At the end of April, Yanbei is slightly cooler in the morning and evening. The rudiments of summer are gradually taking shape in the daytime, but it is not so hot that it is unbearable.
This time the sun had already risen, and it was warm outside. Su and Ren Yaoting came in. Ren Yaotingâs face was a little red, and there seemed to be a little sweat on his forehead, but Su looked refreshed, with a gentle smile on his ordinary face as always, not impetuous nor frivolous.
Seeing Ren Yaoting take a few sips from the tea bowl, Old Madam Ren smiled, âTingâer is still so afraid of the heat, summer is not here yet.â
Ren Yaoting put down the tea bowl in her hand, âI wonât go out at all when summer arrives, and Iâll set up two or three ice kettles in my room.â After saying that, she stuck out her tongue.
Old Madam Ren laughed, âThatâs like your father, when your father was little he didnât like to go out once summer arrived.â
Ren Yaoting spent very little time with her father, her feelings for her father were far less than her feelings for her mother. When she heard this, she just smiled and didnât ask any further questions.
Old Madam Ren had already talked to Su about the dragon boat race at the Dragon Boat Festival.
Ren Yaoting whispered to Ren Yaoqi who was sitting closest to her, âWill you also go with us to Yunyang City to watch the dragon boat race this year?â
The Ren Family received invitations to the dragon boat race every year, so naturally, they had to go. Every year in the past, when Old Madam Ren went to Yunyang City, she would bring two or three granddaughters with her. Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoyin had already been there a few times, but Ren Yaoqi, the unpopular granddaughter, had never had a part in it.
Ren Yaoqi smiled faintly and whispered back, âWhen the time comes, Iâll listen to the eldersâ arrangement.â
Ren Yaoting directly asked Old Madam Ren, âGrandaunt, which sisters are you going to take to watch the dragon boat race this year?â
Su glanced at the several juniors present and gently chastised her daughter, âItâs still early, your grandaunt will naturally have her own plan when the time comes.â
Old Madam Ren didnât seem to mind much, look around at the three granddaughters present, and said with a smile, âThese few years Huaâer and Yinâer are the ones who followed me, and I got used to taking them by my side, so I will take them with me this year.â
Finally, Old Madam Renâs line of sight landed on Ren Yaoqi again, slowly saying, âQiâer hasnât been there in the past few years, so this year Qiâer will follow along.â She did not mention Ren Yaoyu and Ren Yaoying.
Ren Yaoqi was stunned at her decision, then said with flattered, âMany thanks, Grandmother.â
Old Madam Ren talked about other things with Mrs. Su.
Ren Yaoting felt that it was because of her merit that Ren Yaoqi was able to go, and secretly winked at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi returned her a proper grateful smile as she wished.
On the other side, Old Madam Ren was asking Su about the Han Familyâs participation in hosting this yearâs dragon boat race. Su gave a plain answer and did not mention that the Su Family wanted to open a coal kiln together with the Han Family.
Ren Yaoqi whispered to Ren Yaoting and Ren Yaoyin while paying attention to the conversation between Old Madam Ren and Su. Until someone outside reported that the Eight Miss Ren Yaoyu had come.
Old Madam Ren didnât stop chatting when she heard that, but only gently waved her hand towards the outside.
Not long after, Ren Yaoyu came in and greet Old Madam Ren.
Old Madam Ren and Su just finished talking. Her attitude towards Ren Yaoyu was indifferent, she just nodded and asked her to go talk with a few sisters, and then ignored her.
In the past, when the Fifth Madam, Lin, was still in favor, Old Madam Ren did not particularly like Ren Yaoyu this granddaughter of hers. After the last âswearingâ incident, Old Madam Renâs dislike for Ren Yaoyu increased, and after what happened to Ren Shijia, the status of mother and daughter Lin fell even further.
Ren Yaoyu was also taciturn in front of Old Madam Ren, far less domineering and lively than when she was outside.
Seeing Ren Yaoshi and Ren Yaoting both whispering, Ren Yaoyu casually interrupted and asked, âWhat are you guys talking about?â
Ren Yaoting was in a good mood and said without hesitation, âI was talking to Fifth Sister that when we go to Yunyang City during the Dragon Boat Festival, Iâll take her to my grandparentâs house to see a set of shadow puppet theatre that my cousinâs wife brought from the capital.â
Ren Yaoyu immediately be interested, âIs shadow puppetry popular in the capital nowadays? Your cousinâs wife even brought this? I also want to see it, take me along too, Seventh Sister.â
Ren Yaoting perfunctorily replied to Ren Yaoyu, âIf you also go to Yunyang City for Dragon Boat Festival, we can talk about it.â
Ren Yaoyu frowned at her, somewhat puzzled, âOf course Iâll go, I already made plans with my cousins when I came back last time.â
Ren Yaoting cast a sidelong look at Old Madam Ren and said to Ren Yaoting, âThis is up to the elders, you can ask Grandaunt first. This year, Third Sister, Fourth Sister, and Fifth Sister will all go, plus a few brothers⌠The pergola of the Ren Family is only so big.â
Ren Yaoting didnât intend anything else by saying this; it was simply that Old Madam Ren hadnât indicated that Ren Yaoyu would be brought along this year, so it was a rare moment of kindness of her to remind others of this.
But obviously Ren Yaoyu didnât think so. She immediately became unhappy, her voice no longer deliberately lowered, âWhat do you mean by that, Seventh Sister? My mother and I have always gone before, how come we canât squeeze in this year just because thereâs one more person on pergola!â
Ren Yaoting was not a good-tempered person. The reason why she replied to Ren Yaoyuâs question today was that she was still in a good mood. So seeing Ren Yaoyu being ungrateful, she also got angry and her face turned cold, âWhat are you angry at me for? Grandaunt didnât say that she wants to take you there this year, Iâm just reminding you.â
On the other side of the room, Old Madam Ren and Su looked over when they heard a conflict started. Old Madam Ren frowned at Ren Yaoyu. Su saw that it was her daughter who had a conflict with Ren Yaoyu, and gently reprimanded her, âTingâer, how can you be so unruly, making a racket in the eldersâ house?â
Ren Yaoting twitched her lips but didnât reply. On the contrary, it was Ren Yaoyu who asked Old Madam Ren with grievances, âGrandmother, she said that you wonât take me to see this yearâs dragon boat race.â
Every year in the past, regardless of whether Ren Yaoyu was favored or not, because of Lin and the Lin Family, Old Madam Ren never treated her harshly, and would always bring her along to banquets. The treatment towards her was no different from that of Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoyin. So she thought it was inconceivable that Old Madam Ren would take Ren Yaoqi instead of her.
Old Madam Ren said in a soft voice, âI took you every year in the past, but this year you will stay at home with your mother. It doesnât matter if you donât go once.â
Once Ren Yaoyu heard this, her aggrieved tears immediately came down, âGrandmother.â
Old Madam Ren was unmoved and continued to talk to Su.
Ren Yaoyu met Ren Yaotingâs disdainful gaze. How could she bear this kind of anger? She stood up from the chair, and pushed Ren Yaoting hard with her hand.
Ren Yaoting didnât expect her to strike. After being pushed, she slammed into the corner of the left side of the coffee table, hitting the tea bowl on the coffee table with loud clattering sounds, and couldnât help but let out a single âouchâ.
Ren Yaoyu, who was sitting beside Ren Yaoting, frantically supported her.
Ren Yaoyu didnât wait for Old Madam Ren to get angry, she turned around and ran out.
Old Madam Ren froze, after realizing it, her face turned white with anger, pointing and cursing at Ren Yaoyuâs back, âYou little devil! Who did you learn this shrewish behavior from?â
Su hurriedly came down to check if her daughter was injured. It was a good thing Ren Yaoting was sitting, because Ren Yaoyu didnât push her too hard. There are minor bruises but nothing serious, Su immediately felt relieved.
Old Madam Ren did not care about Ren Yaoyu. She was nervously asking Su about Ren Yaotingâs condition. Instead, Su comforted Old Madam Ren, âIt was nothing, how much strength can a child have? Donât blame Yaoyu.â
After making sure Ren Yaoting was fine, she felt eased, but her face was still unsightly, âOutrageous! Each and every one of them doesnât have me in their sights anymore!â
Su was busy persuading Old Madam Ren not to be angry.
Ren Yaoqi comforted Ren Yaoting while thoughtfully looking at the direction Ren Yaoyu disappeared.
She had always felt that Ren Yaoyuâs recent behavior was a bit strange, and Ren Yaoyuâs anger today at the Ronghua Courtyard made this strange feeling in her heart worsen.
Because Ren Yaoyu was not favored by Old Madam Ren, she had always been a little afraid of Old Madam Ren. She was very obedient when she comes to here and would never dare to speak loudly, no matter how domineering she was outside.
Ren Yaoyu would never do this kind of public seizure in the Ronghua Courtyard, but Ren Yaoqi had seen it happened twice. Each time, it was because she didnât control her temper and had a fit in front of Old Madam Ren.
Ren Yaoyuâs temper seemed to be getting worse and worse, especially after Concubine Kang entered the house.
Initially, Ren Yaoqi thought that Ren Yaoyu had been provoked by Concubine Kangâs affair and her motherâs falling out of favor, but today she had a vague feeling that there was something weird going on.
She had read in the Pharmacopoeia that some medical plants can cause mania. The specific manifestation is that the temper is irritable, canât bear the slightest bit of aggravation, and canât stop attacking regardless of the consequences.
Although Ren Yaoyuâs behavior was not too serious, it was very different from her previous temperament.
Ren Yaoyu remembered that when she woke up after she came back, Concubine Fang had secretly changed her medicine to make her illness drag on and not heal quickly.
This meant that Concubine Fang herself or someone around her knew about pharmacology.
And with Ren Yaoqiâs understanding of Concubine Fang, to avenge the last time Ren Yaoying was bullied by mother and daughter Lin, she might not be incapable of doing such things.
Ren Yaoying hadnât gone out for half a year because of what happened when she fell into the dung heap. Ren Yaoyuâs end would definitely not be better than Ren Yaoyingâs.
Thinking of this, Ren Yaoqi could not help but feel a little cold in her heart.
This was the reason for Concubine Kangâs intentional and provocative behavior whenever she saw Ren Yaoyu. No matter what reason Concubine Kang and Concubine Fang allied, there must be a tacit understanding between them.
However, these were all just her guesses and inferences.
If her guess is correct, Ren Yaoyuâs day of âcausing a catastropheâ is approaching. Those mania drugs will make people crazy if they are used for a long time, and it will create traces for someone to follow. Concubine Fang will not take this kind of risk, so she will not really make Ren Yaoyu crazy.