Xiao Jingxi glanced at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi nodded: “Go ahead.”
According to protocol, after completing the ceremonies in the bridal chamber, Xiao Jingxi still needed to make an appearance before the guests outside. The Yanbei Prince’s Manor hadn’t held such a grand celebration in a long time. Almost everyone qualified to offer congratulations had come today—all the family heads of Yanbei’s great houses, and the Yanbei Prince’s Manor still needed to show them proper respect.
When outsiders were present, Xiao Jingxi would never display the reluctant, clingy behavior of a woman. So far, Ren Yaoqi was the only person who had ever seen Second Young Master Xiao act spoiled and throw tantrums.
So, regardless of whether Xiao Jingxi wanted to leave in his heart, or whether he resented Xiao Jinglin for appearing at the wrong time and disrupting his good fortune, he still instructed Xiao Jinglin: “If you’re not going out, then stay here and keep… your second sister-in-law company.”
Xiao Jinglin was very agreeable: “I understand. I’ll stay here and watch over things.”
Only then did Xiao Jingxi feel at ease. He smiled at Ren Yaoqi again before leaving the bridal chamber.
After Xiao Jingxi left, Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi stared at each other for a while, until Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh: “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Jinglin looked Ren Yaoqi up and down for quite a while, very consciously ignoring the somewhat faded rouge on her lips. After thinking seriously, she said with some conflict: “I’m wondering how to address you in the future. According to protocol, I should call you Second Sister-in-law, but it always feels somewhat awkward. Calling you directly by name would be impolite.”
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh: “I thought it was something serious. In the future, when there are people around, call me Second Sister-in-law. In private, when there are no outsiders, just continue as before.”
Xiao Jinglin blinked and whispered: “Does Xiao Jingxi count as an outsider?”
Ren Yaoqi coughed lightly and also whispered: “If you say he counts, then he counts. If you say he doesn’t, then he doesn’t.”
Princess Xiao was easy to appease, and her heart immediately felt much more comfortable.
“Are you hungry? I’ll have someone bring some food over.” Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment and asked. She had heard that brides were often starved for an entire day and was worried that Ren Yaoqi might be hungry too.
Ren Yaoqi quickly stopped her: “I’m not hungry. I ate quite a lot when we completed the ritual ceremony just now.” The Yanbei Prince’s Manor had more wedding customs than ordinary places. Just now, she and Xiao Jingxi had to eat something each time they bowed. Although the ritual was very complex and time-consuming, the advantage was that her stomach was full and she wasn’t hungry.
Xiao Jinglin nodded and didn’t insist further.
“By the way, the Crown Prince of Hezhong has also come. Do you want to see him?” Xiao Jinglin said to Ren Yaoqi.
The Crown Prince of Hezhong was Ren Yaoqi’s uncle, Li Tianyou. The dowry from the Hezhong Prince’s Manor had arrived in Yunyang City first, while Li Tianyou had only come today. When Ren Yaoqi was still at the Ren residence, she had heard people outside saying that Li Tianyou had arrived, so she wasn’t surprised by this news.
“It’s not convenient today. We’ll talk about it when there’s an opportunity.” Ren Yaoqi shook her head.
Today, Ren Yaoqi definitely couldn’t receive outside guests. This was the first time someone from her maternal family had appeared in Yunyang City since her maternal relatives left. Li Tianyou’s visit was certainly not just to represent the Hezhong Prince’s Manor at her and Xiao Jingxi’s wedding—he must have other business to attend to. If Li Tianyou would stay in Yunyang City for several more days, then they could still meet.
“Also, the Zeng family from Ningxia sent someone.” Xiao Jinglin chatted with her sporadically, afraid that Ren Yaoqi might be bored.
“Who came?” Ren Yaoqi was still very concerned about the Zeng family.
“Only one of Zeng Pu’s stewards came. The actual Zeng family members would be too embarrassed to appear at the Yanbei Prince’s Manor right now, otherwise, there would probably be quite a commotion at the Old Princess Consort’s place.” Xiao Jinglin said sarcastically.
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but be curious: “What happened?”
Xiao Jinglin originally didn’t want to tell Ren Yaoqi about these unlucky matters, but since Ren Yaoqi asked, she didn’t hide it either. She said carefully, “A while ago, Wu Yiyu became pregnant, but she miscarried not long after. This was already the second time.”
Ren Yaoqi was shocked by this news and said, somewhat stunned: “Pregnant? But… but isn’t Zeng Kui…” If she remembered correctly, Zeng Kui was no longer capable of intercourse. Could it be that the Zeng family had found a miracle doctor to cure him?
Xiao Jinglin said calmly: “The child was naturally not Zeng Kui’s.”
Ren Yaoqi still couldn’t understand: “Didn’t they say the Zeng family controlled Miss Wu’s movements?” How could they still let her become pregnant with someone else’s child?
Xiao Jinglin frowned, her expression showing some disgust: “Zeng Kui is an unpredictable person. Who knows what he’s thinking!”
Ren Yaoqi immediately understood. Wu Yiyu’s pregnancy was not because she had someone on the outside—this was just one of Zeng Kui’s methods of torment, making her pregnant with some other man’s child, then causing her to miscarry.
Thinking of this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but shiver. She increasingly understood why, in her previous life, Ren Yaohua would rather choose to perish together with Zeng Kui than continue living with him. A person like Zeng Kui had lost all humanity—calling him a beast would be insulting to beasts.
This topic was too unpleasant to discuss, even though they had once deeply despised Wu Yiyu.
“You’ve never been to Zhaoning Palace before, have you? My second brother’s place is usually the most peaceful, because he has so many rules. He never receives outside guests in Zhaoning Palace, as if he’s afraid that others stepping in here would dirty his place. He’s extremely difficult to serve. However, Mother said that now that he’s married, some rules need to change. You can’t always have to run to other places just to receive guests in the future, right? So take a look around here—if there’s anything you find displeasing or don’t like, tomorrow I’ll have the steward in charge of internal affairs come record it and make some changes.” Xiao Jinglin tactfully changed the subject.
Ren Yaoqi was very grateful for the Princess Consort’s thoughtfulness, but if these were all Xiao Jingxi’s habits, she still didn’t want to make him break them as soon as she arrived. After all, these weren’t major issues—she could accommodate what she could accommodate. Otherwise, when encountering things that truly couldn’t be accommodated, it would be harder to resolve.
Regarding the way of husband and wife, although Ren Yaoqi had no experience, she was earnestly trying to figure it out.
The two continued chatting like this, without having anyone come in to serve them, and time passed quite quickly. When Xiao Jingxi finished entertaining the people outside and returned, Xiao Jinglin was telling Ren Yaoqi about interesting stories from Xiao Jingxi’s childhood.
“…Mother somehow heard that it’s better to raise boys by dressing them as girls when they’re young, so she had the sewing room make some little girl’s clothes, and even planned to give Second Brother the kind of hair buns that only little girls wear…”
“Ahem! Ahem!” Two sudden heavy coughs interrupted Xiao Jinglin’s words.
Ren Yaoqi, who had been laughing almost uncontrollably, looked up to see that Xiao Jingxi had already entered and was smiling at Xiao Jinglin, though his eyes held a hint of warning.
“It’s getting late. You should go back—Mother was just looking for you.” Xiao Jingxi said to Xiao Jinglin with apparent calm.
Xiao Jinglin showed no embarrassment at being caught red-handed telling embarrassing stories behind someone’s back. She suppressed her upturned mouth corners and, before getting up, said to Ren Yaoqi: “We’ll continue talking next time. I’m leaving first.”
Ren Yaoqi nodded and watched Xiao Jinglin leave. It wasn’t convenient for her to escort Xiao Jinglin out.
Xiao Jingxi walked up to Ren Yaoqi and smiled: “Are you that happy laughing at my expense?”
Ren Yaoqi was still immersed in the joy of hearing many interesting stories about Xiao Jingxi’s childhood. She didn’t feel uncomfortable about Xiao Jingxi’s approach. Instead, she looked up at him with a smile and asked: “So did you wear little girls’ clothes when you were young?” Ren Yaoqi looked at Xiao Jingxi before her and imagined little Xiao Jingxi wearing a small red jacket with his hair in little buns…
“Pfft—”
Xiao Jingxi sat down beside her and smiled as he leaned close to her ear, whispering: “Do you want to know?”
Only when the warm breath reached her ear did Ren Yaoqi realize they were now face to face, very close together. Remembering what Xiao Jingxi had done to her before he left, her face instantly flushed red. She couldn’t help but want to lean back and avoid this distance that made her feel at a loss.
But Xiao Jingxi didn’t give her the chance. Before Ren Yaoqi could move away, Xiao Jingxi pulled her into his arms, and then warm lips covered hers.
Although she had already experienced this once, when Xiao Jingxi kissed her, Ren Yaoqi’s mind still went blank. She could only remain motionless and soft in his arms, letting him do as he pleased.
Xiao Jingxi continuously claimed Ren Yaoqi’s mouth, kissing her gently yet passionately. Ren Yaoqi unconsciously became immersed in his kiss, and finally instinctively moved her tongue.
Ren Yaoqi’s movement pleased Xiao Jingxi, making his kiss even more tender as he guided Ren Yaoqi to play with him between lips and teeth.
When Xiao Jingxi’s hand began unbuttoning her outer garment, Ren Yaoqi snapped back to awareness. She felt somewhat nervous but didn’t avoid him. She knew what the two of them were supposed to do in the bridal chamber.
Her outer garment was unfastened, and Xiao Jingxi’s warm palm slipped under the hem of her undergarment, resting on her waist and gently caressing.
Ren Yaoqi’s waist felt weak, and unable to support herself, she fell softly onto the bed. Xiao Jingxi followed and covered her. Her breath was filled with Xiao Jingxi’s scent, and her eyes could only see his handsome face. Without realizing it, Ren Yaoqi was completely bewitched by him.
There is a type of man in this world who, when he gazes at you with such focused attention, makes you forget everything else and want only to sink into his endless tenderness and deep affection.
Xiao Jingxi gazed at Ren Yaoqi, gently placing kisses on her lips and cheeks, as if treating some rare treasure.
“Yaoyao?” Xiao Jingxi called softly.
“Mm?” Ren Yaoqi looked at him with eyes that had grown moist with desire.
“Yaoyao.” Xiao Jingxi pecked at her lips and called again.
“Mm.”
“Yaoyao.”