Dengtian Tower stood nine stories tall and three zhang wide. Normally guarded by the Imperial Guards, only during major festivals like Mid-Autumn would its gates be opened early for decoration. When auspicious times arrived, the Son of Heaven or his blood descendants would ascend the tower to pray for Heaven to bestow its grace, ensuring peace throughout the realm and tranquility for all things. Before the First Prince’s private misconduct was exposed, he had always represented the imperial family in ascending the tower to pray for blessings. But after Emperor Wenhui discovered him cavorting with palace maids in the palace, he never again received this honor.

These past one or two years, the duty of lighting the lanterns at Dengtian Tower had fallen to the Third Prince, Shen Qianbai.

Opposite Dengtian Tower stood the capital’s most luxurious wine house. This establishment faced Dengtian Tower from afar and could capture the tower’s interior scene. However, Cuiwei Tower was not somewhere ordinary commoners could enter—especially the top floor, which had been reserved year-round by various nobles of the capital. According to reason, with the Chengyang Marquis Residence’s status, they should also be able to secure a private room on the highest floor. But recently, the Marquis Residence’s reputation had been thoroughly ruined, so naturally they were excluded.

Jiang Xingjian arrived at Cuiwei Tower’s second floor, his expression gloomy and quite ugly. He pushed open the door to see Jiang Yan turning around with a gentle smile on his face.

However, this smile quickly faded when he saw clearly that only Jiang Xingjian had come alone.

An indescribable irritation steamed up from the bottom of his heart. Jiang Yan clasped his hands behind his back: “Elder brother came alone today?”

Jiang Xingjian nodded: “Grandmother cannot be left unattended. Mother must remain to look after her. Your sister-in-law’s health is unwell, so she couldn’t come.”

Jiang Yan smiled faintly, then turned to look out the window.

However, his hand gripping the corridor railing unconsciously tightened more and more, as if he couldn’t control the irritation in his heart.

Seeing this, Qing Zhai brought over a tea cup and placed it before him: “Master, have some tea.”

Jiang Xingjian lifted his eyes to glance at Jiang Yan once, then withdrew his gaze, his heart full of vigilance as he looked toward Dengtian Tower. Both men had their own calculations in mind and neither noticed the other’s abnormality.

The room was silent. Jiang Yan was the first to lose patience.

“Your younger brother just saw an old friend and wishes to go pay respects.”

“Go busy yourself. No need to mind me.”

Jiang Yan nodded and was preparing to leave when he heard Jiang Xingjian say: “It will be chaotic today. If you have no business, you might as well return to the residence early. Don’t wander the streets.”

“Your younger brother understands.”

Walking out the door, Jiang Yan furrowed his brows in puzzlement.

Jiang Xingjian’s words seemed to carry deeper meaning, forcing him to take them to heart. After brief contemplation, he decided to head back to the residence.

However, just as he descended Cuiwei Tower, he spotted Xiao Jiye standing on the third floor.

Jiang Yan wasn’t surprised that Xiao Jiye would appear here, but this person being in a top-floor private room made him somewhat puzzled.

“You go back first. I’ll go upstairs for a look.”

Having Qing Zhai return to the residence first, Jiang Yan went to the room where he had just seen Xiao Jiye.

He and Xiao Jiye had been acquainted for a long time. Though the two had secretly collaborated on many business dealings, he knew nothing at all about this person’s background. Jiang Yan only knew his surname was Xiao and that he occasionally revealed a Nanqing accent when speaking.

Originally, Jiang Yan had thought Xiao Jiye was a scion of a Nanqing noble family. But ever since Jiang Xingjian mentioned Mandian Xiang last time, he felt the other’s identity was probably not so simple.

An enemy nation’s accent plus imperial tribute wine, and now appearing on Cuiwei’s third floor today—it must be said, this made him quite curious.

Upon seeing Jiang Yan, Xiao Jiye wasn’t particularly surprised and directly led him through the door.

Only Xiao Jiye was in the room. Seeing this, Jiang Yan said: “Your appearance here makes one quite curious.”

Xiao Jiye laughed lightly and picked up the wine jar on the table to fill both their cups: “What’s there to be curious about? This Cuiwei Tower is mine.”

Jiang Yan was astonished, slightly raising his brows: “If I remember correctly, this Cuiwei Tower has some connection to Dong Chang.”

“Your memory is indeed correct.”

Xiao Jiye smiled freely but didn’t explain further.

Jiang Yan was also someone who understood tact. Seeing this, he asked no more questions.

The two chatted briefly. Xiao Jiye had drunk more than half the jar of wine when he noticed Jiang Yan’s wine bowl had been sitting before him the whole time, not a single sip taken.

“What’s this—afraid I poisoned it?”

“Not at all.”

Pushing the wine bowl before him aside, Jiang Yan’s eyes were gentle: “I promised her I wouldn’t drink anymore.”

Seeing this expression, Xiao Jiye clicked his tongue and rubbed his cheeks—his teeth ached terribly.

He had also met that Song Wan several times. Though one could say she had outstanding beauty and kind nature, how could she make Jiang Yan act like this?

“A perfectly good man indulging daily in romantic love—truly absurd.”

Xiao Jiye shook his head and shook it again: “Women are like snakes and scorpions. It’s not even enough to avoid them, yet you’ve become so confused over this. You’re truly a fool.”

Remembering his own injuries, his eyes darkened slightly, even stirred by the wine’s influence into some killing intent.

Hearing this, Jiang Yan’s voice carried loneliness: “No one in the world knows her goodness. Jiang Xingjian doesn’t know. You don’t know. All under Heaven don’t know. Only I know.”

Xiao Jiye didn’t understand. He understood even less about this talk of love and affection. He drained the wine in his bowl in one gulp and walked to the window corridor to look toward Dengtian Tower.

Not far from Dengtian Tower stood a bright yellow prayer platform where the imperial family sat. To avoid someone secretly releasing cold arrows, this altar was extremely far from Cuiwei Tower.

Xiao Jiye narrowed his eyes, obscurity filling them.

“What are you looking at?”

“Seeing if that person came.”

Jiang Yan laughed: “Naturally he didn’t come.”

Emperor Wenhui had a weak temperament. According to rumors, when the imperial princes fought fiercely for succession back then, it frightened him out of his wits. In all these years since ascending the throne, he had never once left the imperial palace. Today would naturally be no exception.

Xiao Jiye withdrew his gaze and asked seriously: “What kind of person do you think he is?”

“Ahem.”

Before Jiang Yan could speak, a man’s light cough came from the adjacent private room. The two turned their heads simultaneously as a gentle man walked out from the room.

“Second Master Yan.”

Song Fu smiled faintly at Jiang Yan, his eyes full of goodwill.

In earlier years when Song Wan lived as a widow in the Marquis Residence, she had written to him saying she received much care from the second household. Thus, Song Fu had a very good impression of him.

“Lord Song.”

Seeing Song Fu, Jiang Yan unconsciously straightened his spine. The disdain in his eyes from moments ago completely vanished, replaced by the respect and obedience of a child seeing an elder.

Xiao Jiye looked at Song Fu, secretly noting this person’s expression was clear and upright—the bearing of an honorable gentleman. After thinking, he also called out “Lord Song.”

“I’ve prepared wine and food in my private room. If you two gentlemen have no other business, why not share a cup with this humble one?”

Xiao Jiye looked toward Jiang Yan, inquiring his meaning.

Jiang Yan smiled: “Since Lord Song extends an invitation, Yu dares not decline.”

The two walked into Song Fu’s private room to see the table laden with light dishes and abundant pastries. Beside the table sat two packages of Liu’s crispy candy, and the prepared wine was also fruit wine more suitable for women to drink. Jiang Yan’s gaze swept over the full table of dishes and silently committed them to memory.

Upon seeing the two packages of Liu’s crispy candy, the corners of his lips curved up slightly, and his complexion also became somewhat flushed.

He had never known that person liked these things.

Xiao Jiye, however, paid no mind to these details. He brought over two jars of wine and placed them on the table, then found a server to bring up new meat dishes before sitting down to exchange pleasantries with Song Fu.

Seeing his actions were carefree and quite bold and unrestrained, Song Fu gradually developed favorable feelings and picked up the wine jar to pour for the two men.

Xiao Jiye’s eyes held a smile. Seeing this scene, he looked toward Jiang Yan with some curiosity.

He wondered—with his sister-in-law’s elder brother pouring wine, would he drink or not?