CH 19

November 03, 2022

The Fifth Madam stopped right away. The look of pleasant surprise instantly filled her with vitality, and the previous resentment and grievances disappeared immediately.

”Sister-in-law, can you see if my eyes are swollen?” Née Lin hurriedly tugged Eldest Madam’s sleeve and asked shyly.

The Eldest hadn’t spoken yet, but the Old Madam’s maidservants in the room covered their mouths and laughed, and the tensed and depressed atmosphere just now vanished.

The Old Madam looked over: “Why are you still here?”

Née Lin looked at the Old Madam pleadingly: “Mother, Shimao is back, I…”

Everyone in the Ren Estate knew that the Fifth Madam and the Fifth Master were childhood sweethearts. Although there had been quarrels after the young couple got married, it was a quarrel at the head of the bed and at the end of the bed. As long as the Fifth Master is at home, the two of them are as good as one person.

(Quarrel at the head of the bed and at the end of the bed = to fight getting into bed and makeup before falling asleep or to quickly make up after a quarrel )

Old Madam Ren loves her youngest son, and this daughter-in-law is also a family member, so she turns a blind eye.

But this time, née Lin clearly offended the Old Madam, and the Old Madam scolded her with a stern face: “Do you take my words on deaf ears?”

The Eldest Madam pulled the overjoyed Fifth Madam and whispered, “Fifth Sister, your eyes are swollen like a peach, and your makeup too…”

Née Lin reached out and touched her face, anxious: “Mother, I’ll go back and wash my face first.” After speaking, she hurried out. She simply forgot what the Old Madam asked her to think about when she go to the ancestral hall.

Old Madam Ren got angry again, pointed to her back, and said to the Eldest Madam: “Look at her, look at her, where are the rules? It’s lawless!”

The Eldest Madam bowed her head and smiled, stepped forward and commanded the maids to withdraw the table, and then said gently, “The Fifth Sister knows that you have always loved her, and did this only because you are close to each other.”

Old Madam Ren snorted coldly: “I made her lose her proportion, and doesn’t even care about me now!”

As soon as these words came out, a loud voice from outside continued: “Who dares to not take you seriously? This son is the first to not forgive them!”

Right after the curtain was lifted, two men about the same height walked in.

The one walking in front is a man with a round face and round eyes, and the two deep dimples on his cheeks were precisely the same as those of Old Madam Ren, which made him look a little childish, even at the age of 27 or 28, he appears to be at the age of weak crown.

(Weak crown = After the crowning ceremony or the coming of age ceremony, men over the age of 20 were called weak crowns to indicate that they could bear adult responsibilities but were still a bit immature)

The man walking behind him was much more mature than him, with handsome eyebrows and slender eyes. In such cold weather, he only wore a white wide-sleeved single robe. His movements were as graceful as an immortal, and his posture is elegant.

Old Madam Ren glanced at the baby-faced man and said coldly, “This is what you said! Don’t deny it then!”

Ren Shimao, who just picked up the words he heard casually, saw that the situation was wrong, rolled his eyes, and immediately pulled Ren Shimin forward, kowtow to Old Madam Ren with a smile, and passed the previous topic.

(Rolled his eyes = Indicates thinking or coming up with an idea)

The Old Madam’s eyes turned to Ren Shimin’s clothes, and she frowned: “What are you wearing? Are all the people serving you dead?”

Ren Shimin raised his head calmly: “Answering Mother, this is called a Wangxian robe, which is very fashionable in the capital recently, and all the famous scholars have one piece. The one on my body is still hand-sewn by Lady Mu Ying, a skilled lady in the capital. Fifth Brother also has a similar one, but it’s a blue cloud brocade.”

(Wangxian = Gazing at an Immortal)

”Go back and change it for me! When your father sees you, you will have to kneel at the ancestral hall again! Get up!” Old Madam Ren was displeased.

Ren Shimin didn’t argue and got up gracefully. The maid beside him knew his particular temperament, and hurriedly came over and knelt at his feet to tidy up his slightly wrinkled robe.

Over there, Ren Shimao had already sat down beside the kang table and talked to the Old Madam about the situation on the road: “…it was originally going to be delayed for a few days, but we happened to meet the father and son of the Han Family. Their caravan has dedicated people clearing the way. Third Brother and I promptly followed after them.”

”Since you have accepted someone’s kindness, remember to let the steward prepare a thank-you gift to send over.” Old Madam Ren instructed.

Ren Shimin walked to the chair beside him and sat down, taking the tea brought by the maid: “I have already sent calligraphy and painting to the young master of the Han family.“

”What calligraphy?”

”Young Master Han saw the calligraphy and painting of Third Brother and liked it very much. Third brother gave him a pair of his recent proud works.” Ren Shimao winked at Ren Shimin.

Old Madam Ren glared at them: “It’s just a child’s plaything, how can it count? Remember to ask the steward to prepare a generous gift, and if you have time, personally lead the group to go to the Han Estate, or ask the people beside you to accompany the steward on a trip.”

Ren Shimao said with a smile that he knew, but Ren Shimin frowned and glanced at his mother, and finally shook his head and drank tea to himself.

The mother and son talked for a while, and Old Madam Ren saw that although Ren Shimin had been trying to join the fun, his mind was not here. ”Née Li and Hua’er are back, you can go back and meet them.”

Ren Shimin was stunned for a while, then nodded and said, “Yes, Mother.”

Ren Shimao got up happily: “I’ll go with Third Brother. I’ll change my clothes first, and then I’ll come and talk to Mother later.”

Old Madam Ren shot a glance at him: “Did I let you go? You stay, I have something to tell you!”

Ren Shimao was a little disappointed, but he sat down obediently and said with a smile: “Well, I also want to spend more time with my mother, as long as you don’t despise your son’s messy appearance and dirty clothes.”

Old Madam Ren snorted coldly when she heard the words, not to be fooled by him.

Ren Shimin put down the teacup, got up, and retire. Before leaving, he paused in front of the maid who served him tea, and said slowly: “The water temperature is not hot enough, remember to use freshly boiled hot water when serving this kind of Wuyi tea next time.”

”This slave remembers it, Third Master.” The maid replied, bowing her head with a bitter face.

Ren Shimin leisurely walked away

When he was about to reach the Ziwei Courtyard, he saw a figure in a thick fur cloak standing at the gate of the courtyard from a distance, covering herself with a hood.

When he got closer, the figure seemed to see him, and hurriedly took two steps forward, but she almost fell due to stepping at an empty stone step, and the hood also slipped off, revealing a delicate little face.

Ren Shimin laughed when he saw it and walked over quickly, his happy and clear voice echoed in the courtyard where the ice and snow were melting: “Yaoyao, are you waiting for Daddy?”

Ren Yaoqi looked at the handsome man who strode towards her, his eyebrows were still flying, and still didn’t forget to pay attention to his manners even while walking, tears blurred her eyes.

”Daddy…”

She once blamed her father, who was only addicted to painting and calligraphy, but didn’t care about the affairs of the Ren family, and had no right to speak about the decisions of the elders.

But in the end, he used his life to fight for her.

Ren Yaoqi jumped up and hugged Ren Shimin, burying her tearful face in the placket of his chest.

Ren Shimin was still very happy at first, but now his body froze, staring at the top of his little daughter’s head with a tangled face, and finally, he couldn’t help but put his hands on her shoulders and pulled the person away.

”Yaoyao, Daddy’s clothes were sullied by you!” Ren Shimin accused, looking at the water stain on his chest with disgust.

Ren Yaoqi looked at his disgusted look, smiled “puchi”, and couldn’t cry any more: “Daddy, you’re still like this…” She spoke softly.

”What?”

Ren Shimin took out a handkerchief and wiped his clothes clean before pinching the cloth with two fingers and handing it to Ren Yaoqi.

”Quickly wipe your face, it’s as dirty as a kitten.”

Ren Yaoqi glanced at the handkerchief speechlessly, shook her head, and took out her own from her cuff: “No, you are back, I am very happy. “

Ren Shimin threw the handkerchief away and patted Ren Yaoqi on the head: “Good, Daddy remembered the clothes and jewelry you wanted and bought you two big boxes. I’ll have someone take them to your room later.”

Ren Yaoqi was about to say something but was distracted when she saw Ren Shimin shifting his eyes behind her.

She turned around and saw Ren Yaohua, who was only wearing a rouge-colored padded jacket and skirt, standing behind the door, looking at her and Ren Shimin.

”Ah, Yaohua is back?” Ren Shimin nodded toward Ren Yaohua with a smile.

Ren Yaohua took a few steps forward and bowed to Ren Shimin: “Father.” Her posture was upright, and her lowered head made her look a little less domineering and arrogant than usual.