After Ren Yaoqi returned from the Lin family, she was told that Ren Yaohua had come.

“Why did Third Sister come at this time?” Ren Yaoqi asked in surprise.

When she had come earlier, she had invited Ren Yaohua to come together, but Ren Yaohua hadn’t come.

Xiangqin answered for Ren Yaohua: “Third Miss received another letter from Miss Lei, so Third Miss decided to come to Yunyang City to see her while she was at it.”

Lei Pan’er had already begun learning to read and write this year. Ever since she learned to write, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua would receive “ghostly scribbles” that the little girl would occasionally have people deliver to Baihe Town. The first time she received one, Ren Yaohua was truly startled, especially with Xiangqin, that girl who loved to make a fuss, babbling nonsense on the side about how it must be some harmful curse talisman, that someone was casting evil spells on her young miss. After receiving several more, Ren Yaohua became calm about it.

Ren Yaoqi’s previously somewhat oppressed mood finally improved, and she smiled at Ren Yaohua: “Oh? What did she write this time? Take it out and let me see.”

Ren Yaohua had Xiangqin give Lei Pan’er’s letter to Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi opened the letter and carefully deciphered it for a while, then read softly while suppressing laughter: “Circle Hua sister, circle Qi sister, when will you circle circle come see Pan’er, Pan’er circle circle you…”

Xiangqin laughed so hard her stomach hurt, earning an elbow to the ribs from Sangshen.

Ren Yaohua glared at Ren Yaoqi: “What nonsense! How old are you? Still acting like a child.”

It turned out that when Lei Pan’er encountered words she couldn’t write in her letters, she would draw circles to replace them, making reading her letters like solving riddles each time.

Since Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi couldn’t conveniently visit Lei Pan’er at the Lei family, they sent someone to deliver an invitation to the Lei family, inviting Lei Pan’er to come play at the Ren family’s retreat house.

Unfortunately, the old woman who delivered the invitation returned to report that early this morning, Miss Lei had gone out with Second Master Lei to visit friends and wouldn’t return for several days.

In her letters to Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi, Lei Pan’er often mentioned her second uncle. She had learned to write from following her second uncle. Second Master Lei pitied his niece for not having a mother, and Lei Ting, as her father, was too busy and often couldn’t attend to her, so generally it was he who looked after Lei Pan’er, basically taking the little girl with him wherever he went.

Since Lei Pan’er wasn’t in Yunyang City, Ren Yaohua could only stay in Yunyang City with Ren Yaoqi for a few days – it would be good for the two to keep each other company.

When only the two sisters remained, Ren Yaoqi asked Ren Yaohua: “Did you come to Yunyang City today just to see Pan’er?”

Ren Yaohua was silent for a moment before saying, “No, I was just unhappy and didn’t want to stay at home, so I found an excuse to come to Yunyang City.” Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi and said, “Yesterday, Grandmother again rewarded Concubine Fang with many things. This morning, when I went to pay my respects to her, I heard her say that in the future, when Father comes to Yunyang City, she’ll have Concubine Fang and the others come along too. But Mother is to stay at the Ren family home instead.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi smiled: “Oh? Concubine Fang is willing to see people now?”

Ren Yaohua shook her head: “I haven’t seen her, but I heard she’s now started seeing Ren Yaoying and the others, just because she likes to cover her face with a veil.”

Seeing Ren Yaohua’s cold, angry expression, Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “Why get angry over such things? Grandfather and Grandmother giving her face is only because they need to use the Fang family’s connections now. As for who follows Father to Yunyang City and who stays at the Ren family ancestral home later – that’s not something Grandmother can decide with just one word.”

She had schemed to get Ren Shimin out of the Ren family to Yunyang Academy, so the Ren family elders could save face with the Fang family. Who came and who stayed wasn’t for them to decide either.

As for the Fang family and Fang Yacun… there would always be a time to settle accounts with them.

Ren Yaoqi lightly curved her lips upward.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua stayed in Yunyang City like this for several days. During these days, Ren Yaoqi received definite news from Prince Xian’s manor – the court had indeed appointed a new Ningxia general to come, and this newly appointed Ningxia general was surnamed Zeng.

But there had been no news of Xiao Jingxi all along. Seeing that Ren Shimin would return to Baihe Town tomorrow, Ren Yaoqi’s heart, which had gradually been settling down, began to rise with worry again.

On this day, Lei Pan’er finally returned from visiting friends with her second uncle. Learning that the Ren family had once sent a message inviting her to play at the Ren family retreat house, Lei Pan’er came over the second day after returning.

It happened that Ren Yaoqi had gone to Baoping Alley and didn’t encounter her. Since she would return to Baihe Town tomorrow, she wanted to ask Rong Shi to send someone to inform her if she learned news of Xiao Jingxi. At this time, Ren Yaoqi no longer had the mind to consider matters of avoiding suspicion.

Ren Yaoqi went to Baoping Alley in the afternoon and didn’t come out until evening. This day was rarely a bright sunny day without even a trace of wind.

Ren Yaoqi’s carriage passed through the crisscrossing alleys of Baoping Alley. Ren Yaoqi leaned against the carriage wall with furrowed brows, thinking about things. Her hand casually picked up a book placed on the small table, and just as she was about to open it, she saw a withered piece of grass fall from between the pages.

Ren Yaoqi was startled. Only when she picked up that “grass” did she recognize it – this was a day lily. Day lilies could be eaten after being cured and dried. What was different about this one from what Ren Yaoqi had previously received from Xiao Jingxi was that this was a day lily that had already been processed and was edible.

Day Lily’s other name was “forget-your-worries grass.” Ren Yaoqi remembered the angelica she had previously sent to Prince Yanbei’s manor and couldn’t help but feel joy in her heart. She asked Pingguo: “Was the carriage just stopped outside the door?” She remembered that she had gotten into the carriage only after leaving her grandmother’s house.

Pingguo nodded: “Yes, Miss.”

Ren Yaoqi called out, “Stop the carriage.”

The carriage slowly pulled over to the roadside.

Through the carriage curtain, Ren Yaoqi asked the old woman driving, “When the carriage was stopped outside just now, did anyone approach the carriage?”

The driving woman thought Ren Yaoqi was blaming her for being lazy and wandering off, and quickly said: “Fifth Miss, this servant didn’t see anyone approach the carriage, but this servant did relieve herself once midway. This servant doesn’t know if anyone came during that time.”

At this moment, the sound of carriage wheels rolling on the ground came from behind – another carriage was coming.

Ren Yaoqi originally paid no attention, but she heard the driving woman outside make a sound of surprise, then realized that carriage seemed to have stopped right next to her own carriage.

Ren Yaoqi suddenly sensed something. She sat up straight, wanting to lift the curtain, but the moment her hand touched the carriage curtain, she hesitated.

Just then, Ren Yaoqi heard three muffled knocking sounds from the wall of the carriage next to hers: “Thud—thud—thud—”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then still reached out to lift the carriage curtain slightly to look outside, but unexpectedly the carriage stopped beside hers was just an ordinary elm wood carriage, not one from Prince Yanbei’s manor.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but feel somewhat disappointed and was about to lower the curtain.

But just at that moment, the curtain of the opposite carriage was lifted, and a face that was smiling, handsome, and extremely refined appeared in Ren Yaoqi’s line of sight without warning.

Ren Yaoqi’s heart suddenly jumped, and she looked at him, unable to speak.

Xiao Jingxi also didn’t speak, only smiled lightly at Ren Yaoqi and gently knocked on his own carriage wall again. As if possessed, Ren Yaoqi also raised her hand and lightly knocked twice on her own carriage wall.

The smile in Xiao Jingxi’s eyes deepened, and the bright light within seemed capable of burning people.

Ren Yaoqi lowered her eyes and put down the carriage curtain.

Outside came the light knocking sound of “thud thud” on the carriage wall again. Because the sound wasn’t loud, apart from the people in the two carriages, no one else heard it, and even if they had, they wouldn’t have paid attention.

But this neither light nor heavy sound, heard in Ren Yaoqi’s ears, was as loud as her heartbeat, leaving her not knowing how to react.

Finally, Xiao Jingxi’s carriage moved first, slowly driving out of the alley ahead of Ren Yaoqi’s carriage. Ren Yaoqi instructed the driving woman to continue forward.

After leaving the alley, Xiao Jingxi’s carriage traveled in front while Ren Yaoqi’s followed behind. Finally, the carriage in front stopped at a sheltered place. Before Ren Yaoqi could give any instructions, her carriage stopped on its own.

Ren Yaoqi heard Xiao Jingxi get out of his carriage. He didn’t speak to ask Ren Yaoqi to get out – he just stood there waiting.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then still signaled for Pingguo to help her down from the carriage.

Each time she came to Prince Xian’s manor, to avoid trouble, she generally only brought two trusted maids and one driving woman, no one else. Now encountering Xiao Jingxi, this saved quite a bit of gossip.

Ren Yaoqi walked to stand in front of Xiao Jingxi, curtsied, and said softly: “Young Master Xiao, I hope you have been well.”

Xiao Jingxi looked at her, the corners of his mouth slightly curved: “Mm, I’m very well.”

It was a very brief, very ordinary sentence, yet he managed to say it with several different flavors.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but think again of the angelica she had sent him at that time.

Then, thinking of the things he had done, Ren Yaoqi ultimately could no longer treat him with the attitude she used toward ordinary people.

She sighed lightly, temporarily setting aside these unclear emotions, and asked: “When did you return?”

Xiao Jingxi glanced at his carriage and smiled: “Just now.”

Ren Yaoqi: “…”

Seeing that Ren Yaoqi didn’t speak, Xiao Jingxi continued: “Seeing your letter and learning you were in Yunyang City, I came over. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

Ren Yaoqi wanted to say, “Who was worried about you?” but thinking about it, she felt this would sound sour and affected, so she continued to remain silent.

“I remember promising you I would return before winter.” There was obvious amusement in Xiao Jingxi’s voice.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but think – after just one trip to the capital, how did she feel that Xiao Jingxi’s face had become much thicker? Or had she previously been deceived by his appearance due to unfamiliarity, thus overlooking his true nature?