Heroes never ask about one’s origins. Lei Ting had never felt inferior because of his birth. Their lineage, calling themselves the legitimate Lei bloodline, was also because the Yanbei Prince’s Manor needed the Lei family to have such an identity. However, Lei Ting was still somewhat surprised. Since that person had long known the Lei family’s true circumstances yet was still willing to marry Ren Yaohua into the Lei family, this truly caught him off guard.

However, Lei Ting didn’t bring up this matter again, nor did he inquire about it from Ren Yaohua. He had no intention of keeping the Lei family’s greatest secret from Ren Yaohua forever. He planned to tell her about it when she had completely adapted to her identity as the Lei family’s matriarch – it was merely a matter of timing.

Ren Yaohua had been someone who worried about others since childhood, so despite Lei Ting’s reassurance, she still felt uneasy about her sister. Though she couldn’t be considered particularly clever, she understood that no matter how intelligent Ren Yaoqi was, with someone like Yan Ningshuang watching her like a tiger eyeing its prey, her days certainly wouldn’t be easy. After all, matters of the heart between men and women couldn’t be controlled through scheming, especially now that she was with child.

Thus, Ren Yaohua, who was accustomed to worrying, would constantly send her maids to the Yanbei Prince’s Manor with children’s clothing or nourishing foods and supplements. The Yanbei Prince’s Manor didn’t lack these things – Ren Yaohua simply wanted to understand more about Ren Yaoqi’s situation, fearing her sister might suffer. Naturally, this task of delivering things to the Yanbei Prince’s Manor every few days fell to Xiangqin, Ren Yaohua’s first maid.

On this day, Ren Yaoqi had just sent away Xiangqin, who had stayed and chattered for half the day, when someone came to report that the Princess had returned.

Upon hearing this news, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but beam with joy and immediately stood up.

Xiao Jinglin had been very busy recently. She wasn’t at the manor when Xiao Jingyue and Yan Ningshuang got married. Before leaving, Xiao Jinglin had only briefly told Ren Yaoqi that she had urgent matters requiring her to leave Yanzhou for a while. She took Hongying and Nanxing with her, along with other maids from her courtyard who had accompanied her to battlefields – none were left at the manor. Ren Yaoqi knew Xiao Jinglin wasn’t an ordinary lady of leisure. Her departure certainly wasn’t for sightseeing, so she didn’t inquire too much.

However, now hearing that Xiao Jinglin had returned, Ren Yaoqi felt extremely happy. Without Xiao Jinglin by her side for some time, she truly missed her.

Just as Ren Yaoqi stood up, she saw a woman in an azure long-sleeved robe stride quickly inside. Though Xiao Jinglin practiced martial arts, she had never deliberately worn men’s clothing or styled her hair like a man. While her garments were always simple for convenience, they still differed from typical men’s clothing.

The first thing Xiao Jinglin asked upon seeing Ren Yaoqi was: “You’re with child?” Her bright eyes looked back and forth between Ren Yaoqi’s face and abdomen, carrying curiosity and undisguised joy.

Seeing Xiao Jinglin’s appearance, Ren Yaoqi knew she had just returned from outside and hadn’t even been to her quarters before coming to find her.

“Mm.” Ren Yaoqi smiled at Xiao Jinglin while instructing the maids to quickly bring tea and pulling Xiao Jinglin to sit on the heated bed platform.

Xiao Jinglin blinked, then carefully reached out to touch Ren Yaoqi’s abdomen. Ren Yaoqi was ticklish and instinctively leaned away, smiling helplessly: “It’s only been two months – you can’t feel anything yet.”

Xiao Jinglin looked closely and indeed found she couldn’t see anything. She withdrew her hand with some disappointment.

“I heard people mention it while outside, so I came back to see you,” Xiao Jinglin said after accepting tea from a maid and drinking most of the bowl.

Though Xiao Jinglin spoke in an ordinary tone, Ren Yaoqi still felt moved upon hearing this. She smiled and said: “It’s still early before the birth – why did you need to rush back to see me? With Mother and the others here, I’m doing well.”

Xiao Jinglin said casually, “I happened to have free time these few days anyway.”

“These few days?” Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help asking upon hearing this. “Are you leaving again soon?”

Xiao Jinglin nodded: “Mm, I’ll leave again in a few days. I don’t know if I can return when you give birth, so I came back to see you while I have time.”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, seeing no one else around, and asked: “Have the borders been restless recently?”

Ren Yaoqi knew Xiao Jinglin paid close attention to border affairs. If she was busy, it was likely due to border conflicts – Xiao Jinglin held a military position.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinglin said, “No, quite the opposite. The borders have been very peaceful recently. Many previously desolate border towns have become lively.” Though the absence of warfare was originally a good thing, when Xiao Jinglin spoke of this matter, she slightly narrowed her eyes, making her gaze appear sharper – an expression rarely seen when she was with Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi immediately knew this matter wasn’t simple. After thinking, she said, “Because of the reopened border trade?”

Xiao Jinglin nodded, seeming about to say something, but glanced at Ren Yaoqi’s abdomen and swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue: “Mm, somewhat related. I won’t discuss these matters with you – pregnant women shouldn’t think too much, it’s bad for the child.”

Ren Yaoqi wasn’t surprised that Xiao Jinglin would say this. Though Xiao Jinglin appeared carefree, she was very attentive and considerate.

The two chatted for a long time. Xiao Jinglin didn’t mention border affairs again, only asking about trivial matters that occurred at the manor during her absence. As close friends, even discussing boring minutiae felt comfortable and pleasant.

However, Ren Yaoqi still noticed some fatigue in Xiao Jinglin’s expression, knowing she certainly hadn’t rested properly these past days due to traveling. So after Xiao Jinglin had kept her company for a while, she smiled and said: “You should go back to bathe and change clothes, then get some rest. We can talk more later.”

Xiao Jinglin was indeed tired. She had barely rested properly this whole time, so when Ren Yaoqi told her to rest first, she didn’t decline and left quite readily, thinking she should also visit the Princess Consort.

Just after Xiao Jinglin left, Nanny Xin from the Princess Consort’s side came looking, saying the Princess Consort had heard the Princess had returned and sent her to check. Hearing Xiao Jinglin had left, she quickly went to Xiao Jinglin’s courtyard. The Princess Consort had been very concerned during Xiao Jinglin’s absence. However, upon returning, Xiao Jinglin had run straight to Zhaoning Hall, leaving the Princess Consort quite helpless.

When Xiao Jinglin left, she hadn’t alarmed many people. This return was also silent – apart from those in the Yanbei Prince’s Manor, others didn’t know.

The next day, Ren Yaoqi had originally wanted to send someone to fetch Xiao Jinglin to keep her company. She wasn’t convenient to go out now, and yesterday she still had much left unsaid with Xiao Jinglin.

However, before she could send someone to invite Xiao Jinglin over, someone came to report that Madam Lei’s head maid had come again.

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help feeling helpless. This head maid was naturally Xiangqin. Ren Yaohua had been constantly sending her to deliver things, staying for half a day each time. Now, others almost thought Xiangqin was a maid of the Yanbei Prince’s Manor. However, Xiangqin had a lively personality and was very amusing in conversation. Ren Yaoqi quite liked her. Xiangqin felt her daily visits were to cheer up her Second Miss, so upon entering, she immediately shared a big piece of gossip.

“Second Miss, Second Miss, do you know? The Yun family’s eldest young master is getting married too.”