Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua shared a carriage.

When leaving the residence, waiting at the second gate besides several women servants accompanying the carriage was an unfamiliar middle-aged woman. Her clothing was better than ordinary servants, and her features were quite refined.

Ren Yaohua took an extra look at her: “Where do you work? Why haven’t I seen you before?”

A woman servant assigned by the Ren family quickly smiled apologetically: “This is Sister-in-law Yuan. She manages food at our Ren family’s Western Mountain coal mine. She came to the residence today to report to the masters, and when she came out and saw the young misses leaving, she waited here hoping to pay her respects.”

“Sister-in-law Yuan?” Ren Yaoqi paused, turned to examine the woman, and smiled: “What relation are you to Steward Yuan from the outer courtyard affairs office?”

The woman lowered her head respectfully and replied: “That would be my husband.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded and asked her: “You usually manage affairs at the Western Mountain coal mine?”

“Yes, Fifth Miss.”

“I hate sitting in carriages – it’s so boring along the way. Come up and tell me about the Western Mountain coal mine to help pass the time,” Ren Yaoqi smiled and beckoned to her. After speaking, remembering she was sharing the carriage with Ren Yaohua, she turned with an ingratiating smile: “Third Sister, our carriage is spacious anyway. One more person won’t matter, right?”

Ren Yaohua glanced at Sister-in-law Yuan, and seeing that her clothes were clean and her hands and face were tidy, said nothing.

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “What are you looking at, Third Sister? Could it be that anyone who manages at a coal mine must be covered in black?”

Ren Yaohua glared at Ren Yaoqi and turned to board the carriage.

Ren Yaoqi gestured to Sister-in-law Yuan and also followed Ren Yaohua into the carriage.

Sister-in-law Yuan looked at Ren Yaohua, then at Ren Yaoqi: “What would Fifth Miss like to hear?”

Ren Yaoqi pretended to think, and when the carriage started moving, smiled: “Sister-in-law Yuan can say whatever you want. Were you deliberately waiting at the second gate for me?”

Hearing this, Ren Yaohua looked over, her gaze carrying scrutiny as she examined Sister-in-law Yuan.

“This… this servant…” Sister-in-law Yuan felt uncomfortable under Ren Yaohua’s stare.

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “It’s fine, she’s my third sister. Just speak freely.”

Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi and turned her head away.

Only then did Sister-in-law Yuan tentatively say: “I wonder if Fifth Miss still remembers the Zhu family.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “I remember. Is Zhu Ruomei working at your Western Mountain coal mine? Has his mother’s illness recovered?”

Sister-in-law Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and spoke more freely: “Thanks to Fifth Miss’s concern, Sister-in-law Zhu was fortunate to have the reward money you gave for medical treatment and medicine, and with her daughter caring for her, she’s better than before.”

It seemed the Yuan family also knew about her giving silver to Zhu Ruomei.

“That’s good. Did you come today because the medical expenses aren’t enough?”

“No, no, no, the money is sufficient. It’s just that…”

“Sister-in-law Yuan, speak freely,” Ren Yaoqi said gently.

“It’s just that the prescription the town physician gave Sister-in-law Zhu only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. Ruomei and Dayong heard that there’s a physician in Yunyang City who’s very skilled at treating Sister-in-law Zhu’s condition, so they want to take their mother to Yunyang City for treatment.”

“Yunyang City…” Ren Yaoqi tilted her head thoughtfully.

“Yes, that physician is in Yunyang City. Dayong went to find him once and described Sister-in-law Zhu’s condition. He said he was confident he could cure it, but daily visits would be needed. However, the physician can’t travel between White Crane Town and Yunyang City daily, so Ruomei would have to take his mother to Yunyang City. Ruomei has a younger sister who could care for their mother, but the child is only ten years old. Ruomei doesn’t feel comfortable leaving them, so he wants to go along to help care for her. But he previously signed a death contract with the mine to raise money for his mother’s medical treatment, and without the master’s permission, he can’t leave the coal mine freely.”

Ren Yaoqi pondered: “Zhu Ruomei wants to leave the coal mine?”

“No, no, he just wants to get his mother’s illness treated first, then he’ll return. But if he leaves, it will be several months at least. The head steward at the coal mine fears he won’t return and would have to find someone to replace his work, so he doesn’t want to take this responsibility. We had no choice but to come seek you.”

“What can she do? Why don’t you petition our grandmother and eldest aunt?” Ren Yaohua frowned.

“This servant is just a minor steward at an outside coal mine. Old Madam and Eldest Madam aren’t people this servant can see whenever she wants,” Sister-in-law Yuan said with a bitter smile.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then said to Sister-in-law Yuan: “How about this – you go back first, then come find me in a couple of days. Just tell the gatekeeper that you’re looking for… looking for Xiangqin.” Ren Yaoqi pointed to the attending Xiangqin. “I’ll give you an answer then.”

The named Xiangqin, Ren Yaohua’s head maid, glanced at her actual master and silently complained in her heart: Getting one person’s wages while serving as two people’s maid – this job isn’t easy.

Hearing that Ren Yaoqi was truly willing to help, Sister-in-law Yuan’s face immediately lit up with joy: “This servant thanks Fifth Miss on behalf of Sister-in-law Zhu, Ruomei, and Ruoju.”

Ren Yaoqi looked at the genuine joy on Sister-in-law Yuan’s face and smiled: “You have no blood relation with them, yet you’re willing to run around for them like this. They should thank you properly.”

Sister-in-law Yuan sighed: “Both children are good, and Ruomei has helped me with work quite often… We just do what we can to help when possible.”

The carriage stopped, and Sister-in-law Yuan bowed and withdrew.

As soon as she left, Ren Yaohua glared at Ren Yaoqi: “Are you going to meddle in these affairs?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and said seriously, “Doesn’t it say that good people receive good rewards? I want to accumulate merit for myself and my family.”

“Do as you wish, just don’t give people false hope in the end,” Ren Yaohua said after a moment of silence, turning her head away.

Ren Yaoqi just smiled without speaking.

The White Crane Town temple fair was held near the Guan Gong Temple on the west side of town. When the carriage reached there, the entire street was brightly lit.

Both sides of the street were hung with all kinds of lanterns, and many young men and women were strolling through the temple fair in groups, with laughter and chatter everywhere. The Lantern Festival was a rare time when one could leave the house without strictly observing propriety and restrictions.

The Ren family’s young misses and Han You also got out of their carriage. Ren Yaoting and Han You had already huddled together, pointing at the various small stalls on the street and chattering nonstop.

Han You seemed to have never visited a temple fair before. Everything looked novel to her, and she had cast off her usual restraint and quietness, her face full of excitement.

“Yaoting, I really must thank you. If you hadn’t gone to my house to plead with my grandmother, I definitely couldn’t have come out. Oh – what is that? Such a long lantern!”

“Pfft – that’s acrobatics, fire-breathing serpent, not a lantern! Haven’t you even seen this before?” Ren Yaoyu laughed.

Han You felt somewhat embarrassed, and Ren Yaoting squeezed her hand, saying to Ren Yaoyu: “Do you think everyone is like you, without any proper young lady’s manners, always liking to run around wildly? Plenty of people haven’t seen acrobatics!”

Ren Yaoyu was somewhat displeased at these words, but Han You said: “Actually, I’m the ignorant one. I rarely go out.”

The group, surrounded by women servants, walked to a place selling revolving lanterns and palace lanterns. Seeing that Han You liked a revolving lantern painted with the story of Chang’e flying to the moon, Ren Yaoting bought it for her.

Han You thanked Ren Yaoting and carefully examined the lantern in her hands, smiling as she said to everyone: “I just find this story painting interesting. The artistic skill isn’t very good. My brother paints much better.” At this point, she said somewhat embarrassedly to Ren Yaoting: “I’m not saying the lantern isn’t good, I just…”

Ren Yaoting smiled: “I know. The person who painted this lantern is just a craftsman. How could he compare with… with them? It’s just for fun.”

Han You nodded, then turned to Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua: “Third Uncle’s paintings are much better than my brother’s. I once saw one in my brother’s study.”

Ren Yaoqi remembered that Ren Shimin had once given one of his paintings to Han Yunqian as a thank-you gift, and couldn’t help smiling: “Father just likes to paint and amuse himself…”

Han You nodded: “Brother said Uncle has quite a few of his excellent works. The one he gave my brother was an ‘Autumn Chrysanthemum Painting’…”

Ren Yaoqi’s smile suddenly froze, and she looked at Han You: “Father gave your brother an ‘Autumn Chrysanthemum Painting’?”

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s strange expression, Han You said puzzledly: “Yes, it’s the ‘Autumn Chrysanthemum Painting.’ It’s said to depict the chrysanthemum flower festival near the Yi River in the capital at dusk. Third Uncle’s use of color is very bold – the entire Yi River is rendered in red, yet it looks so natural, not abrupt at all.”

Listening to Han You’s words, Ren Yaoqi’s heart gradually sank, and the smile completely disappeared from her face. Without a smile, Ren Yaoqi had an indescribable coldness that made people uncomfortable.