“At the time, I thought I was making the right choice for the long term, but when I saw Lin’er again, I realized that leaving Jiajing Pass was the most regrettable decision of my life.” Yun Wenting self-mockingly tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Unfortunately, there’s no chance to choose again.”

Yun Wenting could never forget the coldness in his heart when he saw Xiao Jinglin again – she looked at him as if he were a stranger. Before leaving Jiajing Pass, he had been the person closest to Xiao Jinglin. Back then, Xiao Jinglin still loved to smile, her bright eyes crinkling with trust as she called him “Brother Wenting.” But when he saw Xiao Jinglin again, everything had changed. Her gaze always seemed to maintain the distance of thousands of mountains and rivers, and her form of address changed to “Young Master Yun” – she rarely even called him cousin anymore.

Yun Wenting had tried to change this situation, wanting to help Xiao Jinglin remember their intimate past, but it was useless. Xiao Jinglin hadn’t forgotten anything – she had simply abandoned everything completely.

He had also thought of explaining that his reason for leaving Jiajing Pass wasn’t because he had given up on her. He had only wanted to find a roundabout way to resolve the obstacles between them – it was the best solution he could think of at the time that would cause the least conflict between his family and their future. But it was useless, because Xiao Jinglin wasn’t failing to understand – she was simply disappointed in him.

Yun Wenting finally understood that the pure quality in Xiao Jinglin that had once most attracted him was also the most hurtful in the end – she never gave people a second chance.

Min Wenqing could barely be considered childhood friends with Yun Wenting and Xiao Jinglin, so he had seen clearly through their past relationship at the time. However, hearing Yun Wenting speak of it personally today still left him somewhat stunned.

After staring at Yun Wenting with complex eyes for a long while, Min Wenqing finally laughed coldly, his gaze gradually returning to its usual calm: “Then you should also know that once you marry, regardless of whatever unavoidable reasons you have or whatever expedient schemes, you won’t have even half a chance.”

Min Wenqing looked at Yun Wenting, saying each word seriously: “I will accompany her in guarding Jiajing Pass. No matter what prejudices she once had against me, I believe human hearts are made of flesh. After ten or eight years, she’ll eventually see clearly whether my feelings are genuine or false.”

Yun Wenting slowly clenched his fists, watching Min Wenqing smile quite maliciously as he said: “As for you, just properly be your Yun family head for generations to come.”

Yun Wenting used all his strength and self-control to barely restrain himself from throwing a punch.

After saying those words, Min Wenqing gave Yun Wenting a provocative smile, then brushed past his shoulder and left.

The force of Min Wenqing brushing past him even made Yun Wenting sway slightly, but he quickly steadied himself. After closing his eyes and reopening them, his emotions returned to a composed calm. However, he remained standing in place for a long time without moving.

The next day, news of Young Master Yun’s impending marriage indeed spread. Though the Yun family’s preparations were low-key, it was impossible to keep them completely secret. Many young ladies in Yunyang City were deeply disappointed by this news.

Though the Yun family seemed to want to handle this marriage quietly, the Empress Dowager’s side and Zhao Yingqiu’s maternal family had different ideas. Before long, the Empress Dowager and the Zhao family successively sent many gifts, clearly intending to make a grand affair of Zhao Yingqiu’s wedding – no less elaborate than Yan Ningshuang’s recent marriage. This wasn’t hard to understand, as Zhao Yingqiu also came from a distinguished family and was even the aunt of the Yanbei Prince’s Manor’s young heir, so a grand wedding wasn’t surprising.

Xiao Jinglin had been quite idle at the Yanbei Prince’s Manor lately. It seemed as if her return was truly only to accompany Ren Yaoqi. Apart from daily greetings to the elders, she spent all her time with Ren Yaoqi, who was naturally delighted by this arrangement.

Since Min Wenqing’s last visit to Xiao Jinglin, Ren Yaoqi had subtly inquired about Min Wenqing from Xiao Jinglin, wanting to understand her true attitude toward him.

However, whenever Xiao Jinglin mentioned Min Wenqing, she showed no particular reaction, only seeming to find him somewhat disagreeable. Ren Yaoqi couldn’t quite figure out the situation.

So on this day, after Xiao Jinglin had returned to her quarters, Ren Yaoqi asked Xiao Jingxi about it.

Initially, Xiao Jingxi was somewhat surprised by Ren Yaoqi’s sudden mention of Min Wenqing. However, when Ren Yaoqi subtly brought up Min Wenqing’s marriage prospects, Xiao Jingxi immediately understood, looking at Ren Yaoqi with a smile: “Wife, are you asking about Jinglin’s affairs?”

Having her thoughts ruthlessly exposed by Xiao Jingxi, Ren Yaoqi remained unperturbed, saying with an unchanged expression: “Mother asked me to help keep an eye out for suitable young talents of marriageable age, so I was just asking casually.”

Seeing her like this, Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but laugh. However, Second Young Master Xiao was now completely accommodating to his wife and never contradicted her, so he said nothing. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Speaking of which, Min Wenqing and Jinglin are fellow disciples from the same master. Jinglin grew up at Jiajing Pass and has some history with him.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Xiao Jinglin hadn’t specifically mentioned that Min Wenqing was her senior brother. It didn’t seem like Xiao Jinglin was deliberately avoiding the topic – more like she didn’t consider this relationship significant.

“Do Jinglin and General Min have some conflict?”

After thinking, Xiao Jingxi instead asked with a smile: “How do you view the grievances between the Min family and Prince Xian’s Manor back then? Does your uncle still find it impossible to forgive Min Wenqing?”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t know why Xiao Jingxi would suddenly bring up the Min family and Prince Xian’s Manor. She sighed lightly: “When that incident occurred, Min Wenqing was still young. Even if he did something, it shouldn’t have been of his own volition. My uncle surely understands this point, so he can’t be said to hate Min Wenqing. But many things can’t be completely cleared of association just because you didn’t personally do them. So Uncle and Min Wenqing can’t laugh off their grievances. Given both sides’ current identities and positions, keeping matters separate is best for everyone.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxi smiled thoughtfully: “That makes sense. Min Wenqing’s grandfather was a very capable but scheming man. As you said, Min Wenqing himself may not have done anything wrong, but due to his identity and position, he can’t completely clear himself of many matters. So perhaps Jinglin also feels that keeping matters separate is the best way for them to interact.”

Ren Yaoqi was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, but she quickly understood the intricacies involved. She couldn’t help but frown and sigh softly: “So that’s how it is… what a pity…”

Seeing her like this, Xiao Jingxi gently stroked her hair comfortingly, smiling: “Don’t worry yourself about these matters. Jinglin understands very clearly and knows what she wants. Some things depend on fate – no matter how anxious we are for her, we can’t interfere.”

Though Ren Yaoqi understood Xiao Jingxi’s reasoning, she still couldn’t help worrying about Xiao Jinglin. Thinking of something, Ren Yaoqi suddenly asked: “What about Young Master Yun?”

This time, Xiao Jingxi was silent for a moment before saying meaningfully, “Yun Wenting? His greatest misfortune is being born into the Yun family, otherwise…”

Xiao Jingxi didn’t finish his sentence, but Ren Yaoqi understood. Remembering when Xiao Jinglin had told her about their past, Ren Yaoqi could only sigh.

As the designated next head of the Yun family, Yun Wenting surely carried heavy responsibilities. He would have to take over the Yun family in the future, but Xiao Jinglin was determined to guard Jiajing Pass. One had responsibility, the other had ideals, and unfortunately, they were incompatible – so they had missed their chance back then. If this contradiction continued to exist, no matter how many times they tried, their ending would be the same.

The only two men who had some connection with Xiao Jinglin were both unsuitable, leaving Ren Yaoqi worrying about Xiao Jinglin’s future again.

While she fretted over Xiao Jinglin’s lifelong happiness, she didn’t know that someone was also plotting against her.

On this day, Xiangqin came skipping to the Yanbei Prince’s Manor again to entertain Ren Yaoqi. She was animatedly telling interesting stories about recent events in Yunyang City when someone came to report that the Third Young Madam requested an audience.

The Third Young Madam naturally referred to Yan Ningshuang, who had married into the Yanbei Prince’s Manor. Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but frown.

Yan Ningshuang had rarely come to cause trouble lately because the Princess Consort had ordered her to rest quietly. Generally, miscellaneous people couldn’t enter Zhaoning Hall at all, and Yan Ningshuang happened to fall within the category of miscellaneous people. So recently, Yan Ningshuang had been much more subdued.

Hearing that Yan Ningshuang had come now, Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to see her, so she had someone go out and say she was inconvenient to receive visitors.

Xiangqin, who had been sitting on a small stool beside her, immediately went into full alert mode upon hearing Yan Ningshuang’s name. Her eyes sparkled brightly as she quieted down. Seeing her battle-ready appearance, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but find it amusing.

“Xiangqin, it’s getting late. Why don’t you head back first?”

Upon hearing this, Xiangqin responded and stood up, but wasn’t in a hurry to leave. She remained vigilantly watching the movements outside the curtain.

Soon, the maid who had gone to reply returned. This time, she came in holding a folded piece of paper.

“Young Madam, the Third Young Madam refuses to leave. She says that after you see this, you’ll be willing to meet her.”

The little maid respectfully presented the paper with both hands.

Ren Yaoqi looked at the ordinary piece of paper in the maid’s hands but didn’t reach out to take it.

Xiangqin looked at the paper with gritted teeth as if seeing an enemy. She stepped forward to block Ren Yaoqi, saying gravely: “Young Madam, don’t move! Beware of trickery!”

Ren Yaoqi had been pondering what Yan Ningshuang wanted to discuss with her, but hearing Xiangqin’s solemn warning, she couldn’t help but burst out laughing.