“May I ask where you saw my fifth sister, Master Lei?”
Lei Ting stopped walking, glanced around, and said, “Near the Amitayus Buddha Hall. I think taking this fork should be a shorter route.” He pointed to the path on the right.
Ren Yaohua was not visiting White Dragon Temple for the first time, so she roughly knew the location from Lei Ting’s description. She glanced at him and said, “I’m familiar with the paths here. Master Lei must have matters to attend to at White Dragon Temple today, so I won’t delay you any further. I can make my way to the Amitayus Buddha Hall on my own.”
Lei Ting said nothing in response.
Ren Yaohua curtsied to Lei Ting once more before leading her maids toward the fork on the right.
After walking only a dozen or so steps, Ren Yaohua felt something was amiss. She turned to look and saw Lei Ting following them from about five or six paces behind.
Noticing Ren Yaohua’s glance, Lei Ting nodded calmly and said, “Didn’t I mention earlier that our paths happen to align? You go ahead. This area is quite secluded, and if that person were to follow, I can keep an eye out from here.”
Hearing this, Ren Yaohua felt a warmth in her heart and paused to wait for Lei Ting to catch up.
Lei Ting raised an eyebrow.
Ren Yaohua smiled slightly. “Since we’re going the same way, let’s walk together. It wouldn’t be right for you to follow behind me.”
Ren Yaohua’s appearance was already striking, and her smile seemed to brighten the surroundings.
Lei Ting remarked, “Third Miss Ren should smile more often.”
Lei Ting’s features were handsome, and his voice was deep and pleasant. Ren Yaohua took his words as praise for her smile, which made her blush slightly while also feeling a bit annoyed. She had initially thought the head of the Lei Family was a gentleman, but it seemed he enjoyed teasing young ladies in private.
However, Lei Ting continued calmly, “I’ve told you before that people who are too stubborn often suffer. So, when you find yourself unwilling to yield but forced to do so, try smiling instead. Often, a smile can yield unexpected results.”
Ren Yaohua was momentarily taken aback. Was Lei Ting teaching her how to handle situations?
“So, Master Lei, do you often smile at others when you’re out and about?”
Lei Ting paused briefly before replying, “No. My method is to stare at them sternly without saying a word. That way, others can’t gauge my intentions and will yield on their own.”
Ren Yaohua looked at Lei Ting’s solemn expression as he spoke and suddenly couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
“Just like the look you have now?”
Seeing Ren Yaohua’s amusement, Lei Ting couldn’t help but curl the corner of his mouth. “How could that be? I think my expression now is much more amiable.”
Even the maids beside Ren Yaohua couldn’t hold back their laughter.
Ren Yaohua had initially thought Lei Ting was somewhat inscrutable and hard to read, but after two encounters, she no longer felt that way.
Lei Ting added, “But while this method works for me, if you were to use it, others might find you aloof and unapproachable. So, it’s better to smile.”
Ren Yaohua lowered her head and smiled faintly.
As they conversed, the Amitayus Buddha Hall came into view. Ren Yaohua glanced over and saw Ren Yaoqi emerging from another path with her maids and attendants.Ren Yaoqi also spotted Ren Yaohua and, of course, noticed Lei Ting standing not far from her. After a brief moment of surprise, she led her attendants over.
Seeing that Ren Yaoqi had brought quite a few people with her, Lei Ting nodded to Ren Yaohua and said, "I’ll take my leave now."
Ren Yaohua thanked Lei Ting once more.
After Ren Yaoqi approached, Lei Ting gave her a slight nod in greeting before turning to depart.
Only after he had walked some distance away did Ren Yaoqi turn back to Ren Yaohua with a puzzled expression. "How did Third Sister happen to run into the head of the Lei Family?"
Ren Yaohua’s expression darkened again as she recalled the earlier encounter with Zeng Kui. "Don’t even ask!"
Ren Yaoqi was somewhat confused. Had Lei Ting offended Ren Yaohua? Yet from a distance, the atmosphere between them hadn’t seemed tense.
At that moment, the maid Xiangqin jumped in, vividly recounting to Ren Yaoqi how Zeng Kui had blocked Ren Yaohua’s path on the road, making disgusting gestures and uttering vile words.
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi’s expression turned cold as well.
Strangely, Ren Yaohua was no longer as angry as before, perhaps because her conversation with Lei Ting had lifted her spirits considerably. "When you first told me about Zeng Kui, I was only half-convinced. I never imagined he truly had such a despicable and base character!"
Xiangqin nodded eagerly. "Thank goodness we ran into the head of the Lei Family today. Who knows what that disgusting, ugly man might have done otherwise."
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but frown. "Zeng Kui’s temperament is just like his father’s—he never forgets a grudge. I only hope he doesn’t hold a grudge against Lei Ting because of this."
Although in this lifetime, Zeng Pu’s influence was far weaker than in the previous one, and the Lei Family no longer had to defer to the Zeng Family, Zeng Pu was still the Ningxia Regional Commander appointed by the imperial court. Moreover, while it was easy to guard against an open attack, hidden arrows were harder to dodge. Someone like Zeng Kui, who was used to acting on impulse, was capable of anything.
Hearing Ren Yaoqi’s words, Ren Yaohua grew concerned as well. "The Lei Family… surely he wouldn’t dare to move against them, would he?"
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment. "Lei Ting isn’t the type to let others trample over him. Given the Zeng Family’s current standing, it would be impossible for them to target the Lei Family within the territory of the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. However, it’s easy to guard against a gentleman but hard to guard against a villain. If he’s determined to cause trouble, won’t he find a way? I think it would be best to remind Lei Ting to be extra cautious lately."
Ren Yaoqi had suffered at the hands of the Zeng Family in her previous life and knew exactly what kind of people Zeng Pu and Zeng Kui were.
Ren Yaohua felt Ren Yaoqi’s reasoning was sound. Lei Ting had kindly helped her, and if he ended up offending Zeng Kui because of it and faced any trouble as a result, she would feel deeply uneasy.
"I’ll go and tell him right away," Ren Yaohua said with a frown.
Seeing that Ren Yaohua intended to seek out Lei Ting, Ren Yaoqi quickly interjected, "Third Sister, we’ve been out for too long. Mother and the others have probably finished listening to the eminent monk’s sermon by now. We should head back first. As for Lei Ting, we can simply send a maid to relay the message."
Ren Yaohua realized she had been too hasty. She turned to Wujing and said, "Go catch up with Master Lei and tell him what the Fifth Young Miss just said. Warn him to be careful. Also, keep a close watch on Pan’er. She shouldn’t go out unless necessary."
Wujing acknowledged the order and left.
Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi then returned to find Madam Li.As they walked along the road, Ren Yaohua asked Ren Yaoqi, "What kind of person is the head of the Lei Family?"
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and told Ren Yaohua what her grandmother Rong Shi had said to her last time, then added, "I haven’t had any contact with the Lei Family, and I haven’t seen Lei Ting many times either. However, I haven’t heard of any misconduct on his part."
Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but fall into thoughtful silence after hearing this.
When Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua went to find Madam Li, Madam Li and Lady Xu had indeed already finished listening to the eminent monk’s sermon and were sitting together discussing Buddhism. The young ladies who had come with their mothers were still drinking tea and playing chess nearby, no different from before Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had left.
The two entered without disturbing anyone and sat down to listen to the ladies discuss Buddhism and Daoism.
By this time, it was almost noon. Not long after, a monk from the temple came to announce that the meal was ready and invited the ladies and young ladies to proceed to the dining hall.
After the meal, they sat in the temple for a while to digest before Lady Xu prepared to lead everyone back home.
Madam Li had been somewhat reserved when she first arrived that day, but after half a day of interaction, she was already chatting happily with most of the ladies. Her upbringing was excellent, and she got along well with the ladies Lady Xu had invited, especially Lady Liu and Lady Chen. Since they were close in age and their husbands also got along well, by the time they left White Dragon Temple, they had already begun addressing Madam Li as "sister."
Madam Li hinted at her intention to host a banquet for the ladies, and Lady Liu and Lady Chen immediately insisted that Madam Li must send them invitations. Lady Chen even suggested that once the weather warmed up, they could hold a flower appreciation gathering.
Hearing this, Madam Li’s eyes lit up. If nothing else, because Third Master Ren had an appreciation for elegance, their family had planted many varieties of flowers and plants, many of which were rare species.
Ren Yaoqi, who was listening nearby, smiled and agreed, "That’s a wonderful idea! When the time comes, we can also ask the ladies and young ladies to bring a plant or two, and we can even judge and crown a champion among the flowers."
Lady Xu chimed in with a smile, "Now that you mention it, I remember we have two pots of peonies in our greenhouse. I’ll bring them to your estate to compete for beauty. Those two pots are my husband’s treasures."
With Lady Xu’s remark, the other ladies began talking about the flowers and plants they had at home. As they walked out of White Dragon Temple, the group was lively and the atmosphere was excellent.
Madam Li also became more enthusiastic about the flower appreciation gathering she would host.
However, as they were boarding the carriage, Ren Yaoqi noticed Ren Yaohua suddenly stiffen. Following Ren Yaohua’s gaze, she saw a young man with half his face covered in terrifying scars standing not far from their carriage, grinning at Ren Yaohua and waving his hand.
Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi, who were walking behind them, also noticed and were startled, whispering among themselves.
"Who is that?"
Ren Yaohua stepped directly into the carriage, cutting off Zeng Kui’s gaze behind the curtain.
Ren Yaoqi stared intently at Zeng Kui until he noticed her gaze and looked back curiously. Only then did Ren Yaoqi turn and board the carriage, avoiding any further eye contact with him.In the carriage, Ren Yaohua asked Wujing, "Did you find Master Lei in the temple earlier?" She hadn't had a chance to ask about this matter before, as they had been in Madam Li's presence the whole time.
Yesterday, I was so focused on rushing to write and update that I only realized after lying down in bed that I forgot to ask for votes!
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Is it still too late to set out the bowl now?
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