Hearing this voice, Ren Yaoqi quickly turned to look. She saw Xiao Jingxi striding rapidly toward them. Meeting her gaze, Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly at her. Though it was only the faintest of smiles, it somehow made Ren Yaoqi feel relieved.

The two young eunuchs turned to see Xiao Jingxi. They recognized Second Young Master Xiao and instinctively stopped in their tracks.

Eunuch Lu was amid his rage and didn’t even look to see who had arrived. He simply waved his hand: “Wait until I catch this little wretch first!”

Xiao Jingxi walked between Eunuch Lu and Ren Yaoqi’s group. He seemed not to notice Eunuch Lu’s disheveled appearance or the strange atmosphere at the scene, smiling lightly as he said: “Surely Eunuch Lu doesn’t intend to announce the edict looking like this? Second Uncle, please escort Eunuch Lu to freshen up and change clothes before going to Chengde Hall.”

Only then did Eunuch Lu see that the speaker was Xiao Jingxi. He naturally recognized Second Young Master Xiao and was somewhat wary of him. He was about to say something when Xiao Jingxi gently interrupted: “The incense table has been prepared. If Eunuch doesn’t hurry, the three sticks of incense will burn out completely. If the edict hasn’t arrived by then, it would be a great disrespect to His Majesty.”

Generally speaking, announcing imperial edicts involved a great ceremony. After the advanced young eunuch appeared, those receiving the edict had to prepare the incense table, light incense, and wait for the edict-announcing eunuch to arrive later. The edict-announcing eunuch had to finish reciting the entire edict before the incense burned out, or it would be great disrespect to the emperor.

Eunuch Lu looked down at himself. His outer robe was already soiled, so he certainly couldn’t announce the edict in this state. He would have to freshen up and change clothes first. If he continued to linger here, he might not make it in time for the edict announcement.

So he stood up with his grand-disciple’s support and tried moving his foot. Fortunately, he had only twisted the tendons earlier and felt pain momentarily – he hadn’t injured the bone.

He gradually resumed the bearing of the head eunuch serving beside the Empress Dowager, bowing to Xiao Jingxi: “Second Young Master Xiao, this humble servant was improper, truly improper.”

Xiao Jingxi smiled and nodded, saying to Xiao Heng: “Second Uncle, please trouble yourself to accompany Eunuch Lu to freshen up.”

Xiao Heng agreed: “Eunuch, this way please.” Xiao Heng also didn’t want this matter to escalate now. After all, he was also considered a host and was present at the scene. If word got out, it would reflect poorly on him as well.

Xiao Jingyue, however, winked at Xiao Jingxi: “The eunuch was just looking at Fifth Miss Ren because she’s pretty and wanted to get a closer look, which led to some misunderstanding.”

Xiao Jingyue was secretly mocking Eunuch Lu for being a eunuch yet still so lustful.

Unfortunately, Xiao Jingxi had no common ground with him.

Eunuch Lu suddenly felt a chill at his neck. An eerie shudder instinctively crept up to his heart. He unconsciously touched his neck but felt nothing, thinking he had caught a cold sleeping at the post station last night, so he paid it no mind.

Before being helped away, Eunuch Lu stared maliciously at Rong Shi’s group, especially when looking at Ren Yaohua, his eyes conveyed the meaning “this isn’t over.”

Since the facade had already been torn away, Ren Yaohua wasn’t afraid of him and glared back coldly.

Only after watching Eunuch Lu’s group disappear into the distance did Xiao Jingxi turn back to glance at Ren Yaoqi. Then he smiled at Rong Shi: “It’s my fault for poor hospitality, causing you all to be frightened.”

Rong Shi sighed: “When disaster comes, there’s no avoiding it. He came for me in the first place. This time, we must thank Second Young Master Xiao for resolving the situation.” As she spoke, Rong Shi looked at Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, with obvious worry in her eyes.

Rong Shi clearly understood Eunuch Lu’s intentions. She wasn’t afraid of these people openly making things difficult for her – she only feared that Li Shi and her two granddaughters would be implicated.

Rong Shi knew that for someone like Eunuch Lu, his goal was to exhaust every means to curry favor with Empress Dowager Yan. What could make the Empress Dowager happier than humiliating the descendants who shared blood with Noble Consort Wan?

Ren Yaoqi also frowned and glanced at Ren Yaohua. Because of Ren Yaohua’s push, Eunuch Lu’s attention had instead focused on Ren Yaohua. Ren Yaoqi worried he might make a move against her.

People like Eunuch Lu had twisted, obsessive personalities. Anyone who offended him or displeased him he would certainly remember and seek opportunities for revenge. In this regard, Eunuch Lu and Zeng Pu were birds of a feather.

Xiao Jingxi said, “Since this happened in the prince’s mansion, the mansion will handle it. You needn’t worry too much – this is Yanbei after all.”

With Xiao Jingxi willing to take responsibility, Rong Shi also breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Jingxi was right. This was Yanbei after all, not the capital. No matter how much Empress Dowager Yan favored Eunuch Lu, his reach couldn’t extend to Yanbei. With the Xiao family intervening, as long as they were careful and vigilant, there shouldn’t be any major trouble.

Rong Shi wasn’t truly afraid of Eunuch Lu. After all, the real strength of Prince Xian’s mansion was now an open secret with the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion. If Eunuch Lu went too far in his bullying, it wouldn’t be difficult for Prince Xian’s mansion to send people to deal with him. It was just that Eunuch Lu had come to Yanbei to announce an edict and certainly carried some command from Empress Dowager Yan, making him essentially half an imperial envoy. If something happened to him on Yanbei’s territory, the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion would have difficulty explaining to the court and might give the court an excuse to attack. Since Prince Xian’s mansion had already allied with the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion, they should consider the Prince of Yanbei’s interests.

Rong Shi simply felt that petty people were troublesome, fearing others might resort to underhanded, dirty tricks.

Xiao Jingxi personally escorted Rong Shi’s group to Qingzheng Hall before leaving to return to Chengde Hall.

Only after receiving the edict at Chengde Hall did the princess consort bring Xiao Jinglin to reappear before everyone.

Xiao Jinglin found Ren Yaoqi and, avoiding the crowd, took her aside to talk.

“I heard you were just harassed by Lu Yu?”

Lu Yu was Eunuch Lu’s original name. After he became a servant beside the Empress Dowager, to match the Empress Dowager’s birth characters, she renamed him Lu Dexin. Outsiders no longer called him Lu Yu. When he became the head manager beside the Empress Dowager, even fewer people dared to call him Lu Dexin directly.

Others might not know who Lu Yu was, but Ren Yaoqi knew these details about Eunuch Lu. So, whether Xiao Jingxi or Xiao Jinglin mentioned the name Lu Yu, Ren Yaoqi knew who they meant.

Ren Yaoqi sighed softly and recounted what had happened. Xiao Jinglin frowned: “He’s just a eunuch, yet thinks he’s some kind of master. Don’t be afraid – I’ll have Hongying and Hongye follow you back later. If he dares to trouble you, they’ll beat him up!”

At this moment, a male voice behind them said, “Besides beating people up, what other solutions can you think of?”

Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin turned around to see Xiao Jingxi had appeared from somewhere, raising an eyebrow with a half-smile as he looked at her.

Xiao Jinglin glanced sideways at Xiao Jingxi: “At least I offered suggestions, unlike certain Monday-morning quarterbacks. Who knows where you went at the time?”

Before Xiao Jingxi could respond, Xiao Jinglin looked at Ren Yaoqi and suddenly smiled quietly: “Could it be you heard it was an edict for an arranged marriage and were so delighted that you went off somewhere to secretly celebrate?”

Xiao Jinglin’s words left Ren Yaoqi stunned.

An edict for arranged marriage? For whom?

Since Xiao Jinglin brought it up to tease, it wasn’t an arranged marriage edict for her, so could it be…

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but look toward Xiao Jingxi.

Meeting Ren Yaoqi’s gaze, Xiao Jingxi’s heart jumped as he hurriedly explained: “It’s not for me.”

Ren Yaoqi: “…”

Xiao Jinglin imitated Xiao Jingxi’s half-smiling expression and looked at him: “Who said it was an arranged marriage edict for you? Why are you so anxious?”

Xiao Jingxi: “…”

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s puzzled expression, Xiao Jinglin kindly explained: “The Empress Dowager arranged a marriage for Xiao Jingyue.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was somewhat surprised: “Third Young Master Xiao?”

Xiao Jinglin nodded: “I heard it’s some imperial clan woman of both talent and virtue. She’ll be sent over soon for the wedding.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help thinking – was the court trying to divide the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion from within?

Just as Xiao Jingxi secretly supported the Di family against Zeng Pu, the court wanted to support Xiao Heng’s branch against the Prince of Yanbei. Having enemies consume each other from within was indeed a supreme strategy in military tactics.

But it was good that it wasn’t an arranged marriage for Xiao Jingxi.

As soon as this thought appeared in Ren Yaoqi’s mind, it left her stunned.

Even if the court had arranged a marriage for Xiao Jingxi, what did it have to do with her interests? Could she prevent the Empress Dowager’s arranged marriage?

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but look toward Xiao Jingxi. Just then, Xiao Jingxi was also gazing intently at her. When their eyes met, an indescribable atmosphere enveloped them both.

Ren Yaoqi came to her senses and lowered her head slightly, changing the subject: “What else did the edict say? Was it only about the arranged marriage?”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t notice that if this had been any other time, she definitely wouldn’t have asked so directly about the edict’s contents. She had always been cautious, paying attention not to leave any obvious handles for others to grab onto.

So her heart was indeed somewhat unsettled.

Xiao Jingxi had felt somewhat disappointed earlier, but being perceptive, he immediately noticed the unusual behavior beneath Ren Yaoqi’s calm exterior, and his heart couldn’t help but fill with joy.