CH 14

“This…This was not done by my Yu’er”, Fifth Madam’s eyes were wide opened as she looked up.

There was clear disappointment on Old Madam Ren’s face, “Whether she did it or not, she herself admitted it so what are you still defending her for?”

“Grandmother, it really wasn’t me!” Ren Yaoyu interjected; face full of tears, truly feeling wronged.

Old Madam Ren looked at her without seeing her and with a stern expression commanded Momo Gui, “Take Eight Miss and put her in the ancestral hall. It’s only fitting for one so young yet bearing such vicious thoughts towards her elders.”

Fifth Madam was so frightened that she immediately knelt down and pleaded, “Mother, the weather is so cold, yet there’s not even a stove in the ancestral hall, what if Yu’er catches a cold?”

Old Madam Ren remained unmoved, “She is sent there to reflect on her errors, not to live comfortably!”

Fifth Madam wiped her tears: “Mother, last time Yu’er was ill, my paternal grandmother was so anxious that she couldn't eat nor sleep. She ended up personally sending a momo to check on Yu’er well-being before she could feel relieved. Daughter-in-law doesn’t feel distressed for this little girl’s suffering, merely wants to avoid unexpectedly worrying one’s elders.”

Fifth Madam’s paternal grandmother is Old Madam’s paternal aunt, and every time Fifth Madam would be carrying out something, her paternal grandmother would be used as leverage.

Sure enough, although Old Madam Ren’s complexion still didn’t look good, she frowned and didn’t say more.

Upon seeing this, the corner of Ren Yaohua’s mouth etched into sneer. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Ren Yaoqi, who was standing next to her, noticed it and swiftly pulled her clothes from behind.

Ren Yaohua turned her head in anger but Ren Yaoqi gave her a look to stay quiet.

Yet, Ren Yaohua had not intention to heed her warning. Unexpectedly, it’s Eldest Madam who added in with a gentle voice, “Fifth sister’s words have over-stepped the bounds of propriety. While it is well known that Old Madam Lin loves her granddaughter (外孙女 Wàisūnnǚ - daughter's daughter), our younger generations have always been very much doted on by Old Madam. After all, Ren Yaoyu’s punishment today, is it not simply due to one’s elders’ painstaking efforts to ensure the young ones grow to be upright individuals?”

Old Madam Ren looked pleased, “It’s still Eldest daughter-in-law who is most thorough.”

Fifth Madam looked at Eldest Madam. Although Eldest Madam, Ren Jiaming, was the one in charge of managing the household, Fifth Madam, relying on Old Madam’s backing, also clearly held some authority in the estate. Eldest Madam’s was good tempered and would always show leniency; in past matters, she had always played the role of mediator, smoothing things over between parties.

It’s unclear why today, she chose to deviate from her past behavior and not lend a hand.

Fifth Madam was still mulling over it when Eldest Madam quickly walked up to her and whispered, “Old Madam is very angry right now, so you should be accommodating. Wait until the elder's anger is gone before you handle this, otherwise would it not be self-defeating?”

Although this was said in a low voice, everyone around them could discern her words. While she was openly trying to advise Fifth Madam, seemingly being partial to her, it was done in such a way that Old Madam would not take offense to her conduct.

Fifth Madam knew her words were reasonable, so she reluctantly restrained herself, while thinking of other avenues.

Momo Gui instructed a maid to support Ren Yaoyu, whose tears were streaming endlessly, as she left the hall.

Since Old Madam’s mood was not good, everyone else also retired temporarily.

Ren Yaoqi and her maids were making their way back to Ziwei Courtyard, when she saw Ren Yaohua standing in the corridor, under the eaves of the East room. She appeared to be looking in her direction yet also admiring the ice hook hanging upside down on the pomegranate tree in front of the door.

Ren Yaoqi footsteps paused. Instead of walking towards the winding corridor connected to the West room, she turned in the direction of the West room.

As she was about to walk to Ren Yaohua's side, Ren Yaohua swung her head back and gave her a cold glare, and said, “Come in.” She then turned and went to her room.

Ren Yaohua followed her in. The two maids behind her glanced at each other and wanted to tag along, but Ren Yaohua's maid, Xiangqin, stopped them.

“Did our Third Miss allow you to come in?” Xiangqin squinted at them, full of imposing manner.

Third Miss’ fierceness was well known among the maids of Ziwei Courtyard. The two maids’s necks shrunk in and, not daring to say half a sentence in reply, they stood guard in the corridor.

The layout of Ren Yaohua's courtyard was quite similar to Ren Yaoqi’s, but since Ren Yaoqi hardly ever came here, it felt quite foreign.

Ren Yaohua went straight to the inner room and sat on the kang bed, not bothering to invite Ren Yaoqi in, and just kept looking at her with probing eyes.

Ren Yaoqi remained unruffled and went to sit on the other side of the Kang table.

“Do you have someone in the outer courtyard?” Ren Yaoqi knew that Ren Yaohua was waiting for her explanation, but instead of diving into the heart of the matter, Ren Yaoqi first asked a seemingly unrelated question.

Ren Yaohua squinted faintly, her eyes sharp: “What do you mean?”

“If you don’t want people to involve you into today’s matter, you should quickly dispatch people to investigate that Lu’an old wife who suddenly appeared, as well as the eight character birth date strip.”

Ren Yaohua felt that there was a hidden meaning in Ren Yaoqi’s words, and with knitted brows she asked, “ How is this matter related to me?”

“It has nothing to do with you now but that might not be the case in the future. Such a golden opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, some people will not be willing to let it slip by. After all, the eight character birth date written on the cursed doll was not of Ren Yaoyu’s doing.” Ren Yaoqi said softly, without haste.

Ren Yaohua was startled when she heard her words. She was a smart person and after careful thought, she felt that this matter was indeed a bit fishy.

Ren Yaohua is well aware of Ren Yaoyu’s temperament. It is possible she might have made a curse in order for her to fall sick. However, while she often complains in private that Old Madam is partial to her and Ren Yaoyin, she truly does not have it in her to bring harm to Old Madam.

“So the one Ren Yaoyu wanted to harm was me, but someone went and changed the eight character birth date written to be grandmother’s?” Ren Yaohua finally reached a conclusion.

Ren Yaoqi smiled faintly, Elder sister is indeed quite intelligent.

“And what if someone let Old Madam and Fifth Madam both mistakenly think that the one behind this trick was in fact you?”

Ren Yaohua’s pupils dilated, she turned her head to look at Ren Yaoqi with wide open eyes.

“Considering Fifth Madam’s temperament, the days of the residents of Ziwei Courtyard won’t be good in the future.” Ren Yaoqi sighed.

Fith Madam is definitely not one to suffer a loss quietly.

“Wujing!” Ren Yaoqi called out to her maid.

A girl about Ren Yaohua's age came in, “What are your orders, Miss?”

Ren Yaohua said, “Have you contacted Ying’er and Zhu’er?”

Ying'er and Zhu'er were originally two old maids by their mother’s side. When Ren Yaohua and Li-shi went to the Farmsteads, Concubine Fang decided to give them away to small manservants in the outer courtyard.

Wujing nodded, “This slave visited them the day before yesterday. They were overjoyed to learn of Madam and Third Miss’ return.”

Ren Yaohua nodded and was about to elaborate when Ren Yaoqi suddenly interjected, “Is there no one else you can make use of?”

Ren Yaohua frowned, “They have worked in Ziwei Courtyard for many years and are mother’s trusted aides.”

Ren Yaoqi did not refute it, just added in a mild voice, “Indeed, who is not aware they are Ziwei Courtyard’s people? They cannot be used as one sees fit. It is better to be careful and choose someone else.”

Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi for a while, and then said to Wujing, “At the time you entered the estate, wasn’t there a maid who took you in as her adoptive daughter? I remember that the last time you spoke of her, she was in charge of the tea room in the outer courtyard.”

Wujing nodded hurriedly, “That’s right, Miss. The year before last, her son fell ill so she came to borrow some silver coins from Xiangqin and I. Ultimately, it’s Momo Zhou who sought Madam to collect all the necessary silver.

“Go to her and to inquire about some matters for me.” Ren Yaohua told Wujing very carefully of a few more things.

Ren Yaoqi waited for her to finish, added a couple points and Ren yaohua concluded, “Before midday, I want to have news. Now go.”

Wujing memorize everything, point by point and quickly took her leave afterwards.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had nothing else to discuss so they went to Li-shi’s place together.

The sight of the two of them coming together made Li-shi and Momo Zhou quite happy. The two sister didn't talk much, only speaking one sentence or two to accompany Li-shi’s words.

Just before the afternoon meal, Wujing came back to Ziwei Courtyard. Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua called her in a room in the East side for questioning.

“Reporting to Miss, this servant’s adoptive mother happened to recognize Lu'an old wife: she was the one originally in charge of preparing tea in the outer courtyard. Fifth Miss’ guess was right. She is indeed related to our Ziwei Courtyard, and it’s not just her. Even the owner of that great wolfdog has some relationship with us!”