Li Shiyan had specially brought Luo Yang here. Hearing these words, Li Shiyan secretly breathed a sigh of relief—he could drink without restraint now.

“Alright, then you go on in.”

Zhu Yao didn’t feel disappointed or hurt that he agreed so quickly. Instead, her entire person appeared much more carefree: “Then I’ll see you later.” After speaking, she was about to go in, but when she walked in front of Luo Yang, she stopped and asked the absent-minded Luo Yang: “If I’m not mistaken, your name is Luo Yang, right? Do you know where Miss Ji is now? Since you’re together with Shiyan, I imagine Miss Ji must also be nearby?”

She didn’t know that Ji Yunshu had already left!

Not mentioning it would have been fine, but once mentioned, Luo Yang became even more melancholy, his heart full of dejection. After quite a while he finally forced out a sentence: “She’s already left here.”

“Left?” Zhu Yao was surprised. She immediately paused, then turned to look at Li Shiyan with a trace of heartache. Last time, Li Shiyan had told her clearly that he had hidden Miss Ji in his heart for five years. Meeting again, he only wanted to see her once. But now Ji Yunshu had left—she didn’t know if they had seen each other. So she asked with concern: “You said you wanted to see her once. Did you see her?”

Her tone was very calm, without sadness, without regret or jealousy.

Pure concern!

Li Shiyan was stunned. He himself didn’t know whether he had seen her or not. That night when Jingrong stabbed him with a sword, Ji Yunshu had rushed over to hold him—that counted as seeing her in a daze, right? He nodded and said: “I saw her.”

“That’s good. I hope there won’t be… any regrets in your heart.”

After speaking, her red lips curved up. She smiled slightly again, then entered with Cai’er.

Li Shiyan watched her retreating figure for a long time without coming back to his senses.

Until Luo Yang bumped his shoulder: “How do I remember… you two were supposed to get married?”

“The engagement was dissolved and canceled.”

“Fool! What a big fool!” Luo Yang had always spoken without restraint, saying what he thought, not liking to conceal or hide things. “If I were you, I wouldn’t let go of such a good young lady. At Ning’an Manor, that young lady cried like a fountain for you, and went to great lengths to help you. You just threw away such a good marriage match like that? Aren’t you foolish?”

“If you like her, you go after her!”

Luo Yang snorted, lifting his shoulders: “Even if I liked her, she might not necessarily look favorably on me. Besides, there’s someone in my heart.”

Li Shiyan also told him clearly: “There’s also someone in my heart.”

Both were Ji Yunshu!

Each understood without speaking.

“Alright, let’s go in. The wine here is the best.” Li Shiyan pulled Luo Yang inside.

The Elegant Pavilion was the most high-class place in all of Yanjing City. It was an extremely spacious large courtyard, just like the back garden of the imperial palace, arranged very elegantly. Inside were set up dozens of elegant pavilions for tea-drinking and idle conversation, as well as many gazebos, decorative mountains and gardens, bridges and flowing water in intricate arrangement. There were also small courtyards specially for listening to opera, or literary halls for calligraphy and painting… Many sons of distinguished families gathered here for idle conversation—either discussing who had obtained what treasure, or who had taken a fancy to whom, or comparing abilities and eloquence. However, these past few days everyone discussed the Courtesan Selection the most—which family’s young lady had entered? Which young lady was beautiful? The topics all revolved around the two words “women,” and from time to time slightly “lascivious” laughter would emerge from certain elegant pavilions, containing several threads of suggestive meaning.

Besides those noble scions, during this period many young ladies also came here. They all dressed exquisitely and gorgeously, here to admire flowers, taste tea, or play the zither.

They hoped to meet some high official here. Even if they didn’t become the courtesan in the end, if they could attach themselves to a wealthy young master, that would also be a good choice.

After Zhu Yao entered, someone inside led her toward an elegant pavilion. On the way, Cai’er asked: “Miss, when you saw the Young Master, had you truly let it go in your heart?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“These past few days, this servant hasn’t mentioned it because I worried you’d be sad. But seeing how calm Miss was when you just saw the Young Master, this servant became confused. If you’re uncomfortable in your heart, you don’t need to force yourself to pretend.”

“When was I ever sad? You girl, don’t randomly speculate about my thoughts.”

“This servant has followed you for so long—how could I not understand you?”

“Don’t ask anymore, and don’t speak of it anymore. Right now Shiyan and I are just ordinary friends.” Zhu Yao emphasized this.

Cai’er couldn’t say more and chose to stay silent.

In a short while, the two arrived at the elegant pavilion.

It wasn’t very large, but not small either!

Inside was arranged very beautifully in an antique style, with a guzheng placed inside. Tea and water were already prepared.

“Miss Zhu, does this work for you? It’s still the same room you came to before.” The attendant said.

Zhu Yao said politely: “Thank you, this is very good.”

“Then you sit. This humble one will be right outside. If you need anything, just give orders directly.”

“Mm.”

The attendant withdrew.

Zhu Yao sat down. The floor-to-ceiling bamboo windows in the elegant pavilion were very large, allowing her to see the decorative mountains, small stream, and many flowers outside, as well as many people walking about in the garden—men and women…

At this moment—

A voice came from outside: “Zhu Yao?”

Hmm?

Why did that voice sound so familiar?

It was Qiu Shu!

Truly enemies on a narrow road—to run into her here.

Hearing the voice, Zhu Yao looked toward the doorway and saw Qiu Shu had already entered from outside, wearing a pink dress with a head full of pearl hairpins, dressed extremely “grandly”—if you didn’t know better, you’d think she was getting married today.

Different from the past, when Qiu Shu saw Zhu Yao this time, she was no longer domineering and overbearing, but instead had added a trace of gentleness and flattery between her brows.

Strange?

What wind was blowing today?

Zhu Yao had a bad premonition and absolutely suspected the other party must have some purpose.

Seeing Zhu Yao in good spirits, Qiu Shu came right up and grasped her hand, asking with concern: “Zhu Yao, are you alright? I heard after you returned from Ning’an Manor you fell ill. It really frightened me. It’s just that I’ve had matters on hand recently and couldn’t come see you. Quickly let me look at you—are you better now?”

Good grief!

She must have gone crazy. If she hadn’t gone crazy, then she had amnesia, completely forgetting how much she had detested Zhu Yao before this.

“Miss Qiu, if you have something to say, just say it directly.”

I’m not used to this!

But Qiu Shu smiled and pulled her to sit down, saying as she did: “What could I possibly have to say? I just heard you had also come, so I hurried over to greet you. After all, we’re sisters! When you fell ill, I also felt uncomfortable all over. But seeing your complexion is much better, it seems your illness must have recovered, so I don’t need to keep worrying.”

Shameless.

Right now, Qiu Shu was still firmly grasping Zhu Yao’s hand.

After an awkward smile, Zhu Yao immediately pulled her hand back and inconspicuously wiped it a few times with her handkerchief, saying: “Thank you for your concern. I’ve already recovered.”

“That’s good then.”

“You’ve also seen me now. If there’s nothing else, I won’t see you out.”

Her words carried the meaning of sending a guest away.

But Qiu Shu had deliberately come—how could she just leave like this?

She quickly called over her own maid: “Quick, bring what I prepared.”

“Yes!” A maid beside her took out a red brocade box and placed it on the table.

Zhu Yao glanced at it, thinking: what exactly is this person trying to pull?

Qiu Shu said to her gently: “Isn’t this coincidental? Recently I obtained two hairpins that are extremely beautiful. I kept one for myself and thought I’d give the remaining one to someone. I immediately thought of you.”

As she spoke, she opened the box!

Inside was a jade-green hairpin, translucent and exquisite. The hairpin head had a gold clasp inlaid on it, wrapped in a hollow shape to form a semicircle. A translucent red gemstone was embedded and carved in the center of the circle—extremely refined and beautiful.

This… was a fox coming to pay New Year’s respects!

Zhu Yao’s bad premonition grew stronger and stronger.

Qiu Shu said: “I see this hairpin matches you very well, so I specially saved it for you. I believe you’ll definitely like it.” As she spoke, she reached up to touch another identical jade hairpin on her own head, smiling as she said: “Look, if we wear matching ones, we’ll be the best of sisters.”

“…”

“Try it on.” Qiu Shu took the hairpin from the box, preparing to insert it into the hair bun of the person across from her.

But Zhu Yao’s body leaned back accordingly, avoiding her as she said: “No need. Thank you for your kind intentions, Miss Qiu, but you should keep such a fine hairpin for yourself.”

“I’m giving it to you, so just accept it.”

“Really, there’s no need. Thank you.”

Qiu Shu’s hand froze halfway, and the smile on her face also stiffened…

Extremely awkward!