After sending the letter, Ren Yaoqi waited for news at the retreat house. But she waited from morning until afternoon, and even after dark, there was still no word from Yanbei Prince’s mansion. Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but grow increasingly worried.

“Miss, the dew is heavy outside. Please return to your room and be careful not to catch a cold.” Sangshen draped a heavy, deep red padded cloak over Ren Yaoqi’s shoulders and gently urged.

Ren Yaoqi had felt stuffy inside the room. After practicing sword techniques, she had stood in the outer corridor for a long time. She hadn’t felt it before, but now, having remained motionless for so long, when Sangshen mentioned it, she did feel rather cold, so she nodded.

Just then, there came the sound of flapping wings from the branches of an old scholar tree in the courtyard. A servant woman in the yard said in surprise: “Eh? How can there be crows? This is inauspicious.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but frown.

Sangshen noticed and lightly scolded the servant woman: “What nonsense are you spouting? It’s not some rare bird. You can see one or two even in deep winter. Making such a fuss!”

The servant woman knew that great households forbade speaking inauspicious words in front of their masters, so she quickly slapped her mouth and apologized with a smile: “Miss, please forgive me. This servant spoke carelessly and talked nonsense. Please don’t mind it.”

Though Ren Yaoqi said nothing, the unease in her heart became even more pronounced.

Early the next morning, Ren Yaoqi had her servants prepare a carriage. She intended to visit Yanbei Prince’s mansion to call on the Princess Consort.

She didn’t know why, but her heart was always somewhat uneasy. Though she knew the Princess Consort might not have time to receive her at this moment, she still wanted to go and see. Even she didn’t know where this uneasiness came from.

Was it because she worried about the situation in Ningxia, worried that the Zeng family would come to Yanbei, worried that her branch would be implicated by the Ren family’s collusion with Fang Yacun, or was it purely just worry about whether Xiao Jingxi was safe at this moment?

Upon entering Yanbei Prince’s mansion, Ren Yaoqi immediately sensed something amiss. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong, but it seemed as if even the servant women and maids walking along the paths had solemn expressions.

When Ren Yaoqi arrived at Jiuyang Hall, she didn’t see the Princess Consort of Yanbei. It was Nanny Xin who received her.

Nanny Xin invited Ren Yaoqi to sit down, had maids serve her tea, and said with a smile: “Miss Ren Fifth, please sit for a moment. The Princess Consort just went to visit the Old Princess Consort. This servant will have someone report that you’ve arrived.”

Ever since Nanny Xin had personally witnessed Ren Yaoqi save Madam Xu, she had been very friendly toward her. Combined with Ren Yaoqi’s relationship with Xiao Jinglin, every time Ren Yaoqi came to Yanbei Prince’s mansion, she would instruct the servants below to receive her well.

Ren Yaoqi quickly said, “I don’t have anything important. I came to the mansion today to pay my respects to the Princess Consort. If the Princess Consort has matters to attend to, it would be better not to disturb her.”

Nanny Xin said, “The Old Princess Consort is ill. The physician is taking her pulse, and the Princess Consort went to attend to her.”

“Is the Old Princess Consort’s health alright?” Ren Yaoqi showed appropriate concern.

Nanny Xin sighed: “It’s all because of Commander Wu’s matter. Madam Wu is still young.”

With Wu Xiaohe’s sudden death, Xiao Wei had become a widow, and a childless widow at that. No wonder the Old Princess Consort had fallen ill from worry.

But Ren Yaoqi felt that Nanny Xin’s eyes carried a trace of worry. However, given the relationship between the Princess Consort and the Old Princess Consort, Nanny Xin wouldn’t necessarily be concerned about the plight of Xiao Wei and her daughter.

Could something else have happened?

Ren Yaoqi sat in the side hall of Jiuyang Hall for a while, chatting with Nanny Xin. Through casual conversation, she learned that Xiao Jingxi indeed hadn’t returned yet.

The Princess Consort never came back, and Ren Yaoqi didn’t feel comfortable staying too long. After finishing a cup of tea, she was about to take her leave.

But before she could leave, the Princess Consort sent her head maid, Sujin, over.

“Miss Ren Fifth, the Princess Consort, asks that you wait a little longer. She’ll be back soon. Besides, it’s nearly noon now, and the Princess Consort invites you to stay at the mansion for a meal.” Sujin said to Ren Yaoqi with a smile.

Ren Yaoqi glanced at the sky outside. She had come early today and hadn’t sat in the Prince’s mansion for very long. It was still early before the noon mealtime.

However, Sujin’s words were just polite guest-retaining phrases, and Ren Yaoqi naturally wouldn’t argue with her over them. What she was more curious about was why the Princess Consort wanted to keep her.

It wasn’t that the Princess Consort had never invited her to stay for meals before, but that had always been when Xiao Jinglin was still at Yanbei Prince’s mansion, and she would dine together with Xiao Jinglin. After Xiao Jinglin left, she rarely came to Yanbei Prince’s mansion. The Princess Consort was busy with many matters daily, and even when she came, she might not necessarily be able to see her.

Now, specifically keeping her to dine certainly had some purpose.

Ren Yaoqi waited in the side hall of Jiuyang Hall for about another cup of tea’s time before the Princess Consort returned from the Old Princess Consort’s quarters.

Seeing the Princess Consort arrive, Ren Yaoqi quickly rose to pay her respects, but was supported by the Princess Consort’s hand. The Princess Consort said with a warm smile: “You’ve been waiting long, haven’t you? Please sit. There are no outsiders here, so no need for formalities.”

Ren Yaoqi first helped the Princess Consort to the main seat, then sat down and smiled: “Not too long. Nanny Xin and several sisters have been keeping me company in conversation.”

“Oh? What were you all chatting about?” the Princess Consort asked with a smile.

Nanny Xin smiled: “Miss Ren Fifth likes the cat this servant keeps, so I chatted with her about it for a while.”

Then Nanny Xin picked some interesting stories about “Snow White” to tell, making everyone unable to help but laugh. Ren Yaoqi secretly observed the Princess Consort’s expression but couldn’t read anything from it, so she couldn’t guess the Princess Consort’s real intention in keeping her.

After the round of laughter, the Princess Consort instructed Nanny Xin: “Take people to the kitchen to have a look. Tell them not to send vegetarian dishes today. Yaoqi will dine at Jiuyang Hall. Follow the same arrangements as when Lin’er was home, and make the dishes more flavorful.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but say, “The Princess Consort eats vegetarian food?” She hadn’t noticed that the Princess Consort was a vegetarian when she had dined with Xiao Jinglin before.

Unexpectedly, Nanny Xin said, “The Princess Consort has been a vegetarian for over ten years. Only when the Princess dines at Jiuyang Hall does the Princess Consort instruct the kitchen to send meat dishes, though the Princess Consort herself only eats vegetarian food.”

Xiao Jinglin loved to eat, and when she was present, usually a full table of delicacies would be set. Some dishes, due to the Princess’s high standards and excellent presentation, couldn’t even be distinguished as meat or vegetarian. Ren Yaoqi had dined with the Princess Consort several times and noticed she ate very little, thinking it was just poor appetite.

Nanny Xin withdrew, taking all the serving maids in the hall with her, leaving only Sujin and Qiluo as attendants.

Ren Yaoqi knew the Princess Consort was about to discuss serious matters with her.

Indeed, the Princess Consort rose and said to Ren Yaoqi: “Come with me.” With that, the Princess Consort walked toward the inner hall.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t ask questions but rose to follow behind her.

Ren Yaoqi had been to the inner hall of Jiuyang Hall with Xiao Jinglin before. This was where the Princess Consort usually rested, generally not receiving outside guests, only some people with close relationships.

After the Princess Consort gestured for Ren Yaoqi to sit with her on the soft couch, she said to Sujin and Qiluo: “You two go out as well. Don’t let anyone in without my instructions.”

Sujin and Qiluo also withdrew upon hearing this.

Seeing that only she and the Princess Consort remained in the inner hall, Ren Yaoqi became even more curious.

The Princess Consort looked at her and smiled, saying, “I’ve been a vegetarian for over ten years. Do you know why?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: “Could it be that the Princess Consort has a connection with Buddha?” Ren Yaoqi was naturally making this up, but this kind of explanation was safest.

The Princess Consort shook her head and sighed: “It’s not that. When I was your age, I didn’t believe in Buddha. I even found it amusing when I saw family elders kneeling in the Buddhist hall to pray for Buddha’s protection whenever something happened.”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t interject. She knew this wasn’t the time for her to speak.

“Later, I gave birth to Jingxi. He… his health wasn’t good. Once, after several physicians consulted together, they all said he wouldn’t survive. After hearing this, I cried myself to death, but there was nothing I could do. At that time, I thought of seeking Buddha’s protection.”

Though the Princess Consort’s voice was light, it carried a gentle firmness: “I made a vow to Buddha that if Jingxi could live well, I would devote myself to Buddha from then on, never killing or doing anything against my conscience, and eating only vegetarian food for life.”

Speaking of this, the Princess Consort smiled and looked at Ren Yaoqi: “Buddha is indeed compassionate. Jingxi ultimately survived.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but fall silent. She had rarely seen scenes of the Princess Consort and Xiao Jingxi together before. The few times she had occasionally seen them, the mother and son hadn’t shown overly intimate words or actions in public. Both the Princess Consort and Xiao Jingxi were reserved people who didn’t display emotions outwardly. The Princess Consort’s attentive care for Xiao Jinglin was because Xiao Jinglin was her daughter.

Now, having heard the Princess Consort’s words, Ren Yaoqi understood that the Princess Consort’s concern for Xiao Jingxi wasn’t necessarily less than for Xiao Jinglin. It was just that the methods of raising sons and daughters were different.

The Princess Consort sighed, the worry in her eyes no longer hidden: “Jingxi disappeared on his way back to Yanbei. Yanbei Prince’s mansion sent several groups to search, but couldn’t find him. There’s still no news.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was startled: “My father said that when Second Young Master Xiao separated from them, he had people with him. Did those people also disappear together?” Ren Yaoqi knew those people were all highly skilled martial artists, not to mention those secretly protecting from the shadows.

The Princess Consort sighed: “We only found several corpses and horses from Yanbei Prince’s mansion. The rest of the people, including the carriage, have vanished without a trace. No matter how we search, we can’t find them.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but frown. She had no time to wonder why the Princess Consort would specifically keep her to tell her these things. She was now very worried about Xiao Jingxi’s safety.

Earlier, when Xiao Jingxi didn’t reply to her letters, she had thought it might be because it was inconvenient for him to show himself, so he hadn’t returned to Yunyang City. But now that the Princess Consort said even the people sent out by Yanbei Prince’s mansion had no news of Xiao Jingxi, Ren Yaoqi also sensed something ominous.

Could it be that those assassins had succeeded this time, and Xiao Jingxi had already…

Thinking of this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but shake her head.

No, Xiao Jingxi wouldn’t die so easily.

Though the Prince’s mansion people hadn’t found Xiao Jingxi, they also hadn’t found his corpse, had they?