Little Luzi asked, “Then what does the heir apparent want most?”

What he wanted most— “If only my wish could come true, but I’m afraid there’s no such opportunity. What’s missed is missed. Perhaps in my next life I can still compete for it, but in this life, it’s destined to be hopeless. Who told me to be one step too late? I deserve this!” He spoke to himself, his words carrying some self-mockery. Then looking at Little Luzi who was washing his feet, he earnestly reminded him, “Little Luzi, listen carefully. If one day you meet a young lady who truly moves your heart, remember, you must seize the opportunity. You absolutely, absolutely cannot let it slip by, otherwise you’ll regret it to death.”

Little Luzi found this quite strange. Why was his master suddenly bringing this up? He scratched his head, then suddenly had an epiphany. He blinked a few times and asked, “Heir Apparent, are you talking about… that Miss Ji?”

“You… how did you know?” Was it that obvious?

He had clearly hidden it quite well! Little Luzi had gone with him to Da Lin back then, so of course he knew those little schemes. Moreover, over these five years, his master would mention “Miss Ji” from time to time. Clearly all along, he had been unable to forget Ji Yunshu. He would even call out in his dreams, always saying things like he had missed his chance and regretted it terribly.

So when Li Shiyan said these words just now, Little Luzi had guessed it. “Heir Apparent, after all I’ve been by your side for so many years! If I didn’t even know this, wouldn’t I have lived in vain? Besides, you’ve always been thinking about Miss Ji in your heart, thinking of her during the day and dreaming of her at night. This servant has seen it all with his eyes and heard it all with his ears. So when you said this just now, even without using my brain I would know.”

“You’re just too clever. One day when I’m unhappy, I’ll sell you off and use the silver to drink plenty of wine.”

“Please don’t!”

“Who told you to know so many of this heir apparent’s secrets? What if one day you leak them out and cause me trouble? Wouldn’t I suffer a great loss then?”

Little Luzi shook his head vigorously. “I definitely won’t speak of it. Heir Apparent, you must believe me. I’ve followed you for so many years with complete loyalty. If I was really going to leak your secrets, I would have leaked them long ago.”

Hearing these words, Li Shiyan raised his hand and patted him on the head. “Look at you, smart one moment, stupid the next. You’re so foolish—if I sold you, who would want you? Others would have to pay silver on top of it.”

“Hehe.”

“Really foolish!”

“So this servant can only follow the heir apparent for this lifetime. No one else would want me.”

Li Shiyan showed an expression of great misfortune, slapping his palm to his forehead.

Suddenly—

Little Luzi remembered something. “By the way, Heir Apparent, in a few more days it will be time for the capital’s courtesan selection. Are you going?”

Oh my, he had almost forgotten! In five days the capital would be selecting the courtesan. It happened once every three years—that was a major event. All the noble young masters and high officials in the capital would come to join the excitement, hoping to personally witness the most beautiful young lady in the capital and feast their eyes. Some would even spend large sums to buy the courtesan’s first cup of wine!

However, this courtesan was not that kind of courtesan! The capital’s courtesan selection was the most respectable. It wasn’t something flower girls could participate in. Rather, any young lady in the city of appropriate age with an innocent family background could participate. There was no distinction between noble and lowly, no distinction between beautiful and plain. As long as they met the requirements and wanted to participate, they could. The one who won the courtesan title would definitely be carefully selected from among ten thousand. Moreover, it was ordered personally by the Emperor and personally selected one by one by the Ministry of Rites. The process was extremely strict and could not be manipulated by those with money or power, so it was very fair and impartial. On the day of the courtesan selection, countless young women would sign up to participate. There were even many women who traveled from distant places to participate. It was even livelier than the Emperor’s selection of palace ladies. The courtesan selection would last for a month, with the Ministry of Rites screening layer by layer. Finally, three young women would be selected, their portraits sent before the Emperor, and the Emperor would judge the final victor.

Once one won the courtesan title, she would become the most honored woman in all of Great Yu and would receive extremely generous rewards. At that time, countless noble officials would line up requesting to marry her. How glorious that would be! The courtesan competition was held in the largest elegant pavilion in the city, called the Immortal Contest Tower! At that time countless young ladies would take the stage to perform, displaying their beautiful graceful bearing. Officials from the Ministry of Rites would be all around, while the second and third floors were viewing areas.

It was said that at that time, a seat in the Immortal Contest Tower was hard to come by. Even spending a fortune might not get you in. However, Li Shiyan could always find a way to reserve a table, then go join the excitement with his pack of fair-weather friends. Sometimes they would even heckle a few times, making the Ministry of Rites officials very unhappy. They had thrown them out several times, but each one was like a stubborn plaster—the next day they would come again. This happened repeatedly, truly leaving people helpless!

But this year seemed different from past years!

Previously, Li Shiyan would always be together with Zhao Quanzhi, bringing people along to join the excitement. His arch-rival Wang Huai would also bring his people to join the excitement. The two groups would often quarrel, even fight, endlessly.

But this year…

Wang Huai was dead!

Zhao Quanzhi was still in the Court of Judicial Review’s prison waiting to be executed.

And after this whole affair, all the young masters in the capital would hide far away when they saw Li Shiyan, as if encountering a plague god. They could never return to those days of fighting and cursing from before.

So—he had naturally forgotten about the courtesan selection!

He couldn’t muster any interest either!

“Heir Apparent, what’s wrong? Are you going or not? If you’re going, this servant will go make arrangements for you, otherwise there won’t be any seats left.”

Li Shiyan thought about it. Too many things had happened recently—he had absolutely no such inclination. Zhao Quanzhi wasn’t here, who would accompany him in mischief!

So—

He waved his hand. “Forget it, better not go. There’s no real interest anyway. They all have two eyes and one mouth. What’s so good to see?”

He never would have said this before!

Little Luzi didn’t say anything more. He finished washing his feet and dried them. “Then young master, you should rest early.”

“Mm!”

Just as Little Luzi was carrying the water out—

“Wait!”

“Heir Apparent, have you changed your mind and decided to go?”

“No!” Li Shiyan asked him, “Tomorrow help me inquire about Zhao Quanzhi’s situation, see what the Court of Judicial Review plans to do with him.”

“What else could they do? He’ll definitely be beheaded! After all, he killed someone.”

“Why do you talk so much? I told you to go inquire, so just go inquire. If you have news, tell me immediately.” “Yes! But Heir Apparent, that Zhao Quanzhi really has no conscience. You were so good to him, yet he always resented you and even framed you. Fortunately the heir apparent has great fortune and destiny, and you had a benefactor helping you, which is why you’re safe and sound. So I say, heaven watches what people do, and good deeds will surely be rewarded!”

Makes sense! Li Shiyan also agreed, but he just wanted to know how Zhao Quanzhi was doing now. No matter what, he was someone he had spent so many years with. Regardless of how much the other person resented him or how he framed him this time, in the past when they were carousing and making mischief together, they truly were very happy. Those were memories that could not be erased. He dared guarantee that Zhao Quanzhi must also miss the old days just like he did.

“No matter what, after all we were brothers for a time. If he’s really going to be beheaded, I want to go see him off.”

Little Luzi said, “Heir Apparent, you’re just too kind-hearted. That’s why you took such a big fall this time.”

“Why do you talk so much nonsense!” Li Shiyan grabbed his shoe and tossed it at Little Luzi. “I ask you to do one little thing and you’re like a monk chanting sutras, more nagging than my father.”

Little Luzi caught the shoe with the water basin in his hands, laughed with another “hehe,” didn’t dare continue nagging, and quickly left! Li Shiyan lay on the bed, his injured hand hanging to one side, raising his other hand to rest behind his head. He stared at the gauze canopy atop the bed and gradually lost himself in thought… His mind was full of that moment when Ji Yunshu rushed out when he was stabbed by Jingrong. He had hazily seen Ji Yunshu’s familiar face and those eyes. Although it was only a few seconds, he had firmly imprinted it in his heart… Only thinking, when could he see her again?