Popping his head out of the chest, Li Shiyan let out a long sigh of relief.

His forehead was covered in sweat.

If he had been stuffed in there any longer, he would have suffocated to death in the chest.

Xiao Luzi asked: “Young Master, are you alright?”

Li Shiyan looked back vigilantly, and seeing no one had discovered them, quickly straightened his clothes and ordered Xiao Luzi: “This young master is fine. Hurry and get the carriage.”

“Yes!”

The two quietly exited through the back gate, where the carriage was waiting not far away.

Seeing people emerge, the coachman quickly drove the horse over.

After Li Shiyan boarded the carriage, he suddenly thought of something and ordered the coachman: “Don’t go to Saixian Tower yet. Go to the West Market area first.”

Xiao Luzi didn’t understand: “Young Master, what are you going to the West Market for? The courtesan queen selection isn’t there.”

“I’m going to pick up Luo Yang and bring him along to watch.”

Last time, Li Shiyan had drunk with Luo Yang until his wounds reopened, causing the Marquis of Kangding to fly into a rage. He ordered that Li Shiyan not be allowed to leave and commanded over a dozen servant boys from the estate to take turns guarding the courtyard. If it weren’t for this, they wouldn’t have needed to use the method of hiding someone in a chest to get out.

So Xiao Luzi worried that if Young Master and Luo Yang got together again, something would go wrong. He quickly tried to stop him: “Young Master, let’s not go looking for Young Master Luo. What if…”

“What if what?”

“We’re going secretly and can’t make a commotion. If Young Master and Young Master Luo drink again and the Marquis finds out… this servant’s life will truly be gone.” Xiao Luzi was ultimately still afraid of death.

After all, Li Shiyan was the heir. No matter how great his offense, it wouldn’t be a capital crime. But he was different—a lowly servant whom his master could kill as easily as stepping on an ant.

Li Shiyan had always been stubborn. How could he listen to Xiao Luzi’s persuasion? He immediately glared at him fiercely: “So much nonsense! This young master says he’s going to find Luo Yang, so he’s going. If you keep talking, I’ll throw you in the river to feed the fish!”

“…” Xiao Luzi immediately shut his mouth.

The carriage quickly arrived at where Luo Yang lived, but the person wasn’t there.

Only Xiao Ba was in the courtyard feeding a white rabbit.

Li Shiyan asked: “Where’s Luo Yang?”

Xiao Ba glanced at him, quickly dropped the cabbage in his hand, wiped both hands on his body, and with a carrot still stuffed in his mouth, said incoherently: “My big brother went out early this morning.”

“Went out? Where to?”

Xiao Ba shook his head: “Don’t know.”

“Think carefully.”

“Mm… seems like some kind of temple?”

“What temple?” Li Shiyan had no idea what he was talking about!

Xiao Ba stuffed another bite of carrot in his mouth and said proudly: “My big brother is an official now, a big official. He’s an official at some kind of temple. So impressive!”

Li Shiyan’s jaw nearly dropped: “Became an official?”

As he spoke, his brows furrowed high!

Xiao Ba nodded vigorously: “Yeah! Now that my big brother is an official, we’ll stay in Yanjing from now on. He said once he becomes a bigger official, we’ll move to a bigger place. Then…”

He prattled on incessantly.

Li Shiyan listened in complete bewilderment. Really too lazy to listen any longer, he waved his sleeve: “Forget it, forget it, stop talking! Anyway, tell Luo Yang that after he returns, he should come find me at the Marquis Estate.”

“Oh.”

After Li Shiyan left, Xiao Ba continued feeding the rabbit.

Who knows if he actually heard what Li Shiyan had just instructed?

Li Shiyan returned to the carriage. Unable to find Luo Yang, he could only go to Saixian Tower by himself.

…

At this moment, Saixian Tower was packed with people. Compared to previous years, this year’s courtesan queen selection was even livelier. The seats from the first to third floors were almost all reserved. Court officials were mostly on the second floor—their purpose was to ensure the selection was fair and prevent anyone from cheating. In plain terms, they were there to supervise.

The third floor was mostly occupied by hedonistic sons of wealthy families and young masters from prestigious households, mainly there to catch a glimpse of the beauties.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites were already prepared in the back room of Saixian Tower, just waiting for the appointed hour to begin.

Outside Saixian Tower, sedan chairs were carried to the entrance one after another. Mostly young masters and daughters of wealthy families descended from them.

Two people emerged from one pink sedan chair.

One was Zhu Yao.

One was Liu Yunzhu.

Liu Yunzhu looked at the magnificently decorated Saixian Tower before her and asked Zhu Yao: “Sister, what is this place?”

Zhu Yao gently told her: “This is where the courtesan queen selection is being held.”

“What are we doing here? Aren’t you helping me find my sister anymore?”

“The government office hasn’t had any news, and we don’t know the situation. Didn’t you say your sister came to Yanjing to participate in the courtesan queen selection? She’ll definitely come today. If we go in and wait, we’ll be able to see her.”

“Really?”

“As long as your sister comes, we’ll definitely see her.”

Liu Yunzhu was extremely happy, her beautiful eyes curving like two crescent moons.

Just as Zhu Yao was about to pull her inside, she saw a sedan chair coming from the opposite direction stop.

It was the Qiu Estate’s sedan chair!

Qiu Shu was dressed extremely lavishly. As soon as she descended from the sedan, she drew everyone’s attention.

Logically, if she was participating in the courtesan queen selection, shouldn’t she have been in Saixian Tower’s Beauty Pavilion preparing early?

Why was she here?

Could she really be this arrogant?

Qiu Shu also noticed Zhu Yao. She walked over with a swaying figure, the corner of her lips curving: “What wind is blowing today? In previous years, Miss Zhu never came to join this excitement. This year, this is…?”

Her voice was sarcastic!

Completely unlike her gentle accommodating manner when she had needed favors before.

Zhu Yao was also used to her tone and replied: “I came because I have business to attend to.”

“Business?” Qiu Shu glanced at Liu Yunzhu. “Don’t tell me you’re bringing this little baby to participate in the courtesan queen selection?”

“You’ve misunderstood.”

“Heh heh.”

Zhu Yao asked in return: “However, Miss Qiu, shouldn’t you be inside? Why are you only arriving now? Generally, women participating in the selection must arrive early to prepare in the pavilion inside.”

Better not to mention it—this mention touched on Qiu Shu’s pain.

She forcefully suppressed the bitterness in her heart, still displaying an arrogant and superior appearance. She raised her eyebrows and curved her lips, saying: “I have no interest in such a vulgar competition.”

“But before you asked me to…”

“What nonsense are you spouting! When did I ever ask you for anything?” Qiu Shu decisively cut off her words.

Although she had indeed asked her for a favor regarding this selection before, hoping to use Zhu Yao’s connections to smoothly enter the preliminary selection, now that she couldn’t participate in the selection, she naturally couldn’t lower herself.

Zhu Yao wasn’t stupid. She immediately understood what the other person meant, but didn’t want to expose it directly. She only said: “I remembered wrong.”

“Then you’d better remember more clearly.”

“…” Zhu Yao was speechless. Not wanting to continue conversing with her, she said: “Then I won’t disturb Miss Qiu. I’ll go in first.”

With that, she led Liu Yunzhu inside.

Qiu Shu watched her retreating figure. For some reason, her heart felt even more annoyed, a ball of anger circling in her chest. With a wave of her sleeve, she also went in!