Ren Yaoqi returned to the main room with a heavy heart. Li Shi was still sitting on the kang with Ren Yaohua, while Nanny Zhou stood to the side, reporting matters. Perhaps because Li Shi had instructed her to teach Ren Yaohua household management, her report today was more detailed than usual.

“The summer garments for the maids and women servants have also begun being made, using our own manor’s needlework group. The master’s clothing has been given to Tanji Tailor Shop in Yunyang City. Many of the masters’ winter clothes last year were made by Tanji – Old Madam praised their fine craftsmanship. Originally, these matters were all managed by Fifth Madam, but recently, Fifth Madam has been unwell and inconvenient to manage affairs, so Eldest Madam handed over the household’s seasonal clothing changes to Eldest Young Madam. Fortunately, the manor purchased a batch of summer cloth two years ago when autumn began – the material is excellent, though the masters probably won’t like the patterns anymore, so it’s perfect for making summer clothes for the maids.”

“Eldest Sister-in-law is truly capable. This should save the manor quite a bit of expense, shouldn’t it?” After listening, Ren Yaohua turned to Li Shi and said.

Unexpectedly, Nanny Zhou said: “Eldest Young Madam is indeed extremely capable, it’s just… she’s still young and has experienced few matters.”

Hearing Nanny Zhou speak as if there were hidden meanings, Ren Yaohua looked at her somewhat puzzled, waiting for her to continue.

Nanny Zhou said quietly, “While Eldest Young Madam’s actions won’t draw complaints from the older wives and women in the manor, those younger maids used to follow their masters in selecting seasonal fabrics for their clothes. Though the material was far inferior to what the manor provided, the colors and patterns were all fashionable that year, so they were happy wearing them. So while Eldest Young Madam’s actions are well-intentioned, she may not receive appreciation in the end. People are like this – they take advantages for granted as their due, but if they feel they’ve suffered even the slightest loss, they’ll blame the person responsible.”

“If that’s the case, hasn’t Eldest Aunt managed the household for so many years? Doesn’t she know this? Why doesn’t she give Eldest Sister-in-law a hint instead of letting her act this way?” Ren Yaohua was somewhat puzzled.

Upon hearing this, Nanny Zhou glanced at Li Shi. Normally, she wouldn’t say more, but now that Ren Yaohua was not young anymore, if some things weren’t taught now, it would be too late later. This was also why Li Shi had her explain these household trivialities to Ren Yaohua.

So she sighed and said, “No matter how good a mother-in-law is, she’s ultimately not one’s birth mother.”

After thinking, Nanny Zhou continued: “Eldest Madam may not lack regard for Eldest Young Madam, but she has her considerations. Great families have always had the eldest legitimate son inherit the family business – this Ren family will eventually have the Eldest Young Master take charge. But now Eldest Master and Eldest Madam are in their prime years, so Eldest Young Madam will still live under Eldest Madam’s authority for many years to come. If Eldest Young Madam’s initial exposure to household management goes smoothly, the elders might value the daughter-in-law of the next generation more than their daughter-in-law. When the mother-in-law takes charge later, she’ll have less authority than her daughter-in-law.”

Seeing Ren Yaohua listening with some bewilderment, Nanny Zhou spoke earnestly: “So initially, a mother-in-law must give her daughter-in-law a few shows of authority. Think about it – if Eldest Young Madam doesn’t do well this time, from Old Madam down to the maids and women servants, everyone will have complaints about her. When Eldest Madam steps forward to protect Eldest Young Madam and clean up the mess for her, how will Eldest Young Madam feel afterward?”

Ren Yaohua frowned: “In the future, Eldest Sister-in-law will respect Eldest Aunt even more and won’t dare easily oppose her opinions?”

Nanny Zhou nodded with satisfaction: “Eldest Madam only needs Eldest Young Madam to be obedient to her as mother-in-law and of one heart with her, not to bypass her mother-in-law to gain favor before Old Madam. Naturally, she’ll protect Eldest Young Madam and not let her suffer great losses.”

After listening, Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but remain silent for a moment, then sighed: “There are truly so many twists and turns within these inner courtyards.”

Li Shi covered her mouth and smiled, exchanging a glance with Nanny Zhou, then gently patted Ren Yaohua’s hand: “You’ll slowly learn from Nanny Zhou, studying a little each day. When the time comes… you’ll be ready to graduate.”

Ren Yaohua hadn’t originally paid attention to Li Shi’s unusual behavior today, but hearing this sentence and seeing the expression on her face, she suddenly realized something, causing her face to redden slightly.

She opened her mouth wanting to ask, but ultimately felt too embarrassed to voice the question.

Ren Yaoqi stood quietly to the side, observing for a while. Li Shi looked up and saw her, beckoning: “Qi’er, what are you standing there for? Come over here, too.”

Ren Yaoqi obediently walked over and sat together with Ren Yaohua, listening to Nanny Zhou continue discussing household matters.

Afterward, Li Shi and Nanny Zhou went out to handle courtyard affairs. Only then did Ren Yaohua ask Ren Yaoqi: “When you went out earlier, did father mention anything?”

Seeing Ren Yaohua’s forced natural expression, Ren Yaoqi knew she must have guessed something, so she nodded: “Mm.”

Ren Yaohua lowered her head in silence for a long while before finally couldn’t help asking: “Which family?”

Though the words weren’t direct, Ren Yaoqi still understood what she was asking.

“The Han family. However, the elders haven’t determined the candidate yet,” Ren Yaoqi said, watching Ren Yaohua’s expression.

Ren Yaohua was stunned again.

Ren Yaoqi also stopped speaking, and the two sisters fell into silence.

Finally, after a long time, Ren Yaohua came back to her senses. She also noticed that Ren Yaoqi’s expression was somewhat strange, causing her to become thoughtful.

Two days later, the Han family visited again. This time, it was Master Han, Madam Han, and the Han siblings who came. Master Han went to the outer courtyard with Eldest Master Ren, while Han Yunqian was called by the eldest young master for tea.

Everyone in the Ren family understood the meaning of this Han family visit, and therefore were even more enthusiastic.

Old Madam sent someone to call Li Shi and Ren Yaohua to Ronghua Garden. Li Shi hurriedly sent Ren Yaohua back to dress up.

Ren Yaohua looked at her clothes: “These garments are suitable for receiving guests.”

“This green color makes you look lackluster. You should wear red instead. That silver-red outfit with silver thread scattered flower embroidery from last time was very good – go back and change into it. Since the clothing color is rich, change the gold hairpin on your head to those pearl-clustered tasseled ones,” Li Shi instructed carefully. Finally, still not at ease, she said to Nanny Zhou, “You’d better go supervise her.”

Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi, then turned and went out with Nanny Zhou.

Li Shi also called the maids in the room to tidy her up.

Ren Yaoqi watched Li Shi having her hair arranged and walked to Li Shi’s side to select hairpins for her.

Li Shi touched her head and instructed: “Your sister and I are going to grandmother’s place. You stay in the courtyard and do your needlework properly.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded and handed the pair of dignified gold filigree longevity peach cricket jade-coral matching hairpins she held to Xi’er, who was arranging Li Shi’s hair.

Shortly after, Ren Yaohua returned.

She wore a silver-red jacket with silver thread scattered flowers and a silver moon-flower skirt. Her hair was styled in a lively yuanbao double topknot, adorned with pearl-clustered tasseled hairpins, looking charming and pleasing.

Li Shi looked her over once, nodded, and took her to Ronghua Garden.

Ren Yaoqi watched them leave, then, after a moment, she too left the courtyard.

She was still somewhat uneasy and wanted to go to Ronghua Garden to see.

Walking near the corridor beside the flower garden, she inadvertently glanced and seemed to see someone standing by the artificial mountain in the garden.

Ren Yaoqi stopped, paused for a moment, then slowly walked toward the garden.

In early spring, the Ren family’s flower garden was gradually becoming vibrant with life. Green shoots emerged throughout the courtyard, and even some grass occasionally grew among the artificial mountain made of Taihu stones. Originally, the women who tended the courtyard wanted to pull up that grass, but Ren Shimin stopped them, saying it was better this way, adding a touch of wild charm.

No one dared question Third Master’s taste, so the grass was allowed to grow wild.

Ren Yaoqi’s steps were light and unhurried. She had come out casually, followed only by her two personal maids, Pingguo and Sangshen. Neither maid dared say anything, only silently following behind Ren Yaoqi with lowered heads.

The person standing by the artificial mountain was quite alert, sensing their approach before Ren Yaoqi’s group drew near, and turned around.

Clear, handsome features, calm and profound eyes, with a quiet composure rare in young men – it was Han Yunqian.

Han Yunqian gazed at her quietly.

Ren Yaoqi wore a pale yellow plain jacket with a long skirt of the same plain color, revealing purple embroidered trim at the hem. The pale golden early spring sunlight fell evenly on her, soft and warm, making the young girl’s fair skin appear as delicate as if it would break at a touch.

“Master Han,” Ren Yaoqi stopped five steps away and curtsied.

Han Yunqian withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes to return the courtesy, and called her Third Miss.

“Why is Master Han here alone?” Ren Yaoqi looked around and saw that besides Han Yunqian, there was only a young servant with a topknot in the distance, who hurried over to bow upon seeing her.

“Brother Yiyan asked me to wait here for him. He just left temporarily on some business,” Han Yunqian replied warmly and reasonably.

Ren Yaoqi’s gaze went past his shoulder to look at the artificial mountain he had been staring at earlier.

She had heard that because this residence had an excellent feng shui layout, the Ren family had made no major changes to the property after moving in.

This Taihu stone artificial mountain should have some history. The jagged, oddly-shaped stones were piled to resemble various birds and beasts, but Ren Yaoqi felt that a stone in the upper right that somewhat resembled an eagle seemed to have one wing broken off. A one-winged eagle standing there always felt somewhat strange.

“The feng shui here is excellent, don’t you think?” Han Yunqian also turned to look at the artificial mountain and said with a smile, “Brother Yiyan said this artificial mountain is positioned right on a focal point of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams formation. Any repairs would require a master.”

Because of their previous experience walking through the lantern formation together, Han Yunqian knew that Ren Yaoqi understood these things.