Dongsheng's words caused Ren Yaoqi's hand to pause, and a rare look of surprise appeared on her face. However, she quickly calmed down, even feeling a sense of realization.
No wonder they had investigated for so long without finding any substantial leads—they had been looking in the wrong direction.
It was likely that Ren Yaoting had been nervous when she saw those ancestral tablets, and with the dim lighting, she had misread them. The characters "Qu" and "Zhai" were indeed very similar.
"Tell me about this... Zhai Family," Ren Yaoqi said softly.
From behind the curtain, Dongsheng's steady voice came through.
"Decades ago, this Zhai Family was considered a prominent household in Yan Prefecture, residing in White Crane Town. However, there weren’t many families with the surname Zhai in Yan Prefecture. This particular family had migrated from the south many years earlier. Although their lineage wasn’t particularly large, their conduct was quite respectable, and they were said to be a branch of a major clan. Unfortunately, when the Liao people invaded, the Zhai Family couldn’t leave Yanbei in time and ultimately met with disaster—over a hundred members, with no survivors."
During the Liao people’s rampage in Yanbei, many families suffered the same fate as the Zhai Family.
"Wiped out by the Liao people?" Ren Yaoqi murmured, as if speaking to herself.
"Yes, Miss. That’s how it’s recorded in the local chronicles."
"Was there any connection between the Zhai Family and the Han Family?" Ren Yaoqi asked.
Dongsheng replied regretfully, "Back then, countless families shared the same fate as the Zhai Family. The local chronicles only briefly mention this, with no further details."
This was expected, Ren Yaoqi understood. Still, having a target made future investigations much easier.
"However..." Dongsheng seemed to recall something else.
Knowing Dongsheng wasn’t one to keep others in suspense, Ren Yaoqi didn’t press him but listened attentively.
Sure enough, after a brief pause, Dongsheng continued, "The local chronicles don’t say much about the Zhai Family, but it seems their residence wasn’t far from the current Ren Mansion."
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi’s heart stirred. The location of the Zhai Family in the chronicles was likely only approximate. If Dongsheng said it wasn’t far, could it be that the Ren Family’s estate was originally the Zhai Family’s? The Ren Family’s mansion was purchased from someone else during her great-grandfather’s generation, which coincided with the time the Zhai Family met their misfortune.
But if the Zhai Family was destroyed by the Liao people, what connection could there be with the Ren Family? Although the Ren Family always claimed to be an old aristocratic family, Ren Yaoqi knew that decades ago, the Ren Family was just an ordinary household in Yanbei, while the Zhai Family was already a prominent local clan. What reason would the Ren Family have to hold a grudge against the Zhai Family?
Could it simply be for the property?
Ren Yaoqi pondered for a while but couldn’t come to a conclusion.
Still, she was grateful for Dongsheng’s diligent efforts in helping her investigate, and she sincerely thanked him.
Dongsheng, however, said, "Actually, this time, it was thanks to Second Young Master Xiao."
Ren Yaoqi was taken aback by this, and Dongsheng explained how he had asked Xiao Jingxi for advice and how Xiao Jingxi had guided him.
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi fell silent for a long moment.Dongsheng was somewhat worried that Ren Yaoqi was blaming her for casually mentioning these matters to Xiao Jingxi and was about to apologize when Ren Yaoqi spoke up, "When you see Second Young Master Xiao, remember to thank him on my behalf. Also, since you are now serving him, you should naturally not keep things from him. If he doesn’t ask, that’s fine, but if he does, you must never lie."
Dongsheng breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed.
Dongsheng was now Xiao Jingxi’s person, and by having Dongsheng run errands for her, Ren Yaoqi was essentially borrowing his subordinate. Xiao Jingxi’s willingness to overlook this was a sign of his magnanimity, and Ren Yaoqi did not want to appear ungrateful. Therefore, the tasks she assigned to Dongsheng were all ones she did not mind Xiao Jingxi knowing about; she would not trouble Dongsheng with anything difficult.
As Ren Yaoqi and Dongsheng were talking in the carriage, Xiao Jinglin soon returned, carrying two small bowls.
They were two fine porcelain bowls with famille rose patterns, clearly not from the stall. It was unclear when Xiao Jinglin had taken them out.
Pingguo stepped forward to take the bowls, allowing Xiao Jinglin to board the carriage.
Ren Yaoqi looked curiously at the bowl of douhua on the small table, topped with red and green seasonings.
She had eaten douhua before; in the capital, it was considered a delicacy—smooth, tender, and delicious—but the ones she had tasted were all sweet. This strange-looking douhua was a first for her.
Pingguo handed Ren Yaoqi a silver spoon, and Ren Yaoqi glanced at Xiao Jinglin.
Xing Jinglin, however, had already picked up her own bowl, blowing on it gently and taking small sips, not even bothering with a spoon.
Ren Yaoqi recognized the layer of chili oil on top and dared not drink it directly like Xiao Jinglin. Instead, she scooped a spoonful into her mouth.
Unsurprisingly, the taste was indeed excellent. Even though she couldn’t claim to know Xiao Jinglin very well, her appreciation for food was truly remarkable.
Xiao Jinglin drank until she was sweating, while Ren Yaoqi slowly finished the contents of her bowl, taking small sips with her spoon.
"How is it? Is it delicious?" Xiao Jinglin looked at Ren Yaoqi, a rare smile in her eyes.
Ren Yaoqi put down the silver spoon and nodded, "Yes, it’s very delicious."
The smile in Xiao Jinglin’s eyes deepened, "I knew you would like it."
While they were eating in the carriage, it had remained stationary. Now that they had finished, it slowly began to move forward.
"How did you know this was delicious?" Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile, not believing that Xiao Jinglin spent her days wandering the streets with her mouth and nose, even finding such hidden places.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinglin replied calmly, "Those close to me know I love to eat, so they often talk to me about food. A soldier under my command told me about the delicious douhua here. The elderly couple selling it are his neighbors."
So that was how it was.
Although Xiao Jinglin was a Commandery Princess, most of the people under her command came from ordinary backgrounds. This also indicated, from one perspective, that Xiao Jinglin was doing well in the army—at least no one resented her.
"Commandery Princess, Miss, we’ve arrived at the Inner Gate of Yun Mansion," Dongsheng’s cheerful voice rang out from outside.
They had arrived at the Yun Family.
The two of them stepped out of the carriage one after another and saw several maids and elderly women hurriedly approaching from the Inner Gate, their faces beaming with smiles.
"Commandery Princess, you’ve finally arrived. Our Old Madam and Madam have been waiting for you like they’ve been waiting for the stars and the moon.""Gong Momo." Xiao Jinglin nodded calmly and coolly to the matron, greeting her.
The matron, however, seemed accustomed to Xiao Jinglin's attitude, her smile remaining unchanged as she turned her gaze to Ren Yaoqi. "This must be Miss Ren?"
Ren Yaoqi could tell at a glance that this matron was definitely a trusted servant of either the Yun Family's Old Madam or the Yun Family's Madam. By etiquette, she should have given a half-curtsy.
But since Xiao Jinglin had only nodded just now, if she were to curtsy now, others might think she was deliberately trying to flatter or ingratiate herself. So Ren Yaoqi simply wore a warm and gentle smile on her face and called out, "Gong Momo." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
OpenNovel