"The Lei Family is going to lose."
Xiao Jingxi's indifferent remark interrupted Ren Yaoqi's train of thought.
Ren Yaoqi instinctively looked up and retorted, "That's not necessarily true."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi smiled with interest as he looked at Ren Yaoqi. "Oh?"
"Even if the Liu Family has sent someone, what does it matter? Madam Lei has already passed away. There's a saying: 'Death silences all testimony.'" It had to be admitted that Madam Lei's death had indeed given the Lei Family a chance to catch their breath.
Unfortunately... it was only a temporary reprieve.
Sure enough, Xiao Jingxi raised an eyebrow. "Do you really think Han Dongshan, who went to great lengths to bring the Liu Family here from afar, would give up just because Madam Lei died?"
Of course not.
Ren Yaoqi understood in her heart that Madam Lei's death had only temporarily disrupted the Han Family's plans. Moreover, with the Liu Family causing a stir and spreading rumors about the Lei Family, once the Han Family found another opportunity to strike, the Lei Family would truly be finished.
However, Ren Yaoqi remained silent. She glanced at Xiao Jingxi, uncertain of his purpose for being here today.
Xiao Jingxi noticed her gaze and smiled at her.
Ren Yaoqi was momentarily stunned and instinctively averted her eyes.
"How about we make a bet?" Xiao Jingxi suddenly said slowly.
"A bet?" Ren Yaoqi was somewhat surprised. "What does Young Master Xiao want to bet on?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxi turned his head and gave a meaningful, half-smiling look at Xiao Jinglin, who was sitting quietly nearby, drinking tea. "Originally, I wanted to play a game of chess with you, but now it seems... we'll have to change the bet."
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but turn to look at Xiao Jinglin as well.
Xiao Jinglin remained expressionless. "You've never lost a game of chess. The bet wouldn't be fair. I can't just stand by and watch you take advantage of others."
Thus, Princess Xiao, who hated chess the most, condescended to suggest that she could warm up with a game against Xiao Jingxi first, then find an opportunity to hide the chess pieces.
Xiao Jingxi: "..."
Seeing their expressions, Ren Yaoqi roughly understood what was going on and couldn't help but smile at Xiao Jinglin.
"If you can win this bet, how about I let the Lei Family replace the Han Family?" Xiao Jingxi casually tossed out a tempting bait.
Indeed, this condition startled Ren Yaoqi—not with fear, but with pleasant surprise.
However, Ren Yaoqi quickly calmed down and fell silent.
The bet was truly tempting. If the Yanbei Prince's Mansion chose the Lei Family over the Han Family, it would undoubtedly benefit her. Zeng Kui hadn't arrived in Yanbei yet, and she had to resolve the Han Family matter before he came.
With the Han and Lei Families locked in a life-and-death struggle, and with the Lei Family currently holding the upper hand, it would be difficult for the Han Family to use the Zeng Family against the Ren Family.
But was Xiao Jingxi's bet easy to accept?
In their last match, she had only managed a draw by taking an unconventional approach. If they were to play chess today, she truly had no confidence in defeating Xiao Jingxi.
Even though Xiao Jinglin's interference prevented a chess game, could she win if they changed to another type of bet? She never underestimated herself, but if her opponent was Xiao Jingxi, she truly had no confidence in winning.
Even Mr. Pei admitted that he had once suffered a loss at Xiao Jingxi's hands.Seemingly noticing Ren Yaoqi's hesitation, Xiao Jingxi pretended to think for a moment, then comforted her in a gentle tone: "How about this: if you lose, I won't interfere in the affairs between the Han Family and the Lei Family, letting the two families settle their own outcome. And you... you just need to agree to do one thing for me, within your capabilities, and if you can't accomplish it, I'll allow you to refuse. Think carefully—even if you lose, you won't suffer any significant loss."
Ren Yaoqi thought it over and felt Xiao Jingxi's words made sense.
Originally, Xiao Jingxi had no intention of interfering in the Han and Lei Families' affairs, so if she lost, the outcome wouldn't worsen. As for asking her to do something, Ren Yaoqi didn't think the Second Young Master Xiao would lack people to handle tasks for him. So, to Xiao Jingxi, it was merely an optional prize. She believed he wouldn't go out of his way to trouble a weak woman like her.
"If I lose, you can also assign me one task," Xiao Jingxi continued with a smile, dangling more bait.
Xiao Jinglin sat nearby, listening, and felt the bet sounded reasonably fair for now, so she continued drinking her tea without interrupting.
This time, however, Ren Yaoqi wasn't dazzled by Xiao Jingxi's smile, as it wasn't the moment to appreciate his good looks.
So she pondered for a long while before asking seriously, "Young Master Xiao, you just said that if I win, you'll have the Lei Family replace the Han Family. May I ask if your words represent the will of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion?"
Xiao Jingxi was taken aback by her question, then laughed, rubbing his forehead: "You really... refuse to suffer even the slightest loss."
Ren Yaoqi looked at him, smiling without a word.
Perhaps to Xiao Jingxi, this bet was just a whimsical joke born out of boredom, but to her, it was very important. So even though she trusted Xiao Jingxi's character and admitted he looked very handsome when he smiled, she wouldn't fall into any verbal traps he set.
Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi and said with a faint smile, "My words cannot represent the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, but I never break my promises."
Ren Yaoqi finally smiled too, blinking: "Alright, then I believe you."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxi choked slightly. In all his life, he had never heard anyone say "Alright, then I believe you" in such a reluctant tone and expression.
Unaware of the tangled emotions beneath Young Master Xiao's perfect expression, Ren Yaoqi asked, "What are we betting on, Young Master Xiao? Please propose the challenge."
Xiao Jinglin, sitting nearby, couldn't help but laugh, glancing at Ren Yaoqi and then at Xiao Jingxi before continuing to drink her tea.
Ren Yaoqi was unnerved by her sudden laughter: "Commandery Princess, what are you laughing at?"
Xiao Jinglin set down her teacup, remained meaningfully silent for a moment, and then said, "Nothing."
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Xiao Jingxi: "..."
In truth, Xiao Jinglin wasn't thinking anything strange. She simply felt that someone who appeared unfathomable and invincible couldn't scare off all opponents just by putting on a show.
At least, there was one right in front of her who wasn't buying it—and this person was her friend. Princess Xiao was just feeling happy about it.
Of course, she didn't think her happiness was tinged with schadenfreude. Princess Xiao had always considered herself righteous, upright, and ambitious.As for the dark mentality of wishing someone would suffer a setback because they were too clever, causing her to endure various pressures since childhood—Commandery Princess Xiao, after self-reflection, righteously declared that such thoughts would absolutely not arise in her.
Important matters took precedence, and Xiao Jinglin ultimately did not disturb the two who were negotiating.
"The wager is this: you find a way to help the Lei Family overcome this crisis," Xiao Jingxi said leisurely.
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Ren Yaoqi felt that she should have realized this earlier.
She was not someone who would let herself suffer losses, so was Xiao Jingxi?
This wager indeed seemed to pose no loss for her, but it posed even less for Xiao Jingxi.
If the Lei Family overcame this crisis, they would gain the upper hand, and it would be only natural for the Yanbei Prince's Mansion to ultimately choose the Lei Family.
To put it bluntly, the true essence of this wager was that she would exhaust herself, sparing no effort to help the Lei Family escape danger and break through the encirclement, allowing the Yanbei Prince's Mansion to acquire a superficially strong but internally weak pawn with obvious vulnerabilities. Then, Second Young Master Xiao would reluctantly fulfill a small wish of hers.
Even the Ren Family's coal mines did not sign such shameless indentured contracts.
Although Ren Yaoqi had already decided on the way here to help the Lei Family, seeing Xiao Jingxi's demeanor now still made her grit her teeth.
Fortunately, her self-restraint was excellent, so upon hearing this, she merely looked at Xiao Jingxi and smiled.
After a long while, she finally said, "Young Master Xiao, have you ever considered going into business?"
Xiao Jingxi raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged. "Not a bad idea, but unfortunately, my family likely wouldn't agree."
Ren Yaoqi nodded, her tone filled with regret. "What a pity. With your talent for calculations, it’s a waste not to go into business."
Xiao Jingxi: "..."
Xiao Jinglin burst out laughing.
Xiao Jingxi shook his head with a bitter smile, thought for a moment, and compromised, "Alright, let’s change the wager."
He hadn’t actually intended to make this wager with Ren Yaoqi in the first place. No matter how clever and perceptive Ren Yaoqi was, she was merely a young lady from an inner chamber, even younger than Xiao Jinglin. The Lei Family’s current situation had even left Lei Ting at his wit’s end—it was not something she could handle.
Unexpectedly, the young lady sitting across from him smiled and shook her head. "No need. Let’s stick with this wager."
If they bet on something else, she wasn’t confident she could win.
Moreover, she didn’t believe in the kind of good fortune that fell from the sky. Even though she and Xiao Jinglin were friends, she didn’t think Xiao Jingxi would help her without considering gains or losses for that reason.
Those who had experienced helplessness and isolation but survived were no longer weak, and they had learned to rely on themselves at critical moments.
Xiao Jingxi was taken aback, then raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
Ren Yaoqi didn’t answer immediately but lowered her head to think.
Xiao Jingxi wasn’t in a hurry either, sitting across from her and waiting for her to figure it out.
In truth, Ren Yaoqi was mistaken about one thing: Xiao Jingxi was willing to offer her some help within his capabilities, especially after learning that Han Yunshan truly had a grudge against the Ren Family.
Unfortunately, these two individuals—one had never enjoyed selfless help from others, while the other was not accustomed to the benevolent act of unconditionally aiding others.
"I’d like to learn more about the Lei Family’s situation," Ren Yaoqi said.
Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment, then turned and instructed Hongying, "Ask Tongde to come in."
I hadn’t had time to read the comments before, but today, when I had a moment, I browsed through them...And then... what exactly is the mindset of those who keep clamoring for the Commandery Princess and the female lead to be together! Hey!
〒_〒....
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