“Death’s parting has swallowed sound, life’s parting brings constant sorrow. In the pestilent lands of the south, the exiled have no news. An old friend enters my dreams, showing I remember him always. You are now in the net, how can you have wings to fly? Perhaps this is not the soul of life, the road is distant and immeasurable. The soul comes when maple leaves are green; the soul returns when frontier passes are black. The fallen moon fills the house beams, still seeming to illuminate your face. The water is deep and the waves are wide, do not let the dragon get you.” Yuan Dayong, who had indeed read some books, recited this poem softly while pondering.

Then his expression changed: “Death’s parting has swallowed sound, life’s parting brings constant sorrow. Could this be saying that Ruomei has already met with misfortune?”

Ren Yaoqi was also contemplating this poem. Hearing Yuan Dayong’s guess, she shook her head and said thoughtfully: “That person went through such great effort to follow you such a long way – it shouldn’t be just to tell you that the person you’re looking for is already dead.”

“Then what is this line of poetry trying to express?” Yuan Dayong was completely puzzled. “This person is really strange, too – if they have something to say, why can’t they speak plainly? Why resort to riddles!”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi’s heart stirred: “Could ‘You are now in the net’ be asking us to solve a riddle?”

“Solve a riddle?” Yuan Dayong’s expression was somewhat odd. He felt that if that person had gone through all this trouble just to make them solve riddles, they had too much leisure time.

“Then what’s the answer to this riddle?” Though Yuan Dayong felt somewhat dismissive in his heart, he really couldn’t figure out what this phrase meant, so he could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive.

Ren Yaoqi tilted her head and pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked stunned and raised her head: “White Dragon in Fish Garb?”

“White Dragon in Fish Garb? Fifth Miss, is that the answer to the riddle?” Yuan Dayong frowned and thought for a moment. “‘You are now in the net’… White Dragon in Fish Garb… it makes sense, but what is this trying to explain?”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head and said softly: “It’s not trying to explain anything, just wanting to tell us a place name.”

“A place name?” Yuan Dayong was also stunned. After carefully pondering for a long time, his eyes suddenly brightened: “White Dragon… White Dragon Temple? The answer is White Dragon Temple?”

White Dragon Temple was built on White Dragon Mountain. It was said that the origin of this place name was related to the story of the White Dragon in Fish Garb. If “You are now in the net” was hinting at “White Dragon in Fish Garb,” then it very likely referred to White Dragon Temple.

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “If Zhu Ruomei is truly in someone else’s hands, then their most likely purpose in approaching us would be to tell us a location.”

Yuan Dayong couldn’t help but smile bitterly upon hearing this: “Then this person is really… what if we couldn’t guess it? Wouldn’t all their painstaking efforts be wasted?” Yuan Dayong still felt this person was somewhat strange.

Ren Yaoqi wasn’t entirely certain either – this was just her guess.

“Then… should this servant go to White Dragon Temple to investigate the situation?” Yuan Dayong asked.

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “Then be careful, and it’s best to bring some people with you.”

However, Ren Yaoqi always felt that judging from this person’s actions, they didn’t seem to have malicious intent. Yuan Dayong acknowledged and withdrew.

As soon as Ren Yaoqi returned to Ziwei Courtyard, Xi’er came running over from the main house.

“Fifth Miss, Madam asks you to go to the main house.” Xi’er performed a courtesy and said respectfully.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t return to her west wing but followed Xi’er directly to the main house in the rear courtyard.

Li Shi was talking with Nanny Zhou in the east side room. Ren Yaoqi lifted the curtain and entered, smiling as she asked: “Mother, what do you need me for?”

Li Shi beckoned, having Ren Yaoqi sit beside her, then asked with slightly furrowed brows: “Qi’er, I heard you’ve been frequently going outside the second gate to meet people recently?”

When Ren Yaoqi came, she had already thought that Li Shi might inquire about this matter. Recently, she had indeed gone out quite frequently.

Ren Yaoqi briefly told Li Shi about the Zhu family’s affairs.

After listening, Li Shi nodded: “I know you have a kind heart, and forming good relationships is a good thing. Nanny Zhou also mentioned to me the matter of the Zhu family sending things in, and I didn’t stop it. However, they are outsiders after all, and it’s not good for an unmarried woman like you to always go out to meet guests. If they come again in the future, women can be brought in to speak, and for men, you can just send a matron to meet them.”

Ren Yaoqi had originally wanted to say something more, but seeing Li Shi looking at her with worried, furrowed brows, she couldn’t say anything and could only nod in agreement first.

At this time, Ren Yaohua also lifted the curtain and entered.

Seeing both sisters had arrived, Li Shi smiled and said: “I called you both here today because of the matter of house-managing nannies. Nanny Zhou has already selected a housemanaging nanny for each of you sisters, and they’ll enter the residence shortly.”

Nanny Zhou also smiled: “Third Miss and Fifth Miss should meet them first today. If you find them unsuitable, this servant will go select others. These house-managing nannies must be to your liking, because when you leave the residence in the future, they’ll have to accompany you.”

This meant selecting ladies-in-waiting.

Li Shi said with complete trust: “Nanny Zhou has been selecting for so long – these two must be good ones.”

But Ren Yaoqi remembered something. In her previous life, she hadn’t wanted the house-managing nanny Li Shi selected for her.

Ren Yaohua’s housemanaging nanny, Nanny Xu, was indeed said to be capable. Later, when Ren Yaohua married, Nanny Xu somehow managed to have her daughter replace one of Ren Yaohua’s original senior maids to become Ren Yaohua’s dowry maid and marry into the Zeng family.

Later, when Ren Yaohua killed Zeng Kui, all her dowry maids suffered the same fate as her, except for Nanny Xu’s daughter, who remained unharmed because she was the one who informed Zeng Pu.

She had heard of many people who betrayed their masters for glory, but this one was the most chilling to her heart.

Que’er lifted the curtain and came in to report that Nanny Xu and Nanny Gao had arrived and were waiting outside.

Li Shi nodded and had Que’er lead them in to speak.

Ren Yaoqi sat on the kang waiting silently.

Shortly after, Que’er brought in two women, both about thirty-something years old.

The one walking in front was neatly dressed with her hair combed meticulously. Though her expression was somewhat serious, her features were very delicate. At first glance, her demeanor was somewhat similar to Nanny Zhou’s.

The one behind was dressed more plainly, with a slightly round face and an appropriately gentle smile constantly at the corners of her mouth, appearing to have a very good temperament.

Both women came forward to kowtow and bow to Li Shi and the two young misses. Nanny Zhou pointed to the serious-faced nanny and said, “This is Nanny Xu, selected for Third Miss.”

She then pointed to the round-faced one and introduced: “This is Nanny Gao, for Fifth Miss.”

Ren Yaoqi examined the two. Ren Yaohua glanced at Nanny Xu, who was selected for her, nodded to Li Shi, indicating she had no objections. She had always trusted Nanny Zhou completely.

Li Shi then looked toward Ren Yaoqi, waiting for her to express her opinion.

But Ren Yaoqi suddenly looked toward Ren Yaohua and said with a grin: “Third Sister, shall we switch house-managing nannies? I feel like Nanny Xu looks somewhat familiar.”

Everyone was stunned. Li Shi glared at Ren Yaoqi and scolded fondly: “Qi’er, you’re being mischievous again!”

Nanny Zhou also looked troubled. Nanny Xu was specifically selected for Ren Yaohua because she would marry several years before Ren Yaoqi and would need someone capable of handling things independently at her in-laws’ house. She had tested Nanny Xu several times and found her very suitable.

Ren Yaoqi made a face, tugged at Ren Yaohua’s sleeve, and pestered: “Third Sister, let’s switch, switch, switch!”

Ren Yaohua frowned at Ren Yaoqi, then looked at the two nannies, pushed Ren Yaoqi’s hand away, and said somewhat impatiently: “Fine, we’ll switch. But you need to think clearly – if you have a whim later and want to switch back, I won’t pay any attention to you!”

Ren Yaoqi smiled sweetly: “Thank you, Third Sister.”

Li Shi and Nanny Zhou exchanged glances, both looking helpless.

However, deep down Li Shi was still happy. The two sisters were now getting along harmoniously, no longer like enemies when they met as before. Seeing this as their mother, she felt extremely comforted.

Nanny Zhou also didn’t want the sisters to fall out over this matter, so she said nothing.

She had also carefully selected Nanny Gao. Even if there were any shortcomings, she could teach her for a while and make her presentable.

Thus, the house-managing nannies prepared for Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were switched.

Both Nanny Xu and Nanny Gao came forward with unchanged expressions to kowtow and bow to their new masters.

Li Shi said to them gently: “You’ll each live in the small ear rooms of the east and west wings. Since this is your first day entering the residence, go settle in first and familiarize yourself with the household situation. You can officially begin your duties tomorrow.”

The two nannies thanked Li Shi again and withdrew.

Ren Yaoqi quietly watched Nanny Xu’s retreating figure, her eyes holding an inscrutable expression.

Though Li Shi had arranged for the two house-managing nannies to begin their duties the next day, Nanny Xu came to serve Ren Yaoqi in the evening.

When she appeared again, Nanny Xu had changed into spring clothing issued by the Ren household. Her hair was still combed into a meticulous chignon with only a silver comb, looking very capable and steady.

Ren Yaoqi had Xueli call all eight maids in her room to meet Nanny Xu.

At bedtime, Nanny Xu personally attended to Ren Yaoqi’s washing.

Ren Yaoqi observed secretly without showing any emotion, having to admit that Nanny Zhou’s eye was indeed good. Nanny Xu’s words, actions, and mannerisms were all just right, leaving no fault to be found.

“What family does Nanny Xu still have at home?” When Nanny Xu bent to cover Ren Yaoqi with a blanket, Ren Yaoqi asked casually with her eyes closed.

Nanny Xu replied respectfully yet warmly: “This servant’s husband is no longer here. At home, there’s only one son, fourteen years old this year, currently learning his trade with the second manager of the coal depot the Ren family opened in Yunyang City.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but open her eyes: “You only have one son?”

Nanny Xu nodded: “This servant only has one son.”

Ren Yaoqi said nothing more.

Nanny Xu waited by the bedside for a long time. Seeing that Ren Yaoqi spoke no more, thinking she had fallen asleep, she helped lower the bed curtains, picked up the candlestick from the small table, and quietly withdrew.

The room gradually darkened inch by inch. Ren Yaoqi slowly closed her eyes.