After days of continuous heavy rain, the sky finally cleared. The Ren family's carriage slowly pulled up in front of the mansion. The entourage was so large that it stretched from one end of the street to the other.
Cheng Xiran was dragged out early in the morning and made to wait at the entrance. When she saw the carriage arrive, she retreated to the back, planning to slip away when the crowd got thick. She didn't want to waste her time and energy here.
At that moment, Mrs. Liu, dressed like the mistress of the house, stood beside Lord Cheng. She greeted Lord Ren with a beaming smile. Seeing this, Cheng Xiran quietly pulled Zhuque towards the courtyard. They probably wouldn't notice her at this moment.
"Miss, if we just leave like this and get caught, the master will scold us," Zhuque whispered nervously as they walked, feeling it wasn't right.
Cheng Xiran smiled softly. "I'm not afraid. What are you worried about? They'll probably talk for a while. We can go when it's time for the meal."
Unexpectedly, before Cheng Xiran could even sit down comfortably in the courtyard, a maid rushed over, saying that the old mistress wanted to see her and had sent someone to invite her.
The old mistress? Cheng Xiran checked the time. It wasn't time for the meal yet. Why was she being summoned now?
Cheng Xiran and Zhuque walked around the rockery in the garden towards the flower hall of Huating Courtyard. The guests were received there today. Usually, only nobles were entertained and dined there.
Walking through the passage, the front hall of Huating Courtyard was just ahead.
The old lady of the Ren family had also come. The old mistress of the Cheng family had the place cleaned and decorated in advance. She didn't know what the old lady's preference was, but she seemed to like colorful things. Along the way, there were blooming flower bunches with a few bees hovering around.
Beyond the front hall, two young maids were kneeling on the bluestone path.
They were wearing blue clothes embroidered with the Ren family's symbol. Their heads were bowed, and their bodies were trembling like leaves in the spring wind.
Cheng Xiran quietly walked past them. As she stepped onto the stairs, she could faintly hear their soft sobs.
"They are Xiu'er and Qin'er, the maids beside the third miss of the Ren family," Zhuque whispered in Cheng Xiran's ear, holding her arm.
Cheng Xiran wasn't interested. She and Zhuque waited behind the screen at the door.
The Cheng family had many rules, but they were nothing compared to those of the Ren family. In someone else's mansion, they still followed their own rules. Without the old lady of the Ren family's permission, they couldn't go in.
After waiting for about half an hour, Cheng Xiran's legs were almost numb, but still no one came out.
Zhuque felt sorry for her. She knelt down to massage Cheng Xiran's legs, but Cheng Xiran quickly pulled her up. "No need. I can hold on for a while."
Zhuque stood up and took out a candied date from her bosom, stuffing it into Cheng Xiran's mouth. "We didn't have time for breakfast. Have a candied date to get rid of the bitter taste in your mouth."
"Zhuque, what does the old lady of the Ren family mean? Is she just going to let us stand here?" Cheng Xiran mumbled while chewing the candied date.
Zhuque looked around and whispered in her ear, "Miss, please bear with it. The old lady of the Ren family is a first - rank imperial - conferred lady, and she dotes on Ren Ning'er very much. She might be here to take revenge for Ren Ning'er. Just endure it and it will pass."
Cheng Xiran finally understood. No wonder she was summoned so early. They couldn't wait to give her a show of force as soon as they entered the mansion.
Fortunately, after a while, the old woman guarding the screen lifted the curtain. "Miss, please come in."