Xiao Jingxi’s words greatly surprised Ren Yaoqi. How could she not have thought about her father’s future path?

The Ren family was unreliable. If the Ren family insisted on bringing destruction upon themselves, did their branch have to accompany them in death?

If the day truly came when they needed to leave the Ren family for self-preservation, as the head of the household, her father would definitely need to shoulder his responsibilities as a family head.

It was precisely because she clearly understood this point that Ren Yaoqi had deliberately mentioned her father’s painting restoration work in front of Madam Xu, hoping to help her father step out of the small world of the Ren family.

It was impossible for Ren Yaoqi not to be moved by Xiao Jingxi’s words.

As Xiao Jingxi said, Yunyang Academy was Yanbei’s highest institution of learning, actually an official school controlled by Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, with some resemblance to the Imperial Academy in the capital.

Those who could serve as instructors at Yunyang Academy were all learned scholars from various parts of Yanbei, some even being retainers and advisors to Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. This was a kind of status, another identity that could be accepted and affirmed by the world, separate from Ren Shimin’s identity as Third Master of the Ren family. This was exactly what Ren Yaoqi was currently striving to obtain for her father.

However…

Ren Yaoqi frowned: “My father has no official degree.”

Ren Shimin didn’t like classical studies and never forced himself to learn them. Third Master Ren had always been willful – he viewed official degrees as worthless, so to him they truly were worthless.

But to serve as an instructor at Yunyang Academy, how could one command respect without an official degree? Even if Third Master Ren wanted to be a renowned scholar, he still didn’t have the reputation of one.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s furrowed brow, Xiao Jingxi inexplicably wanted to smooth it out. He lowered his gaze and smiled softly: “Not all instructors at Yunyang Academy have official degrees, as long as…”

Xiao Jingxi paused, pondered for a moment, then looked up at Ren Yaoqi with a smile: “Next year, Yunyang Academy will send ten people to the capital to participate in the Literary Competition. They compete in essays and classical learning, poetry and songs, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. With your father’s accomplishments in calligraphy and painting, making a name for himself at the Literary Competition wouldn’t be difficult. As long as he can win a good ranking for Yanbei, then no one would dare question his entry into the academy afterward.”

Ren Yaoqi’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. But after thinking about it, she asked with confusion: “I’ve also heard of the Literary Competition and Martial Competition, but those who can participate are all people with great fame in certain areas.”

The key point of both “Literary Competition” and “Martial Competition” was in the word “competition.” To put it nicely, it was Yanbei and the court exchanging talents and culture, but in reality, it was the two sides competing for face. So to win, both sides sent out true masters. Even if Ren Shimin had talent, he had been obscure for so many years and simply didn’t have the qualifications to participate in the Literary Competition.

However, the problem that troubled Ren Yaoqi was something Xiao Jingxi dismissed very lightly with a smile: “After participating in the Literary Competition, fame will naturally follow.”

Unable to stand Xiao Jingxi’s smug appearance of having everything under control, Xiao Jinglin said expressionlessly to Ren Yaoqi, “There’s nothing to worry about. The final selection of participants for this Literary Competition and Martial Competition is decided by him. If he can’t even handle such a small matter, what kind of man would he be?”

What did this have to do with being a man? Xiao Jingxi’s mouth twitched.

But Ren Yaoqi asked Xiao Jingxi: “Are you also going to the capital? When?”

Xiao Jingxi was startled. Xiao Jinglin also glanced at Ren Yaoqi.

However, Xiao Jingxi quickly reacted, his mouth curving upward: “If nothing unexpected happens, I should make a trip there, probably around this time next year. I’ll return before winter.”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t notice that Xiao Jingxi’s smile had more bashfulness and heartfelt joy than usual. She was trying hard to recall what had happened in her previous life. It seemed that every time Second Master Xiao went to the capital, nothing good happened. She didn’t know if Xiao Jingxi had also attended next year’s Literary Competition in her previous life, but she remembered that General Wu Xiao of Ningxia seemed to have died suddenly just before winter, and Second Master Xiao shouldn’t have been in Yanbei at that time.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing Ren Yaoqi silent, Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but ask.

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “Nothing, I was just thinking that after winter, the waterways freeze over, and the south always has rain, making the roads muddy and extremely difficult to travel. If you’re going, it would be best to return by late autumn.”

Looking at Ren Yaoqi, Xiao Jingxi slowly curved his eyes, the light in them dazzling: “Alright.”

Meeting Xiao Jingxi’s gaze, Ren Yaoqi’s heart jumped violently, and she couldn’t help but blush slightly. Although she felt it was natural for her to care about him in return since Xiao Jingxi was always planning for her, thinking about it now seemed a bit too intimate.

Moreover, while Ren Yaoqi was indeed worried that Xiao Jingxi’s poor health might make him sick if he got stuck on icy roads in the middle of winter, she was more afraid that problems would arise in Ningxia, and Xiao Jingxi being in the capital would make it difficult for him to respond quickly.

However, it was too early to mention this now, and she had no evidence to prove that Ningxia would be in chaos next year, so it would be better to find a way to remind him before Xiao Jingxi left next year.

Xiao Jinglin, however, sat to the side with her chin propped up, looking at this one and then that one, with a profound expression as if deep in thought.

Xiao Jingxi coughed lightly and asked: “What do you think of this place?”

Ren Yaoqi, who had been lost in thought, came back to her senses and instinctively looked around: “This place?” This was just a very ordinary small courtyard.

Xiao Jingxi smiled: “It seems you’ve forgotten the suggestion you gave me before.”

Only then did Ren Yaoqi realize that Xiao Jingxi was talking about hiding soldiers in temples. Of course, she hadn’t forgotten. However, when she had been observing the surroundings along the way, she seemed to see no traces of an army, which had made her wonder strangely whether the plan wasn’t going smoothly. But judging by Zhu Ruomei’s appearance, it didn’t seem that way.

Xiao Jingxi seemed to understand what Ren Yaoqi was thinking, and he smiled: “There are five thousand people here.”

Ren Yaoqi was quite surprised upon hearing this. No matter how she looked, this place didn’t seem like it was hiding five thousand people.

Xiao Jinglin leisurely added, “He’s not lying to you. Those five thousand people are now scattered in the back mountains, clearing wasteland. White Cloud Temple will have quite a few more acres next year, and the monks are overjoyed.”

Ren Yaoqi: “…” Indeed, reasonable utilization without wasting food.

However, this was good too, as it could greatly reduce conflicts between the temple and the army, preventing the temple from rebelling.

Since Xiao Jingxi had voluntarily brought up military matters, Ren Yaoqi took the opportunity to ask: “How are things in Ningxia?”

What she actually wanted to ask was whether there were any unusual activities in Ningxia, but Xiao Jinglin thought Ren Yaoqi was asking about Xiao Wei and Wu Yiyu mother and daughter, so she interjected: “What else? Three women make a drama – the back courtyard of Ningxia General’s Mansion is quite lively now.”

Speaking of this, Xiao Jinglin had to admire Xiao Jingxi’s methods. The delicate concubine that Wu Xiaohe had newly taken was indeed a formidable character, actually able to fight one against two without falling behind. You must know she was facing a crazy woman who dared to throw poisonous spiders into a princess’s teacup. That concubine could even provoke General Wu into severely punishing Wu Yiyu twice, making Xiao Wei so angry she nearly fell ill in bed.

Even Xiao Jinglin, who was never interested in these inner courtyard struggles, couldn’t help but pay attention to the plot development in the Wu family’s back courtyard. However, Princess Xiao felt she was paying attention because she could learn some military strategy and tactics from that concubine; masters came from all backgrounds.

However, the reason Xiao Wei and her daughter fell behind in this Wu family civil war was also related to Yanbei Prince’s Mansion’s attitude.

Xiao Wei had sent people back asking Yanbei Prince’s Mansion to intervene and teach Wu Xiaohe and that concubine a lesson. With Prince Yanbei not in the mansion, Princess Consort refused to respond, saying it wasn’t appropriate to interfere in the Wu family’s inner courtyard affairs. Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, temporarily controlled by Xiao Jingxi, also took no substantial measures to condemn the Wu family.

Instead, Wu Xiaohe proactively sent over a dozen carts of gifts to Yanbei Prince’s Mansion to express his regard for this marriage connection, and wrote a letter. After some banter, he revealed his true feelings, saying he wasn’t blinded by lust but just wanted to continue the Wu family line, asking Yanbei Prince’s Mansion to understand his situation as the only heir of his generation.

Even Old Princess Consort, after reading the letter, could only curse a few times, but was helpless. She couldn’t very well say to let the Wu family line die out. Who told Xiao Wei she couldn’t bear sons? Old Princess Consort even wondered if she and her daughter were under some curse – why did they, despite their good backgrounds, both end up defeated by lowly women because of children?

With Yanbei Prince’s Mansion ignoring them, Xiao Wei and Wu Yiyu could only continue fighting with that concubine.

When Xiao Jingxi had stepped out briefly for some matters, Xiao Jinglin hesitantly and awkwardly continued gossiping with Ren Yaoqi: “I heard Wu Xiaohe’s concubine was pregnant, but Wu Yiyu caused her to miscarry.”

This was the first time Xiao Jinglin had gossiped about inner courtyard affairs with anyone. She used to despise those gossipy women who spread rumors, but now secretly talking about these things with Ren Yaoqi, she didn’t feel it was inappropriate at all, and even felt a kind of intimacy, though she felt a bit guilty when speaking.

Ren Yaoqi was also somewhat surprised that Xiao Jinglin would chat about these things, but this wasn’t a bad thing, so she asked: “Oh? Was Miss Wu scolded by General Wu because of this incident?”

Xiao Jinglin nodded: “However, people from the Prince’s Mansion stationed in Ningxia reported back that the concubine’s pregnancy might not have been real, and Wu Yiyu was very likely framed and made to take the blame.”

False pregnancy was not unheard of in inner courtyards. Ren Yaoqi nodded understandingly, asking with some curiosity: “Does Yanbei Prince’s Mansion not care? After all, Madam Wu is from Yanbei Prince’s Mansion – doesn’t the Prince’s Mansion need to consider face?”

Xiao Jinglin glanced at Ren Yaoqi, thought for a moment, then said meaningfully: “Xiao Jingxi says face can’t be eaten as food. Our Prince’s Mansion has been in the military since our ancestors’ time. If we had wanted to learn aristocratic manners, we shouldn’t have taken up swords and bows in the first place.”