The Lei family, once prominent in Yanbei, now had only Lei Ting and Lei Zhen as the remaining main family members.
Twenty-six-year-old Lei Ting had become the Lei family head.
Since there were no others around, seeing her granddaughter’s curiosity about the Lei family, Rong Shi told her about the Lei family’s history.
This Lei family head could be considered a talented young man. He began managing the Lei family at eighteen, and in just a few short years had accumulated considerable wealth for the family, so their return to Yunyang City wasn’t as impoverished as the Yun family had been over a decade ago. Of course, the Yun family now was incomparable to what it once was, but when they first moved back from the south, the Yun family had no financial resources.
When the Lei family first returned to Yunyang City, establishing themselves here should have taken considerable time. However, Lei Ting, this young family head, was exceptionally skilled and capable, and combined with the Lei family’s established aristocratic status, the Lei family had penetrated back into Yanbei’s aristocratic circles in an extremely short time.
Rong Shi’s words showed great optimism about the Lei family’s prospects.
Listening to Rong Shi’s account, Ren Yaoqi always felt something was amiss and couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.
Rong Shi had already begun discussing the Lei family’s inner courtyard affairs: “The Lei family head originally had a first wife, Qiao Shi, who passed away a few years ago, leaving only a daughter who is just four years old this year, now being raised by her great-grandmother. This old madam of the Lei family is quite elderly and rarely comes out for social functions. I heard she’s been a devout Buddhist who eats vegetarian meals year-round, but recently she’s announced her intention to find the Lei family head a second wife.”
When others discussed such gossip, it always gave the impression of idle chatter, but when Rong Shi spoke about it in her gentle manner, it felt comfortable and natural, not abrupt at all.
The reason Rong Shi said so much was to help her granddaughter better understand the situation in Yunyang City, so she wouldn’t be at a disadvantage when dealing with people. The Lei family had only recently arrived in Yanbei, and most families couldn’t claim to know them thoroughly, which was why Rong Shi specifically mentioned this Lei family.
Besides this, Rong Shi continued to tell her about several other aristocratic families in Yunyang City. They had already changed the tea twice.
Ren Yaoqi understood her grandmother’s good intentions and listened very attentively. In her memory, she had never had such an intimate moment with Rong Shi, her grandmother, though Rong Shi did care for her. Her care wasn’t expressed through excessive concern about daily needs, but rather through passing on as much knowledge as she could.
The sound of drums rang out again from outside, and many pretty maids entered, each carrying a basket, going to each lady and miss asking for their bets.
Like the previous ice festival competition, it was still about betting on which team would win.
However, the dragon boats in the water were all sent by various families in Yunyang City, such as the Yanbei Prince’s mansion, the Yun family, the Su family, the Lin family, and so on. Generally, each family would support their dragon boat while also giving tips to other’ boats.
In such occasions, dragon boat racing was a sport where winning and losing weren’t taken too seriously – the real emphasis was on participation. No family was truly aiming for the championship, because every year’s winner, without exception, was the Yanbei Prince’s mansion.
So despite the liveliness outside, few people were actually paying attention to the races – everyone was busy cultivating relationships. Ren Yaoqi wasn’t particularly interested in this either, only taking out the silver she had prepared when the betting maid came over.
Ren Yaoqi sat with Rong Shi for a while, speaking quietly in a harmonious atmosphere.
Until Sangshen, the maid waiting outside, ran in saying: “Miss, Hongying from the Princess’s side came and said the Princess has already boarded the large boat. If you come out, you should go find her on the large boat.”
The large boat Xiao Jinglin mentioned should be the one Yun Wenting had brought up when they encountered the two Yun brothers earlier.
Ren Yaoqi nodded, signaling Sangshen to go reply that she understood. She didn’t immediately take her leave – she preferred to stay here longer listening to Rong Shi tell her about the various families’ stories in Yunyang City.
Instead, Rong Shi asked: “Are you very familiar with that Princess from the Yanbei Prince’s mansion?”
Ren Yaoqi thought about it. She had only met Xiao Jinglin three times total, so saying they were very familiar would be inaccurate, but their interactions had indeed been very harmonious. Having experienced scheming and plotting, Ren Yaoqi liked Xiao Jinglin’s straightforward personality.
“I’ve only met the Princess a few times, but we get along well,” Ren Yaoqi said honestly.
Rong Shi nodded, unsurprised: “No wonder. Since the Princess has invited you, go ahead. You’re staying in Yunyang City for several more days, aren’t you? If you have time, come visit your grandfather and me.” Rong Shi looked at Ren Yaoqi with a kind smile.
Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to say something, Sangshen, who had left not long ago, returned.
“Miss, the Princess sent someone to invite you to the large boat.”
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but feel surprised. Hadn’t Hongying just come earlier? And Hongying hadn’t said Xiao Jinglin wanted her to come immediately. How was it that right after Hongying left, someone else was sent?
“Who came?” Ren Yaoqi asked.
Sangshen said, “It’s another girl called Hongxiao from the Princess’s side.”
Rong Shi smiled: “Go ahead. The scenery on the boat is nice, and since this is your first time seeing the dragon boat races, it would be good to go out and have a look.”
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then obediently stood up to take her leave.
“By the way, Xiasheng will be back soon. Your uncle received his letter yesterday,” Rong Shi told Ren Yaoqi before she left.
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi felt joy in her heart. Xiasheng had gone south this time to investigate Old Master Han for her – she wondered if he had found any information. According to the original schedule, Xiasheng should have already returned, but he had sent word that he would be delayed, so his return to Yunyang City was postponed.
After Ren Yaoqi bid farewell to Rong Shi and came out, she saw Hongxiao waiting outside. Upon seeing Ren Yaoqi, Hongxiao curtsied, then, without another word, led Ren Yaoqi toward the river.
Not far from where the painted boat had been moored earlier, a colorful boat decorated with ribbons was docked at the riverbank. It resembled the official boats from the capital, quite large with two levels. Ren Yaoqi had ridden such boats in her previous life.
When they reached the boat, someone lowered a gangplank from above. Hongxiao supported Ren Yaoqi as she boarded. Xiao Jinglin’s maids must have all learned martial arts – this Hongxiao had a very stable stance, and since the gangplank wasn’t wide, she walked backward while pulling Ren Yaoqi up the boat.
As soon as Ren Yaoqi stepped onto the boat’s deck, she heard a familiar voice: “Fifth Miss.”
Turning around, Ren Yaoqi saw that the person who had lowered the gangplank was Dongsheng.
Ren Yaoqi nodded and smiled at him: “Where is the Princess?”
Since Dongsheng was here, Second Young Master Xiao should be here too.
“Please follow this servant, Fifth Miss Ren,” Dongsheng quickly led the way for Ren Yaoqi.
The middle cabin section of this boat had originally been divided into separate rooms, but now all the partitions had been removed, making the entire cabin into a large reception hall.
As Ren Yaoqi walked past, she could hear laughter and conversation from inside, along with the sound of stringed instruments – it was quite lively.
However, Dongsheng didn’t take Ren Yaoqi to that large hall, but instead led her around to the upper level after making a half circle.
“Fifth Miss, this servant has been looking through the local gazetteers in the Prince’s mansion these days,” Dongsheng suddenly said quietly.
Ren Yaoqi paused her steps, then continued walking: “Did you find any clues?”
Dongsheng shook his head, looking puzzled: “This servant went through nearly a century’s worth of county records, and found several families with the surname Qu in Yanbei, but none seemed to match the family you described.”
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat disappointed but still nodded: “Thank you for your efforts.”
Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s expression, Dongsheng felt guilty, thinking he hadn’t been able to help.
However, he couldn’t say much more at this point because they had arrived.
The upper level wasn’t as large as the first floor, with carved and openwork cabin walls that were very well-ventilated. Compared to the level below, it was much quieter here.
Dongsheng stepped forward to lift the bead curtain for Ren Yaoqi, and the pleasant sound of beads colliding rang out.
As soon as Ren Yaoqi entered, she saw Xiao Jingxi and Yun Wenting sitting across from each other by the opposite window, playing chess.
Xiao Jinglin sat by a low table in the corner, drinking tea while gazing out the window, completely indifferent to the chess game between the two men.
Compared to the liveliness below, it was very quiet here, seemingly isolated from all the outside clamor, forming a world of its own.
As if sensing something, Xiao Jingxi, who was holding a chess piece, was the first to look up. Because half his face was against the light, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t see his expression clearly, only sensing that he nodded in this direction, causing the Yun young master to also turn his head slightly.
“Yaoqi,” Xiao Jinglin called out indifferently to Ren Yaoqi, gesturing for her to come sit with her.
Ren Yaoqi curtsied toward Xiao Jingxi and Yun Wenting’s direction, then walked toward the low table where Xiao Jinglin was sitting.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi look around after settling down, Xiao Jinglin said, “We came early. There will probably be more people here later, so we’ll go back to our boat then.”
As soon as Xiao Jinglin finished speaking, they heard Young Master Yun’s gentle voice: “If the Princess doesn’t like it, I can have others not come up here.”
“No need,” Xiao Jinglin replied as concisely as always.
Young Master Yun said nothing more and continued focusing on the chess game.
Just as Ren Yaoqi sat down, someone came in from outside and whispered a few words in Young Master Yun’s ear. Since there were few people here, even lowered voices could catch some fragments, so Ren Yaoqi vaguely heard the words “Miss Wu.”
Young Master Yun’s expression remained normal as he waved the person away, then calmly played a few more moves with Xiao Jingxi before saying: “Some guests have arrived. I’ll go down to make arrangements.”
Yun Wenting got up and left.
Soon after, Ren Yaoqi heard the sound of someone else getting up, and then Xiao Jingxi walked over.