Ren Yaoqi came to see Concubine Fang only to bring closure to her past. She had nothing more to say to Concubine Fang. Glancing at Concubine Fang, whose hope had been rekindled by Xiao Jingxi's words, Ren Yaoqi nodded and left without a word.
After stepping outside, Ren Yaoqi stood in the courtyard, waiting.
Though she was curious about what Xiao Jingxi would say to Concubine Fang, she had no intention of eavesdropping.
As for whether Xiao Jingxi would be swayed by Concubine Fang's words, Ren Yaoqi looked up at the sky and smiled faintly.
Only after Ren Yaoqi had left did Xiao Jingxi turn his gaze to Concubine Fang.
Sensing his attention, Concubine Fang hurriedly repeated her earlier plea: "Second Young Master Xiao, I can serve the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. My brother and the Fang family can also serve the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. I can do everything that little girl Ren Yaoqi can do."
For some reason, Concubine Fang felt a surge of unease. She seemed to sense some hidden danger, so her words carried a tone of desperation.
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly and replied calmly, "I have no need for you to do anything for me. And there are things she can do that you cannot."
Concubine Fang failed to grasp his meaning and insisted urgently, "How could I not be able to do it? My brother cares for me deeply. If I beg him, he will agree to anything! Eunuch Lu already trusts him greatly and has even promised to take him to meet the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. When the time comes, I will persuade him to serve your Yanbei Prince's Mansion!"
Xiao Jingxi seemed amused by her words. "You want Fang Yacun to betray the court and serve me?"
Concubine Fang nodded eagerly. "Yes, Second Young Master. I will beg him."
Xiao Jingxi shook his head, his gaze tinged with pity and sorrow. "Madam Fang, who gave you such confidence? The Ren Family?"
Yet Concubine Fang continued to weep, pleading for Xiao Jingxi to spare her.
Xiao Jingxi shook his head again. "I cannot let you go, or she would be disappointed."
Concubine Fang was taken aback. Her head still felt dizzy, and she saw double, but she strained to make out the expression on Xiao Jingxi's face. "Who? Who would be disappointed?"
Xiao Jingxi smiled and glanced toward the door. After Ren Yaoqi left, the door remained open. She stood with her back to them in the courtyard, bathed in the unfiltered light from the skywell. Even standing there, she resembled a serene and timeless painting.
It took Concubine Fang a moment to process this. Her face grew even paler, and her lips trembled as she stared at Xiao Jingxi. "You... you... her? No, that's impossible..."
Xiao Jingxi smiled. "Whether it's possible or not is not for you to decide."
Concubine Fang was already on the verge of collapse after the series of blows she had suffered that day. Xiao Jingxi's words shattered the last shred of hope in her heart.
Had the Second Young Master of the Xiao Family taken a liking to Ren Yaoqi? How could that be? How was it possible?
Concubine Fang was well aware of the Xiao Family's power in Yanbei. Even if rumors claimed Xiao Jingxi was gravely ill, seeing his confident and resolute demeanor now made her doubt the truth of those rumors.
"She is always too soft-hearted," Xiao Jingxi sighed, shaking his head.
Concubine Fang asked in fear, "Are you going to kill me? Are you going to kill me for her sake?"Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxi shook his head with a smile. "No, she may be soft-hearted, but I am not. I think it's necessary for you to stay alive and see whether the things you believe impossible are truly impossible."
With that, Xiao Jingxi instructed Tong He, "From now on, have someone inform her about everything that happens outside. Let her see how long the so-called support she relies on can last."
Xiao Jingxi's words sent a chill straight to Concubine Fang's heart, and she couldn't help trembling. "What are you going to do? What do you all want to do?"
All along, Concubine Fang's reliance had been nothing more than Fang Yacun and the Fang family behind him. Concubine Fang herself was well aware that without these supports, she was nothing, and the Ren Family would never allow a mere concubine like her to live in such glory.
Xiao Jingxi did not answer Concubine Fang's question. Given his status, he had no need to meet someone like Concubine Fang, but for Ren Yaoqi's sake, he didn't mind doing so.
After giving his instructions to Tong He, Xiao Jingxi left without looking back.
Xiao Jingxi saw Ren Yaoqi waiting outside and shook his head slightly before walking quickly toward her.
Hearing footsteps, Ren Yaoqi turned around and saw Xiao Jingxi approaching her with a smile.
Ren Yaoqi smiled at him. "Finished?"
Xiao Jingxi walked up to Ren Yaoqi, lowered his head, and smiled. "Yes, finished. Want to know?"
Ren Yaoqi shook her head. "The last card in her hand is nothing more than her brother, Fang Yacun. You probably don't even care for that."
Xiao Jingxi chuckled at her words and teased, "Oh? Do you know what I care for?"
Seeing Xiao Jingxi's amused expression, Ren Yaoqi felt like joking as well. "Of course I do. Isn't it people like Dongsheng or Zhu Ruomei? Oh, and there's also General Min."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi could only smile wryly and scratch his nose.
Both Dongsheng and Zhu Ruomei had been taken from Ren Yaoqi through his schemes, and the matter with Min Wenqing was an even more complicated account. Ren Yaoqi's words were clearly meant to tease him.
Suppressing a laugh, Ren Yaoqi turned and beckoned to Pingguo, who immediately came over.
Ren Yaoqi said to Xiao Jingxi, "It's getting late. I should go back."
She didn't ask about Concubine Fang's fate. Since Xiao Jingxi had said he would handle her, Ren Yaoqi wouldn't interfere further. She trusted that Xiao Jingxi would do a better job than she could.
Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi and nodded. "Alright."
Ren Yaoqi paused, hesitating. "I..." She felt she should thank Xiao Jingxi, but the words wouldn't come out.
Xiao Jingxi seemed to understand what she wanted to say from her expression and cut her off with a smile. "I'll walk you out. You don't need to worry about Madam Fang anymore. How are your arrangements with the Fang family going?"
Ren Yaoqi walked alongside Xiao Jingxi as they headed out. "I've already sent two letters to Ninth Master Chu in Jiangnan. By my calculations, it should be about time."
Xiao Jingxi nodded. "Ninth Master Chu and his wife are both reliable people. You can entrust them with anything you need."
Dongsheng had already brought the carriage over.
Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi both stopped, exchanging a glance. Xiao Jingxi smiled as he looked at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi curtsied before turning to take Pingguo's hand and boarding the carriage.Just before the carriage began to move, Ren Yaoqi heard Xiao Jingxi's gentle, low voice coming through the curtain beside her: "Living happily and smoothly is the greatest revenge against your enemies, so you just need to strive for that. As for the rest..."
At that moment, the carriage started moving. Ren Yaoqi wanted to lean closer to the window to hear Xiao Jingxi's next words clearly, but all she caught was the sound of the wheels turning.
Unable to help herself, she lifted the curtain and glanced outside. Xiao Jingxi stood not far away, smiling at her. His gentle smile made Ren Yaoqi's heart skip a beat, and her hand slipped, letting the curtain fall back into place.
She didn't lift it again, instead leaning against the carriage wall, lost in thought.
Pingguo, who had been silent and unobtrusive until now, suddenly spoke up: "As for the rest, leave it to me."
Ren Yaoqi was taken aback and looked at Pingguo.
Pingguo said earnestly, "Wasn't Miss trying to guess what Second Young Master Xiao said next? This servant has sharp ears and was sitting by the window, so I heard it clearly!"
Although Second Young Master Xiao had spoken those last few words very softly, Pingguo was quite confident in her hearing!
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Unaware of the helplessness in Ren Yaoqi's eyes, Pingguo continued, "Also, earlier, this servant was standing under the corridor and heard Concubine Fang begging Second Young Master Xiao to let her go. She said she would ask her brother to work for the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. Second Young Master Xiao said that if he did that, Miss would be disappointed. He said Miss is too soft-hearted, so he wouldn't let Concubine Fang die. Instead, he would have someone tell her everything that happens outside from now on."
Pingguo thought Ren Yaoqi had walked into the courtyard earlier because she was too embarrassed to listen to the conversation between Concubine Fang and Second Young Master Xiao. Having been scolded by Xiangqin several times, Pingguo believed that as the chief maid by her mistress's side, she should do what her mistress wanted but couldn't. After all, she was just a maid—it didn't matter if she was a bit shameless. So, she stubbornly listened to the entire conversation between Xiao Jingxi and Concubine Fang. Who could blame her? Her hearing was just too good!
It wasn't that she didn't understand propriety. She figured that since the two guards at the door hadn't driven her away, it meant it was fine for her to stand there.
Besides, when Second Young Master Xiao came out, he saw her and even smiled at her. She was listening openly and honestly!
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Outside, Dongsheng, who was driving the carriage, rolled his eyes at the conversation between the mistress and her maid. He muttered to himself, "How can such a shrewd young lady like Fifth Miss always have such a silly maid by her side? Is the Ren Family running out of people?"
However, he wouldn't go back and say this to Young Master Xiao. After all, he had also overheard it because his hearing was too sharp. Young Master Xiao had only assigned him to escort them, not to eavesdrop. And given the situation, if he said too much in front of Young Master Xiao, he might end up getting reprimanded by Second Young Master Xiao. So, Dongsheng pretended he knew nothing.
Dongsheng escorted Ren Yaoqi back to the teahouse and arranged for someone to bring her carriage inside.
Ren Yaoqi boarded her own carriage and left the teahouse.
Afterward, just like the last time, Ren Yaoqi led her people back to Treasure Vase Alley.
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