Evening!

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong got ready, planning to visit neighbors.

According to custom, when visiting one must bring gifts!

Jingrong ordered someone to prepare a modest gift—neither expensive nor light.

However, before leaving, Muruo chased after them.

“There’s fine wine, why not take me along?” he complained.

Like a child.

Jingrong looked at him with great disdain. “This isn’t like returning to your maiden home where you need to drag children along. Just stay here properly. I’ll have someone bring over several jars of wine for you to drink slowly by yourself.”

“That won’t do. The wine you bring is never good to drink. Other people’s wine tastes better.”

“You…”

“Fine wine cannot be let down! You’re going to indulge, yet leaving me behind—that’s too unkind. I must go.”

Very stubborn!

Jingrong’s head ached.

In the end, he could only agree.

If Muruo was going along, naturally Tang Si had to follow too. He bounced over, grabbed Ji Yunshu’s wrist and shook it. “A’Ji, I’ll go with you. Take me along. If you all go and leave me alone, how boring! Besides, I also know little Xiyue.”

Two burdens!

In the end, they could only take them along.

After leaving, they just turned a corner and arrived—it couldn’t be any closer.

That dye workshop had an extremely elegant name, called “Wen Family Brocade Workshop.”

It was said this household was surnamed Wen, and their ancestors for generations had all been officials. However, due to certain matters they gradually declined and never recovered. Having no choice, they began doing cloth workshop business.

They say when heaven closes a door for you, it will naturally open a window.

The Wen family couldn’t succeed in officialdom, but in commerce they flourished smoothly, carving out their own piece of the sky.

The cloth from the Wen Family Embroidery Workshop had evenly dyed colors that never faded. The fabric was smooth and quality, using only the finest silk. Therefore, it had always been tribute goods exclusively used by the imperial family. Every year, large batches were transported to the capital to make clothing for officials and imperial relatives.

This made the nobles and imperial family in the capital quite fond of them.

Very likely the clothing Jingrong was wearing at this moment came from their family.

The four had just reached the entrance of the Wen Family Embroidery Workshop when the steward outside was already waiting there for them.

He greeted them with cupped hands.

Little Xiyue also ran over from afar, intimately pulling Ji Yunshu’s hand. “Big Brother, you came.”

Excited beyond measure!

She patted her head with a gentle smile.

Little Xiyue then noticed the other three people beside her, and her small delicate brows couldn’t help but furrow.

Jingrong looked at her with a “hungry wolf pouncing on food” expression, wearing a smile meant to tease children.

Muruo gazed impatiently toward the inside, as if he had inhaled something intoxicating.

Tang Si clung beside Ji Yunshu, almost reaching out to pinch her cheeks again.

Strange!

Really strange!

Little Xiyue wasn’t a stingy person—after all, there was plenty of food at home. Setting these thoughts aside, she quickly pulled everyone inside.

In the main hall.

The Wen family couple was already seated at their places. Seeing the visitors arrive, they quickly rose to greet them.

The two had kind faces, unlike typical wealthy families who could be difficult.

Master Wen cupped his hands, first greeting Jingrong. “This one pays respects to the prince.”

It wasn’t strange that he knew a prince was coming. After all, when the neighboring residence that had been empty for many years was suddenly occupied, they naturally had to make inquiries. Learning that a prince was actually living next door had also shocked them somewhat.

Moreover, that prince was coming uninvited tonight.

With such an important personage arriving, they dared not be negligent.

Jingrong smiled and nodded. “Master Wen need not be so polite. We’re not in the capital now, no need for such formalities.”

“This humble one should have gone to pay respects to the prince first, but feared disturbing the prince. Tonight, I never expected the prince would condescend to grace our humble residence. It’s truly this humble one’s fault—I should have gone out to receive you.”

Yet his face showed not the slightest appearance of thinking he was at fault.

“Master Wen, this prince came uninvited. How could I blame you? Just treat this prince as a guest.” Saying this, he handed over the gift he had brought. “A small visiting gift, I hope Master Wen won’t disdain it.”

“I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.”

Master Wen quickly ordered someone to receive the gift.

Little Xiyue excitedly pulled Ji Yunshu forward two steps and introduced her. “Father, Mother, this is that Big Brother Ji. These past days I’ve been going to find her. Big Brother treats me very well and often gives me pastries to eat.”

The Wen family elders’ gazes fell on Ji Yunshu. In that instant, both their pupils clearly dilated suddenly, carrying barely perceptible excitement. Even their eyes seemed to brim with tears.

That emotion then disappeared in a flash.

Madam Wen seemed to like her very much. She came forward and grasped her wrist. “Master Ji, Xiyue has truly troubled you these past days. She doesn’t understand things well, please be patient with her.”

She shook her head, smiling. “What words are these, Madam Wen? Rather, having a little girl around the courtyard has made it less cold and quiet.”

“Did you taste the osmanthus cakes?”

“I did, they were very delicious.”

“That’s good. When you return later, I’ll have someone prepare more for you to take back. In the future, if you want to eat them, just tell Xiyue and I’ll make them for you.”

Ji Yunshu found the hospitality hard to decline and could only say, “Then I thank Madam Wen.”

“No need to thank me, as long as you like eating them.” Madam Wen was very enthusiastic, and even the way she looked at her carried several degrees of maternal love and kind doting.

Such enthusiasm—not to mention toward a stranger, even if she had taken care of little Xiyue for a few days, Madam Wen shouldn’t treat her this well.

This was simply excessive enthusiasm.

Master Wen seemed to realize something was improper and quickly pulled his wife back, saying, “Alright, alright. The guests have been standing for quite a while. Let’s quickly have them take their seats.”

Only then did Madam Wen react. “Yes, yes, yes, the master is right. Look at me, just focused on talking. That’s my fault. Come, everyone please be seated.”

Everyone took their seats!

Jingrong sat with Master Wen at the host position.

Madam Wen and little Xiyue sat together on Master Wen’s right side, then came Muruo. Ji Yunshu and Tang Si sat on Jingrong’s right side.

They sat on both sides.

Properly speaking, at a banquet, little Xiyue who hadn’t yet reached fifteen shouldn’t be allowed at the table. But Master Wen and Madam Wen seemed to tacitly permit it without any teaching, showing that the Wen family’s household customs weren’t particularly conservative.

Little Xiyue suddenly stood up, insisting on sitting next to Ji Yunshu, looking at her like a little fan, even proactively serving her food.

Tang Si at the side should have been filled with righteous indignation, her face full of jealousy, but her gaze kept looking toward Muruo who sat directly across from her.

She saw that fellow only cared about drinking wine from the moment he sat down, his eyes full of intoxication, pouring cup after cup down his throat, still unsatisfied.

Tang Si’s chopsticks lightly struck the table—she was somewhat unhappy.

She didn’t even know what she was upset about.

Was she upset that he only cared about drinking and wouldn’t even look at her?

Or was she upset that she actually felt stirrings of first love toward her sworn enemy?

Thinking of this, she felt it was too terrifying and forcefully gulped down a mouthful of wine.

Muruo didn’t notice any of this at all.