The light in his eyes dimmed as Qingyi walked dejectedly to the table, reaching out to fiddle with the cold bowls and chopsticks. The clinking sound echoed in the empty courtyard.

“Still didn’t make it in time.” He sighed.

He had wanted to tell her about his recent achievements. Though they were nothing compared to Master Shen’s accomplishments, he had earned the Crown Prince’s favor through his abilities. He no longer needed to engage in petty theft, murder, or robbery—he could now wear official robes with dignity.

When he was imprisoned before, she had visited him once. At that time, he was utterly despondent, leaning against the mottled, moldy wall and saying listlessly: “This is all there is to this lifetime. There’s nothing worth struggling for.”

The person outside the bars had no intention of persuading him, only asking indifferently: “Your martial arts skills are still there, right?”

“Yes.”

“Shen Qiyuan didn’t sentence you to death, did he?”

“No.”

She chuckled coldly, said nothing more, only looked at him with contempt, as if watching a dog that couldn’t climb out after falling into water.

Qingyi was very angry, but after she left and he calmed down, he felt she was probably right.

He was still alive, still had martial arts skills—there was no reason to give up so early. Even if he worked as a server in her restaurant after getting out, wouldn’t that be more comfortable than before?

As it turned out, she not only gave him the opportunity to work as a server but also gave him the chance to display his martial skills before the Crown Prince.

Now, he had received the brocade sash of a Regular Palace Attendant.

The five-colored brocade sash symbolizing imperial favor was clutched tightly in his hand. Qingyi looked up blankly, not knowing who to show it to.

Wind lanterns wailed, and the entire courtyard was desolate.

He rose despondently, about to return home, when he suddenly heard someone call his name.

Qingyi turned around abruptly.

On the three-story terrace beside the separate courtyard, Tinglan was smiling and waving at him: “Why aren’t you coming up?”

The others holding wine cups also stuck their heads out.

“Did you gallop back?” Zhou Tingchuan laughed. “That fine horse the Eastern Palace just bestowed—don’t wear it out.”

“Come up from here.” Song Zhenshan pointed to the stairs below.

Ruyi and Fuman were playing a drinking game. Hearing this, they also waved at him. Shen Qiyuan leaned nearby, looking at him with calm, gentle eyes.

Qingyi’s eyes widened.

He had seen many colorful gates erected in front of restaurants—red, orange, and green colors so beautiful, just like these people’s flowing robes and brocade sashes in their hair under the moonlight.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Qingyi raised the corners of his mouth and ran up, taking two steps at a time.

His crimson robe immediately merged into that patch of brilliant color.

“Starting with the character ‘moon.'” The group was in high spirits, chattering as they played a poetry game.

“Bright moon shines through pine trees, clear spring flows over stones.”

“In the vast wilderness, sky meets low trees; on the clear river, moon draws near to people.”

“When life is fulfilling, one must fully enjoy; let not the golden cup face the moon empty.”

“Hey, innkeeper, it’s your turn.”

Ruyi came back to her senses and instinctively said: “May people live long, share the moon across thousands of miles.”

Everyone was stunned, then burst into laughter: “That line doesn’t have the character ‘moon,’ it doesn’t count.”

“Penalty drink, penalty drink!”

Shen Qiyuan silently took the wine cup from her and drank it all in one gulp. When he looked at her again, his eyes had a misty gleam.

She couldn’t help laughing at him: “Poor alcohol tolerance, yet you insist on showing off?”

“You’ll have to carry me back anyway.” He curved his lips.

“Sir, sir.” Zhou Tingchuan was already drunk, his cheeks flushed red. He brazenly squeezed between the two of them, looking at him stubbornly: “There’s a question I’ve wanted to ask for a long time.”

Shen Qiyuan saw something in his eyes and turned away: “Ask another day.”

“No, it has to be today.” Alcohol gave him courage. He reached out to turn Shen Qiyuan’s face back, frowning: “You’ve known Miss Liu for a long time, haven’t you?”

Ruyi nearly choked.

She thought Zhou Tingchuan was easy to fool, never expecting he’d discovered this connection. She couldn’t help being curious: “How did you figure it out?”

“It’s that Nine Phoenix Crown.” Zhou Tingchuan said indignantly. “It was originally bestowed by the Empress for you to marry, sir. You refused to accept it at the time, and after being forced to accept it, you had someone use it as bait to lure out the black market mastermind. How much you despised that thing then, saying it was useless, even saying you’d give it to me for my wedding after the case was closed.”

“But what happened? After Xu Houde was caught, you went through that mountain of stolen goods piece by piece, stubbornly found the Nine Phoenix Crown, wrapped it up carefully, and said it would be useful now.”

He slapped his thigh: “Our master isn’t a frivolous person. Having only met you a few times then, how could he have decided to marry you—you two must have known each other long ago.”

Ruyi raised an eyebrow.

So, the Nine Phoenix Crown was originally his? No wonder she felt his tone was strange when he mentioned it. At that time, not knowing Shen Qiyuan’s background, she thought he was also connected to the black market treasure smugglers. Who would have thought there was such a connection?

She couldn’t help elbowing Shen Qiyuan: “I was busy helping you solve the case, but you were secretly thinking about marrying me?”

Shen Qiyuan calmly turned his head away, as if he hadn’t heard this at all, only pushing Zhou Tingchuan away and taking another drink.

Ruyi tried to stop him, but it was too late. As soon as the wine entered his mouth, he naturally closed his eyes and passed out drunk.

Everyone laughed and made noise. She helplessly helped him up: “That’s enough, we’ll take our leave first.”

“Leaving already?” He Tinglan was extremely reluctant, and Fuman also grabbed her sleeve.

“There’s no banquet in the world that doesn’t end.” Ruyi waved her hand casually. “When we have time, we’ll come back to see you all.”

Li Zhaoying had been smiling, but hearing this, tears came down: “Sister Ruyi, you’re truly heartless. Every time we part, you never look back—you’re too willing to leave us.”

She embarrassedly reached out to pat Zhaoying’s head: “It’s not good to cry when you’re pregnant.”

The moon above was still round, but the people below were about to scatter. Everyone dejectedly saw them downstairs to the carriage. Only Ruyi’s face still held a smile as she waved goodbye.

Once inside the carriage, her smile finally faded.

Who would truly like farewells?

“Go to a nearby inn,” she instructed the coachman, then lowered her head to drop the curtain.

Just as the carriage was about to move, Shen Qiyuan suddenly said: “No need, go directly to Immortal Meeting Restaurant.”

Ruyi turned her head abruptly: “Weren’t you passed out drunk?”

Straightening his clothes and sitting up, Shen Qiyuan didn’t look at her, only repeating to the coachman: “Gongshen Street, Immortal Meeting Restaurant.”

The fine horse neighed once, turned around, and proceeded. Before long, they arrived at the destination.

Shen Qiyuan lifted the curtain and got off the carriage, turning back to extend his hand to her.

Ruyi crouched on the carriage shaft, staring at him in a daze, then slowly shifting her gaze to what was behind.

If she remembered correctly, the person who rented this shop from her had opened a tea house. The sign had changed, and all the people inside had changed too.