The next morning!

The sky cleared, and the sun gradually climbed over the mountain peaks. Orange light slowly moved through the forest covering the mountainside, spilling into Jinjiang City, dispelling the cold that had persisted for days and finally bringing a trace of warmth.

At the breakfast table that morning, several people sat together.

Only Wei Yi’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Wei Yi?” Ji Yinshu asked the Wei residence servants.

Someone said, “The young master went to the study with Uncle Fu early this morning. When I passed by just now, I could still hear reciting of poetry from inside.”

“Reciting poetry?”

“Yes.” That maid nodded, saying teasingly, “And it was the young master reciting poetry too—it’s quite rare. In previous years, the young master couldn’t even recognize many characters, let alone recite poetry.”

Are you praising him or criticizing him?

“What poetry was he reciting?”

“It seemed… something like ‘when friends come from afar’—yes, that line. Since the young master returned this time, it’s like he’s become a different person. The things he says and does all feel much more spirited than before.” That maid smiled broadly.

Hearing this, Muruo laughed, “That foolish boy is actually learning to recite poetry? Interesting, interesting—it’s like the sun rising from the west.”

Tang Si across from him cast a contemptuous glance, “You’re allowed to show off all those classical phrases, but he’s not allowed to study?”

“Oh my, Miss Tang, when did you start speaking up for him?”

“Wei Yi is a great hero who risked his life to save my A’Ji. Of course I’ll speak up for him. If not for him, with my A’Ji’s frail body, wouldn’t she have met her demise?”

Bah!

Ji Yinshu’s forehead broke out in sweat.

Muruo snorted, holding his chopsticks and lightly tapping them on his wine cup a few times, lifting his eyelids, “Since that’s the case, why don’t you pledge yourself to him? Marry Young Master Wei—consider it repaying him on behalf of your A’Ji.”

Just as he finished speaking—

Bang!

Tang Si raised her foot and kicked hard at his knee under the table, even causing the dining table to shake, nearly spilling the wine pot on top.

Muruo clutched his knee, his brow furrowing in pain, clicking his tongue several times.

Glaring angrily, “Don’t you know that a person’s knee also has vital pressure points? What if you kicked one?”

“Then you deserve it. Who told you to talk nonsense? Besides, you’re only alive because I saved you. If you die, you’re just returning that life to me.”

“You girl—your mouth is unforgiving enough already, but how can your heart be so vicious too? No wonder no one wants you!”

“Who says?” She raised her proud eyes, cozying up to Ji Yinshu and linking arms with her, biting her lip and saying, “As long as A’Ji wants me, that’s enough, right?”

Her face moved closer.

But—

“Wrong.”

Ji Yinshu flatly replied with two words and withdrew her arm.

And so—

This brought another burst of laughter from Muruo, who almost slapped the table.

He didn’t forget to say in a mocking tone, “Some people misread the situation and lifted a rock only to drop it on their own foot.”

This made Tang Si so angry her beard bristled and her eyes bulged.

The two bickered at the breakfast table first thing in the morning—truly a pair of living treasures.

They completely failed to notice the cold pressure surrounding Jingrong!

What about Wei Yi saving Ji Yinshu? What about misreading the situation? It all seemed directed at him.

Old friend, that hits hard.

Throughout the meal, he frowned without saying a single word.

Ji Yinshu found it too noisy and left the table for the study in the rear courtyard.

Just reaching the door, she heard Wei Yi’s voice reciting poetry from inside. She pulled back the foot she’d already stepped through the doorway and quietly hid outside.

Wei Yi held the “Analects” in one hand, reading while asking Uncle Fu about characters he didn’t recognize.

After Uncle Fu taught him once, he wrote all those characters on paper. Writing and writing, he began to recite from memory.

“To learn and practice it from time to time, is that not a pleasure? When friends come from afar, is that not a joy? When others do not understand yet one harbors no resentment, is that not the mark of a gentleman…”

Swaying his head, looking quite proper.

He recited an entire passage from the “Analects” without a single error!

Ji Yinshu’s eyes deepened, and her hands inside her lapels involuntarily clenched.

An illiterate person had learned the “Analects”?

“Young master, you’re so clever! In less than two hours you’ve memorized all this, and you can write all these characters too. I think the master and mistress must be watching from heaven, blessing you to become smarter and smarter.” Uncle Fu beside him was so happy tears welled in his eyes.

He raised his sleeve to wipe them!

Wei Yi’s lips curved in a gentle smile. He stopped the brush in his hand, looking at his own crooked writing, then at Uncle Fu’s writing, and felt somewhat dejected, scratching his head.

“But Uncle Fu, my writing isn’t as good-looking as yours.”

“No rush, take your time. Someday the young master will write characters even better than mine.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Our young master is so clever—nothing can stump you.”

He smiled and nodded vigorously, working even harder at writing characters.

Uncle Fu felt very gratified.

Just as he was about to pour him a cup of water, he turned and saw Ji Yinshu standing in the doorway.

“Miss Ji, when did you arrive?”

Hearing the voice, Wei Yi looked up, delighted, “Shu’er, you came.”

She nodded and entered.

“Why didn’t you go eat?”

He shook his head!

“What if you starve your stomach?”

He shook his head again, “Shu’er, I’m not hungry. Look, I’m writing characters—Uncle Fu taught me.”

He picked up the paper with his writing to show her proudly.

Ji Yinshu reached out to take it. Although the characters were crooked, every single one was correct.

Was this still the Wei Yi who used to leave out a stroke when writing the “Yi” in his own name?

“You wrote this?”

He nodded!

“Uncle Fu taught me.”

“You recognize all the characters too?”

“All of them.”

“What about the ‘Analects’? Can you recite all of it?”

“Not a single word wrong!”

At that moment, Ji Yinshu’s profound eyes deepened further, carrying an unfathomable feeling.

She turned her head, saying to Uncle Fu, “Uncle Fu, I have some things I want to say to Wei Yi alone.”

“Then I’ll go fetch some pastries for the young master first.”

And Uncle Fu left!

Wei Yi put down his brush, coming around from behind the desk, looking at her in confusion.

“Shu’er, what do you want to tell me?”

Her fingertips lightly touched those crooked characters on the paper. Originally, she’d been hesitating about whether or not to take Wei Yi to the Imperial Residence. Now, she no longer needed to struggle with it.

Deep in her heart, at the moment she entered, she’d made her decision!

She met his gaze, saying, “Wei Yi, can you promise me one thing?”

“Shu’er, just say it. I’ll promise you anything.” Very readily.

“Stay behind.”

Three words!

At that moment, Wei Yi froze. After quite a while he finally understood. His hands hung straight at his sides, and his face, which had been full of smiles, stiffened bit by bit.

His brow knitted tightly, his tone carrying distress.

“Why?”