Xiao Jingxi wasn’t wearing a hood, and fine snowflakes covered his black hair. At first glance, this gave the illusion of white hair on a youthful face, making his handsome features even more impossible to look at directly.

“How are you here?” It took Ren Yaoqi a long time to find her voice. She couldn’t help but glance at Hongying, who was standing expressionlessly behind Xiao Jingxi with her head lowered, her demeanor colder than usual, which struck Ren Yaoqi as strange.

“Can’t I be here?” Xiao Jingxi asked back with a smile. Whether it was Ren Yaoqi’s imagination or not, when Second Young Master Xiao said this, it carried a hint of grievance.

“I thought it was Jinglin…”

Xiao Jingxi smiled gently and also glanced at Hongying: “She’s Nanxing, not Hongying.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was very surprised and looked at “Hongying” several more times: “Is she Hongying’s sister? They look so alike.” No wonder Ren Yaoqi felt that today’s Hongying was more taciturn and cold than usual. In terms of appearance, the two were almost identical, which was why she had mistaken her.

Nanxing stepped forward to bow again: “This servant is Nanxing. Greetings to Third Miss Ren.” This time, Nanxing’s expression suddenly underwent subtle changes, her facial expression becoming much softer, even showing a smile.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but be stunned, because this version of Nanxing was almost indistinguishable from the usual Hongying. If Nanxing had maintained this expression from the beginning, she definitely wouldn’t have noticed any difference.

“Can you tell now?” Xiao Jingxi slowly blinked, looking completely innocent.

After realizing what had happened, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but grit her teeth silently. Xiao Jingxi’s meaning was that he hadn’t specifically had Nanxing pretend to be Hongying to deceive Ren Yaoqi. Although when Nanxing truly impersonated Hongying, it was indeed remarkably lifelike, so it was Ren Yaoqi’s poor eyesight that failed to recognize the difference.

Thinking carefully, Nanxing indeed hadn’t said she was Hongying. When requesting her presence, she had said “my master requests your presence,” not “the princess requests your presence.” Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat annoyed – she had drunk some wine and was truly a bit intoxicated, actually failing to notice these details. But it was also because Hongying belonged to Xiao Jinglin that she had relaxed her guard.

However, seeing Xiao Jingxi’s current expression, she felt her teeth itch with irritation.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi glaring at him, Xiao Jingxi knew she was angry and feared she might turn and leave. He imperceptibly stepped forward, lowered his head, and said softly: “Standing for too long is getting cold. How about walking in the grove?”

Although after gradually understanding Xiao Jingxi, Ren Yaoqi knew that when he said this, he was very likely seeking sympathy, seeing the snowflakes covering Xiao Jingxi’s head, she still nodded.

Xiao Jingxi broke into a radiant smile. In that instant, even the entire grove’s “red and pink buds beginning to bloom, auspicious snow like silver garments” couldn’t match the brilliance he radiated.

Ren Yaoqi lowered her head and thought silently. She seemed to somewhat understand what Xiao Jinglin meant by “devastating beauty.”

The two walked side by side into the plum grove, with Nanxing and the two maids tactfully following at a distance.

After walking for a while, Ren Yaoqi discovered that the plum grove was very quiet. Apart from them, there was no one else, presumably because Xiao Jingxi had made arrangements beforehand.

She turned her head to speak, but found that Xiao Jingxi’s gaze was fixed on her face. Even when she looked over, he didn’t turn away. Her heart raced, and she felt the previous wine’s effects rising to her face even more.

“What if you get wet?” Ren Yaoqi turned her head and said.

Xiao Jingxi had probably been waiting for her for a while, which was why his head was covered with snowflakes. In front of the maids earlier, Ren Yaoqi hadn’t felt comfortable asking. She was somewhat afraid he might catch a cold.

Xiao Jingxi’s voice carried some laughter: “No harm.” Then, somehow with his movements, the snowflakes on his head all fluttered down in that instant, and his head of black hair truly showed no trace of dampness.

Ren Yaoqi was stunned. Looking at the composed and calm Xiao Jingxi, she thought of something and suddenly laughed.

“What are you laughing at?” Xiao Jingxi turned his head and asked.

Ren Yaoqi suppressed her laughter and shook her head.

She remembered that last time in her letter, she had sarcastically commented that Xiao Jingxi’s handwriting was soft and weak compared to Xiao Jinglin’s. Was Xiao Jingxi just now subtly showing off to prove that he wasn’t as “frail” as he appeared on the surface? However, Ren Yaoqi knew these words weren’t appropriate to say in front of Xiao Jingxi. She should still leave him some face.

But seeing the teasing smile on Ren Yaoqi’s face, Xiao Jingxi somewhat understood. Although he still maintained a nonchalant appearance on the surface, his ears reddened slightly.

“How did you come to be here?” Seeing that he had stopped talking, Ren Yaoqi asked her previous question again.

At this moment, they had just turned a corner, and Nanxing and the others hadn’t caught up yet. Xiao Jingxi stopped walking and spread his palm open before Ren Yaoqi’s eyes.

Ren Yaoqi was somewhat surprised. Looking down, she discovered that in Xiao Jingxi’s palm was a red bean. Meeting Xiao Jingxi’s gentle gaze filled with laughter, Ren Yaoqi’s face also reddened. Just as she was about to take back the red bean from Xiao Jingxi’s hand, unexpectedly, as soon as she reached out, Xiao Jingxi grasped her hand.

Ren Yaoqi’s hand moved, but didn’t pull free. She couldn’t help but glare at him, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed: “You…”

Nanxing, who was about to follow around the corner, moved her ears, glanced at the other two maids, and stopped walking.

Sangshen glanced at Nanxing and instinctively also stopped, but Pingguo continued to follow, and then her arm was grabbed by Nanxing. Pingguo looked at Nanxing with confusion, and Nanxing also looked at her but said nothing, so the two stood there staring at each other.

“How can something that’s been given away be taken back?” Using his sleeve as cover, Xiao Jingxi firmly grasped Ren Yaoqi’s hand in his own while speaking softly.

The burning sensation in her palm made half of Ren Yaoqi’s arm feel hot, even hotter than her other hand holding the small hand warmer. Just as she was about to struggle free, Xiao Jingxi released her hand.

Ren Yaoqi lowered her head and withdrew her hand, holding her hand warmer tightly with both hands.

“I saw the letter and came,” Xiao Jingxi said softly.

Ren Yaoqi: “…”

Afraid that Ren Yaoqi might become angry from embarrassment, Xiao Jingxi curved his lips and continued walking forward. Ren Yaoqi also followed.

The two walked slowly through the plum grove like this, not speaking, with only the “crunch” sound of boots stepping on snow around them, yet their hearts felt a tranquil peace.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Ren Yaoqi looked at the path and said softly, “Let’s head back.” She was afraid of being out too long and having people come looking from the other side. Although she knew Xiao Jingxi must have posted guards around the area, it still wasn’t good to stay outside too long.

Although Xiao Jingxi wanted to keep walking with her like this forever, preferably without end, he also understood what Ren Yaoqi was thinking, so he nodded and smiled in agreement: “Alright.”

The two found another path to walk back.

“The situation in the south is probably almost settled,” Xiao Jingxi suddenly said.

It took Ren Yaoqi a moment to realize that Xiao Jingxi was talking about the Ren family’s properties in the south.

“The action was really fast,” Ren Yaoqi commented without any emotional coloring.

The Ren family’s properties in Jiangnan were roughly half of the family’s foundation, yet they had been completely devoured in just a few months. No wonder Ren Yaoqi had heard that Old Master Ren had recently been forcing himself to work despite his illness, refusing to listen to anyone’s advice.

“Did the Han family make the move?” Ren Yaoqi remembered Han Yunqian’s words from last time and asked.

Xiao Jingxi nodded: “Yes.” After a pause, he added, “The Han family was the middleman.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh and tease: “You’re becoming increasingly adept at doing business without capital.”

Although he was being looked down upon, Xiao Jingxi wasn’t annoyed. He smiled and glanced at Ren Yaoqi: “This is what you permitted me to do.”

Ren Yaoqi gave Xiao Jingxi a sideways glance but didn’t argue with him. When it came to thick skin, she admitted defeat.

“The Ren family will probably face some turbulence next.” Although he knew Ren Yaoqi wasn’t afraid, Xiao Jingxi still pondered and comforted her: “But don’t worry. Your father will receive a formal appointment from Yunyang Academy. It won’t be so easy for the Ren family to control your branch then.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but be stunned.

There were many teachers at Yunyang Academy, but not every one had a formal appointment, because after receiving the formal appointment, it was equivalent to having an official position, falling under the jurisdiction of the Yanbei Prince’s Residence, receiving not the academy’s stipend but the Prince’s Residence’s salary. This was the difference between civilian and official status.

If Third Master Ren received a formal appointment from the Yanbei Prince’s Residence, it really wouldn’t be as easy for the Ren family to control the third branch as before.

In this era, clan control over clan members was absolute. Court laws weren’t as binding as clan laws, especially in Jiangnan, where a word from the clan head of a great family was more useful than from local officials.

However, in Yanbei, due to some historical reasons, clan control over members was relatively weaker, especially in Yanzhou where the Yanbei Prince’s Residence was stationed. No family dared to challenge the Prince’s Residence or the laws it promulgated.

Decades ago, when Yanbei had just broken free from Liao control, several prominent families, relying on their deep roots in Yanbei, tried to place clan law above state law. They were quietly exterminated entirely by the old prince Xiao Qishan. Since then, no “troublemakers” had appeared among Yanbei’s great families.

If Third Master Ren had official status, then he and the Yanbei Prince’s Residence would have a sovereign-minister relationship. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety couldn’t coexist perfectly. It would be impossible for the Ren family to control Third Master Ren while bypassing the Prince’s Residence. Correspondingly, Third Master Ren would have some freedom in handling family affairs.

However, receiving a formal appointment from the Yanbei Prince’s Residence wasn’t simple. After the appointment, one would have a court position of seventh rank, so there had always been numerical restrictions.

Generally, one needs at least ten years of teaching experience and certain academic achievements. Third Master Ren was young and hadn’t been at Yunyang Academy long. There were many with more seniority than he, so it would be difficult to convince others.