“That is the old lady from Minister of War Qin’s family. It’s said that because Minister Qin chose the wrong side, the new emperor ordered their household to be confiscated.”
Ren Jingyan looked somewhat confused. She was just a young girl and did not understand what “choosing the wrong side” meant, thinking it simply meant standing in the wrong place during court.
Ren Jingshu nodded, rubbing the big bump on the back of her head as she frowned and said:
“Earlier I wasn’t careful and was secretly attacked by them. My head swelled up with such a big lump that I can’t remember many things now.”
Hearing this, Ren Jingyan became very anxious. She reached out to touch her sister’s head and indeed found a large swelling under her hair.
“Elder sister, does your head still hurt? Second aunt really has a black heart. She used to flatter and curry favor with us, but the moment we fell into trouble, she showed her true colors.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she gently rubbed her sister’s head in distress.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let them have an easy time.”
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Ren Jingshu’s lips.
“Elder sister, don’t worry. I will help you remember everything you’ve forgotten. Once we find Father and our brothers, we can ask them for help too.”
Ren Jingyan comforted her, deciding she would tell her sister more about the family from now on, thinking perhaps she would slowly recall things over time.
“Then I’ll be relying on you, younger sister. However…”
Ren Jingshu thought for a moment and said, “Father and the brothers already have enough to worry about. These small matters don’t need to trouble them further.”
Ren Jingyan wanted to object—how could an injury to her sister be a small matter? But after hearing the rest of her words, she felt they made sense and reluctantly nodded.
While they were talking, they had already returned to their temporary encampment.
“Ren Jingshu, stop right there!”
Two girls emerged from behind a big tree, looking about twelve or thirteen years old.
They looked extremely similar—likely twins—and each held a wooden stick, glaring angrily at the sisters.
“Second sister, third sister, what do you want?”
Ren Jingyan stepped forward and stood in front of her elder sister, hands on her hips, also glaring at them.
“Elder sister is injured, I won’t let you bully her.”
But the girl did not know that while she was unconscious earlier, her “fragile elder sister” had already gone on a rampage, leaving only one surviving guard and a fleeing servant.
“You still have the face to ask? Shameless! Why don’t you ask your disgraceful elder sister what she did to my mother!”
The girl in pink spoke rapidly, her face full of contempt as she looked at Ren Jingshu.
They were the twin daughters of Second Aunt Ren. The elder was Ren Yuzhu, the younger Ren Zhenzhu, only a few months younger than Ren Jingshu.
Earlier, after Ren Jingshu was knocked unconscious, they had personally seen her taken away by those vulgar men. As for what had happened afterward, they had secretly overheard their mother and maids mention it.
So now, their eyes toward Ren Jingshu were full of disgust.
Because they had been placed in a carriage filled with luggage earlier, they had not witnessed anything at first. When they woke up, most of the guards were gone.
They questioned Chunhong, but she avoided their gaze and stammered without explaining clearly.
Only when they found their mother did they see her face swollen, her mouth injured, and most shockingly—iron shackles on her feet.
Even more, a strange wooden frame was locked around her neck.
When they learned everything was caused by the eldest daughter of the main branch, they immediately became furious, believing she had used her body to please men and brought ruin upon their mother.
Without hesitation, they grabbed wooden sticks and rushed out to confront them.
“Release my mother immediately, or I won’t let you off today!”
Ren Yuzhu shouted, gripping her stick tightly.
She had always disliked the main branch sisters, but before, their father was a powerful general, while her own father was only a minor official. Now, however, everything had changed—the main branch had fallen.
She thought that soon everything would settle, and their maternal family would bring them back to the capital.
“So tell me, how exactly will you not let me off?”
Ren Jingshu sighed lightly, pushed her younger sister aside, and stepped forward.
“Stop talking nonsense! Just do as my sister says, or we won’t let you go!” Ren Zhenzhu added angrily.
Seeing the two girls, Ren Jingshu gave a faint, contemptuous smile. In one swift motion, she snatched their wooden sticks and struck their backsides repeatedly.
The blows were not fatal, but painful enough to make them cry out.
“Waaah… you’re too much…”
“You’re bullying people… I’m going to tell Mother…”
The two girls clutched their aching bottoms and ran off crying while shouting threats.