Ren Yaoyin was also driven to desperation. Before coming to attend the Thousand Gold Banquet, she had overheard a conversation between her mother and nanny, learning that the family intended to discuss marriage arrangements with the Qiu family after the banquet, and the person Grandfather favored to marry into the Qiu family was herself.

And she did not want to marry into the Qiu family.

Yun Wenting was a gentle and refined young master. In their few encounters, Yun Wenting had always been very kind to her, even knowing that she excelled at writing poetry. She couldn’t help but want to explore whether, if she revealed her feelings, Yun Wenting would acknowledge her as a “kindred spirit” in his heart.

When Ren Yaoyin publicly composed poetry today, her heart was anxious, though this anxiety contained a sweetness she couldn’t share with outsiders. She knew Yun Wenting would come today, and knew her composition would circulate to the other side of the bamboo grove, but she didn’t know what Yun Wenting would think after seeing it.

But she hadn’t expected that her most secret thoughts would be known by a third person, and that person was Wu Yiyu. Ren Yaoyin felt as if she had been stripped naked in front of Wu Yiyu.

Whether among the Ren family sisters or in her interactions with other young ladies, Ren Yaoyin had always been at ease. This moment was the most humiliating she had experienced in all these years.

Wu Yiyu, having sufficiently enjoyed the expression on her face, drawled: “What? Never thought your shameless thoughts would be discovered?”

After a long while, Ren Yaoyin’s expression gradually calmed, but she said, “What if I say I don’t know about Young Master Yun’s poem? Young Master Yun’s articles and poetry are known to all literate people in Yanbei. I wonder which piece Miss Wu is referring to?”

Wu Yiyu slightly narrowed her eyes, then pulled the corners of her mouth into a smile-like expression, clapping: “Well done, Ren Yaoyin, truly excellent!”

Her expression suddenly turned cold again: “Too bad you can’t fool me! All of Yun Wenting’s articles and poetry, whether made public or written privately – I know them all!”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoyin looked somewhat incredulous, staring at Wu Yiyu for a long moment before saying in shock: “Did you bribe his close attendants? How could you do such a thing!”

Wu Yiyu approached her, reaching out to gently pat her face with clear threatening intent: “None of this is your concern!”

Ren Yaoyin frowned and avoided her hand, but seized on her words: “Then, according to Miss Wu’s wisdom, what should be my concern?”

Wu Yiyu looked her over for a long moment, then said maliciously: “What do you think would happen if I spread this scandal of yours? How would the Yun family view you? How would Yun Qiuchen view you? Could you still stand firm in the Ren family?”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoyin’s heart moved, and she asked alertly: “What do you want to threaten me into doing?”

Wu Yiyu smiled: “I just like talking to intelligent people.”

Ren Yaoyin looked at her without speaking.

Wu Yiyu didn’t care whether Ren Yaoyin agreed or not, as if she was certain she would do as told, directly commanding: “I want you to help me bring Ren Yaoqi out!”

Ren Yaoyin asked suspiciously: “What do you want with my Fifth Sister?”

Wu Yiyu suddenly raised her hand and slapped Ren Yaoyin. The crisp sound and the burning pain on her face left Ren Yaoyin stunned for a long moment.

“Do what you’re told! Let this slap teach you a lesson!”

Ren Yaoyin had never expected Wu Yiyu to strike without warning. She usually dealt with gentle, refined young ladies from good families who, even when disagreeable, maintained appearances and played mental games.

She had never encountered someone like Wu Yiyu – moody, violent, and vicious.

Ren Yaoyin trembled with anger but became calmer on the surface: “What if I refuse?”

Before Wu Yiyu could get angry again, she continued: “If you spread this matter and ruin my reputation, aren’t you afraid he’ll be disgusted with you? Young Master Yun is a gentleman as gentle as jade.” Perhaps he might even feel pity for me, Ren Yaoyin couldn’t help thinking.

Hearing this, Wu Yiyu looked at Ren Yaoyin with utter contempt: “Just you? I know what you’re thinking. Let me tell you honestly – I truly don’t take someone like you seriously, because there are plenty of shameless women like you who overestimate themselves and covet what they shouldn’t! However, I can promise you this: when I achieve my heart’s desire, I won’t mind my husband having one more little plaything like you.”

Ren Yaoyin could tell that Wu Yiyu wasn’t just placating her. She truly didn’t mind her husband’s household having a few more women. This wasn’t because Wu Yiyu was magnanimous, but because in her eyes, women like them posed no threat to her at all.

After a moment of silence, Ren Yaoyin asked hesitantly: “Are you telling the truth?”

The contempt in Wu Yiyu’s eyes became even more obvious: “Naturally, it’s true!”

Ren Yaoyin hesitated again, and when Wu Yiyu was getting impatient, finally nodded: “Fine, I’ll help you bring Fifth Sister out. But my Fifth Sister has no grudge against you – don’t hurt her.”

Wu Yiyu smiled strangely: “Why would I hurt her? I want to help her! Isn’t she involved with Yun Wenfang? The Yun family would never allow her through their doors. I have a way to make their affair a done deal! She’ll thank me later, just like you will!”

When Ren Yaoyin wanted to ask more, Wu Yiyu impatiently interrupted: “Just do as I say. Bring her to Qiuhong Courtyard in the northwest corner of the hot spring manor at the hour of You, or I’ll ruin your reputation! You should understand that even as a concubine, the Yun family wouldn’t want someone who corrupts family traditions!”

At this moment, Wu Yiyu’s head maid approached, apparently having something to report. After dropping that threat, Wu Yiyu left with her maid.

Ren Yaoyin stood there until Wu Yiyu’s figure disappeared from view, then slowly raised her hand to touch her reddened cheek. Her eyes were black as undissolved thick fog, containing bone-chilling coldness.

Suddenly, the corners of her lips slowly curved upward, and she whispered: “Fool!”

Wu Yiyu led her maid through secluded paths to Qiuhong Courtyard in the northwest corner.

The west side of the hot spring manor had guest quarters for housing the ladies attending the Thousand Gold Banquet. Since the manor was large enough, several small courtyards in the northwest corner were left vacant. Qiuhong Courtyard was one of them, with a forest outside the manor behind it.

At this moment, a tall youth with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes was leaning against a magnolia tree trunk in the courtyard with his arms crossed, looking up at the sky framed by the four corners of the courtyard with a slight frown, lost in thought.

Even Wu Yiyu, who admired Yun Wenting, couldn’t help but look at him several times when she entered. Undeniably, all the Yun family members were exceptionally good-looking.

Yun Wenfang noticed Wu Yiyu when she entered. He turned his head to glance at her and said lazily: “You had me come here – what do you want?”

Wu Yiyu was much more amiable facing Yun Wenfang than she had been with Ren Yaoyin. She smiled: “Naturally, it’s good news! Speaking of which, shouldn’t you thank me first? Without me providing cover, escaping from that villa wouldn’t have been so easy.”

Yun Wenfang snorted coldly and glanced at Wu Yiyu sideways: “Don’t think I don’t know why you so conveniently discovered I was trapped in the villa.” This woman must have had people constantly watching the villa, wanting to track Yun Wenting’s every movement.

Wu Yiyu didn’t deny it. She smiled and approached: “So I also know why the Yun family confined you.”

Yun Wenfang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Wu Yiyu quickly said: “Don’t get angry yet – I’m here to help you out of kindness.”

Yun Wenfang raised an eyebrow: “Help me? How?”

Wu Yiyu blinked: “I’ll arrange for you to meet the person you want to see.”

Yun Wenfang scoffed: “Oh? What do you want in exchange? Should I kidnap my elder brother and deliver him to you?”

Wu Yiyu’s eyes lit up at this, but then she shook her head with some regret: “That’s not necessary. Just remember, you owe me a favor. Of course, I won’t make you do anything difficult – you needn’t worry, I’ll harm you.”

Yun Wenfang remained noncommittal.

Wu Yiyu observed his expression: “How about it? Without my help, you can’t see her. That bitch Xiao Jingling is with her constantly. After the Thousand Gold Banquet, when she leaves Yunyang City, it’ll be even harder for you to see her. The Yun family has already decided to betroth you to Miss Jiang, and after Ren Fifth’s spectacular showing at the Thousand Gold Banquet, the Ren family will surely use this opportunity to arrange her marriage. Can you just watch her marry someone else?”

Yun Wenfang’s mind suddenly flashed to yesterday’s scene of Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi holding hands and gazing at each other. He suddenly punched the tree trunk beside him, his eyes red as he said through gritted teeth, word by word: “She. Must. Not!”

Wu Yiyu smiled with satisfaction: “That’s right! The Yun family is determined to have you marry Miss Jiang – so marry her. The Yun family would never let Ren Yaoqi become a Yun family daughter-in-law anyway. But if you want Ren Yaoqi as a person, that’s the simplest thing in the world.”

Yun Wenfang didn’t respond, only saying: “What benefit is this to you?”

Wu Yiyu tilted her head thoughtfully, then said seriously: “Can’t help it – I just want to see Xiao Jingling suffer. From childhood to now, Xiao Jingling has never had anyone close to her, and Ren Yaoqi is the first. You might not understand Xiao Jingling as a person… but I know exactly how to make her wish she were dead!”

She could hardly wait to see Xiao Jingling’s reaction when she learned her best friend had become some man’s plaything. Just thinking about it made her want to laugh out loud.

Yun Wenfang, seeing the madness in Wu Yiyu’s eyes, couldn’t help but click his tongue.

He had felt some resentment toward his brother before, but now somehow felt rather sympathetic toward him.