“Prince Yanbei’s manor has existed since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The first Prince Yanbei fought alongside the founding emperor to establish the dynasty, achieving such brilliant military accomplishments that they threatened the founding emperor’s throne. At that time, the armies of Prince Yanbei and the founding emperor were evenly matched, and just as another chaotic war seemed imminent, the founding emperor persuaded the Pei family and Xia Weiming to side with him. In the end, the first Prince Yanbei could only accept the imperial bestowment and retreat to Yanbei.” Xiao Jingxi’s gentle voice had the power to calm one’s mood.
However, Ren Yaoqi was somewhat surprised—why was Xiao Jingxi telling her these things?
When the history books mentioned the first Prince Yanbei and the founding emperor, they spoke of wise rulers and famous generals, harmonious relations between sovereign and subject. But hearing it from Xiao Jingxi’s mouth, it was quite different.
“Yanbei has always been a thorn stuck in the court’s throat—painful when remembered, yet impossible to remove. By the time the third Prince Yanbei ascended to power, it was already Emperor Gaozi’s reign. Emperor Gaozi was a very decisive ruler. It happened that the third Prince Yanbei had many sons—five legitimate sons alone—and they were all fighting each other to the death for the position of heir. Emperor Gaozi secretly stirred up discord among them, resulting in the dozen or so princes killing each other until half were dead. The court seized the opportunity to create trouble, and nearly everyone in Prince Yanbei’s manor, including Prince Yanbei himself, was killed by Emperor Gaozong. Only the youngest prince managed to escape by sheer luck. Unfortunately, Emperor Gaozong was already old by then, and the succeeding Emperor Zhongzong was mediocre in ability and weak in character. Without the Yanbei army guarding it, Yanbei eventually fell into the hands of the Liao people, until that lucky escaped prince, Xiao Qishan, made a comeback and drove the Liao people beyond the passes. By then, Emperor Zhongzong was already scared witless, constantly worrying that the Liao people would march south in one sweep. The capital was moved south again and again. Once the fourth Prince Yanbei regained control of Yanbei, the imperial edict came down—Prince Yanbei’s manor once again existed legitimately.”
Xiao Jingxi smiled, his expression peaceful, neither excited nor sarcastic, as if he were merely telling a story rather than recounting his own family’s history.
Ren Yaoqi still didn’t quite understand why Xiao Jingxi would suddenly tell her about this.
Moreover… Xiao Jingxi speaking so casually about the grievances between the court and Prince Yanbei’s manor put quite a bit of pressure on her, because none of these events were recorded in the history books.
Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi and smiled leisurely: “Well, now we’re even?”
“What?”
“You know my family secrets, too, now.” Xiao Jingxi said unhurriedly.
Ren Yaoqi: “…”
She finally understood why Xiao Jinglin wanted to extend her claws and scratch him whenever she saw Xiao Jingxi.
This banished immortal, Xiao, was truly infuriating at times.
“Actually, I wanted to tell you,” Xiao Jingxi paused, his smile gentle, “ancestral grievances are matters for the ancestors. When people die, they’re like extinguished lamps—all resentments fade away. Look, the Li family once wiped out my Xiao family entirely, yet didn’t my grandfather still marry a Li family daughter? Don’t I still have to call the daughter of my enemy’s family grandmother?”
Ren Yaoqi: “…”
“Take you, for instance,” Xiao Jingxi’s gaze as he looked at Ren Yaoqi carried a hint of teasing, “you also have Li family bloodline, don’t you? Yet Jinglin and I haven’t done anything to you, have we?”
Ren Yaoqi: “…”
Ren Yaoqi finally understood what it meant to not know whether to laugh or cry. At the same time, she felt that no matter how good-looking someone was, it was useless when they were being annoying—they were thoroughly irritating without any hesitation.
But undeniably, after Xiao Jingxi’s intervention, the troubled feelings in Ren Yaoqi’s heart had already dissipated by more than half.
“Thank you for your guidance, Young Master Xiao.” Ren Yaoqi smiled slightly, saying this with complete insincerity.
Xiao Jingxi accepted her thanks with a light laugh: “Mm.”
“What business did you have at my maternal grandfather’s residence today?” For some reason, when she spoke again, Ren Yaoqi felt her tone had become much more casual.
Xiao Jingxi pretended to think: “What will you trade for that information?”
Ren Yaoqi: “…”
Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi with leisurely composure and smiled: “You see, I learned your family’s secret history, then gave you my family’s secret history in exchange. Now you want to know about my private affairs—shouldn’t you offer something in trade?”
Once again, Ren Yaoqi felt that this fox Xiao Jingxi was not to be provoked! Just because she couldn’t control herself for a moment and made a barbed comment, he was waiting for her.
Ren Yaoqi glanced sideways at Xiao Jingxi: “Actually, I’m not that interested in knowing. Young Master Xiao needn’t say anything.”
Xiao Jingxi looked regretful upon hearing this.
Ren Yaoqi was about to get up and take her leave when Xiao Jingxi smiled and said: “Don’t worry, I had no designs on your maternal grandfather’s family.”
Ren Yaoqi glanced at him and said nothing more.
At this moment, the door to the west wing opened, and Shui’ai walked out.
The little girl had just been lectured by her grandmother about something—her eyes were red and her tears hadn’t yet dried. Seeing Ren Yaoqi, she walked over and properly knelt to kowtow to her: “Fifth Miss.”
Ren Yaoqi nodded and told her to rise.
“It’s getting late, I should return. Thank you very much for today, Young Master Xiao.” Ren Yaoqi turned to address Xiao Jingxi. This time her thanks were much more sincere.
Xiao Jingxi nodded: “Jinglin asked when you’ll go see her—she’ll send someone to fetch you.”
Ren Yaoqi remembered that she had arranged with Xiao Jinglin to go to Prince Yanbei’s manor to accompany her in learning the qin.
“The day after tomorrow. I’m returning to the Lin family tomorrow.”
“The Lin family’s waters run deep, too—be careful.” Xiao Jingxi said gently.
Ren Yaoqi was startled and glanced at Xiao Jingxi. He was looking down at his teacup as if making an offhand comment.
Ren Yaoqi wasn’t ungrateful—she knew he was deliberately warning her. She curtsied in thanks, then called for Pingguo and Xiangqin, who had been standing at a distance.
After bidding farewell to the Zhu family, Ren Yaoqi set off to return home.
In the carriage, Xiangqin looked conflicted, glancing at Ren Yaoqi from time to time. She remembered her mistress’s instructions to keep an eye on Fifth Miss, so Fifth Miss speaking privately with that Young Master Xiao earlier made her worry that she hadn’t completed the task her master had assigned her.
But looking at Fifth Miss’s composed expression and the expressionless personal maid Pingguo, Xiangqin felt it would be quite stressful to voice her concerns.
Finally, when getting out of the carriage, Maid Xiangqin suddenly remembered that Third Miss had only asked her to watch so that Fifth Miss wouldn’t have contact with Young Master Yun. Third Miss hadn’t said Fifth Miss couldn’t talk to other people!
As a maid who needed to serve two masters and was busy with their daily affairs with little free time, being nosy didn’t seem like a good quality. So Xiangqin became as composed as Pingguo.
The next day, when returning from Baoping Alley, Madam Rong was quite reluctant to part, holding onto Ren Yaoqi and talking for quite a while.
Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to go back either—staying at her maternal grandfather’s house was much more convenient than staying at the Lin family’s. But since it was Ren Shijia who had arranged for her to stay in Yunyang City, and although Ren Shijia accommodated her in everything, she shouldn’t go too far.
Even though she didn’t like her grandmother, she currently had no choice but to be controlled by Qiu Shi. The word “filial piety” could crush a person to death.
But as soon as she returned to the Lin family, Ren Yaoqi immediately felt that something was wrong with the atmosphere.