Xiao Jingxi watched Ren Yaoqi slowly walk out of the courtyard. His dark, beautiful eyes still held a light, shallow smile, yet a trace of contemplation quietly emerged.

He turned and slowly walked back to sit on the stone stool, his slender fingers picking up the smooth chess pieces that had been returned to their container, replaying the previous game one piece at a time with focused yet leisurely movements.

In the quiet courtyard, only one person and one goat remained, forming a silent tableau.

At some unknown moment, a man dressed in gray cloth appeared silently behind Xiao Jingxi, standing with his hands hanging at his sides without saying a word.

Xiao Jingxi didn’t turn around. Only after the chess pieces on the board had been properly arranged did he speak, his low, soft voice like an ancient melody: “The Han family matter is their family affair. Tell them not to interfere anymore.”

The gray-clothed man first unconsciously responded “Yes,” then added: “Han Dongshan went to seek help from Steward Gu beside the Prince. Steward Gu sent people to investigate.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi tilted his head slightly and frowned his handsome brows: “How has the Prince’s Manor become so idle recently?”

The gray-clothed man lowered his head, not daring to respond.

Xiao Jingxi looked at the chess board, his fingers lightly moving to change the positions on the board, saying leisurely: “Go tell Steward Gu that if they can’t even handle their own family affairs properly, what can Yanbei Prince’s Manor expect from them?” Though his tone was gentle, the words carried great weight.

“Yes, Young Master. This subordinate understood,” the gray-clothed man hurriedly bowed and replied.

Xiao Jingxi continued to manipulate the chess game, sometimes retreating to replay moves, placing pieces soundlessly with only the sound of wind rustling through grass.

Just when the gray-clothed man thought Xiao Jingxi had no more instructions, he heard him speak again: “Go investigate Han Dongshan.”

Though the gray-clothed man was somewhat puzzled why his master had suddenly taken interest in the Han family, he still immediately bowed and accepted the order.

“How are things in the military now?” Xiao Jingxi set aside the Han family matter and asked about something else.

“Reporting to Young Master, Madam Wu has returned to the manor with Miss Wu, accompanied by Wu Xiaohe and an old strategist named Zhou He from his side. These past few days, Zhou He has requested audiences with the Prince three times, and the Prince has seen him twice.”

The Madam Wu he mentioned was the wife of the current Ningxia Commander-in-Chief Wu Xiaohe, who was also Princess Xiao Wei of Yanbei Prince’s Manor, Xiao Jingxi’s aunt.

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi’s expression didn’t change at all: “I asked about military affairs, not manor affairs.”

The gray-clothed man paused and said with lowered head: “Since the news about the court’s plan to reduce military forces was spread last time, several disturbances have occurred in the Yanbei army due to the instigation of some people with ulterior motives. Following Young Master’s instructions, this subordinate has temporarily held back while secretly noting those troublemakers. Today, someone reported that they recently planned to gather more people to cause trouble, and even intend to rob several large shops in Yunyang City before fleeing to the mountains with the money to become bandits.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi didn’t speak, his gaze on the chessboard carrying some contemplation, though it was unclear whether he was thinking about chess moves or his subordinate’s report.

After a long while, he picked up the chess pieces that were gradually showing a winner on the board one by one and returned them to the container: “Have Tonghe prepare the carriage. We return to Yunyang City today.”

“What about White Dragon Temple?”

Xiao Jingxi said flatly: “Tongde will stay behind.”

As soon as he finished speaking, from somewhere emerged a man of ordinary appearance and medium build who respectfully bowed to Xiao Jingxi.

“I give you one month to resolve the matters between White Dragon Temple and the other major temples.” Xiao Jingxi glanced at the newly appeared Tongde and gave soft instructions.

“Yes, Young Master,” Tongde replied with lowered head.

Xiao Jingxi rose and walked outside, his tall figure quickly disappearing at the moon gate.

When Ren Yaoqi came out, she didn’t see Xiao Jinglin. The maid Pingguo was crouching under the eaves in front of the side room, and seeing Ren Yaoqi emerge, she hurried over to follow behind her.

They encountered no one else along the way as the master and servant left the courtyard.

At the courtyard gate, Xi’er, the head maid beside Li Shi, was calling two women aside to question them. Seeing Ren Yaoqi come out, she hurried forward: “Miss, are you alright?”

Xi’er looked over Ren Yaoqi with concern.

“I’m fine. The Princess only invited me for a cup of tea,” Ren Yaoqi gently comforted Xi’er. “Why did you come over?”

“Madam heard that you were taken away by the Princess of Yanbei Prince’s Manor and was somewhat worried, so she sent this servant to keep watch,” Xi’er said, then asked with some curiosity: “Fifth Miss, how do you know the Princess?”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head as she walked: “Today was also my first time meeting the Princess. I didn’t know her before.”

“Then why would she invite you for tea for no reason?” Xi’er didn’t seem disbelieving, just very curious and puzzled.

She had heard that the Princess of Yanbei, Prince’s Manor had a very strange temperament, rarely returning to the Prince’s Manor throughout the year. Though a young lady, she insisted on following several guards from Yanbei Prince’s Manor to patrol the borders, being even more stubborn than men.

This Princess was a legendary figure who, in the eyes of ordinary people like them, was no different from the legendary women sung about in operas or written about in books. Yet such a woman had suddenly forcibly dragged their Miss away for tea, and the two had never even met before – this was truly incomprehensible.

“The Princess only said she wanted to find someone to accompany her for tea. As for why it was me, I don’t know either,” Ren Yaoqi patiently explained.

Not only did the maids and women find it strange that Xiao Jinglin had dragged Ren Yaoqi away for tea, but when they returned to the resting courtyard, Li Shi, who had been waiting for a long time and was about to come looking for them, was also very puzzled.

Ren Yaoqi repeated the same explanation as before, and Li Shi thought for a long time but still couldn’t figure out the reason.

Nanny Zhou comforted Li Shi: “Since the Princess meant no harm, Madam needn’t worry. Moreover, the Princess likes our Fifth Miss – this is a good thing. Though this Princess rarely returns to Yanbei Prince’s Manor, she is greatly favored by the Yanbei Prince.”

Li Shi nodded: “What you say is also reasonable. Though this Princess has a somewhat strange temperament, I haven’t heard of her doing anything evil.”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t know that Xiao Jingxi had returned to Yunyang City shortly after she left. She and Li Shi set out to return to White Crane Town early the next morning.

When the carriage was going down the mountain path, the wind blew open the curtain, and Ren Yaoqi casually glanced outside, just in time to see two nuns dressed in light gray robes talking as they walked up the mountain path.

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but take another look at the older nun, seeing that she had fair skin and charming features. When speaking and laughing with others, her eyes carried several traces of unconscious allure, and from the edge of her hat near her ear, one could see the black hairline – she hadn’t shaved her head.

Just as Ren Yaoqi was wondering about this nun’s identity, the nun seemed to sense something and turned slightly to glance this way. Seeing it was a carriage used by women from wealthy families, she turned back to continue talking and laughing with the younger nun.

Sitting in the carriage, Ren Yaoqi could still hear her unrestrained, clear laughter. The accompanying young nun, seeing passersby looking their way, quietly reminded the hair-wearing nun to lower her voice.

But the hair-wearing nun seemed oblivious and continued talking and laughing loudly.

Nanny Zhou looked outside and frowned: “How does this woman resemble a religious person at all?”

Ren Yaoqi remembered what she had heard about a female nun from nearby Baiyun Nunnery during her last visit to White Dragon Temple. This hair-wearing nun must be the one surnamed Liang.

She appeared to have an unrestrained personality.

However, after what had happened last time, she could remain in this pure Buddhist sanctuary, enjoying leisure, with her appearance seemingly unaffected. This woman probably wasn’t simple either.

The carriage passed the two nuns, and Ren Yaoqi slowly withdrew her gaze.

After descending the mountain, they turned from the mountain path onto the main road. They hadn’t gone far when they saw several carriages approaching from the direction of Yunyang City, and the style of the carriages looked remarkably similar to those Ren Yaoqi and Li Shi were riding in.

“Madam, Second Madam’s carriage is behind us, coming from the direction of Yunyang City,” someone reported from outside.

“Second Sister-in-law said earlier that she had returned to Yunyang City to attend her nephew’s wedding banquet. She should be coming from her natal family. Tell them to stop ahead and let Second Sister-in-law’s carriage go first,” Li Shi softly instructed.

So Li Shi’s group of carriages slowly came to a stop, and the carriages behind quickly caught up, stopping beside Li Shi’s carriage. Second, Madam Su Shi lifted the curtain, revealing an ordinary yet gentle face.

Li Shi also lifted her curtain and smiled as she called out, “Second Sister-in-law.”

Su Shi nodded gently: “Just now, seeing Ren family carriages ahead, I wondered which master from the manor had come to White Dragon Temple to burn incense. So it was Third Sister-in-law.”

Ren Yaoqi called out, “Second Aunt.”

“Eh? Fifth Sister is here too?” Ren Yaoting’s voice rang out from Su Shi’s carriage, and then Ren Yaoting’s face appeared at the curtain edge.

Su Shi frowned and gently scolded her daughter: “Ting’er, seeing Third Aunt, don’t you greet her first? How improper.”

Ren Yaoting hurriedly called out “Third Aunt,” but her eyes kept glancing into Li Shi’s carriage.

Li Shi smiled and spoke up for Ren Yaoting: “The sisters haven’t seen each other for several days. Being close is natural.”

“Mother, I want to sit with Fifth Sister. The last time Fifth Sister and I talked about my eldest cousin’s wife, Fifth Sister said that women from the capital are mostly spoiled and difficult to talk to. But my eldest cousin’s wife isn’t like that at all. I want to tell her about my eldest cousin’s wife,” Ren Yaoting pleaded.

Hearing this, Su Shi didn’t stop her and nodded gently: “Ask your Fifth Sister’s opinion. If she’s willing, you sisters can go sit in the back carriage.”