Ren Yaoying didn’t return to Yunyang City until evening. Ren Yaohua stood under the eaves of the main hall, looking down condescendingly at Ren Yaoying, who had come to pay her respects to Li Shi.

When Ren Yaoying met Ren Yaohua’s sharp gaze, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat guilty, but forced herself to appear calm as she smiled and greeted her: “Third Sister, why are you standing here instead of going inside?”

Ren Yaohua stared coldly at Ren Yaoying for a long time. She thought that if it were her previous temperament, she would have given Ren Yaoying two harsh slaps right now, then kicked her down the steps to teach her a lesson.

Now, Ren Yaohua’s disgust toward Ren Yaoying was greater than ever, but she found that she no longer wanted to take action.

So Ren Yaohua merely looked at Ren Yaoying with contempt, then turned and entered the main hall first.

Ren Yaoqi, who had been watching from the side, couldn’t help but smile slightly and followed Ren Yaohua inside.

After being looked at by Ren Yaohua in that way, Ren Yaoying inexplicably felt a sense of humiliation from being despised. She bit her lip and secretly clenched her fists.

The next day was the Double Ninth Festival. Early in the morning, Li Shi took Ren Yaohua, Ren Yaoqi, and Ren Yaoying out in a carriage. Third Master Ren and Ren Yihong were also going to the southern suburbs outside the city together, riding horses behind them. For the Double Ninth mountain climbing, it was customary to go with relatives and friends. Before leaving the city, Fifth Master Ren also came with Ren Yijian. Since Ren Yaoyu’s health hadn’t recovered yet, Fifth Madam Ren stayed home and didn’t come along.

Outside Yunyang City, in the southern suburbs, was Mount Tianqing. Though called a mountain, it was just a large area of slopes with slightly higher terrain. Long ago, someone had planted the entire mountain with pear trees. Later, one year, there was a fire on the mountain that burned most of the pear trees. Somehow, afterward, someone replanted a large area with osmanthus trees where the burned areas had been.

The pear blossoms on half of Mount Tianqing bloomed extremely beautifully. Every season, when the pear blossoms hung from branches, this place became the most favored location for literati and scholars. Third Master Ren had come here to paint several pear blossom paintings. Later, because of the osmanthus trees, this place also became lively in autumn.

Since Mount Tianqing had always been a place where literati and scholars frequently came to enjoy themselves, many pavilions for rest had been built on the mountain. There were also several sweet freshwater springs, and the scenery was quite good, so it became an excellent destination for Double Ninth Festival mountain climbing. This year, Madam Xu’s mountain climbing gathering was held here.

The Ren family’s carriage stopped at the foot of Mount Tianqing. Below Mount Tianqing was a large garden built in the Jiangnan style that had originally been a temporary palace of the Yanbei Prince’s residence. Later, when the Liao people invaded and the Xiao family retreated in defeat, this temporary palace was abandoned. After the Xiao family regained control of Yanbei, they renovated the palace and allocated it to Yunyang Academy, so it was usually used by the academy to hold various poetry gatherings, painting meetings, and literary conferences. Today, this was where Ren Yaoqi and the others would rest.

Li Shi took the Ren sisters to meet Madam Xu and the others. Third Master Ren went to meet his friends, and Ren Yihong was called away by his classmates.

Li Shi had arrived quite early today, but Madam Xu and several other ladies familiar with Li Shi had also come, since this mountain climbing gathering was organized by the wives of Yunyang Academy – they were the hosts.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were talking with Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi when suddenly a soft, sweet voice not far away said, “Sister Yaohua! Sister Yaoqi!”

Ren Yaoqi turned her head and saw Lei Pan’er in a pink outfit, running toward them with her short little legs.

Seeing the little girl’s joyful appearance, both Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but laugh.

Lei Pan’er broke free from her wet nurse, rushed over, and hugged Ren Yaohua’s leg, looking up with a smile so bright her eyes disappeared: “Hehe, caught you!” Then she refused to let go.

Her adorable and charming appearance made everyone laugh.

Ren Yaoying, who had been standing to one side without speaking, also turned her gaze to Lei Pan’er, then looked at Ren Yaohua, showing a thoughtful expression.

Everyone enjoyed teasing Lei Pan’er. Ren Yaoying also smiled and asked gently, “Did Miss Lei come by herself today?”

Lei Pan’er said, “Pan’er’s father and second uncle came too.”

When Lei Pan’er mentioned Lei Ting, everyone couldn’t help but think of the marriage arrangement between Lei Ting and Ren Yaohua. Seeing Lei Pan’er and Ren Yaohua getting along so well, they were all somewhat surprised. Fortunately, these ladies and misses were all well-mannered and, fearing Ren Yaohua might feel embarrassed, none of them continued to inquire in this direction. Liu Menghan even deliberately changed the subject.

However, Ren Yaohua coldly glanced at Ren Yaoying.

Afterward, the invited ladies and misses gradually arrived. When Ren Yaoqi saw Han You and Ren Yaoting appear together, she was momentarily stunned.

Walking beside Han You and Ren Yaoting were Jiang Yuanniang and an unfamiliar young lady. This unfamiliar young lady was someone Ren Yaoqi had never seen before. She wore a light blue jacket embroidered with orchids, and both her clothing and jewelry were quite ordinary. She was rather tall, had a standard oval face, and could only be considered moderately attractive, but her temperament was very serene, making her very pleasing to look at.

“Fifth Sister,” Ren Yaoting said when she saw Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua walking over arm in arm with Han You.

Han You seemed a bit embarrassed when she saw Ren Yaoqi.

After they all greeted each other, Ren Yaoqi learned that this unfamiliar girl was Sixth Miss Jiang, Jiang Qianniang.

Ren Yaoting smiled and said, “We were just saying we would meet you today. A’you originally wanted to visit you before, but I said you must be busy these days, so I took her around to play for a few days. Don’t blame her.”

Han You had previously asked Ren Yaoqi to help introduce her to the Jiang family misses. Now that the Jiang sisters were walking together with them, it meant they had already met and didn’t need Ren Yaoqi’s introduction.

Ren Yaoqi glanced at Ren Yaoting and sighed inwardly. It seemed Ren Yaoting still had feelings for Han Yunqian, otherwise, she wouldn’t have spent so much effort trying to please Han You.

Ren Yaoqi smiled and said, “Then I should thank Seventh Sister, otherwise I might have neglected Miss Han.”

Except for Jiang Qianniang, everyone else was familiar, so they quickly fell into conversation. Though Jiang Qianniang didn’t say much, she seemed to be well-read and could occasionally insert a comment or two when Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi were talking.

Intelligent and low-key, not annoying – this was Ren Yaoqi’s first impression of Jiang Qianniang. The Jiang family daughters were all remarkable.

Madam Xu had people set out chrysanthemum wine and chrysanthemum cakes on the table, saying everyone should rest first and then climb Mount Tianqing together later. Madam Xu and the others had put considerable effort into this mountain climbing gathering, so besides climbing, they had also arranged many other entertainments. The ladies and misses present were all eager to try them.

At this moment, Pingguo walked over and quietly reported in Ren Yaoqi’s ear: “Miss, the Princess has arrived. She sent Hongying from her side to invite you. The Princess said there are too many people here and she doesn’t want to come in. She’s waiting for you outside.”

Ren Yaoqi was delighted to hear this. She spoke a few words to Ren Yaohua, then went to tell Li Shi, and only then left with Pingguo. However, before leaving, she deliberately reminded Ren Yaohua once more to be careful of Ren Yaoying.

If possible, Ren Yaoqi wouldn’t mind always protecting Ren Yaohua and helping her ward off disasters, but Ren Yaoqi knew she couldn’t do this.

Ren Yaohua was about to get married. Though the Lei family situation wasn’t too complicated, being the clan leader’s wife wasn’t something anyone could handle smoothly. If Ren Yaohua couldn’t even deal with someone like Ren Yaoying, Ren Yaoqi felt Ren Yaohua should reconsider her marriage.

However, Ren Yaoqi knew that Ren Yaohua had grown considerably. This could be seen from the fact that she hadn’t directly slapped Ren Yaoying yesterday. So Ren Yaoqi planned to let Ren Yaohua handle Ren Yaoying’s affairs herself this time, and would only help if necessary.

After Ren Yaoqi left inconspicuously with Pingguo, she indeed saw Hongying, who immediately led Ren Yaoqi to find Xiao Jinglin.

Xiao Jinglin had come by carriage today. When Ren Yaoqi lifted the curtain, she saw Xiao Jinglin sitting there with her back straight.

“Jinglin? Didn’t you say before that you wouldn’t come to the mountain climbing gathering today?” Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile.

Xiao Jinglin instructed Hongying to drive the carriage, then said, “There are too many people inside, I don’t like it, but I never said I wouldn’t climb mountains today.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh: “You have a lot of twisted logic.”

It was only after becoming familiar with Xiao Jinglin that Ren Yaoqi learned that Xiao Jinglin’s true nature among close friends was somewhat different from what she showed to everyone else in public. At least she wasn’t a cold, icy person.

After Ren Yaoqi got into Xiao Jinglin’s carriage, she didn’t ask where they were going. The carriage moved very slowly, with wind blowing in from under the curtains, lifting them and creating a pleasant feeling.

The carriage traveled for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, then stopped.

“Princess, we’ve arrived. This servant can see the Second Young Master’s carriage just ahead,” Hongying reported through the curtain.

Ren Yaoqi was startled upon hearing this. Xiao Jingxi was here too?

Xiao Jinglin jumped down from the carriage first, then turned to help Ren Yaoqi down.

After Ren Yaoqi steadied herself, she saw a familiar carriage not far ahead, and Xiao Jingxi was just getting down from it.

Today, Xiao Jingxi wore a white cloak with embroidered cloud patterns, his black hair and dark eyes striking. When he looked up and smiled gently in their direction, Ren Yaoqi’s heartbeat skipped a beat.

Ren Yaoqi’s steps paused slightly, then she followed Xiao Jinglin forward.

Ren Yaoqi curtsied, and when she looked up, she met Xiao Jingxi’s smiling gaze. The two hadn’t seen each other for some time, and somehow Ren Yaoqi felt that today’s Xiao Jingxi looked particularly handsome, so her gaze lingered a moment longer.