Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and said to Yan Ningshuang: “I understand. I will inform my husband of this matter. Thank you for making this special trip, Miss Yan.”
Yan Ningshuang breathed a sigh of relief, but her expression remained unpleasant: “You don’t need to thank me. I’m not doing this for you—I’m doing it for Xiao Lang.”
Ren Yaoqi smiled without speaking.
Yan Ningshuang bit her lip: “If Xiao Lang wants to know anything else, you can have someone come find me. If he… if he needs me to do anything, as long as I’m capable, I’ll help him. I, I don’t want any reward from him—it’s all voluntary on my part.”
Ren Yaoqi looked at Yan Ningshuang, her feelings complicated.
She understood what Yan Ningshuang meant. With Yan Ningshuang’s status, her willingness to stand on Xiao Jingxi’s side might indeed prove useful in the future. Since Yan Ningshuang was willingly offering to be used, they need to feel no burden about it.
But Ren Yaoqi still shook her head and said sincerely: “Miss Yan, we appreciate your kind intentions, but we don’t need you to do anything more.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Ningshuang showed no gratitude. Her expression became somewhat awkward and stubborn: “What I do and how I do it is my own business—it’s not your place to interfere. You just need to properly fulfill your duties as a wife and mother! I’m going back now. If anything comes up, I’ll come find you again!” Having said this, Yan Ningshuang turned and left decisively.
Ren Yaoqi watched her figure disappear into the inner hall and couldn’t help but sigh.
When Xiao Jingxi returned that evening, Ren Yaoqi repeated what Yan Ningshuang had said during the day. After listening, Xiao Jingxi was thoughtful for a while but said nothing.
Ren Yaoqi asked: “Are you going to Wuzhou? When will you depart?”
Xiao Jingxi carefully helped Ren Yaoqi sit down before saying, “Next month.”
Ren Yaoqi frowned.
Xiao Jingxi gently smoothed the furrow between Ren Yaoqi’s brows with his finger: “Don’t frown—it’s not attractive. Don’t worry either. I’ve long had plans for this matter. Even if they truly want to use this opportunity to move against me, I’m not afraid.”
Xiao Jingxi held Ren Yaoqi in his arms, placing his hand on her still-flat abdomen, whispering gently in her ear: “Now that I have you and our child, I can’t be recklessly fearless of death. So, without complete preparation, I won’t put myself in real danger. Yaoyao, are you willing to trust me?”
Ren Yaoqi leaned against Xiao Jingxi’s chest, covering his hand with both of hers: “Yes, we both trust you.”
Xiao Jingxi curved his lips and lowered his head to plant a kiss on Ren Yaoqi’s forehead.
In the blink of an eye, it was September. Ren Yaoqi was over three months pregnant, and the Princess Consort no longer restricted her movements. Instead, she had Xiao Jinglin accompany Ren Yaoqi for walks when she was free and at home. However, Ren Yaoqi knew her limits and stayed within Yanbei Prince’s Manor daily, never going out. Even her walks were just from Zhaoning Hall to Jiuyang Hall and back, or touring the gardens with Xiao Jinglin.
Xiao Jinglin had previously said she would stay in Yunyang City for a while before leaving. Ren Yaoqi guessed this might be related to the Wuzhou negotiations. Xiao Jingxi would depart for Wuzhou in two days. Although Ren Yaoqi still felt worried, she didn’t show it.
On this day, after Xiao Jinglin accompanied Ren Yaoqi through the gardens and escorted her back to Zhaoning Hall, they had just sat down when someone came to report that the Third Young Madam had come again.
Xiao Jinglin frowned and asked Ren Yaoqi, “Why does she keep running to you, whether she has business or not?”
Ren Yaoqi was also somewhat helpless: “She hasn’t come for a while.”
Ren Yaoqi could roughly guess why Yan Ningshuang had come today. Afraid she might cause a scene, she still allowed her to enter.
When Yan Ningshuang entered, her complexion was very poor. However, seeing that Xiao Jinglin was also present, she at least knew to restrain herself and said to Ren Yaoqi, “I have something to discuss with you.”
She glanced toward Xiao Jinglin, seemingly wanting to speak with Ren Yaoqi privately.
Xiao Jinglin ignored Yan Ningshuang’s hint and directly sat in the chair beside Ren Yaoqi, looking at Yan Ningshuang expressionlessly. Her meaning was clear: “Speak if you want to, get lost if you don’t.”
Ren Yaoqi said, “Miss Yan, please speak freely. The Princess is not an outsider.”
Yan Ningshuang hesitated for a moment, thinking that Xiao Jinglin and Xiao Jingxi were siblings from the same mother and would share the same position, so she no longer insisted. She said, “I heard that Xiao Lang still decided to go to Wuzhou. Didn’t I already say that this trip is dangerous…”
Before Yan Ningshuang could finish, Xiao Jinglin coldly interrupted: “What business is it of Second Sister-in-law’s whether Xiao Jingyue goes to Wuzhou or not? You’ve come to the wrong place!”
Yan Ningshuang was stunned: “I’m not here for Xiao Jingyue…”
Xiao Jinglin said expressionlessly, “Not Xiao Jingyue? Then, who is this ‘Xiao Lang’ you speak of? Could it be my father? Or your father-in-law? You’re such a grown girl and can’t even get your forms of address straight—does the Empress Dowager know about this?”
Ren Yaoqi: “…”
Yan Ningshuang’s face alternated between red and white: “I came because I’m worried about Xiao… worried about Second Young Master’s safety. Why must the Princess insult me with your words?”
Xiao Jinglin secretly rolled her eyes very elegantly, thoroughly despising Yan Ningshuang’s behavior of accusing others after being caught in the wrong. However, Princess Xiao was magnanimous and didn’t deign to engage in petty arguments, only saying: “Whether my second brother goes to Wuzhou or not is for my father to decide. Why are you looking for a Second Sister-in-law?”
Yan Ningshuang took a deep breath: “I just don’t want to see him go to his death! Can you bear to watch him fall into danger?” This last sentence was directed at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “Miss Yan, as the Princess said, this is not something I can decide. Yanbei Prince’s Manor will not change any decisions based on unsubstantiated rumors.”
Yan Ningshuang said stiffly: “You know this isn’t unsubstantiated!”
Ren Yaoqi remained silent, and Xiao Jinglin was expressionless.
Yan Ningshuang felt both angry and bitter. Finally, she nodded and looked at Ren Yaoqi fiercely: “Fine, I’ll figure out my way. I can’t just watch him lose his life.” Having delivered this threat, Yan Ningshuang ran out again.
Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin exchanged glances. Ren Yaoqi looked completely helpless, while Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment and frowned: “Seeing her, I finally understand what it means to be possessed by demons. Is this what liking someone is like?” There was also confusion in Xiao Jinglin’s eyes.
Ren Yaoqi shook her head and said gently to Xiao Jinglin: “Jinglin, besides sacrifice, dedication, and having no regrets, the most important thing about liking someone is that it brings happiness. Otherwise, it’s not liking—it’s obsession. Do you think Yan Ningshuang is happy?”
Xiao Jinglin recalled Yan Ningshuang’s appearance and shook her head: “I think she’s pitiful and pathetic.”
Ren Yaoqi sighed and took Xiao Jinglin’s hand: “Jinglin, I know you’ve always been intelligent, but in matters of the heart, you mustn’t be too serious, or you’ll easily get stuck in a dead end.”
Xiao Jinglin was stunned and remained silent for a long time before saying out of the blue: “Father has agreed to let me garrison Jiajing Pass.”
Ren Yaoqi had heard Xiao Jingxi mention this before. Although she was reluctant to part with her, if this was what Xiao Jinglin wanted, she would still support her.
Seeing Xiao Jinglin suddenly bring this up at this moment, Ren Yaoqi didn’t say much, only smiling as if changing the subject: “Will you come back to see me and the baby?”
Xiao Jinglin nodded seriously: “Yes, I’ll come back to see you both every year.”
The two couldn’t help but smile at each other.
Yan Ningshuang’s declaration in front of Ren Yaoqi that she would find her way to save Xiao Jingxi was just angry words. She couldn’t even see Xiao Jingxi, much less stop Yanbei Prince’s Manor’s major affairs. What method could she have used to prevent Xiao Jingxi from going to Wuzhou?
After returning, Yan Ningshuang spent a restless afternoon and a sleepless night, then went out early the next morning to the retreat house to find Zhao Yingqiu.
Recently, Yan Ningshuang has been visiting Zhao Yingqiu frequently. Since they were already close friends and Zhao Yingqiu was about to marry, no one found anything amiss.
However, today, as soon as Yan Ningshuang saw Zhao Yingqiu, she demanded that she dismiss everyone else.
After Zhao Yingqiu sent all the maids away as requested, she asked: “Why do you look so terrible? Has something happened?”
Yan Ningshuang shook her head, hesitated for a long while, then finally made up her mind and walked up to Zhao Yingqiu, lowering her voice: “Do you still have that kind of medicine? Give me some.”
Zhao Yingqiu was stunned: “What medicine?”
Yan Ningshuang bit her lip: “The kind that makes someone appear to have caught a cold after taking it, making them weak and bedridden, and after taking it continuously for three months, causes them to cough up blood…”
Zhao Yingqiu’s eyes widened as she quickly covered Yan Ningshuang’s mouth, whispering: “What, what are you talking about!”
Yan Ningshuang knocked away Zhao Yingqiu’s hand and looked at her: “I heard the Empress Dowager mention it. This medicine originally came from the palace—colorless, tasteless, and able to kill without a trace. Later, when Princess Chang’an married, she brought it to the Zhao family. Princess Chang’an dotes on you so much, I know you must have some. Give me some!”
Zhao Yingqiu’s face turned deathly pale as she looked at Yan Ningshuang, unable to speak. Yan Ningshuang stubbornly stared at Zhao Yingqiu until finally Zhao Yingqiu was defeated, softening her attitude: “I do have this medicine, but I never planned to use it. This medicine is generally used to deal with disobedient concubines—it’s extremely vicious. What do you want it for?”
Yan Ningshuang bit her lip: “Don’t worry about that—just give it to me. Don’t worry, even if something happens later, I’ll never implicate you.”
Zhao Yingqiu hesitated, but seeing Yan Ningshuang’s determined appearance of not giving up until she achieved her goal, Zhao Yingqiu finally went helplessly to the inner room and brought out a small porcelain bottle.
Yan Ningshuang snatched the porcelain bottle from Zhao Yingqiu’s hand, though her hands trembled: “Is this it?”
Zhao Yingqiu nodded, thought for a moment, and advised: “Ningshuang, if you have some difficulty, tell me and I’ll try to help you. It’s better not to use this kind of thing if you can avoid it.”