Dongsheng hesitated upon hearing this, looking at Xiao Jingxi with a somewhat reluctant expression, wanting to ask for clarification but not knowing how to begin.

In order to investigate the Qu family matter, he had come to this library not once or twice. He had carefully gone through all the records documenting the local county governance of Yanzhou, but could find absolutely no trace of any Qu family records.

Although Yanbei had experienced considerable periods of warfare in the past, after the Yanbei Prince’s Manor regained control of Yanbei, there were specialized scribes who organized and recorded the changes in local family populations. Even though some matters were not recorded in detail due to limited conditions, the disappearance of a major family could not possibly leave not even the slightest trace in writing.

While Dongsheng was struggling with this dilemma, Xiao Jingxi maintained a calm expression. After thinking for a moment, he raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Are you certain the family you’re investigating is the Qu family?”

Upon hearing this, Dongsheng couldn’t help but freeze, staring at Xiao Jingxi.

Xiao Jingxi’s gaze lingered for a moment on the row filled with Yanzhou county governance records, then said meaningfully, “I don’t recall there being any Qu family. Could it be that you remembered incorrectly? For instance, could it be… the Zhai family?”

Dongsheng was startled: “Zhai? The Zhai family?”

However, Xiao Jingxi did not answer Dongsheng’s question further. After leisurely selecting two books, he took Tonghe and turned to leave on his own.

Dongsheng watched Xiao Jingxi’s figure disappear from the study room. Suddenly realizing something, he hurriedly turned around and threw himself at the bookshelf, searching urgently. Finally, he pulled out several volumes and simply sat cross-legged on the floor to search through them.

“The Zhai family… the Zhai family… I seem to have some impression,” he muttered to himself in a low voice while flipping through the records.

Suddenly, his gaze stopped on a particular page, and his hands instantly froze.

“There is a Zhai family.”

On this day, Ren Shijia sent someone to the Ren family’s separate residence. Since the next day would be the full-month celebration for the Ren family’s little grandson Lin Cen, Old Madam Ren had first sent someone to the Lin family to ask if her daughter needed any assistance. Ren Shijia simply dispatched a trusted old woman to reply, and also to deliver some lychees that had been transported from the south to Old Madam Ren.

Transporting lychees to Yanbei was extremely difficult, so their price had increased several times over, and they were generally still hard to obtain. However, eating too many lychees easily causes internal heat, so although the old madam loved eating them, she didn’t dare eat too many. She had someone select a plate from the basket of lychees to keep for Old Master Ren, then sent a plate each to her sons and grandsons. Seeing there were still quite a few left, she called over several of her granddaughters as well.

Ren Yaoqi tasted a few in the old madam’s room before putting them down, as eating too many would easily cause mouth sores. Over there, the old madam was talking with the old woman sent by Ren Shijia.

When someone outside reported that the Princess from Yanbei Prince’s Manor had sent someone over again, Ren Yaoqi was quite surprised.

Xiao Jinglin was visiting her far too frequently; she wondered what matter had brought her today.

Although Old Madam Ren was still discussing matters with someone, she dared not neglect the Yanbei Prince’s Manor. Without waiting for Ren Yaoqi to speak, she waved her hand to let Ren Yaoqi go on her own.

Ren Yaoqi withdrew, returned to change into outdoor clothes, and then brought Pingguo out with her.

Nanny Xu came forward and said, “Miss, wouldn’t it be inconvenient to bring only one maid?”

Ren Yaoqi put on a helpless expression: “There’s no other way. The Princess said she very much dislikes having too many people following her. If I hadn’t requested it, she probably wouldn’t even let me bring Pingguo. Besides, the Princess doesn’t lack people to serve her.”

Nanny Xu could only give up.

Upon leaving, Ren Yaoqi saw the same carriage that had come to borrow her last time parked at the gate. What surprised her was that today it was Dongsheng driving the carriage.

When Dongsheng saw Ren Yaoqi come out, he jumped down from the carriage and called out “Fifth Miss Ren,” but when he looked up, he glanced at her meaningfully.

Ren Yaoqi noticed his expression and realized that Dongsheng seemed to have something he wanted to tell her.

However, the Ren family gate was not a place for conversation. Ren Yaoqi nodded and then got into the carriage.

She had originally thought that, like last time, the carriage had come to take her to see Xiao Jinglin. Only after getting in did she discover that today Xiao Jinglin was sitting in the carriage as well.

Ren Yaoqi asked in surprise, “Princess, is there some particular matter you wanted to see me about today?”

Xiao Jinglin gestured for Ren Yaoqi to sit down, then nodded and said, “Old Madam Yun sent someone asking me to visit. She also mentioned you, so I conveniently came to pick you up to go together.”

Ren Yaoqi was stunned upon hearing this.

She very much wanted to turn around and get off the carriage, but since she had already come out, she really couldn’t find a reason to go back. Although Yun Wenfang had invited her twice, she hadn’t planned to go.

Ren Yaoqi’s silence made Xiao Jinglin look at her and frown: “What’s wrong? You don’t want to go?”

Xiao Jinglin hadn’t thought much about it. The Yun family elders had always been very affectionate toward her, and it was her grandmother’s maternal family. The Yun family had sent people to invite her over multiple times, so when Old Madam Yun sent someone to call her over again today, she agreed.

She got along very pleasantly with Ren Yaoqi. Thinking about having to deal with those women in the inner quarters, she had very straightforwardly come to call Ren Yaoqi to go together. Although she didn’t like these social obligations, she also knew that such things weren’t necessarily bad for Ren Yaoqi. She had forgotten to ask first whether Ren Yaoqi was willing to go.

Xiao Jinglin couldn’t help feeling somewhat regretful.

Ren Yaoqi noticed Xiao Jinglin’s mood and shook her head: “No, I just haven’t been to the Yun family before, and I don’t know Old Madam Yun or the other madams.” Since she had already left home, going back now would seem strange if people found out.

Xiao Jinglin thought Ren Yaoqi was nervous and comforted her: “It’s fine, we’ll just go pay our respects and leave. I know a place that makes very good douhua. We’ll go eat that first before going to the Yun Manor. When we come back, I’ll take you to eat Tan’s roast duck.”

Xiao Jinglin’s serious expression made Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but smile. Xiao Jinglin was indeed devoted to food; every time they met, she had to take her for a meal. It seemed as if going to eat douhua and roast duck was the main business, while visiting the Yun family was just incidental.

Although Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to go to the Yun family, she really couldn’t get angry at Xiao Jinglin.

Xiao Jinglin always traveled very low-key, and this time there was only one carriage. When the carriage stopped, Ren Yaoqi lifted the curtain to look outside and found they were in a very ordinary small alley. At the mouth of the alley, an elderly couple was pushing a wheelbarrow selling douhua.

“Wait here for me, I’ll go down to buy some.” Xiao Jinglin patted Ren Yaoqi’s shoulder and was about to get off the carriage.

Ren Yaoqi quickly said, “Princess, just let Pingguo go buy it.”

But Xiao Jinglin waved her hand without looking back: “She doesn’t know what seasonings to add to make it taste good.” Having said this, she jumped down from the carriage.

Ren Yaoqi looked at the swaying curtain, feeling very helpless. Xiao Jinglin was the strangest socialite she had ever encountered, bar none. Although she thought this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help wanting to smile.

She was just about to lift the curtain to see how Xiao Jinglin was managing when she heard Dongsheng say quietly from outside, “Fifth Miss, this humble one has investigated some matters, but it’s not about any Qu family, but rather the Zhai family.”