Ren Yaoqi had come to see Concubine Fang only to make a final break with her past. She had nothing else she wanted to say to Concubine Fang. Glancing at Concubine Fang, who had rekindled hope because of Xiao Jingxi’s words, Ren Yaoqi simply nodded and walked out without saying anything.

After walking out the door, Ren Yaoqi stood waiting in the courtyard.

Although she was somewhat curious about what Xiao Jingxi would say to Concubine Fang, she had no desire to eavesdrop.

As for whether Xiao Jingxi would be moved by Concubine Fang’s words, Ren Yaoqi looked up at the sky and smiled slightly.

Only after Ren Yaoqi had left did Xiao Jingxi turn to look at Concubine Fang.

Feeling his gaze, Concubine Fang hurriedly repeated what she had just said: “Second Young Master Xiao, I can work for the Yanbei Prince’s residence. My younger brother and the Fang family can also work for the Yanbei Prince’s residence. Everything that little girl Ren Yaoqi can do, I can do as well.”

For some reason, Concubine Fang felt a growing sense of unease in her heart. She seemed to keenly sense some danger, so when she spoke these words, there was a pleading tone in her voice.

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly and said in a calm tone: “I have nothing I need you to do for me, and what she can do, you cannot.”

Concubine Fang couldn’t understand Xiao Jingxi’s words and said anxiously: “How could I not be able to do it? My younger brother cares about me the most. If I go to beg him, he’ll agree to do anything I ask! Eunuch Lu already trusts him greatly and even said he would take him to meet the Emperor and Empress Dowager. When the time comes, I’ll convince him to work for your Yanbei Prince’s residence!”

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi seemed to find it somewhat amusing: “You want Fang Yacun to betray the court and work for me?”

Concubine Fang nodded eagerly: “Yes, Second Young Master, I’ll go beg him.”

Xiao Jingxi shook his head, looking at her with a gaze filled with pity and sadness: “Fang Shi, who gave you such confidence? The Ren family?”

Concubine Fang continued to cry and plead with Xiao Jingxi to spare her.

Xiao Jingxi shook his head and said, “I cannot let you go, or she would be disappointed.”

Concubine Fang was stunned. Her head was still dizzy, and she was seeing double, so she struggled to make out the expression on Xiao Jingxi’s face: “Who? Who would be disappointed?”

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi smiled and glanced toward the door. After Ren Yaoqi had left, the door remained open, and she stood with her back to them in the distance in the courtyard. The light from the sky poured unrestrainedly over her body, and just standing there, she looked like a lingering and eternal painting.

It took Concubine Fang a long time to react, her face becoming even paler. She looked at Xiao Jingxi with trembling lips: “You, you… her? No, this is impossible…”

Xiao Jingxi smiled: “Whether it’s possible or not isn’t for you to decide.”

After a series of consecutive blows today, Concubine Fang was already on the verge of a complete breakdown, and Xiao Jingxi’s words extinguished the last glimmer of hope in her heart.

Second Young Master Xiao had taken a fancy to Ren Yaoqi? How could this be possible? How could this be allowed?

How could Concubine Fang not know about the Xiao family’s power and influence in Yanbei? Even though rumors said that Xiao Jingxi was already terminally ill, looking at this confident and determined figure before her, Concubine Fang began to doubt the authenticity of those rumors.

“She is always soft-hearted,” Xiao Jingxi said with a sigh, shaking his head.

Concubine Fang said in terror, “You want to kill me? You want to kill me for her?”

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi smiled and shook his head: “No, she is soft-hearted, but I am not. I think you must live and see whether the things you think are impossible are truly impossible or not.”

With that, Xiao Jingxi instructed Tonghe: “From now on, have someone inform her of everything that happens outside, let her see how long those so-called supports she relies on can last.”

Xiao Jingxi’s words made Concubine Fang feel a chill from the bottom of her heart, and she couldn’t help but start trembling: “What are you going to do? What do you want to do?”

All along, Concubine Fang’s only support had been Fang Yacun and the Fang family behind him. Concubine Fang herself was well aware that without these supports, she was nothing, and the Ren family would never allow a mere concubine to live so comfortably.

Xiao Jingxi didn’t answer Concubine Fang’s question. With his status, he didn’t need to meet someone like Concubine Fang, but for Ren Yaoqi’s sake, he didn’t feel wronged by meeting her.

After giving instructions to Tonghe, Xiao Jingxi left without looking back.

Xiao Jingxi saw Ren Yaoqi waiting outside, shook his head, and walked over quickly.

Hearing footsteps, Ren Yaoqi turned around and saw Xiao Jingxi walking toward her with a smile.

Ren Yaoqi smiled at him: “Finished talking?”

Xiao Jingxi walked up to Ren Yaoqi, looked down and smiled: “Finished. Want to know what was said?”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “Her last trump card is nothing more than her younger brother Fang Yacun. You might not think much of him.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi smiled and teased: “Oh? You know what I think highly of?”

Seeing Xiao Jingxi’s smile, Ren Yaoqi was also in the mood to joke: “I know. Isn’t it people like Dongsheng or Zhu Ruomei? Oh, and there’s also General Min.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi could only touch his nose and smile bitterly.

Both Dongsheng and Zhu Ruomei were people he had used methods to take from Ren Yaoqi, and with Min Wenqing, there was an even more complicated account that couldn’t be settled clearly. Ren Yaoqi’s words were meant to tease him.

Ren Yaoqi suppressed her laughter and turned to beckon to Pingguo, who immediately walked over.

Ren Yaoqi said to Xiao Jingxi, “It’s getting late. I should go back.”

She didn’t ask about Concubine Fang’s outcome. Since Xiao Jingxi had said he would leave the person to her disposal, she wouldn’t inquire further. Ren Yaoqi trusted that Xiao Jingxi would handle it better than she would.

Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi and nodded: “Alright.”

Ren Yaoqi paused, hesitating: “I…” She felt she should thank Xiao Jingxi, but still couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Xiao Jingxi seemed to understand what she wanted to say from her expression and smiled as he interrupted: “I’ll see you out. You don’t need to worry about Fang Shi anymore. How are your arrangements for the Fang family coming along?”

Ren Yaoqi followed Xiao Jingxi as they walked out, saying: “I’ve already sent two letters to Jiangnan for Master Chu Jiu. Calculating the time, it should be about ready.”

Xiao Jingxi nodded: “Master Chu Jiu and his wife are both reliable people. Feel free to entrust them with whatever you need.”

Dongsheng had already driven the carriage over.

Both Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi stopped walking. The two looked at each other, and Xiao Jingxi smiled gently at Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi curtsied before turning around and getting into the carriage with Pingguo’s assistance.

Just before the carriage started moving, Ren Yaoqi heard Xiao Jingxi’s gentle, low voice coming through the curtain beside her: “Living happily and smoothly is the greatest revenge against your enemies, so you just need to work hard to achieve that. As for everything else…”

The carriage started moving at this moment. Ren Yaoqi wanted to move closer to the window to hear clearly what Xiao Jingxi’s last sentence was, but she only heard the sound of wheels rolling.

She couldn’t help but lift the curtain and look outside. Xiao Jingxi stood not far away, smiling gently at her. His tender smile made Ren Yaoqi’s heart skip a beat, and her hand slipped, causing the curtain to fall back down.

She didn’t lift the curtain again, but just leaned against the carriage wall, staring blankly into space.

Pingguo, who had been maintaining a background presence in silence, suddenly said: “Leave everything else to me.”

Ren Yaoqi was startled and looked at Pingguo.

Pingguo said simply, “Miss, weren’t you wondering what Second Young Master Xiao’s last sentence was? This servant has sharp ears and was sitting by the window, so I heard it!”

Although Second Young Master Xiao’s last few words were spoken very softly, Pingguo was quite confident in her hearing ability!

Ren Yaoqi: “…”

Not seeing the helplessness in Ren Yaoqi’s eyes, Pingguo continued: “Also, this servant was standing in the corridor the whole time and heard Concubine Fang begging Second Young Master Xiao to let her go, saying she would ask her brother to work for the Yanbei Prince’s residence. Second Young Master Xiao said that if he did that, you would be disappointed, Miss. He said you are too soft-hearted, and he won’t let Concubine Fang die, but will have people tell her about everything that happens outside from now on.”

Pingguo thought that Ren Yaoqi had walked out to the courtyard earlier because she was too embarrassed to listen to the conversation between Concubine Fang and Second Young Master Xiao. Having been scolded by Xiangqin several times, Pingguo felt that, as the head maid beside the young miss, she should do the things the young miss wanted to do but couldn’t. After all, she was just a maid, so it didn’t matter if she was a bit thick-skinned. Therefore, she had listened to the entire conversation between Xiao Jingxi and Concubine Fang, thanks to her good hearing!

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand proper etiquette, but she figured that since the two guards at the door hadn’t driven her away, it meant there was no problem with her standing there.

Moreover, when Second Young Master Xiao came out and saw her, he even smiled at her. She had been listening openly and honestly!

Ren Yaoqi: “…”

Dongsheng, who was driving the carriage, rolled his eyes dramatically after hearing the conversation between the master and servant inside. He muttered to himself, How could such a shrewd person as Fifth Miss always have such a silly maid by her side? Was the Ren family short of people?

However, he wouldn’t go back and tell Young Master Xiao about this, since he had only overheard it because of his good hearing. Young Master Xiao had only arranged for him to escort someone, not to eavesdrop. Besides, given the current situation, if he spoke out of turn in front of Young Master Xiao, he might end up being disciplined instead. So Dongsheng pretended he knew nothing.

Dongsheng took Ren Yaoqi back to that teahouse and arranged for someone to bring Ren Yaoqi’s carriage inside.

Ren Yaoqi got into her carriage and left the teahouse.

After that, Ren Yaoqi, just like last time, took her people and circled back to Baoping Alley.