Chapter 114: Interrogation

“Did you come with Second Young Master Xiao here?” Ren Yaoqi asked with a smile.

Zhu Ruomei shook his head, “After I recovered from my injuries a few days ago, Second Young Master let me go back to Yunyang City to see my mother. Second Young Master said that eventually he would give me something to do, and while nothing happened he let me leave to deal with my own affairs. I came to Baihe Town to see Uncle Yuan and the others, and I also wanted to ask if there was anything Fifth Miss needed me to help with.”

“You don’t need to serve Second Young Master Xiao?” Ren Yaoqi asked when she heard him say that.

Zhu Ruomei grinned, shook his head, and said, “I heed to Young Master’s instruction and stay in Baihe Town for a while.”

Seeing that Ren Yaoyi was stunned, Zhu Ruomei then lowered his voice a bit more and whispered, “I should be allowed to stay in Bailong Temple, but the specifics of what I have to do have not yet been explained by Young Master.”

Bailong Temple? Ren Yaoqi pondered slightly, combining what she had heard from Dongsheng before, she guessed that Xiao Jingxi’s letting Zhu Ruomei stay at the Bailong Temple should have something to do with the matter of the temple’s hidden soldiers.

Zhu Ruomei had a talent of a general in his previous life, so this would be considered a good thing for him.

“Although Second Young Master Xiao did not ask you to follow him to Yanbei Royal Family, he must have had his intentions in arranging this.” Ren Yaoqi was worried that Zhu Ruomei thought that Xiao Jingxi did not value him before making this arrangement and advised in a low voice.

“Fifth Miss don’t worry, I understand.” Zhu Ruomei nodded his head.

After a pause, he added: “In the future, if there is anything that the Fifth Miss needs help, send someone from the Yuan family to go and speak with me. As long as it is something that I, Zhu Ruomei, can do, I will never refuse.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh and jokingly said, “I don’t have the guts to steal Second Young Master Xiao’s subordinates.”

Zhu Ruomei smiled embarrassedly at her words, then was serious and said, “Second Young Master Xiao said that as long as I do well what he told me to do, he won’t give me too many restrictions. So you can rest assured, Fifth Miss.”

Ren Yaoqi unconsciously raise an eyebrow when she heard this, is Xiao Jingxi that generous?

But if that was the case, naturally it couldn’t be better.

What she lacked the most right now was manpower outside. While the manpower in the inner courtyard could still be trained by herself, it was hard to find trustworthy ones for selecting manpower in the outer courtyard.

So she smiled and said, “If it is your intention, then whenever there is something that needs your help, I will have someone go find you.”

Zhu Ruomei grinned again, and Ren Yaoqi realized that this tall and sturdy-looking man was actually a cheerful person.

This time has just passed noon and usually, it should be a mealtime. And yet there was nothing in this small alley except Xiao Jinglin’s carriage blocking the middle of the alley and their own shadows. When they came in before, they could still see a few salesmen carrying loads and passers-by in a hurry, but now it was completely deserted.

“Is this alley originally this isolated? Isn’t Mrs. Mo doing business here?” Ren Yaoqi only noticed this problem and naturally asked.

When Zhu Ruomei heard her, he looked around and murmured, ”Before Second Young Master departed earlier, he explained a few words to Tongde. Tongde then disappeared for a little while, and soon after that, this alleyway was cleared. Although Fifth Miss could not see anyone else, there are quite a few Yanbei Royal Family’s people guarding the alley in the shadows. I’m sure Tongde also had people guard the entrance to the alley outside and didn’t let any idle people in.”

Ren Yaoqi was instinctively taken aback when she heard his explanation. Did Xiao Jingxi order someone to clear the venue when he left?

Was he afraid that people would break in and disturb Xiao Jinglin? But with Xiao Jinglin’s nature, she should not care about these things. When they came in earlier, although Xiao Jinglin also said that there were guards in the shadows, she didn’t stop others from entering the alley.

As Ren Yaoyi was speculating wildly, Zhu Ruomei said, ”Fifth Miss, it’s sunny here, why don’t you get in the carriage first? I will stay at Yuan Dayong’s house for a few days, if you have something to do, send someone to find me at Yuan’s house.”

Ren Yaoqi remembered that Xiao Jinglin had already boarded the carriage to wait for her, and it wasn’t good to make people wait for her for too long. So she nodded her head and walked towards the carriage.

Zhu Ruomei watched her get on the carriage and waited for them to drive away from the alley before he turned to leave.

After Ren Yaoqi entered the carriage, Xiao Jinglin nodded and ordered Dongsheng outside to drive the carriage away, not asking what Ren Yaoqi said to Zhu Ruomei.

The carriage drove away from the alley. Ren Yaoqi deliberately paid attention to the entrance of the alley and saw that there were indeed two people dressed as guards standing.

The carriage stopped in the street ahead, and Ren Yaoqi ordered Pingguo to get off and call the maidservants who stayed in the teahouse back, and they went back to Ren Mansion together.

“Do County Princess and Mrs. Mo’s family are acquainted with each other?” Ren Yaoqi casually chatted with Xiao Jinglin.

Xiao Jinglin nodded, “Mo Kai was originally a veteran soldier stationed at Jiajing Pass. A few years ago when he was leading a patrol out of the city, he encountered a small group of cavalry of the Khitans. The two sides then fought. When Mo Kai realized that the group had covered a scout to let him escape, he chased after them, but he didn’t expect to meet another team of Khitans cavalry. Outnumbered, Mo Kai was afraid that the scout might have harmful information about our army, so he jumped off the horse and rolled down the cliff with him.”

Mo Kai should be Mrs. Mo’s husband, Mo Xiaoliang’s father.

Ren Yaoqi was silent for a moment after hearing this, “Then does Mo Xiaoliang have an older brother?”

Xiao Jing Lin nodded faintly, “Well, Mo Kai’s eldest son Mo Xiaolong is a very good scout soldier despite his young age. However, the winter before last, he was lost during a mission.”

As a scout, being missing means he has already died somewhere. It was a normal thing in the military to can’t find the body of a scout. After being missing for so long, it was impossible for Mo Xiaolong to still be alive.

No wonder…

Although Xiao Jinglin’s tone was light, when Ren Yaoqi heard it she felt sorrow. The two did not speak again anymore along the way.

The carriage quickly arrived at the Ren Mansion’s entrance. Xiao Jinglin lifted the curtain, glanced at the Ren family’s gate, and said to Ren Yaoqi, “I won’t go in.”

Ren Yaoqi knew that Xiao Jinglin might not be too used to the life of the inner courtyard and didn’t like chatting and joking with those ladies in the boudoir, so she nodded her head and smiled, “I’ll go back first then. By the way, when will County Princess leave Baihe Town?”

Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment, “I’m following Xiao Jingxi this time and won’t stay long. I should return to Yunyang City tomorrow at the latest.”

“If County Princess still needs someone to accompany her on the trip, send someone to find me,” said Ren Yaoqi and winked.

Xiao Jinglin curled the corners of her mouth when she heard her, nodded slightly.

Ren Yaoqi got off the carriage and entered the Ren Mansion.

Before she reached the second gate, a servant hurriedly ran out from inside, walked to Ren Yaoqi, and smiled, “Fifth Miss you’re back? Old Master and Old Madam are waiting for you in Ronghua Courtyard. They ordered this servant to come and call you over as soon as she sees you enter the mansion.”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t feel the slightest bit surprised when she heard this, nodded her head, and followed that servant to Ronghua Courtyard to see Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren.

Normally at this time, Old Madam Ren should have finished her lunch and was about to take a nap. But today she was talking beside Old Master Ren sitting on the South Kang. Seeing Ren Yaoqi come in, Old Master Ren first smiled and said, “Fifth Girl is back? Have you had dinner yet?”

>> South Kang

Old Madam Ren also looked at Ren Yaoqi and smiled, the dimples on her face made her look extraordinarily amiable, “There is still hot hibiscus soup in the kitchen.”

Ren Yaoqi went forward and saluted, “Thank you, Grandfather and Grandmother, for remembering, this granddaughter has already had her meal.”

Old Madam Ren then beckoned to her, pointing to the seat beside herself, “Come, sit over here to talk.”

Ren Yaoqi stared at the ‘throne’ beside Old Madam Ren. She thought for a moment, lowered her head, and went forward, but then sat down on the small brocade stool next to her. Sheepishly she said, “Granddaughter should sit here, it’s a better place to listen to the teachings of Grandfather and Grandmother.”

Old Master Ren stroked his beard and laughed.

Old Madam Ren scolded, “You child,” thought she was shy, but didn’t force her anymore.

“Where did you go with County Princess today?” Old Master Ren finally began to ask.

“First, we went around the outside of the city, and found that there is nothing interesting, so we returned. Because County Princess dislikes crowded places, we casually found a small shop to have lunch. And then came back after that.” Ren Yaoqi said honestly.

“Oh? Outside the city? Does it happen to be near our Ren Family’s coal kiln?” Old Master Ren said thoughtfully.

Ren Yaoqi’s heart turned darkly, what was Old Master Ren’s intention? Did he think that Xiao Jinglin came to the Ren Family with impure motives and that the Yanbei Royal Family was interested in the Ren Family’s coal mine?

She explained without a beat, “Initially this granddaughter has not paid attention, but as Grandfather said so this granddaughter just remembered, we also met the Ren Family’s camel caravan for coal transport on the road. I think it should be near the coal kiln.”

Old Master Ren and Old Madam Ren looked at each other, both of them had a deep thought in their eyes.

“Then what did County Princess talk with you? Did she mention anything about our Ren Family?” Old Madam Ren asked.

Ren Yaoqi made a gesture to think, “She didn’t say much about Ren Family’s matters, but we chatted for a while about the horses and camels that carry coal.”

Old Master Ren frowned and mused, “Horses and camels?”

Ren Yaoqi nodded.

“Is there anything else? I heard that County Princess asked you to dismiss all the people around you, only leaving a maid to serve you?” The Old Madam asked again.

“The County Princess said that she didn’t like having people around her, so she asked me to send everyone away. The County Princess told me about some things she encountered outside the border and asked me how I passed the time in my boudoir. Other… than that, I don’t know what Grandmother is talking about?” Ren Yaoqi asked in puzzlement.

“Did County Princess come to Baihe Town alone?” Old Madam Ren asked.

“It seems that she came with Second Young Master Xiao, but he had something to do, so the County Princess came to meet me.”

Old Madam Ren’s smile grew more amiable, “Then how long will they stay in Baihe Town? Since you are familiar with County Princess, then our Ren Family should do our best to host a good banquet. It would be even better if we could also invite Second Young Master Xiao.”

Old Master Ren also nodded with a big smile, “Your grandmother is right, can you place another invitation for County Princess?”