Li Shi had also made a new outfit for Ren Yaoying—a pink jacket and skirt embroidered with white plum blossoms. The fabric and workmanship were similar to those of Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi’s outfits. After receiving the clothes, Ren Yaoying came to thank Li Shi, though she still appeared somewhat listless and couldn’t raise her spirits.
The earliest arrivals today were Madam Liu and her daughter Liu Menghan, who also brought a pot of tiger-head orchid they had grown themselves.
This had been arranged beforehand—since today was a flower appreciation gathering, all the ladies and misses attending were to bring flowers, and at the end there would be a competition to select the most beautiful flower.
Later, Madam Chen and her daughter arrived along with two other ladies. Madam Chen brought a pot of “Luoyang Red,” while the other two ladies brought a pot of “Emerald First Rank” and a pot of “Wei Purple” respectively.
Ouyang Shi and several older ladies arrived somewhat later. Ouyang Shi brought a pot of “White Snow Pagoda” and a pot of “Phoenix Spreading Feathers,” while the other ladies also brought famous flower varieties.
Li Shi had people set up an awning in the courtyard, displaying the famous flowers from their home along with low tables and stools, and serving tea and refreshments. Before moving here, Third Master Ren had renovated this courtyard from top to bottom according to his aesthetic preferences. Whatever else might be said about Third Master Ren, he truly had talent and vision in this regard, so even an ordinary courtyard gave people a feeling of expansive delight.
It was early summer now, and the morning wasn’t too hot yet. With the awning providing shade in the courtyard and gentle breezes blowing, sitting in the garden appreciating flowers, drinking tea, and chatting about interesting city happenings was an extremely pleasant affair.
All who came today were ladies and misses of excellent upbringing. Even when discussing gossip, they knew when to stop appropriately. Everyone knew about the recent troubles in the Ren family, but no one brought it up or even whispered about it, showing great respect for their hosts. These ladies’ temperaments perfectly suited Li Shi’s taste, so she genuinely wanted to befriend them.
The Ren sisters, Yaoqi and Yaohua, chatted with Liu Menghan, Chen Zhiyi, and two other misses about flowers and plants. Though young, these misses were all educated and knowledgeable, especially Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi, who could be considered well-read women. Combined with Ren Yaoqi’s broad perspective, they conversed very harmoniously.
Ren Yaoying had come out for a while earlier, but today’s attending misses were all legitimate daughters. Although they had no intention of looking down on Ren Yaoying and didn’t deliberately slight her in words, Ren Yaoying always felt that others were enthusiastic toward Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua while being very cold toward her. After sitting uncomfortably for a while, she finally made an excuse and retreated to her room.
Ren Yaoqi was listening to Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi eloquently debate whether the Liu family’s “Tiger-Head Orchid” was better or the Chen family’s “Luoyang Red” more outstanding, when the gatekeeper hurriedly came to report that distinguished guests had arrived.
Ren Yaoqi wondered who would come at this time, since all the ladies and misses who had received invitations had arrived, except for one Madam Li, who couldn’t come because she had returned to her natal family for her brother’s celebration of a newborn son.
Just as Ren Yaoqi was puzzling over this, she saw a tall, graceful woman with refined features containing an air of heroism appear at the courtyard entrance.
Seeing the newcomer, Ren Yaoqi’s face lit up with joy: “Princess?”
The crowd, who had been chatting quietly, were also startled by Xiao Jinglin’s sudden appearance. Ouyang Shi was the first to react, laughing: “Oh my, the Princess has returned?”
Everyone rose to bow to Xiao Jinglin, who nodded: “I heard there was a flower appreciation gathering here, so I came to take a look. Please continue as you were—don’t mind me.”
Li Shi quickly had people bring additional seating.
Ren Yaoqi smiled as she approached, chiding playfully: “Jinglin, when did you return? Why didn’t you mention it in your letters?”
Xiao Jinglin’s face also showed a smile: “What’s this? Did I startle you?”
Ren Yaoqi blinked: “How could it be startling? It’s a delightful surprise. I thought you wouldn’t return until mid-month.”
Xiao Jinglin nodded to the young ladies who greeted her, then said, “I returned early this morning. I originally planned to visit you tomorrow, but Xiao Jingxi said you were holding a flower appreciation gathering today and suggested I come see.”
Hearing Xiao Jinglin mention Xiao Jingxi, Ren Yaoqi paused momentarily.
Though she didn’t know how Xiao Jingxi had learned about today’s flower gathering at her home, she could roughly guess his intention in having Xiao Jinglin come. For Li Shi and themselves to establish a firm foothold in Yunyang City, having the recognition of the Princess rather, the Prince of Yanbei’s residence—would make things smoother in the future.
Xiao Jinglin didn’t notice the expression on Ren Yaoqi’s face. She surveyed the potted plants around her. Though she couldn’t tell the difference between precious flower varieties and those grown in ordinary gardens, thinking of the pot she had hastily brought along, Xiao Jinglin still hesitated about whether to take it out.
Hong Ying, following behind Xiao Jinglin, didn’t see the Princess’s internal struggle. Seeing the Princess examining the flowers displayed in the courtyard, she ran out to fetch the flowers they had left in their carriage.
Everyone curiously looked over when they saw the Princess’s maid bring in a flower.
“Eh? What flower is this?” a younger miss asked curiously as she approached.
Xiao Jinglin wore a deeply serious expression.
“Oh my, it even has thorns!” the young lady exclaimed, covering her pricked finger.
Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi exchanged glances, then said cautiously: “This is… a cactus?”
“Ah? A cactus? Are cacti considered flowers?”
“This cactus is blooming, so it counts… as a flower, I suppose…”
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Xiao Jinglin and couldn’t help but laugh.
Only then did Xiao Jinglin nod and explain to everyone: “This was grown by my second brother. I thought it was quite unusual for this thing to bloom, so I brought it along to join the fun.”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to Second Young Master Xiao.
What kind of person was Second Young Master Xiao? He was like a banished immortal! Any flower grown by Second Young Master Xiao must be different from ordinary flowers! Even if it was just a pot of blooming cactus.
Thus, the gazes examining this pot of cactus changed from suspicion to various speculations.
Ren Yaoqi looked at Xiao Jinglin teasingly. Others might not know, but she knew that Xiao Jinglin’s favorite thing to do was to use Xiao Jingxi as a shield.
Later, as the sun grew stronger, Li Shi invited everyone to the spacious flower hall that had been prepared beforehand.
Ren Yaoqi found an opportunity to bring Xiao Jinglin to her room for a private conversation.
Though the two hadn’t seen each other for two years, they had maintained regular correspondence, so there was no sense of estrangement.
However, Ren Yaoqi noticed that Xiao Jinglin seemed to have grown considerably taller. Previously, they had been about the same height, but now Xiao Jinglin was half a head taller. Perhaps due to frequently patrolling the frontier passes, Xiao Jinglin’s complexion was slightly darker, but this made her features appear even more defined, giving her a beauty different from other noble young ladies.
Looking at Ren Yaoqi, Xiao Jinglin thought she had become even more beautiful than two years ago. Ren Yaoqi had recently passed her fourteenth birthday, and her features had matured somewhat compared to two years ago, making her appearance and temperament increasingly striking. Today’s goose-yellow outfit particularly complemented her fair, translucent skin, making her look ethereally beautiful.
However, Princess Xiao looked at Ren Yaoqi and gestured above her head, saying with some disdain: “How did you become so much shorter?”
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh, not bothering to argue with her.
“Why did you return early? I remember you saying before that you’d return a few days before your birthday.” Xiao Jinglin’s birthday was on June 22nd, so Ren Yaoqi had expected her to return at the earliest in mid-June.
Xiao Jinglin replied: “My mother said many people would come to attend my coming-of-age ceremony, so she wanted me to return early to prepare.”
Ren Yaoqi nodded.
The coming-of-age ceremony of the Princess of Yanbei’s residence could be considered a major event in Yanbei. Both Ningxia and the imperial court would send representatives to Yanbei to offer congratulations.
The current relationship between Yanbei, Ningxia, and the imperial court was very sensitive, so it was good for Xiao Jinglin to return early.
“By the way, it seems Yun Wenfang will return too,” Xiao Jinglin suddenly mentioned.
In her correspondence with Ren Yaoqi, Xiao Jinglin would occasionally mention Yun Wenfang. She had heard he was now a fifth-rank Eagle-Soaring General commanding a unit and had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle.
Ren Yaoqi only glanced at the news about Yun Wenfang without ever commenting.
Hearing Xiao Jinglin say that Yun Wenfang would return, Ren Yaoqi merely smiled.
Over these two years, Yun Wenfang should have experienced much. Ren Yaoqi hoped he could truly mature. As for the relationship between them, there had never been any connection in this life, nor would there be in the future.
If Xiao Jinglin hadn’t brought up Yun Wenfang, Ren Yaoqi wouldn’t have deliberately thought of him.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s indifferent attitude, Xiao Jinglin didn’t continue discussing Yun Wenfang. However, she had encountered Yun Wenfang several times at the frontier. Though from a military perspective, Yun Wenfang could be considered a competent general, and Xiao Jinglin had gradually changed her dismissive attitude toward him.
But she could also see that Yun Wenfang was extremely stubborn and wouldn’t easily give up his goals. This was why she had told Ren Yaoqi about Yun Wenfang’s news—she just hoped Ren Yaoqi would be mentally prepared.