Xiao Jinglin said, “What about the people watching Ren Yaoyin? Ren Yaoyin met with Wu Yiyu once, was threatened, and then just went back?”

Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi: “She didn’t send anyone to bring you to Qiuhong Courtyard?”

Thinking of Wu Yiyu’s plan, Xiao Jingxi frowned slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Regarding what Yun Wenfang had done, it wasn’t that he hadn’t had opportunities to stop it, but he had done nothing.

Ren Yaoqi smiled bitterly and shook her head: “She didn’t send anyone personally. Just now, it was Third Sister’s maid who came to invite me to Wutong Courtyard.” Wutong Courtyard was where the Ren family was staying.

Xiao Jinglin frowned: “She’s quite meticulous in her thinking, having your sister invite you so you wouldn’t be on guard. There are many courtyards in the west garden, and you’ve never been to Wutong Courtyard. As long as Wu Yiyu had someone wait for you on the road and deliberately lead you to take the wrong path to Qiuhong Courtyard, she could report back to Wu Yiyu and clear herself of involvement in the end. Fortunately, you were prepared in advance, otherwise, you might have fallen into the trap.”

Xiao Jinglin suddenly felt somewhat sorry for Ren Yaoqi. Who would want to guard against their blood relatives to such an extent? But if Ren Yaoqi wasn’t so cautious at every step, she probably would have been devoured without even bones remaining.

Seeing the expression on Xiao Jinglin’s face, Ren Yaoqi naturally knew what she was thinking and instead gave her a reassuring smile.

“It’s just that Miss Jiang is innocent and suffered an undeserved disaster.” Ren Yaoqi thought, only hoping that the Yun family could handle this matter well and at least not implicate Jiang Yuanniang too deeply.

She was about to ask Xiao Jingxi more questions when she looked up and saw that Xiao Jingxi was looking at her, his ink-black eyes focused and gentle. Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but be somewhat dazed. She thought that there probably weren’t any women in this world who could be looked at like this by Xiao Jingxi without their hearts racing. At least even she, having experienced two lifetimes, would be momentarily bewitched.

Xiao Jinglin looked at Xiao Jingxi, then at Ren Yaoqi, just wondering whether she should cough to break this inexplicable atmosphere, when someone, or rather something, became aware before she did.

The silly creature: “Ao wu——”

Xiao Jingxi nonchalantly withdrew his gaze, smiling as he looked at the silly creature in Hongying’s arms, slowly walking over a few steps to pet its head: “There aren’t that many innocent people in this world. You don’t need to think too much about it. Many things are destined from the moment they make certain decisions themselves. Your decisions can’t influence anyone else’s fate. These matters have nothing to do with you.”

Ren Yaoqi was startled. Did Xiao Jingxi’s words have some other meaning? However, Xiao Jingxi didn’t seem to want to say more, so Ren Yaoqi didn’t ask further, though she felt somewhat better in her heart.

Thinking about it this way, Ren Yaoqi felt that her concern for Jiang Yuanniang was merely false benevolence, fearing that she had been harmed because of her reasons. Xiao Jingxi’s words meant they had “brought disaster upon themselves,” completely clearing her of responsibility.

Xiao Jinglin said, “Since this has nothing to do with us, let’s go back. Let them make whatever fuss they want.” Although Xiao Jinglin didn’t like Wu Yiyu, she had no intention of watching the excitement. She would find her way to get back at Wu Yiyu for scheming against her. She wouldn’t do things like gloating or kicking someone when they’re down.

However, Xiao Jingxi asked Ren Yaoqi: “Don’t you want to see what she plans to do next?”

Since Xiao Jingxi had said that Wu Yiyu and Yun Wenfang’s affair had nothing to do with her, the “she” he mentioned naturally referred to Ren Yaoyin. Compared to Yun Wenfang and Wu Yiyu, Ren Yaoyin was the truly dangerous one.

He could help handle the situation with Yun Wenfang and Wu Yiyu, and after today’s events, those two wouldn’t be able to cause trouble much longer. But Ren Yaoyin hadn’t done anything concrete, and she lived under the same roof as Ren Yaoqi, making her practically impossible to guard against. It would be better to make her move from the shadows into the open.

Xiao Jinglin frowned: “How do we watch? Have Yaoqi go over as she suggested?”

Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly: “That’s not necessary. I just think that given her caution, she definitely won’t appear personally. This is Yanbei Prince’s villa. It wouldn’t be difficult to make her believe that Fifth Miss Ren has already gone to the appointment as she wished.”

Xiao Jinglin understood, then looked at Xiao Jingxi with disdain: “Actually, having you around has one benefit.”

Seeing Xiao Jinglin’s expression, Xiao Jingxi felt he probably wouldn’t want to hear Xiao Jinglin’s upcoming “praise,” though Ren Yaoqi looked at Xiao Jinglin with some interest.

Xiao Jinglin said expressionlessly: “Those scheming villains calculate and plot against each other, but in the end, they still can’t out-calculate you!”

What kind of person is more calculating than scheming villains?

Xiao Jingxi replied to Xiao Jinglin’s gentle smile with an unchanged expression: “How wonderful it would be if everyone in this world were like you, solving all disputes with fists and listening to whoever wins.”

Xiao Jinglin rolled her eyes. Don’t think she couldn’t understand that Xiao Jingxi was calling her all brawn and no brains, simple-minded with well-developed limbs. But hadn’t Xiao Jingxi always been the type to not fight back when scolded, with such a good temper, he hardly had any temper at all? What was with this frustrated and angry attitude?

Seeing that the two siblings were about to start fighting again, Ren Yaoqi immediately spoke up to interrupt, torn between laughter and exasperation: “Then Jinglin and I will go back and wait. I’ll leave the matters there to Second Young Master.”

Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi and nodded: “You two go back.”

Ren Yaoqi pulled Xiao Jinglin back toward Lanyue Pavilion. After thinking for a moment, she turned back to Xiao Jingxi and said softly: “Thank you.”

Xiao Jingxi didn’t need to do these things for her. When she asked him to repay her bet, she only asked him to help watch Ren Yaoyin and Wu Yiyu. She vaguely felt that Xiao Jingxi’s assistance wasn’t merely because she was his sister’s close friend, but Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to explore this further.

Xiao Jingxi said nothing, only smiling in response.

This smile inevitably brought to mind the phrase “bestowing grace with a glance, delighting the heart with a smile.”

Not long after Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin returned to Lanyue Pavilion, someone came to report to Xiao Jinglin that Third Miss Ren and Fourth Miss Ren had arrived, requesting an audience with the princess.

Xiao Jinglin looked at Ren Yaoqi thoughtfully: “They came to see me?”

Ren Yaoyin still didn’t forget to drag Ren Yaohua into this. Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “You should see them. I’ll wait in the inner room.”

Xiao Jinglin nodded. After watching Ren Yaoqi enter the inner room, she had Hongying bring Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoyin over.

As soon as Ren Yaohua entered, she asked: “Princess, may I ask if my Fifth Sister hasn’t returned yet?”

Seeing the light sweat on their faces, Xiao Jinglin looked puzzled: “What happened to Yaoqi?”

Ren Yaohua had just run over. She looked at Ren Yaoyin and frowned: “I sent someone earlier to invite her to Wutong Courtyard. Later, Fourth Sister said someone saw my Fifth Sister not going to Wutong Courtyard but being led by a strange maid to Qiuhong Courtyard in the northwest corner. We just tried to go to Qiuhong Courtyard to check, but were stopped.”

Ren Yaohua had been somewhat anxious at the time. If something happened to Ren Yaoqi, she would have no way to explain to her father and mother when she returned. So when two matrons blocked her, she wanted to force her way through, but was stopped by Ren Yaoyin. Ren Yaoyin reminded her to come and ask the princess for help, so they ran over.

Ren Yaohua said: “Princess, could you go take a look?” When she was blocked, she felt something was wrong. Now her heart was anxious with worry, wishing she could drag Xiao Jinglin there. Unfortunately, their statuses were different, and Xiao Jinglin knew martial arts, so she couldn’t drag her.

Xiao Jinglin pondered silently.

Ren Yaoyin, however, had a hesitant expression as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.

Ren Yaohua noticed and felt something was wrong: “Fourth Sister, what do you want to say?”

Xiao Jinglin also looked at Ren Yaoyin.

Ren Yaoyin was silent for a moment before saying, “Third Sister, I was just thinking that this matter might be related to Miss Wu?”

Ren Yaohua was startled: “What? Miss Wu? Wu Yiyu?”

Xiao Jinglin was also somewhat surprised, though she was surprised at how quickly Ren Yaoyin had exposed Wu Yiyu. She couldn’t help but glance toward the inner room.

Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoyin didn’t notice Xiao Jinglin’s expression. Under Ren Yaohua’s pressing questions, Ren Yaoyin began: “Actually, this afternoon on my way to the privy, I accidentally overheard a conversation between Miss Wu and one of her maids called Shuangxi. Miss Wu seemed to harbor resentment over how the princess and Fifth Sister joined forces to steal her limelight this morning, saying she would secretly cause trouble for Fifth Sister to see if she’d dare help the princess oppose her again.”

Ren Yaohua said angrily: “Why didn’t you say this earlier?”

Ren Yaoyin smiled bitterly: “I originally planned to remind her when Fifth Sister came over today, and I also didn’t think Miss Wu would make a move against Fifth Sister at this time. If I had told you about this just now, Third Sister, you would have gone directly to confront Miss Wu, and you would have suffered for it. So I could only remind you to come and ask the princess for help. Princess, my Fifth Sister, has always been on good terms with you. Please help mediate with Miss Wu’s side.”

Xiao Jinglin thought that if she didn’t know the twists and turns involved, given her temperament, she would rush out to rescue someone right now. After all, according to Ren Yaoyin’s meaning, Wu Yiyu wanted to cause trouble for Ren Yaoqi entirely because Ren Yaoqi had helped her, which would make her resentment toward Wu Yiyu even greater.

So what would her reaction be when she rushed over and saw Yaoqi being bullied and humiliated by Wu Yiyu? She would fight Wu Yiyu on the spot, possibly even injuring her.

Listening to Ren Yaoyin’s words in the inner room, Ren Yaoqi instantly understood Ren Yaoyin’s calculation.

Ren Yaoyin wanted to marry Yun Wenfang, and actually, the biggest obstacle was Xiao Jinglin. So Ren Yaoyin’s real target was Xiao Jinglin, while she, this sister, was merely a chess piece to achieve her goal.

If Xiao Jinglin, in front of so many wives and young ladies from prominent families, injured Wu Yiyu in a fit of anger, would the old princess consort and Madam Wu let it go? Even with the princess consort’s protection, Xiao Jinglin wouldn’t escape unscathed. In the end, she might even be sent back to the frontier by the princess consort to avoid trouble.