Dongsheng’s words made Ren Yaoqi’s hands involuntarily pause, and her face rarely showed any traces of surprise. However, she quickly calmed down, even feeling a sense of “so that’s how it was.”

No wonder they hadn’t been able to find anything after investigating for so long—they had been looking for the wrong target.

It must have been that when Ren Yaoting saw those memorial tablets, she was nervous, and the lighting was dim, causing her to see incorrectly. The characters for Qu and Zhai were very similar to begin with.

“Tell me about this… Zhai family,” Ren Yaoqi said softly.

Through the curtain, Dongsheng’s steady voice came through.

The Zhai family was considered a prominent household in Yanzhou several decades ago, living right in Baihe Town. However, there weren’t many families surnamed Zhai in Yanzhou. This household had also migrated from the south many years ago. Although their population wasn’t particularly prosperous, their conduct was quite excellent. I heard they were a branch of some great clan. Unfortunately, when the Liao people invaded later, the Zhai family couldn’t escape from Yanbei in time, and in the end, the entire clan met with disaster—over a hundred people with not a single survivor.”

When the Liao people ravaged Yanbei back then, countless families suffered the same fate as the Zhai family.

“Wiped out by the Liao people?” Ren Yaoqi seemed to ask herself.

“Yes, Miss, that’s how it’s recorded in the local chronicles.”

“What connection did the Zhai family have with the Han family?” Ren Yaoqi asked.

Dongsheng said with some regret, “Back then, countless families suffered the same fate as the Zhai family. The local chronicles only briefly mention this in a few sentences, with no further details.”

This was to be expected, Ren Yaoqi understood. However, at least now they had a target, which would make future investigations much easier.

“However,” Dongsheng seemed to remember something else.

Ren Yaoqi knew that Dongsheng wasn’t one to keep people in suspense, so she didn’t urge him and just listened carefully to what he had to say.

Sure enough, Dongsheng only paused briefly before continuing, “The local chronicles don’t record much about the Zhai family, but it seems the Zhai family’s residence wasn’t far from the current Ren Manor.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi’s heart stirred. The local chronicles’ record of the Zhai family’s location must have only been approximate. When Dongsheng said “not far,” could it be that the Ren family’s mansion had originally belonged to the Zhai family? The Ren family’s mansion had been bought from someone else during her great-grandfather’s generation, which was close to the time when the Zhai family met with disaster.

However, since the Zhai family had perished at the hands of the Liao people, what connection could this have with the Ren family? Although the Ren family always claimed to be scholarly, Ren Yaoqi knew that several decades ago, the Ren family had just been an ordinary household in Yanbei, while the Zhai family was already a prominent local clan. What grounds would the Ren family have had to form a feud with the Zhai family?

Could it be merely over a house?

Ren Yaoqi thought for a while but couldn’t figure out the reason.

However, she was grateful that Dongsheng had been so dedicated in helping her investigate, so she sincerely thanked him.

But Dongsheng said, “Actually, this time it was thanks to Second Master Xiao.”

Ren Yaoqi was stunned upon hearing this, and Dongsheng recounted how he had questioned Xiao Jingxi and how Xiao Jingxi had given him the hint.

After hearing this, Ren Yaoqi remained silent for a long while.

Dongsheng was somewhat worried that Ren Yaoqi was blaming him for casually telling Xiao Jingxi these things and was about to apologize when Ren Yaoqi spoke up, “When you see Second Master Xiao, remember to thank him for me. Also, since you’re already following him, naturally, you shouldn’t hide things from him. If he doesn’t ask, that’s fine, but if he does ask, you must never lie.”

Dongsheng breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed.

Dongsheng was already Xiao Jingxi’s man. When Ren Yaoqi had Dongsheng handle matters and run errands for her, she was borrowing his person. Xiao Jingxi’s not holding it against her showed his magnanimity, and Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to be ungrateful. Therefore, the matters she had Dongsheng handle were all things she wasn’t afraid of Xiao Jingxi knowing about—she wouldn’t ask Dongsheng to do anything compromising.

While Ren Yaoqi and Dongsheng were talking in the carriage, Xiao Jinglin quickly returned carrying two small bowls.

They were two delicate porcelain bowls with famille rose patterns. They weren’t from that street stall, and she didn’t know when Xiao Jinglin had taken them out.

Pingguo stepped forward to take the bowls and helped Xiao Jinglin into the carriage.

Ren Yaoqi looked curiously at the bowl of douhua on the small table. There were some red and green seasonings on top.

She had eaten douhua before—in the capital it was considered a flavorful small snack, smooth and tender, but the ones she had eaten were all sweet. This was the first time she had seen such strange douhua.

Pingguo brought out a silver spoon for Ren Yaoqi, who looked at Xiao Jinglin.

Xiao Jinglin had already picked up her bowl and was blowing on it while taking small sips, not even wanting a spoon.

Ren Yaoqi recognized the layer of chili oil on top. Not daring to drink it directly like Xiao Jinglin, she took a spoonful to taste.

Without a doubt, the flavor was indeed very good. Although she couldn’t say she understood Xiao Jinglin as a person very well, her appreciation for food was truly excellent.

Xiao Jinglin drank until her head was covered in sweat, while Ren Yaoqi slowly finished everything in her bowl with small spoonfuls.

“How was it? Was it delicious?” Xiao Jinglin looked at Ren Yaoqi, her eyes containing a rare smile.

Ren Yaoqi put down the silver spoon in her hand and nodded, “Mm, very delicious.”

The smile in Xiao Jinglin’s eyes deepened. “I knew you would like it.”

While they were eating in the carriage, it had remained stationary, but now that they had finished inside, it began moving forward slowly.

“How did you know this was good?” Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile. She didn’t believe that Xiao Jinglin spent her days wandering the streets and alleys with nothing but her mouth and nose, able to find even such hidden places.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinglin said calmly, “Those close to me all know I love food, so they chat with me about such things. That the douhua here is delicious was told to me by a young soldier under my command. That elderly couple selling douhua is his neighbor.”

So that was it.

Although Xiao Jinglin was honored as a Princess, most of the people under her command came from ordinary common folk. This also showed from one aspect that Xiao Jinglin was doing well in the military, at least no one excluded her.

“Princess, Miss, we’ve arrived at the second gate of the Yun Manor.” Dongsheng’s cheerful voice rang out from outside.

They had arrived at the Yun family.

The two got out of the carriage one after another and saw several old women and maids hurrying out from the second gate to greet them, all with faces blooming like flowers with smiles.

“Princess, you’ve finally come! Our Old Madam and Madam have been hoping and wishing, and finally got you here.”

“Gong Nanny.” Xiao Jinglin nodded calmly and coldly at the nanny and greeted her.

The old woman seemed accustomed to Xiao Jinglin’s attitude, her face still smiling, and then focused her gaze on Ren Yaoqi, “This must be Miss Ren?”

Ren Yaoqi could tell at a glance that this nanny must be someone trusted by Old Madam Yun or Eldest Madam Yun. By rights, she should give her a half-courtesy.

However, since Xiao Jinglin had only nodded, if she curtsied now, others might think she was deliberately trying to curry favor or be obsequious. So Ren Yaoqi only put on a warm and gentle smile and called out, “Gong Nanny.”