Though Ren Yaohua’s voice wasn’t loud, her words were extremely harsh. Ren Yaoying’s expression changed on the spot. Her originally pale face flushed red, and unable to control herself from shame and anger, tears began to flow.

“You—”

Qiu Hong, sitting not far away, glanced in their direction. Ren Yaohua didn’t even spare Ren Yaoying a look, as if even glancing at her would dirty her eyes.

Ren Yaoying tried to take several deep breaths to make herself appear more natural, but she really couldn’t stop the tears. Finally, she hastily stood up and left her seat.

Since they had all been mindful of their volume when speaking earlier, only the few Ren family young ladies nearby could hear them. When Ren Yaoying left, it didn’t attract much attention – everyone simply assumed she was going to the washroom to freshen up.

Ren Yaoyin said with some concern: “She left like that – should we send someone to follow her?”

Ren Yaohua said casually, “You saw it too – she finds my maid clumsy and doesn’t want her service. If you’re worried, then send someone to follow her.”

Ren Yaoyin looked at the certain maid whom Ren Yaohua called “clumsy.”

A certain maid who was nimbly serving tea and water to Ren Yaoqi froze in her movements: “…”

Ren Yaoyin sighed and could only instruct her maid to chase after Ren Yaoying.

Several more young ladies took the stage afterward, but because Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingling had set such a high standard, the following families’ young ladies didn’t receive much attention.

When it was nearly noon, the Dowager Princess Consort said it was getting late, so Princess Consort had everyone go for lunch first and continue the competition in the afternoon. Only then did the young ladies disperse.

Ren Yaoqi needed to go to Lanyue Pavilion, so she parted ways with Ren Yaohua and the others.

After all the young ladies had left, the young masters from prestigious families on the other side of the peach grove also dispersed.

Many were still reminiscing about the graceful figures they had glimpsed hazily through half the peach grove.

Qiu family’s eldest son Qiu Yun walked with several close schoolmates. While fanning himself with his folding fan, he teasingly asked the youth beside him: “Gu Junnan, did you see your fiancée just now?”

Gu Junnan’s handsome face immediately turned completely red. Flustered and exasperated, he jumped up pointing at Qiu Yun: “You… you’re talking… talking nonsense! What are you saying! Where do I have…”

Before he could finish, there was a burst of laughter around them.

Someone said, “Junnan, I saw you secretly writing poetry for your fiancée just now. Something about ‘troubling fingers with wind and rain, placing ice and charcoal in my heart, unable to sit or stand in peace’ – it’s rare not to hear you recite it.”

Another burst of hearty laughter.

Someone heard something amiss: “Eh? I remember your fiancée is Miss Zhou, Zhou Wen’s younger sister. It seems Miss Zhou hasn’t taken the stage yet, right? Zhou Wen, what do you say… Hmm? Where did Zhou Wen go? He was just here.”

“Maybe he left early, but Gu Junnan… who were you writing that poem for just now?”

Gu Junnan instinctively clutched his sleeves tighter, puffing his cheeks as he walked quickly forward: “What… what business is it of yours!”

The remaining group exchanged glances, each showing a knowing expression.

That poem was about the qin player…

Everyone fell silent for a moment. Someone cleared their throat lightly: “I’ve heard some rumors about the Princess before. What I saw today proves that rumors truly can’t be trusted.”

Someone continued: “This was my first time hearing that legendary ‘Sad Wind Song.’ Worthy of being a famous piece – it truly lingered for three days.”

“That’s entirely due to Miss Ren’s skill.”

Qiu Yun leisurely listened with a smile to these young masters chattering behind people’s backs. Though he had started the topic, he wasn’t seen saying much more.

Suddenly, his gaze shifted as he saw two people emerge from the peach grove and walk toward another path. He paused in his steps, thought for a moment, greeted his schoolmates, then quickly followed.

After Xiao Jingling’s performance, Yun Wenting saw Xiao Jingxi and was somewhat surprised. Though he had sent someone to invite him before, he hadn’t expected Xiao Jingxi to come. Yun Wenting usually had a decent relationship with Xiao Jingxi, so he took the initiative to greet him.

Though Xiao Jingxi appeared gentle and refined on the surface, he wasn’t easy to approach. However, Second Young Master Xiao seemed to be in quite good spirits today, and Yun Wenting was able to chat with him over tea about various topics.

Second Young Master Xiao’s reputation for exceptional talent wasn’t groundless. As long as you could bring up a topic, he could respond to you, provided he was willing to spend time responding.

Finally, on the road, seeing the atmosphere was still good, Yun Wenting brought up Yun Wenfang’s matter and once again expressed apologies to Xiao Jingxi and Xiao Jingling on behalf of his younger brother.

Yesterday, I had someone confine him to the outer villa. I’ll release him after his marriage is settled in a few days.” Yun Wenting spoke in a casual, family-chat tone.

Xiao Jingxi joked: “Not afraid the old lady will feel sorry for him?”

Yun Wenting smiled bitterly: “This was Grandmother’s idea. Zishu has always been willful, and Grandmother fears that if he learns about the engagement, he’ll scare the young lady away.” It wouldn’t be the first time Yun Wenfang had done such a thing.

Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly without making any comment.

Yun Wenting volunteered: “Grandmother and Mother both favor the Jiang family’s eighth young lady. After the Thousand Gold Banquet ends, they should go inquire about Princess Consort’s opinion.”

At this moment, someone spoke nearby. The two turned to look and saw it was Qiu Yun, though he was stopped by Xiao Jingxi’s guards. As Princess Xiao had said, her second brother indeed had many rules.

Xiao Jingxi glanced at his attending servant Tonghe, who stepped forward to escort Qiu Yun over.

Yun Wenting smiled: “Jinyuan, how did you come here?”

Qiu Yun bowed to Xiao Jingxi, then smiled: “I haven’t seen Zishu since yesterday, so I came to ask. What’s wrong with Zishu? Is he unwell?”

Qiu Yun had an excellent relationship with Yun Wenfang and knew something of his little thoughts, so he was quite surprised that Yun Wenfang hadn’t appeared today.

Yun Wenting said, “There were some family matters to assign him to handle. He left yesterday.”

What family matters would the Yun family give to Yun Wenfang, who never handled proper business, instead of to Yun Wenting? Qiu Yun rolled his eyes but swallowed his doubts.

At this moment, a Yun family servant hurried over. Yun Wenting greeted Xiao Jingxi and actively walked over.

The servant looked somewhat urgent, but kept his voice very low. Xiao Jingxi and Qiu Yun, standing there, could only hear the servant’s initial words “Second Young Master” and “villa.”

After listening impassively, Yun Wenting dismissed the servant, then returned saying: “Tingzhen, Jinyuan, there are still some matters to handle at the villa. I’ll leave first.”

Xiao Jingxi knew it must be another commotion from Yun Wenfang’s side. He smiled and nodded, and Qiu Yun didn’t ask further questions either.

After Yun Wenting left with the servant, Qiu Yun also took his leave.

When everyone returned to the peach grove in the afternoon, neither the Dowager Princess Consort nor the Xiao mother and daughter came. The young ladies from Yanbei’s more important families had basically all shown their faces in the morning, so it wasn’t impolite for the Dowager Princess Consort to only appear for half a day. This was also why the Ren family’s young ladies were excited that their competition order could be arranged earlier – those who appeared first received more attention.

Ren Yaoyin was quite surprised when Wu Yiyu intercepted her on the way to the washroom.

“Miss Wu, what is this about?”

Wu Yiyu coldly looked down at Ren Yaoyin: “After returning yesterday, I inquired about you. I heard that Young Master Yun once saved you, and you’ve met him several times since.”

The smile on Ren Yaoyin’s face paused, then her expression also turned cold as she suppressed her grief and indignation: “Miss Wu, what do you mean by this? I have never privately met with any outside men. The few times I encountered Young Master Yun were all chance meetings in full view of others! Where does your statement place my reputation?”

But Wu Yiyu didn’t buy it at all, curling her lips in a cold sneer with some contempt: “Don’t put on this act in front of me! Reputation? How much is your reputation worth in silver?”

With that, Wu Yiyu pulled out a crumpled paper from her sleeve and threw it at Ren Yaoyin’s face. Ren Yaoyin instinctively caught it and was about to get angry, but when she saw the paper’s contents, she stiffened.

Ren Yaoyin naturally recognized this paper – it was the “Butterfly Loves Flower” poem she had publicly composed that morning. Knowing that her calligraphy and painting couldn’t compare to Ren Yaoqi’s, she had put extra effort into poetry and song composition. Today’s poem had indeed earned praise from several ladies, and even Princess Consort had complimented her.

Wu Yiyu watched coldly as she slowly smoothed out the paper, mocking: “What? Nothing to say now?”

Ren Yaoyin said coldly: “What does Miss Wu want to hear me say?”

Wu Yiyu approached her, leaning close to her ear and slowly saying: “Don’t think I don’t know – Yun Wenting once wrote a poem lamenting how hard it is to find a kindred spirit, and every line of your ‘Butterfly Loves Flower’ responds to his poem. What are you trying to do? Use this method to express your feelings of admiration?”

Wu Yiyu’s voice was low and cold, but Ren Yaoyin felt a trembling sensation as if a venomous snake was flicking its tongue by her ear. She instantly changed expression: “You—”

Ren Yaoyin didn’t know how Wu Yiyu knew about Yun Wenting’s poem. She had discovered that poem last year when she came to Yunyang City and borrowed a book from Yun Qiuchen – it was tucked inside the book.

She was very familiar with Yun Wenting’s handwriting, so she recognized it immediately. Later, Ren Yaoyin had secretly probed Yun Qiuchen, who was unaware that the book contained a piece of paper. Presumably, Yun Wenting had casually tucked it into the book after composing it one day, though it was unclear how that book ended up in Yun Qiuchen’s hands and was then lent to her.

For a talented scholar like Young Master Yun, who was extremely famous in Yanbei and pursued everywhere, each of his new works would circulate immediately for public appreciation. Yun Qiuchen was familiar with all of Yun Wenting’s poetry and remembered that this particular piece hadn’t circulated publicly.

So Ren Yaoyin regarded it as an unexpected connection between herself and Yun Wenting.