After the boxes were stolen, the theater troupe was extremely careful that night. Worried that something else might happen, they set off as soon as dawn broke.

Before leaving, Third Lady also compensated them with silver equivalent to the value of those three boxes.

The old troupe master, clutching the compensation money, felt all his anger dissipate and left cheerfully.

It was said that before leaving, the young lady named Zhanmo had specially left a note for Muruo.

What was written on it, no one knew!

Before long, the sun peeked over the horizon, and Jingrong gave the order to depart.

After Ji Yinshu finished packing and came out of her room, she saw Third Lady standing at Muruo’s door, her back leaning against the redwood railing. Her exposed fair arm extended forward, with a yellowed note pinched between her slender index and middle fingers.

Waving it back and forth!

As if playing with some interesting trinket.

Muruo opened the door and came out stretching lazily, rubbing his sleepy eyes before clearly seeing Third Lady standing outside.

“Awake?” Third Lady asked gently.

Muruo let out a cold, mocking laugh, his gaze noticing the note in her hand.

“Got something for me?”

“You guessed right, it’s for you.”

“A wine-brewing recipe?”

“Something more interesting than a recipe.”

Muruo stroked his chin. “Don’t tell me it’s the deed to this inn? Third Lady, you’re so generous. Then I shall respectfully accept.”

With that, he reached out to take it!

But Third Lady retracted her extended fair arm, hiding the note behind her back.

Then—

She took two steps forward, walked up to Muruo, looked up at him, and smiled mischievously.

“Want it?”

“…”

Third Lady brought the note to her nose and sniffed a few times.

Then—

She said in a strange, sarcastic tone, “This carries a young woman’s delicate fragrance.”

A woman?

Muruo was curious.

Third Lady continued, “That young lady is quite thoughtful. To thank you for saving her, she left this before dawn and specifically instructed that it must be delivered into your hands personally.”

As she spoke, she waved the letter in her hand!

The next moment, Muruo snatched it away.

He opened it!

The letter contained just three sentences.

“Many thanks, young master. If fate allows us to meet again, I will surely repay this great kindness.”

The handwriting was fairly neat, but the brushwork wasn’t very mature—clearly not someone who frequently practiced calligraphy.

After reading it, he folded the letter and tucked it into his sleeve.

Third Lady leaned closer to him, raising an eyebrow as she asked, “Well? What passionate love poem did that frail young lady write?”

The corner of Muruo’s mouth curved up as he looked at her, shaking his head with a sigh. “What a pity. I thought it was a wine-brewing recipe or the deed to this inn.”

“Very disappointed?”

“A bit.”

Just then, from downstairs, Lang Bo began calling out.

“Master Ji, Young Master Muruo, the carriages are all ready outside. Time to depart.”

Master Ji?

Muruo and Third Lady simultaneously turned their heads.

Their eyes met Ji Yinshu’s amused gaze.

Third Lady quickly said to her, “So the young master was already awake? Why didn’t you make a sound?”

What a fright!

Ji Yinshu simply nodded slightly, said nothing, and silently went downstairs.

From above, she could only hear Third Lady’s mocking voice, “In this world, it’s rare to find such an aloof young master, so sparing with words. How peculiar.”

Right after, Muruo also came downstairs.

The group set off from the inn as dawn broke.

Shortly after, Zhao Huai’s people also left!

After watching everyone depart, Third Lady leaned against the counter, her fingers moving the abacus beads on it, her eyes lowering to reveal a cunning look.

“Lost business must be recovered with principal and interest, sooner or later.”

…

After leaving the inn, the carriage traveled on the official road for half a day.

In May and June, by noon it became extremely hot, even stifling.

Even sitting inside the carriage was unbearable.

Wei Yi tugged at his clothes, wiping the sweat covering his head, complaining, “So hot.”

Ji Yinshu could only find a piece of paper and patiently fan him.

“Shu’er, aren’t you hot?”

She shook her head.

“Last night I slept with Brother Lang Bo, he kept crowding me, my whole body aches, and it was so hot. I pushed him for a long time but couldn’t move him.”

Complaining!

She smiled slightly.

“Shu’er, can I sleep with you? You’re small and don’t take up much space, so it wouldn’t be crowded, and…” He grasped Ji Yinshu’s hand. “Shu’er, your hands are very cold, and your body is cool too. If I slept with you, it definitely wouldn’t be hot.”

“You little brat, what are you thinking?”

Ji Yinshu tapped his head and pulled her hand from his grasp.

Wei Yi covered his head, blinking, and asked, “Doesn’t Shu’er want to sleep with me?”

How awkward!

She really didn’t know how to answer him.

If she casually gave an excuse, this boy would probably take it seriously again.

So—

She simply didn’t answer.

“Knock knock…”

Someone knocked on the carriage from outside.

Ji Yinshu lifted the curtain and saw Lang Bo passing in a water pouch.

“Master Ji, you must be thirsty. Have some water.”

She took it. “Thank you.”

“By the way, Master Ji, the prince asked me to ask if you want to stop and rest for a while?”

“No need.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Wei Yi stuck his head out and shouted, “I want to rest.”

Without waiting for Lang Bo to say anything, he bounced up and down, “I want to get off the carriage, I want to get off!”

The coachman heard the commotion and pulled the reins.

Wei Yi jumped down the next moment and took several deep breaths.

“Young Master Wei, are you alright?” Lang Bo asked.

“I’m very hot.”

“The weather is like this. How about you ride a horse with me? At least there’d be some breeze.”

“But I don’t know how.”

“It’s fine, I’ll teach you.”

“I don’t want to. I want to ride in the carriage with Shu’er.” Wei Yi said.

Ji Yinshu also leaned out and told him, “Wei Yi, if you’re tired, we can rest here for a while first.”

“I’m not tired, just hot.”

“Then get in the carriage. I’ll fan you. Once the sun sets, it won’t be hot anymore. This way, we can still reach Anfu by the hour of the rooster.”

Wei Yi thought about it and nodded. Just as he was about to lift his foot to board the carriage, he suddenly remembered something.

He turned around and glared at Lang Bo, stretching out his hand. “Didn’t you say you’d return my silver when we reached the post station? You didn’t give it to me yesterday. Give it to me now.”

Looking just like a creditor!

This boy had quite a good memory.

Where would Lang Bo get that much silver? He felt his completely empty money pouch and his cheeks twitched.

Just then, Jingrong stuck his head out from the front carriage and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Lang Bo dismounted and ran over, lowering his voice beside the carriage. “My lord, Young Master Wei is asking me for the silver—fifty-three taels. I don’t have enough on me, so…”

“You don’t have it?”

“Right.”

“Then just borrow it.”

What?

Lang Bo pitifully and aggrievedly said, “My lord, it was you who took Young Master Wei’s silver. I didn’t take a single tael. You’re passing this matter to me, but I can’t handle it.”

Jingrong even pretended to nod thoughtfully. “Then how about this—this prince will lend you fifty-three taels. You take it and return it to him. This money will be deducted from your salary.”

Damn it, is this how you extort people?

Lang Bo felt the urge to strangle him!

Unfortunately, he really didn’t have that courage.

So he could only submit and accept his fate.

“Fine, then I’ll consider it borrowed from you.”