The farce between Li Shiyan and Wang Huai spread like wildfire, known to everyone. All along the way, people discussed it incessantly.

Everyone crossed the bridge spanning the cliff one by one. After walking for not too long, they arrived at Ning’an Manor atop Misty Peak.

The people at the manor had already made all arrangements. According to the invitations sent out earlier and the number of responses received, they had arranged everyone’s accommodations. Of course, these accommodations also had hierarchical distinctions. Those with higher status naturally stayed in more elegant courtyards, while those slightly less distinguished could only stay in simpler courtyards. But fortunately, everything was complete, and there was no shortage of servants and maids to attend to them.

Ning’an Manor was very large and extremely luxurious and grand. Just the plaque hanging at the entrance was magnificently splendid—each character was branded in pure gold with substantial weight. It had been personally crafted by order of the late Emperor. When the late Emperor was alive, he had used this place as a summer retreat. Therefore, Ning’an Manor was also known as the Imperial Summer Villa, showing its extraordinary status.

The scenery within the manor was pleasant, with large trees and bamboo planted everywhere. There were also many artificial rock gardens, and even several lake pavilions were set up. Looking around, countless houses stood in neat rows, stretching continuously… It was said that when the manor was originally built, they deliberately constructed over a hundred rooms specifically for receiving guests.

Ji Yunshu followed the Wen brothers into the manor. People continuously streamed in, a dense mass before her eyes.

“Miss Ji, I’ve already had someone specially prepare a room for you. Just follow the young servant who will lead the way.” Wen Che told her.

“Thank you, Young Master Wen.”

Luo Yang at the side asked, “What about mine?”

Shu Tian responded to him, “You’ll stay with our young master. When the time comes, you’ll sleep with me.”

“Sleep with you?”

“Otherwise, who do you want to sleep with?”

Luo Yang looked disgusted. “I won’t sleep with you.”

Shu Tian crossed his arms and replied, “Fine then. You’ll just have to sleep outside the manor or in the courtyard. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—Ning’an Manor is on the mountain top, and it gets very cold at night. If you get sick or die, don’t blame us.”

“You…”

The two bickered back and forth, finally ending only after Ji Yunshu left with the young servant.

Luo Yang chased after them a few steps but was stopped by Shu Tian, who said, “Miss Ji is going to the women’s quarters. Why would a grown man like you want to join in?”

Within the manor, the separation of men and women was observed!

So in the end, Luo Yang still agreed to sleep… together with Shu Tian!

After the Wen brothers settled in, Wen Che said to Wen Yu, “Let’s go pay our respects to Elder Li and the manor master first.”

“I’m afraid many people have already gone.”

“They are them, we are us.”

“I hope Su Ziluo won’t be there too.” Wen Yu said this.

Wen Che’s expression became stern as he reminded, “A’Yu, we came here to offer birthday congratulations. Any other matters must be set aside for now. Understand?”

“Yes!”

Wen Yu had already restrained himself the entire way. If his older brother hadn’t kept reminding him, he would probably have already lost his patience and gone to confront them. He wouldn’t be like now, doing nothing and saying nothing.

But ultimately, Wen Che saw things more clearly. If he hadn’t shown restraint and had blown the matter up, by now the situation would probably already be beyond salvaging.

…

Ji Yunshu followed the manor’s young servant to the women’s quarters. This time, there were also dozens of young ladies from various families who had come to offer birthday congratulations, all arranged in some of the courtyards on the western side. Because Wen Che had already given advance notice, Ji Yunshu was settled in a relatively spacious and clean room where everything had already been prepared.

“Miss, if you need anything, just tell me. I’ll do my best to arrange it for you.” The young servant was very polite.

Ji Yunshu gently shook her head. “Everything is fine. No need to trouble yourself.”

“Then rest well.”

“Mm.”

The young servant withdrew.

People gradually entered the courtyard, all young ladies from prestigious families, moving in together with their maids.

Coincidentally, Zhu Yao also stayed here!

She came in with her maid Cai’er. Before reaching her room, she was knocked down by several women.

“Ah!” Her body was already frail to begin with. This collision sent her directly to the ground.

Her maid Cai’er behind her didn’t even have time to reach out and help her up.

“Miss, are you alright?”

Zhu Yao’s palm scraped against small pebbles on the ground, creating several thin cuts. The pain made her brow furrow tightly.

“I’m fine,” she said.

Cai’er was just about to help her up when she was grabbed by a woman beside them who said, “You blind maid, how do you attend to your duties? You actually dare to push your own mistress?”

Huh?

Clearly it was these young ladies who had pushed her, but now it had become Cai’er who pushed her?

Cai’er said, “Young ladies, it was clearly you all who…”

Before she could finish speaking, one of the women slapped her and said, “What nonsense are you spouting? We all saw clearly—just now it was you yourself who personally pushed your young lady.”

“I did not!”

“Lowly, despicable maid.” A woman in purple clothing harshly rebuked her, then said, “If you were my maid, I would cut out your tongue right now.”

Cai’er was about to say more, but was held back by Zhu Yao sitting on the ground, who said, “Cai’er, stop talking.”

“Yes, this servant will help you up.”

However—

Before Cai’er could rise, she was kicked aside by that woman in purple, who said, “Where’s the need for a despicable maid like you? I’ll help her myself.”

With that, the woman bent down and held Zhu Yao’s arm, saying, “Sister Zhu Yao, let me help you up.”

Zhu Yao wanted to pull her hand free, but unfortunately the other party’s strength was too great. Her weak body was essentially held captive, and she rose with the force on her arm. But just as she was halfway up, the woman in purple released her hand and even forcefully pushed.

This caused Zhu Yao to fall to the ground again!

Her entire body ached from the fall!

Accompanying this came a burst of laughter.

This woman in purple was named Qiu Shu. She was the current Empress’s younger sister. Therefore, relying on her status, she did as she pleased in Yanjing City. Many young ladies from prestigious families attached themselves to her and obeyed her every word.

Just now, this whole scene was naturally her doing. As for why she had formed a grudge with Zhu Yao, it was quite simple.

Because Zhu Yao usually didn’t associate with people and wouldn’t curry favor with Qiu Shu, Qiu Shu was very dissatisfied! She had long been displeased with her. Later, who would have known that Zhu Yao was going to marry the heir apparent—this made Qiu Shu even more unhappy! Now encountering her here, naturally she had to vent her frustration.

“I say, Zhu Yao! Does it hurt?” Qiu Shu asked.

Zhu Yao was timid to begin with. After being humiliated like this, she didn’t dare raise her head to meet their eyes, much less talk back.

Cai’er, however, began crying softly!

“Miss?”

Zhu Yao said, “I’m fine.”