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After leaving the main room, Ren Yaoqi went to the side chamber where Li Tianyou and his wife were staying. Her aunt, Ji Fuying, personally came out to greet her. Upon entering the room, Ren Yaoqi saw Li Tianyou sitting at the Eight Immortals table, polishing a longsword.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi enter, Li Tianyou grinned and, still seated, performed an exaggerated flourish with the sword. His movements were surprisingly skillful.
"Little girl, doesn’t your uncle look mighty and imposing holding this sword?"
Ren Yaoqi was nearly dazzled by the ornate gems adorning the hilt. The sword in Li Tianyou’s hand was a ceremonial piece, not a weapon meant for combat.
"Uncle knows martial arts?" Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile. She had never seen Li Tianyou fight, but she guessed that since he dared to lead men to the capital to find her in her past life, he must have had some skills to rely on.
Li Tianyou looked displeased at her question. "Hah—all four of the Chun-Xia-Qiu-Dong put together couldn’t beat me! That little brat surnamed Min was taught by me!"
Li Tianyou had spent most of his life speaking half-truths and half-lies, so Ren Yaoqi didn’t bother guessing how much of his claim was true. She simply smiled without replying.
Li Tianyou rolled his eyes dramatically and waved at Ji Fuying. "Go get the thing." Then he lowered his head again to continue polishing his sword, showing no intention of further conversation. Ren Yaoqi sat quietly to the side, observing the ornate scabbard of the ceremonial sword.
Ji Fuying soon returned with a brocade pouch. She handed it to Ren Yaoqi, smiling. "This is from your uncle and aunt. Keep it."
Ren Yaoqi accepted the pouch and bowed respectfully to thank the couple. Ji Fuying then chatted with her for a while, offering a few words of advice. When it was time, Ren Yaoqi stood up to take her leave.
Ji Fuying saw Ren Yaoqi out, while Li Tianyou shouted from behind them, "If anyone dares to bully you or your mother again, just have those two maids of yours beat them up! Tell them I said so!"
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.
The Ren Family’s carriage gradually departed from Prince Xian’s residence. Ren Yaoqi lifted the curtain to look outside for a moment before letting it fall. She opened the brocade pouch Ji Fuying had given her earlier. Inside were three thousand taels in silver notes and the deed to the house she had just visited.
After returning to the Ren Family, Ren Yaoqi did not mention the matter of Xianwang Residence to Madam Li. Madam Li simply assumed Ren Yaoqi had been called by Rong Shi for a casual chat.
Several days after returning from Xianwang Residence, rumors suddenly spread like wildfire that Prince Xian and his family had long since fled Yanbei. Upon hearing this, Madam Li hurriedly sent someone to check her maiden family’s home, only to find Xianwang Residence completely empty, without a single soul in sight.
By then, wild speculations about Xianwang Residence were flying everywhere. Some guessed that Prince Xian’s family had been secretly executed by agents sent from the imperial court. Others speculated they had been covertly relocated by the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. There were also claims that Prince Xian, knowing that the death of the heir would inevitably create a rift between Yanbei and the court, had fled with his entire family to avoid being caught in the crossfire. In short, all sorts of theories abounded.
Seeing that Prince Xian’s family had already left Yanbei for several days, Ren Yaoqi went to find Madam Li.
Madam Li was stunned for a long time after hearing Ren Yaoqi’s words. "They left? Where did they go?"
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment. "They probably headed southwest.""Southwest direction? Southwest direction..."
Nanny Zhou suddenly spoke up: "Madam, isn't heading southwest the way to Hezhong?"
Madam Li also realized it, her face showing a mix of sorrow and joy: "Yes, it's to Hezhong..." Madam Li seemed to think of something, and suddenly, without warning, covered her face and began to weep softly. No matter how Nanny Zhou tried to console her, she couldn't be comforted.
Just at that moment, the gatekeeper woman from outside stumbled into the courtyard, shouting from afar: "It's bad, it's bad, soldiers have come... Madam, it's bad..."
Ren Yaoqi was startled and signaled Xier to go out and see what was happening.
Xier hurried out, asked the gatekeeper woman a couple of questions, and then quickly returned, her face also showing a hint of anxiety: "Madam, Fifth Miss, soldiers have surrounded our residence."
Madam Li now stopped her tears: "What soldiers? How could there be soldiers?"
"The gatekeeper woman said many soldiers just arrived outside and have surrounded the entire residence, saying no one is allowed in or out," Xier replied.
Nanny Zhou asked Ren Yaoqi, "Could this be related to Prince Xian leaving Yanbei?"
Ren Yaoqi looked outside and listened for a moment: "The soldiers haven't come in? They're just guarding outside?"
Xier volunteered, "This servant will go out and take a look."
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: "Take Pingguo with you."
Upon hearing this, Xier hurried out to find Pingguo.
Third Master Ren was off duty today and came out of his study upon hearing the commotion: "I heard something happened outside?" Third Master Ren frowned deeply. He was just a scholar and had never encountered such a situation before.
"They say the courtyard has been surrounded by soldiers, and no one is allowed in or out," Nanny Zhou briefly explained.
Xier soon returned. Just as Nanny Zhou was about to ask her about the situation, Xier said to Ren Yaoqi, "Fifth Miss, the Commandery Princess's maid is outside and says she wants to see you."
Third Master Ren and Madam Li both looked at Ren Yaoqi. Ren Yaoqi smiled and reassured them, "Since the Commandery Princess's maid can come in, it means the soldiers outside are from the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. Besides, they haven't entered, so they likely mean no harm. I'll go out and see."
Everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Third Master Ren didn't forget to add, "Stay in the courtyard to talk, take a few maids with you, and don't go beyond the gate."
Ren Yaoqi agreed before walking out. At a glance, she saw Pingguo standing in the courtyard with Hongying.
However, as Ren Yaoqi approached, she realized it wasn't Hongying but Nan Xing, who served by Xiao Jingxi's side. Xier had only seen Hongying before and had mistaken them.
When Nan Xing saw Ren Yaoqi, she bowed neatly and efficiently: "This servant Nan Xing greets Fifth Miss Ren."
Ren Yaoqi gently supported her elbow: "What happened outside?"
Nan Xing replied concisely, "Eunuch Lu has come to Yunyang City."
Ren Yaoqi frowned: "Is it because Prince Xian left Yunyang City?"Nan Xing nodded: "Yes, Eunuch Lu came precisely for the matter of Prince Xian. He said he was here on behalf of the imperial court to demand accountability and even brought a troop of Ningxia soldiers into the city. Since he holds the emperor's 'Acting in the Emperor's Stead' jade token, the Prince could not stop him at the city gates. Eunuch Lu said he wanted to capture you and your mother to threaten Prince Xian, but the Young Master refused. Worried that Eunuch Lu might act recklessly relying on the emperor's token, the Young Master sent Mu Hu to stand guard. Fifth Miss, please rest assured—the people outside are all the Young Master's trusted aides and personal guards. Since neither the Young Master nor the Commandery Princess can come now, the Young Master sent me here. I will also be guarding this place these next few days. The Young Master instructed me to follow all your orders."
"What about my Third Sister..." Ren Yaohua also shared blood ties with the Xianwang Residence.
Nan Xing said, "Don’t worry, the Lei Family has already received word and made preparations early on. Third Miss Ren is safe."
Only then did Ren Yaoqi nod, asked a few more questions, and then had Pingguo take Nan Xing to rest.
Ren Yaoqi returned to the main room and briefly explained the situation to Third Master Ren and Madam Li to reassure them. Hearing that the soldiers outside were there to protect them, Third Master Ren and Madam Li also breathed a sigh of relief.
"How long will they be guarding outside?" Third Master Ren remembered he still had the task of compiling books to attend to—he couldn’t stay at home all the time, though his days of reading and painting at home passed quite pleasantly.
Ren Yaoqi comforted him, "It’s only a matter of a few days, Father. Just think of it as a few extra days of vacation."
Third Master Ren nodded and sighed, "It seems that’s the only way."
In truth, Ren Yaoqi had originally wanted to find an excuse for Third Master Ren and Madam Li to go out less. With the Xianwang Residence at the center of the storm, no one knew what might happen next, so it was better for them to lay low for now. Now that they were "confined" by Xiao Jingxi’s men and unable to leave, they could avoid the prying eyes of various factions outside and also evade Eunuch Lu’s schemes.
What Ren Yaoqi didn’t know was that, indeed, that evening Eunuch Lu brought his men to their doorstep to arrest and interrogate them. Unfortunately, his men were stopped by Mu Hu at an alley entrance two lanes away from the Ren Family, without even catching a glimpse of the Ren Family’s gate.
Lu Dexin narrowed his eyes at the dark-faced general blocking his path, then smiled faintly and unhurriedly took out the token the emperor had given him to mobilize personnel for his convenience. He waved it before Mu Hu’s eyes and said condescendingly, "Step aside!"
Mu Hu didn’t budge, replying stiffly, "This general is carrying out official duties. All idlers, step back at once!"
"How dare you! Kneel before me! Can’t you see the token in my hand?" Lu Dexin had never encountered anyone who openly defied the emperor’s authority—even the Prince of Yanbei had to bow before the token he held.
Unexpectedly, the dark-faced general before him declared with righteous indignation, "This general is carrying out official duties and refuses to accept bribes! Put away your trinket and step back!"
Lu Dexin’s face turned pale with anger: "You... you... you..."
A young eunuch behind Lu Dexin, emboldened by his master’s authority, barked, "You dog! Can’t you read the characters on the jade token?"
Mu Hu glanced at the jade token: "This general is illiterate!"
"Then call someone who can read!" Lu Dexin thundered, his voice sharp and severe.Mu Hu grinned, glancing back at his soldiers. "I don't know how to read, and which of the brats under my command would dare to be literate?"
"Your subordinate doesn't know how to read either!" the personal guards standing behind Mu Hu, dressed as ordinary city guards, chorused in unison.
Lu Dexin, accustomed to throwing his weight around, had never been toyed with like this. He immediately raised his horsewhip to strike Mu Hu. Mu Hu's eyes flickered slightly as he pretended to dodge, taking two steps back. Lu Dexin urged his horse forward to strike again, but unexpectedly, his mount suddenly reared up. Caught off guard, Lu Dexin nearly tumbled from the saddle. He barely managed to steady the horse by gripping the reins tightly when a crisp crack echoed through the air.
Everyone turned toward the sound and saw the so-called token in Lu Dexin's hand fall to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Originally planned to post this tomorrow morning, but I couldn't hold back. Consider it an extra update... 〒_〒
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