A slow smile spread in Xiao Jingxi's eyes. Naturally, he wouldn't expose it, merely following Ren Yaoqi's question to reply, "Today's imperial edict was issued to the Yanbei Prince's Mansion and Jinglin. The court has granted her the title of Commandery Princess Jingshu. As for the marriage arrangement for Xiao Jingyue, that was an oral decree from the Empress Dowager."
"Commandery Princess Jingshu?" Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but glance at Xiao Jinglin upon hearing her title.
Xiao Jinglin shot a look at Xiao Jingxi before saying indifferently to Ren Yaoqi, "Perhaps the court saw how much I stirred things up at Jiajing Pass recently and bestowed me this title, hoping I'd learn to behave myself and emulate the quiet elegance and virtue of ordinary young ladies."
Though she didn't say it aloud, Xiao Jinglin inwardly scorned the court's petty behavior.
She felt that instead of mocking her, a woman, for overstepping her bounds, the court would be better off spending time training those so-called "elite troops" with their slender arms and legs. For men to be useless yet resent women for being too capable was truly contemptible.
Ren Yaoqi also thought the court's action was rather narrow-minded.
She had heard that Xiao Jinglin had achieved numerous military merits over the past two years. If Xiao Jinglin were a man, being granted a general's title would be perfectly normal, yet the court had never commended her all these years. Fortunately, Xiao Jinglin didn't care for such empty honors. With her own abilities, she held considerable prestige within the Yanbei Army. Even without an official general's title, the Yanbei soldiers below would respectfully address her as General Xiao—a recognition unrelated to her status as the Commandery Princess of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion.
"By the way, what about my courtesy name?" Xiao Jinglin had previously agreed with Ren Yaoqi that they would choose courtesy names for each other upon reaching adulthood. Seeing no movement from Ren Yaoqi, she couldn't help but ask.
Ren Yaoqi then said, "What do you think of the name Fengyang?"
"Fengyang?" Xiao Jinglin blinked, waiting for Ren Yaoqi to explain its meaning.
Xiao Jingxi had already softly recited, "The phoenix sings, upon that high ridge; the parasol tree grows, facing the morning sun."
Ren Yaoqi smiled and nodded. "That's the origin."
Xiao Jinglin then repeated it herself, pondering it carefully in her mind. Slowly, a smile appeared on her face. "Xiao Fengyang... not bad, I like it."
Xiao Jinglin had always believed that being able to do what she loved without restraint was enough. Whether others understood her didn't matter, but it felt truly nice to have someone who did.
Seeing Xiao Jinglin liked the courtesy name she had chosen, Ren Yaoqi was also delighted.
At that moment, Hongying approached Xiao Jinglin and said, "Commandery Princess, the Princess Consort is looking for you."
Xiao Jinglin then stepped aside to speak with Hongying.
Seizing this opportunity, Xiao Jingxi lowered his head and whispered softly to Ren Yaoqi, "I'll have someone keep an eye on Lu Yu. Don't be afraid."
Ren Yaoqi looked up, meeting Xiao Jingxi's gentle, focused gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her eyes, saying, "Thank you."
Xiao Jingxi always felt Ren Yaoqi's attitude toward Lu Yu was somewhat strange. Logically, today was their first meeting. He couldn't help but recall the last time Ren Yaoqi mentioned to Concubine Fang the nightmare she once had, but Xiao Jingxi didn't voice his questions.
"You..." Xiao Jingxi seemed about to say something.
Ren Yaoqi then looked up at him again.
Xiao Jingxi paused, just about to speak, when Xiao Jinglin finished her conversation with Hongying and walked over.Xiao Jingxi swallowed the words that were almost at the tip of his tongue.
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Xiao Jingxi, then turned to ask Xiao Jinglin, "Does the Princess Consort need you for something? Should we head back first?"
Xiao Jinglin nodded. Today was her birthday, and many people had come to offer congratulations, including envoys from Ningxia. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to keep hiding away, so the Princess Consort had asked her to make an appearance.
Xiao Jingxi did not continue with what he had been about to say earlier, merely stating, "You two go ahead. I also have some matters to attend to."
Ren Yaoqi then left with Xiao Jinglin, though she couldn’t help but wonder what Xiao Jingxi had been about to say.
Despite the unexpected guest Lu Yu, Xiao Jinglin’s coming-of-age ceremony marked a significant beginning for Xianwang Residence.
The Princess Consort of Xianwang had made a grand gesture by inviting the deposed Princess Consort Rong Shi to serve as the principal guest at the Commandery Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony, sending a clear signal to the aristocratic families of Yanbei. Over the past decade since Prince Xian’s family arrived in Yanbei, due to imperial suspicion and the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion’s indifference, nearly all Yanbei families had tacitly ignored the existence of Xianwang Residence, excluding them from the social circles of Yanbei’s nobility.
Now, however, this decade-long stalemate seemed to be on the verge of breaking.
The day after Xiao Jinglin’s coming-of-age ceremony, visitors began arriving at Xianwang Residence.
The first to pay a visit was the Lei Family.
As the Lei Family currently lacked a matriarch, the family head, Lei Ting, came in person. Lei Ting claimed he was there to personally apologize for disturbing Li Qian’s carriage earlier. Although he stayed at Treasure Vase Alley for less than half an hour, his visit still drew considerable attention.
On the third day, the Yun Family also sent someone to visit Rong Shi at Treasure Vase Alley. The visitor was the First Madam of the Yun Family, who stayed for about an hour before leaving.
The attitudes of the Lei and Yun Families gave the other families, who had initially been skeptical, a clear indication.
The Lei Family could be set aside for now, as they had only recently returned to Yanbei. However, everyone knew that the Yun Family had always followed the lead of the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. If the Yun Family was showing closeness to Prince Xian’s family, could it be that the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion was secretly encouraging it?
Thus, on the fourth and fifth days, more and more visitors arrived at Xianwang Residence, including some from prefectures outside Yan Prefecture.
Although many families did not send their heads in person, they dispatched stewards to deliver ordinary snacks or pastries, or sent invitations for Rong Shi or Prince Xian and his sons to attend banquets.
Xianwang Residence maintained a composed attitude—neither overly flattered nor coldly dismissive. Gifts were accepted, and Rong Shi instructed the household to reciprocate according to custom. Most banquet invitations were declined, with only a few accepted when they were genuinely extended by family heads and impossible to refuse.
Madam Li and the Ren sisters also heard about these developments. Two days after attending Xiao Jinglin’s coming-of-age ceremony, Madam Li was invited to a tea party hosted by a Madam Gu from Yunyang Academy. Madam Gu, also from an aristocratic family, had invited not only the wives of Yunyang Academy but also ladies from other families.After Madam Li arrived in Yunyang City, she had only socialized with the wives of Yunyang Academy. However, on that day, quite a few people took the initiative to strike up conversations with her, and not just the wives from the academy.
Ren Yaoqi was not surprised by this situation.
Most of the prominent families in Yanbei acted according to the wishes of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. Ever since the Princess Consort personally went to Treasure Vase Alley to invite Rong Shi, Ren Yaoqi had anticipated such developments. For them, however, this was not a bad thing.
As for the concerns Ren Yaoqi had previously harbored regarding Lu Yu, there had been no movement at all, and no one had been sent to cause trouble for them again. Ren Yaoqi later learned that Lu Yu had hurriedly departed for Ningxia early on the morning after the Commandery Princess's coming-of-age banquet, leaving him no time to seek trouble with them.
As for why Lu Yu had left Yunyang City in such haste, Ren Yaoqi was unaware, but she was certain that Xiao Jingxi had done something about it.
Xiao Jinglin later sent a letter to Ren Yaoqi, informing her that Lu Yu and the people he had brought with him were all under surveillance, leaving him no opportunity to act covertly. Only then did Ren Yaoqi feel reassured.
Shortly after Lu Yu arrived in Ningxia, the imperial court issued another decree, appointing him as a military supervisor and instructing him to remain in Ningxia temporarily to assist Zeng Kui with military affairs. In this way, Lu Yu was effectively tied down.
One day, while Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were in the main room listening to Nanny Zhou lecture them on household management, the gatekeeper came in to report that the First Madam of the Ren Family had arrived.
This was the first time since they moved to Yunyang City that the First Madam had visited their residence.
Madam Li promptly led Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua out to welcome her and also sent someone to fetch Ren Yaoying.
Seeing them all waiting at the Inner Gate to greet her, the First Madam hurried forward, took Madam Li's hand, and said with a smile, "What is this? You've all come out to welcome me. Were you afraid I wouldn't find my way?"
Madam Li smiled and invited the First Madam into the courtyard.
The First Madam declined to walk ahead and instead took Madam Li's hand, walking side by side at the front, while Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua followed behind. The group proceeded together to the main room.
After everyone was seated and Madam Li had ordered tea and snacks to be served, she asked, "How did you find the time to come to Yunyang City today, sister-in-law?"
The First Madam casually glanced around the main room and replied with a smile, "I came to attend to some matters and took the opportunity to visit you. As I walked through the courtyard just now, I noticed that although it isn't large, it is arranged quite exquisitely. This must be Third Brother's doing, right?"
Madam Li also smiled and said, "Indeed, it was arranged by my husband."
The First Madam then chatted with Madam Li about various household matters. As noon approached, Madam Li invited the First Madam to stay for lunch, and she did not refuse.
The First Madam had always given the impression of being gentle and reasonable. Back in the Ren Family, although she had not been particularly warm toward Madam Li, she had never openly oppressed her. Even Ren Yaohua harbored little ill will toward the First Madam.
As the atmosphere grew more relaxed, the First Madam suddenly asked, "By the way, didn't you attend the Commandery Princess's coming-of-age banquet a while ago? I heard it was quite lively at the Yanbei Prince's Mansion that day. Not only did all the prominent families of Yanbei attend, but the imperial court from the south also sent an edict to confer additional honors upon the Commandery Princess."
As soon as the First Madam uttered these words, Ren Yaoqi knew she was about to get to the main point of her visit today.After the Yanbei Prince's Mansion extended an invitation to Rong Shi, various prominent families in Yanbei gradually expressed goodwill toward Xianwang Residence. However, the Ren Family remained conspicuously silent.
Ren Yaoqi had been wondering privately how long the Ren Family could hold out this time.
And here it comes.
Supplementary update...
Next chapter around nine o'clock.
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