A gentle, warm breeze stirred the flowers and plants in the courtyard, causing them to sway lightly. Bees and butterflies fluttered among the branches and leaves, and the scent of approaching summer filled the small garden.
Upon hearing Xiao Jingxi’s words, Ren Yaoqi paused for a moment, but she quickly spoke up: "The Han Family once discussed co-managing a salt field with the Ren Family, but due to various reasons, it never came to fruition. I heard that the Su Family and the Yun Family are currently competing for the salt fields in Xining. Could it be that the Su Family is showing goodwill toward the Han Family because of the salt wells in the Han Family’s possession?"
Xiao Jingxi slowly walked up to Ren Yaoqi, looking at her thoughtfully before letting out a sigh. "Fifth Miss Ren, do you know where the Han Family’s salt wells came from?"
Ren Yaoqi’s heart stirred at his words, and she frowned. "Could it be the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion…"
Xiao Jingxi watched Ren Yaoqi without speaking.
Ren Yaoqi lowered her gaze, her fingers gently brushing the leaves of a nearby gardenia plant as she pondered.
After learning about the relationship between the Han Family and the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, she had also speculated that the Han Family’s salt fields might have some connection to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion.
But now, with Xiao Jingxi deliberately bringing this up, could it be that the Han Family’s salt wells served some other purpose?
When she had schemed to involve the Su Family, aside from wanting to disrupt the marriage alliance between the Han and Ren Families, she had also intended to use the Su Family’s intervention to probe the situation and understand the Han Family’s usefulness to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, so she could plan her next move accordingly.
"I once told Second Young Master frankly that I had suspicions about the Han Family, which is why I didn’t have high hopes for the collaboration between the Han and Ren Families," Ren Yaoqi suddenly looked up, meeting Xiao Jingxi’s gaze as she spoke candidly.
Xiao Jingxi’s gaze shifted from Ren Yaoqi’s slender, jade-like fingers, which were reflected among the fresh green leaves, to her clear, bright eyes.
"So Fifth Miss Ren orchestrated the involvement of the Su Family?" The admiration in Xiao Jingxi’s eyes was not concealed.
Ren Yaoqi suddenly smiled. "What if I said it was merely a coincidence and that I did nothing? Would Second Young Master believe me?"
Xiao Jingxi chuckled softly at her words, then shook his head seriously. "No, I wouldn’t."
Naturally, he didn’t believe it. While there might be many coincidences in the world, he felt that Ren Yaoqi was not someone who would rely on chance.
Ren Yaoqi smiled faintly and remained silent, her gaze still pure and clear.
Xiao Jingxi, however, sighed. "Fifth Miss Ren, you have a sharp mind and clever methods. But have you ever considered that your actions might have disrupted the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion’s plans?"
Ren Yaoqi frowned slightly, looking puzzled. "What plans of the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion? Are they related to the Su Family’s involvement with the Han Family’s salt wells?"
Xiao Jingxi pondered for a moment. "Originally, both the Su Family and the Yun Family were determined to secure the salt fields in Xining. By facilitating the collaboration between the Su Family and the Han Family at this time, you indirectly assisted the Su Family, causing the Yun Family to be eliminated early?"
Xiao Jingxi mentioned the Yun Family…
Ren Yaoqi’s thoughts continued to churn in her mind.
She was aware of the longstanding grievances between the Yun Family and the Su Family. She had assumed that fostering discord between the Yun Family, representing the old aristocratic families, and the Su Family, representing the rising new nobility, was a strategy devised by the Old Yanbei Prince, Xiao Qishan, to balance the various forces in Yanbei.
The two Old Princess Consorts of the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion had further deepened the irreconcilable conflict between the Su and Yun Families.
And the Han Family, hidden in the shadows by the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion…
Suddenly, an idea struck Ren Yaoqi, and she couldn’t help but feel a slight shock in her heart.Could it be that the Yanbei Prince's Mansion was already dissatisfied with the mutual restraint between the Yun Family and the Su Family, and thus wanted to break this situation, with the Han Family being the chess piece secretly cultivated by the Yanbei Prince's Mansion to disrupt the balance between the two families?
Thinking this, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. If this were truly the case, the Han Family's usefulness to the Yanbei Prince's Mansion would be significant.
But why would the Yanbei Prince's Mansion suddenly want to break the balance deliberately arranged by the Old Yanbei Prince to stabilize the situation in Yanbei?
Ren Yaoqi's thoughts drifted further. She recalled the situation in Yanbei in her previous life: the eldest young master of the Su Family married Zeng Pu's niece, and the Su Family's stance between the Zeng Family and the Yanbei Prince's Mansion also became ambiguous.
Could it be that the Yanbei Prince's Mansion had already detected the Su Family's unusual movements?
Although Ren Yaoqi thought this, it was merely speculation, and she couldn't be certain her guess was correct.
So she said to Xiao Jingxi, "Second Young Master previously said that the cooperation between the Su Family and the Han Family at 'this time' would cause the Yun Family to be 'eliminated early,' disrupting the balance between the Yun and Su Families and thus 'disturbing the plans of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion'... Could it be that the timing of the Su and Han Families' cooperation is inappropriate? If it were later, wouldn't the Yanbei Prince's Mansion fear breaking the balance between the Yun and Su Families?" Could it be that the Yanbei Prince's Mansion wasn't yet prepared for the subsequent arrangements? This last sentence Ren Yaoqi didn't state explicitly, only hinted at subtly.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxi couldn't help but look at Ren Yaoqi with astonishment, nearly choking on his own breath.
How had Ren Yaoqi drawn this conclusion from his few words? He found it truly bewildering.
The young girl standing before him today wore a light purple short jacket embroidered with elegant orchid patterns and a plain goose-yellow long skirt that reached her ankles, covering most of her shoes, making her appear very graceful.
Though still young, her features had already taken on the beginnings of beauty. Most peculiarly, she carried a unique aura that made one unable to resist wanting to explore further.
Ren Yaoqi might not be the most beautiful woman Xiao Jingxi had ever met, nor perhaps the smartest, but she was undoubtedly the most unique.
Xiao Jingxi had never paid so much attention to any other woman before.
Seeing Xiao Jingxi gaze at her with deep, unfathomable eyes without speaking, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but feel uneasy. Had she said too much? If she had truly uncovered some secret of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, she would indeed be in trouble.
Could it be that because Xiao Jingxi had been willing to help her last time, she had developed an inexplicable trust in this young man? This really didn't seem like her character.
Xiao Jingxi, however, gave a light cough and slightly turned away. Ren Yaoqi didn't notice, but the young man she thought had deep, unfathomable eyes was actually blushing faintly.
However, Xiao Jingxi had always maintained an elusive, transcendent demeanor like a semi-immortal, and his thoughts were never easily revealed. So, if others saw him like this, they would only assume it was from the sun and would never think otherwise.
In the eyes of the world, Xiao Jingxi should be an otherworldly, exceptionally talented, and inscrutable young man.
"What do you plan to do next?" Xiao Jingxi asked in a calm tone.
In the blink of an eye, he had regained the demeanor befitting the Second Young Master of the Xiao Family, with no trace of an awkward youth about him.Ren Yaoqi felt that Xiao Jingxi's question was somewhat inexplicable—what could she possibly plan to do?
However, unable to discern his intentions, she could only reply tentatively, "I am merely a woman confined to the inner chambers, with very limited capabilities. As for the future, I can only leave it to fate."
After a pause, she suddenly curtsied to Xiao Jingxi and said earnestly, "Thank you for your care, Second Young Master Xiao."
Xiao Jingxi glanced at her and replied indifferently, "There is no need to thank me. I have not helped you with anything." He had not revealed much information; it was all deduced by Ren Yaoqi herself. Even he had to admire her for that.
Ren Yaoqi shook her head with a smile. "From your position, the fact that you have repeatedly offered advice is something I am already grateful for. However, seeking advantage and avoiding harm is human nature. There are some things I must do, even if I am unwilling. If I inadvertently offend you, I hope you will not hold it against me."
Xiao Jingxi fell silent for a moment before saying, "Matters that do not harm the interests of Yanbei Prince's Mansion, I can overlook. But the Han Family... the Han Family is currently still useful to Yanbei Prince's Mansion. If you wish to act against them, I am afraid it will be difficult."
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but frown. Was Xiao Jingxi warning her that if she repeatedly schemed against the Han Family in secret, she would eventually draw the attention of Yanbei Prince's Mansion and bring disaster upon herself?
"I have no intention of opposing anyone. If the Han Family does not target the Ren Family, I would be happy to maintain friendly relations with our neighbors," Ren Yaoqi said solemnly. "But if the Han Family truly harbors ill intentions, should I simply wait for disaster to strike?"
Her words were somewhat sharp, causing Xiao Jingxi to fall silent once again.
After some thought, Ren Yaoqi added, "Second Young Master Xiao, is the Han Family truly irreplaceable to Yanbei Prince's Mansion?"
Xiao Jingxi pondered for a moment before answering tactfully, "For now, the Han Family is the most suitable."
The most suitable, but not necessarily irreplaceable? Ren Yaoqi's mind began to turn.
What if someone could replace the Han Family?
Xiao Jingxi seemed to guess her thoughts and raised an eyebrow. "Does Fifth Miss Ren intend for your Ren Family to replace the Han Family?"
Ren Yaoqi, however, shook her head without hesitation. "No, the Ren Family is not suitable."
Xiao Jingxi couldn't help but feel surprised again. If the Ren Family could replace the Han Family, it would undoubtedly be a great opportunity for them.
Although he had only mentioned it casually, Ren Yaoqi had dismissed the idea without a second thought, which left him somewhat taken aback.
Ren Yaoqi inwardly sighed. If the Ren Family could align itself with Yanbei Prince's Mansion, those in power within the family would undoubtedly be overjoyed.
However, she knew all too well what kind of people the Ren Family's leaders were. Therefore, she did not wish to see the Ren Family dragged into this power struggle, as the ultimate result would likely be the suffering of pawns like herself.
As the two were speaking, they suddenly heard chattering voices at the door: "General, let me carry it for you, let me take it..."
They turned in surprise to see Xiao Jinglin walking in, holding a long object wrapped in gray cloth.
The child they had seen earlier, Mo Xiaoliang, was hopping around her, trying to reach for the object in her hands but not daring to do so.
Xiao Jinglin, annoyed by his fly-like behavior, stopped and frowned at him. "Why should I let you carry it?"Mo Xiaoliang said matter-of-factly, "How can a general carry things themselves? Of course, their subordinates should carry them! I will be your subordinate in the future, so naturally, I should help you carry it!"
Xiao Jinglin glanced at his small stature and said calmly, "You're not even half the height of my spear! The spear would get dragged and damaged!"
Mo Xiaoliang was utterly devastated by these words, standing frozen in place...
Dragged and damaged? Damaged? Damaged?
This was...
Saying he was short? He was short? Short?
"Wah—Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, what can I eat to grow taller quickly?" Little Mo Xiaoliang cried as he ran away, his mournful cries startling a few small bees and butterflies.
Finally, peace returned to her ears. Xiao Jinglin calmly walked toward Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi, showing no trace of guilt for having wounded the young boy's heart.
Ren Yaoqi looked at the long object in her hand and asked curiously, "Is this your long spear?"
Seeing Ren Yaoqi curiously examining the wrapped spear in her hand, Xiao Jinglin hesitated for a moment before generously taking Ren Yaoqi's hand and offering the spear to her, wanting to let her take a look.
For Xiao Jinglin, she would not usually let others handle her weapon, so this gesture could be considered a friendly gesture.
However, before the spear could reach Ren Yaoqi's hands, a hand reached out from the side and deftly took the spear from her.
Xiao Jinglin turned to look at Xiao Jingxi, frowning silently.
Xiao Jingxi shook his head, returning the spear to Xiao Jinglin, but gently admonished her, "She can't lift your spear. If you force it into her hands, she could injure her wrist."
Xiao Jinglin took back her spear, glanced at Ren Yaoqi, and understood. "My apologies."
Ren Yaoqi stretched out her hand to look at it and blinked at Xiao Jinglin. "I should be the one apologizing. One should act within their means. I was indeed curious about your spear."
Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment, unwrapped the gray cloth covering the spear, revealing the spearhead for Ren Yaoqi to see, and added, "Just look, don't touch it with your hands. The spearhead has just been sharpened and is very sharp."
The silver spearhead gleamed with a blinding white light under the sun. Ren Yaoqi nodded, refraining from reaching out to touch it, and examined it for a few moments while Xiao Jinglin held it. "So this is a spear. I've only seen it in illustrations in books."
"What book did you read?" Xiao Jingxi, watching the two of them talk, interjected with a smile.
"Tales of Chivalrous Heroes," Ren Yaoqi replied instinctively.
Then all three of them froze for a moment. Xiao Jingxi couldn't help but chuckle softly and turned his head away.
Even with her thick skin, Ren Yaoqi felt her face flush at this moment.
Such books were not meant for women in the inner chambers. Most of the characters depicted in them were born in the common streets and carried the temperament of common folk, so such books were considered forbidden in the inner chambers.
In her previous life, when Ren Yaoqi was with Mr. Pei, because Mr. Pei himself was an unconventional person who read all kinds of books, Ren Yaoqi also read everything. Over time, she nearly forgot these rules.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi's embarrassment and Xiao Jingxi stifling laughter beside her, Xiao Jinglin's innate heroic spirit of protecting the weak resurfaced.
So she calmly comforted Ren Yaoqi, "It's nothing. I once caught Xiao Jingxi secretly reading The Golden Hairpin."
Xiao Jingxi: "..."
Ren Yaoqi: "..."Ren Yaoqi looked at Xiao Jingxi in astonishment. Although Xiao Jingxi still wore his usual calm expression and perfect smile, Ren Yaoqi noticed an unnatural flush at the base of his ears.
For the first time, Ren Yaoqi wondered if she had been deceived by Xiao Jingxi's flawless appearance before. Was the ethereal, almost immortal aura around this young man merely a facade?
Fortunately, at that moment, a young servant entered and approached Xiao Jingxi. Seeing Xiao Jingxi speaking with the others, the servant hurried over and whispered a few words into his ear.
Xiao Jingxi nodded faintly, waved his hand to dismiss the servant, and then said to Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin, "I have matters to attend to and must take my leave."
Xiao Jinglin said nothing, only uttering a soft "Mm."
Xiao Jingxi nodded to Ren Yaoqi once more before turning to leave.
Suddenly remembering something, Xiao Jinglin turned toward his retreating figure and called out, "It's almost time for your medicine. Don't forget again."
Xiao Jingxi paused mid-step, turned back to acknowledge her, and only then lifted the curtain to exit.
Ren Yaoqi thought his response sounded somewhat resigned, and for some reason, she couldn't help but laugh.
Hearing her laughter, Xiao Jinglin turned to look at her in confusion.
Ren Yaoqi cleared her throat lightly. "If one didn't know better, they'd think you were the older sister and he the younger brother."
Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinglin nodded without a hint of shame and admitted, "He's been delicate since childhood, prone to catching colds but stubbornly refuses to close the windows because he finds it stuffy. He also hates the bitterness of medicine—I once saw him using his own medicine to water the flowers. After I returned this time, I threw out all the flowerpots in his room."
Ren Yaoqi struggled to hold back her laughter. The Xiao Jingxi in Xiao Jinglin's eyes seemed entirely different from the one they all perceived. She simply couldn't reconcile the image of a willful child described by Xiao Jinglin with the lofty, elegant, and aloof Xiao Jingxi she knew.
Later, Madam Mo and her daughter-in-law served the meal, which included the restaurant's signature braised donkey meat, a fresh mushroom soup, and several simple, homestyle dishes.
The spread was quite modest, yet Xiao Jinglin ate with great relish. Her table manners were refined, but she ate quickly and with considerable appetite—each bite precise, swift, and efficient.
Though it was impolite to stare at someone while they ate, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but watch Xiao Jinglin. For some reason, she herself ended up serving an extra half-bowl of rice more than usual.
By the end, almost none of the dishes remained. After setting down her bowl, Xiao Jinglin met Ren Yaoqi's smiling gaze without any trace of embarrassment.
Once upon a time, a peculiar trend had emerged among the noble ladies and young misses of the capital: whether dining at home or attending banquets, they would deliberately leave a layer of rice covering the bottom of their bowls.
Since ancient times, people across Great Zhou had followed the capital's trends, from clothing and accessories to utensils and behavior. Thus, this so-called fashion had also spread to Yanbei.
Xiao Jinglin, however, would not leave a single grain of rice in her bowl—the bottom was always spotlessly clean. The frivolous affectations of those noble ladies held no value in her eyes.
Yet, it was precisely this Xiao Jinglin whom Ren Yaoqi found endearing.
From her first encounter with Xiao Jinglin and their subsequent interactions, Ren Yaoqi had initially thought her aloof and difficult to approach. However, today's outing had greatly changed her impression of Xiao Jinglin.Perhaps influenced by Mr. Pei in her previous life, she appreciated such genuine and straightforward people even more.
“It’s getting late. Shall I escort you back to your residence?” After the two had rinsed their mouths and drunk tea, Xiao Jinglin asked Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi nodded.
As they stepped out, they happened to hear Aunt Mo scolding her son while tugging at his ear: “…Your sister-in-law only knows how to make flowers and plants grow well. How could she have a way to make people grow taller faster? Do you expect her to water and fertilize you every day like she does with the flowers? Go play somewhere else and don’t cause trouble!”
Turning around and seeing Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi emerge, Aunt Mo quickly let go of her son and hurried over to greet them.
Mo Xiaoliang, upon seeing Xiao Jinglin, still blushed with embarrassment but hesitantly shuffled closer, standing about three steps away and looking at them pitifully. His eyes occasionally darted toward the long spear in Xiao Jinglin’s hand.
Xiao Jinglin pretended not to notice. It wasn’t until they were about to leave that she paused and beckoned him over.
Mo Xiaoliang’s eyes lit up. He scampered over eagerly: “General, what are your orders?”
Xiao Jinglin sized him up and said, “Study hard and learn your characters. I’ll test you later. If you don’t meet my expectations, I won’t take you.”
The gloom that had enveloped Mo Xiaoliang vanished instantly. Bursting with energy, the child did a somersault on the spot and rushed excitedly to his mother to show off: “Mom, Mom, the General said I should study hard and learn my characters. She’ll take me as a little general in the future! Did you hear that, Mom…?”
Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin could still hear the child’s joyful shouts even after they had left the small shop.
Ren Yaoqi was about to ask Xiao Jinglin about the background of this family when she noticed a tall figure standing beside Xiao Jinglin’s carriage, talking to Dongsheng, who was seated on the carriage shaft.
The man turned his head just as Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi emerged and hurried over to bow: “This humble one greets the Commandery Princess and the Fifth Miss Ren.”
It turned out to be Zhu Ruomei.
Today, Zhu Ruomei looked nothing like the disheveled state Ren Yaoqi had seen him in last time at White Dragon Temple. He wore a clean, deep blue short jacket, and his hair was neatly combed and tied with a hairband. He looked fresh, clean, and full of energy.
Ren Yaoqi glanced at his leg and asked with a smile, “Fully recovered?”
Hearing this, Zhu Ruomei stomped his foot on the spot and grinned: “Thank you for your concern, Fifth Miss. My injury is no longer an issue.”
Zhu Ruomei was physically robust and had a stronger recovery ability than most people. Injuries that would take others months to heal fully took him only one or two months.
Xiao Jinglin seemed to know the connection between them. She nodded to Ren Yaoqi and walked toward the carriage first, leaving space for Ren Yaoqi and Zhu Ruomei to talk.
In her view, there was no such thing as rigid etiquette.
Thank you to Xin Hailanlan, Ding Ding 1970, Lao Yan YYZ, Fengyu Budong Liushuizhang, xxxlingyun, Jingjing Manyan for your pink votes… Also, thank you to Huozhong de Weimei, Huozhong de Weimei, Pangxie Mao, mkh_texas, yuer586 for your rewards.
(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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