After leaving Lady Xu, Ren Yaoqi returned to the warm pavilion and, following Lady Xu's instructions, informed everyone about Guo Yujiao's situation.
With such an incident occurring, the day's warm stove gathering naturally could not continue. After Madam Li and the others had also been briefed, Ren Yaoqi helped Lady Xu see off the guests. While everyone was somewhat surprised to see Ren Yaoqi taking charge, upon further reflection, they found it reasonable. Lady Xu's affection and high regard for her close disciple, Ren Yaoqi, had always been evident to all.
Madam Li and Ren Yaohua left first. After handling the remaining matters, Ren Yaoqi went to find Lady Xu. When she arrived at the study where Guo Yujiao had been settled earlier, she found that the Guo family had already been informed and had come to take Guo Yujiao home. As Ren Yaoqi entered, she overheard a woman's angry voice: "...The maid saw Jiang Yuan Niang push our Yujiao into the river during their argument. How can this be overlooked? The Jiang family is simply bullying us too much!"
Lady Xu gently comforted her, "I've already inquired about this. The maid said the two had argued earlier, but no one saw the Jiang family's Eighth Miss push anyone."
The woman retorted angrily, "They were quarreling at the time. If Jiang Yuan Niang didn't push Yujiao, did Yujiao jump into the lake herself?"
Lady Xu sighed and, noticing Ren Yaoqi's arrival, beckoned her over.
Ren Yaoqi saw a woman in her thirties sitting beside the couch where Guo Yujiao lay, her face still flushed with suppressed anger. Ren Yaoqi had met this woman before and knew she was the head of the Meng family, Madam Meng, originally from the Guo family of Wei Prefecture and Guo Yujiao's paternal aunt. Whenever Guo Yujiao visited Yan Prefecture, she stayed with her aunt. The Meng family was one of the most prominent families in Yan Prefecture, and although Madam Guo had not been in charge for long, she was known to be formidable.
Ren Yaoqi stepped forward to greet Madam Meng, who looked surprised at her presence but nodded politely nonetheless.
Lady Xu quietly asked Ren Yaoqi a few questions, which she answered one by one.
Just then, Guo Yujiao, lying on the couch, suddenly woke up. Madam Meng immediately turned and asked urgently, "Yujiao, you're awake? How do you feel? Are you still cold?"
Seeing this, Lady Xu also rose and walked over to inquire, with Ren Yaoqi following behind her.
Guo Yujiao's lips still had a bluish tint, but her complexion had improved significantly. The lake water was not deep, and she had been rescued quickly, so she hadn't swallowed much water. Earlier, she had been too chilled to recover, but the physician who examined her had said she was fine.
"Yujiao, tell me, did Jiang Yuan Niang push you into the water?" Madam Meng asked.
"Yes, it was her," Guo Yujiao replied hoarsely. "Aunt, I'm cold."
Madam Meng immediately instructed the maids, "Quickly, bring another blanket. Where are the hand warmers? Bring more hand warmers." After giving the orders, she turned to Lady Xu and said, "Madam, you heard it yourself. Yujiao said it was that Jiang girl who pushed her into the water. Please don't try to mediate this matter. The Jiang family must give our Guo family an explanation."Lady Xu sighed. Since Guo Yujiao had encountered trouble under her care, she had to inquire into the matter. However, Madam Meng’s words implied that she wanted to settle accounts with the Jiang Family herself and did not wish for Lady Xu to intervene. Given Madam Meng’s firm stance, Lady Xu could say no more.
After Guo Yujiao had calmed down somewhat, Madam Meng prepared to take her home. Lady Xu did not stop them, only instructing the maids and servants to carefully carry Guo Yujiao, along with the soft couch, onto the carriage. Madam Meng hurriedly left with Guo Yujiao, likely intending to confront the Jiang Family immediately.
Once everyone had left, Lady Xu wearily rubbed her temples. Shijin helped Lady Xu sit down and massaged the acupoints on her head.
Lady Xu pulled Ren Yaoqi to sit beside her. “You’ve had a tiring day today.”
Ren Yaoqi shook her head. Seeing Lady Xu’s pale complexion, she also began massaging the acupoints on Lady Xu’s hand. “I didn’t do much, just saw the guests off.”
Lady Xu gave Ren Yaoqi’s hand a gentle squeeze and then called for Nanny Gao to come in. “What exactly happened? Have you found out the details?”
Lady Xu made no move to dismiss Ren Yaoqi, so Ren Yaoqi continued sitting there, massaging Lady Xu’s acupoints.
Nanny Gao replied, “Miss Guo suggested taking a walk by the lake. Later, for some unknown reason, Miss Guo suddenly flew into a rage, pointing at Eighth Miss of the Jiang Family and shouting a few insults. Eighth Miss Jiang, being gentle-natured, did not retort but quietly defended herself. Sixth Miss Jiang also tried to mediate between them. Then, Second Young Master Yun suddenly appeared. Seeing them arguing, he did not approach. It was at that moment that Miss Guo suddenly fell into the lake.”
Lady Xu frowned. “Who rescued Miss Guo?”
Understanding Lady Xu’s concern, Nanny Gao quickly replied, “It was a servant from the Jiang Family who knew how to swim who rescued Miss Guo. Although they had dismissed their attendants during the argument, the maids and servants did not dare to stray too far. After Miss Guo fell into the water, Second Young Master Yun, though close by, did not jump in to save her, perhaps fearing trouble. He left before Miss Guo was even pulled ashore. It was Eighth Miss Jiang who called over a servant from her family who knew how to swim to rescue her. Fortunately, the lake was not deep.”
Lady Xu shook her head but said nothing.
If Yun Wenfang had rescued Guo Yujiao, it would have only entangled him further. Yet, his decisive refusal to save her inevitably made him appear cold-hearted.
After a moment of thought, Nanny Gao hesitantly added, “However, some say that Eighth Miss Jiang doesn’t seem like the type to push someone into the water. Instead, it’s possible that Second Young Master Yun used some means to push Miss Guo.”
Yun Wenfang was engaged to Jiang Yuan Niang, and he was known for his reckless nature. It was not impossible for him to act out of anger upon seeing his fiancée being wronged. Although Yun Wenfang had not been physically close to Guo Yujiao at the time, he was skilled in martial arts. It was entirely possible that he had used some method to cause Guo Yujiao to fall into the lake.
Lady Xu frowned. “Do not mention baseless speculations in the future. Instruct the servants not to gossip carelessly.”
Nanny Gao quickly agreed.
Ren Yaoqi listened silently to the entire account without offering any opinion.After Lady Xu's complexion improved somewhat, she gently patted Ren Yaoqi's hand. "You must be tired too, go back now. I'll arrange for someone to escort you."
Since there was nothing left for Ren Yaoqi to do here, she nodded and bid farewell to Lady Xu.
When she stepped outside, the light snow had already stopped, but it was still very cold. Ren Yaoqi put on her wind hood again, its broad, thick brim nearly covering half her face.
When Yun Wenfang appeared before her once more, Ren Yaoqi showed no surprise. She lowered her gaze, her expression utterly composed.
Yun Wenfang was delighted to see her. He must have been waiting here for a long time—though no snowflakes had settled on his clothes, his deerskin boots were wet.
"You finally came out!"
He walked over, his intense gaze falling on the half of Ren Yaoqi's face that was exposed. Then, before anyone could react, he reached out and lifted Ren Yaoqi's hood.
Ren Yaoqi frowned. Pingguo and Sangshen hurried forward to stand in front of her, blocking Yun Wenfang, their faces full of vigilance as they stared at him as if guarding against a thief.
Yun Wenfang paid them no mind. His attention was entirely fixed on Ren Yaoqi, and he even seemed momentarily lost in thought as he looked at her.
Nearly three years apart, Ren Yaoqi had grown taller. Though her figure was hidden beneath thick layers of clothing, one could guess it must be slender and graceful. Her already delicate features had matured, making her appearance increasingly striking. Undeniably, Ren Yaoqi was a rare beauty, and coupled with her uniquely serene and gentle temperament, Yun Wenfang found it hard to look away.
"Have you been well these past few years?" Yun Wenfang asked.
Ren Yaoqi glanced at him and replied as calmly as possible, "Thank you for your concern, Second Young Master Yun. I have been well."
Yun Wenfang smiled, still looking at her. "That's good. I've always..." He paused before continuing, "Do you remember what I wrote in the letter when I left?" There was a hint of barely perceptible hope in his tone.
Ren Yaoqi sighed inwardly and lowered her head. "Second Young Master Yun, you've returned this time to get married, haven't you? I won't be able to attend the ceremony, but I offer my congratulations in advance."
Upon hearing this, the smile on Yun Wenfang's face froze. He frowned at Ren Yaoqi and said, "Who told you I'm getting married! Even if I were to marry, it wouldn't be Jiang Yuan Niang. Don't you know who I want to marry?"
From the moment Yun Wenfang saw Ren Yaoqi, he had been amiable, making an effort to restrain his young master's temper. But now, because of Ren Yaoqi's words, he felt extremely agitated and somewhat uneasy.
Over the years, he had indeed matured considerably and was no longer as prone to reckless, impulsive outbursts as he had been in his youth. Yet Ren Yaoqi's words still made him restless and impulsive.
At this moment, there was no one else nearby besides them. Ren Yaoqi smiled bitterly. "Second Young Master Yun, when you give something to others, have you ever considered whether they want it or not?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Wenfang's expression turned completely cold. His face stiffened as he asked, word by word, "Ren Yaoqi, what do you mean?"
Ren Yaoqi looked at him calmly. She said nothing, but her indifferent expression spoke volumes.Yun Wenfang unconsciously clenched his fists. He gritted his teeth and endured it, finally forcing down the anger and panic that had surged in his heart.
After a moment of silence, he pursed his lips and said, "Ren Yaoqi, over these three years, I have been injured sixteen times. Three of those times, I almost never woke up again."
OpenNovel