“Princess, could we walk a bit slower?” Ren Yaoqi’s hand was being pulled by her, and she could only follow her pace, saying helplessly.

Xiao Jinglin paused in her steps, turned to glance at Ren Yaoqi, and slowed down somewhat.

The two remained silent throughout the journey.

Xiao Jinglin pulled Ren Yaoqi toward the guest quarters of White Dragon Temple. When they were about to reach a relatively large independent courtyard, Xiao Jinglin said to Ren Yaoqi, “Keep only one or two people by your side, leave the rest outside to wait. I don’t like too many idle people around.”

Xiao Jinglin spoke these words with complete confidence and righteousness. No wonder she didn’t have a single attendant by her side. With her attire and modest entourage, people walking outside would certainly not recognize her as the Princess of Yanbei Prince’s Manor.

Ren Yaoqi very good-naturedly complied with her wishes, saying to the maids and women following behind her: “Xueli, go tell Nanny Zhou that I’m having tea with the Princess. Pingguo, come serve me. Everyone else, wait outside.”

Everyone responded with “Yes.” Xiao Jinglin continued pulling Ren Yaoqi forward, and Pingguo hurried to follow.

Compared to the guest quarters Ren Yaoqi had stayed in previously, this courtyard was not only visibly more spacious, but upon entering the gate, there was immediately a courtyard filled with various flowers and plants. Some had bloomed, others had only a few leaves, making their species unidentifiable.

Against the left wall corner, there was also a grape arbor. Under the arbor sat a small table made from tree roots, with a tea tray on top containing a purple clay teapot and several small tea cups. Next to the table was a bamboo rocking chair.

Xiao Jinglin pulled Ren Yaoqi straight inside. When they reached the main hall, she didn’t stop but instead went around to a small moon gate on the left toward the back courtyard.

Emerging from the moon gate, Ren Yaoqi suddenly found her view opening up dramatically. The back courtyard had no buildings but was like a garden, though this “garden” seemed unattended, growing only some nameless wildflowers and weeds, without a single precious flower or plant.

“Baa—” A strange bleating sound made Ren Yaoqi turn her head in surprise.

She saw that on the right side of this back garden, there was a very rough stone table and stools, with a small goat grazing beside one of the round stools.

And on that stone stool, sitting sideways facing them, was a white-robed youth.

The youth looked down at the grazing goat with seemingly intense concentration. The gentle spring sunlight fell on half of his profile, his perfect facial contours so beautiful that one couldn’t bear to disturb him and break this moment of peaceful leisure.

Hearing the commotion on this side, he turned to look over. Seeing Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin, his eyes showed no surprise. He simply smiled slightly at them, and his sudden smile made Ren Yaoqi’s heart skip slightly.

Xiao Jinglin released Ren Yaoqi’s hand and walked toward the youth. Seeing the small goat gently butting against the nearby stone stool as if testing its strength, Xiao Jinglin bent down, grabbed the goat’s horns, and pulled it away.

“Baa—” The goat ran to one side and turned back to bleat softly.

“This was caught for you to eat. Don’t feed it too much.” Xiao Jinglin patted her hands and lifted her robe to sit down, though unfortunately, she was wearing a skirt, making this movement impossible to complete properly.

Watching Xiao Jinglin’s words and actions, Ren Yaoqi noticed they seemed somewhat different from before. She walked over and curtsied to the youth who was looking at her: “Second Young Master Xiao.”

Xiao Jingxi smiled and nodded, gesturing gently toward the stool opposite him: “Fifth Young Miss Ren, please sit.”

Ren Yaoqi bowed her head in thanks and sat down.

At this moment, a young man dressed as a servant brought over a tea tray, silently placing tea in front of each person, then quietly withdrew.

Xiao Jingxi’s right thumb gently rubbed the teacup in his hand, a light smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he quietly observed Ren Yaoqi.

Seeing that he didn’t speak, Ren Yaoqi also remained silent, seemingly completely unaware of his gaze. She simply lowered her head to sip her tea, though in reality, she barely moistened her lips.

The teacup in her hand had a black glaze base with white carved peony patterns, appearing very elegant. But Ren Yaoqi knew that such tea implements were mostly ancient artifacts from the previous dynasty, worth a thousand gold pieces. This courtyard appeared simple without any ornamentation, and the two people before her were also dressed simply with leisurely postures, yet they casually produced a set of precious and luxurious tea cups for entertaining guests.

Unable to bear the silent atmosphere, Xiao Jinglin patted her skirt and stood up. She frowned with her beautifully shaped brows, looking at both Xiao Jingxi and Ren Yaoqi, then said flatly: “I’ll go walk around the front courtyard.”

Xiao Jingxi glanced at her but didn’t voice any objection.

After walking a few steps, Xiao Jinglin suddenly stopped and turned to look at Pingguo, who stood like a wooden post behind Ren Yaoqi: “You come with me too.”

Pingguo glanced at her, then lowered her head to look at her own feet, not move.

Xiao Jinglin frowned and looked toward Ren Yaoqi.

“Go ahead,” Ren Yaoqi instructed.

Only then did Pingguo lower her head and follow Xiao Jinglin away.

For a moment, only Xiao Jingxi and Ren Yaoqi remained in the back courtyard, without even a single servant in sight. This was originally inappropriate, but no one would stand up to say it was wrong.

“I’ve always been very curious,” Xiao Jingxi was the first to break the silence. His voice was low, soft, and unhurried, with a special rhythm that could effortlessly capture others’ attention.

Ren Yaoqi set down her teacup and met his gaze. Her bright, pure eyes were frank and transparent, like a shallow stream visible in bright spring light.

Xiao Jingxi paused, his smile deepening slightly: “Besides being skilled at lantern mazes, chess, and riddles… what else can Fifth Young Miss Ren do?”

Xiao Jingxi’s mention of lantern mazes suddenly reminded Ren Yaoqi of the carriage she saw that night during the Lantern Festival and the black-clothed man whose face she couldn’t see clearly.

She couldn’t help but examine Xiao Jingxi carefully. They were similar in height, and that person wore thick clothes, so they didn’t appear as thin as Xiao Jingxi, but if Xiao Jingxi were wrapped in a heavy cloak… they looked somewhat similar yet also different.

However, Ren Yaoqi didn’t ask, “Have we met before?” It was originally just a chance encounter, a passing by, hardly worth calling a relationship.

“How is Zhu Ruomei?” So Ren Yaoqi asked directly.

Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi with a slight smile but remained silent.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then spoke again: “I can also write and paint, both taught by my father.”

Xiao Jingxi chuckled softly and said in a low voice: “He’s fine, just injured. His right leg’s tibia is broken.”

This was considered fine? Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but be speechless. However, at least she had definite news about Zhu Ruomei, so she still felt relieved.

“Thank you, Second Young Master Xiao, for saving him,” Ren Yaoqi thanked him sincerely.

Xiao Jingxi neither confirmed nor denied this, but asked: “Why did you send him to Jizhou?”

Ren Yaoqi was struck speechless by this question.

Xiao Jingxi’s smiling eyes fixed steadily on Ren Yaoqi, patiently waiting without urgency or impatience.

“I’m sorry, this is my family affair,” Ren Yaoqi said, lowering her head.

Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment, then said thoughtfully: “How about this – let’s play chess. If you win, I won’t ask questions and Zhu Ruomei can leave with you. If you lose, you must tell me the reason, and from now on Zhu Ruomei will be my person, his life and death having nothing to do with you.”

His voice remained unhurried and gentle as before, but the words he spoke left Ren Yaoqi dumbfounded.

Yet while Xiao Jingxi’s smile remained elegantly perfect, his words didn’t sound like a joke.

Ren Yaoqi felt slightly angry, but her smile became three parts more gentle: “Second Young Master Xiao, isn’t this somewhat unreasonable?”

Xiao Jingxi smiled warmly and asked amicably, “How is it unreasonable? I rescued Zhu Ruomei – otherwise, he would have long since fallen off the cliff and lost his life. As for what you call your family affair…”

Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi with a half-smile.

Ren Yaoqi was again left speechless.

Since opening her eyes again, she had never been at such a disadvantage with anyone. But this person was Xiao Jingxi.

Others always described him as extraordinarily talented and brilliant, exceptionally intelligent. Now Ren Yaoqi felt this person must be a thousand-year-old fox spirit that had achieved human form.

Ren Yaoqi secretly bit her lip. Xiao Jingxi seemed to know that Ren Yaoqi had already agreed, and said with a smile, “Bring my chess set.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but the young servant who had brought tea earlier heard it. Soon, he came carrying a chessboard, followed by a man of medium build dressed similarly. When Ren Yaoqi looked up, she couldn’t help but be slightly stunned.

Following behind the servant and carrying two chess piece containers was Dongsheng.

Both Dongsheng and the young servant kept their eyes straight ahead as they gently placed their items on the stone table, then quietly withdrew. However, Dongsheng couldn’t help but lift his eyes slightly before leaving, glancing toward Ren Yaoqi.

Xiao Jingxi noticed Ren Yaoqi’s gaze and said with some amusement: “My servant Tongxi also has some connection with Fifth Young Miss Ren.”

Tongxi? He had even changed Dongsheng’s name?

Ren Yaoqi took several white chess pieces in her hand and examined them for a while, discovering they were identical to the clamshell stones “Snow Seal” she had seen at Master Fangzhang’s place before.

“What an honor for this young lady indeed,” Ren Yaoqi replied blandly.

Xiao Jingxi took no offense, smiling slightly: “Then may I let you take black?” He spoke with the indulgence of coaxing a child.

Ren Yaoqi smiled back: “No, let’s draw lots for colors.”

She dared not accept his favors – Zhu Ruomei was a perfect example of what happened.

Xiao Jingxi was indifferent, smiling as he gestured for Ren Yaoqi to begin.

Ren Yaoqi casually grabbed several more white pieces and glanced at Xiao Jingxi.

“Even,” he said slowly, lowering his head to sip tea without even looking.

Ren Yaoqi opened her hand and counted: “It’s odd.” She would play black.

Master Pei was obsessed with chess. In her previous life, Ren Yaoqi had played countless games with Master Pei and had even studied some incomplete games recorded in rare books with him. Her chess skills were honed through such day-by-day practice.

So even Han Yunqian was no match for her.

However, after just a few moves, Ren Yaoqi felt that Xiao Jingxi was different from any opponent she had ever encountered.

Each of his moves made Ren Yaoqi feel a certain power, not aggressively pressing, yet impossible to avoid.