Ren Yaoqi changed into a cream-colored jacket with true purple base adorned with subtle patterns and scattered floral brocade fabric, wearing a red gold openwork headpiece inlaid with the Eight Treasures. She followed alongside Princess Consort together with Xiao Jinglin, maintaining a dignified and serene demeanor.

The Princess Consort still made no effort to conceal her fondness and reliance on Ren Yaoqi, having both Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin sit with her at the main table. Old Princess Consort and Grand Consort Yun had seemingly agreed not to attend, so only Princess Consort, Xiao Jinglin, Ren Yaoqi, and from the Xiao family’s second branch, Su Shi and Xiao Jingyuan, were seated at the main table.

The Su family was in decline, and Su Shi and her daughter appeared very low-key. When Ren Yaoqi sat down, Su Shi and Xiao Jingyuan merely glanced at her without speaking. Yan Ningshuang and Zhao Yingqiu and several others sat at the guest table beside the main table, quite close by.

After Princess Consort spoke a few pleasantries, the banquet began. Although it was a hall full of people dining together, the sound of clinking cups and plates was extremely low.

Not long after the banquet started, a maid from Grand Consort Yun’s side came in to quietly report to Princess Consort that Grand Consort Yun was feeling unwell. Ren Yaoqi sat right beside Princess Consort and heard the maid say that Grand Consort Yun had just finished meditation and felt dizzy when she stood up. Upon hearing this, Princess Consort naturally wanted to go to Feiwu Pavilion to visit, and Xiao Jinglin was also concerned about Grand Consort Yun’s health and wanted to go along.

After some thought, Princess Consort arranged for Ren Yaoqi to remain and manage the situation, politely asking Su Shi to assist Ren Yaoqi, then left together with Xiao Jinglin.

Once Princess Consort left the table, the atmosphere in Yunqi Pavilion became much more relaxed. Some unknown young lady became overly relaxed and dropped her spoon, which shattered on the ground, drawing a chorus of snickers from those around. Only three people remained at the main table, with Xiao Jingyuan making sporadic conversation with Ren Yaoqi.

“Miss Ren’s outfit looks truly beautiful. I heard the fabric was personally selected by Princess Consort herself.”

Although Ren Yaoqi had met this second Miss Xiao from the Xiao family several times, they hadn’t interacted much. Seeing her tone was fairly cordial, she responded quietly with a few sentences, though they were merely inconsequential pleasantries.

Once the people at the main table began conversing, those below also started chatting with each other. Though called an evening banquet, it was meant for these young ladies to get to know and interact with one another. No one had truly come just to eat, so there was no strict observance of silence during meals – the earlier quiet was only due to the Princess Consort’s presence.

Yun Qiuchen also left not long after Princess Consort and Xiao Jinglin departed. Knowing that Grand Consort Yun was ill, she couldn’t sit still and wanted to visit the patient. She came to the main table to inform Su Shi, and since everyone knew Yun Qiuchen was much favored by Grand Consort Yun, her desire to visit was only natural, so Su Shi let her go.

Whether it was Princess Consort, Xiao Jinglin, or Yun Qiuchen, none returned after leaving. Ren Yaoqi, sitting in the gathering, couldn’t help but feel somewhat worried. Could it be that Grand Consort Yun was seriously ill? After thinking it over, Ren Yaoqi sent someone back to inquire. The person she sent returned to report that Grand Consort Yun had fainted once earlier, and after awakening, her spirits had remained poor. Princess Consort and the County Princess were both staying at Feiwu Pavilion. Princess Consort said to leave Yunqi Pavilion to Ren Yaoqi, instructing her to dismiss the banquet when the time seemed appropriate.

Ren Yaoqi thus remained at Yunqi Pavilion until the banquet ended. Then, speaking a few pleasantries on behalf of Princess Consort, she had all the young ladies escorted back.

Having arranged matters on her end, Ren Yaoqi was just about to go to Feiwu Pavilion to check on Grand Consort Yun when she was called out just as she left Yunqi Pavilion.

Turning around, Ren Yaoqi saw Yan Ningshuang, another young lady sent by the court, the Meng family’s eldest daughter, Meng Dong’er, the Su family’s eldest daughter, and the Yun family’s third daughter walking toward her.

Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile, “Why are you all here?” She had thought Miss Yan and the others, who were among the first to leave, had already returned.

Yan Ningshuang glanced at her and smiled, “Earlier, I found these sisters quite congenial, so we chatted a bit longer.”

The Su family’s eldest daughter, who could be considered acquainted with Ren Yaoqi, asked, “Miss Yan and the others said they wanted to see Qizhen Garden. With Princess Consort and County Princess both absent…”

Before the Su family’s eldest daughter could finish speaking, the Yun family’s third daughter laughed cheerfully, “That’s right, we wondered if Miss Ren could make this decision and let us visit Qizhen Garden?”

The Yun family’s third daughter, Yun Qiufang, had just this sort of personality. Back when Ren Yaoqi wasn’t yet engaged, the Ren family could only fawn over the Yun family when they met. Now, Ren Yaoqi had risen in status almost overnight. Not to mention her, even the always pampered and favored Yun family’s eldest daughter had to yield to Ren Yaoqi’s prominence, so Yun Qiufang inevitably felt somewhat resentful.

Having interacted with Yun Qiufang several times, Ren Yaoqi knew her temperament and didn’t wish to stoop to her level. Hearing this, she smiled and said, “Grand Consort Yun is unwell, and Princess Consort and County Princess are both attending to her. If you ladies wish to visit Qizhen Garden, why not wait until tomorrow? The sky is already getting dark today, and the garden would be pitch black right now – I’m afraid you wouldn’t see any scenery. Moreover, the garden houses some wild animals, so if you ladies want to enter, arrangements need to be made in advance to prevent those wild creatures from running out and startling you.”

Yun Qiufang pursed her lips, her face showing some mockery, as if saying: so you can’t make decisions after all!

The Meng family’s eldest daughter, Meng Dong’er, said softly, “What Miss Ren says makes sense. We should go tomorrow instead.”

The young ladies weren’t particularly bold, and hearing Ren Yaoqi’s explanation, they became somewhat frightened and abandoned the idea of visiting Qizhen Garden at this time.

The Su family’s eldest daughter had originally intended to suggest going tomorrow when she brought it up. Just now, she was interrupted by the Yun family’s third daughter’s deliberate interjection. She looked down on the Yun family’s third daughter’s unreasonable behavior and feared Ren Yaoqi might think she had also intended to make things difficult. So she pointed ahead, “If you ladies want to stroll through gardens, there’s no need to insist on Qizhen Garden. Isn’t there a flower garden not far ahead? We can walk through the nine-turn corridor in the courtyard later – it’s just a small detour.”

The flower garden that the Su family’s eldest daughter mentioned was right beside Yunqi Pavilion. Ren Yaoqi thought it over – that courtyard only had flowers, plants, and trees, and the corridor spanning the garden had lanterns all along the way with maids stationed at intervals, so it wasn’t secluded. She didn’t voice any objection.

However, when she instinctively glanced toward the garden, she couldn’t help but frown slightly. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she’d been feeling as if something had been watching her from the shadows.

The Su family’s eldest daughter asked, “Will Miss Ren join us?”

Ren Yaoqi was wondering if she was overthinking things. Hearing the question, she smiled, “I still have matters to report back to Princess Consort, so I won’t go today.”

The Su family’s eldest daughter had only asked in passing, and seeing her decline, didn’t insist further.

Yan Ningshuang deliberately walked at the back. She looked at Ren Yaoqi for a while and curved her lips, “I hope I can see you at tomorrow’s competition, otherwise I’m afraid I won’t be able to account to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

Ren Yaoqi felt that Yan Ningshuang seemed to have hidden meanings in her words, but before she could inquire further, Yan Ningshuang had already left.

Ren Yaoqi frowned and also turned to leave, but she hadn’t gone far when she heard a scream from the direction where Miss Su and the others had departed, followed by several more screams in succession.

Ren Yaoqi immediately stopped, turning to look back toward the original path. The sky was already half-dark, and from the garden nearby, lantern lights flickered dimly through the tall and short trees and shrubs, creating indistinct shadows.

“Miss, let us escort you back first?” Leshan quickly said. Whatever was happening over there was unclear, but regardless of what occurred, their master’s safety was most important. She feared Ren Yaoqi would insist on going to see what had happened, which could be dangerous.

Ren Yaoqi wasn’t an impulsive person, especially when the situation remained unclear. She was about to instruct her attendants to find people to investigate when she faintly heard someone cry out in terror, “Oh my – it’s a tiger!”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was startled and thought of something, immediately turning to head back. Leshan and Leshui quickly flanked her protectively on both sides.

It hadn’t been long since Ren Yaoqi parted from Miss Su and the others, so she quickly reached the garden entrance. Before even entering, she heard a familiar, resonant, and majestic roar: “Roar!”

Inside the courtyard, screams and crying created chaos. Several young ladies of good families were frightened, weak in the knees. As soon as Ren Yaoqi entered the garden, she saw a massive white figure slowly approaching Yan Ningshuang and Yun Qiufang, who had fallen to the ground and couldn’t get up. It opened its bloody maw, and Yun Qiufang rolled her eyes back and fainted.

Seeing the dire situation, Ren Yaoqi quickly called out, “Silly Girl! Come here quickly!”

Silly Girl, who was extending her tongue to lick someone’s face, paused mid-motion. She turned her head questioningly to look, then, under everyone’s astonished gazes, roared “Roar!” and bounded toward Ren Yaoqi.

“Ah!” Someone let out a terrified scream.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Silly Girl stopped half a step in front of Ren Yaoqi, crouched down, and nudged Ren Yaoqi’s leg with her head, making a “Roar!” sound. The fierce beast had instantly transformed into a docile cat that could even wag its tail.

Ren Yaoqi patted its head and quickly went forward to check on Yun Qiufang’s condition. As soon as she approached, she smelled a strong odor of urine – Yun Qiufang had been so frightened she’d lost control of her bladder. Fortunately, she wasn’t injured, only unconscious.

Yan Ningshuang also collapsed on the ground. Though disheveled, her condition was better than Yun Qiufang’s – at least she remained conscious, though she still looked at the white tiger obediently following at Ren Yaoqi’s feet with terror, unable to speak.

Ren Yaoqi turned to glance at Silly Girl, patted her again, and pointed to a tree ten paces away, coaxing, “Good girl, go wait for me over there.” She didn’t know if Silly Girl could understand.

Fortunately, Silly Girl was a very intelligent tiger. Following Ren Yaoqi’s pointing finger with her eyes, she looked rather aggrieved and reluctantly walked away.

Once Silly Girl moved away, the sense of oppression lessened, and Yun Qiufang and Yan Ningshuang’s maids quickly scrambled over.

“Miss, Miss, are you alright…”