“The Lei family is going to lose.”
Xiao Jingxi’s matter-of-fact statement interrupted Ren Yaoqi’s thoughts.
Ren Yaoqi instinctively looked up and refuted: “That’s not necessarily true.”
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi smiled and looked at Ren Yaoqi with interest: “Oh?”
“Even if the Liu family sends people, so what? Grand Madam Lei has already passed away. There’s a saying that the dead cannot testify.” It had to be admitted that Grand Madam Lei’s death had indeed given the Lei family a chance to catch their breath.
Unfortunately, it was only a chance to catch their breath.
Sure enough, Xiao Jingxi raised his eyebrows: “Do you think Han Dongshan would give up after bringing the Liu family all this way just because of Grand Madam Lei’s death?”
Naturally not.
Ren Yaoqi also understood in her heart that Grand Madam Lei’s death had only temporarily disrupted the Han family’s arrangements. Moreover, when the Liu family came to make trouble and spread rumors about the Lei family, the Han family found another opportunity to strike the Lei family later, and the Lei family would truly be finished.
However, Ren Yaoqi didn’t speak. She examined Xiao Jingxi, not quite certain what his purpose was in sitting here today.
Xiao Jingxi noticed her gaze and smiled at her slightly.
Ren Yaoqi was stunned and instinctively looked away.
“How about we make a bet?” Xiao Jingxi suddenly said leisurely.
“A bet?” Ren Yaoqi was somewhat surprised. “What does Young Master Xiao want to bet on?”
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi turned his head to look at Xiao Jinglin, who was sitting quietly drinking tea, with a half-smile: “Originally I wanted to play a game with you, but now it seems… We’ll have to change the betting method.”
Ren Yaoqi also couldn’t help turning to look at Xiao Jinglin.
Xiao Jinglin’s expression remained unchanged: “You’ve never lost at chess. The bet wouldn’t be fair. I can’t just watch you bully the people.”
So the Princess, who most hated playing chess, had graciously condescended to offer to play a warm-up game with Xiao Jingxi first, then found an opportunity to try to bury the chess pieces.
Xiao Jingxi: “…”
Looking at the two of them, Ren Yaoqi roughly understood what was going on and couldn’t help smiling at Xiao Jinglin.
“If you can win this game, I’ll let the Lei family replace the Han family. How about that?” Xiao Jingxi casually threw out the big bait.
Indeed, this condition startled Ren Yaoqi. This surprise wasn’t an alarm but a delight.
However, Ren Yaoqi quickly calmed down and then fell silent.
This bet was truly tempting. If Yanbei Prince’s Manor chose the Lei family over the Han family, it would undoubtedly benefit her. Zeng Kui hadn’t come to Yanbei yet. She had to resolve the Han family matter before he arrived.
With the Han and Lei families fighting to the death, and with the Lei family having the upper hand, it would be difficult for the Han family to use the Zeng family against the Ren family.
But was Xiao Jingxi’s bet safe to accept?
The last time they played against each other, she had only managed to achieve a draw with him by taking an unconventional approach. If today were about playing chess, she had no confidence in defeating Xiao Jingxi.
Although they couldn’t play chess due to Xiao Jinglin’s interference, could she win at some other type of bet? She never underestimated herself, but if her opponent was Xiao Jingxi, she truly had no confidence of winning.
Even Master Pei admitted to having suffered losses at Xiao Jingxi’s hands before.
Seeming to notice Ren Yaoqi’s hesitation, Xiao Jingxi pretended to think, then said in a gentle, comforting tone: “How about this – if you lose, I won’t interfere in the matter between the Han and Lei families. I’ll let the two families determine the winner themselves. And you… You’ll agree to do one thing for me, within your capabilities, and if you can’t manage it, I’ll allow you to refuse. Think carefully – even if you lose, you won’t suffer any great loss.”
Ren Yaoqi thought about it and felt Xiao Jingxi’s words made sense.
Originally, Xiao Jingxi wasn’t planning to interfere in the Han and Lei family matter anyway, so if she lost, the outcome wouldn’t become worse. As for what he would have her do, Ren Yaoqi didn’t think Second Young Master Xiao lacked people to do things for him. So for Xiao Jingxi, it was just an optional prize. She believed he wouldn’t make things difficult for a weak woman like her.
“If I lose, you can also have me do one thing for you.” Xiao Jingxi smiled as he continued dangling the bait.
Xiao Jinglin sat listening from the side, feeling the bet sounded reasonably fair for now, so she continued drinking tea without interrupting.
This time, however, Ren Yaoqi wasn’t dazzled by Xiao Jingxi’s smile – after all, now wasn’t the time to appreciate beauty.
So she thought for a long time, then asked seriously: “Young Master Xiao just said that if I win, you’ll let the Lei family replace the Han family. May I ask if your words can represent Yanbei Prince’s Manor’s intentions?”
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi was stunned, then covered his forehead and laughed: “You are… You won’t take even the slightest loss.”
Ren Yaoqi looked at him and smiled without speaking.
Perhaps such a bet was just Xiao Jingxi’s momentary whim born of boredom, but for her, it was very important. So even though she trusted Xiao Jingxi’s character and acknowledged that he looked very good when he smiled, she wouldn’t fall into any of his verbal traps.
Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi and said with a light smile: “My words cannot represent Yanbei Prince’s Manor, but I never go back on my word.”
Ren Yaoqi finally smiled too, blinking: “Alright then, I trust you.”
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi choked slightly. In all his years, he had never heard anyone use such a tone and expression to say such reluctant words as “Alright then, I trust you.”
However, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t see the conflicted feelings beneath Young Master Xiao’s perfect expression, and asked: “What shall we bet on? Please set the terms, Young Master Xiao.”
Xiao Jinglin, beside them, couldn’t help but laugh, glancing at Ren Yaoqi and then at Xiao Jingxi before continuing to drink her tea.
Ren Yaoqi was made somewhat uneasy by her sudden laughter: “Princess, what are you laughing at?”
Xiao Jinglin set down her teacup, was meaningfully silent for a moment, then said: “Nothing.”
Ren Yaoqi: “…”
Xiao Jingxi: “…”
Xiao Jinglin wasn’t thinking about anything strange. She just felt that someone who appeared unfathomably deep and invincible couldn’t scare away all opponents just by putting on airs.
At least there was one person right in front of her who didn’t buy into his act, and this person was her friend. Princess Xiao was simply happy about that.
Of course, she didn’t think this happiness contained any schadenfreude. Princess Xiao had always considered herself righteous, upright, and possessed of lofty ideals.
As for any dark psychology, hoping that a certain someone might suffer setbacks because he was too clever and had subjected her to pressure from all sides since childhood, after self-examination, Princess Xiao righteously declared that such thoughts would never appear in her.
Business was important, so Xiao Jinglin ultimately didn’t interfere with the two people who were negotiating.
“The bet is this: you find a way to help the Lei family get through this crisis.” Xiao Jingxi said leisurely.
Ren Yaoqi: “…”
Ren Yaoqi felt she should have realized this earlier.
She wasn’t someone who would let herself suffer losses – could Xiao Jingxi be any different?
This bet indeed seemed to cause her no loss, but it caused Xiao Jingxi even less loss.
As long as the Lei family got through this crisis, they could gain the upper hand, and it would be natural for Yanbei Prince’s Manor to finally choose the Lei family.
Simply put, the real meaning of this bet was: she would rack her brains and exhaust herself helping the Lei family escape danger and break through the siege, letting Yanbei Prince’s Manor pick up a chess piece that was strong on the outside but weak within, with obvious vulnerabilities. Then Second Young Master Xiao would reluctantly fulfill one small wish of hers.
Even the coal mines of the Ren family had never signed such a shameless indenture contract.
Although Ren Yaoqi had already decided on the way here to help the Lei family, seeing Xiao Jingxi’s manner now still made her want to grit her teeth.
Fortunately, her self-cultivation was excellent, so upon hearing this, she only smiled at Xiao Jingxi.
After a long moment, she said: “Young Master Xiao, are you interested in going into business?”
Xiao Jingxi raised his eyebrows and replied imperturbably: “Not a bad idea, but unfortunately the family probably wouldn’t agree.”
Ren Yaoqi nodded, her tone full of regret: “What a pity. You calculate so well, not going into business would be such a waste of talent.”
Xiao Jingxi: “…”
Xiao Jinglin burst out laughing.
Xiao Jingxi smiled bitterly and shook his head. After thinking, he compromised: “Alright, let’s change the bet.”
He hadn’t originally planned to bet this with Ren Yaoqi. No matter how clever and perceptive Ren Yaoqi was, she was still just a boudoir young lady, even younger than Xiao Jinglin. The Lei family’s current situation had even Lei Ting at his wits’ end – it wasn’t something she could handle.
Unexpectedly, the young woman sitting across from him smiled and shook her head: “No need, let’s bet on this.”
If they bet on something else, she had no confidence of winning either.
Moreover, she didn’t believe in good fortune falling from the sky. Although she was friends with Xiao Jinglin, she didn’t think Xiao Jingxi would help her regardless of cost for that reason.
People who had experienced being helpless with nowhere to turn for aid, if they survived in the end, would not be weak and would also learn to be self-reliant at crucial moments.
Xiao Jingxi was startled, then raised his eyebrows: “Are you certain?”
Ren Yaoqi didn’t answer immediately, but lowered her head to think.
Xiao Jingxi wasn’t in a hurry either, sitting across from her, waiting for her to think it through.
Ren Yaoqi had misunderstood one thing. Xiao Jingxi was willing to give her some help within his capabilities, especially after learning that Han Yunshan did have grievances with the Ren family.
Unfortunately, these two people – one had never enjoyed selfless help from others, while the other wasn’t skilled at unconditional acts of kindness.
“I’d like to understand the Lei family’s situation.” Ren Yaoqi said.
Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment, then turned to instruct Hongying: “Have Tongde come in.”