Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi laugh, Xiao Jingxi and Xiao Jinglin both breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Jingxi sensed that Ren Yaoqi had a story behind her troubles, which was why he had comforted her earlier.
Yet he couldn't understand how Ren Yaoqi, who had grown up in Yanbei, could have any connection with Eunuch Lu by the Empress Dowager's side. As far as he knew, Eunuch Lu had never been to Yanbei.
The only explanation Xiao Jingxi could think of was that it might be related to the feud between Empress Dowager Yan and Prince Xian. After all, in the past, Empress Dowager Yan and Ren Yaoqi's maternal great-grandmother had been mortal enemies, so it was only natural that there were some grievances not meant for outsiders to know.
"I'll have someone look into Fang Yacun's matter for you," Xiao Jingxi said to Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi was deeply grateful upon hearing this. She had originally considered asking Xia Sheng to make another trip to Jiangnan for her, but Xia Sheng was from the Xianwang Residence, and his identity was sensitive, so she hadn't brought it up yet.
But now, after learning from Xiao Jingxi that Fang Yacun's superior was connected to Empress Dowager Yan, she was even more determined not to drag her maternal grandfather's family into this.
Having Xiao Jingxi investigate on her behalf would be much better.
If Fang Yacun's reason for coming to Yanbei was related to the imperial court, it would be good for Xiao Jingxi to find out early and prepare accordingly.
To be fair, if Ren Yaoqi had to choose, she would prefer the Xiao Family to gain the upper hand, because if the imperial court won, the Xianwang Residence would have no chance of survival.
Although Ren Yaoqi's mother, Madam Li, had always prided herself on her noble lineage as a direct descendant of the Li imperial family, Ren Yaoqi firmly identified herself as a Yanbei native. Even though she had left this place in her previous life and never thought of returning to this land of sorrow.
"Thank you, Young Master Xiao," Ren Yaoqi felt she had thanked Xiao Jingxi too many times.
Xiao Jingxi joked, "No need to thank me. After all, I've repeatedly taken people you intended to use. When you owe too much, you have to pay it back eventually."
Xiao Jinglin frowned and interjected, "Xiao Jingxi, are you reminding Yaoqi that she owes you favors and must repay them? You're really too calculating."
Xiao Jingxi, who had been misunderstood, felt his eyelid twitch. Those weren't his words. Fortunately, he was steady-natured and had excellent self-control, so he didn't jump up in anger on the spot.
Ren Yaoqi, however, thought to herself that she did owe Xiao Jingxi many favors, but how could she repay them?
Knowing that the siblings were joking, Ren Yaoqi also teased, "Jinglin is right. If there's anything Young Master Xiao needs from me, just say it. If you've taken a liking to anyone else I have, feel free to ask."
Xiao Jingxi's gaze swept over Ren Yaoqi's face, but he only smiled without speaking.
Xiao Jinglin, on the side, struggled with whether she should remind Ren Yaoqi: What Xiao Jingxi has taken a liking to now is you, and you can't just agree if he asks.
But after wrestling with it for a long time, Princess Xiao, for once, refrained from speaking her mind. If she really said it out loud, Xiao Jingxi would surely resent her.
Although Princess Xiao always enjoyed going all out to provoke and challenge her brother, she was also a sensible and clever person. She only hovered around Xiao Jingxi's boundaries, occasionally scratching at them. But whenever she remembered Xiao Jingxi's cunning methods, the princess felt it was better not to cross the line lightly.
And so, more than half of the day passed by unnoticed.Xiao Jingxi seemed to need another period of recuperation at White Cloud Temple, though it was unclear whether due to poor health or matters concerning the Yanbei Army. However, Xiao Jinglin had been ordered by the Princess Consort to return to the mansion before sunset.
Since Xiao Jinglin was returning, Ren Yaoqi naturally had to go back to White Crane Town as well.
Ren Yaoqi declined Xiao Jinglin’s offer to escort her. It was already late, and if Xiao Jinglin accompanied her to White Crane Town and then returned to Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, the sun would surely have set. Ren Yaoqi feared she might incur the Princess Consort’s reprimand.
In the end, Xiao Jinglin could only compromise by having Hongying escort her back. As a man, Xiao Jingxi naturally couldn’t escort Ren Yaoqi and risk stirring up gossip. However, he arranged for Tong Xi, whom Ren Yaoqi was familiar with, to serve as her coachman and dispatched two guards to accompany the carriage.
Xiao Jinglin glanced at the outwardly ordinary-looking carriage and seemed about to say something but ultimately remained silent.
She recognized it as Xiao Jingxi’s carriage. It was well-known that Second Young Master Xiao’s carriage was never lent to others. Even Silly Girl, who occasionally had no choice but to ride in it, would have a layer of her poor fur scrubbed off by Tong He before boarding, to the point that Silly Girl now fled at the sight of Xiao Jingxi’s carriage.
Ren Yaoqi, of course, was unaware of all this. She didn’t recognize that she was boarding Xiao Jingxi’s carriage either. From the outside, the carriages of Yanbei Prince’s Mansion looked largely indistinguishable, and the subtle differences were not something an outsider like Ren Yaoqi would notice.
Before boarding the carriage, Ren Yaoqi bid farewell to Xiao Jinglin, asking her to inform her before leaving Yunyang City and to write letters from Jiajing Pass if possible.
Xiao Jinglin agreed to everything, reminding Ren Yaoqi to practice swordplay for half an hour daily without slacking off. She also told her to send any replies to Xiao Jingxi at Yanbei Prince’s Mansion.
Thinking that this parting might last two years, both Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin felt reluctant to say goodbye.
Yet, no matter how reluctant, the time to part had come. Ren Yaoqi waved and boarded the carriage. Xiao Jinglin’s carriage traveled alongside hers for a stretch before separating at the fork leading to Yunyang City and White Crane Town.
Only after boarding the carriage did Ren Yaoqi realize something was amiss. Compared to Xiao Jinglin’s carriage, the one she was in now, though ordinary-looking from the outside, felt distinctly different once inside.
Next to this carriage, Xiao Jinglin’s could almost be described as crude.
Ren Yaoqi immediately guessed whose carriage this was, as it bore the unmistakable style of a certain someone.
It wasn’t that this person was ostentatious or extravagant—none of the items in the carriage appeared flashy or gaudy. Yet, anyone with a discerning eye could tell they were anything but ordinary. No wonder Xiao Jinglin often teased Xiao Jingxi for being too particular.
No wonder Hongying absolutely refused to ride inside the carriage and insisted on horseback instead. Ren Yaoqi had assumed all of Xiao Jinglin’s maids shared her preferences.
Sitting on the soft, comfortable cushion made of an unknown material, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Miss, would you like some tea?” Pingguo, who was fortunate enough to ride in the carriage with Ren Yaoqi, noticed her examining a plain black teacup on the small table and asked softly, thinking she might want tea.
Ren Yaoqi looked at the cup in her hand and shook her head with a smile. Drinking tea from a black jade cup required considerable finesse, and Ren Yaoqi feared that if Xiao Jingxi found out she had used his cup for tea, he might discard this priceless set of utensils.
That would be a sin.Seeing a book still placed on the low table, Ren Yaoqi picked it up and casually flipped through it. It was a small booklet on appreciating famous paintings. With some interest, she turned a few pages, thinking of passing the time by reading.
However, when she accidentally turned to the title page, Ren Yaoqi saw two lines of elegant handwriting and couldn’t help but pause in surprise.
It was a line of poetry: "From now on, with green temples gazing at the grass, red sleeves adding fragrance, companions like immortals, and writings glorifying the nation."
Ren Yaoqi remembered once when she met the siblings Xiao Jinglin and Xiao Jingxi, she had heard Xiao Jinglin softly recite this line. At the time, she had just finished writing with a brush and was speaking with Xiao Jingxi. Xiao Jinglin’s sudden recitation could easily be misunderstood, so Ren Yaoqi pretended not to hear it to avoid awkwardness.
Now, seeing the same line in Xiao Jingxi’s book, Ren Yaoqi wasn’t sure how to react.
Was this a coincidence?
Ren Yaoqi closed the book in her hand and gently traced the three characters "Appreciating Paintings" on the cover.
After a long moment of silence, she set the book down, carefully placing it back in its original position, then leaned against the carriage wall and closed her eyes to rest.
Pingguo noticed that Ren Yaoqi had read for a while, then spaced out, and was now resting with her eyes closed. Though she found it a bit strange, as a maid who focused on her duties without speaking, Pingguo obediently softened her breathing to avoid disturbing her young lady.
Ren Yaoqi hadn’t expected her journey to be so eventful.
From White Crane Town to White Cloud Temple or from White Crane Town to Yunyang City, though she hadn’t traveled frequently in either of her lifetimes, she had made the trip several times. She had never known there to be any danger along the way.
But when Dongsheng, who was driving the carriage outside, suddenly let out a muffled groan and the carriage abruptly shook, Ren Yaoqi immediately sensed something was wrong.
Pingguo, who hadn’t been sitting steadily, bumped her head. After recovering, she immediately sat alertly in front of Ren Yaoqi, her eyes fixed intently on the swaying carriage curtain.
The sound of fighting erupted outside. Someone leaped onto the front carriage shaft, forcing the carriage to stop. Hongying’s voice rang out from outside: "Fifth Miss Ren, please don’t come out yet."
Ren Yaoqi immediately asked, "What about Tong Xi? Is he injured or..."
Tong Xi’s voice, strained with effort, came from outside: "Miss, I’m fine. I just took a hidden arrow and fell off the carriage. Don’t be afraid. Stay inside and wait."
Hearing he was unharmed, Ren Yaoqi breathed a sigh of relief. She acknowledged his words and fell silent to avoid distracting them.
Ren Yaoqi listened carefully. The attackers didn’t seem to be many—Tong Xi, Hongying, and the two guards were enough to hold them off. What she didn’t know was that although Xiao Jingxi had only sent two guards to escort her, each was capable of taking on ten opponents, and Hongying was also a formidable fighter who rivaled any man. As for Tong Xi, though his martial skills weren’t as strong as Xia Sheng’s while at Xianwang Residence, he was certainly no weakling.
So even though there were six attackers, they were effectively held back.
Ren Yaoqi understood that these people likely weren’t targeting her but were probably after Xiao Jingxi. She had only encountered them because she happened to be riding in his carriage.
Just then, the carriage horses suddenly began to move for some reason, neighing loudly as they charged forward, and the carriage followed suit.
Third update delivered ^^~The author is writing more and more smoothly...
Seeking praise ~~o(∩_∩)o.
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