Ren Yaoyin was also driven to desperation. Before attending the Thousand Gold Banquet, she overheard a conversation between her mother and the matron, learning that the family intended to discuss a marriage alliance with the Qiu Family after the banquet, and that her grandfather had chosen her as the one to marry into the Qiu Family.
But she had no desire to marry into the Qiu Family.
Yun Wenting was a gentle and refined gentleman. In the few encounters Ren Yaoyin had with him, Yun Wenting had always treated her kindly and even knew she excelled at composing poetry and lyrics. She couldn’t help but wonder if, by expressing her feelings, Yun Wenting would regard her as a "kindred spirit."
When Ren Yaoyin composed lyrics publicly that day, her heart was filled with anxiety, though it was tinged with a sweetness she couldn’t share with others. She knew Yun Wenting would attend that day and that her lyrics would reach the other side of the bamboo grove, but she had no idea how he would react upon reading them.
Yet she never imagined that such a secret thought would be discovered by a third person—and that person was Wu Yiyu. Ren Yaoyin felt as though she had been stripped naked before Wu Yiyu.
Whether among her sisters in the Ren Family or in her interactions with other young ladies, Ren Yaoyin had always been poised and confident. But this moment was the most humiliating she had experienced in years.
After savoring the expression on Ren Yaoyin’s face, Wu Yiyu drawled, "What? Never thought your shameless thoughts would be discovered?"
It took a long while for Ren Yaoyin’s expression to gradually calm. She replied, "What if I said I don’t know which of Yun Wenting’s lyrics you’re referring to? His essays and poems are known to every scholar in Yanbei. Which one, exactly, does Miss Wu mean?"
Wu Yiyu narrowed her eyes slightly, then curled her lips into a smile, clapping her hands. "Well done, Ren Yaoyin! You’re quite something!"
Her expression suddenly turned cold again. "But don’t think you can fool me! I know every essay and poem Yun Wenting has ever written, whether published or penned privately!"
Ren Yaoyin was incredulous. She stared at Wu Yiyu for a long moment before exclaiming in shock, "Did you bribe his attendants? How could you do such a thing!"
Wu Yiyu stepped closer, reaching out to gently pat Ren Yaoyin’s cheek with a threatening air. "That’s none of your concern!"
Ren Yaoyin frowned, avoiding her hand but seizing on her words. "Then, in Miss Wu’s esteemed opinion, what exactly should concern me?"
Wu Yiyu scrutinized her for another long moment before speaking maliciously, "What do you think would happen if I spread this scandal of yours? How would the Yun Family view you? How would Yun Qiuchen see you? Could you even remain in the Ren Family?"
Hearing this, Ren Yaoyin’s heart stirred with alarm. She asked warily, "What do you want to force me to do?"
Wu Yiyu smiled. "I do enjoy speaking with clever people."
Ren Yaoyin remained silent, watching her.
Wu Yiyu didn’t care whether Ren Yaoyin agreed or not, as if she already knew Ren Yaoyin would comply. She issued a direct command: "I want you to help me bring Ren Yaoqi out!"
Ren Yaoyin looked at her suspiciously. "Why are you looking for my fifth sister?"Wu Yiyu abruptly raised her hand and slapped Ren Yaoyin across the face without warning. The sharp sound of the slap and the searing pain on her cheek left Ren Yaoyin stunned for a long moment.
"Do as you're told! This slap is to teach you a lesson!"
Ren Yaoyin never expected Wu Yiyu to resort to violence so suddenly. The young ladies she usually interacted with were gentle and refined, and even when conflicts arose, they maintained a veneer of civility, relying on cunning and subtlety instead.
She had never encountered a woman as unpredictable, volatile, and ruthless as Wu Yiyu.
Trembling with anger, Ren Yaoyin forced herself to remain outwardly calm. "What if I refuse?"
Before Wu Yiyu could lash out again, she continued, "If you spread this matter and ruin my reputation, aren't you afraid he'll resent you? Young Master Yun is a gentleman of noble character." Perhaps he might even feel pity for her because of this, Ren Yaoyin couldn't help but think.
Upon hearing this, Wu Yiyu cast a disdainful glance at Ren Yaoyin. "You? I know exactly what you're thinking. To be honest, I don't take someone like you seriously at all. There are plenty of shameless women like you who overestimate themselves and covet what they shouldn't! But I can promise you this: when I achieve my goal, I won't mind having you as a little plaything in my husband's household."
Ren Yaoyin could tell that Wu Yiyu wasn't just saying this to placate her—she genuinely didn't care if her future husband took on a few more women. This wasn't because Wu Yiyu was broad-minded, but because, in her eyes, women like Ren Yaoyin posed no threat to her.
Ren Yaoyin fell silent for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "Are you serious?"
The disdain in Wu Yiyu's eyes grew even more pronounced. "Of course I am!"
Ren Yaoyin hesitated again, finally nodding just as Wu Yiyu was growing impatient. "Fine, I'll help you lure my fifth sister out. But she has no grudge against you—don't harm her."
Wu Yiyu gave a strange smile. "Why would I harm her? I want to help her! Isn't she close with Yun Wenfang? The Yun Family won't allow her to marry in. I have a way to make their union happen! She'll thank me for it later, just like you will!"
Before Ren Yaoyin could ask anything further, Wu Yiyu cut her off impatiently. "Just do as I say. Bring her to the Autumn Swan Courtyard in the northwest corner of the hot spring villa by the hour of You. Otherwise, I'll ruin your reputation completely! You should understand—even as a concubine, the Yun Family wouldn't accept someone who brings shame to their name!"
Just then, Wu Yiyu's head maid approached, seemingly with something to report. After delivering her final warning, Wu Yiyu turned and strode away with her maid.
Ren Yaoyin stood in place, watching until Wu Yiyu's figure disappeared from sight. Slowly, she raised a hand to touch her reddened cheek. Her eyes were as dark as impenetrable fog, filled with a bone-chilling coldness.
Suddenly, the corners of her lips curved upward, and she whispered softly, "Fool!"
Wu Yiyu led her maid through secluded paths, avoiding others as much as possible, until they reached the Autumn Swan Courtyard in the northwest corner.
The western side of the hot spring villa housed guest courtyards for the ladies attending the Thousand Gold Banquet. Due to the villa's vast size, several smaller courtyards in the northwest corner remained unoccupied. The Autumn Swan Courtyard was one of them, with its back facing a forest just outside the villa grounds.At this moment, a tall, slender youth with sword-like brows and starry eyes was leaning against the trunk of a magnolia tree in the Autumn Swan Courtyard, arms crossed. He tilted his head upward, a slight frown on his face as he gazed at the sky framed by the courtyard's four corners, lost in thought.
Even Wu Yiyu, who adored Yun Wenting, couldn't help but steal a few extra glances at him when she entered. It was undeniable—the Yun Family's members were all exceptionally good-looking.
Yun Wenfang noticed Wu Yiyu as soon as she entered. He turned his head slightly to glance at her and said lazily, "You asked me to come. What's the matter?"
Wu Yiyu was much friendlier toward Yun Wenfang than she had been with Ren Yaoyin. She smiled and said, "Naturally, it's good news! Speaking of which, shouldn't you thank me first? If it weren't for me covering for you, it wouldn't have been so easy for you to leave the villa."
Yun Wenfang snorted coldly and gave Wu Yiyu a sidelong glance. "Don't think I don't know why you just happened to discover I was trapped in the villa." This woman must have had people watching the villa all along, trying to keep tabs on Yun Wenting's every move.
Wu Yiyu didn't deny it. She walked closer, still smiling. "So I also know why the Yun Family locked you up."
Hearing this, Yun Wenfang narrowed his eyes slightly.
Wu Yiyu quickly added, "Don't get angry yet. I came here with good intentions to help you."
Yun Wenfang raised an eyebrow. "Help me? How?"
Wu Yiyu blinked. "I'll arrange for you to meet the person you want to see."
Yun Wenfang scoffed. "Oh? And what do you want in exchange? Should I tie up my elder brother and deliver him to you?"
Wu Yiyu's eyes lit up at the suggestion, but then she shook her head with a hint of regret. "That won't be necessary. Just remember that you owe me a favor. Of course, I won't ask you to do anything too difficult, so you don't have to worry about me harming you."
Yun Wenfang remained noncommittal.
Observing his expression, Wu Yiyu asked, "Well? Without my help, you won't be able to see her. That bitch Xiao Jinglin is always by her side. After the Thousand Gold Banquet, when she leaves Yunyang City, it'll be even harder for you to meet her. The Yun Family is already planning to arrange your marriage to the Jiang Family's young lady, and Ren Yaoqi has made quite a splash at the Thousand Gold Banquet this time. The Ren Family will surely seize this opportunity to arrange her marriage. Can you just stand by and watch her marry someone else?"
Suddenly, the image of Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi holding hands and gazing at each other yesterday flashed through Yun Wenfang's mind. He slammed a fist into the tree trunk beside him, his eyes reddening as he spat out each word with venom: "She. Wouldn't. Dare!"
Wu Yiyu smiled, satisfied. "That's more like it! The Yun Family is determined to make you marry the Jiang Family's young lady. If you marry her, so be it—after all, the Yun Family would never allow Ren Yaoqi to become a Yun Family daughter-in-law. But if you just want Ren Yaoqi herself, that's a much simpler matter."
Yun Wenfang didn't respond directly, only asking, "What's in it for you?"
Wu Yiyu tilted her head thoughtfully and replied earnestly, "There's no other way. I just want Xiao Jinglin to suffer. Since childhood, Xiao Jinglin has never had anyone close to her, and Ren Yaoqi is the first. You might not understand Xiao Jinglin... but I know exactly how to make her utterly miserable!"
She could hardly wait to see how Xiao Jinglin would feel upon learning that her best friend had become a man's plaything. The thought alone made her want to laugh out loud.Yun Wenfang looked at the madness in Wu Yiyu's eyes and couldn't help but click his tongue.
He had resented his brother before, but now, for some reason, he felt a bit of sympathy.
Votes are needed at the end of the month～T_T
It's been a long time since I made it onto the rankings... You don't love me anymore...
There will be another update tonight.
OpenNovel