Muruo naturally knew all these things.

Perhaps feeling he had said too much, he shook his head: “Forget it, let things take their natural course.”

Then hastily changing the subject, he asked Kong Yu: “By the way, what about you? These past days in the palace, have you been getting used to it?”

Getting used to it?

Of course not!

Kong Yu smiled: “The palace is certainly livelier than Qingshan Residence, but whether speaking or acting, one naturally has to be much more cautious, afraid of making the slightest mistake. Moreover, since I entered the palace, my mother hasn’t come to see me once. You know her—she’s devoted entirely to Buddhism and hardly concerns herself with my affairs. Fortunately, Jing Xuan often comes to talk with me, which helps pass the time.”

She appeared calm on the surface, but her words clearly revealed something heartbreaking.

The hand inside Muruo’s sleeve lifted a few inches, but then pressed back down!

His eyes dimmed slightly as he said: “If you feel bored, I’ll come to the palace to see you often from now on.”

“That’s not necessary. The Yuhua Pavilion must be very busy too. I’m fine, and besides, having leisure time certainly has its advantages.”

A carefree refusal!

“You’re always like this, thinking wholeheartedly of others. When will you ever think of yourself?”

“Hmm? What do you mean by that?” Kong Yu asked.

Obviously playing dumb!

Muruo didn’t want to be too explicit, so he vaguely replied: “In any case, making things difficult for yourself for the sake of others is ultimately not worth it.”

His words were indeed vague.

Yet—

Kong Yu understood.

She turned sideways, brushing her wide sleeves, and said lightly: “But when you love someone in your heart, how can you completely ignore them? If I prioritized myself and let him bear the consequences, wouldn’t I become a sinner?”

She was speaking of Jingrong’s plan to publicly ask to marry her.

After pondering for a moment, Muruo said: “So you’re saying that before the banquet began that night, Jingrong really did come to see you?”

She nodded!

“Yes, he originally planned to ask the Emperor for permission to marry me, but I refused. If he were marrying me just to help me, I’d rather he do nothing at all. Besides, things wouldn’t be that simple. Everyone knows what the Emperor is thinking. If something went wrong, the ones implicated wouldn’t just be me and Jingrong—even Miss Ji, who came up with that idea, would be affected too.”

Miss Ji!

Yes, she called her “Miss,” not “Mister”!

Muruo suddenly understood: “So you’ve known about Master Ji’s identity all along, which means you also know what Jingrong’s feelings are?”

She nodded again!

A bitter smile emerged at the corners of her mouth: “Actually, from the first time I met that Miss Ji at Prince Rong’s manor, I had already guessed.”

“And because of this, you’re willing to marry into Qujiang?”

“All these reasons played a part.”

She answered rather casually this time.

After a moment, she looked at Muruo again and said: “Forget it, let’s not talk about this anymore. It’s all in the past anyway. Let’s talk about you instead—did you come to my side just to see me?”

“More or less. But seeing that you’re doing well, I’m relieved.”

“I’m fine, you don’t need to worry.”

Muruo nodded and stood up, glancing outside where the sky had already darkened. He muttered to himself: “It’s already so late, and I still have to go pick up that foolish boy.”

“What did you say?” Kong Yu didn’t hear clearly.

“I said it’s already very late, I should go.”

“Then be careful on the road.”

“Mm!”

Kong Yu then called over a young eunuch and had him carry a lantern to escort Muruo.

But before Muruo left, Kong Yu called him back. She pressed her lips together, and after a long pause finally spoke: “If you go to Prince Rong’s manor, please relay a message to him for me. Tell him I’m doing well and he doesn’t need to worry.” After saying this, she laughed self-mockingly: “Though he probably won’t worry about me at all.”

How pitiful!

Muruo’s heart ached, but he immediately concealed it, only advising: “Take good care of yourself. Don’t overthink other matters.”

After speaking, he took the lantern from the eunuch’s hand, saying: “No need to escort me, I’ll go myself.”

Without waiting for Kong Yu to say anything more, he had already left.

Behind him, Kong Yu took a deep breath, and her eyes gradually reddened.

A palace maid stepped forward to inquire: “Princess, what’s wrong?”

She shook her head: “Nothing!”

Then she returned to her inner chambers.

……

At this moment, Wei Yi was sleeping on the soft couch, his fan-like long eyelashes trembling faintly against his eyelids, his flushed face carrying a young man’s clear and refreshing aura.

Extremely handsome!

After playing with clay all day, he was naturally exhausted.

In his arms, he hugged a pile of small animals he had molded today.

Ji Yunshu washed her hands and entered the room. She took down a blanket from the screen and gently covered him with it. Wei Yi shifted his body, turned over, and fell back into deep sleep.

Thump, thud—

Because of his turning, all the clay pieces in his hands rolled off the soft couch.

Watching this scene, Ji Yunshu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

She bent down, picked up these small animals, and carried them to the desk.

She lit a new candle, moved it closer to herself, and unhurriedly mixed several types of paint. She then selected a small ink brush and began painting on the clay.

Under the dim light, she lowered her eyes, carefully adding color to the clay pieces stroke by stroke.

Extremely focused!

After an unknown amount of time had passed, those originally lifelike animals, after being adorned with brilliant colors, became very beautiful.

Ji Yunshu was extremely pleased with them.

After the paint had dried sufficiently, she placed these little trinkets on the shelf as decorations.

At that moment, a voice came from outside—

“So Miss Ji also has a playful side!”

She felt a cold breeze enter, carrying a slight smell of alcohol…

Without turning around, she knew it was Muruo.

Muruo walked to the desk, picked up a little pig, and with great interest extended his index finger to tap the pig’s head.

He remarked: “How adorable!”

“Not just me—Master Muruo also has the heart of a child.”

“Just a little, just a little!”

How modest of you.

Ji Yunshu took the little pig from his hand and placed it on the shelf.

Muruo then asked: “Where’s Wei Yi? I’m here to take him back.”

Take him back?

It seemed Muruo truly considered Wei Yi one of his own.

Ji Yunshu gestured with her chin toward the distance. Muruo turned to look and saw Wei Yi sleeping soundly while hugging that blanket.

“Let him stay here tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll personally escort him to your place.”

“Fine, I’m tired today too—I can’t carry him.”

As he spoke, he yawned, his eyes showing bloodshot veins. He rubbed the space between his brows and walked toward the door.

Without looking back, he called out: “Bring a jug of wine tomorrow.”

His voice gradually faded into the distance…

Ji Yunshu actually envied Muruo’s temperament greatly.

Carefree, yet also carrying the bold spirit of a man of the jianghu!

In modern times, he would be a hot commodity indeed.