Seeing that everything that needed to be said had been said, Ren Yaoqi rose and said, “It’s getting late, I’ll head back first.”

Recently, due to her illness, she would sleep after taking her medicine. Today was already past her usual bedtime, and after saying so much, she was extremely tired.

Nanny Zhou noticed her lower body seemed unsteady and knew she must be uncomfortable, so she quickly had Xi’er come forward to support her: “Fifth Miss, let Xi’er escort you back to your room. Have her keep watch tonight – the nanny and maids by your side aren’t reliable, so it’s better to be cautious.”

Ren Yaoqi let Nanny Zhou carefully arrange the cloak and hood she wore: “After Sister Xi’er escorts me back, she should return to serve Mother. You’ve only just returned, and there are many outsiders in Ziwei Courtyard now – you’re shorthanded. Though the two maids by my side were assigned by Concubine Fang, precisely because of this, they don’t dare disobey my wishes easily. They’ve been serving me for some time now and haven’t made any major mistakes. Moreover, my illness is improving, unlike Mother, who truly needs care.”

Hearing this, Nanny Zhou’s expression warmed slightly: “Madam still has this old servant by her side, so Fifth Miss can rest assured.”

Ren Yaoqi still shook her head: “At this time, it’s better to avoid trouble. Let’s leave things as they are for now. If I’m still not well in a few days, then Nanny can have Sister Xi’er come care for me.”

Nanny Zhou was Li Shi’s most trusted steward, and Xi’er, Que’er, along with Ying’er and Zhu’er, who had been matched with men and sent to the outer courtyard – these four senior maids were loyal confidants she had carefully trained for Li Shi. Such people were better kept by Li Shi’s side.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s insistence, Nanny Zhou couldn’t persuade further and personally escorted her out, watching until she disappeared with several maids at the corner gate of the front courtyard before turning back to the main room.

Entering the eastern side room, she saw Ren Yaohua still sitting in her original position, holding small silver scissors and absentmindedly trimming the wick of the blue and white porcelain candlestick, making the candle flame flicker unsteadily.

Nanny Zhou sighed softly and walked forward to gently take the scissors from Ren Yaohua’s hands: “Third Miss, be careful not to burn yourself.”

Ren Yaohua had always respected this old servant by her mother’s side, so she said nothing more.

“Third Miss, when Concubine Fang comes to pay respects to Madam tomorrow, if she offers to tend to the illness, let Madam decline. She has a cunning nature, while Madam is honest by nature – don’t let her suffer hidden losses unknowingly. Though you can control her, you still lack the proper generational standing. No family has legitimate daughters disciplining their father’s concubines – if word spreads, it won’t be good for your reputation.”

Ren Yaohua gave a faint “mm” in response.

Though she wasn’t afraid of her reputation becoming unfavorable, Ren Yaoqi’s words weren’t without merit. She needn’t fall into that wretch’s trap at this time – there would be plenty of opportunities to deal with her later.

“This Concubine Fang truly has calculated well – I never expected her to be so sinister and vicious. If you had fallen for her scheme and ruined your reputation, not only would you lose Old Madam’s favor, but you’d also offend the other masters in the household. Without you to mediate with Old Madam in Ziwei Courtyard, Madam’s future days would certainly be even more difficult. Wouldn’t our entire Third Branch then be completely in her hands, at her mercy?”

Thinking of this, Nanny Zhou couldn’t help breaking out in cold sweat. Though Concubine Fang schemed to make Ren Yaohua offend the people around Old Madam, Eldest Madam, Second Madam, and Fifth Madam, Nanny Zhou knew what kind of influence these capable maids and old women around the masters could wield at crucial moments.

“I’ll remember this debt!” A fierce expression flashed across Ren Yaohua’s still somewhat childish face, making Nanny Zhou, who caught a glimpse of it, shiver involuntarily.

Seeing Ren Yaohua’s dark and unclear expression, Nanny Zhou felt somewhat worried: “Third Miss, since Fifth Miss has already shown goodwill toward you, you two sisters should get along well from now on.”

Ren Yaohua glanced at Nanny Zhou and said coldly, “Should I just forget about how she schemed to have me driven from the Ren family?”

Nanny Zhou was at a loss for words and could only carefully advise, “Fifth Miss was only nine years old then, and Concubine Fang was so cunning – it’s understandable that she couldn’t distinguish right from wrong and was used by others. Look at what she said today – wasn’t every word for your benefit? You’re legitimate sisters who should support each other and weather storms together. Otherwise, wouldn’t you be playing right into that woman’s hands, causing your mother to shed tears secretly over your discord?”

Ren Yaohua sat there expressionlessly without saying a word.

Nanny Zhou carefully observed her expression and wanted to persuade further, but Ren Yaohua had already stood up: “We’ve been traveling day and night – everyone is tired. Let’s rest early today. I’ll go back first and come visit Mother early tomorrow morning.”

Seeing her like this, Nanny Zhou could only suppress her words for now, thinking to find opportunities to mediate slowly in the future. One of these sisters was decisive, the other clever – if they could work together, why would they need to worry about that Concubine Fang?

Having been exposed to the wind the previous night, Ren Yaoqi woke up late the next day, still feeling somewhat drowsy.

But thinking that Concubine Fang would be going to pay morning respects to Li Shi, not knowing if anything had gone wrong, she couldn’t lie still any longer. Just as she was about to call for maids to help her get up, she heard the voice of Xi’er, a senior maid from her mother Li Shi’s side, in the outer room.

“Now that the weather has turned cold, hot tea must be kept warm on the charcoal stove at all times, ready for the masters to drink whenever needed. But you must also know that even the finest silver charcoal, when burned too long indoors, will make people feel stuffy and uncomfortable. So these charcoal stoves must be placed in well-ventilated halls, while the tea in the masters’ inner rooms must be changed every three quarters of an hour.”

“When we entered the household, the concubine had us learn proper conduct from Steward Yan by Eldest Madam’s side, but Steward Yan never taught us these rules,” Qingmei grumbled somewhat indignantly.

Xi’er said coldly, “Aren’t I teaching you now? If you can’t even learn these basic rules, go tell your Concubine Fang to find a more capable maid to serve our Fifth Miss! Do you think the monthly allowance of eight hundred coins for second-class maids serving the young ladies is so easy to earn?”

Both maids fell silent.

Ren Yaoqi then called out softly toward the outside.

Soon after, Xi’er lifted the curtain and entered, quickly walking to the bed to bow to Ren Yaoqi, smiling as she said, “Fifth Miss, you’re awake? Would you like to get up for breakfast now? This servant has had them bring food and keep it warm on the stove. After you have breakfast, the medicine should be ready too.”

Except during festivals, the Ren family had three daily meals, with each branch receiving food from the main kitchen according to the number of people at designated meal times. Beyond this, only Old Madam Ren’s Ronghua Garden had a small kitchen – even the head of household, Eldest Madam, ate from the main kitchen.

Of course, the main kitchen could prepare special meals for extra payment beyond the standard allowance.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi nod, Xi’er immediately instructed Qingmei and Xueli to fetch water for Ren Yaoqi’s morning ablutions, while she helped Ren Yaoqi put on a small jacket of lotus-blue Songjiang cotton.

This type of jacket was worn indoors during winter when not going out to receive guests – comfortable, light, and warm.

“Why did you come over?” Seeing only herself and Xi’er in the room, Ren Yaoqi asked aloud.

While fastening the jacket buttons, Xi’er smiled and said, “Madam knows you’re ill and is very worried. If this servant doesn’t come to watch over you, Madam will want to get out of bed herself. Fifth Miss, please take pity on Madam and don’t send this servant away.”

Hearing that Li Shi had sent her, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t very well tell Xi’er to return.

“Also, Nanny Zhou asked this servant to tell Fifth Miss that when Concubine Fang went to pay respects to our Madam this morning, she insisted on staying to tend to the illness, but Madam kindly persuaded her to return. Nanny Zhou says for Fifth Miss to rest and recover well, not worrying, Madam, is your filial piety. With her watching over Madam, there won’t be any major problems.”

Such words others couldn’t say, but Nanny Zhou by Li Shi’s side dared to speak thus. She had a straightforward and stern nature, and when the young masters and misses did something wrong, she would point it out without hesitation, not fearing resentment or scolding.

Ren Yaoqi nodded to show she understood.

Soon after, Qingmei and Xueli led small maids carrying copper basins, face towels, spittoons, and other items into the room.

Xi’er had Qingmei and Xueli watch from the side while she demonstrated once how to serve the master’s face washing and tooth cleaning.

Xi’er had been personally trained by Nanny Zhou, so her attention to detail naturally couldn’t be compared to the two maids Qingmei and Xueli.

After the morning ablutions were finished, Xi’er personally served Ren Yaoqi her breakfast.

When the medicine was brought up, Ren Yaoqi smelled it and discovered it had been changed back to the original prescription she had been taking.

She didn’t know if this was because they feared Li Shi and the others would discover something amiss with the medicine upon their return, or if, seeing that the scheme to prevent her from reconciling with Li Shi and Ren Yaohua had failed, they had simply given up.

Concubine Fang had always been someone who knew how to read situations and act decisively.

By the third day, Ren Yaoqi’s health had almost completely recovered.

This meant she would need to resume her daily morning and evening attendance upon Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren.

After more than ten years, she would once again face that group of so-called blood relatives.