Ren Yaoqi frowned and said, "Oh? So he's that unworthy?"
Xiao Jinglin paused. "Not exactly..."
Just as Xiao Jinglin was about to deny it, she suddenly thought of something. She looked up at Ren Yaoqi and indeed saw Ren Yaoqi watching her with an amused smile. Xiao Jinglin realized Ren Yaoqi was teasing her and couldn't help but laugh as well.
After thinking for a moment, she said seriously, "Even with all his flaws, he's still better than most people in this world."
The reason Xiao Jinglin had turned a blind eye today when Xiao Jingxi took Ren Yaoqi to the ninth floor of the Echo Tower might have been due to the sentiment of "not letting the good water flow to outsiders' fields."
In Xiao Jinglin's eyes, there wasn't a single man in the world worthy of her Yaoqi—only Xiao Jingxi, whom she knew well, was somewhat acceptable.
Nevertheless, while Xiao Jingxi was taking Ren Yaoqi to the top of the tower, as she sat outside waiting, she felt so frustrated that she couldn't help wanting to pull up grass or tease Silly Girl. Because of this, when she saw Xiao Jingxi, she found him utterly irritating and couldn't resist picking on him.
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but chuckle. Every time these siblings got together, they would expose each other's shortcomings and undermine one another. Yet, in Xiao Jinglin's eyes, Xiao Jingxi was still "better than most people in this world."
Along the way, Xiao Jinglin didn't mention the Echo Tower to Ren Yaoqi, and Ren Yaoqi didn't ask, even though she kept wondering what Xiao Jingxi had recited to her on the ninth floor. Since Xiao Jingxi had mentioned the Xiao Family's rules, Ren Yaoqi felt it was inappropriate to ask Xiao Jinglin about it, though she knew Xiao Jinglin would tell her if she asked.
Before the carriage entered the gates of Yunyang City, both Xiao Jingxi's and Xiao Jinglin's carriages slowed down, traveling side by side. Suddenly, Ren Yaoqi heard the sound of someone knocking on the carriage wall outside. She immediately remembered that Xiao Jingxi had greeted her this way the last time. She glanced at Xiao Jinglin and remained seated without moving.
Three more knocks came from outside—neither hurried nor slow, but persistent. Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but blush, feeling a bit annoyed.
Xiao Jinglin stood up and "swished" the carriage curtain open, saying expressionlessly to the outside, "If you have something to say, say it. Don't act like a fussy woman!"
The knocking outside indeed stopped, and Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but smile.
Xiao Jingxi's voice sounded after a moment. "You two go into the city first. I have some matters to attend to."
"I'll take Yaoqi home. You go do whatever you need to do," Xiao Jinglin said, secretly rolling her eyes.
Xiao Jingxi paused on the other side and said softly, "Thank you!"
Xiao Jinglin was stunned for a long while. It wasn't until her carriage had traveled some distance that she finally processed it.
Thank you? She was taking Yaoqi home—why was Xiao Jingxi thanking her?
Xiao Jinglin had spent the entire afternoon trying to pick on Xiao Jingxi, only to have Second Young Master Xiao effortlessly turn the tables with a simple "thank you." Princess Xiao's mood instantly soured.
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Xiao Jinglin escorted Ren Yaoqi home before leaving. When she returned to Yanbei Prince's Mansion and saw Xiao Jingxi's carriage, she thought for a moment and decided to go to Xiao Jingxi's Zhaoning Hall first.
Xiao Jingxi had returned and was reading official documents in his study. When he saw Xiao Jinglin push the door open and enter, he smiled. "You're back?"
Xiao Jinglin snorted coldly and stood before him without saying a word.Xiao Jingxi was in no hurry. He instructed Tong He to serve tea to Xiao Jinglin, then proceeded to handle the urgent official documents in his hand. By the time he finished, Xiao Jinglin was still standing there, eyeing him with a probing gaze.
Xiao Jingxi was not surprised. Before Xiao Jinglin could speak, he smiled and said, "I know what I'm doing. There's no need for you to worry." His tone carried a soothing note.
Xiao Jinglin's expression indeed softened slightly, but she replied, "It's only because you took Yaoqi to that place that I didn't stop you. I'm sure you understand better than I do the significance of the ninth floor of the Echo Tower to the descendants of the Xiao Family. I hope you won't disappoint me in the future."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxi couldn't help but chuckle, teasing her half-seriously, "You're so protective of her, I'd almost think you two were sisters by blood."
Xiao Jinglin looked him up and down with a hint of disdain and said, "If I hadn't watched you grow up and knew you inside out, do you think I'd give you the chance to get close to her?"
Sometimes Xiao Jinglin thought that if she were a man, she would definitely make Xiao Jingxi step aside and take Yaoqi under her own wing. At the very least, she would never hurt her for any reason.
Xiao Jingxi was both amused and exasperated by her words. He was older than Xiao Jinglin, so how had it become her watching him grow up?
"I'm serious. If you can't take responsibility and face the consequences of your actions in the future, then you truly won't even measure up to a woman. Yaoqi is my friend. If she ever ends up heartbroken or sad because of you, Xiao Jingxi, I won't let you off!" Xiao Jinglin looked at him and spoke each word deliberately.
Xiao Jingxi sighed softly upon hearing this. He stood up, walked over to Xiao Jinglin, looked at her for a moment, and then reached out to pat her head.
Xiao Jinglin felt awkward and immediately swatted his hand away, glaring at him. "Don't treat me like a silly girl!"
Xiao Jingxi smiled at her response and sat back down.
Xiao Jinglin stood there dazed for a moment before suddenly realizing something. She glared at Xiao Jingxi with an annoyed expression and said, "Don't use that trick on me again in the future! You're a grown man, not some stunning beauty. Who are you smiling so charmingly at for no reason?"
Xiao Jingxi: "..."
By the time Ren Yaoqi returned, it was almost dusk. Madam Li and Ren Yaohua had not yet come back.
Earlier that day, after Ren Yaoqi left, the Yunyang Academy's Mountain Climbing Gathering had begun. When the Liu and Chen family young ladies inquired about Ren Yaoqi, Lady Xu, just as Xiao Jinglin had said, covered for her, so no one commented on her early departure.
Lady Xu was in poor health. Although she had not had an episode for a long time after taking Ren Yaoqi's prescription, she still could not overexert herself. Thus, Madam Li and several other ladies led the group in climbing the mountain.
Tianqing Mountain had a gentle slope, with stairs built in the steeper sections, making it easy even for the ladies and young misses who rarely ventured beyond the Inner Gate to climb.
Ren Yaohua had initially walked alongside Lei Pan'er, while Madam Li, Lady Liu, and Lady Chen walked slightly ahead. Halfway up, Madam Li and the others ahead burst into laughter over something they were discussing. Chen Zhiyi turned around and waved for Ren Yaohua to join them. Seeing that Lei Pan'er was tired and being carried by her nanny, Ren Yaohua walked forward a few steps to chat with Chen Zhiyi and Liu Menghan.After Ren Yaohua finished speaking with them and turned to look at Lei Pan'er, she noticed that Ren Yaoying, who had been walking behind earlier, had somehow come forward. Ren Yaoying stood beside Lei Pan'er, leaning in as they walked to whisper into her ear.
Ren Yaohua's expression involuntarily turned cold. After exchanging a few words with Chen Zhiyi and the others, she walked back to Lei Pan'er's side.
Just as Ren Yaohua turned her head, Ren Yaoying saw her and even smiled at her. To outsiders, Ren Yaoying's smile might have seemed gentle, soft, and somewhat ingratiating, but Ren Yaohua felt that it carried an indescribable malice.
Ren Yaohua gave Ren Yaoying a faint glance. "Didn't you say you were too tired to walk? You seem quite energetic to me."
Ren Yaoying smiled. "I rested for a while earlier and managed to gather a bit of strength. But now that Third Sister reminds me, I realize I can't walk anymore."
Ren Yaohua didn't want to engage with her and turned to look at Lei Pan'er instead. However, she found that the usually lively and energetic Lei Pan'er was now listlessly slumped over her nanny's back. When Lei Pan'er saw Ren Yaohua looking at her, she blinked and stared for a long time but said nothing. Her eyes were red, as if she had suffered some great grievance.
Ren Yaohua was startled and reached out to pat Lei Pan'er's head. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Lei Pan'er shook her head, then silently turned away slightly, avoiding Ren Yaohua's hand.
Ren Yaohua was taken aback. Frowning, she looked toward Ren Yaoying, but Ren Yaoying had already fallen back a couple of steps to chat with several of the Tang family's illegitimate daughters. Ren Yaohua restrained herself and ultimately did not make a scene on the spot.
She ignored Ren Yaoying and instead quietly asked Lei Pan'er's nanny, "What's wrong with Pan'er?"
Since Lei Pan'er was being carried on the nanny's back, the nanny only now noticed that something was amiss. She quickly set Lei Pan'er down and began fussing over her with concern.
However, Lei Pan'er seemed listless and unresponsive. No matter what the nanny or Ren Yaohua asked, she just pouted and remained silent.
Because Lei Pan'er was in a mood, Ren Yaohua also slowed down, and they gradually fell behind.
Ren Yaohua then asked the nanny what had happened earlier and subtly inquired about what Ren Yaoying had said to Lei Pan'er. Although Ren Yaoying had whispered into Lei Pan'er's ear, since Lei Pan'er was being carried on the nanny's back, the nanny must have heard some of it.
The nanny said that Ren Yaoying had only asked a few questions about Lei Pan'er's usual preferences, praised her a bit, and then jokingly asked if Lei Pan'er liked Ren Yaohua. These were all quite ordinary things when teasing a child and nothing excessive.
However, Ren Yaohua knew that Ren Yaoying's words must have had some other intention, even if the nanny hadn't noticed. And although Lei Pan'er was just a child, usually lively and adorable, she was actually a very clever and sensitive little girl.
I went out yesterday and couldn't access the author's backend on my phone, so I asked the deputy moderator to post a leave notice in the book review section for me. I don’t know if you all noticed.If you need to request leave in the future, the author will have the deputy moderator post in the book review section. For those who are not accustomed to browsing the book review section, please follow the author’s new blog: "Qidian Mianbei Meinan." Thank you! o(∩_∩)o.
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