Second Update
After Ren Yaoqi returned from the Lin Family, she was informed that Ren Yaohua had arrived.
"Why has Third Sister come at this time?" Ren Yaoqi asked in surprise.
Earlier, when she had come, she had invited Ren Yaohua to join her, but Ren Yaohua had declined.
Xiangqin replied on Ren Yaohua's behalf, "Third Miss received another letter from the Lei Family's young lady, so she decided to come to Yunyang City to see her as well."
Lei Pan'er had begun learning to read and write this year. Ever since she started writing, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua would occasionally receive "scribbles" sent by the little girl to White Crane Town. The first time Ren Yaohua received one, she was genuinely startled, especially since Xiangqin, who loved to make a fuss, was chattering nonsense about it being some kind of harmful talisman or a curse someone had placed on her mistress. After receiving a few more, Ren Yaoqi grew accustomed to it.
Ren Yaoqi's somewhat somber mood finally lightened, and she smiled at Ren Yaohua, "Oh? What did she write this time? Let me see."
Ren Yaohua had Xiangqin hand Lei Pan'er's letter to Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi opened the letter and studied it carefully for a while, then, suppressing a laugh, read softly, "Circle Hua Sister, Circle Qi Sister, when will you circle circle come see Pan'er? Pan'er circle circle you..."
Xiangqin laughed so hard her stomach hurt, and Sangshen elbowed her in the side.
Ren Yaohua glared at Ren Yaoqi, "What nonsense! How old are you, still acting like a child?"
It turned out that whenever Lei Pan'er encountered a character she didn't know how to write, she would draw a circle in its place. Reading her letters was always like solving a riddle.
Since Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi couldn't easily visit Lei Pan'er at the Lei Family, they sent a servant to deliver an invitation to the Lei Family, inviting Lei Pan'er to come play at the Ren Family's villa.
Unfortunately, the servant who delivered the invitation returned to report that the Lei Family's young lady had gone out visiting friends with the Lei Family's Second Master early that morning and wouldn't be back for a few days.
In her letters to Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi, Lei Pan'er often mentioned her Second Uncle. She had learned to write from him. The Lei Family's Second Master pitied his niece for having no mother, and since Lei Ting, her father, was often too busy to attend to her, he usually took care of Lei Pan'er, taking the little girl with him wherever he went.
With Lei Pan'er not in Yunyang City, Ren Yaohua had no choice but to stay in Yunyang City for a few days with Ren Yaoqi. At least they could keep each other company.
When they were finally alone, Ren Yaoqi asked Ren Yaohua, "Did you really come to Yunyang City today just to see Pan'er?"
Ren Yaohua remained silent for a moment before replying, "No. I was just feeling unhappy and didn't want to stay at home, so I made an excuse to come to Yunyang City." She glanced at Ren Yaoqi and added, "Yesterday, Grandmother rewarded Concubine Fang with many things again. This morning, when I went to pay my respects, I heard her say that when Father comes to Yunyang City in the future, Concubine Fang and the others will accompany him, while Mother will have to stay at the Ren Family."
Ren Yaoqi smiled upon hearing this, "Oh? Is Concubine Fang willing to see people now?"
Ren Yaohua shook her head, "I haven't seen her myself, but I heard she's started seeing Ren Yaoying and the others now. She just likes to wear a veil over her face."Seeing Ren Yaohua's cold, angry expression, Ren Yaoqi shook her head: "Why get upset over such a thing? Grandfather and grandmother are only giving her face because they need to rely on the Fang family's connections now. As for who will follow Father to Yunyang City and who will stay behind at the Ren Family's old residence—that isn't something Grandmother can decide with just a word."
She had gone to great lengths to get Ren Shimin out of the Ren Family and into Yunyang Academy, not so that the Ren elders could curry favor with the Fang family. Who came and who stayed was not for them to decide.
As for the Fang family and Fang Yacun... there would be time to settle accounts with them eventually.
Ren Yaoqi lifted the corner of her mouth slightly.
Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua stayed in Yunyang City for a few days. During this time, Ren Yaoqi received definite news from Xianwang Residence: the court had indeed appointed a new Ningxia Regional Commander, surnamed Zeng.
Yet there had been no news from Xiao Jingxi. Seeing that Ren Shimin was to return to White Crane Town the next day, Ren Yaoqi's heart, which had gradually settled, slowly tightened again.
On this day, Lei Pan'er finally returned from visiting friends with her second uncle. Learning that the Ren Family had sent her an invitation to visit their villa, Pan'er came over the very next day after her return.
Coincidentally, Ren Yaoqi had gone to Treasure Vase Alley and missed her. Since she was returning to White Crane Town the next day, she wanted to ask Rong Shi: if there was any news of Xiao Jingxi, to please send someone to inform her. At this point, Ren Yaoqi no longer had the mind to consider whether it was proper to avoid suspicion or not.
Ren Yaoqi went to Treasure Vase Alley in the afternoon and did not leave until evening. It was a rare clear day, without even a hint of wind.
Ren Yaoqi's carriage wound through the crisscrossing alleys of Treasure Vase Alley. Leaning against the carriage wall, she frowned in thought. Absently picking up a book from the small table, she was about to open it when she saw a dried stalk fall from between the pages.
Ren Yaoqi paused, then picked up the "stalk" and recognized it—it was actually a daylily. Daylilies could be eaten after being cured and dried. What made this one different from the ones she had previously received from Xiao Jingxi was that it had already been cured and was edible.
Daylilies were also called "forget-sorrow grass." Remembering the few pieces of angelica root she had previously sent to Yanbei Prince's Mansion, Ren Yaoqi felt a surge of joy and asked Pingguo, "Was the carriage just parked outside the gate?" She recalled that after leaving her maternal grandparents' home, she had boarded the carriage only after stepping outside.
Pingguo nodded, "Yes, Miss."
Ren Yaoqi called out to stop the carriage.
The carriage slowly pulled over to the side of the road.
Through the carriage curtain, Ren Yaoqi asked the driver, "While the carriage was parked outside earlier, did anyone approach it?"
Thinking Ren Yaoqi was blaming her for slacking off or wandering away, the driver quickly replied, "Fifth Miss, this servant did not see anyone approach the carriage. However, I did step away once to use the restroom. Whether anyone came during that time, I wouldn't know."
Just then, the sound of carriage wheels rolling over the ground came from behind—another carriage was approaching.
Ren Yaoqi didn't pay it much mind at first, but hearing the driver outside exclaim in surprise, she sensed that the other carriage seemed to have stopped right beside hers.Ren Yaoqi suddenly sensed something. She straightened her posture and reached to lift the carriage curtain, but her hand paused the moment it touched the fabric.
Just then, Ren Yaoqi heard three dull knocks—"thump, thump, thump"—coming from the side of the neighboring carriage.
After a moment's thought, Ren Yaoqi still reached out and lifted the curtain slightly to look outside. Unexpectedly, the carriage parked beside hers was a very ordinary elmwood one, not from the Yanbei Prince's Mansion.
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but feel disappointed and was about to lower the curtain.
At that exact moment, the curtain of the opposite carriage was lifted, and a strikingly handsome face with a gentle smile unexpectedly appeared in Ren Yaoqi's line of sight.
Ren Yaoqi's heart skipped a beat, and she found herself speechless as she looked at him.
Xiao Jingxi didn't speak either, merely smiling faintly at Ren Yaoqi before lightly knocking on his own carriage wall again. As if compelled by some unseen force, Ren Yaoqi also raised her hand and gently tapped twice on her own carriage wall.
The smile in Xiao Jingxi's eyes deepened, the brightness within them seeming intense enough to burn.
Ren Yaoqi lowered her gaze and let the curtain fall.
From outside came the soft "thump, thump" of knocks against the carriage wall again. The sound was not loud, so aside from those inside the two carriages, no one else heard it—and even if they had, they wouldn't have paid it any mind.
Yet to Ren Yaoqi's ears, these neither too light nor too heavy knocks were as loud as the beating of her own heart, leaving her unsure how to respond.
Finally, Xiao Jingxi's carriage moved first, slowly exiting the alley ahead of Ren Yaoqi's. Ren Yaoqi instructed the driving matron to continue forward.
After leaving the alley, Xiao Jingxi's carriage led the way with Ren Yaoqi's following behind. Eventually, the leading carriage stopped in a sheltered spot, and before Ren Yaoqi could give any orders, her own carriage came to a halt on its own.
Ren Yaoqi heard Xiao Jingxi step down from his carriage. He didn't call out for her to alight; he simply stood there waiting.
After a moment's consideration, Ren Yaoqi signaled for Pingguo to help her down from the carriage.
Whenever she visited the Xianwang Residence, to avoid complications, she typically only brought two trusted maidservants and a driving matron, with no one else accompanying her. Now, encountering Xiao Jingxi meant fewer explanations were needed.
Ren Yaoqi walked over and stood before Xiao Jingxi, curtsying slightly as she said softly, "Young Master Xiao, I trust you have been well since we last met."
Xiao Jingxi looked at her, the corners of his mouth curving upward. "Mm, I am well."
Though it was a brief and ordinary phrase, he managed to infuse it with a distinct flavor.
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but recall the angelica root she had sent him back then.
Then, thinking of all the things he had done, Ren Yaoqi ultimately found it impossible to treat him with the same attitude she would an ordinary person.
She sighed softly, temporarily setting aside these ambiguous emotions, and asked, "When did you return?"
Xiao Jingxi glanced at his own carriage and smiled. "Just now."
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Seeing Ren Yaoqi remain silent, Xiao Jingxi continued, "After reading your letter and learning you were in Yunyang City, I came here. I'm sorry for making you worry."
Ren Yaoqi wanted to say, "Who worried about you?" But the thought of uttering those words made her cringe at how affected they sounded, so she kept her silence.
"I remember I promised you I would return before winter," Xiao Jingxi said, his voice carrying a clear note of amusement.Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but wonder: after just one trip to the capital, how had Xiao Jingxi's skin grown so much thicker? Or had she been deceived by his facade due to their unfamiliarity before, thus overlooking his true nature?
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