After sending the letter, Ren Yaoqi waited for news at the villa. She waited from morning until afternoon, and even after night fell, there was still no word from Yanbei Prince's Mansion. Ren Yaoqi grew increasingly worried.
"Miss, the dew outside is heavy now. You should go back inside to avoid catching a chill," Sangshen said softly, draping a thick, dark-red padded cloak over Ren Yaoqi's shoulders.
Ren Yaoqi had felt stifled indoors and had been standing under the corridor outside for a long time after practicing swordplay. She hadn't noticed it earlier, but after standing still for so long, she did feel a bit cold when Sangshen mentioned it, so she nodded.
Just then, there was a flapping sound from an old locust tree in the courtyard. An elderly maid in the yard exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Why is there a crow? That's really unlucky."
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but frown.
Noticing this, Sangshen scolded the maid lightly, "What nonsense are you talking? It's not some rare bird. You can still see one or two in the middle of winter. Don't make a fuss!"
The maid, knowing that it was taboo in large households to say unlucky things in front of the master, quickly apologized with a smile, "Please forgive me, Miss. I spoke carelessly. Please don't mind me."
Although Ren Yaoqi said nothing, the unease in her heart grew even more apparent.
Early the next morning, Ren Yaoqi had her servants prepare a carriage, intending to visit Princess Consort at Yanbei Prince's Mansion.
For some reason, she felt uneasy. Even though she knew Princess Consort might not have time to receive her at this moment, she still wanted to go and see for herself. She couldn't even pinpoint where this unease came from.
Was it because she was worried about the situation in Ningxia, concerned that the Zeng Family might come to Yanbei, afraid that her own branch of the family would be implicated due to the Ren Family's collusion with Fang Yacun, or was it simply because she was worried about Xiao Jingxi's safety?
As soon as she entered Yanbei Prince's Mansion, Ren Yaoqi sensed something was off. She couldn't quite put her finger on what it was, but even the maids and elderly servants walking along the paths seemed to have solemn expressions.
When Ren Yaoqi arrived at Jiuyang Hall, she did not see Princess Consort. Instead, she was received by Nanny Xin.
Nanny Xin invited Ren Yaoqi to sit down and had a maid serve her tea, saying with a smile, "Please wait a moment, Fifth Miss Ren. Princess Consort has just gone to visit Old Princess Consort. I'll have someone inform her that you've arrived."
Ever since Nanny Xin witnessed Ren Yaoqi saving Lady Xu, she had been very friendly toward her. Coupled with Ren Yaoqi's relationship with Xiao Jinglin, Nanny Xin always instructed the servants to treat Ren Yaoqi well whenever she visited Yanbei Prince's Mansion.
Ren Yaoqi quickly replied, "I don't have anything urgent. I came today to pay my respects to Princess Consort. If she is busy, it's better not to disturb her."
Nanny Xin said, "Old Princess Consort is ill, and the physician is taking her pulse. Princess Consort went to stay with her."
"Is Old Princess Consort alright?" Ren Yaoqi asked with appropriate concern.
Nanny Xin sighed, "It's all because of Commander Wu's matter. Madam Wu is still so young."
With Wu Xiaohe's sudden death, Xiao Wei had become a widow, and a childless one at that. No wonder Old Princess Consort had fallen ill from worry.
However, Ren Yaoqi noticed a hint of worry in Nanny Xin's eyes. Given the relationship between Princess Consort and Old Princess Consort, Nanny Xin was unlikely to be concerned about Xiao Wei and her daughter's situation.
Could something else have happened?Ren Yaoqi sat in the side hall of Jiuyang Hall for a while, chatting with Nanny Xin, and intentionally or unintentionally learned that Xiao Jingxi had indeed not yet returned.
The Princess Consort had not returned, and Ren Yaoqi felt it inappropriate to stay too long by herself. After finishing a cup of tea, she prepared to take her leave.
Unexpectedly, before she could depart, the Princess Consort sent her senior maid Sujin over.
"Fifth Miss Ren, the Princess Consort asks you to stay a little longer. She will return shortly. Moreover, it is almost noon, and the Princess Consort invites you to stay for a meal in the mansion," Sujin said to Ren Yaoqi with a smile.
Ren Yaoqi glanced at the sky outside. She had arrived early today and had not stayed long in the prince's mansion. It was still quite early for the midday meal.
However, Sujin's words were merely a polite gesture to keep a guest. Ren Yaoqi naturally did not take it too seriously. What intrigued her more was why the Princess Consort wanted her to stay.
It wasn't that the Princess Consort had never invited her to dine before, but those occasions were when Xiao Jinglin was still at Yanbei Prince's Mansion, and she would eat with Xiao Jinglin. After Xiao Jinglin left, Ren Yaoqi rarely visited Yanbei Prince's Mansion. The Princess Consort also had many daily affairs, so even if she came, she might not necessarily see her.
Now, being specifically asked to stay for a meal surely had a purpose.
Ren Yaoqi waited in the side hall of Jiuyang Hall for about the time it takes to drink another cup of tea before the Princess Consort returned from the Old Princess Consort's quarters.
Seeing the Princess Consort arrive, Ren Yaoqi quickly stood up to pay her respects but was gently stopped by the Princess Consort's hand. The Princess Consort smiled warmly and said, "Have you been waiting long? Please sit. There are no outsiders here, so no need for formalities."
Ren Yaoqi first helped the Princess Consort to her seat before sitting down herself, smiling as she said, "It wasn't long. Nanny Xin and the other sisters have been keeping me company."
"Oh? What were you talking about?" the Princess Consort asked with a smile.
Nanny Xin replied, "Fifth Miss Ren likes the cat I keep, so we chatted about it for a while."
Nanny Xin then shared some amusing stories about "Snow White," making everyone laugh. Ren Yaoqi subtly observed the Princess Consort's expression but could not discern anything, so she could not guess the true reason for being asked to stay.
After the lighthearted conversation, the Princess Consort instructed Nanny Xin, "Take someone to the kitchen and tell them not to send vegetarian dishes today. Yaoqi will be dining in Jiuyang Hall. Follow the usual arrangement when Lin'er is home, and make the dishes refreshing."
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but ask, "Is the Princess Consort observing a vegetarian diet?" She had not noticed during her previous meals with Xiao Jinglin that the Princess Consort was vegetarian.
Unexpectedly, Nanny Xin explained, "The Princess Consort has been vegetarian for over a decade. She only instructs the kitchen to prepare meat dishes when the Commandery Princess dines in Jiuyang Hall, but the Princess Consort herself only eats vegetarian food."
Xiao Jinglin enjoyed eating, and when she was present, the table was usually filled with a lavish spread of delicacies. Some dishes, due to the Commandery Princess's high standards for presentation, were so exquisitely prepared that it was hard to tell whether they were meat or vegetarian. During the few meals Ren Yaoqi had with the Princess Consort, she noticed the Princess Consort ate very little and simply assumed she had a poor appetite.
Nanny Xin withdrew, taking all the maids in the hall with her, leaving only Sujin and Qiluo to attend.
Ren Yaoqi knew the Princess Consort was about to discuss serious matters with her.
Sure enough, the Princess Consort stood up and said to Ren Yaoqi, "Come with me." With that, she walked toward the inner hall.
Ren Yaoqi did not ask further and stood up to follow her.Ren Yaoqi had visited the inner chamber of Jiuyang Hall with Xiao Jinglin before. This was where the Princess Consort usually rested and generally did not receive outside guests, only those with close relationships.
The Princess Consort beckoned Ren Yaoqi to sit with her on the soft couch before saying to Sujin and Qiluo, "You may leave as well. Do not let anyone in without my orders."
Sujin and Qiluo also withdrew upon hearing this.
Seeing that only she and the Princess Consort remained in the inner chamber, Ren Yaoqi grew even more curious.
The Princess Consort looked at her and smiled, saying, "I have been a vegetarian for over a decade. Do you know why?"
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment. "Could it be that the Princess Consort has a connection with Buddhism?" Ren Yaoqi was naturally making this up, but such a response was the safest.
The Princess Consort shook her head and sighed. "Not at all. In fact, when I was your age, I did not believe in Buddhism. I even found it amusing when the elders in my family would kneel in the prayer hall and pray to the Buddha for blessings whenever something happened."
Ren Yaoqi did not interrupt, knowing that this was not yet the time for her to speak.
"Later, I gave birth to Jingxi. He... he was not in good health. Once, after several physicians examined him, they all said he would not survive. I cried my heart out upon hearing this, but there was nothing I could do. That was when I thought of praying to the Buddha for blessings."
The Princess Consort's voice, though calm, carried a gentle firmness. "I made a vow to the Buddha: if Jingxi could live well, I would devote myself to Buddhism from then on, never kill or do anything unjust in this lifetime, and remain a vegetarian for the rest of my life."
At this point, the Princess Consort smiled and looked at Ren Yaoqi. "The Buddha is indeed compassionate. Jingxi ultimately survived."
Ren Yaoqi fell silent upon hearing this. She had rarely seen the Princess Consort and Xiao Jingxi together before, and on the few occasions she did, the mother and son did not display overly intimate words or actions in public. Both the Princess Consort and Xiao Jingxi were reserved individuals, not revealing their emotions outwardly. The Princess Consort's attentive care for Xiao Jinglin was likely because Jinglin was her daughter.
Now, after hearing the Princess Consort's words, Ren Yaoqi understood that the Princess Consort's concern for Xiao Jingxi was no less than that for Xiao Jinglin. It was simply that the way of raising a son differed from that of raising a daughter.
The Princess Consort sighed, the worry in her eyes no longer concealed. "Jingxi went missing on his way back to Yanbei. The Yanbei Prince's Mansion sent several search parties but found nothing. There is still no news to this day."
Ren Yaoqi was startled upon hearing this. "My father said that when Second Young Master Xiao parted ways with them, he was accompanied by people. Did those people also go missing?" Ren Yaoqi knew that those people were highly skilled martial artists, not to mention those secretly protecting him from the shadows.
The Princess Consort sighed. "Only a few bodies and the horses from the Yanbei Prince's Mansion were found. The others, including the carriage, have vanished without a trace. No matter how hard we search, we cannot find them."
Ren Yaoqi could not help but frown. She had no time to wonder why the Princess Consort had suddenly kept her behind to tell her all this. She was now also deeply worried about Xiao Jingxi's safety.
Previously, when Xiao Jingxi did not reply to her letter, she had wondered if it was because he could not show himself and had not returned to Yunyang City. But now, with the Princess Consort saying that even the search parties sent by the Yanbei Prince's Mansion had no news of Xiao Jingxi, Ren Yaoqi also sensed that something was wrong.
Could it be that the assassins had succeeded this time, and Xiao Jingxi had already...
At this thought, Ren Yaoqi could not help but shake her head.No, Xiao Jingxi wouldn't die so easily.
Although the people from the prince's mansion haven't found Xiao Jingxi, they haven't found his body either, right?
The author remembers promising three updates today—though it's a bit late now～〒_〒
This is the first update! The author will keep working hard.
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