, what you mentioned, I truly cannot accomplish. The female family members of Yanbei Prince’s Manor must follow rules just like the Ren family’s women. All I can do is use Madam Xu’s connections to have the Yu family give the Ren family some time to repay their debts. If you don’t think this is necessary, then pretend I never said it.”

The Eldest Madam quickly said, “If Fifth Young Lady can help, that would naturally be best.”

Old Madam Ren said reluctantly: “All these years, did the Ren family spend all that silver raising you for nothing?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: “What you say also makes sense. Naturally, we can’t let you spend money raising us for nothing. How about this – I’ll roughly estimate the silver our branch has cost the Ren family over these years, then repay you in cash. Would that work?”

The Eldest Madam glanced at Old Madam Ren, wanting to signal her not to agree, because if she did, the Ren family and Ren Shimin’s branch would truly have no relationship left.

Old Madam Ren was about to say something when her gaze stopped on Ren Yaoyin and suddenly paused, as if thinking of something. After pondering for a moment, she said: “That’s not impossible, but I have one more condition – consider it interest.”

Ren Yaoqi looked at Old Madam Ren once, waiting for her to continue.

Old Madam Ren reached out to pull Ren Yaoyin, who was standing to the side, in front of her, pointing at her and saying to Ren Yaoqi: “I only have Yin’er left as an obedient granddaughter by my side. I want to find her a good match, but you know the Ren family’s current situation. It’s quite difficult to arrange a good marriage for her, and I don’t want her to be wronged. I’m not asking for anything else from you – just take her to live at Yanbei Prince’s Manor for a while.”

Everyone present was stunned again upon hearing this, not knowing what Old Madam Ren was planning now.

Ren Yaohua was reminded of when she got married, and Old Madam Ren had wanted Ren Yaoying to accompany her as part of the dowry. Thinking Old Madam Ren was planning to use the same trick again to have Ren Yaoyin and Ren Yaoqi serve the same husband, she became furious: “Can’t the Ren family daughters get married anymore? Do you have to rush to send them out as concubines? First it was Ren Yaoying, now it’s Ren Yaoyin. Aren’t you afraid people will laugh?”

Old Madam Ren suppressed her anger: “What do you understand! Isn’t Yaoqi favored by Concubine Yun now? I heard the Concubine often has her over for company. If Yaoyin goes along and gains favor with Concubine Yun, won’t she worry about finding a good family later? Besides, living at Yanbei Prince’s Manor for a while will naturally raise her status.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but glance at Ren Yaoyin upon hearing this. Ren Yaoyin respectfully kept her head lowered without speaking.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but think of Ren Yaoyin’s obsession with the Yun family’s eldest son, Yun Wenting. Was Old Madam Ren’s mention of Concubine Yun just a coincidence?

Ren Yaoqi shook her head. She believed it was more likely that Ren Yaoyin still hadn’t given up on the Yun family’s eldest son and wanted to use Concubine Yun’s influence. She just didn’t know how Ren Yaoyin had convinced Old Madam Ren. It seemed Ren Yaoyin had put considerable effort into working on Old Madam Ren since returning.

Ren Yaohua also glanced at Ren Yaoyin and sneered: “She still has the face to live at Yanbei Prince’s Manor? She offended both the Princess and Princess Consort back then.”

Ren Yaoyin’s face paled.

Old Madam Ren said angrily, “I’m having her go to Concubine Yun, not to the Princess Consort and Princess!”

Ren Yaohua sneered again upon hearing this, making both Old Madam Ren and the Eldest Madam’s faces somewhat embarrassed.

Old Madam Ren said, displeasedly: “Just having her live at Yanbei Prince’s Manor for a while, letting her show her face before the Concubine – it won’t cost you anything.”

Ren Yaoqi looked at Old Madam Ren and Ren Yaoyin: “Just showing her face? Old Madam, you might as well speak directly about what you want to do. Otherwise, I won’t help, and Yanbei Prince’s Manor doesn’t admit people casually.”

Old Madam Ren said, “Don’t worry, I’m not sending Yaoyin to become a concubine at Yanbei Prince’s Manor. But you can see the Ren family’s current situation, and you insist on separating from the Ren family. The Ren family doesn’t even have one decent marriage alliance, which is inappropriate.”

Ren Yaoqi raised an eyebrow: “So you want to…”

Old Madam Ren patted Ren Yaoyin’s hand with some confidence on her face: “It would be different if Yin’er could enter the Yun family.”

Ren Yaohua scoffed: “The Yun family? As a concubine?”

Old Madam Ren glared at Ren Yaohua: “What’s wrong with being a concubine? Especially when the legitimate wife is practically a decoration! Now the Yun family’s eldest son has been granted by the court some nobody’s daughter from a declining family in the capital. Such a woman definitely won’t win the elders’ favor in the Yun family. The Yun family will certainly take good concubines for Young Master Yun.”

The Eldest Madam was shocked upon hearing this: “Old Madam, how can Yin’er become a concubine?”

It turned out Old Madam Ren hadn’t discussed this matter with the Eldest Madam.

Old Madam Ren looked at the Eldest Madam: “Why can’t she? She’s willing herself. If you don’t believe me, ask her.”

The Eldest Madam immediately looked at Ren Yaoyin.

Ren Yaoyin bit her lip, nodded gently, and said tearfully: “Mother, for the sake of the Ren family, I… I’m willing.”