Yelü Sage was taken aback once more, then flashed Ren Yaoqi a toothy grin: "Young Madam Xiao truly has a sharp tongue." Consort Dowager Yun glanced at Yelü Sage, then at Ren Yaoqi, frowning slightly. By now, she too was slowly sensing something amiss and refrained from speaking carelessly.
Yelü Sage said nothing further, her attention shifting to a piece of calligraphy and painting hanging on the wall. She even stood up deliberately to walk over and scrutinize it closely for a long while. Finally, she turned back, her eyes filled with curiosity, and pointed at the artwork as she asked Ren Yaoqi: "Did you write this?"
Ren Yaoqi looked up and nodded.
That piece of calligraphy was indeed her work, complete with her signature. It was Xiao Jingxi who had insisted on hanging it there. Thinking that no outsiders would enter this room, she had let him have his way.
The admiration in Yelü Sage's eyes was genuine: "Though I don't understand such refined things, I can still tell it's very well written. I'm not afraid to admit it—I've practiced Chinese characters for a while now, but the characters I write are truly too embarrassing to show. I really envy you women who are so talented and versatile."
Ren Yaoqi smiled: "Everyone has their own strengths, Princess. There's no need to belittle yourself. What you excel at, I may not be able to do."
Yelü Sage thought for a moment and nodded: "That makes sense, but I still envy you. Sometimes I can't help but wonder, if I also had such refined skills, would the Prince look at me differently?" At this, Yelü Sage laughed to herself.
Since this concerned her father-in-law, Ren Yaoqi felt it inappropriate to comment and merely smiled.
Consort Dowager Yun, however, shot Yelü Sage a glance and let out a disdainful "hmph" through her nose. Though she said nothing, her expression and gesture spoke volumes about her thoughts.
Yelü Sage didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, she beamed brightly at Consort Dowager Yun and Ren Yaoqi: "I know the Prince doesn't like me, though I do feel a bit regretful about it."
Ren Yaoqi lowered her head to sip her tea, pretending not to have heard. However, she was secretly paying attention to the commotion outside. Unfortunately, even after Yelü Sage had been inside for so long, there was still no movement outside—it was eerily quiet.
Yelü Sage had been observing Ren Yaoqi's expression all along. After watching her for a while, she couldn't help but muse thoughtfully: "Young Madam Xiao, are you waiting for someone or something?"
Ren Yaoqi looked at Yelü Sage calmly.
Yelü Sage's smile held a hint of smugness and cunning: "If that's the case, then the outcome may disappoint you. While I've been talking to you, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion has been surrounded. Not even a fly can get in—or out, for that matter."
Consort Dowager Yun suddenly sat up straight, glaring coldly at Yelü Sage, though she couldn't help but shift slightly closer to Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi, however, remained seated without moving, as if Yelü Sage had merely uttered an inconsequential joke.
Yelü Sage asked Ren Yaoqi curiously: "What? Aren't you afraid, Young Madam Xiao? I mean, you're now in my hands."
Ren Yaoqi looked at her and replied with a calm, composed smile: "Then what is the Princess waiting for? Waiting for someone, or for something to happen?"
Hearing this, Yelü Sage couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly.
Noticing her expression, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but smile.The reason she and Yelü Sage had been exchanging such meaningless words for so long was because she was stalling for time, and Yelü Sage was also stalling for time. Only the outcomes they were waiting for were different.
Yelü Sage carefully examined Ren Yaoqi for a moment, then smiled as well, probing, "Is the young mistress merely putting on a false show of strength? Having stayed in the prince's mansion for so long, I have a clear understanding of its defenses. The officer guarding outside today is Deputy General Zhou Cheng, but whether he is still alive is uncertain. As for the guards under his command, they have likely already fallen in large numbers."
Ren Yaoqi paid her no attention.
Yelü Sage continued, "Does the young mistress know who did this?"
As soon as Yelü Sage finished speaking, a clamor erupted outside, as if a crowd had suddenly surged toward the direction of Zhaoning Hall.
Both Ren Yaoqi and Yelü Sage were drawn to the noise outside until a bold male voice shouted loudly, "Princess Yelü? Are you in Zhaoning Hall?"
Upon hearing this, Yelü Sage broke into a wide smile and playfully winked at Ren Yaoqi. "The person I’ve been waiting for has arrived. The person you’ve been waiting for, young mistress, likely won’t make it."
Before Ren Yaoqi could respond, Consort Dowager Yun coldly interjected, "That unfilial wretch Xiao Jingyue! How dare he..."
Xiao Jingyue had taken control of Zhou Cheng’s men with his own forces, surrounding the entire prince’s mansion. After years of restraint and feigning illness for so many days, this was the moment he had been waiting for.
Now, standing outside Zhaoning Hall, Xiao Jingyue gazed at the open hall doors and the three characters "Zhaoning Hall" inscribed on the plaque above for a long while, a contented smile playing on his lips. Then, he lazily waved his hand behind him.
Two attendants, appearing as servants, escorted a woman to Xiao Jingyue’s side. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked disheveled and distressed, yet her gaze toward Xiao Jingyue remained unchanged—filled with disgust and hatred.
Xiao Jingyue turned to look at her and smiled. Gently pinching her chin, he spoke in a soft tone, "My dear, look at this place. Haven’t you always wanted to live here? Today, your husband will fulfill this wish of yours. You can even die here if you wish."
Xiao Jingyue’s words sent a shiver down Yan Ningshuang’s spine. Her face pale, she was terrified but unwilling to show weakness in front of Xiao Jingyue. She forced herself to glare coldly at him, remaining silent.
To this day, Yan Ningshuang still couldn’t understand why Xiao Jingyue, who had clearly been poisoned, had suddenly regained consciousness today and appeared perfectly fine.
Xiao Jingyue lightly patted Yan Ningshuang’s cheek, his smile teasing. "Don’t be afraid. You gave your husband such a grand gift, and I’ve remembered it well." Seeing the fear in Yan Ningshuang’s eyes that she couldn’t hide, Xiao Jingyue smiled again, then pointed at Zhaoning Hall and said, "Do you know what this place is? You only know it’s where your beloved Xiao Lang lives, but you don’t realize that Zhaoning Hall is actually the residence of every heir to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. The Prince of Yanbei and the Princess Consort have woven an enormous lie, fooling everyone in the world. As for that pitiful heir who went to the capital as a hostage, he’s nothing but a joke."
Yan Ningshuang stared at Xiao Jingyue in shock upon hearing this.
But Xiao Jingyue didn’t look at her. He merely raised his head to gaze at the doors of Zhaoning Hall, his eyes brimming with an unknown fervor.“But from now on, this will be where I live.”
Xiao Jingyue curled the corner of his mouth, then pulled Yan Ningshuang into Zhaoning Hall. The dozen or so guards he brought followed closely behind. Yan Ningshuang stumbled along, dragged by Xiao Jingyue, who seemed not to notice, pulling her directly to the entrance of the main hall.
The guards did not follow further but remained standing in the courtyard in front of the main hall.
When Xiao Jingyue entered, Ren Yaoqi showed no surprise, only glancing at him calmly before turning her gaze to Yan Ningshuang, who was being dragged in by the arm.
Xiao Jingyue was momentarily surprised to see Consort Dowager Yun there as well, but he soon smiled carelessly and gave a sloppy bow. “So Your Highness is also here. Fortunately, I didn’t act rashly and startle you, old lady.”
Consort Dowager Yun glared at him coldly, as if looking at something filthy and beneath contempt.
Xiao Jingyue, however, paid no mind. He turned his attention to Ren Yaoqi, his gaze roaming boldly over her face as he grinned. “Greetings, Second Sister-in-law. It’s been a while, and you’ve grown even more beautiful.”
Ren Yaoqi was not angered by his insolence. She simply sat there calmly, treating him as if he were a performer in a farce.
Failing to see anger or panic on Ren Yaoqi’s face, Xiao Jingyue felt somewhat disappointed. He feigned a sigh and said, “What a pity, I heard my second brother has died. For someone as young as you, Second Sister-in-law, to become a widow so soon—it must be difficult for you.”
As if struck by a sudden thought, Xiao Jingyue laughed and said to Ren Yaoqi, “But it truly is a waste for a beauty like you to remain a widow. If you’re willing, you could remarry someone else. How about I provide you with a dowry? If you don’t want to marry someone else… you could always follow me. A younger brother-in-law and his sister-in-law flying together as a pair—now that would make for a fine tale…”
“Outrageous!”
Before Xiao Jingyue could finish, Consort Dowager Yun snatched the teacup beside her and hurled it at his face. Fortunately, Xiao Jingyue reacted quickly, tilting his head slightly to the side as the teacup grazed past his temple and shattered on the floor with a loud “crack!”
Consort Dowager Yun pointed at him angrily and scolded, “You wretched creature! Shut your mouth!”
Xiao Jingyue raised a hand to touch his temple, glanced at Consort Dowager Yun, and continued grinning carelessly. “Why is Your Highness so angry? My second brother is truly dead beyond doubt. I’m only thinking of what’s best for Second Sister-in-law.”
Although Ren Yaoqi knew Xiao Jingyue’s words were not to be trusted—she had recently received a letter from Xiao Jingxi assuring her of his safety—her heart still clenched painfully at his words, and she couldn’t help but tremble.
Yan Ningshuang, who had been standing dazed to the side, suddenly lifted her head upon hearing this and grabbed Xiao Jingyue’s arm. “What did you say? Xiao Lang… no, how could Xiao Lang die? He wouldn’t die! It must be you, you vile scoundrel, spreading rumors!”
Xiao Jingyue looked at Yan Ningshuang with pity, but his words were cruel. “He’s dead! He died on the way to Wuzhou. His body was torn apart and eventually fed to eagles.”
“No—” Yan Ningshuang covered her ears with her hands and screamed, then lunged at Xiao Jingyue with reddened eyes, hitting him. “You’re lying! Lying!”
Xiao Jingyue curled his lip in disgust and kicked Yan Ningshuang away.Yan Ningshuang was kicked and slammed into the leg of the table in the middle of the room. With a sharp cry, she fell unconscious.
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