Xiao Jinglin turned a deaf ear, completely ignoring Yun Wenfang’s shouting and clamoring.
Yun Qiuchen realized something was wrong and immediately walked over. After glancing at Yun Wenfang, she followed Xiao Jinglin.
“Princess, what are you doing?”
Xiao Jinglin’s attitude toward Yun Qiuchen was still decent. Upon hearing her question, she nodded and said, “We’re going to bid farewell to Old Madam.” Her footsteps didn’t stop.
Yun Qiuchen sighed inwardly, but smiled on her face: “Princess, please walk a bit slower. I’ll accompany you over there.”
Then she said to Ren Yaoqi in a friendly manner: “My second brother has a bad temper, but he’s been like this since childhood. Because of this personality, I don’t know how many times my grandfather and father have used family discipline on him. Once they almost broke his legs, yet he still goes his way. But he just has this straightforward temperament – he has no bad intentions. Just a few days ago, I heard him telling his grandmother that when he was at the Ren family, he was greatly cared for by the Ren family elders, and got along extremely well with you cousin siblings. It’s precisely because he’s familiar with you that he speaks without restraint. Cousin Yaoqi, please don’t take it to heart for the sake of me, your cousin sister.”
Although this speech was long, Yun Qiuchen spoke at a very slow pace, so it didn’t sound aggressive to the listener.
Ren Yaoqi hadn’t spoken the entire time, so it couldn’t be said that she was “taking it to heart” with Yun Wenfang. Therefore, Yun Qiuchen’s words were still explaining to Xiao Jinglin. However, she also knew that Xiao Jinglin probably wouldn’t listen, so she spoke to Ren Yaoqi instead. As long as Ren Yaoqi said she didn’t mind, then Xiao Jinglin’s inexplicable temper would have no reason to continue.
This was a type of “picking the soft persimmon to squeeze,” but Yun Qiuchen did it rather subtly.
Ren Yaoqi naturally understood that Miss Yun was being so patient in explaining to her for Xiao Jinglin’s sake. She wasn’t a child who didn’t understand social etiquette, so although she didn’t say anything upon hearing this, she smiled at Yun Qiuchen and shook her head.
Yun Wenting stared thoughtfully at his brother, whose expression looked very unpleasant: “You were making such a fuss a while ago – was it because of Fifth Miss Ren?” Although this was phrased as a question, it carried several points of knowing certainty.
Yun Wenfang glanced sideways at his brother. The anger on his face subsided somewhat, and he said nonchalantly: “What? Are you going to go tell grandmother on me?”
Upon hearing this, Yun Wenting laughed, even reaching out to touch his brother’s head, though his hand was dodged by Yun Wenting before it could make contact.
“I’ve said many times – don’t touch my head, or I won’t be polite!” Yun Wenfang glared and growled lowly.
Yun Wenting looked at his bristling brother without getting angry: “If I were going to tattle, you’d probably have your wedding date set by now.”
Yun Wenfang’s expression finally looked somewhat better.
“It’s just that the possibility of our Yun family forming a marriage alliance with the Ren family is quite small.” Yun Wenting looked at Yun Wenfang and said thoughtfully, “Although the Ren family can be considered a prominent household in Yanzhou, unfortunately, they’re ultimately of merchant origin. The current head of the family, Ren Yonghe, has the ability and methods, but unfortunately, his vision is lacking. His utilitarian heart is too heavy. This is why, although grandmother and Old Madam Ren have an ostensible sisterly relationship, over these years the Yun and Ren families have had very little contact. This time, grandmother had you hide at the Ren family was also just a coincidence. You convinced your grandmother to let Fifth Miss Ren participate in the Thousand Gold Banquet – your grandmother might remember the kindness of the Ren family’s care for you and find a good marriage prospect for Fifth Miss Ren. But she would not agree to let you marry her. Even if grandmother agreed, you wouldn’t get past grandfather’s approval.”
Yun Wenfang had always been impatient with his elder brother’s various admonishments, but this time he endured listening to the end. Although the content wasn’t pleasant to hear, Yun Wenfang also knew that what Yun Wenting said was the truth. Still, he snorted coldly: “If you won’t help, you don’t need to pour cold water on me either. I’ll always find a way.”
Yun Wenting, who knew his brother’s nature well, smiled slightly: “Oh? What way?”
Yun Wenfang glanced at Yun Wenting and didn’t speak. He hadn’t designed how exactly to do it yet.
Yun Wenting slowly put away his smile, sighed lightly, and looked at his only blood brother, who had always been willful and reckless since childhood, a trace of worry appearing in his eyes: “What exactly are you thinking? If you’re just curious about this, Miss Ren, and want to bring her in as a concubine, even though there would be some difficulty because she’s a legitimate daughter of the Ren family, it’s not impossible.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Wenfang instinctively frowned: “Naturally, I want to marry her!”
Yun Wenting wasn’t angry upon hearing this: “Oh? Is that so?”
Yun Wenfang glanced at him, too lazy even to answer.
But Yun Wenting said seriously: “However, following your methods, this Fifth Miss Ren would probably only be able to enter the Yun family as a concubine.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard that after the dragon boat race last time, you went to find her? In broad daylight and front of everyone, you expressed your feelings of closeness to her, and wanted her to respond to you, otherwise you’d lose your temper. Have you thought about what would happen if she truly responded to your advances? Would the Yun family allow such a woman to enter the door?”
Yun Wenting’s handsome sword-like eyebrows furrowed. He had always been used to doing as he pleased and acting domineeringly. Except when facing family elders, when he would restrain himself somewhat, when outside, he never thought about these things – naturally, he did whatever made him happy. Toward Ren Yaoqi, his temper was already quite good.
Seeing Yun Wenfang’s expression, Yun Wenting could only sigh: “That’s why I’m asking what you’re thinking in your heart. If you just want this person, I won’t care how you act wildly. But if you’re serious, I don’t want you to regret it in the end.”
Yun Wenfang irritably ran his hands through his hair: “Then what do you say I should do? Don’t expect me to be as cowardly as you, enduring for so many years without even daring to let others know your true feelings.”
Yun Wenting lowered his eyes, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth as he said quietly: “She and I are different… Prince of Yanbei’s mansion… forget it, I just want to remind you that at appropriate times, you need to learn patience. If you’re not confident, don’t do things you’ll regret.”
Yun Wenfang knew he had touched his brother’s sore spot again, pressed his lips together, and said nothing. Although he was very impatient with Yun Wenting, who wasn’t much older than him, always liking to control him, he could still distinguish between good and ill intentions.
Seeing that Yun Wenting was about to say something more, Yun Wenfang waved his hand: “I understand, I’ll be careful in the future.” After speaking, he turned somewhat impatiently to leave, but paused as he turned around, “You should worry about yourself instead. I’m different from you – I don’t have so many concerns. If worst comes to worst, being a concubine is fine too.”
Speaking to this point, Yun Wenfang tugged at the corner of his mouth, with his usual carelessness and the simple cruelty of a young beast: “As for those others who disregard my wishes and insist on forcing someone on me as a wife, what enters the door is just a surname. In the end, whether it’s a living person or a memorial tablet, no one cares. I just won’t let her suffer any grievance, so what else could she be dissatisfied with?” The “her” in that last sentence naturally referred to Ren Yaoqi, who would marry him as a concubine.