Hong Ying looked confused as she glanced at the person jogging alongside the carriage: “What did Master Mu say?”

“Hehe, hehe…” Mu Hu scratched his head and grinned foolishly.

Hong Ying: “…”

Sitting in the carriage, Xiao Jinglin curved the corners of her mouth slightly.

Ren Yaoqi felt she detected a hint of schadenfreude in Xiao Jinglin’s smile and couldn’t help but look at her suspiciously a few times.

Noticing Ren Yaoqi’s gaze, Xiao Jinglin slowly blinked, then resumed her expressionless face. Putting on her princess airs, she spoke through the carriage curtain to the outside: “If you want a beating, go back and wait for it. What do you look like running after my carriage?”

Upon hearing this, Mu Hu outside suddenly understood. So Hong Ying was just too embarrassed to admit it in public! His eyes immediately lit up: “Ah! I’ll go back and wait right now! That… I’ve been drinking tiger bone wine these past few days, so my bones are really hard, hehe, hehe…” As he spoke, he slowed his pace and watched the carriage depart, still standing in place, waving his hand with a blissful expression on his face.

In the carriage, Xiao Jinglin’s mouth twitched.

The carriage turned and twisted through various streets before finally stopping. Xiao Jinglin got off first, then turned to help Ren Yaoqi down.

After getting off the carriage, Ren Yaoqi found herself in an unfamiliar alley. The curved cobblestone path beneath her feet made the alley appear somewhat narrow, though it could accommodate two carriages side by side.

Before Ren Yaoqi could take a careful look around, she heard a voice calling from nearby: “Princess?”

Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin turned simultaneously to see Young Master Yun, Yun Wenting standing not far away, looking at them with surprise. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Yun Wenting was Han Yunqian. Unlike Young Master Yun, whose eyes held only Xiao Jinglin, Han Yunqian’s first glance fell on Ren Yaoqi.

Xiao Jinglin nodded at them as a greeting.

Yun Wenting and Han Yunqian walked over together.

“How does the Princess come to be here?” Yun Wenting asked Xiao Jinglin gently, also nodding to Ren Yaoqi in passing.

Xiao Jinglin’s gaze passed through Yun Wenting to look at a small tavern with a modest storefront not far behind him. Following Xiao Jinglin’s gaze, Yun Wenting turned around, then showed a knowing smile: “I’ve heard the braised meat here tastes excellent. The Princess must be here to dine?”

Actually, it wasn’t mealtime at all right now, but Yun Wenting spoke very naturally without showing any surprise.

Xiao Jinglin nodded and casually asked: “Are you here on business?” This alley was somewhat out of the way, not close to either the Yunyang Academy or the Yun family residence. She had only learned of this place by having people inquire about good food.

Yun Wenting glanced at Han Yunqian and said with a smile: “Brother Han and I just came from Master Sheng’s house and were looking for a place to sit and chat.”

Xiao Jinglin seemed not to notice the hint of wanting to join them that Yun Wenting’s eyes revealed. She simply nodded calmly: “We’ll go in first.” Then she pulled Ren Yaoqi past them.

Yun Wenting’s gaze dimmed. However, he quickly resumed his elegant, graceful gentleman’s demeanor, signaled to Han Yunqian, then turned to catch up with Xiao Jinglin, saying softly: “Let me make arrangements for you first.” Without allowing Xiao Jinglin to refuse, Yun Wenting entered the tavern.

Xiao Jinglin glanced at his retreating figure without any particular expression.

Actually, because of Ren Yaoqi’s presence, Xiao Jinglin hadn’t originally planned to dine inside the tavern. She had intended to have Hong Ying go in and pack some food to take out. After all, this small tavern had no private rooms. While she didn’t mind much, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but be concerned about appearances.

After Yun Wenting made arrangements, when Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin entered the small tavern, everyone except a nervous middle-aged woman serving them and a girl of about ten had been sent away. Xiao Jinglin said nothing about this.

Yun Wenting came over to tell Xiao Jinglin the names of the dishes he had just ordered, smiling: “These are all signature dishes here. Try them and see. Or is there anything else you’d like to eat?”

Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment and looked at Yun Wenting: “Did you find out about this place and then have someone tell me about it?” Since Xiao Jinglin loved good food, she often had people inquire about cuisine throughout Yanzhou. Seeing how familiar Yun Wenting seemed with the dishes here, she understood somewhat.

Hearing this, Yun Wenting only smiled: “I also heard someone mention it.”

Yun Wenting didn’t tell Xiao Jinglin that he had personally tried most of the restaurants, large and small, in Yunyang City, even roadside food stalls. Because compared to others, he knew Xiao Jinglin’s tastes best—what she liked and what she didn’t. He didn’t tell Xiao Jinglin because he knew she wouldn’t be moved by such things, and he didn’t do these things to move her.

Xiao Jinglin glanced at him and asked no more questions.

“Brother Han and I will be at the teahouse next door. If you need anything, just have someone call me,” Yun Wenting paused, then still said gently with a smile.

Xiao Jinglin nodded. Yun Wenting whispered a few instructions to the woman, then left.

Xiao Jinglin looked at the nervous, constrained woman: “Do you have peach blossom wine?”

“Re-replying to Miss, our small shop doesn’t have peach blossom wine, only homemade rice wine,” the woman answered tremblingly.

Xiao Jinglin frowned: “Then let’s have…”

Before Xiao Jinglin could finish speaking, Ren Yaoqi interrupted with a smile: “Then please bring us a pot of tea.”

Xiao Jinglin looked at Ren Yaoqi, and Ren Yaoqi looked back at her. Xiao Jinglin sighed and waved for the woman to leave.

After the tea was brought, the woman quickly withdrew. Xiao Jinglin didn’t mind holding only a coarse porcelain bowl or that it was just ordinary tea, and took a few sips.

Although Xiao Jinglin didn’t speak, Ren Yaoqi sensed she was somewhat lost in thought.

In the end, Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi didn’t stay to dine at the small tavern. They had the food packed in food boxes after it was prepared. After all, this was a street-facing establishment, and Xiao Jinglin was still mindful that people might gossip about Ren Yaoqi, a young lady from an inner household.

When leaving, Xiao Jinglin still had Hong Ying go to the neighboring teahouse to greet Yun Wenting. Yun Wenting immediately came out and didn’t ask why they were leaving so soon, simply standing by the carriage to bid farewell warmly.

“I heard the Yun family will soon have joyous news?” Just when Yun Wenting thought Xiao Jinglin would respond calmly as usual and leave without looking back, Xiao Jinglin in the carriage spoke up with this question.

Yun Wenting was stunned, then said, “The elders are considering Qiuchen’s matter.”

Yun Wenting was wondering why Xiao Jinglin would suddenly ask about this when he heard Xiao Jinglin say: “Cousin, you’re twenty this year, aren’t you?”

The address “cousin” left Yun Wenting somewhat dazed. Before he could savor it carefully, Xiao Jinglin’s words gave him an ominous feeling, and the gentle smile that usually graced his lips unconsciously tightened.

“With proper order of age, there are some things a cousin should also consider in due time,” Xiao Jinglin’s calm voice drifted out through the carriage window.

Yun Wenting looked up quietly at the carriage curtain, as if he could see through the thick curtain to Xiao Jinglin’s face. His voice carried a bitterness and fragility he had never shown before others: “Lin’er…” But in the end, he only managed to call out these two words.

Xiao Jinglin said nothing more, only signaling Hong Ying to drive away.

Yun Wenting stood in place for a long time without moving. His expression was somewhat sad and weary until Han Yunqian came out and called his name from behind.

Yun Wenting closed his eyes. When he turned to face Han Yunqian, he had resumed his usual gentle appearance, though his complexion was paler than usual.

Han Yunqian glanced at him and only said: “It’s getting late. Let’s return to the residence early?”

In the carriage, Ren Yaoqi looked at the silent Xiao Jinglin, feeling she had heard something she shouldn’t have. She wondered if Young Master Yun would feel embarrassed when he saw her in the future.

Suddenly, Xiao Jinglin let out a long sigh, then looked at Ren Yaoqi seriously: “Yaoyao, let me tell you a secret.”

Ren Yaoqi blinked.

Xiao Jinglin slowly leaned against Ren Yaoqi and said quietly: “I once wanted Yun Wenting to be my prince consort.”

Xiao Jinglin’s words greatly surprised Ren Yaoqi, who couldn’t help but turn to look at her.

“When he ran off to Jiajing Pass back then,” Xiao Jinglin said, looking at the carriage roof with no expression on her face.

Every young woman has expectations about her ideal man, and Princess Xiao wasn’t born cold-hearted. Yun Wenting was handsome, capable in both literature and martial arts, considerate and gentle, devoted to Xiao Jinglin, and had stayed with her at Jiajing Pass for several years. Although Xiao Jinglin was young then, she matured early, so developing vague feelings for Yun Wenting was quite natural.

But just when Princess Xiao mustered the courage to ask Yun Wenting if he wanted to be her prince consort and stay with her at Jiajing Pass in the future, Yun Wenting was summoned away by the Yun family, and Xiao Jinglin never had the chance to ask that question.

When Xiao Jinglin grew older and understood more, she realized that Yun Wenting had left back then because when faced with choosing between her and the Yun family, he ultimately chose the Yun family. And her question would never have the chance to be asked in this lifetime.

So it wasn’t that Yun Wenting wasn’t good enough, nor that Xiao Jinglin looked down on him. Yun Wenting had once met Xiao Jinglin’s standards for her ideal companion, but that was only in the past.

Some things, once missed, never get a second chance.

Ren Yaoqi listened quietly to Xiao Jinglin’s account and could only sigh softly in the end.

Xiao Jinglin had always been clear about what she wanted, so she didn’t need consolation.