Xiao Jinglin's words made Ren Yaoqi chuckle. She truly hadn't expected someone like Xiao Jingxi to say such things.
However, if a person could act without being burdened by reputation and do what must be done, it was either because they didn't care or because they had the capability to withstand any opposition.
Someone like Xiao Jingxi likely fell into the second category.
It had to be said, that was quite enviable.
After Xiao Jingxi returned, he invited Ren Yaoqi to play a game of chess. They played for over an hour, finishing only one game. This time, it wasn't a draw—Xiao Jingxi won.
As he picked up the chess pieces, Xiao Jingxi remarked with a smile, "You played quite conventionally this round."
His words reminded Ren Yaoqi of their first chess match, when she had racked her brains and used every trick to avoid losing. She couldn't help but lower her head and smile.
Xiao Jinglin, tugging at Silly Girl's ear nearby, yawned loudly. "You two play two games of chess every day, and the day just passes by. Truly, it's a peaceful and uneventful life."
Forgive the "unlearned and untalented" Princess Xiao for speaking without any deeper meaning—she was merely making an offhand remark. Yet, to the two playing chess, her words sounded somewhat odd.
Xiao Jingxi and Ren Yaoqi exchanged a glance, then both lowered their heads to pick up the chess pieces without saying a word. Xiao Jinglin and the little tiger Silly Girl looked at one, then the other, their expressions equally innocent.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Ren Yaoqi remembered she still had something important to discuss. She turned to Xiao Jingxi and asked, "Young Master Xiao, do you have any impression of Fang Yacun?"
Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment. "I recall seeing his name among a recent batch of candidate officials for Yanbei. Fang Yacun... He seems to have some connection to your Ren Family?" Xiao Jingxi had always possessed a photographic memory and had roughly reviewed the backgrounds of those officials.
Ren Yaoqi nodded, pondering before speaking. "His legal mother and my grandmother are sisters, and his sister is one of my father's concubines. Recently, due to some unpleasant events at home, I was reminded of Fang Yacun. There are some things I can't quite figure out, and I was hoping you could help clarify them for me."
Because of the Han Family, Xiao Jingxi already knew quite a bit about the Ren Family's affairs—both what he should and shouldn't know. Having nothing left to hide, Ren Yaoqi wasn't afraid to expose her family's shame in front of him.
Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi with a slight smile and nodded, signaling her to continue.
Ren Yaoqi frowned. "Logically, the Fang Family's roots are in Jiangnan. Although Fang Yacun is only a Deputy Prefect of Chuzhou, holding a sixth-rank position, he is highly regarded by his superiors. His wife's family is also in Jiangnan and quite wealthy. By all accounts, wouldn't it be better for him to stay in Jiangnan? Yet, both Fang Yacun and his wife seem eager to come to Yanbei. I heard that among this new batch of officials appointed to Yanbei, none hold a rank higher than sixth. Young Master Xiao, are you familiar with the affairs of Chuzhou?"
Xiao Jingxi lightly tapped the chessboard with his fingers, thinking for a moment. "I hadn't heard of Fang Yacun before, so he likely doesn't have any significant background. However, I recall that the current Prefect of Chuzhou is named Feng Mian. This man is of mediocre talent and only reached the position of prefect in his late forties, not through political achievements. Do you know why?"
Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi with a faint smile.Ren Yaoqi was somewhat curious upon hearing this: "Oh? Could it be through marital connections and nepotism?"
Xiao Jingxi shook his head with a smile: "It is indeed nepotism, but not through marriage. He recognized a eunuch over a decade younger than himself as his godfather and gave his youngest son to this eunuch to carry on the family line."
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but frown. For some reason, she felt an ominous premonition. Rubbing the chess piece she was playing with in her hand, she asked: "I wonder which eunuch he recognized."
Xiao Jingxi replied: "This eunuch's surname is Lu, and he serves by Empress Dowager Yan's side."
Ren Yaoqi's hand trembled, and the chess piece slipped from her fingers, falling to the ground with a crisp sound. Her face had turned pale as she looked up at Xiao Jingxi in disbelief: "Who?"
Xiao Jingxi was taken aback, not understanding why Ren Yaoqi had suddenly lost her composure. He softened his voice, speaking gently and soothingly: "It's Eunuch Lu, who serves by Empress Dowager Yan's side. He is in his thirties and has served the Empress Dowager for over a decade, earning her great favor. However... he is just a eunuch."
But Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but recall events from her past life, her body trembling slightly.
There were some things she had desperately tried to forget and never deliberately recalled, yet hearing this name now still left her unable to remain calm.
Back then, after being sent by the Ren Family to Eunuch Lu, she was filled with fear and anxiety. This was because she overheard the servants who attended to Eunuch Lu secretly discussing how, despite being a eunuch, he took pleasure in tormenting women with all sorts of vile methods. The servants had once seen the mutilated body of a young maid carried out from his courtyard.
The old woman assigned to serve her comforted her, saying that since she came from a prominent family and was being given to Eunuch Lu as a wife, he likely wouldn't treat her with such methods.
The first time she saw Eunuch Lu was on the third night after being sent there. That day, she had gone to bed early. Half-asleep, she felt someone stroking her face. Startled, she woke up with a jolt and saw a pale, slightly plump middle-aged man sitting by her bedside. The man reeked of alcohol, and the way he looked at her was eerie, making her nauseous.
She screamed in terror, but the man pounced on her, pinning her to the bed. Ignoring her struggles, he began tearing at her clothes while one hand gripped her neck.
Ren Yaoqi felt so desperate she wished for death, yet she knew deep down she still wanted to live. When the man lowered his head to kiss her, she bit his ear, only to be knocked unconscious by a slap from him.
When she woke up again, she learned from the old woman taking care of her that the man was Eunuch Lu.
Fortunately, Eunuch Lu had injured his ear, sobered up considerably, and lost interest in tormenting her. He went to tend to his wound first. When she learned her chastity had been preserved, she couldn't help but sigh in relief.
But this relief didn't last long. The next day, Eunuch Lu, with a bandage on his ear, returned. This time, he was holding a strange whip about a foot long and, without a word, began lashing her.
That time, she was beaten until her body was covered in wounds, left with barely a breath of life. She spent half a month recuperating in bed.
From then on, every time her wounds healed, he would whip her again, though he never struck her face.She still remembered how he had contorted his face and sneered at her: "Aren't you the chaste and virtuous type? I'd like to see how long you can keep that up! Sooner or later, you'll beg me to take you to bed!"
In her heart, she cursed, "Dream on," then gritted her teeth and endured silently. She thought she would eventually die under Eunuch Lu's whip, but in the end, she survived and met Pei Zhiqian, who was willing to rescue her from that living hell.
That past was a nightmare for Ren Yaoqi, and the mere mention of "Eunuch Lu" triggered it from the depths of her heart.
Both Xiao Jingxi and Xiao Jinglin noticed something was off about Ren Yaoqi.
Xiao Jingxi watched her for a moment, then bent down to pick up the chess piece that had fallen near his feet. He rubbed it between his fingers briefly before leaning over and placing it in Ren Yaoqi's palm.
The cool yet slightly warm touch of the piece, still carrying Xiao Jingxi's body heat, snapped Ren Yaoqi back to reality. She looked down at the white piece in her hand, her eyelashes trembling faintly.
Xiao Jingxi smiled gently at her and said, "Look, the piece has cracked."
Ren Yaoqi immediately responded, "I'm sorry, I... I'll give you a new set." Though she knew any replacement would never compare to this one.
Xiao Jingxi shook his head with a smile and took the piece back from her hand. "I like objects with stories because they become unique. Today, you played chess with me and broke one of my pieces, so this ordinary set now has a story."
Ren Yaoqi was amused by his explanation, and the negative emotions stirred by the memory of Eunuch Lu faded somewhat. She chuckled, "Should I break a few more pieces to add to the story?"
Xiao Jingxi grinned at her. "That won't do. A story shouldn't be forced. Besides, you could never create the same crack again."
His gaze was gentle and bright as he looked at her. "I just wanted to tell you that the crack on the piece can't be erased, but it's precisely because of this crack that it becomes unique. Why not see the damage as a story that has already happened? No matter how many times you drop it, you'll never create the same mark again. If you look at it lightly, it can no longer hurt you."
If you look at it lightly, it can no longer hurt you.
Ren Yaoqi was momentarily stunned by Xiao Jingxi's words and his seemingly all-seeing, gentle gaze.
After a moment, she slowly smiled and said earnestly, "Thank you."
Her gratitude was sincere, for she truly felt thankful.
It seemed Xiao Jingxi always knew how to guide her out of her own turmoil with just a few words.
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but steal a few more glances at him. The dark clothing accentuated his jade-like features, making him a delight to behold. Such an exceptionally handsome man always made her forget that he was only a few years older than her current age.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi staring at him without a word, Xiao Jingxi felt a bit flustered and reached for his teacup to hide his unacknowledged discomfort, only to find his hand grasping at empty air.Xiao Jinglin took Xiao Jingxi's cup away, then stood up and handed it to Hongying, who was waiting nearby: "Go change it for a hot bowl."
Xiao Jingxi: "..."
Second update delivered...
Writing a bit slowly, please bear with me, dear readers.
The author is doing their best to finish all four chapters before 12 o'clock.
There are still over three hours left today, continuing to ask for support ^^~.
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