Because of the invitation from Master Xu from Yunyang Academy, Ren Shimin took the two paintings he had restored to Yunyang City. Just after Ren Yaoqi had seen her father off, she received a letter from Xiao Jinglin.
After Ren Yaoqi returned, she began corresponding with Xiao Jinglin. The two almost wrote to each other every two or three days. Although there was nothing particularly important in the letters, both enjoyed it immensely.
In her letters, Xiao Jinglin wrote about her recent insights in martial arts and military strategy, new things she had tried, and how she had become obsessed with a sweet wine called Peach Blossom Brew, secretly buying it several times behind Xiao Jingxi’s back.
Xiao Jingxi was still disobedient when taking his medicine, but that strange grass of unknown species in his study seemed impossible to kill, no matter how much water it was given.
Madam Xu’s heart condition was no longer as serious, and she looked much better. When visiting Princess Consort at Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, she often mentioned Ren Yaoqi with great appreciation.
Sha Niu, that foolish tiger, still thought she was a cat. At Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, she loved to play with a Persian cat called ‘Snow White’ that Nanny Xin kept. The poor cat was chased around the entire garden every time it came out, and afterward was too scared to leave its door. Thus, in her dejection, Sha Niu developed the same hobby as Xiao Jinglin – drinking Peach Blossom Brew.
Ren Yaoqi hadn’t expected that the usually taciturn Xiao Jinglin could be so eloquent in writing, and her language had become much more humorous, always making Ren Yaoqi laugh while reading the letters.
Compared to Xiao Jinglin’s letters, Ren Yaoqi’s writing was much more mundane. She generally wrote about new books she had read and how she practiced the sword techniques Xiao Jinglin had taught her every day, feeling that her body seemed genuinely much stronger. These were the most interesting things in her monotonous life.
Later, Xiao Jinglin drew some sword technique movements in her letters to send to Ren Yaoqi. Inspired, when Ren Yaoqi wrote back to Xiao Jinglin, she stopped writing much text. Instead, she began drawing small pictures featuring herself, Ren Yaohua, her father and mother, and the maids and nannies, all depicting small daily activities. The characters were all vivid and lifelike.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinglin loved them very much and kept writing to urge her to draw more, saying she wanted to collect them all properly.
The day after receiving Xiao Jinglin’s letter, just as Ren Yaoqi had returned from paying respects at Ronghua Garden, someone hurriedly came to report that Yanbei Prince’s Mansion’s carriage had stopped outside the main gate, and a girl claiming to be the Princess’s maid had come to invite Fifth Miss out.
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was both surprised and delighted. She had just received Xiao Jinglin’s letter yesterday, and Xiao Jinglin hadn’t mentioned in her letter that she would come to Baihe Town today.
This was Xiao Jinglin’s second visit to the Ren family. Although she didn’t even enter the door, it was still a great honor for the merchant-origin Ren family.
Since the Princess wouldn’t enter the Ren mansion, the family still had both front gates open to show respect, not daring to shut the Princess’s grand presence outside.
Ren Yaoqi went to inform Li Shi and had someone notify Old Madam Ren, then left with Pingguo.
With Princess Xiao coming twice to wait for Ren Yaoqi, everyone in the Ren family looked at Ren Yaoqi differently now.
As soon as Ren Yaoqi stepped outside, she saw Hong Ying waiting at the door.
Hong Ying came forward with a smile and bowed: “Miss Ren Wu. Our Princess is waiting for you in the carriage.” Although Xiao Jinglin didn’t like riding in carriages, she always took one when coming to find Ren Yaoqi, since Ren Yaoqi couldn’t ride horses with her.
Ren Yaoqi smiled and nodded, following Hong Ying to the carriage.
But just as she poked her body into the carriage, something flew straight at Ren Yaoqi’s face. Ren Yaoqi was startled and almost fell backward, fortunately saved by Hong Ying, who was supporting her from behind.
The thing that had flown at Ren Yaoqi’s face stopped just an inch in front of her, staring at her with a pair of innocent big eyes: “Aowu—”
Xiao Jinglin withdrew her hand that had been gripping Sha Niu’s scruff, pulled it away from Ren Yaoqi, then patted its head once. With an expressionless face, she said, “All you know is eating every day. Don’t you see how heavy you are now? Yet you still dare to pounce on people.”
Ren Yaoqi looked at Sha Niu, who was continuously paddling her limbs and had gained a full circle of weight: “…”
Xiao Jinglin threw the restless, whimpering Sha Niu to Hong Ying, had Ren Yaoqi sit over, and after looking her up and down for a while, said: “How is it that Sha Niu got fat, but you got thin?”
Ren Yaoqi smiled helplessly and reached out to scratch the chin of Sha Niu, who kept staring at her. Sha Niu squinted comfortably, then happily sprawled out with all four limbs, exposing her belly to Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh with a “puchi.”
Xiao Jinglin said: “See? It learned all this from that cat called Snow White. Once it even tried to meow like a cat, but after I gave it a good beating, it didn’t dare anymore.”
“Why did you come today? You didn’t give me any hint beforehand.” Ren Yaoqi asked while stroking Sha Niu’s fur.
Xiao Jinglin lifted the carriage curtain slightly to look outside: “Today I’m going to White Dragon Temple. Since White Dragon Temple isn’t far from Baihe Town, I thought I’d come find you.”
Ren Yaoqi also glanced outside the carriage: “Are we going to White Dragon Temple?”
Xiao Jinglin nodded, then thought for a moment and asked: “Is it convenient for you?”
Ren Yaoqi thought about it. She had nothing particular to do, so she nodded.
Xiao Jinglin said, “I already had Hong Ying inform your grandmother, so you don’t need to worry about the elders at home.”
Xiao Jinglin always made Ren Yaoqi feel her thoughtfulness and consideration through such details.
The Xiao family’s carriage was sturdy and stable. Even at faster speeds, those sitting inside couldn’t feel it, so this time it took just over half an hour to arrive, nearly twice as fast as when Ren Yaoqi had come last time.
Hong Ying even said, “The Princess instructed earlier to have the carriage go slower. I didn’t expect the return journey to take so long – the sun has gotten quite strong.”
Ren Yaoqi: “…”
The carriage finally drove into a courtyard at the foot of White Dragon Temple’s mountain. Xiao Jinglin seemed to have no intention of entering the temple. When the carriage stopped, she got out first, then turned back to help Ren Yaoqi.
Just as Ren Yaoqi had steadied herself, she heard a smiling voice from nearby: “How did you get back so quickly?”
Turning her head, Ren Yaoqi saw Xiao Jingxi in black robes standing under the covered walkway, smiling at them.
Xiao Jinglin glanced at Xiao Jingxi, somewhat puzzled: “Because we came back in a horse-drawn carriage!”
Xiao Jingxi shook his head, then smiled again: “I just opened a jar of good water that was stored here last year and brewed a pot of tea. Come have some.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the second courtyard. Only then did Ren Yaoqi notice he was wearing wooden clogs.
Xiao Jingxi truly lived up to his reputation as Yanbei’s most handsome man. Even simple wide-sleeved black robes and wooden clogs gave him an unmatched elegant bearing.
Everyone likes beautiful things, and Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Jingxi a few more times.
In the center of the second courtyard were two large glass fish tanks. On the right was a pomegranate tree that had already borne some green fruits. Under the pomegranate tree were a table and low stools carved from tree stumps. They looked simple and rustic but had their elegant charm.
Xiao Jingxi walked to the table and sat down. Xiao Jinglin pulled Ren Yaoqi to sit across from him. Xiao Jingxi waved his hand to prevent Hong Ying from pouring tea, instead picking up the teapot himself to fill the cups in front of Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin.
Xiao Jinglin frowned: “Is this the tea brewed with that water collected from some flower petals and buried underground for a year?”
Xiao Jingxi smiled without speaking. He was smart enough not to respond.
Xiao Jinglin put her cup back down and called to Hong Ying: “Go get my Peach Blossom Brew. Let Yaoqi try it too. This spoiled water shouldn’t be used to treat guests.”
Xiao Jingxi looked amused: “Oh? Peach Blossom Brew? Didn’t you say you had none?”
Xiao Jinglin’s expression didn’t change: “When you asked, I forgot. Now I remember I brought a jar when I came today.”
Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi looked at the siblings, then quietly picked up the tea Xiao Jingxi had poured for her and took a sip. The tea was fragrant and mellow, the water clear and crisp. Ren Yaoqi nodded: “Good tea.”
She thought about it and didn’t dare praise the water.
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi’s eyes curved slightly. Ren Yaoqi inexplicably thought of the phrase “feast for the eyes.”
Soon, Hong Ying came over holding a small jar, glancing nervously at Xiao Jingxi before tremblingly pouring small cups for Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin, then running away as if fleeing.
Xiao Jingxi drank his tea, smiling but saying nothing.
Xiao Jinglin felt something was wrong and immediately picked up her cup for a sip, then glared at Xiao Jingxi: “When did you switch my wine!”
Xiao Jingxi said calmly, “After you told me you hadn’t brought any wine.”
Xiao Jinglin angrily drank the entire contents of her cup: “Sugar water again!”
Xiao Jingxi patiently coaxed: “We’re outside now. What if you got drunk? Besides, even if you can drink, Miss Ren Wu cannot. If her family found out, it would be another troublesome matter.”
At this moment, Sha Niu ran over happily, stretching her short legs to awkwardly climb onto the table and sniff at Ren Yaoqi’s wine cup.
Ren Yaoqi remembered Xiao Jinglin mentioning in her letter that Sha Niu also liked Peach Blossom Brew. With interest, she held her cup under Sha Niu’s nose. Sha Niu twitched her whiskers to sniff, then wagged her tail and walked away with her head turned.
Xiao Jinglin glanced sideways at Xiao Jingxi: “Look, what kind of stuff did you prepare? Even dogs won’t eat it!”
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Xiao Jinglin and held back, finally deciding not to mention the fact that Xiao Jinglin had already drunk a cup – it would be too hurtful.
Xiao Jingxi: “…”