Qi Yuegui quickly knelt and saluted, smiling and saying, "Thank you for your grace, young master."
Ren Yijun looked at her, then at the orchid in her hand, snorted coldly, and said compassionately, "You can go down now. Oh, and have someone bring some refreshments to the flower hall."
"Okay, I'll go right away." Qi Yuegui put the flower pot under the corridor in the courtyard and retreated quickly.
Ren Yaoqi smiled and shook his head, then followed Ren Yijun to the small flower hall in Qingfeng Courtyard used to entertain guests.
After the host and the guest sat down, Ren Yijun said, "Before you came over, I received news that Third Uncle had a letter today."
Ren Yaoqi asked hurriedly, "What did the letter say?"
Ren Shimin and his friends set off for Kyoto in April, and it is almost August now.
During this period, Ren Shimin only sent two letters, saying that after they went to Kyoto, a fire broke out in the Wenyuan Hall of the palace, and the literary competition was postponed. They would probably not be back until August, so they could come back in time to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Ren Yijun smiled and said, "That's good news. Third Uncle's painting took second place. Although the first place winner represents Kyoto, he is from Yanbei, so Third Uncle can't be considered to have lost face for Yanbei."
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Could it be the prince?"
Ren Yijun laughed heartily: "Yes, it's the Prince of Yanbei."
Ren Yaoqi had also heard that although this prince from the Yanbei Palace was not good at martial arts, he was an expert in romantic matters such as music, chess, calligraphy and painting.
"The imperial court asked the prince of Yanbei Palace to come to Kyoto to compete with the people sent by Yanbei?" Ren Yaoqi frowned.
Ren Yijun sneered, "They only do these petty things. They just want to use this method to inform the Yanbei Palace. Even if the people from Yanbei win, the winners are still the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty and will have to obey the orders of the Li family. Even our prince has to rely on him."
Ren Yaoqi laughed upon hearing this and said, "Oh? So even if Yan Bei wins this time, it won't be a satisfying victory?"
Ren Yijun shook his head: "Of course not." Ren Yijun rarely kept the secret.
Ren Yaoqi cooperated very well and listened attentively.
"Kyoto used all their tricks in the literary competition, but there won't be that many tricks for them to use in the upcoming martial arts competition. With swordplay, spears, horseback riding, archery, polo, and cuju, Yanbei won a great victory." When Ren Yijun said this, his expression showed undisguised pride in being a Yanbei person.
Ren Yaoqi was surprised and said, "I remember that in previous martial arts competitions, although Yanbei had the advantage, the imperial court would still win a few rounds."
Ren Yijun sneered again, "Just give in to them. Since they're the ones who are shameless this time, why should we give them face?"
The imperial court used the Prince of Yanbei to warn the Yanbei Palace that "All under heaven is the king's land, and all the people in the world are the king's subjects." The Yanbei Palace's response was to simply raise their fists to see who had the harder fist.
Ren Yaoqi wondered, had the conflict between Yanbei and the imperial court reached such a fever pitch? It seemed this trip to Kyoto was indeed fraught with undercurrents. No wonder Xiao Jingxi had come personally. He only hoped their return would be smooth sailing.
"Did Father specify the exact date of his return in the letter?"
Ren Yijun frowned and said, "Originally, we were planning to leave before the Mid-Autumn Festival. But Second Young Master Xiao is ill again, so I'm afraid it will be delayed for some time."
Ren Yaoqi was shocked when he heard this: "Second Master Xiao is sick? What is the illness? Is it serious?"
Ren Yijun glanced at Ren Yaoqi with some surprise. "Uncle San didn't go into detail in his letter. After all, Uncle San couldn't get close to Second Young Master Xiao. But I think it's probably a relapse of his long-standing illness. Hasn't he always been in poor health?"
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