Hearing Ren Yaoting’s words in the carriage, Ren Yaoqi thought that Ren Yaoting must want to discuss the salt fields with her.

Li Shi also hoped that Ren Yaoqi could become closer to the Ren family sisters, so she said to Ren Yaoqi: “Go sit with your Seventh Younger Sister.”

Ren Yaoqi went with the flow and agreed, getting down from the carriage.

Ren Yaoting had been waiting outside and seeing Ren Yaoqi get down, she hurried over, taking Ren Yaoqi’s arm with a very intimate smile: “Fifth Sister, riding in the carriage all this way has been so boring. Fortunately I met you – we sisters can sit together and have a good chat.”

Originally, for convenience when traveling in Yunyang City, Ren Yaoting had her own separate carriage, but she preferred sitting with Su Shi, so her own carriage was empty. Ren Yaoqi followed Ren Yaoting into her carriage.

As soon as Ren Yaoting got in the carriage, she sent all the maids outside to sit elsewhere, leaving only herself and Ren Yaoqi in the carriage compartment.

“Seventh Sister, I heard the maids and women privately discussing that the Su family’s wedding ceremony was quite lively this time,” Ren Yaoqi said with a smile.

Hearing this, Ren Yaoting smiled proudly: “My eldest cousin is the legitimate eldest grandson of the Su family, so his wedding would naturally be livelier than ordinary families. However…”

Ren Yaoqi asked with some curiosity: “However, what?”

Ren Yaoting glanced at Ren Yaoqi. Originally, she wouldn’t have discussed these things with Ren Yaoqi, but now, looking at Ren Yaoqi, she found her much more agreeable, so she said in a low voice: “However, my eldest cousin’s wife’s dowry was quite shabby. Although it appeared to be thirty-two cases, I heard from the nanny beside my mother that those dowry chests only had some slightly valuable items in the top layer, with the bottom filled with worthless things to make up the numbers. Even the few presentable fabric pieces were last year’s fashionable patterns from the capital. Because of this, the servants in my second and third aunts’ courtyards made quite a few sarcastic remarks.” Ren Yaoting curled her lips.

Su family’s First Master Su Keqin and Ren Yaoting’s mother Su Yi were born to Su Old Master’s original wife, while Second Master Su Kejian and Third Master Su Keji were from his second wife.

Ren Yaoqi knew that in her previous life, when Miss Zeng married into the Su family, she had indeed caused much controversy. At this time, Zeng Pu was only a sixth-rank Loyal Display Captain with an empty title, and this niece of his was orphaned and had been raised in his mansion since childhood.

Everyone speculated that Su Old Master’s second wife had schemed regarding the original wife’s legitimate grandson’s marriage, and that the Su family’s eldest young master had been tricked into finding such a match.

Only later, when Zeng Pu rose to prominence in Yanbei, did everyone realize that Old Master Su had possessed unique foresight.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but sneer coldly – what unique foresight? The Su family should have been secretly collaborating with the Zeng family all along.

Whether this Miss Zeng truly lacked family wealth or not, her dowry was merely a smokescreen to make people lower their guard against the Zeng family.

“However, my eldest cousin’s wife is an excellent person – beautiful and well-educated,” Ren Yaoting said, pulling a small pouch from her waist and showing it to Ren Yaoqi: “This is the meeting gift she gave me. I heard she embroidered the pattern herself. Look at the needlework quality.”

Ren Yaoqi took it for a look. The pink pouch was embroidered with two young ladies playing shuttlecock, the scene vivid and lifelike.

Ren Yaoqi handed the pouch back and nodded with a smile: “Yes, the needlework is quite excellent.”

Ren Yaoting smiled, pursing her lips. She loved this pouch very much and was quite satisfied with her eldest cousin’s wife.

Actually, given Ren Yaoting’s proud nature, she should have looked down on Zeng Shi for her meager dowry. But after just a few days together, she had grown to like Zeng Shi, which showed that this Miss Zeng was no simple woman.

“Alright, I can tell you more about my eldest cousin’s wife later. I called you over because I wanted to tell you about what we discussed last time,” Ren Yaoting lowered her voice.

Ren Yaoqi feigned confusion: “Which matter are you referring to, Seventh Sister?”

“The Han family’s salt fields,” Ren Yaoting quietly reminded her.

“Oh, so it’s that matter. Seventh Sister, did you mention it to the elders?” Ren Yaoqi widened her eyes.

Ren Yaoting covered her mouth and laughed: “Did you think I was just joking?”

“So what was the result?” Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile.

Ren Yaoting moved closer to Ren Yaoqi: “I originally planned to tell my mother, but I was afraid she would see through something. Since my mother was taking me to Yunyang City for my eldest cousin’s wedding, I thought it would be better to speak directly with my maternal family. So I found an opportunity to ask my eldest cousin to tell uncle, but my eldest aunt happened to overhear. My eldest aunt asked me many questions, including where I had heard these things. I said some were my thoughts, and some I had inadvertently overheard when several stewards were chatting during a visit to the West Manor. Unexpectedly, my eldest aunt told my grandfather and uncle directly about this matter.”

Ren Yaoting paused here and looked at Ren Yaoqi with a smile: “Guess what the result was?”

“Your grandfather and eldest uncle thought this matter was feasible?” Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile.

Ren Yaoting shook her head with a profound expression: “How could such a matter be so simple? However, my maternal grandfather has already sent my eldest uncle to dispatch people to Xining, saying they want to test the waters first before making plans.”

People in business naturally wouldn’t believe in baseless rumors. When the Ren family initially decided to cooperate with the Han family, they had also sent people to Xining for on-site investigations, so Ren Yaoqi wasn’t surprised. Since the Su family was willing to send people to gather information, it meant they were interested in this matter.

Ren Yaoqi had previously thought that the salt fields mentioned by the Han family were just an empty framework to lure the Ren family, as it would be extremely difficult for the Han family to obtain high-quality salt wells given their current strength.

However, she later realized that, given the Ren family’s caution, if it were truly a baseless matter, Old Master Ren wouldn’t have been unable to detect anything.

Now that she knew the Han family had connections with Yanbei Prince’s Manor, the salt well matter should be real. She just didn’t know what connection the salt wells in the Han family’s hands had with Yanbei Prince’s Manor’s use of the Han family.

Using the Su family to test the waters might not be a bad method.

“What are you thinking about? Are you listening to me at all!” Seeing that Ren Yaoqi seemed to be thinking about something, Ren Yaoting couldn’t help but say with mock anger.

Ren Yaoqi looked at Ren Yaoting with a slight smile: “Yes, I’m listening. I was just thinking that it should take some time to gather information from Yunyang City to Xining.”

Only then did Ren Yaoting’s anger turn to joy: “Of course. However, my maternal family has always had people stationed in Xining, so it should be much more convenient.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “That would be much more convenient indeed.”

The two talked throughout the journey. Ren Yaoqi noticed that Ren Yaoting was particularly talkative today, probably because she felt she was one step closer to her goal and was happy. Normally, Ren Yaoting only talked a lot with people she liked, and had always been rather indifferent to the former her.

Most of the time during the journey, Ren Yaoqi just listened, occasionally nodding or making an acknowledging sound.

With someone talking, time passed more quickly, and soon the Ren family carriages entered White Crane Town.

The East Manor and West Manor carriages entered through different gates, so the carriages stopped when they reached the street intersection. A woman sent by Li Shi said through the carriage curtain: “Fifth Miss, we’ve reached the manor gate. Madam asks you to get down.”

Having learned everything she wanted to know from Ren Yaoting, Ren Yaoqi cheerfully took her leave.

Ren Yaoting blinked and said: “When there’s news from over there, I’ll tell you.” The joy of success naturally needed to be shared with someone, and Ren Yaoting felt that so far, Ren Yaoqi was the most suitable person to discuss this matter with.

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “Good, then I’ll wish Seventh Sister success in advance.”

Ren Yaoting’s face reddened, thinking that Ren Yaoqi might just be speaking casually and didn’t mean what she was thinking, so her heartbeat calmed down. By this time, Ren Yaoqi had already gotten off the carriage.

Over there, a head maid serving Ren Yaoting was called over by a nanny from Su Shi’s side.

In front of Su Shi, the nanny asked Ren Yaoting’s maid: “What did Miss discuss with the Fifth Miss from the West Manor?”

The maid thought for a moment and replied truthfully: “They started by talking about Young Master Su’s wedding and the Su family’s eldest young mistress. Later, Miss lowered her voice, so this servant couldn’t hear clearly.”

The nanny asked a few more questions, then dismissed the maid.

“Madam, do you think what Miss told Master Uncle that day was related to the Fifth Miss from the West Manor?” the nanny asked softly.

Su Shi, who had been resting with closed eyes, slowly opened them: “I just don’t believe Ting’er could have thought of those things. As for who told her… I’m not clear about that.”

Su Shi’s eyes were as calm as an ancient well: “Ren Yaoqi from the third branch… if she had such intelligence, she wouldn’t have been schemed against by a concubine before. It’s quite possible she knew about it, though.”

“Then do you think it could be that Concubine Fang who has overreached?” Seeing that Su Shi didn’t believe it was Ren Yaoqi, the nanny asked again.

This time, Su Shi was silent for quite a while. After a long moment, she said flatly: “It’s not impossible. If she used Ren Yaoqi’s mouth to tell Ting’er about this matter, her purpose should be to obstruct Ren Yaohua’s marriage into the Han family.”

Hearing this, the nanny curled her lips disdainfully: “She’s just a concubine – what benefit could this bring her?”

Su Shi smiled slightly: “Though she’s just a concubine, her methods are formidable. Haven’t you noticed that even the eldest sister-in-law never provokes her? Those with nothing to lose fear nothing. She dares to do what others might not. As for benefits… if Li Shi’s daughter had a capable in-law family, then she would have even less opportunity to take over the inner quarters of the third branch from Li Shi. Given my uncle’s temperament, as long as the Ren and Han families have a marriage agreement, he would show Li Shi some respect.”