Chapter 38: Sweet Pastry

 

Yun Wenfang stayed at the Ren Estate.

Qiu Yun, as the grandnephew of Old Madam Ren, often came to live in Ren Estate, so he had an independent courtyard. While Yun Wenfang, a young man who came to Ren Estate for the first time, did not live in the guest room in the outer courtyard but instead lived with Qiu Yun in his courtyard. Old Madam Ren claimed that this “Young Master Wen” was the child from her maiden family.

Because of Old Madam Ren’s attitude, except for a few insiders, everyone in the Ren family became curious about Yun Wenfang’s identity.

As one of the insiders, the Fifth Madam, née Lin, was very enthusiastic about Yun Wenfang. In addition to telling her son Ren Yijian to be close to Qiu Yun and Yun Wenfang, she also told her daughter Ren Yaoyu.

The Eldest Madam was much calmer, and she didn’t do anything special except take care of the Jinxiu Courtyard where Qiu Yun and Yun Wenfang were staying.

However, those who didn’t know have already guessed that the identity of this “Young Master Wen” is definitely not low.

Ren Yaoying told Concubine Fang about this matter.

After thinking for a while, Concubine Fang called her son Ren Yihong and asked him carefully. It’s just that Ren Yihong didn’t have much contact with Yun Wenfang, and he wasn’t the type who likes to gossip. He only knew that, except for Qiu Yun, Young Master Wen was only a little closer to Fifth Young Master Ren Yijian. They talked about some things in Yunyang City and where to go in Baihe Town during winter, etc.

Concubine Fang was not dissatisfied with her son’s ignorance, but instead praised him, told him to study hard, and let him go back. Turning around, she ordered her confidant to inquire about the identity of “Young Master Wen” from the dowry servants of Fifth Madam who came from Yunyang City.

Finally, she told her daughter: “Do according to what I told you before and don’t be influenced by them. Née Lin always likes to jump up and down, that’s because she has a good life. Even if she makes a mistake, there will always be someone to clean up the mess for her. “ Concubine Fang’s gentle tone contained a hint of disdain and mockery.

”Mother said that she will find a good future for you, and she will definitely do it.”

Ren Yaoying, who was impulsive and irritable in front of outsiders, lowered her head and responded softly, “Yes, this daughter knows.”

In the Ronghua Courtyard, the Fifth Madam, née Lin, became very attentive to Old Madam Ren again.

On the first night when Yun Wenfang came to the Ren family, née Lin squeezed Old Madam Ren’s shoulders and beat her legs, and at the same time asked implicitly about the Old Madam of the Yun family’s attitude towards Yun Wenfang’s marriage.

Old Madam Ren narrowed her eyes and said softly, “We’ll talk about this later.”

Fifth Madam apologized and said with a smile: “Mother, the Eldest Young Master of the Yun family is fifteen this year. Although he is also a good-looking talent, he is older than Yu’er, and this daughter-in-law thinks it is not appropriate. But this Second Young Master… this daughter-in-law looked and with Yu'er, it is precisely a pair of golden boy and jade girl¹.”

- A talented and good-looking couple

Old Madam Ren slapped née Lin’s hand away and her eyebrows wrinkled, “What kind of outrageous words are you spouting! Yu’er’s reputation will be ruined if it gets out!”

Née Lin curled her lips: “Mother, Old Madam Yun entrusted her grandson to our Ren family at this time, didn't she mean that? The current King Yanbei is the nephew of the patriarch of the Yun family. Although Old Dowager Yun is not the late King Yanbei's queen, she is officially conferred, and with King Yanbei around, who else is nobler than her in the Yanbei Palace? The Yun family has thus become our number one family in Yanbei. If our Ren family can marry with the Yun family, There are many benefits. You and Old Madam Yun are cousins, her maiden family. If you open your mouth to her, she will definitely not be able to refuse.”

Old Madam Ren was silent for a while, then waved her hand and said, “I’ll talk about it later.”

Née Lin still wanted to persuade her again, but meeting the glaring look of Old Madam Ren, she touched her nose and stopped her mouth.

But in her heart, she thought that she must let her daughter get closer to the Second Young Master of the Yun family.

You can’t blame née Lin’s “openness”. She and Master Ren Wu had a good relationship since they were young, they were childhood sweethearts and consequently married into the Ren family in the end.

Therefore, née Lin also wanted to find a good marriage for her daughter.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t care about these undercurrents at home. As always, she went to Ronghua Courtyard to report twice a day, morning and evening, and then went back to her own yard. Either staying in née Li’s room to talk with her and do needlework or going to the study of Xikua Courtyard to accompany Ren Shimin to write couplets and make peach charms. She was honored to be given the qualifications to grind ink and serve tea and polish peach charms with sandpaper given to her by Ren Shimin.

That night, when Ren Yaoqi went to pay her respects to née Li, she happened to hear Momo Zhou reporting the household affairs to née Li.

”…Two hams, four jars of Jinhua wine, a pair of live sheep, six chickens, two fox furs, one lynx skin, and six bolts of brocade…”

Née Li listened and nodded: “There are few people in the family, and these are enough for the Spring Festival. In addition, I will give two hundred taels of silver, and all of them will be exchanged for small ingots weighing ten taels and five taels.”

After a pause, she emphasized helplessly, “Remember to hand over the money to Mother.”

Momo Zhou sighed: “This slave remembers.”

Hearing the sound of the curtain behind them, the two immediately turned their heads.

Seeing that it was Ren Yaoqi, née Li breathed a sigh of relief, and then smiled a little embarrassedly: “Qi’er, you're here?”

Ren Yaoqi looked back at née Li with a smile and said, “Is Mother discussing things with Momo Zhou? I’ll go to the western secondary room and wait.”

Née Li hurriedly said: “Then you go and sit down first, and I will go there after I finish dealing with Momo Zhou.”

Ren Yaoqi withdrew from the eastern secondary room and went to the western secondary room.

Not long after, Momo Zhou came out, and smilingly said to Ren Yaoqi: “Madam is still changing clothes, Fifth Young Lady came earlier today, Third Young Lady is still in the Old Madam’s yard and hasn’t come back yet?”

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “Third Sister will be here in a while.” After thinking for a while, she suddenly asked, “Grandfather and uncle²… are they alright?”

- Both are referring to maternal relatives

Momo Zhou was taken aback, remembering that Ren Yaoqi might have heard the conversation between her and née Li before, she immediately replied, “They're good, they're good.”

Glancing at Ren Yaoqi, Momo Zhou apologized and with a smile, “Master, he brought new year’s gifts, and Madam asked this slave to send some gifts back tomorrow.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled and nodded: “It should be.” She didn’t ask what her uncle's New Year’s gifts were.

Momo Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to speak when Ren Yaohua lifted the curtain and came in, and asked casually, “What new year’s gifts?”

Glancing at Momo Zhou with a tense expression, Ren Yaoqi answered while smiling: “I’m asking Momo Zhou about the communication between relatives. Isn't Third Sister playing leaf cards with Cousin and Grandmother? Who won?”

”Didn’t you dislike playing it? What does it matter to you who wins?” Ren Yaohua went to sit on the kang table, Momo Zhou excused to leave on the pretense of asking née Li.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t argue with her, just smiled, and poured her a cup of tea with the small teapot at hand.

Facing Ren Yaoqi’s friendly attitude, Ren Yaohua couldn’t reach out and hit a smiling face. Ever since she came back, she felt that Ren Yaoqi was completely different from before. In the past, Ren Yaoqi would argue with her at every turn, but now she always avoids clashing with her. This kind of quarreling is as hard as clapping with one hand, so the two of them have continuously lived in peace.

”Third Cousin and Young Master Wen said they want to do an ice sports competition³, and Grandmother has already agreed.” Ren Yaohua took a sip of tea and abruptly spoke.

- Refers to the various activities on ice, like skating and other sports or games.

Although Ren Yaoqi was a little surprised that Ren Yaohua took the initiative to say this to her, she still pretended to be interested and said, “Oh? When? Are all the brothers in the family participating?”

”En, it’s in the town outside above Baihe Town. We must all go there then.” Ren Yaohua responded with a rare friendly face.

Ren Yaoqi froze: “I… have not learned.”

Ren Yaohua turned her head and glared at her: “So what? You don’t need to compete. Naturally, the servants of the estate will be arranged to go up. We are just watching the fun from the sidelines.”

Ren Yaoqi coughed lightly: “Oh, that’s it. I catch cold easily recently, and it’s too cold outside, so I won’t go.”

”Grandmother told me that all brothers and sisters in the family will go, and people from the east mansion will also go. Third Cousin also especially asked about you today.” Ren Yaohua frowned and sized up Ren Yaoqi.

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