Chapter 133: Met by Chance
Early the next morning, before dawn, the Ren Familyâs subordinates began to quietly get busy. The maidservants had to move the things they needed for the trip to the carriage first, while their masters would get up later.
Ren Yaoqi woke up earlier. She washed up, changed her clothes, and sat in her room for a while until there was movement in the main room before going to greet her parents.
Today, Old Madam Ren excused everyoneâs greetings, so Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua could have breakfast with Li.
When someone came from outside to tell Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua it was time to go out, Li gave a few pieces of advice to the two sisters and asked Matron Zhou to give them each a heavy purse.
âIf itâs convenient, remember to go to your grandfatherâs house to visit your grandfather and grandmother,â Li gave her final words.
(donât forget to read it directly on sleepyautumn.link ! >.< )
Ren Yaohua didnât say anything, but Ren Yaoqi smiled and said, âAlright. I heard that Grandmother will also go to watch the dragon boat race, so we may meet them there. Does Mother have anything she wants me to tell to Grandmother? Or anything to pass on?â
Li thought for a while, but still shook her head, âTalk to your grandma well, she always asks about you in her letters.â
Ren Yaoqi obliged and then went out with Ren Yaohua. When she turned her head while walking to the courtyard entrance, she could still see Li standing under the porch watching them.
There were more than twenty carriages traveling today, causing a long line in front of the second gate.
Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were arranged in the same carriage. If they were in the past, neither of them would want to. Now that the relationship between the two sisters was much better and they were biological sisters, they would often be arranged in the same carriage when traveling together.
Both of them were led out of the second door by the steward. Their carriage was arranged in the middle like the carriages of the other ladies of the Ren Family.
The two sisters came out relatively early. Except for the Fifth Master and the Fifth Madam who came sooner with Ren Yaoyu, and now squeezed into a carriage and chatted happily, no one else came yet. Only servants in twos and threes were standing by the carriage waiting for their masters to get in.
Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were about to wait inside the carriage. Unknown to them, a little girl suddenly popped out.
Ren Yaoqi turned her head in surprise and realized that it was actually Mrs. Luoâs granddaughter.
(donât forget to read it directly on sleepyautumn.link ! >.< )
Ren Yaohua also looked over and immediately frowned, âWhere are you going, little maid? Who is your supervisor?â
The little girl had changed into a summer shirt of a third-class maid in the mansion today. Ren Yaohua also realized that this girl looked new, so she thought that this girl was a new little maid who didnât know the rules of the mansion.
The little girl looked at Ren Yaohua and then at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi said to Ren Yaohua, âShe came from the village yesterday. Get on the carriage first, Iâll come later.â
Ren Yaohua suspiciously glanced at that little girl before turning around and walking away.
Only then did Ren Yaoqi gently speak to that girl, âWhy are you here? Didnât Matron Zhou arrange for you and your grandmother to stay in the outer courtyard?â
Seeing the fierce Ren Yaohua leave, the little girl became more courageous. She said crisply, âGrandmother said that there is still some work to be done on the farm, and wanted to ask Fifth Miss when we can leave. But the people in the inner courtyard will not let us in, and will not tell us anything. I just saw you come out from afar. So I ran over.â
Ren Yaoqi then realized that although the little girlâs complexion wasnât very good, her voice was very nice, so she couldnât help but smile and asked, âWhatâs your name?â
The little girl blinked her bright eyes and smiled at Ren Yaoqi, âShuiâai, my name is Shuiâai. Itâs a kind of wild vegetable. Grandmother said that wild vegetables are the best, when youâre hungry, you can eat them and they grow again in the spring.â
At these words, two senior maids behind Ren Yaoqi burst out laughing.
Ren Yaoqi also laughed, but when she looked up, she saw Mrs. Luo running from afar. She looked like she wanted to come over, but after seeing the situation, she didnât dare to. She just stood in the distance and stared at Shuiâai worriedly.
Ren Yaoqi pointed behind Shuiâai, âYour grandmother is looking for you. Go over and help her. Walk slowly, you are not allowed to run in the mansion, or else the sister who teaches you the rules will catch you and beat your palms.â
Shuiâai winked mischievously at Ren Yaoqi, âThey canât catch me.â Although she said so, she still lowered her head and followed the way the maids in the mansion walked, turned around, and left. That step was so well done that even Ren Yaoyi couldnât pick any mistakes.
Ren Yaoqi couldnât help but laugh. After considering it, she ordered a few things to her maids. Then she walked towards Mrs. Luo with Pingguo and Sangshen.
(donât forget to read it directly on sleepyautumn.link ! >.< )
When Mrs. Luo saw Ren Yaoqi come over, she frantically pulled Shuiâai to salute. She explained anxiously, âMiss forgive me, miss forgive me. Shuiâai doesnât know the rules, and has offended you.â
Seeing her trembling appearance, Ren Yaoqi hurriedly asked Pingguo to help her up, then smiled, âIt is okay, children are always lively. Iâm going to Yunyang City for a few days, so stay in the mansion first. Send someone to find Matron Zhou if you want to do something. Iâll give you instructions later. About the farm, I will assign someone to take care of it.â
âAre there gonna be snacks every day?â Perhaps seeing Ren Yaoqiâs gentle temper, Shuiâai was not afraid of her, so she suddenly interjected and asked in a small voice.
Before Ren Yaoyi could say anything, Mrs. Luo immediately glowered and lectured in a stern tone, âWhat happened to the rules you were taught before? Who gave you permission to be so ungrateful?â
Shuiâai seemed to be startled by her grandmotherâs expression and lowered her head, not daring to speak.
Ren Yaoqi was about to say something when a person walked in the corridor leading to the gate.
The man was dressed in a sky-blue-colored Lu silk robe. It was just ordinary clothes, but he wore it with an elegant and dignified air that set him apart from others.
Ren Yaoqi was about to tell the pair of grandmother and granddaughter Luo to go back to the residence arranged for them first, but she shifted her gaze and saw Mrs. Luo staring blankly at the visitor with a surprised look on her face.
Ren Yaoqi immediately frowned and took a look at the visitor again.
He also sensed the line of sight from this side. His footsteps stopped momentarily, before decided to walk out from the corridor until he reached three or four paces in front of Ren Yaoqi, then calmly bowed and saluted, âFifth Miss Ren.â
Ren Yaoqi curtsied back, âYoung Master Han.â
The visitor was none other than Han Yunqian.
(donât forget to read it directly on sleepyautumn.link ! >.< )
Han Yunqian straightened up. His line of sight swept over grandmother and granddaughter Luoâs faces, then turned away again, as if he didnât notice them. Mrs. Luo also had put away the astonishment on her face and stood at the side with her waist bent and her head lowered.
âIs Young Master Han not going to Yunyang City today?â Ren Yaoqi smiled and asked like nothing had happened.
âMy grandfather asked Yunqian to come over and ask the Ren Family when they will depart and how many carriages and horses they have. We are taking precautions to avoid getting stuck at the city gates.â
There were several other families traveling from Baihe Town besides the Han and Ren Families. Each of them had quite a few carriages, so it wasnât unheard of that the city gate would be blocked or they couldnât get past the narrow passage leading to the outside of the city. Preferably they would address it to each other beforehand in order to avoid it.
Ren Yaoqi nodded and hurriedly said, âMy Eldest Aunt is the one who arranged all of our trips, she is over there by the reception hall. Go quickly so as not to delay your traveling.â
Han Yunqian nodded slightly, bowed to Ren Yaoqi again, before he turned around and left.
âThat young master⊠his surname is Han?â Mrs. Luo, who had been standing aside with her hands dropped, suddenly asked.
Ren Yaoqi stared at her, and explained calmly, âYes. The Han family had moved here from Jizhou the year before last. Do you know about Young Master Han?â
Mrs. Luo was taken aback, then quickly shook her head, âDoesnât know, this servant doesnât know. This servant just feels⊠that he seems familiar.â
Ren Yaoqi smiled faintly, âOh? Where did you meet him?â
âThis servant has not come out from the village for so long. This Young Master Han is so young, it is impossible for this servant to have seen him. Maybe my old eyes are blurred and misunderstood,â Mrs. Luo shook her head again.
âThat may be because he looks similar to one of his elders. Perhaps the one youâve met is his elders,â Ren Yaoqi reminded.
(donât forget to read it directly on sleepyautumn.link ! >.< )
Mrs. Luo thought for a while and sighed, âThis servant is already old and canât remember.â
âThere is no rush, you can remember it slowly these few days,â Ren Yaoqi said meaningfully, peeking behind her back, and saw that Ren Yaoyin and Ren Yaoyu had also arrived.
âItâs getting late, Iâll leave first. Please feel at ease and stay in the mansion. If you need anything else, go find Matron Zhou.â Ren Yaoqi nodded, and turned to leave without waiting for Mrs. Luo to say anything.
Ren Yaoqi was now certain that this Mrs. Luo knew something about the Han Family, but for some unknown reason, she was unwilling to speak.
Since she had found the right person, Ren Yaoqi was in no hurry. She could always think of a way to make Mrs. Luo talk.
Mrs. Luo watched Ren Yaoqiâs figure gradually walk away and shook her head. A bitter smile spread from the corner of her mouth, making her wrinkled face look even more vicissitudes.
âGrandmother?â Shuiâai timidly tugged on Mrs. Luoâs sleeve, calling her in a small voice.
Mrs. Luo came back to her senses. Her rough palm touched her granddaughterâs head, and said lovingly, âHavenât I explained to you many times? Be good when you enter the mansion, donât talk nonsense, and donât do anything wrong.â
Shuiâai saw her grandmother regaining her usual compassion, and asked in puzzlement, âGrandmother, this Fifth Miss looks very nice, why would you rather let a dog bite and injure yourself than come into the mansion?â
(donât forget to read it directly on sleepyautumn.link ! >.< )
Mrs. Luo was so frightened that she covered her granddaughterâs mouth, looked around and saw that they were the only ones there, then breathed a sigh of relief. She lowered her voice and scolded, âI told you to be careful with what you say, why donât you listen to me? Are you going to wait until we both die before you regret it?â
Shuiâai was aggrieved by the scolding, but she still lowered her head and admitted her mistake, âGrandma, I was wrong, and I will never dare to do it again. Donât get so angry, it will hurt your body.â
Mrs. Luo gazed at the surrounding scene, her eyes were old and mournful, and she murmured, âWhat should come will always come.â