Ren Shimin had always believed that Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat differently about Han Yunqian. His thinking wasn’t wrong, just in the wrong direction.
Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “Father, the reason I pay such attention to the Han family is simply because I find their behavior somewhat strange.”
“Strange? How is the Han family strange?” Ren Shimin asked in confusion.
Ren Yaoqi spoke seriously to Ren Shimin: “In Han Yunqian’s maternal grandfather’s generation, the Han family was nothing more than a landlord with some modest wealth. It wasn’t until Han Yunqian’s father appeared and convinced the Han family head to use the family’s accumulated assets to make several business deals that the Han family gradually began to establish itself in Jizhou. By rights, Jizhou is one of the most prosperous state cities in Yan Bei, and the Han family members are local natives. Whether in terms of connections or geographical advantage, they did not need to move from Jizhou, where they had just established their footing among the wealthy and powerful families, to Yan Zhou’s White Crane Town. Moreover, the Han family can hardly be considered a great aristocratic clan, yet their rules are stricter than anyone else’s. Han family women can barely even leave the house once, but looking at Han Yunqian and Miss Han’s manner of speaking, they don’t seem like people of shallow knowledge. When things are abnormal, there must be demons—the Han family makes me feel uneasy.”
Upon hearing this, Ren Shimin frowned and thought for a moment, but then shook his head and smiled: “Why do you spend all day thinking about such unfounded matters? Perhaps the Han family moved because of some unavoidable reason, and their strict family customs are simply because the elders care too much for their descendants. Besides, the Han family didn’t appear out of thin air—they’re people with known backgrounds and roots. We have no grievances with the Han family, neither old nor recent, so why would they scheme against us with such calculation? And even if they wanted to scheme, with your grandfather here, are you still afraid the Ren family would suffer losses?”
Ren Shimin’s words were quite straightforward, showing he understood his father’s shrewd nature very clearly.
Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat powerless. Even Ren Shimin didn’t believe her words—who else in the Ren family would believe the “wild guesses” of a girl barely over ten years old?
Even she, if she hadn’t had the experiences of her previous life, wouldn’t believe it if someone came to tell her that the Han family members were all great villains with ill intentions. All these years, though the Han family acted low-key, they had been proper, law-abiding merchants, and the people who came from the Han family were all humble, courteous, and extremely well-mannered.
She couldn’t very well tell others about her experiences from her previous life. If the Ren family heard it, the first thing they’d think of wouldn’t be to burn her as a “demon” but to send her to a madhouse, Ren Yaoqi thought with bitter irony.
Knowing that saying more would be useless, Ren Yaoqi stopped trying to argue. She sat down to play a game of chess with Ren Shimin, then took her leave from the warm room.
Ren Shimin didn’t forget to remind her: “Since you dislike that Han Yunqian, just stay away from him. Don’t go looking for trouble with him anymore. Just think—he’s already lost to you twice in a row, losing both dignity and face. Where you can spare others, you should spare them.”
Ren Yaoqi: “…”
After coming out of the warm pavilion, only Ren Yaohua was in the gazebo. She stood in the pavilion facing the lotus pond’s railing, holding a small rouge-red bowl with a blue eight immortals pattern, feeding the fish.
The spring breeze brushed against her face, her hair slightly lifted, her skirts flowing. Her perfect profile was beautiful and delicate, like a pleasing scenic painting.
However, the next moment, Ren Yaoqi saw Ren Yaohua casually wave her hand, dumping all the fish food from the bowl into the lotus pond at once, then staring blankly at some spot in the lotus pond, lost in thought.
The maid Xiangqin beside Ren Yaohua was jumping anxiously: “Oh my, Miss, how can you feed fish like that! If you do it like this, all the fish in the pond will probably stuff themselves to death.”
Ren Yaoqi walked over slowly, standing beside her, slightly leaning forward to look at the fish competing for food in the water.
Ren Yaohua turned to glance at her, then turned back, still staring silently at the lotus pond.
The two stood wordlessly in the pavilion for a long time. The two maids, Wujing and Xiangqin, quietly gestured with their mouths toward the maids and servants in the pavilion, making them all withdraw and keep watch from a distance.
“Do you have the same thoughts as Fourth Sister?” Ren Yaohua suddenly asked.
Ren Yaoqi turned sideways, leaning against the railing, carefully studying Ren Yaohua. Ren Yaohua didn’t look at her, just pressed her lips together while looking at the pond surface, as if that seemingly random remark hadn’t come from her mouth.
“What if I do?” Ren Yaoqi, finding Ren Yaohua’s thoughts coinciding with Ren Shimin’s, both amusing and exasperating, surprisingly came out with this response.
Ren Yaohua seemed startled by her words: “You—” She stared at Ren Yaoqi for a long while, wanting to scold her, but ultimately couldn’t bring herself to speak. Finally, she frowned and said, “Put away any inappropriate thoughts. These matters aren’t something you can control as you wish. You’re a young lady—how can you—”
“Sister, if I said that my future obstruction of you is for your good, would you believe me?” Ren Yaoqi calmly interrupted her.
This was the first time she had called Ren Yaohua “sister.” Ren Yaohua was stunned. After a long moment, she turned her head away with a cold snort: “I only hope you know what you’re doing. As for my affairs, the elders will make the decisions. There’s no need for you to worry about me!” After saying this, she turned and walked away without looking back.
Ren Yaoqi sighed softly, not turning around, still looking down at the fish in the pond that had gradually calmed down.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when footsteps approached again.
Ren Yaoqi turned her head and saw Han Yunqian walking over slowly.
“Why is Fifth Miss here alone? Where are Brother Yiyan and the others?” Han Yunqian smiled slightly at Ren Yaoqi, asking politely.
“When I returned, they weren’t here anymore. Didn’t Young Master Han go with my brothers?” Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile.
Han Yunqian walked over, standing beside Ren Yaoqi, both facing the pond direction, smiling gently: “No, I was—”
Just then, from the small path across the pond from their pavilion came a burst of hearty laughter: “Brother Ren flatters me. I think Yiyan is very good—not only steady and courteous but also eloquent in conversation.”
Ren Yaoqi found this voice somewhat unfamiliar, so she turned to look. She saw Old Master Ren walking shoulder to shoulder with a man around fifty years old.
Though the man was no longer young, he was still vigorous and energetic, with a straight back, broad forehead, and proper features, looking ruddy and healthy. He appeared hearty and approachable, easily winning others’ favor. Ren Yaoqi was wondering who this person was when she noticed Han Yunqian beside her change expression slightly and unobtrusively move away from her side.
Though his expression quickly returned to its normal gentleness and his movement wasn’t obvious, Ren Yaoqi still noticed. She was slightly surprised.
“My grandfather has arrived,” Han Yunqian nodded to Ren Yaoqi, said this sentence, then turned to greet them. His steps were steady, unhurried, as always.
This was Old Master Han, Han Dongshan? Ren Yaoqi was even more surprised.
Han Dongshan didn’t actually have the surname Han; Han was his wife’s family name, and no one cared about his original surname, nor had Han Dongshan mentioned it in front of others.
Based on her speculation and what she’d heard from the maid who went to the Han house to fetch paintings, Ren Yaoqi had always thought Han Dongshan was an old man with sinister eyes and a stern expression. She hadn’t expected him to have such an open and hearty appearance.
Though extremely surprised inwardly, Ren Yaoqi immediately walked out.
Old Master Ren and Old Master Han, who were talking and laughing, also saw them.
“Qian’er, why are you still here?” When they approached, Old Master Han said with a chuckle. His gaze paused on Ren Yaoqi for a moment, with the kind of tolerance an elder shows toward a younger generation, not unpleasant at all.
Ren Yaoqi stepped forward to pay respects to Old Master Ren and Han Dongshan.
Old Master Ren nodded. Seeing Old Master Han studying Ren Yaoqi, he casually mentioned: “This is my third son’s younger daughter.”
Upon hearing this, Old Master Han looked Ren Yaoqi up and down again, suddenly smiled, and said to her kindly: “You’re called Yaohua?”
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi knew that Han Dongshan had misunderstood Old Master Ren’s words and mistaken her for Ren Yaohua. Old Master Ren promptly corrected: “Yaohua is my third son’s eldest daughter. This is my fifth-ranked granddaughter.”
Old Master Han continued smiling but glanced toward Han Yunqian. Though he quickly turned his gaze away, Ren Yaoqi, who had been watching him, still noticed.
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t determine what Han Dongshan’s glance meant, but felt it was somehow meaningful.
Han Yunqian lowered his head, standing behind Han Dongshan.
Han Dongshan smiled and said to Old Master Ren, “Didn’t you want me to help you look at the feng shui of this garden? Shall we continue?”
Old Master Ren stroked his beard and said, “Please.”
Ren Yaoqi smiled and asked the amiable-looking Han Dongshan, “Old Master Han knows how to read feng shui?”
Han Dongshan just smiled without speaking. Old Master Ren said, “When Old Master Han was young, he had the fortune to receive guidance from a master of mystical arts.”
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi raised an eyebrow and glanced at Han Yunqian.
Not long ago, Han Yunqian had told her that his grandfather didn’t believe in feng shui arts, so how had he become a feng shui master now?
Han Yunqian still kept his head slightly lowered, his expression unchanged, as if he hadn’t heard anything.
“We’re going to look at the artificial mountain area. You should return to your courtyard first,” Old Master Ren instructed Ren Yaoqi. In front of outsiders, Old Master Ren was always kind and amiable toward his grandchildren.
Ren Yaoqi curtsied and acknowledged with “yes,” then stopped.
She quietly watched the three men walk away, lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then turned and headed toward Ziwei Courtyard.
In the main room of Ziwei Courtyard, Li Shi was sitting on the kang, talking with Nanny Zhou. They didn’t know what they were discussing, but Li Shi seemed to be in very good spirits.
Ren Yaohua hadn’t returned; she was probably at Ronghua Garden.
Ren Yaoqi smiled as she walked over, performed a courtesy, and sat down on Li Shi’s right side: “Mother, I have something I want to discuss with you.”
Li Shi looked at Ren Yaoqi with some surprise: “What is it?”
Nanny Zhou had already risen from her stool, sent out the several young maids who were serving nearby, and arranged for Xi’er and Que’er to guard at the door.