Ji Yunshu and Muruo chatted about other things.

Perhaps because he’d drunk some wine, Muruo narrowed his eyes and leaned back in that rocking chair, his feet pressing against the ground.

His toes pushing and pushing!

His mouth also began speaking in a hazy, confused manner.

“Actually, that kid Jingrong is quite pitiful too.”

“Hm?” Ji Yunshu didn’t hear very clearly.

“He probably never told you—since childhood, he was sent out of the palace to be fostered, wasn’t he?”

Fostered?

An imperial prince being fostered—she’d never heard of such a thing.

But it piqued Ji Yunshu’s interest, and she perked up her ears, preparing to listen.

Muruo had that feeling of speaking the truth after drinking, talking to himself.

“Everyone says being born into the imperial family means noble status and enjoying wealth and honor for a lifetime. But Jingrong’s mother consort made a mistake years ago and died in the Cold Palace. That crime naturally fell upon Jingrong as well. He was pointed at and scorned, unwelcome. That year, he was only five years old. The Emperor didn’t like him either, so he secretly sent him out of the palace overnight to be fostered at the residence of a Hanlin Scholar. He was raised until seventeen before being granted a princedom and could finally establish his own household. But although he’s clearly a prince, in the court, he’s worth less than even a minor official.”

His voice grew smaller and smaller!

More and more confused!

Then he poured another mouthful of wine into his mouth!

One could hear that Muruo truly felt it was unjust for Jingrong—clearly an imperial prince, why should he bear the sins of his already-dead mother consort?

It wasn’t fair!

As for what crime Jingrong’s mother consort had committed, Muruo didn’t say.

But the most pitiful person in the world was clearly her, Ji Yunshu!

The owner of this body had been literally starved to death, unloved since childhood, with a status not even as good as a maid—that was truly pitiful!

However, who didn’t have a miserable past!

At this moment, Wei Yi came running over cheerfully with a pot of wine, heavily setting it down on the small table beside Muruo.

“Your wine!”

His voice was particularly loud.

Muruo made a great effort to open his eyes and stare at him, then struggled to sit up from the rocking chair, hooking his legs, in a half-asleep, half-awake state.

He beckoned to Wei Yi. “Kid, come here!”

“What do you want to do?”

“Come here!”

Wei Yi hesitated for a moment but still obediently came over.

Muruo reached out his hand again, pressing his five fingers downward, indicating for him to bend down.

Wei Yi complied!

Ji Yunshu on the side was sweating nervously—could he really be planning to poison Wei Yi mute?

Just as she was worrying, she saw Muruo reach out his hand and gently pat Wei Yi’s head, very tenderly.

His mouth carried a tone of lamentation as he said, “Little Wei Yi, oh little Wei Yi, if someday you can become an ordinary person again, never forget that the happiest thing in this world is not when you’re clear-headed, but when you’re confused.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’ll understand. Someday, you’ll understand…”

With that, his body went limp and collapsed.

Completely drunk!

Wei Yi scratched his head, not quite understanding. He turned his gaze to Ji Yunshu and asked, “Shu’er, what did he say?”

Ji Yunshu was silent for a moment before finally shaking her head!

“He must have drunk too much. He always likes to say strange things.” After Wei Yi finished speaking, he even kicked Muruo with his knee. Seeing no reaction—like a dead fish—he gave up.

Then he hopped and skipped away, going to mix with those young attendants again.

When people saw him, their entire faces twitched.

Everyone’s hearts were probably praying for the same thing:

Master Wei Yi, please just rest on the side for a bit!

But the energy bursting from Wei Yi’s body was inexhaustible.

Full of vigor!

Overflowing with vitality!

Seeing him so happy, Ji Yunshu felt at ease.

She had planned to return to Prince Rong’s mansion, but unexpectedly, Jingrong came.

He brought only Lang Bo with him.

That face was extremely stern, his sword-like brows seeming to pierce into his hair crown, sharp as a blade.

As he approached, his gaze remained fixed on the drunk Muruo, his tone devoid of emotion as he instructed Lang Bo, “Take Master Ji back to the mansion first.”

“Yes!”

Lang Bo’s entire demeanor was much more serious than usual!

He walked before Ji Yunshu.

“Master Ji, let me escort you back to the mansion.”

The air suddenly became heavy!

Ji Yunshu glanced at Jingrong, seeing his profile that revealed no emotion, as if it were condensed with tens of thousands of volts of electrical current.

She knew something serious must have happened!

So she asked no more questions and left Yuhua Pavilion with Lang Bo.

On the way back to Prince Rong’s mansion, Ji Yunshu finally couldn’t help but ask.

“What happened?”

“Master Ji, it’s better not to ask.”

But she deliberately guessed, “Does it have to do with Qujiang’s marriage proposal?”

Lang Bo was someone who couldn’t keep things to himself. His face somber, he nodded. “These past two days, the Emperor has been considering the candidate for the marriage alliance. Today it seems to have been decided. After the Prince learned of it, he immediately rushed to find Young Master Muruo.”

“The candidate has been decided? Who?”

“Miss Kong.”

Kong Yu?

Ji Yunshu was also somewhat surprised. By rights, Kong Yu had nothing to do with a marriage alliance—why would they send her over?

Actually, over these past two days, she had learned some things about Kong Yu. That young lady came from a distinguished family, but since childhood had not been pretentious, no different from most ordinary girls. Although her family clan had produced Empress Xuanshu, this hadn’t made the Kong family arrogant or domineering. Instead, they lived their days peacefully.

Not meddling in palace affairs!

Not interfering in court matters!

Kong Yu had also developed good habits since childhood—not pretentious, not affected, and her heart was quite kind!

She never hid what she liked, and certainly wouldn’t stab people in the back.

Just, she was a bit stubborn!

She loved only Jingrong, wholeheartedly!

However, now at 25 years old, in ancient times, she was indeed an older unmarried woman.

Between the noble Princess Jingxuan and an older unmarried woman, the Emperor would choose to send Kong Yu over.

Actually, it was reasonable!

But given the childhood friendship between Kong Yu, Jingrong, and Muruo, after learning of this, Jingrong immediately ran to find Muruo.

That was also reasonable!

And this matter seemed to have nothing to do with her, Ji Yunshu.

…

On the other side, Jingrong sat beside Muruo the entire time. A young attendant came in to deliver a pot of tea, but sensing the wrong atmosphere, quickly slipped out.

He poured a cup of tea—steaming hot, somewhat scalding—holding it between his fingertips for a long moment.

Splash—

That cup of tea, not a drop spilled, was poured onto Muruo’s face, which had been flushed red by alcohol.

“Ugh!”

Muruo was splashed partially awake. He raised his sleeve to wipe his face, and through the haze saw Jingrong sitting beside him. Only then did he slowly sit up.

Bending his knees, he rested his hands on them!

But his brow was deeply furrowed!

“Have you lost your mind, kid?”

“If you didn’t wake up, what would be splashed on your face would be an entire pot of tea, not just one cup!”

That tone was deadly cold!

Muruo struggled to open one eye, carefully looking at Jingrong, only then discovering something was seriously wrong.

So—

He kicked Jingrong’s thigh with his foot.

He asked, “What exactly happened? Why did you come and immediately show me that foul face? Look at you, always like this. Too much anger leads to poor blood circulation—you’ll age faster!” After pausing, he looked around. “That beauty left?”

Really, she left without even saying goodbye!

A sound of air burst from Jingrong’s nostrils!

His tone heavy, he said, “Father Emperor has already issued the order. Tomorrow, Kong Yu will be granted the title of Princess Huiwen.”

“What? Grant Kong Yu the title of princess?” Muruo was shocked.

It seemed even the alcohol had worn off!

Jingrong nodded.

“Mm, to marry far away to Qujiang!”