Second Young Master Xiao didn’t hear Ren Yaoqi’s mental complaints and continued: “Originally, I should have returned earlier, but I encountered some trouble on the road. Coincidentally, I received some news about Ningxia, so I pretended to avoid assassination and took a detour to Jinzhou. This time, I owe thanks to Prince Xian’s people for helping me cover my tracks.”

But Ren Yaoqi caught some meaning in his words and couldn’t help but look up: “Cover your tracks? You got rid of those pursuers not to escape back to Yunyang City, but… but you went to Ningxia, right? The news about Ningxia you received in the capital was that the court intended to make a move on Ningxia, so you went with the flow and pulled a cicada shedding its shell trick in Jinzhou?”

The surprise in Xiao Jingxi’s eyes gradually faded, and his smiling eyes looked at Ren Yaoqi teasingly: “I suddenly discovered that having someone too clever around isn’t necessarily a good thing – at least when I want to show off, I can’t find the opportunity.”

Ren Yaoqi also smiled: “Is Young Master Xiao reminding me that in the future when I see you, I need to retreat and take detours?”

Xiao Jingxi: “…”

Ren Yaoqi finally understood why Xiao Jinglin always liked to use words to choke Xiao Jingxi – because doing so indeed made one feel refreshed afterward.

She couldn’t help but curve her lips: “Now you can show off a bit about what you did in Ningxia. I heard the court has already reappointed a Ningxia general surnamed Zeng who is on his way to take office.”

Seeing the slight smile at the corner of Ren Yaoqi’s mouth, Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but smile warmly. The fatigue from traveling day and night seemed to vanish without a trace: “Zeng Pu? He’s still lacking if he wants to take over Ningxia now. The Wu family has operated in Ningxia for decades – how could they be so easily replaced? If Wu Xiaohe truly had no successor, that would be one thing, but now the Wu family has someone to continue the family line. Even if he goes to Ningxia, what can he do?”

Although hearing Zeng Pu’s name from Xiao Jingxi’s mouth still made Ren Yaoqi feel somewhat uncomfortable, Xiao Jingxi’s following words caught her attention. She said in surprise, “Wu Xiaohe has a successor? You couldn’t mean Wu Yiyu, could you?”

Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi with amusement: “Finally guessed wrong once.”

Ren Yaoqi had been influenced by the conversation she’d heard from those scholars earlier, which led to this conclusion. Thinking carefully, Xiao Jingxi wouldn’t necessarily support the Xiao Wei mother and daughter to rise to power. She thought for a moment: “Could it be that the woman sent by the Di family is already pregnant?”

Xiao Jingxi smiled and sighed: “Guessed correctly again.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but be surprised. To become pregnant under the noses of the Xiao Wei mother and daughter, and at such a crucial moment, this Miss Di was truly no ordinary person.

But…

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but frown: “How do you know whether she’ll give birth to a boy or a girl?” If she gave birth to a girl, like Wu Yiyu, there would be no inheritance rights either.

Xiao Jingxi smiled: “This child will definitely be born safely and will certainly be a boy.”

Seeing Xiao Jingxi speak so confidently, Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and understood. At this time, Wu Xiaohe’s child was no longer simply about continuing the Wu family bloodline, because regardless, he had to exist. Whether he would be born safely, whether it was a boy or a girl – none of these were problems. Because the result would only be that Lady Di gave birth to a boy. Ren Yaoqi even suspected whether this child was really Wu Xiaohe’s, or even whether this child existed. But as long as Prince Yanbei’s manor acknowledged this child’s existence and fully supported him, the truth didn’t matter at all.

As for whether the court acknowledged it, what business was that of Yanbei’s? Wasn’t there a saying: “Heaven is high and the emperor is far away”?

Thinking this way, the shadow in Ren Yaoqi’s heart about Zeng Pu coming to Yanbei lightened considerably.

Without substantial control over Ningxia, even if Zeng Pu came, he would just be a toothless tiger dependent on others, unable to cause much trouble.

“Speaking of which, I really should thank you,” Xiao Jingxi said. “If you hadn’t told me to return early then, the Ningxia matter wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.”

Ren Yaoqi said, “I was just speaking casually.”

But Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi and said gently and slowly, “You spoke casually, but I took it seriously.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but blush a little. Why did she feel that Xiao Jingxi’s words sounded somewhat strange again? Was she overthinking?

But when she looked up at Xiao Jingxi, she found that although he was looking at her with a composed and calm expression, his ears were somewhat red.

Ren Yaoqi turned her eyes away: “It’s getting late. Let’s go back.”

Xiao Jingxi looked at her for a while, then nodded: “Alright.”

Ren Yaoqi smoothed her cloak and turned to get into the carriage, but heard Xiao Jingxi’s voice, different from usual and carrying some hesitation: “If you hear any rumors about me from the capital, don’t take them seriously.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi almost immediately thought of Miss Yan’s matter.

She stopped in her tracks, turned to look at Xiao Jingxi in surprise, and asked: “Rumors about you? What rumors?”

Xiao Jingxi was silent for a moment: “Just some groundless gossip.”

Ren Yaoqi felt mischievous and gave Xiao Jingxi an innocent smile: “There’s no smoke without fire. Rumors have their basis – I’ll choose what to believe.”

Xiao Jingxi: “…”

Ren Yaoqi finished speaking and turned to leave.

But Xiao Jingxi sighed and said with a bitter smile: “The capital rumors say that the Yan family intends to form a marriage alliance with Prince Yanbei’s manor, and Empress Dowager Yan intends to bestow the eldest legitimate daughter of the Yan family’s main branch in marriage to me.”

Ren Yaoqi stopped but didn’t respond.

Xiao Jingxi couldn’t see her expression and didn’t know what she was thinking, so he could only continue: “A marriage alliance between the Yan family and Prince Yanbei’s manor is just Empress Dowager Yan’s wishful thinking.”

“Are you sure it’s only the Empress Dowager’s wishful thinking?” Ren Yaoqi suddenly spoke. “Young Master Xiao, have you met Miss Yan?”

Xiao Jingxi frowned, then nodded honestly: “I’ve encountered her once or twice.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded and said nothing more. It seemed that Miss Yan was indeed interested in Xiao Jingxi.

Ren Yaoqi asked this question merely to clarify the matter and had no other meaning. But Xiao Jingxi mistakenly thought Ren Yaoqi believed he was being dishonest and was angry. In his urgency, Xiao Jingxi reached out without thinking and grasped Ren Yaoqi’s hand.

In that instant, both their minds went blank.

It took Xiao Jingxi a long time to realize he had again done something a lecher would do. He felt somewhat annoyed, afraid his impropriety would make Ren Yaoqi feel disgusted, but somehow his hand just wouldn’t let go. He could only lower his head and stare blankly at their clasped hands.

Ren Yaoqi felt the warm temperature in her palm. For a moment, apart from her heartbeat, she couldn’t hear any other sound. This time was different from the previous two times their hands had been clasped – she didn’t know exactly how it was different, she only knew it was different.

Fortunately, Ren Yaoqi came to her senses first. She bit her lip with some annoyance and turned her head slightly, saying softly: “Let go.”

Ren Yaoqi had left Baoping Alley in the evening, and by now the sky had gradually darkened. The two were standing in a sheltered place talking, and both maids had tactfully withdrawn to the intersection, so no one witnessed this scene.

Xiao Jingxi was dazed by Ren Yaoqi’s rare tone of shy reproach. His hand wanted to let go, but somehow he gripped even tighter.

Then, after coming to his senses, he quickly released her hand, his face burning as he murmured: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

Ren Yaoqi glared at him, turned, and ran away. Even after getting into the carriage, Ren Yaoqi could still feel her wildly beating heart and the lingering warmth of another person in her palm.

Long after Ren Yaoqi’s carriage disappeared at the end of the road, Xiao Jingxi still stood in place without moving. Second Young Master Xiao’s face showed annoyance, regret, bewilderment, and a trace of barely perceptible shyness – everything except the immortal-like calm composure he usually wore. In short, it was difficult to describe Second Young Master Xiao’s true feelings at this moment.

That night, Ren Yaoqi tossed and turned in bed for a long time, unable to sleep. For some reason, whenever she closed her eyes, she could recall the scene of Xiao Jingxi tightly grasping her hand. Only Ren Yaoqi herself understood the flutter in her heart at that moment. From beginning to end, she had never felt emotions like disgust or anger.

Ren Yaoqi barely slept all night. She replayed all the events between herself and Xiao Jingxi since they first met. Some details she thought she had forgotten or couldn’t remember clearly, but unexpectedly she remembered them perfectly.

“Could I be…” Just before dawn, as she was about to fall asleep, Ren Yaoqi murmured, but the last few words made no sound.

The next day, when Ren Yaoqi appeared before Ren Yaohua looking dispirited, Ren Yaohua was startled and said suspiciously: “You didn’t catch cold and fall ill last night, did you?”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head and forced a smile: “I just didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Why couldn’t you sleep well?” Ren Yaohua didn’t remember Ren Yaoqi having trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places, and besides, Ren Yaoqi had stayed at this Ren family retreat house several times before, using her familiar bedding.

How could Ren Yaoqi tell Ren Yaohua that she had spent the entire night thinking about herself and Xiao Jingxi, causing her to sleep poorly?

Fortunately, Ren Yaohua wasn’t the type to get to the bottom of things. After Ren Yaoqi gave a few perfunctory answers, she stopped asking.

Ren Shimin had finished his lectures in Yunyang City and was returning to Baihe Town today. Naturally, Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi would return with him.

On the road, Third Master Ren was in good spirits and told Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua about coming to Yunyang City next spring.

Ren Yaoqi asked: “Father, where will we live then? If you’re going to the academy, won’t it be inconvenient to still stay at the Ren family retreat house?”

Ren Shimin thought for a moment: “I noticed that among the academy instructors, except for a few who live at the academy, the rest have rented courtyards near Baoping Alley.”