“Did you come together with Second Young Master Xiao?” Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile.

However, Zhu Ruomei shook his head: “After my injury healed completely a few days ago, Young Master let me return to Yunyang City to see my mother. Young Master said there would be matters for me to handle after a while, but for now, I’m free to handle my affairs. I came to White Crane Town to see Uncle Yuan and the others, and also wanted to ask if Fifth Miss has anything that needs my help.”

“Don’t you need to stay by Second Young Master Xiao’s side?” Ren Yaoqi asked upon hearing this.

Zhu Ruomei grinned and shook his head: “From what I gathered from Young Master’s words, he’ll have me stay in White Crane Town in the future.”

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s surprise, Zhu Ruomei lowered his voice and said quietly: “I should be stationed at White Dragon Temple, but Young Master hasn’t given specific instructions about what I’ll be doing there.”

White Dragon Temple? Ren Yaoqi pondered slightly. Combined with the news she had heard from Dongsheng earlier, she guessed that Xiao Jingxi’s arrangement for Zhu Ruomei to stay at White Dragon Temple was probably related to the temple’s hidden troops.

In her previous life, Zhu Ruomei had shown military talent, so this arrangement was actually a good thing for him.

“Although Second Young Master Xiao didn’t have you follow him to the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion, he must have his reasons for this arrangement,” Ren Yaoqi said softly, worried that Zhu Ruomei might think Xiao Jingxi didn’t value him.

“Please don’t worry, Fifth Miss. I understand,” Zhu Ruomei nodded.

After a pause, he added, “In the future, if Fifth Miss has anything that needs help, just have the Yuan family tell me. Whatever Zhu Ruomei can do, I won’t refuse.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh, saying jokingly, “I wouldn’t dare compete with Second Young Master Xiao for people.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ruomei smiled embarrassedly, then said seriously: “Second Young Master Xiao said that as long as I do what he assigns me well, he won’t place too many restrictions on me. So please don’t worry, Fifth Miss.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows secretly. Was Xiao Jingxi being so generous?

However, if this were the case, it would naturally be for the best.

What she lacked most now were people she could use outside. She could train people for the inner courtyard herself, but it was very difficult to find trustworthy people for outside work.

So she smiled: “You’re very thoughtful. If there’s anything I need your help with, I’ll have someone find you.”

Zhu Ruomei grinned again. Ren Yaoqi discovered that this tall, sturdy man was someone who loved to smile.

It was just past noon now, originally mealtime, but this small alley was completely deserted except for Xiao Jinglin’s carriage blocking the middle of the alley and a few of them. When they had entered earlier, they could still see a few peddlers carrying goods and hurried passersby, but now it was cold and quiet.

“Is this alley so remote? Doesn’t Sister-in-law Mo have any business?” Only now did Ren Yaoqi notice this problem and couldn’t help asking.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ruomei glanced around, then said quietly: “When Second Young Master Xiao left earlier, he gave a few instructions to his attendant Tongde, then Tongde left for a short while. Soon after, this alley became quiet. Although Fifth Miss can’t see other people, there are quite a few people from the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion hidden around this alley. Tongde probably also had people guard the alley entrances to keep idle people from entering.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was startled. Had Xiao Jingxi ordered the area cleared when he left?

Was he afraid people would disturb Xiao Jinglin? But given Xiao Jinglin’s personality, she probably wouldn’t care about such things. When they had entered earlier, although Xiao Jinglin had mentioned guards in the shadows, she hadn’t prevented others from entering the alley.

As Ren Yaoqi was speculating randomly, Zhu Ruomei said: “Fifth Miss, it’s sunny here. You should get in the carriage first. I’ll be staying at Yuan Dayong’s house for a few days. If you need anything, just have someone go to the Yuan family to find me.”

Seeing that Xiao Jinglin had already gotten in the carriage to wait for her, and not wanting to keep her waiting too long, Ren Yaoqi nodded and walked toward the carriage.

Zhu Ruomei watched her get into the carriage, and only left after the carriage had driven out of the alley.

After Ren Yaoqi got in the carriage, Xiao Jinglin nodded and instructed Dongsheng outside to drive away, without asking what Ren Yaoqi and Zhu Ruomei had discussed.

When the carriage left the alley, Ren Yaoqi deliberately looked at the alley entrance and indeed saw two people dressed as guards standing watch.

The carriage stopped on the street ahead, and Ren Yaoqi instructed Pingguo to get out and call the several maids and women who had been left in the teahouse to return to the Ren family together.

“Does the Princess know Sister-in-law Mo’s family?” Ren Yaoqi chatted casually with Xiao Jinglin.

Xiao Jinglin nodded: “Mo Kai was originally an old soldier stationed at Jiajing Pass. A few years ago, when he was leading people on patrol outside the city, he encountered a small squad of Liao cavalry. Both sides fought fiercely, and when Mo Kai discovered that the squad was covering a scout’s escape, he pursued alone. Unexpectedly, he encountered another group of Liao cavalry. Being outnumbered and fearing the scout carried intelligence harmful to our army, Mo Kai grabbed him and jumped down a cliff together.”

Mo Kai should be Sister-in-law Mo’s husband and Mo Xiaoliang’s father.

After hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was silent for a moment: “Does Mo Xiaoliang have an older brother?”

Xiao Jinglin nodded faintly: “Yes, Mo Kai’s eldest son, Mo Xiaolong, was young but an excellent scout. However, the winter before last, he went missing during a mission.”

For scouts, going missing usually meant dying silently somewhere unknown. Many scouts’ bodies were never found – this was all too common in the military. With Mo Xiaolong missing for so long, it was impossible for him to still be alive.

No wonder…

Although Xiao Jinglin spoke in a calm tone, Ren Yaoqi felt heavy-hearted after hearing this.

The two didn’t speak again for the rest of the journey.

The carriage soon arrived at the Ren family gate. Xiao Jinglin lifted the carriage curtain to glance at the Ren family’s main gate and said to Ren Yaoqi, “I won’t go in.”

Knowing that Xiao Jinglin probably wasn’t used to life in inner courtyards and didn’t like chatting and laughing with the ladies and misses in women’s quarters, Ren Yaoqi nodded with a smile: “Then I’ll go back first. By the way, when will the Princess leave White Crane Town?”

Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment: “I came with Xiao Jingxi this time and won’t stay long. I should return to Yunyang City by tomorrow at the latest.”

“If the Princess needs someone to accompany her on outings again, just send someone to find me,” Ren Yaoqi said with a wink.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinglin’s lips curved slightly as she nodded.

Ren Yaoqi got out of the carriage and entered the Ren mansion.

Before reaching the second gate, a woman hurriedly ran out from inside, walked up to Ren Yaoqi and said with a smile: “Fifth Miss, you’re back? Old Master and Old Madam are waiting for you in Ronghua Garden. They instructed this servant to call you over as soon as you entered the mansion.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi wasn’t surprised at all. She nodded and followed the woman from Ronghua Garden to see Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren.

Originally, at this time, Old Madam Ren should have finished her lunch and be taking her afternoon nap. Today, however, she was sitting with Old Master Ren on the southern kang in the right side room, talking. Seeing Ren Yaoqi enter, Old Master Ren smiled first: “Fifth girl is back? Have you eaten?”

Old Madam Ren also looked at Ren Yaoqi with a smile, her dimples making her look particularly kind: “There’s still warm lotus root soup in the small kitchen.”

Ren Yaoqi stepped forward to bow: “Thank you for Grandfather and Grandmother’s concern. Your granddaughter has already eaten.”

Old Madam Ren beckoned to her, pointing to the spot beside herself: “Come sit here and talk.”

Ren Yaoqi looked at the “throne” beside Old Madam Ren, thought for a moment, then lowered her head and stepped forward, but sat on a small brocade stool nearby instead. She said somewhat shyly: “Granddaughter will sit here instead, so I can better listen to Grandfather and Grandmother’s teachings.”

Old Master Ren stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

Old Madam Ren said fondly, “You child,” thinking she was being shy and demure, and didn’t insist further.

“Where did you go to play with the Princess today?” Old Master Ren finally began his questioning.

“We first went around outside the city, but found there wasn’t much interesting there, so we returned to the city. Since the Princess doesn’t like crowded, lively places, we randomly found an inconspicuous small restaurant for lunch. After that, we came back,” Ren Yaoqi answered honestly.

“Oh? Outside the city? Was it near our Ren family’s coal mines?” Old Master Ren said thoughtfully.

Ren Yaoqi’s mind raced. What did Old Master Ren mean by this? Did he think Xiao Jinglin’s visit to the Ren family had ulterior motives, that the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion was interested in the Ren family’s coal mines?

But she answered without hesitation: “Originally, the granddaughter hadn’t noticed, but now that Grandfather mentions it, I remember that we did encounter Ren family coal transport camel caravans on the road. It must have been near the coal mines indeed.”

Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren exchanged glances, both with thoughtful expressions in their eyes.

“What did you and the Princess talk about? Did she mention anything about our Ren family?” Old Madam Ren asked.

Ren Yaoqi pretended to think: “She didn’t talk about the Ren family’s affairs. She did chat with me for a while about the horses and camels used for coal transport.”

Old Master Ren frowned thoughtfully: “Horses and camels?”

Ren Yaoqi nodded.

“Was there anything else? I heard the Princess had you dismiss all your attendants, keeping only one maid to serve?” Old Madam asked again.

“The Princess said she doesn’t like having people follow her around, so she had me dismiss them all. The Princess mostly told me about things she encountered outside the passes, and asked how I spent my time in the women’s quarters. As for other things… I don’t know what Old Madam is referring to?” Ren Yaoqi asked in confusion.

“Did the Princess come to White Crane Town alone?” Old Master Ren asked.

“She seemed to say she came with Second Young Master Xiao. Second Young Master Xiao had business to attend to, so the Princess came to find me.”

Old Madam Ren’s smile became even kinder: “How long will they stay in White Crane Town? Since you’re familiar with the Princess, our Ren family should fulfill our duties as hosts and hold a proper banquet. If we could also invite Second Young Master Xiao, that would be even better.”

Old Master also nodded with a beaming smile: “Your grandmother is right. See if you can send another invitation to the Princess?”