Ji Yunshu finally couldn’t stand watching anymore—

“Wei Yi, are we going to see the flower lanterns or not?”

Upon hearing this, Wei Yi immediately stood up.

“Yes, of course we’re going.”

“Then stop chattering with people and let’s go quickly.”

“Alright!”

As the two were about to leave, Muruo stretched lazily and stood up, blocking them, smiling like a scoundrel and saying, “Such a fun Lantern Festival, how could I not go? Fine wine and beautiful women will be there—can’t miss it. How about taking me along?”

Ji Yunshu said without courtesy, “No way. If you get drunk out there, we can’t carry you.”

“When have I ever truly gotten drunk? Just take me along. I promise I won’t cause trouble or get drunk. Just take me.”

Shameless!

Like a stubborn plaster!

“No!”

“Really not?” Muruo put on a petty expression, smiling wickedly and strangely. “Master Ji, you should know that Jingrong, that cold stone, is currently dealing with the mess Liu Zhiliang left behind. If he finds out you two snuck out, the consequences would be…”

Hehe!

Oh boy, you little brat, you dare threaten us?

Wei Yi suddenly stepped forward boldly. “If you dare tell Brother Jingrong, I’ll… I’ll bury you and cover you with grass. You believe me or not?”

But this only earned a contemptuous laugh. “Little Wei Yi, oh little Wei Yi, even if you had the guts, you wouldn’t dare.”

“I…” He really didn’t dare.

He shrank back a bit.

Ji Yunshu’s head ached from the commotion. She looked back at the courtyard, immediately closing the back door to prevent Lang Bo from chasing after them.

She glanced at Muruo with great disdain several times, helpless.

“If you want to go, come along.”

“Great!”

Muruo raised his voice high, threw his head back laughing, then swayed his body as he followed behind.

At the Lantern Festival, the three wide streets were packed with people—men and women, all dressed neatly and smartly. Occasionally, you could see a few dressed garishly and provocatively.

Above the streets, all along the way hung various kinds of flower lanterns, illuminating the entire Anfu County very brightly. People laughed and played merrily, completely immersed in the Lantern Festival carnival.

Not affected at all by the matter of Liu Zhiliang, that fallen official!

Wei Yi carried that pumpkin lantern, walking at the very front, chest out, chin raised, deliberately holding the pumpkin lantern in his hand high, afraid others couldn’t see it.

His proud little appearance couldn’t be hidden.

That unique pumpkin lantern attracted the eyes of people on the street as soon as it appeared.

Everyone was extremely envious, and children ran over, curiously gathering around the lantern in Wei Yi’s hand.

“So pretty, so pretty…”

Such liveliness!

All along the way, Wei Yi wandered about freely, wanting this and that, with many fun things of all sizes hanging on him.

If he took all this back to Jinjiang, probably one carriage wouldn’t be enough to hold it all.

Although Muruo drank as he went, he still carefully protected the two, never leaving their side—not staying too close, but not too far either.

Occasionally he would curiously ask Ji Yunshu, “You should hurry up and find Wei Yi a wife, preferably one who can manage money. Look at him—if he keeps spending like this, the silver in his pocket will definitely be spent completely. It pains me to watch. How much better to buy a few more jugs of wine.”

Ji Yunshu tossed back, “If silver isn’t meant to be spent, what is it for—eating?”

“…”

No words to respond!

Suddenly—

The crowd began to stir, with many people surging toward a certain place.

Someone was heard saying, “Miss Mujin is composing poetry, let’s go see quickly.”

Mujin?

Composing poetry could cause such a commotion?

Ji Yunshu was always curious, so she followed over.

A poetry platform was set up in the corridor pavilion by the bridge, surrounded by crowds of people. Nearby were many tables and chairs for people to rest, with many jugs of wine on them for anyone to drink.

Simply Muruo’s paradise!

Without another word, he found an empty seat and sat down.

Ji Yunshu pulled Wei Yi to sit down, watching him drink silently on one side while looking toward the crowd.

She saw a woman in purple robes standing by the river, elegantly refined and extraordinarily graceful, as if naturally carrying a light and ethereal air. Her beautiful eyes glanced around with a smile on her peach-blossom cheeks. That temperament—one couldn’t quite call it charming, but it revealed a certain wisdom.

She naturally possessed an elegant and noble air.

This person was called Mujin.

Not only was she beautiful as a celestial being, she was also Anfu County’s famous talented woman.

She could read at three, studied the Four Books and Five Classics at five, and by ten was full of learning, even surpassing her own teacher. Over the years, no one could match her talent.

If she weren’t a woman, she would have long since gone to the capital to take the imperial examinations.

However, this woman was also rather aloof. Though well past marriageable age, she had never found anyone to her liking.

Her beautiful eyes swept over the four men before her.

Then—

Her red lips parted, speaking a line of poetry.

“Spring returns to the beams, fitting for the lord of the manor.”

One of the men confidently responded, “The master values and asks not the guest.”

The woman countered again, “The guest returns from his homeland to the shadow of home.”

“The shadow enters the void and makes no cup.”

“The cup holds the noble scholar who knows not longing.”

No one continued—

Several men were at a loss, truly unable to think of more verses to match.

Miss Mujin, one against four, complete victory.

She smiled slightly, as if naturally carrying a sense of confidence.

Ji Yunshu observed, contemplating what to match, but her poetry composition skills weren’t particularly good—her bone-examining abilities were better.

Just as everyone was praising Mujin, a line suddenly came from the crowd: “Longing for you, scattered and gathered, where do we go?”

Whoosh!

Everyone immediately looked over and saw a figure in light purple robes emerge from the crowd. The person wore bright and magnificent tribute silk, with an upright bearing that made the fine satin on his chest form perfect lines. His hair was bound high in a topknot, the hair ribbon falling behind, his head slightly raised.

From his deep-set eyes flowed a cold light, carrying a sense of enchantment.

This person was none other than Jingrong.

Ji Yunshu was dumbfounded!

How was he here?

Mujin’s originally proud eyes softened somewhat.

With an appreciative tone she said, “Young master, this line ‘Longing for you, scattered and gathered, where do we go?’ is extremely well matched.”

Undisguised praise!

Jingrong: “Does the young lady have another line to match?”

Mujin pondered carefully for a moment, her red lips parting slightly. “The distant shore stretches ten li of emotion.”

“Good poetry.” Jingrong smiled slightly, then his gaze pierced through the crowd before him, locking directly onto Ji Yunshu’s line of sight.

When their four eyes met!

She shuddered all over.

As if caught red-handed.

Disaster!

Then she heard Jingrong say, “Emotion requires the faint clouds to turn for a lifetime.”

As if he were saying it to her.

Hearing this line, a smile appeared at the corners of Mujin’s mouth.

“This young lady concedes. Young master wins. This line ‘Emotion requires the faint clouds to turn for a lifetime’—I cannot match it.”

Jingrong withdrew his gaze, speaking to her with slight kindness. “The young lady has excellent learning. The verses you spoke just now truly earned my admiration.”

“May I know young master’s esteemed name?”

“My surname is Jing.”

“Young Master Jing, I am Mujin.”