Xia Sheng thought for a moment and shook his head: “In Jizhou, regarding Han Dongshan, we can only find information from the thirty-second year of Qinglong onward. What kind of person he was before coming to Jizhou is impossible to trace. Perhaps he has never mentioned it to anyone.”

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s disappointed expression, Xia Sheng added, “However, we might be able to find out by going to Jiangnan. When Han Dongshan came to Yan Bei, he was already sixteen years old. Before sixteen, he must have had contact with people. As long as we find those people, we can make inquiries.”

Though Xia Sheng made it sound easy, Ren Yaoqi knew it wasn’t. Since Han Dongshan didn’t want people to know his origins, he must have made preparations. Moreover, so many years had passed, with disasters and refugee flights in between—how easy would it be to find people who knew Han Dongshan before?

Most importantly, the marriage alliance between the Han and Ren families was imminent—she had no time left. Perhaps she could only find an alternative approach?

With these thoughts, Ren Yaoqi’s face showed some contemplation.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s silence, Xia Sheng hesitated for a moment, then voluntarily said: “This humble one is willing to make a trip to Jiangnan to investigate this Han Dongshan.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but be startled, looking up at Xia Sheng: “A round trip to Jiangnan would take at least a month.”

Xia Sheng wasn’t a member of her Ren family and had no obligation to toil for the Ren family.

“This humble one has recently taken on two disciples. According to our school’s rules, before they can graduate, they must undergo practical training, so I was originally planning to leave Yan Bei for a while anyway. I thought perhaps I could use this time to investigate Han Dongshan’s affairs, and it could also serve as an assignment for my two disciples. Moreover… I also feel that Han Dongshan is not simple. After all, ordinary people wouldn’t be so secretive about their past. Investigating would bring more peace of mind.”

If that were the case, it would be even better.

Ren Yaoqi nodded with a smile: “Then I’ll trouble you.”

“Miss Cousin speaks too formally. It’s just that I don’t understand why Miss Cousin is so wary of this Han Dongshan? I suspect his background because, during my investigation, I felt he was too mysterious. For what reason does Fifth Miss suspect him?” Xia Sheng asked with some confusion.

“I just feel the Han family is somewhat strange, as if they appeared out of nowhere, and it seems they’re deliberately trying to get close to the Ren family. So it’s better to investigate clearly,” Ren Yaoqi said with a smile.

Xia Sheng nodded and asked no more questions.

However, Ren Yaoqi said half-jokingly: “You’re also taking on disciples? If you have time in the future, could you train a few maids skilled in martial arts for me?”

Xia Sheng was startled and somewhat embarrassedly scratched his head: “This humble one… this humble one has never taken female disciples…”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh: “I was just thinking that having one or two maids skilled in martial arts by my side would give me more peace of mind when going out. If it’s really difficult, then forget it.”

Seeing that Ren Yaoqi was serious, Xia Sheng thought about it and nodded: “Then I’ll go back and ask my master. If he permits, I’ll train two for Miss Cousin. However, learning martial arts isn’t something that can be accomplished overnight. If you want to achieve something, you must start practicing from childhood. Even with good aptitude, it takes at least three or four years to achieve small success. I wonder if Miss Cousin can wait?”

Seeing that he agreed, Ren Yaoqi nodded with a smile: “I’m not in a hurry to have them right now.”

She could wait three or four years. In her previous life, the Ren family’s successive troubles began five years later. They might be useful then.

“I don’t need them to learn those flowery, embroidered fists. I want you to teach them practical skills. Xia Sheng, since you’ve already promised me, you must teach them real abilities. At the very least, you must ensure that if I’m ever kidnapped, they’ll have the capability to rescue me,” Ren Yaoqi looked at Xia Sheng seriously.

She had seen Xia Sheng’s true abilities and wasn’t afraid he couldn’t train good disciples.

Though Ren Yaoqi’s hypothetical scenario struck Xia Sheng as somewhat strange, he still said seriously, “Miss Cousin, rest assured. To graduate from my training, they must have real skills.”

Knowing that Xia Sheng was a rigid and serious person, Ren Yaoqi said nothing more.

At this moment, a woman walked out from the second gate.

This woman appeared to be twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with features that could only be considered delicate. Though her bearing was quite dignified, she wasn’t someone who would be unforgettable at first sight.

Ren Yaoqi could no longer remember this face, but she still remembered seeing her perform on stage. She had been enchanting, with a smile that could topple cities, making Ren Yaoqi unconsciously compare other dan role performers to her for many years afterward, always feeling others lacked something.

“Miss Cousin,” she said, somewhat surprised to see Ren Yaoqi and Xia Sheng, then quickly recovered and came forward to bow.

Ren Yaoqi returned a half-bow and smiled, calling out “Aunt Yihong.”

Yihong was somewhat surprised and couldn’t help but study Ren Yaoqi more carefully.

She had heard Li Shi say that Ren Yaoqi had grown up and changed greatly. Now it seemed the young lady before her had a gentle and kind smile, with clear and peaceful eyes—indeed quite different from the proud Miss Cousin she had known before.

Ren Yaoqi called her “aunt” because Yihong’s status was somewhat special.

Her uncle Li Tianyou had never married, and Yihong was his concubine, attending to his daily needs and managing his household affairs.

Normally, in most families, someone with Yihong’s status would be nothing more than a slightly distinguished servant. But Ren Yaoqi knew that those who loyally followed Prince Xian’s family were different.

Li Shi had once asked her and Ren Yaohua to call Yihong “aunt,” but they had only paid lip service, never truly willing to do so.

“Why is Miss Cousin here?” Yihong glanced at Xia Sheng and asked with some confusion.

Ren Yaoqi said, “I wanted to ask Xia Sheng about some matters, so I had someone bring him over. Has Aunt Yihong finished speaking with Mother?”

Yihong nodded with a smile: “This servant has finished reporting and must return to Yunyang City.”

Knowing she had business to attend to, Ren Yaoqi didn’t detain her, only instructing a maid to have the Li family’s carriage brought to the second gate to save them from walking extra distance.

While waiting for the carriage, Ren Yaoqi chatted with Yihong about various matters.

Soon the carriage arrived. Yihong bowed to Ren Yaoqi in farewell and boarded the carriage. Xia Sheng also bowed and followed.

Ren Yaoqi beckoned Pingguo over and whispered: “Didn’t I give you some banknotes to keep before? Do you have them with you?” She had given Pingguo a hundred taels in banknotes and some loose silver to carry for emergencies.

Pingguo also whispered back: “This servant has them.”

“Go give the hundred-tael banknote to that man called Xia Sheng, who was just speaking with me. Tell him it’s travel money and funds for buying maids for me. If it’s not enough, he can come find me again.”

Pingguo asked no questions and simply went to comply.

Ren Yaoqi nodded. Among the several new maids, she was most satisfied with Pingguo.

Though Pingguo usually spoke little and wasn’t particularly clever, she was dutiful and obedient. Once, when carrying out her orders, Pingguo encountered Ren Yaoyu on the road. Ren Yaoyu ordered Pingguo to fetch something from her courtyard. Pingguo didn’t refuse at the time, but after Ren Yaoyu left, she passed on Ren Yaoyu’s request to others and continued with the task Ren Yaoqi had given her, even though it wasn’t particularly urgent.

Another maid called Sangshen was also good, quite attentive in her work.

Pingguo soon returned.

“Miss, he wouldn’t take it,” Pingguo said with a frown.

Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to respond, Pingguo added: “So I forced it on him.”

Ren Yaoqi turned to look at the carriage that was about to drive away. Xia Sheng sat on the driver’s seat, glaring at Pingguo’s back with an annoyed expression.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

After returning to Ziwei Courtyard, Li Shi called Ren Yaoqi over and said happily, “Just now, Yihong came and told me about the Han family matters in detail. Later, I’ll have Nanny Zhou teach Hua’er, so she won’t suffer losses in the future.”

Li Shi didn’t think there were any problems with the Han family. She still looked forward to the marriage between the Han and Ren families.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t say anything. She could only make other plans.

That night, Ren Yaoqi lay in bed with her eyes closed, thinking for half the night. She didn’t fall asleep until after the third watch.

The next day, someone from the gatehouse came to report that Zhu Ruomei had arrived.

Zhu Ruomei came to express gratitude. His mother’s condition had improved greatly. The physician said that in another month, daily consultations wouldn’t be necessary—monthly acupuncture sessions would suffice.

Zhu Ruomei remembered that his last departure from the mines was due to Third Master Ren’s special mercy, but he had indeed signed an indenture contract with the Ren family. Leaving the mines was only for the convenience of treating his mother. Now that his mother’s condition was stable, he naturally should return to continue working for the Ren family. He hadn’t taken to heart the fact that the Ren family had already returned his indenture contract.

Some people in this world have their code of conduct, unaffected by external constraints.

Ren Yaoqi heard Xiangqin’s report, thought about it, and decided to meet with Zhu Ruomei.

Since Sister-in-Law Yuan always found Xiangqin when she came, Zhu Ruomei also delivered his message through Xiangqin this time.

Ren Yaoqi again had Zhu Ruomei brought to Yiran Pavilion outside the second gate. Before going out, she also had someone inform Third Master Ren.

Zhu Ruomei wore indigo coarse cloth short robes and looked much thinner than when Ren Yaoqi had last seen him, though his body remained strong and his eyes were still bright with spirit.

“This humble one greets Fifth Miss,” Zhu Ruomei bowed to Ren Yaoqi from a distance.

Ren Yaoqi smiled and told him to rise: “I heard your mother’s illness is gradually improving? Do you need any medicinal herbs? If you can’t buy them outside, you can have Sister-in-Law Yuan tell me, and I’ll help you find a way.”

Zhu Ruomei was very grateful upon hearing this: “Thank you for your concern, Fifth Miss. We lack no medicinal herbs. I came this time to ask Fifth Miss and Third Master—my mother will be fully recovered next month and will only need monthly check-ups afterward. Can I return to work at the mines?” His tone was respectful and sincere.