Ji Yinshu was mortified!

She was just about to head over to the carriage ahead when Muruo blocked her path, suddenly pulling out a letter and pinching it between his fingertips, flicking it in front of her face.

Squinting his eyes, he complained: “Well, aren’t you something! You go off to some scenic paradise, slip away without a care, leaving me to look after that foolish boy. You didn’t even leave any silver, just a letter. Can a letter be traded for wine?”

Really!

Ji Yinshu had no choice but to take the letter back. Without saying anything, she went to find Wei Yi.

Watching that retreating figure, Muruo smiled slightly, nudging Jingrong with his elbow and asking in a teasing tone: “You wouldn’t happen to be angry now, would you, young man?”

Jingrong gave him a withering look.

He said coldly: “Why would I be angry?”

Even as he spoke, he kept glancing in Ji Yinshu’s direction!

Muruo propped himself up and in one motion sat down on the front board of the carriage, crossing his legs, then immediately poured a mouthful of wine down his throat before tilting his head back drunkenly to gaze at the sky.

He let out a sigh: “What should have been mandarin ducks traveling together has become a flock of migrating birds.”

Speechless!

Jingrong couldn’t be bothered to respond to his words, standing beside the carriage waiting for Ji Yinshu to return.

Ji Yinshu walked to the front carriage, lifted the curtain and peered inside, only to see Wei Yi sprawled completely across the interior of the carriage, clutching an empty wine jug in his arms, sound asleep.

“Wei Yi?”

She called out softly, reaching out to touch him.

But there was no response.

Looking at Wei Yi’s flushed face, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. At the corners of her lips, she couldn’t help but let slip a trace of an indulgent smile.

After a moment, she turned back to Jingrong and said: “He really is drunk.”

Jingrong glanced over in that direction a few times, then said: “Alright, you get in the carriage first. This prince will go over and ride with him, to look after these two drunkards.”

One referred to Wei Yi!

The other, of course, referred to Muruo!

And so—

Jingrong dragged Muruo down from the carriage and headed toward the carriage where Wei Yi was.

Just at that moment, another carriage came out from the capital city, converging right at that spot.

As soon as that carriage stopped, a woman’s figure emerged from within.

It was Ji Wanxin.

She descended from the carriage and happily approached Ji Yinshu, grasping her hand: “Yinshu, I’ll travel with you.”

“What’s this about?”

“I’ve been in the capital for some time now, and was thinking of returning to Jinjiang. I heard you were going to Yufu County, which also passes through Jinjiang, so I hurried to catch up with you. Fortunately, I did catch up.”

She smiled softly.

So beautiful!

Ji Yinshu nodded in understanding, but asked: “Are you returning alone?”

She sighed heavily: “Although elder sister couldn’t become the Crown Princess, she wants to stay behind, so she’s letting me return alone.”

“Oh!”

Ji Wanxin took out a handkerchief and dabbed at her forehead: “The weather is truly hot.”

“Hurry and get in the carriage, don’t get heatstroke.”

“Alright.” She obediently complied.

Just as she agreed, she noticed Jingrong and Muruo by the front carriage. She smiled faintly and minced over in dainty steps.

She curtsied: “Greetings to Your Highness.”

Jingrong wasn’t inclined to make conversation with her, only saying: “In this wilderness, there’s no need for formalities. Second Miss Ji is delicate in health, you should hurry and get in the carriage. We still need to rush along.”

“Very well.”

She smiled demurely with lowered head.

Jingrong then hauled Muruo into the carriage and ordered a guard to come drive the horses.

Ji Wanxin also pulled Ji Yinshu into her carriage. Chatting and laughing, the group set off.

The sky gradually approached dusk. All along, they traveled from the official road onto a small path. All around were dense, towering forests. The treetops swayed faintly with rustling sounds. Filtering through the gentle warm sunlight that slanted downward, falling on the very tips of the trees, it looked like exquisite paintings of blazing sun.

Inside the carriage!

Muruo had long since been knocked out by the wine, lazily leaning against the cushions.

Jingrong, meanwhile, was dozing on the side.

The carriage suddenly jolted. Jingrong opened his eyes and looked outside. This mountain road was extremely rugged, covered with small pebbles. The guard driving the horses was much more careful, not daring to crack the whip on the horses, lest they be startled and overturn the carriage.

It was precisely that earlier jolt that woke the sleeping Wei Yi. His head slammed hard against the wooden board.

Rubbing his head, he groggily opened his eyes. After his vision cleared, he saw Jingrong. With an angry expression, he pursed his lips and said unhappily: “Why did you hit me?”

Heaven be his witness, Jingrong’s hands had been inside his sleeves the entire time!

So he glared coldly at Wei Yi.

He said: “This prince doesn’t do such things.”

“What things?”

“Taking advantage of someone’s misfortune.”

“What does taking advantage of someone’s misfortune mean?”

“It means not being petty.”

“What does petty mean?”

“It means…” Jingrong suddenly realized something and, exasperated and helpless, turned his gaze away and simply stopped answering.

But Wei Yi, with a face full of curiosity, rubbed his head and moved even closer to him, blinking his eyes and continuing to press: “Tell me, what exactly does petty mean?”

“…”

“Tell me!”

“…”

“Grumpy pants.” Wei Yi pouted, crossing his arms in front of his chest. His eyes were practically turning green—he was just short of bristling with anger.

Looking at Wei Yi’s little display, Jingrong finally understood why Ji Yinshu could always show such rare smiles when spending time with him.

Indeed, Wei Yi was too adorable!

So adorable that he was a bit… likeable!

Bah!

Jingrong quickly dismissed the thought from his mind. I’m a straight man. You brat, you’re my romantic rival.

His principles firmly in place, he kicked Wei Yi: “Sit further away, you reek of alcohol.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Yi grabbed at his own clothes and sniffed hard with his nose, furrowing his brow with a disgusted expression.

And so—

He huffily said to Jingrong again: “Did you pour wine on me?”

“Nonsense.”

“It was definitely you.”

Jingrong couldn’t be bothered to argue anymore, the corner of his mouth twitching: “Yes, it was me. Now sit properly. When we reach the mountain inn, you can wash yourself properly.”

Wei Yi huffed and glared fiercely at him.

But Jingrong acted as if he didn’t see it.

Suddenly—

Wei Yi noticed Muruo in the carriage, reaching out to check Muruo’s breathing. He then breathed a sigh of relief and muttered: “Thank goodness he’s not dead.”

Ugh!

Hearing this muttered comment, Jingrong truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry!

Who knew Wei Yi would turn around and start interrogating Jingrong: “Did you knock out Brother Muruo?”

“Yes, it was me.”

“You’re so mean.”

“Yes, I’m very mean.”

“I’m not talking to you anymore.”

“Beyond my wildest dreams.” Jingrong smiled.

If he weren’t worried about these two drunkards causing some kind of commotion in the carriage, he wouldn’t have crawled into this wine-reeking carriage.

Now he could only wish you wouldn’t talk to me—my ears would be clear and I’d be more comfortable too!

And when he said this, Wei Yi really did turn away, truly deciding not to acknowledge Jingrong anymore.

Arms crossed in front of his chest, looking absolutely adorable!