Xiao Jingxi’s words made Ren Yaoqi freeze momentarily. She looked at Xiao Jingxi, who was watching her with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, his eyes containing an intoxicating warmth.

Ren Yaoqi suddenly felt that Xiao Jingxi seemed to understand all her current worries, anxieties, and cautious maneuvering, yet he told her in an understated way that she could control others’ ambitions in her own hands, as if all those things that had kept her sleepless since her rebirth truly weren’t such a big deal after all.

Ren Yaoqi imperceptibly turned her body slightly away, blinking hard to force back the sudden heat in her eyes that had caught her off guard and left her somewhat flustered.

She slightly lifted the corners of her mouth and lowered her head, saying softly: “Thank you!”

Xiao Jingxi recalled her eyelashes that had just trembled lightly like butterfly wings, and an unprecedented impulse surged in his heart. He didn’t know what this impulse was. He moved his fingers and suddenly felt that somewhere in his heart seemed somewhat empty—a very subtle feeling, neither uncomfortable nor comfortable, but as if something was missing.

When Xiao Jingxi was small, he lived in great pain. Every time the poison in his body flared up, it was torment. At first, he would cry and make a fuss, but later, when enduring pain daily had become his habit, he learned to smile, so that as he gradually grew up, almost nothing could shake him anymore.

Now it seemed that wasn’t entirely true.

“It’s getting late, I must go,” Ren Yaoqi said with a smile to Xiao Jingxi and Xiao Jinglin.

Xiao Jinglin nodded: “I’ll visit you in White Crane Town if I have time.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled and nodded, then bent down to pat Silly Girl’s head. Silly Girl stuck out her little tongue to lick her palm: “Aowu—”

Finally smiling at Xiao Jingxi, Ren Yaoqi turned and took Pingguo’s hand to get into the carriage.

After Ren Yaoqi got in the carriage, she lifted the curtain and waved at Xiao Jinglin. Xiao Jinglin, ignoring Silly Girl’s weak protests, held up her paw and waved back.

The Lin family’s carriages slowly began moving and soon drove out of the Xiao siblings’ sight.

Xiao Jingxi turned to look at Xiao Jinglin and asked with a smile: “Ride in my carriage back?”

Xiao Jinglin glanced at Xiao Jingxi’s carriage, then said expressionlessly: “I walked out of the city just now, my shoes are covered in dust. Would you throw me out of the carriage?”

Xiao Jingxi’s smile remained unchanged: “No problem, I had someone prepare shoes for you when I left. You can get in the carriage to change.”

Xiao Jinglin frowned, then turned around without hesitation: “Forget it, you ride alone. I can endure it, but Silly Girl can’t.”

Xiao Jingxi raised an eyebrow and looked at Silly Girl.

Silly Girl’s ears twitched as she lowered her head submissively and began licking her paws.

Xiao Jingxi: “…”

Xiao Jinglin put her hand to her lips and whistled. Then the sound of hoofbeats came from a hidden path, and soon two fine horses, one black and one red, trotted out.

Xiao Jinglin picked up Silly Girl with one hand and very neatly mounted the black horse. Hongying quickly bowed to Xiao Jingxi, then also mounted the other horse.

“Weren’t you specifically escorting me out of the city to meet friends? Now I’ve met them, so escort me back. Hurry up and follow!” Only after turning her horse around did Xiao Jinglin look back at Xiao Jingxi condescendingly.

Xiao Jingxi: “…”

When getting into his carriage, Xiao Jingxi’s gaze shifted slightly as he squinted toward a small hill in the distance.

Tonghe noticed and immediately said: “Young Master, shall I send someone to investigate?”

Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly: “No need. Didn’t I give orders before? As long as he doesn’t appear in front of Fifth Miss Ren, he can go anywhere else he pleases. After all, we’re not afraid of having no one to clean up the mess.”

Tonghe glanced at Xiao Jingxi: “Yes, Young Master. This servant understands.”

Xiao Jingxi got into the carriage without looking back and casually ordered: “Follow the Princess’s horse.”

Xiao Jingxi’s carriage followed the two galloping horses, leaving only a cloud of dust behind.

Tonghe, who was dutifully driving the carriage himself, wailed inwardly: “Princess, you’re doing this on purpose! This servant’s mouth is full of dirt now! This servant won’t dare look at Young Master’s expression when he gets out of the carriage!”

On the low hill opposite, Yun Wenfang glared at Yun Wenting: “Yun Wenting, are you idle with nothing to do all day? Wherever I go, you follow!”

Yun Wenting said calmly, “If you would behave yourself and hide properly, why would I need to find you?”

Yun Wenfang walked around in place a few steps, somewhat irritably: “I won’t cause trouble now! Do you think I want to be caught by the Wu family?”

Yun Wenting remained unmoved: “Oh? Then tell me what’s the matter with Fourth Miss Ren? Wasn’t it you who snuck out in the middle of the night to play ghost and cut people’s hair? Is this what you call ‘behaving yourself’?”

Yun Wenfang looked at Yun Wenting mockingly: “You’re talking about me? Isn’t Fourth Miss Ren your romantic debt? And if she hadn’t lost her mind trying to frame Ren Yaoqi, would I have bothered to scare her when I’m stuffed full?”

Yun Wenting frowned: “I have no involvement with Fourth Miss Ren. As for Fifth Miss Ren, where does it concern you, an outsider male, to interfere in disputes between sisters? You’re too reckless!” Yun Wenting hadn’t expected that while Old Princess Consort and Xiao Heng’s people were searching everywhere for Yun Wenfang, making such a commotion that the Yun family could barely withstand it, Yun Wenfang still had the leisure to sneak into someone else’s backyard at this time to tease a young girl. He really couldn’t understand what was going on in Yun Wenfang’s head.

Yun Wenfang glanced sideways at Yun Wenting: “If you think I’m reckless, then let me go to Jiajing Pass sooner!”

“You make it sound simple. The generals at Jiajing Pass are all Xiao family direct descendants. Other families can’t get their hands on it at all. Do you think anyone who wants to go can go?”

Seeing Yun Wenfang’s stubborn silence, Yun Wenting still sighed and softened his tone slightly: “Old General Ge still has some friendship with Grandfather. I’ve already written to Old General Ge. Bear with it for a few more days in the retreat house. When news comes from Old General Ge’s side, I’ll arrange for you to go to Jiajing Pass.”

Hearing this, Yun Wenfang finally perked up: “Grandfather and grandmother agreed to let me go to Jiajing Pass?”

Yun Wenting smiled bitterly: “What else can we do? Do you think the Wu family is really that easy to provoke? Not to mention, there’s also Xiao Heng. The capital and Jiangnan are both places you can’t go. You’d better go to Jiajing Pass first to avoid the storm.”

Having his demand satisfied, Yun Wenfang was finally mollified and turned to comfort Yun Wenting: “What’s there for you to worry about? This young master isn’t a child anymore. Maybe I can even earn some merit for the Yun family.”

Yun Wenting thought to himself: Any family’s child would be easier to serve than this ancestor of ours. But he said aloud, “Although the elders agreed to let you go to Jiajing Pass, there’s one thing you need to agree to first.”

Yun Wenfang raised an eyebrow.

“Your marriage with Eighth Miss Jiang will be settled this year. You’re not allowed to interfere anymore!” Yun Wenting said.

Hearing this, Yun Wenfang just sneered and waved his hand: “Got it, got it. If it’s to be settled, then let it be settled. I just won’t cause trouble.”

Yun Wenting was about to say something when his attendant hurried over: “Young Master, the Wu family just found the courtyard in Guidong Ward and turned it completely upside down.”

Yun Wenting said calmly, “Understood. Just find another place for the Second Young Master to stay. I remember I have another residence in Baoping Alley near Yunyang Academy. Let’s go there.”

Hearing this, Yun Wenfang laughed: “They say a cunning rabbit has three burrows, but brother, you have many houses. They’ve searched through one after another, yet you’re not even angry.”

Yun Wenting ignored him and only said to the attendant: “The residence in Baoping Alley hasn’t been lived in for a long time, and no one has been arranged to clean it. Who knows how much the furniture and bedding have been eaten by insects? You go take people to look first, clean it up, and replace anything missing.”

“Where do I go today?” Yun Wenfang raised an eyebrow.

“Go back to the Yun family first. Grandfather still has things to tell you. The Wu family won’t be quick to make a return visit. You can go to Baoping Alley tonight.” The Yun family residence had just been surrounded by the Old Princess Consort, who had Xiao Heng bring people.

Yun Wenfang was indifferent either way and rarely obediently followed Yun Wenfang back home.

Old Master Yun wasn’t home, so Yun Wenfang didn’t see him. However, after meeting with Old Madam Yun and returning to his courtyard wanting to sleep, his chief maid Jinzhu immediately ran over.

“Second Young Master, you’re finally back,” Jinzhu said joyfully.

Yun Wenfang reached out for Jinzhu to help him change clothes. Jinzhu looked around, and seeing no one paying attention to her, immediately moved close to Yun Wenfang and whispered: “Young Master, this servant went out early this morning, and that little maid from before came looking for this servant again.”

Yun Wenfang curled his lips: “Oh? Still sent by her? What does she want you to pass on this time?”

Yesterday, Eldest Madam sent someone to visit Madam Jiang and Sixth Miss Jiang. The nanny, who went secretly, inquired about Sixth Miss Jiang’s illness.”

“Oh? How did the Jiang family respond?”

Jinzhu whispered, “That little maid said Sixth Miss Jiang spoke many good words about Eighth Miss Jiang, and also said she fell ill because she was greedy and ate some inflammatory foods, which caused her body to break out in rashes. Sixth Miss Jiang didn’t tell the nanny sent by the Yun family the real reason for her illness.”

Yun Wenfang sneered: “She’s quite clever, knowing it’s not the right time yet.”

Jinzhu asked curiously: “When will be the right time?”

Yun Wenfang didn’t respond to Jinzhu’s question. He stretched his limbs: “Next time you go out and meet that little maid again, tell her to inform her mistress. As long as she can wait, what I promised her will naturally count. This young master is leaving Yunyang City for a while.”

Jinzhu quickly asked: “Young Master, how long will you be gone?”

Yun Wenfang was silent for a moment, then smiled lazily with some confusion: “Who knows? Maybe one or two years, maybe two or three years. But I’ll return before Jiang Yuanniang marries into the Yun family.”