Ren Yaoqi slowly sighed, somewhat helplessly: “Does Young Master Han have business with me?”

Only then did Han Yunqian turn to look at Ren Yaoqi. This glance made Ren Yaoqi feel a sharpness as if it were tangible. Ren Yaoqi remained unmoved, and Han Yunqian instead softened.

“I remember once asking Fifth Miss whether you had somehow inadvertently offended me, causing you to dislike me so much. Only recently did I understand the reason.”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “Young Master Han has misunderstood. Speaking of it, you and I are not very familiar, so there’s no basis for speaking of dislike.”

Upon hearing this, Han Yunqian actually curved his lips in a smile, the expression carrying some unclear meaning: “Oh? Then why did Fifth Miss design from the beginning to make your father and Third Young Master Ren prejudiced against me? And why did you scheme to retrieve the painting your father gave me?”

Ren Yaoqi’s steps paused slightly, and she mimicked his manner of curving the corners of her mouth: “Then could Young Master Han tell me, why would someone as consistently low-key as yourself initially scheme to associate with my father and third brother? If you say it’s because your Han family, being newly arrived, wanted to seek business allies, don’t you know that my father and third brother have never involved themselves in worldly affairs? If you say it’s because of shared interests… in Yanzhou, there are plenty of people more talented and learned than my father and my third brother. Not to mention elsewhere, just in Yunyang City alone, there are Second Young Master Xiao, Eldest Young Master Yun, and others of your age who are exceptionally talented, some even your former classmates. As the saying goes, one must not harbor ill intentions toward others, but one must guard against others harboring ill intentions. Young Master Han, since you act mysteriously, don’t blame others for being wary of you everywhere.”

“As for that painting matter,” Ren Yaoqi glanced at Han Yunqian sideways, lifting her chin in a proud arc, her tone carrying subtle disdain, “that was Young Master Han’s inferior skills!”

Han Yunqian: “…”

After a long silence, Han Yunqian finally sighed: “Fifth Miss Ren has a sharp tongue and quick wit. I am ashamed of my inferiority.”

Ren Yaoqi said lightly: “You’re too kind.”

Han Yunqian felt that although he wasn’t someone who liked to talk much, at crucial moments he could still be considered eloquent and good at debate. But for some reason, when facing Ren Yaoqi, he could only feel stifled, nearly causing internal injury.

Even the usually composed and gentle Young Master Han felt somewhat angry: “Then is Fifth Miss also going to deny that you never interfered in the Lei family matter from beginning to end?”

Han Yunqian’s dark gaze fixed on Ren Yaoqi, as if wanting to see through her completely.

Ren Yaoqi’s expression showed surprise, with some amused meaning as she asked: “Young Master Han, if I don’t deny such an inexplicable accusation, do you expect me to admit to it? What relationship do I have with the Lei family, and what matters would be my turn to interfere in? Spring is not for reading, and scorching summer is perfect for sleeping. Are you sure you were fully awake when you left home?”

Han Yunqian: “…”

Taking a deep breath, Han Yunqian tried hard to ignore the mockery and teasing on Ren Yaoqi’s face. He knew his question was rash. He just felt that Ren Yaoqi had interfered in the struggle between the Lei and Han families. But it was merely his speculation; he had no evidence, though he believed his guess wasn’t wrong.

“I don’t want to engage in verbal arguments with you. Some things are better left with mutual understanding.” When he spoke again, Han Yunqian had regained his composure. “I just want to remind Fifth Miss that no matter how clever you are, you’re still just a boudoir lady. There’s no need to take everything upon yourself. Otherwise, there will always be times when you suffer losses.”

This time, it was Ren Yaoqi’s turn to fall silent.

Her silence was spent pondering Han Yunqian’s attitude.

Han Yunqian’s words made her sense some goodwill in them. Did Han Yunqian not seem as obsessed with revenge as his grandfather? Otherwise, even after she had deliberately provoked him, he wouldn’t have been able to say such words.

Could she perhaps find a turning point through Han Yunqian?

She had never thought of helping the Ren family defeat the Han family. The Ren family wasn’t innocent; she just wanted her relatives to survive.

“Young Master Han, if you were in my position, what would you do?” Ren Yaoqi asked lightly, her tone no longer as confrontational as before.

Han Yunqian was indeed taken aback, then fell silent.

Ren Yaoqi glanced at him and suddenly smiled: “I don’t want to take everything upon myself. But the tree wishes to be still, yet the wind won’t stop. Can you show me a clear path?”

The expression in Han Yunqian’s eyes became increasingly complex, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

As a descendant of the Zhai family, the annihilation revenge of the Zhai family could not go unavenged. Moreover, even if he could let it go, his grandfather never could. Revenge was his grandfather’s lifelong obsession. No one could stop it.

Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat disappointed in her heart, but didn’t show it.

Even the longest corridor has an end. Ren Yaoqi’s carriage was already parked on the flat ground not far ahead. Ren Yaoqi looked at the carriage, paused in her steps, and turned to glance at Han Yunqian.

Han Yunqian stopped walking.

Ren Yaoqi nodded politely at him, then walked toward her carriage without looking back.

Han Yunqian stood under the corridor’s eaves, quietly watching Ren Yaoqi’s retreating figure. He watched her walk into the sunlight, watched her board the carriage with her maid’s assistance, watched the carriage slowly drive out of sight.

Han Yunqian’s gaze seemed to remain fixed on the carriage, yet also seemed to look through it toward nothingness. Standing in the shadows under the trees, no one could see the expression on his face.

After Lin Baoling returned home, she immediately went to find her grandmother, Lin Third Madam, to tearfully complain. After hearing everything, Lin Third Madam was both shocked and furious. While holding Lin Baoling to comfort her, she turned to ask the nanny who had accompanied Lin Baoling: “Did you see clearly?”

The nanny nodded: “This servant was standing right beside Miss, serving her at the time. It was indeed Miss’s pouch, no mistake.”

Lin Third Madam’s expression was extremely cold.

Lin Third Madam’s eldest daughter-in-law, Lin Baoling’s mother, Mu Shi, was also anxious now and hurriedly said: “Mother, this Young Master Fang is too outrageous! How can he act so recklessly? He’s a man, so it doesn’t matter to him, but what about our Ling’er?”

The nanny said, “I observed that Young Master Fang seemed quite honest. He shouldn’t have such great audacity, should he?”

Lin Third Madam sneered: “I think this matter isn’t simple either.”

Mu Shi said, “Mother, that pouch must be retrieved quickly. If he goes out wearing Ling’er’s pouch in the future, what would that look like? If people find out, how will our Ling’er face anyone?”

“Don’t panic yet. Madam Fang is still staying at the Ren family’s villa, isn’t she?” Lin Third Madam thought for a moment and instructed the nanny: “Go to the storehouse and take some fabric to send to the Ren family villa for Madam Fang, saying it’s a return gift from your mistress. Also, secretly investigate.” With that, Lin Third Madam whispered a few more instructions.

The nanny quickly agreed and left.

It wasn’t until the afternoon that the nanny returned. Although Madam Fang wasn’t at the villa today, the steward nanny she left at the villa accepted the return gift on Madam Fang’s behalf and prepared a table of food for the nannies and maids from the Lin family.

“Madam, when we went there today, although Madam Fang wasn’t there, the steward arranged a banquet that was the standard for entertaining honored guests. This servant probed around and heard their servants privately spreading word that the Fang and Lin families intend to become in-laws, and that last time Madam Fang brought their young master to our residence was to have you take a look at him as a prospective match.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Third Madam was shocked and furious: “Truly shameless!”

Mu Shi looked anxious: “Mother, the Fang family goes too far! Do they think they can do whatever they want with marriage matters!”

Lin Third Madam usually focused on self-cultivation and always presented a gentle face to others. After cursing once, she gradually calmed down, though her face remained somewhat cold: “Last time Madam Fang came asking me to put in good words for Fang Yacun with Uncle. Currently in Yanbei, those good positions have more monks than porridge. Getting a lucrative post isn’t that easy. I didn’t give a definitive answer. The Fang family probably thinks that by marrying into our family and connecting with Registrar Yuan, Fang Yacun will have another path in Yanbei in the future. After all, the Fang family’s roots are in Jiangnan. To establish a firm foothold in Yanbei, marriage is the best and fastest method.”

Mu Shi said angrily, “But they need us to think highly of their Fang family! Although the Fang family can be considered wealthy in Jiangnan, this is Yanbei. Fang Yacun is just a concubine-born son of the Fang family and merely a sixth-rank minor official who came here without roots or foundation. Moreover, I think that Young Master Fang is too ordinary and looks like he’ll never amount to anything.”

Lin Third Madam glanced at her daughter-in-law: “If the Fang family establishes the fact that our Lin family wants to marry into the Fang family, what can you do? By then, Ling’er’s reputation will be ruined. Who else could she marry besides Young Master Fang?”

Mu Shi couldn’t help but be dumbfounded: “This… this is too shameless!”

Lin Third Madam snorted softly: “There are plenty of such cases. That’s why I told you to manage Ling’er properly in daily life.”

Mu Shi bit her lip: “Mother, what do we do now?”

Lin Third Madam instructed the nanny: “Go to the Ren family villa again. This time, wait for Madam Fang and Ninth Miss Ren to return home, then take two pouches embroidered by the maids to exchange for the one our Miss embroidered. Give the Fang family a warning. If they’re sensible in the future, that’s fine. Otherwise… our Lin family isn’t easily bullied either.”

The nanny hurried off again, this time not returning until evening grew late.

“Madam, Ninth Miss Ren says the pouch was lost.” The nanny reported, sweating profusely.

The tea bowl in Lin Third Madam’s hand crashed to the ground with a “crack.”