After Xiao Jingxi finished speaking, he walked into the room, with Tong De and Tong He following behind with lowered heads.

Tong He had someone bring water for Xiao Jingxi to wash his hands and helped him change out of his outer garments. Tong De stood aside with his hands clasped, thinking to himself—could it be that his master planned to let those people off again this time?

Just as he was thinking this, Tong De heard Xiao Jingxi say calmly: “Send someone to tell Di Hao that the Wu family can leave an heir.”

Hearing this, Tong De was startled and couldn’t help saying: “Young Master, but General Wu hasn’t produced a son in all these years. This might be…” If Wu Xiaohe couldn’t produce a son, even if the Di family sent him ten or a hundred more women, it wouldn’t help.

Xiao Jingxi looked at Tong De with a half-smile, saying leisurely, “That’s for the Di family to worry about.” After saying this, Xiao Jingxi went to his study.

Tong De stood in place, pondering for a moment, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat strange.

Tong He was about to follow and serve Xiao Jingxi. When he walked beside Tong De, he stopped and said in a low voice: “Fool! General Wu can’t produce a son, but there are plenty of people who can bear one for him. As long as the child bears the Wu surname, that’s enough. Why are you worrying about the Di family’s business?”

After Tong He finished speaking, he left Tong De behind and walked quickly toward the study.

Tong De looked at Tong He’s retreating figure, raised his hand to wipe his face, thinking that Wu Xiaohe must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to marry Xiao Wei and become the old Princess Consort’s son-in-law.

It seems one must be cautious when choosing a wife! Tong De shook his head and also went out.

After Ren Yaoqi returned to the Ren family, Old Madam Ren only called her over to ask a few questions about her interactions with the Princess. Since Ren Yaoqi had already tidied herself up before going to Ronghua Garden so that no one could see anything amiss, Old Madam Ren didn’t pursue the matter of her returning late.

Two days later, Ren Shimin returned from Yunyang City.

When Ren Shimin was in Li Shi’s room, Ren Yaoqi took the opportunity to ask him about matters at Yunyang Academy. Ren Shimin had quite a fruitful trip to Yunyang City this time. Not only did his painting skills earn Xu Wanli’s appreciation, but Xu Wanli also invited several famous masters from the painting world to discuss calligraphy and painting together. Ren Shimin gained immensely during this period.

Ren Yaoqi listened to Ren Shimin excitedly describing the events of the past few days, and a smile appeared on her face as well.

Finally, Ren Shimin said somewhat embarrassedly: “Your father also received an invitation from Master Xu. He invited me to teach at Yunyang Academy.”

Ren Yaoqi’s face showed just the right amount of surprise and astonishment: “Really, Father?”

Ren Shimin nodded: “However, I declined at the time, saying my knowledge was shallow and I dared not mislead students. Later, Master Xu said he wanted to invite me to participate in next year’s literary competition in the Capital. If I could win honor for Yanbei, then I would have no reason to refuse his invitation.”

Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile: “So did Father agree to go to the Capital?”

Hearing this, Ren Shimin looked at Ren Yaoqi somewhat strangely: “Naturally. Master Xu trusts me enough to invite me—how could your father disappoint him?” Ren Shimin understood the principle that a scholar dies for one who appreciates him, just as a woman adorns herself for one who delights in her.

But Ren Yaoqi blinked and teased: “But daughter remembers that Father also went to the Capital last year saying he would participate in some painting gathering, but in the end painted nothing and came back, saying there were too many talented people in the Capital and he dared not make a fool of himself.”

Seeing his daughter mention this, Ren Shimin became somewhat embarrassed. He coughed lightly: “Last time, your father was shallow. This time your father will certainly do his utmost.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded and smiled: “That’s good. Otherwise, if you abandon your brush at the crucial moment this time, that would be troublesome.”

Ren Shimin said seriously, “Would your father be so ignorant of the gravity of the situation? Rest assured, from tomorrow I will go into seclusion at home to concentrate on honing my painting skills.”

“Then we’ll wait for Father to return with glory for Yanbei?”

Hearing this, Ren Shimin laughed heartily, his eyes showing a brilliance that hadn’t been there before.

Looking at Ren Shimin like this, Ren Yaoqi felt warm inside. At this moment, she was particularly grateful to Xiao Jingxi because she knew who had given Ren Shimin this opportunity.

From this day forward, Ren Shimin indeed began declining all unnecessary social engagements. Every day he devoted himself wholeheartedly to honing his painting skills in his study. He even began picking up portrait painting, which he had lost interest in.

In early autumn, Xiao Jinglin left Yunyang City for Jiajing Pass. Originally, Xiao Jinglin had planned to personally visit White Crane Town to bid farewell to Ren Yaoqi before leaving, but the Yanbei Prince’s mansion suddenly received urgent border documents reporting traces of Khitan cavalry sixty li north of Wuzhou. In the end, Xiao Jinglin didn’t have the chance to find Ren Yaoqi. She only wrote a letter to be delivered, then hurriedly rushed back to Jiajing Pass with her people.

For a period after Xiao Jinglin went to Jiajing Pass, there were no letters from her. Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but worry about her. Thinking of what Xiao Jinglin had said before leaving about sending letters to the Yanbei Prince’s mansion for Xiao Jingxi, but even after entering winter, Ren Yaoqi had written two letters without seeing any reply from Xiao Jinglin.

Ren Yaoqi wanted to write another letter, but feared it might delay Xiao Jinglin’s important affairs. Yet not writing left her constantly uneasy.

Just at this time, the Yanbei Prince’s mansion sent a letter. Ren Yaoqi thought it was from Xiao Jinglin, but the letter bore no signature. Upon opening it, there was no letter inside—instead, an orange-yellow flower fell out of the envelope onto the table.

Ren Yaoqi was startled and picked up the flower to examine it.

Sangshen said in surprise: “Eh? How can there be day lilies at this season?” Day lilies usually bloom in the fifth and sixth months, but it was already early winter now.

Ren Yaoqi remembered that the Yanbei Prince’s mansion’s hot spring estate was like a large greenhouse with many flowers and plants grown inside.

Sangshen was very puzzled: “Isn’t this a letter from the Princess? Why would the Princess send you a day lily without writing anything?”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but smile. She lowered her head to gently stroke the tender petals, saying, “Day lilies are also called forget-me-not grass. This is to report safety.” Someone who would report safety in this manner certainly wasn’t Xiao Jinglin—if Xiao Jinglin knew, she would only scold it as “affected.”

Thinking of how Xiao Jinglin always silently undermined Xiao Jingxi, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but curve her lips.

But as she smiled, she couldn’t help but sigh again. Xiao Jingxi always knew what she was thinking and could always give her peace of mind when she needed it. She couldn’t tell whether she felt more melancholy or more joy at this moment.

Thinking of his probing and frank revelation that day, Ren Yaoqi felt she was still somewhat confused.

She didn’t doubt Xiao Jingxi’s sincerity and earnestness. She just sometimes felt an uncontrollable uncertainty about her future fate. This uncertainty caused her to exclude her future when planning futures and paths for Ren Yaohua and Ren Shimin.

But some things couldn’t be avoided just by not thinking about them. In at most two more years, her destination should also be decided.

And Xiao Jingxi…

Someone like Xiao Jingxi was ultimately too wonderful. A marriage alliance with a family like the Rens would not only provide him no assistance but would become a stain he could never rid himself of for his entire life.

Ren Yaoqi put the day lily back into the envelope, intending to give it to Pingguo to dispose of. But just as she raised her hand, she paused and took the day lily out again.

She got up and walked to her study, wrapped the flower in a handkerchief, and placed it deep in the desk drawer.

When Xiao Jingxi heard that Ren Yaoqi had sent another letter, he was somewhat surprised, thinking it was still a letter for Xiao Jinglin.

But when he received the letter and discovered it was the same envelope he had sent, and it bore no signature, his heart stirred.

He waved for Tong He and the others to withdraw, then opened the letter. As expected, there were no words inside, but several grains of the medicinal herb “everywhere brocade.”

Xiao Jingxi held those few dried grains of everywhere brocade in his palm and examined them for a moment, then revealed a bitter smile at the corner of his mouth, saying softly: “Everywhere brocade… where is there no fragrant grass?”

When Ren Yaoqi received another unsigned letter from the Yanbei Prince’s mansion, she wasn’t too surprised, but she held the letter in her hands for a long time without opening it.

Both Pingguo and Sangshen found this strange—hadn’t their young lady been eagerly awaiting the Princess’s letter? Why wasn’t she hurrying to open it now that the Princess had written?

Finally, Ren Yaoqi did open the letter. Again there were no words, and what was contained in the envelope was also medicinal herbs—a handful of “heart-piercing lotus.”

Ren Yaoqi stared at the heart-piercing lotus in her hands for a long while without speaking.

Heart-piercing lotus had another name: “love at first sight.”

In the end, that handful of heart-piercing lotus was also stored in Ren Yaoqi’s drawer, but she didn’t send any more unsigned letters to the Yanbei Prince’s mansion.

Near the New Year, Ren Yaoqi finally received a letter from Xiao Jinglin. It turned out that Xiao Jinglin hadn’t been at Jiajing Pass for some time but had gone to Wuzhou, so although Ren Yaoqi’s letters had arrived, she hadn’t seen them.

Xiao Jinglin told Ren Yaoqi that she was well and uninjured. Moreover, after returning from Wuzhou, Xiao Jinglin encountered Yun Wenfang, who was using the alias Wen Shu. Remembering her previous promise to help Ren Yaoqi get revenge, after much thought, Xiao Jinglin took advantage of when no one was around to knock Yun Wenfang unconscious and drew more than ten little turtles on his face.

But when she was doing this, Min Wenqing happened to see her. Min Wenqing took the opportunity to steal Yun Wenfang’s money pouch and strip off his outer clothes, giving all the silver and clothes to beggars, then left Yun Wenfang on the road.

Even more deviously, when Yun Wenfang woke up moments later to people pointing and whispering, Min Wenqing dared to appear as a benefactor. He found new clothes for Yun Wenfang and told him that the person who knocked him out had a Ningxia accent, and if he hadn’t appeared in time, Yun Wenfang would already be a corpse. Unfortunately, those Ningxia people had escaped.

After hearing this, Yun Wenfang thought the Wu family had come to seek revenge on him.

After reading the letter, Ren Yaoqi felt both helpless and amused.

She picked up her brush to write a reply to Xiao Jinglin, instructing her to be careful and asking her not to conflict with Yun Wenfang on her account anymore.