Wen’er was young and strictly brought up, so he had never encountered such a situation before. He immediately pushed her away in fright, his face flushing red as he said, “You, you have no shame! No matter what, you’re from a noble family – how can you do such, such—”

His throat bobbed as Ruyi swallowed the wine, her brows relaxed and eyes bright: “Weren’t you asking for an apology? This is my way of apologizing – there’s no other way.”

The two young masters accompanying him stared at her dumbfounded, finding her behavior dissolute, yet they couldn’t help but stare at her fair, slender throat.

Wen’er’s face grew even redder, his hands pushing against her arms, completely at a loss.

His sister had been crying these past few days, saying that the young lady at this Immortal Wine House had seduced her future brother-in-law. How could he swallow such indignation? Naturally, he had to come here and cause some trouble.

But now, this person was smiling at him, her eyes sparkling with light, her brows filled with emotion, looking at him until his heart was in chaos, not knowing how to continue for a moment.

When he didn’t move, the person opposite him did, propping her chin on her hand and asking: “Does young master like eating white immortal fish?”

Wen’er nodded blankly.

Ruyi snapped her fingers: “Waiter, bring another plate of white immortal fish here.”

She smiled again: “Can you drink wine yet?”

“Of course.” He barely managed to compose himself, flicking his sleeve: “Who do you think you’re looking down on?”

“Waiter, add another pot of good wine here.”

With a light calculation on her abacus, Ruyi took one tael of silver from his purse: “Dear customer, eat and drink well. If you need anything else, just call me.”

Her fingers pinching the silver were tender and white as scallions, her index finger and thumb holding that small piece of broken silver with a hint of disdain.

Wen’er hastily brought up his purse: “I can order some more dishes – you take this larger piece.”

Ruyi turned back, smiling as she smoothed her temple hair, extending her hand like bestowing grace to take a larger piece: “Please wait, dear customer. I’ll bring you several more dishes shortly.”

There were only three people – how many dishes could they eat? But watching her ethereal departing figure, none of the three young masters at the table came forward to stop her.

When Shen Qiyuan arrived at the wine house, he saw Ruyi leaning by the door saying something, while Wen’er and two other noble family young masters nodded obediently, then reluctantly boarded their carriage.

The twilight light enveloped her, complementing her water-colored dark-patterned silk dress, giving her a particularly bewitching and alluring appearance.

She looked up amid the bustling crowd, her gaze firmly locking onto him, then smiled sweetly, as if she had known he was there all along, yet also like the reproachful look of someone who had waited for him for a long time.

This is a demon, he thought darkly – he mustn’t be bewitched by her.

However, as he walked over, he still couldn’t help but tease: “Your business is getting better and better – you won’t even let teenage boys go.”

Hearing this, Ruyi indeed laughed: “Sir is also quite sweet and sour today.”

He angrily flicked his sleeve and went straight upstairs.

Guessing that he had business today, Ruyi didn’t dawdle and followed him up.

However, after hearing what he had to say, she still sighed: “Lord Shen, do you treat Fuman as a rope to lead Yanning? Just because Yanning is unwilling to do something, having Fuman speak to him will create an opportunity?”

“You don’t know what Zhao Yanning means to the Ministry of Justice,” Shen Qiyuan pursed his lips. “Without him, this case might not be able to proceeded. Since it involves Grand Preceptor Liu, you surely won’t stand by and watch.”

Her guess was correct – if she could help send Grand Preceptor Liu on his way, she would naturally be willing. But she didn’t want to force Fuman and Yanning.

Shen Qiyuan suddenly said, “What do you think is the biggest reason they both left the Ministry of Justice?”

Ruyi chuckled, raising her hand to pinch his chin: “Naturally, there’s a problem with you, the Minister of Justice.”

His cold temperament didn’t win people’s hearts, and he was also someone who didn’t like to say much or explain. After several years, how could there not be grudges with people?

“I’m not the biggest reason.” He stubbornly turned his head away. “The biggest reason is that they feel even if the truth is uncovered, the suspects won’t receive due punishment.”

“Since Sir already knows this, why force them?”

“This time is different. This time, I guarantee them that as long as the evidence is solid, Grand Preceptor Liu will get his deserved punishment.”

Ruyi raised an eyebrow.

“They don’t want to give up what they’re each good at – they’re just forced to.” Shen Qiyuan said in a low voice. “If you can help me persuade them, I’ll thank you properly.”

Everything else didn’t matter, but Ruyi was interested in that last half sentence. Sitting up on the table, she smiled and asked: “How does Sir plan to thank me?”

Shen Qiyuan took out four coral hairpins.

These four hairpins far surpassed the one He Zeyou had given her in both color and style, as if carefully selected. Yet he still only said: “Picked up casually – giving them to you.”

The candlelight made his snow-white profile glow slightly warm, the teardrop mole perfectly positioned in the shadow of his dark lashes, subtle yet alluring.

Ruyi took the box and set it aside, but pointed to her cheek.

“What are you doing?” He glared fiercely.

Smiling meaningfully, she leaned closer to him and pointed to her cheek again.

This person was something – she wouldn’t spare a glance at the finest jewelry, but loved to tease him.

He, the dignified Lord Zongzheng, would he be someone who would lean over just because she beckoned?

With a cold snort, he pinched the back of her neck and pulled her over, making her face actively press against the corner of his lips.

—This way, it didn’t count as him kissing her.

Ruyi’s eyes sparkled with extremely bright amusement, her fingertip gently caressing the place he had kissed, saying teasingly: “So soft.”

The person in front of her, as expected, angrily covered her mouth and pushed her away.

Fuman was just about to come up to bring tea when she was startled by their commotion, staring in shock: “Sir, Sir?”

Shen Qiyuan quickly turned his back, while Ruyi smoothed the loose hair by her temples and smiled at her: “You’ve come at just the right time – I have something to discuss with you.”

Pulling her into the room, Ruyi seated her on a stool and asked: “If my wine house wanted to do some other business, what thoughts would you have?”

Bringing this up, Fuman felt somewhat embarrassed – it was because of her and Yanning that the wine house’s business was improving so slowly.

She said with difficulty: “What, what other business could we do?”

“Previously, when I was accused and taken to court, all the litigation masters in the city were bought off by He Zeyou, and no one was willing to seek justice for me. So I was thinking, if I could cultivate some litigation masters myself to benefit the people and help those poor people who are oppressed by nobles with nowhere to seek redress, how wonderful that would be.” She sighed deeply.

Fuman deeply agreed: “That’s, that’s a good idea.”

“I’m eloquent, but I haven’t been able to study law thoroughly, and I’ve encountered few cases.”

“This, this indeed isn’t something that can be accomplished in a day.”

“So I want to try my hand with a small case first. Can you and Yanning help me?” She pressed her palms together. “I don’t need you to come forward – just teach me the methods of examining corpses and deduction first.”

Shen Qiyuan watched from the side, finding it simply incredible. In just a moment, how did this person come up with such a roundabout scheme?

As expected, there wasn’t a single truthful word from her mouth – a hypocritical and cunning demon.