Ren Yaoqi’s feelings toward the Han family were complicated. However, she had once met Madam Han, who was an extremely gentle and kind person. Ren Shijia arranged with Ren Yaoqi to depart the next day before leaving.

Early the next morning, Ren Yaoqi set off with the Ren Shijia couple to return to White Crane Town. Ren Yaoqi had previously arranged with Xiao Jinglin to meet at the willow pavilion outside Yunyang City. However, just as Ren Yaoqi’s carriage had passed through the city gate and was still traveling, something knocked against the carriage wall. Sangshen lifted a corner of the curtain to peek outside, then exclaimed “Eh!” and quickly said, “Miss, it’s the Princess, the Princess is outside.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi lifted the curtain to look outside and indeed saw Xiao Jinglin and Hongying standing under a large locust tree not far from the city gate, both dressed quite plainly.

Ren Yaoqi called out to stop the carriage, then had Sangshen get out to inform Ren Shijia, who was traveling ahead. Sangshen quickly returned, saying that Ren Shijia would wait for her at the fork in the road three li ahead.

Ren Yaoqi then had her carriage separate from the Lin family’s convoy and drove toward the large locust tree where Xiao Jinglin was standing.

There were quite a few carriages and merchants coming and going at the city gate. Since Xiao Jinglin didn’t want to attract attention, she was standing in a place with few people, so Ren Yaoqi got out of her carriage.

“Didn’t we say to wait in the pavilion ahead? When did you arrive?” Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile.

“Just arrived not long ago,” Xiao Jinglin walked over and said.

Ren Yaoqi looked at her, then at Hongying, and deliberately showed disappointment: “Didn’t you say Silly Girl would come to bid me farewell? Why don’t I see her?”

Xiao Jinglin said, “Silly Girl is still being kept at the manor. I returned yesterday. Xiao Jingxi just happened to return to the city this morning and will bring Silly Girl back with him.”

Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat embarrassed: “That’s too much trouble for Second Young Master.” She had only been speaking casually.

However, Xiao Jinglin looked expressionlessly at the fork in the road leading to the hot spring manor: “Hmm, I should have expected he’d be troublesome. If Silly Girl gets on his carriage, she’ll be bathed several times by Tonghe, who knows how much fur she’ll lose. We agreed to meet at the city gate at the hour of chen, and he’s still not here!”

Hongying quietly reminded her: “Princess, there’s still a quarter-hour before the hour of chen.”

Xiao Jinglin looked at Hongying and frowned: “Is that so?”

Ren Yaoqi: “…”

Fortunately, Princess Xiao’s complaints proved useful. Just then, several carriages emerged from the road leading to the hot spring manor, bearing the insignia of Prince Yanbei’s residence. Hongying immediately ran over.

Taking advantage of this time, Xiao Jinglin said to Ren Yaoqi: “My grandmother and aunt are searching everywhere for Yun Wenfang, nearly surrounding the Yun family, but they still haven’t found him.”

Ren Yaoqi wasn’t surprised. The Yun family had been operating in Yanbei for so long that hiding one person would be simple. She heard Xiao Jinglin continue: “You need to be careful. Always keep people around you, even when you’re at the Ren family residence, don’t stay alone by yourself.”

Ren Yaoqi was startled.

Xiao Jinglin asked Ren Yaoqi: “Did something happen at the Ren family’s retreat house the night before last?”

Ren Yaoqi then told Xiao Jinglin about Ren Yaoyin having her hair completely shaved off.

Xiao Jinglin was silent for a moment, then said seriously, “I previously thought Yun Wenfang was completely useless. Now it seems I was biased. He could serve as a qualified scout, at least he can infiltrate enemy courtyards, and might even be able to bring back enemy heads.”

Ren Yaoqi wanted to laugh but held back.

Xiao Jinglin glanced at Xiao Jingxi, who was getting out of his carriage, then said: “But you don’t need to worry too much. Someone has been watching Yun Wenfang’s side all along, so he can’t hurt you.” Just because the Old Princess Consort and Xiao Wei couldn’t find Yun Wenfang didn’t mean everyone couldn’t find him.

Ren Yaoqi was about to ask something when she also saw Xiao Jingxi and Silly Girl in his arms.

Ren Yaoqi quickly performed a courtesy, and Xiao Jingxi smiled and nodded.

Silly Girl was unexpectedly well-behaved, lying in Second Young Master Xiao’s arms, even her paws resting on his arm seemed cautious. It must be said that wild beasts’ instincts are quite keen—they can smell out which people will tolerate them and which absolutely cannot be provoked.

Silly Girl looked at Ren Yaoqi with wet eyes, then at Xiao Jinglin, letting out a tiny “Aowu” sound but not daring to move.

Xiao Jinglin looked at Silly Girl for a long while, then frowned at Xiao Jingxi: “What did you do to her?”

Xiao Jingxi was truly innocent. He looked down at Silly Girl and lightly flicked her forehead with his finger: “Wasn’t she quite lively when Tonghe was bathing her just now? She splashed water all over Tonghe.”

Xiao Jinglin looked at Ren Yaoqi with an expression that said, “See, I told you so.” Then, under Silly Girl’s wet gaze, she took her away.

Silly Girl let out an “Aowu” and came back to life, pawing and gnawing at Xiao Jinglin’s sleeve.

“By the way, did you bring the sword?” Xiao Jinglin disgustedly tossed Silly Girl to Hongying and asked Xiao Jingxi.

Xiao Jingxi nodded. Without him needing to speak, Tonghe turned and brought out a box from the carriage, presenting it to Xiao Jinglin.

Xiao Jinglin handed the box to Pingguo and said to Ren Yaoqi, “The Snow Garment Sword is for you. Practice those few moves I taught you twice daily. Next time we meet, I’ll teach you something else.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded.

“It’s getting late, I’ll escort you to meet up with the Lin family,” Xiao Jinglin paused, sounding somewhat sullen.

Ren Yaoqi also felt reluctant thinking about parting with Xiao Jinglin, but she couldn’t stay in Yunyang City forever.

Xiao Jinglin got into Ren Yaoqi’s carriage, and Xiao Jingxi’s carriage followed behind theirs.

Along the way, Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin spoke intimately, though this stretch of road wasn’t long, and they soon saw the Lin family carriages stopped by the fork ahead.

Ren Yaoqi’s carriage slowly came to a stop.

Then Ren Shijia’s voice came from outside the carriage: “Qi’er?”

Ren Yaoqi lifted the curtain and saw Ren Shijia holding Brother Cen and Lin Kun coming out from a small path nearby. They hadn’t brought any maids or old women with them. Ren Shijia walked ahead holding her son, while Lin Kun carefully held his arms open behind them in a protective gesture. The scene looked extremely harmonious and warm.

Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin got out of the carriage. Ren Shijia and Lin Kun quickly paid respects to Xiao Jinglin. When Xiao Jingxi emerged from the carriage behind them, Lin Kun was startled and somewhat surprised, then immediately bowed: “Commoner Lin Kun pays respects to Second Young Master Xiao.”

Although Xiao Jingxi rarely appeared in public, Lin Kun had seen him from a distance once and recognized him, since Second Young Master Xiao’s appearance was quite unforgettable once seen.

Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly, his every gesture naturally elegant: “Is Sixth Master Lin going to White Crane Town to pay condolences at the Han family?”

Lin Kun felt somewhat flattered and quickly said: “This commoner doesn’t deserve to be called ‘master’ by you, Young Master. Please just call me Lin Liu. The Han family has some business dealings with the Lin family, and my wife also had some interactions with the deceased Madam Han. We couple going to White Crane Town, both to pay condolences and to escort my niece back to the Ren family while also visiting my father-in-law and mother-in-law.”

Xiao Jingxi nodded and looked toward Xiao Jinglin, saying gently, “Say your farewells quickly, don’t keep people waiting.” He had the demeanor of an older brother escorting his sister to meet friends.

Xiao Jinglin was rolling her eyes internally.

Lin Kun quickly said it was still early and called over distant servants to bring tables and stools from the carriages to set up under the trees, carefully inviting Xiao Jingxi to sit.

Xiao Jingxi gave face and went to sit.

Ren Shijia returned to the carriage holding the already sleeping Brother Cen.

Ren Yaoqi chatted with Xiao Jinglin while he couldn’t help glancing several times toward Xiao Jingxi and Lin Kun. Although she couldn’t hear what they were saying, Xiao Jingxi’s attitude was quite good.

When Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin finished their conversation, Xiao Jingxi also stood up and walked over. Lin Kun returned to his carriage, tactfully not following.

“Time to go?” Xiao Jingxi looked at them and smiled.

Xiao Jinglin asked what Ren Yaoqi wanted to know: “What were you two talking about just now?”

Xiao Jingxi smiled: “Just casual conversation.”

After thinking for a moment, he tilted his head slightly to look at Ren Yaoqi: “Your uncle-in-law is not simple.”

Ren Yaoqi was somewhat curious and couldn’t help asking: “Oh? What do you mean by ‘not simple’?”

Xiao Jingxi had only mentioned it casually and hadn’t expected Ren Yaoqi to ask further. However, the smile in his eyes deepened: “There’s a type of person in this world who, as long as you give them an opportunity, can fulfill their ambitions. However, ambition isn’t entirely a bad thing—it depends on how you think about it.”

Ren Yaoqi tilted her head in thought, then smiled: “I only want to know how much a person’s ambition would make them willing to sacrifice to fulfill themselves. For those in power and for themselves, their ambition isn’t a bad thing, but for those close to them, it may not be so.” Because they might be the first to be sacrificed, though Ren Yaoqi didn’t voice this last thought.

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but become thoughtful, then chuckled softly: “Now that you put it that way, I’m reminded of an interesting incident that happened in Shunzhou a few years ago.”

“Oh?”

“In Shunzhou, there was a man who inherited a small dry goods shop from his parents. He married, had children, and lived a peaceful life. Later, he partnered with others to trade Jiangnan silk and bought fur from Guandong at low prices to sell in Jiangnan, thus making his fortune.”

“Was it that after this man got money, he became a heartless man who divorced his wife to marry into a higher family?” Xiao Jinglin rarely interjected.

Xiao Jingxi looked at Xiao Jinglin with some surprise.

Xiao Jinglin snorted lightly: “I’ve watched several operas with my mother before, and that’s how all the plays go.” She looked at Xiao Jingxi with disdain: “I didn’t expect you to have the same tastes as those women.”

Xiao Jingxi’s expression remained unchanged as he continued speaking to Ren Yaoqi: “This man didn’t have the chance to divorce his wife and remarry. After his wife learned that he wanted to give her to someone else as a concubine for a big business deal, she took the initiative to help their rivals attack her own husband’s business, ultimately causing this man to lose everything.”

Xiao Jinglin nodded and sighed: “What spirit!”

Xiao Jingxi laughed, but said to Ren Yaoqi: “So rather than worrying about becoming the object of sacrifice, it’s better to keep others’ ambitions under your control.”