Seeing that Nanny Zhou was about to leave as well, Ren Yaoqi quickly called out to her: “Nanny, please stay too.”

Nanny Zhou acknowledged and stood with her hands clasped at one side of the southern kang.

Only then did Ren Yaoqi speak to Li Shi: “Mother, I just saw Grandfather and Old Master Han in the courtyard.”

Upon hearing this, Li Shi exchanged a glance with Nanny Zhou and sat up straighter: “Yunqian’s grandfather came too?”

It seemed Li Shi was truly very satisfied with Han Yunqian, as even her way of addressing him had changed.

“This shows that the Han family also takes this matter extremely seriously,” Li Shi said joyfully to Nanny Zhou.

“The Han family only has Young Master Han as their sole heir, so naturally, they would take it seriously,” Nanny Zhou also nodded with a smile in agreement.

Ren Yaoqi looked at their expressions and continued: “Just now, Father said that Grandfather has already decided on Third Sister.”

Li Shi glared at Ren Yaoqi with mild reproach: “How can you go inquiring about such matters? What business does someone so young have worrying about such things?” Her words seemed not too surprised by Ren Yaoqi’s statement, suggesting she had probably already gleaned something from Old Madam’s hints earlier. However, the joy on her face was completely undisguised.

Han Yunqian had good looks, a gentle nature, was intelligent and studious, and was also the Han family’s only son. Anyone would say this was a good match.

Li Shi, as a mother who wholeheartedly thinks of her daughter’s interests, was not wrong.

Even Ren Yaoqi couldn’t find anything wrong with this marriage arrangement if she didn’t know the outcome.

“Mother, I heard earlier that a nanny from Sister You’s side was quietly inquiring about Third Sister’s temperament,” Ren Yaoqi said, lowering her head.

Li Shi was startled and frowned slightly: “What did they inquire about?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: “Her temperament, how she conducts herself, and why she was sent to the estate two years ago.”

“Who did they ask? How did that person respond?” Li Shi asked somewhat nervously.

“They asked one of the little maids by my side. Mother, don’t worry—she didn’t speak carelessly,” Ren Yaoqi reassured her.

Li Shi couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief: “That’s good, that’s good.” She was also worried that news of her daughter’s bad temper would be exaggerated and told to the Han family.

“Mother, Sister You doesn’t seem like someone who would inquire randomly, and she wouldn’t ask about such things. It must be that the Han family’s old madam or madam had that servant woman come to inquire.”

Nanny Zhou nodded in agreement: “That’s certainly the case.”

Ren Yaoqi looked toward Li Shi: “Mother, the Han family is taking a wife, and the Ren family is marrying off a daughter. Since the Han family is inquiring about our Ren family’s situation at this crucial time, shouldn’t we also send someone to investigate the Han family’s circumstances?”

“This…” Li Shi frowned, looking toward Nanny Zhou.

Ren Yaoqi continued: “Mother, I’ve heard that this branch of the Han family holds considerable influence within the Han clan. The Han family also only has Han Yunqian as their male heir, so his future wife will certainly bear many responsibilities. Given Third Sister’s temperament, do you think she could handle it if she doesn’t prepare early?”

This time, Nanny Zhou also nodded: “Fifth Miss speaks reasonably. These family clan matters are the easiest for people to exploit. If Third Miss could prepare early, that would be good, to avoid being looked down upon later.”

Li Shi said hesitantly, “But the Han family’s customs are extremely strict. What if our rashly sending people to inquire is discovered by the Han family?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “Mother, how long has the Han family been in our White Crane Town? Even if you send people to the Han family to ask about their situation, what could you find out? Just as our maids would only speak well of us to the Han family people. Rather, in Jizhou, where the Han family lived for so many years, their relatives, friends, and neighbors all know each other well. If we could send people to Jizhou to inquire, that would be much better.”

“Go to Jizhou?” Li Shi looked at Ren Yaoqi, then at Nanny Zhou. “Wouldn’t that be too cautious? I think the Han family has a simple household, and everyone up and down seems harmonious. There probably isn’t much worth investigating.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi disagreed: “Mother, does the Han family have a simple household? That’s because you’ve only seen this Han family in White Crane Town. How much do you understand about the Han clan?”

“This…” Li Shi was at a loss for words.

Ren Yaoqi continued: “Just because we don’t know doesn’t mean there are no problems. For instance, though the Han family holds considerable influence within the Han clan, do you know much about why they left Jizhou to move to our Yan Zhou? The Han family’s customs are so strict toward women, which shows the head of household is serious, yet the Old Master Han I saw today seemed like a person with a hearty nature and was quite amiable. So, who is the true head of the Han family now? Or is Old Master Han’s real temperament vastly different from what he shows on the surface? If that’s truly the case, and we don’t investigate clearly to prepare early, won’t Third Sister find it difficult to take even a single step in the future?”

After this series of questions from Ren Yaoqi, Li Shi couldn’t help but blush somewhat.

She hadn’t thought about any of these matters at all.

Thinking of how these years in the Ren family, if she hadn’t had Nanny Zhou looking after her, she didn’t know if she could still be sitting here now. With this thought, Li Shi felt that indeed she had thought too little.

“But who should we send to Jizhou?” Li Shi relented, thinking, “Should we discuss with Master, or have Old Master and Old Madam send someone?”

“It’s fine to inform Father—he shouldn’t object. As for Grandfather and Grandmother… I think we should send someone ourselves and not trouble the two elders for now. Otherwise, if the Ren family discovers problems with the Han family, we might not even know about it.”

As long as it benefited the Ren family, even if the Han family was utterly unsuitable, the Ren family would still have Ren Yaohua marry into it.

Li Shi was silent for a moment, no longer objecting, only asking: “Then who would be better to send?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled and blinked: “Mother, hasn’t it been a long time since you wrote to Grandmother?”

Li Shi was startled, then her eyes brightened: “Right, we can ask Mother to help. The Li family has no dealings with the Han family, so even if the Han family discovers this later, we can make excuses.”

Nanny Zhou smiled: “Then, Madam, why don’t you write a letter now? This servant will have someone deliver it to Yunyang City as soon as possible. This matter should be done sooner rather than later.”

Li Shi nodded and was about to get up when Ren Yaoqi quickly pressed her down: “I’ll prepare the writing materials. Mother, you dictate, and I’ll write for you.”

Seeing her like this, Li Shi couldn’t help but laugh: “Then go ahead.”

Ren Yaoqi went out to call for the maids.

Li Shi watched her retreating figure and said with a satisfied smile: “With the two sisters being like this, I can rest assured.”

Nanny Zhou also smiled: “After all, they’re blood sisters. What is there for Madam to worry about? The past few years were just because both young misses were young and stubborn in temperament.”

Before long, Ren Yaoqi returned with maids carrying a writing brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone.

Ren Yaoqi sat at the table, picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and asked Li Shi with a smile: “Mother, you speak and I’ll write.”

Li Shi then explained her request for her mother to help investigate the Han family. Ren Yaoqi sat properly at the table, writing steadily. However, besides what Li Shi dictated, she also added some words of her own.

After all, Li Shi’s focus in the investigation differed from hers.

After Ren Yaoqi finished writing, she read through it herself, then had Li Shi look to see if there was anything that needed to be added. After reading it, Li Shi nodded repeatedly: “This is good, this is good.”

Ren Yaoqi then dried the ink, sealed the letter, and handed it to Nanny Zhou: “Nanny, quickly have someone send this to Grandmother’s house.”

Nanny Zhou didn’t dare delay, acknowledged, and took the letter away.

Ren Yaoqi suddenly felt as if a large stone had been lifted from her heart, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

What she most wanted to investigate was Han Dongshan’s background.

For generations, the Han family had been landowners in Jizhou, wealthy but only to the extent of being wealthy. Han Dongshan’s appearance was the variable in the Han family.

After the Han grandfather and grandson returned home from the Ren family, they had a conversation. In the Han family’s study, Han Dongshan sat behind the desk, expressionlessly studying his grandson standing before him, slowly rotating a pair of white jade balls the size of infant fists in his palm.

Han Yunqian kept his head slightly lowered, seeming to look at the small space before his feet, yet also as if he wasn’t looking at anything. Though his head was lowered in a respectful posture, his back remained straight.

“The Ren family has agreed to the marriage alliance with us,” Han Dongshan said flatly, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, but his expression was full of mockery.

Han Yunqian seemed not to have heard, or as if this matter had nothing to do with him, not even lifting his eyelids.

“Is that Miss Ren Fifth today the one who took the painting back from you last time?” Han Dongshan asked unexpectedly.

“Yes, Grandfather,” Han Yunqian replied in a low voice.

The two jade balls in Han Dongshan’s hands rotated faster, as if he were pondering: “The Ren family’s intention is for you to become engaged to Miss Ren Third. However, I notice you seem more compatible with that Miss Fifth. Since the engagement isn’t finalized yet, how about I request Miss Ren Fifth’s hand for you instead?”

Han Yunqian’s expression changed, and he immediately looked up, meeting Han Dongshan’s cold, sharp eyes that held a hidden gleam.

Han Yunqian secretly took a deep breath to steady himself. He heard his calm voice slowly say: “It doesn’t matter who it is—the result will be the same. Why create unnecessary trouble and displease the Ren family at this time?”

Han Dongshan looked at Han Yunqian for a long time, then leaned back in the nanmu chair behind him. His tone became much gentler, again appearing like a reasonable and caring elder: “It’s good that you understand.”

Han Yunqian bowed: “Grandson will withdraw now.”

“Mm. Call your father in—I have matters to instruct him about,” Han Dongshan said indifferently.

Han Yunqian acknowledged and withdrew.

The spring afternoon sun had lost some of winter’s lazy quality, diligently coating everything with an even layer of golden glaze. Han Yunqian walked slowly from under the corridor into the sunlit courtyard, making his entire figure appear warm and gentle.

In the eyes of the passing servant women, the young master remained elegant, steady, composed, and refined.

But Han Yunqian’s mind now echoed only his grandfather’s earlier words: “How about I request Miss Ren Fifth’s hand for you instead?”

He didn’t feel happy, joyful, or delighted. He only inexplicably found his back drenched in cold sweat.