Early the next morning.

The heavy rain had already stopped. The sun had also emerged from the clouds. All of Yanjing City instantly recovered its vitality, still as bustling as usual with people coming and going.

Because the day of the Courtesan Selection was approaching, many beautiful young ladies suddenly flooded into Yanjing City from all directions. Each dressed extremely beautifully and grandly—all sorts of types, tall and short, fat and thin, every kind imaginable. Naturally, with more young ladies came more disputes. Either two young ladies would quarrel over competing for a box of rouge in a cosmetics shop, or two young ladies would quarrel over a piece of satin in a silk shop. Some even quarreled over who could stay in the most luxurious premium room at the inn. Even more absurd—when two families’ sedan chairs met on the street, neither was willing to yield the way first. They remained deadlocked, causing all the carriages and sedan chairs behind them to be blocked up. This could only be resolved by forcibly dispatching people from the Jing Zhaoyin’s office. Such incidents occurred repeatedly over these past few days…

Of course, with more young ladies around, the happiest were naturally the young masters in the city.

It was like flowers blooming in a spring garden—everyone invited each other to come and admire them, occasionally commenting. If they saw flowers blooming particularly bright and beautiful, every single one couldn’t help but pounce forward, drooling with desire, eyes full of romantic interest, wishing they could snatch that young lady and take her home to cherish her properly. But if they encountered someone unremarkable, each would roll their eyes, showing disdain on their faces without concealment, even mocking with a few sarcastic words—extremely frivolous and detestable. However, some people were different from them. Those people were all older unmarried men of Yanjing City, hoping to encounter a young lady—regardless of beauty or plainness—and if by chance their eyes met, they could resolve their marriage matter.

Clearly, each harbored their own thoughts.

Most had impure motives.

The young ladies, in order to win the title of courtesan, had spent much effort on their makeup and clothing. Even those usually hot-tempered young ladies had restrained themselves, not daring to be too ostentatious. Many people also attempted to establish connections through various channels, hoping to pass the initial selection so they wouldn’t be screened out for some deficiency—that would be truly humiliating. However, the Ministry of Rites was under direct command from the Emperor, so naturally they dared not accept bribes privately. All gifts sent to the ministry were refused one by one to avoid becoming the subject of gossip or, if discovered, receiving a charge that could be serious or minor. No one dared take that risk, so this selection would be absolutely fair and just.

At this time in the Marquis’s Manor, Xiao Luzi had already gathered information about Zhao Quanzhi’s situation.

“This humble one secretly asked people at the Court of Judicial Review. They said the Emperor has already issued an edict—after this Courtesan Selection, Young Master Zhao will be taken to the Meridian Gate for execution. These days he must remain confined in the Court of Judicial Review where no one can see him.”

“Did Minister Zhao go to see him?”

“They said Minister Huang of the Court of Judicial Review specially made arrangements so the father and son could meet once.”

At least Minister Huang was decent enough.

Xiao Luzi said: “Young Master, now that the matter is settled and no one can change it, you absolutely mustn’t wade into these murky waters again.”

Li Shiyan glared at him: “Even if I wanted to wade in, there’s nowhere for me to do so. What can I do? Stage a prison break or overturn the verdict?”

“It’s good that Young Master understands. If you did something foolish, this humble one would suffer disaster along with you.”

“You cowardly, life-cherishing scaredy-cat.”

Xiao Luzi grinned, then squinted his eyes and asked: “Young Master, now that Young Master Zhao is imprisoned and your engagement with the Zhu family has also been dissolved, the Master has also said he won’t confine you anymore. Right now all of Yanjing City is quite lively—don’t you want to go see?”

Li Shiyan squinted and looked him up and down a few times. He could figure out with his toes what this fellow was thinking. He raised his hand and slapped Xiao Luzi’s head hard: “You’ve become quite shrewd now, haven’t you?”

“Young Master?”

“You think I don’t know? You just want to go look at those young ladies. It seems spring hasn’t even arrived yet, but your heart has already started stirring restlessly!”

Truly worthy of decades as master and servant!

Naturally Xiao Luzi’s little schemes couldn’t be hidden from his own master. Covering his head, he spoke frankly: “This humble one indeed wants to go out and see. I heard this year there are even more young ladies than three years ago, and they’re even more beautiful. If Young Master doesn’t want to go, how about this humble one helps you go take a look?”

This little scheme was truly displayed without concealment.

Extremely shrewd!

Li Shiyan thought for a moment, then said: “Let’s go!”

“To look?”

“So much nonsense. Just come with me.”

Xiao Luzi wholeheartedly thought he intended to go see the young ladies in the city. As a result, after leaving the manor, they went all the way to where Luo Yang was staying.

Ji Yunshu had disappeared for several days. While Luo Yang waited for news from the Wen family’s side, he also searched around the city with Xiao Ba. He even wandered around outside the Su Manor several times, but just couldn’t catch sight of Ji Yunshu. As the days passed one by one, they grew increasingly worried. Early this morning, Luo Yang was preparing to make a trip to the Wen Manor to find out whether they had found her or not. But just as he went out, he ran head-on into Li Shiyan descending from a carriage.

“Young Master?”

“Where are you going?” Li Shiyan spoke with the tone of encountering an old acquaintance.

Luo Yang said: “I’m going to find Miss Ji. There’s been no news of her for several days.”

“Don’t bother looking anymore!”

“Why not?”

“I came here specially to tell you—she’s already left Yanjing City.” Li Shiyan had obviously already accepted this fact that Su Ziluo had told him.

Luo Yang’s eyes widened. He seemingly couldn’t accept this and asked: “How do you know? Could it be that the person surnamed Su taking away Miss Ji’s belongings had something to do with you?”

Hmm?

Now it was Li Shiyan’s turn to be completely confused: “What belongings?”

Luo Yang took a step back, deliberately maintaining distance from the person before him. His eyes carried a trace of wariness as he said: “I understand now. You conspired with that person surnamed Su to take Miss Ji away. What exactly have you done to her?”

“What are you talking about?”

“That morning, that person in the wheelchair—he sent people to take away all of Miss Ji’s belongings. Now you come to tell me Miss Ji has already left here. I think you and that person surnamed Su are the ones playing tricks.”

Oh!

Li Shiyan understood. So Su Ziluo had long ago arranged for people to take away Ji Yunshu’s belongings—no wonder she left so quickly.

He earnestly told Luo Yang: “Listen to me. This matter has nothing to do with me, but Miss Ji has indeed already left. I think… she probably won’t return either.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“Based on the fact that previously, to save me, she disregarded everything—that alone proves my relationship with her is very good. First, I wouldn’t harm her. Second, I’m not hiding her. So you must believe me. I also have no reason to deceive you. With the effort it would take to deceive people, I’d already be at the Drunken Immortal Tower looking at those young ladies.”

Yes, to help Li Shiyan, Ji Yunshu had risked investigating the case. Their relationship was indeed extraordinary, so Li Shiyan’s words could be believed.

In that instant, Luo Yang’s heart filled with disappointment. He felt like someone standing at a crossroads who had lost their way, not knowing which direction to take next. It was also at this moment that he suddenly realized everything he had done was all for Ji Yunshu. Now that Ji Yunshu had left, he was like a hedgehog without its shell—empty and hollow, as if he had lost the direction of his efforts. He didn’t know what meaning there was in continuing to stay in Yanjing City.

He also finally understood that unknowingly, he had developed genuine feelings for Ji Yunshu.

But in front of Li Shiyan, he quickly concealed the emotions in his heart and asked: “Then where has she gone now?”

Perhaps—she had returned to Da Lin.

Li Shiyan shook his head: “I don’t know either, but she has indeed already left.”

Then Luo Yang had to force himself to accept this fact.

His entire person became soft and powerless, unable to summon any spirit. After saying “Oh,” his gaze dropped: “I understand.”

“I came today not only to tell you this, but also to thank you.” Li Shiyan said, “Although this time it was Shu’er who helped me, you also contributed. I, Li Shiyan, always repay favors. Tell me—what do you want? As long as I have it, I can give it to you.”

Including the title of Young Master—as long as you want it, I’ll give it to you!

But where did Luo Yang have that kind of mindset now? Ji Yunshu had already left. He didn’t know whether he should continue staying here or not.

When Li Shiyan didn’t hear him speak for quite a while, he patted him: “I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with Shu’er, but I’m the same as you. After she left, I’m also saddened. But as long as she’s living well, everything is worth it!”