The warm breeze stirred the flowers and plants in the courtyard, making them sway gently. Bees and butterflies flitted among the branches and leaves as the approaching summer atmosphere filled this small courtyard.

Upon hearing Xiao Jingxi’s words, Ren Yaoqi felt a slight pause in her heart, but she quickly spoke up: “The Han family once discussed jointly operating salt fields with the Ren family, but later it didn’t work out due to various reasons. I heard that the Su family and the Yun family are also competing for the salt fields in Xining. Is the Su family showing friendliness to the Han family this time because of the salt wells the Han family possesses?”

Xiao Jingxi walked slowly to stand before Ren Yaoqi, looking at her thoughtfully, then suddenly sighed: “Fifth Miss Ren, do you know where the Han family’s salt wells came from?”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi’s heart stirred, and she frowned: “Could it be from the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion?”

Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi without speaking.

Ren Yaoqi lowered her eyes, her fingers brushing through the branches and leaves of the pearl orchid beside her as she pondered silently.

After learning about the relationship between the Han family and the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion, she had also speculated that the salt fields in the Han family’s possession had some connection to the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion.

But now that Xiao Jingxi was deliberately bringing this matter up with her, could it be that the salt wells in the Han family’s possession had some other purpose?

Initially, when she had schemed to involve the Su family, besides wanting to disrupt the marriage alliance between the Han and Ren families, she also wanted to use the Su family’s intervention to probe the waters and figure out what use the Han family was to the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion, so she could devise countermeasures.

“I previously confided to Second Young Master that I harbored suspicions about the Han family, so I wasn’t optimistic about the cooperation between the Han and Ren families,” Ren Yaoqi suddenly raised her head and spoke frankly to Xiao Jingxi.

Xiao Jingxi’s gaze shifted away from Ren Yaoqi’s jade-white slender fingers reflected among the fresh tender branches and leaves, meeting her clear eyes.

“So Fifth Miss Ren schemed against the Su family?” The admiration in Xiao Jingxi’s gaze was undisguised.

Ren Yaoqi suddenly smiled: “If I said this matter was purely coincidental and I didn’t do anything, would Second Young Master believe me?”

Xiao Jingxi chuckled lightly, then shook his head seriously: “I wouldn’t believe it.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled faintly without speaking.

However, Xiao Jingxi sighed: “Fifth Miss Ren has such fine schemes and methods. But have you ever considered that your actions might have disrupted the Prince of Yanbei’s plans?”

Ren Yaoqi frowned in confusion: “What plans of the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion? Related to the Su family interfering with the Han family’s salt wells?”

Xiao Jingxi pondered for a moment: “Originally, both the Su family and the Yun family were determined to obtain the salt fields in Xining. By having the Su family cooperate with the Han family at this time, you’re indirectly helping the Su family, causing the Yun family to be eliminated early?”

Xiao Jingxi mentioned the Yun family…

Ren Yaoqi’s thoughts continued churning in her mind.

She knew about the grievances between the Yun family and the Su family. She had thought that having the Yun family, representing the old established aristocracy, at odds with the Su family, representing the newly risen nobility, was a means for the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion to balance the power of both sides. The two old Princess Consorts of the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion had made the conflict between the Su and Yun families irreconcilable.

And the Han family, hidden in the shadows by the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion…

Suddenly, Ren Yaoqi had a realization that made her heart skip a beat.

Could it be that the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion was already dissatisfied with the mutual restraint between the Yun and Su families, and therefore wanted to break this situation, with the Han family being the chess piece secretly cultivated by the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion to break the balance between the two families?

Thinking this way, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. If this were true, then the Han family would be quite useful to the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion.

But why would the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion suddenly want to break the balanced situation that the old Prince of Yanbei had deliberately arranged to stabilize the Yanbei situation?

Ren Yaoqi’s thoughts went further. She thought of the situation in Yanbei in her previous life. The Su family’s eldest son had married Zeng Pu’s niece, and the Su family’s attitude toward the Zeng family and the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion had become ambiguous.

Could it be that the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion had already detected the Su family’s unusual movements?

Although Ren Yaoqi thought this way, it was merely speculation, and she couldn’t be certain her guess was correct.

So she said to Xiao Jingxi: “Second Young Master mentioned earlier that the Su family cooperating with the Han family ‘at this time’ would cause the Yun family to be eliminated ‘early,’ disrupting the balance between the Yun and Su families, thus ‘disturbing the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion’s plans’… Could it be that the timing of the Su family and the Han family’s cooperation is wrong? If it were later, wouldn’t the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion fear breaking the balance between the Yun and Su families?” Could it be that the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion wasn’t ready yet? Ren Yaoqi didn’t say this directly, only hinting subtly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi with complete bewilderment and nearly choked.

How had Ren Yaoqi reached this conclusion from his few words? He found it truly incredible.

The young lady before him wore a light purple short jacket and a goose-yellow long skirt that reached her shoes, making her appear graceful and elegant. Though still young, her features already showed the early signs of beauty. Most remarkably, she possessed a unique temperament that made people want to explore her depths.

Ren Yaoqi might not be the most beautiful woman Xiao Jingxi had ever encountered, nor perhaps the smartest, but she was certainly the most unique.

Xiao Jingxi had never paid so much attention to any woman before.

Seeing Xiao Jingxi looking at her with deep, unfathomable eyes without speaking, Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat uneasy. Had she said too much? If she had truly seen through some secret of the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion, she would be in trouble.

Could it be that because Xiao Jingxi had helped her last time, she had developed inexplicable trust in this young man? This wasn’t like her character.

However, Xiao Jingxi coughed lightly and turned slightly away. Ren Yaoqi didn’t notice that the young man she considered unfathomable and mysterious had a faint flush on his face.

But Xiao Jingxi always maintained an inscrutable, immortal-like demeanor, never revealing his thoughts, so even if others saw it, they would only think it was from the sun’s heat and wouldn’t think otherwise.

“What do you plan to do next?” Xiao Jingxi asked in a calm tone, regaining the proper bearing that Second Young Master Xiao should have, without a trace of youthful awkwardness.

Ren Yaoqi found Xiao Jingxi’s question somewhat inexplicable. What could she plan to do? Unable to fathom Xiao Jingxi’s thoughts, she could only probe tentatively: “I’m merely a sheltered young lady with very limited capabilities. As for future matters, I can only leave them to fate.” After a pause, she suddenly curtsied to Xiao Jingxi and said earnestly, “Thank you for Second Young Master Xiao’s care.”

Xiao Jingxi glanced at her and said coolly, “You needn’t thank me. I haven’t helped you with anything.” He hadn’t revealed too much information; it was Ren Yaoqi who had guessed on her own. Even he had to admire this point.

Ren Yaoqi smiled and shook her head: “Given your position, the fact that you’ve repeatedly offered guidance is something I’m very grateful for. It’s just that seeking benefit and avoiding harm is human nature. Even if I’m unwilling, there are some things I must do. If I inadvertently offend, please don’t hold it against me.”

Xiao Jingxi was silent for a moment before saying: “Matters that don’t conflict with the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion’s interests, I won’t interfere with. But the Han family… the Han family is still useful to the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion at present. If you want to make a move against them, it will be difficult.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but frown. Was Xiao Jingxi warning her that if she repeatedly schemed against the Han family in secret, she would eventually alarm the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion and bring trouble upon herself?

“I have no intention of opposing anyone. If the Han family doesn’t target the Ren family members, I’d be happy to maintain peaceful neighborly relations,” Ren Yaoqi said seriously. “But if the Han family truly harbors ill intentions, should I just sit and wait for death?”

This statement was somewhat sharp, causing even Xiao Jingxi to fall silent.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and added, “Second Young Master Xiao, is the Han family truly irreplaceable to the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion?”

Xiao Jingxi considered this and answered tactfully: “At present, the Han family is the most suitable.”

So they weren’t irreplaceable after all? Ren Yaoqi’s thoughts stirred slightly.

What if someone could replace the Han family?

Xiao Jingxi seemed to guess her thoughts and raised an eyebrow: “Does Fifth Miss Ren want your Ren family to replace the Han family?”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi shook her head without hesitation: “No, the Ren family isn’t suitable.”

Xiao Jingxi was surprised again. If the Ren family could replace the Han family, it would be a good thing for the Ren family. Although he had only spoken casually, Ren Yaoqi had rejected the idea without a second thought.

Ren Yaoqi smiled bitterly inwardly. The Ren family’s power holders would naturally be more than willing to curry favor with the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion. But she knew all too well what kind of people the Ren family’s power holders were. Therefore, she didn’t want to see the Ren family drawn into this power struggle, because the final result might be that chess pieces like them would suffer.

As the two were talking, they suddenly heard chattering voices from the entrance: “General, let me carry that for you! Let me carry it!”

Both turned around in surprise to see Xiao Jinglin walking in, holding a long object wrapped in gray cloth.

The boy Mo Xiaoliang, whom they had seen before, was hopping around her, trying to reach for what Xiao Jinglin was holding but not quite daring to.

Xiao Jinglin, bothered by his fly-like harassment, frowned at him: “Why should you carry it?”

Mo Xiaoliang replied matter-of-factly: “How can a general carry things herself? Subordinates should carry them! I’ll be your subordinate in the future, so naturally I should help you carry things!”

Xiao Jinglin glanced at his small stature and said coolly, “You’re not even half as tall as my spear! You’d drag the spear and damage it!”

Upon hearing this, Mo Xiaoliang was devastated and stood there stunned…

She thought he was too short? Short? Short?

“Wah—Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, what can I eat to grow taller?” Little Mo Xiaoliang cried as he ran away.

With his ears finally quiet, Xiao Jinglin calmly walked toward Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi without a trace of guilt for hurting the boy’s feelings.

Ren Yaoqi looked at the long object in her hands curiously: “Is this your spear?”

Seeing her curious gaze at the wrapped spear in her hands, Xiao Jinglin hesitated briefly before generously taking Ren Yaoqi’s hand and placing the spear in it, wanting to let her take a look.

For Xiao Jinglin, she generally wouldn’t let others handle her weapon, so this was also a gesture of friendship.

However, before the spear reached Ren Yaoqi’s hands, a hand reached out from the side and intercepted it.

Xiao Jinglin turned to look at Xiao Jingxi with a frown.

Xiao Jingxi shook his head, returning the spear to Xiao Jinglin while gently chiding: “She can’t lift your spear. If you force it into her hands, she’ll injure her wrist.”

Xiao Jinglin took back her spear, looked at Ren Yaoqi, understood, and said: “Sorry.”

Ren Yaoqi extended her hand to look at it and winked at Xiao Jinglin: “I should be the one apologizing. One should always act within their capabilities. I was indeed curious about your spear.”

Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment, unwrapped the gray cloth covering the spear shaft, exposing the spearhead for Ren Yaoqi to see, adding: “Just look, don’t touch it with your hands. The spearhead was just sharpened and is very sharp.”

The silver spearhead was dazzling in the sunlight. Ren Yaoqi nodded, not reaching out to touch it, examining it closely in Xiao Jinglin’s hands: “So this is a spear. I’ve only seen them in book illustrations.”

“What books?” Xiao Jingxi, watching the two of them talk, smiled and interjected.

“Tales of Chivalrous Heroes,” Ren Yaoqi answered instinctively.

Then all three present were slightly stunned, and Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but chuckle softly, turning his head away.

No matter how thick-skinned Ren Yaoqi was, she blushed at this moment.

Such books weren’t meant for sheltered young ladies to read. The characters described in them were mostly from common backgrounds with common temperaments, so these books were considered forbidden in women’s quarters.

In her previous life, when Ren Yaoqi was with Master Pei, because Master Pei himself was an unconventional person who read all kinds of books, Ren Yaoqi also read everything, and over time, she had almost forgotten these rules.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s embarrassment and Xiao Jingxi laughing nearby, Xiao Jinglin’s inherent heroic nature of protecting the weak emerged again.

So she calmly comforted Ren Yaoqi: “It’s nothing. I once discovered my brother secretly reading ‘The Golden Hairpin Chronicles.'”

Xiao Jingxi: “…”

Ren Yaoqi: “…”

Ren Yaoqi looked at Xiao Jingxi. Although he still maintained his calm expression and perfect smile, Ren Yaoqi still noticed the unnatural flush at his ears.

For the first time, Ren Yaoqi wondered if she had been deceived by Xiao Jingxi’s appearance before. Was this young man’s immortal-like aura just a facade?

Fortunately, at this moment, a servant beside Xiao Jingxi walked in. Seeing Xiao Jingxi and the others talking there, he hurried over and whispered something in Xiao Jingxi’s ear.

Xiao Jingxi nodded coolly, waved his hand to dismiss him, then said to Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin: “I have matters to attend to and must leave first.”

Xiao Jinglin said nothing, only responding with a “mm.”

Xiao Jingxi also nodded to Ren Yaoqi, then turned and left.

Xiao Jinglin suddenly remembered something and called out to Xiao Jingxi’s retreating figure: “It’s almost time for you to take your medicine. Don’t forget again.”

Xiao Jingxi’s steps paused. He turned to acknowledge her before lifting the curtain and leaving.

Ren Yaoqi felt that his acknowledgment sounded somewhat helpless. For some reason, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi laugh, Xiao Jinglin turned to look at her questioningly.

Ren Yaoqi coughed lightly: “Those who don’t know would think you’re the older sister and he’s the younger brother.”

Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinglin nodded: “He’s been delicate since childhood, afraid of bitter medicine, prone to catching colds, but afraid of stuffiness and refuses to close windows.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi could barely contain her laughter. The Xiao Jingxi in Xiao Jinglin’s eyes seemed to be a completely different person from the one in their eyes.

Later, Sister-in-law Mo and her daughter-in-law served the meal, including the restaurant’s signature braised donkey meat, fresh mushroom soup, and several home-style dishes.

The variety was quite simple, but Xiao Jinglin ate with great relish. Her eating manner was reasonably refined, but her speed was fast and her appetite considerable.

Although it was somewhat impolite to watch others eat, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but observe Xiao Jinglin eating, and for some unknown reason, she ate half a bowl more rice than usual.

In the end, almost all the dishes on the table were finished. After putting down her bowl, Xiao Jinglin met Ren Yaoqi’s smiling gaze without feeling embarrassed.

“It’s getting late. Shall I escort you back to the mansion?” Xiao Jinglin asked Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi nodded.

When the two came out, they happened to hear Sister-in-law Mo scolding her son: “Your sister-in-law only knows how to make flowers and plants grow well. How would she have a way to make people grow taller quickly? Don’t tell me you want her to water and fertilize you when she tends to the flowers! Go play elsewhere!”

Turning around and seeing Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi coming out, Sister-in-law Mo quickly left her son and came forward to greet them.

Seeing Xiao Jinglin, Mo Xiaoliang, though still somewhat ashamed and red-faced, still approached hesitantly, standing three steps away and looking at them pitifully. His eyes occasionally glanced at the long spear in Xiao Jinglin’s hands.

Xiao Jinglin ignored him completely until she was about to leave, when she paused and beckoned to him.

Mo Xiaoliang’s eyes lit up. He ran over eagerly: “General, what are your orders?”

Xiao Jinglin looked him up and down: “Study and read well. I’ll test you in the future. If you can’t satisfy me, I won’t accept you.”

The melancholy atmosphere that had been surrounding Mo Xiaoliang immediately vanished without a trace. The energetic child immediately somersaulted to the spot and ran excitedly to his mother to show off: “Ma, Ma! The General said I should study and read well, and she’ll accept me as a little general in the future! Ma, did you hear that?”

Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin could still hear the child’s joyful shouting even after walking out of the small shop.

Ren Yaoqi was about to speak when she saw a tall figure standing beside the carriage, talking with Dongsheng, who was sitting on the carriage shaft.

The person turned around just in time to see Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi coming out and hurried over to bow: “Princess, Fifth Miss Ren.”

It turned out to be Zhu Ruomei.

Ren Yaoqi looked at his leg and asked with a smile: “All healed?”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ruomei stamped his feet on the ground and grinned: “Thank you for your concern, Fifth Miss. My injury is completely healed.”

Zhu Ruomei had a robust constitution and stronger recovery ability than ordinary people. Injuries that would take others several months to heal completely recovered in just one or two months for him.

Xiao Jinglin, who should have known about their connection, walked toward the carriage first.