The ginkgo trees by the roadside were bearing fruit, and when the wind swept through, the golden fallen leaves rustled and swirled, sliding through the window into that precious carriage topped with a bronze qilin ornament, landing perfectly in Ruyi’s palm.

Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

The person before her had peaceful eyes and brows, without a trace of jest, so calm it seemed as if his earlier words were her imagination, yet he looked at her and repeated once more: “It is romantic feelings.”

Ruyi blinked in bewilderment.

Seeing her reaction, Shen Qiyuan finally had a hint of amusement in his eyes: “What, do you think yourself unworthy?”

It wasn’t that she was unworthy, but this was rather too sudden. How many times had they even met, and he already had romantic feelings?

Who was he trying to fool?

“Miss Liu is dignified and virtuous, gentle and lovable.” He nodded. “It is the Ningyuan Marquis who lacks vision.”

“…”

Listen to these words—was any one of them describing her?

Ruyi was speechless, unable to find words to refute for quite some time.

Just as she was about to fall into disadvantage, she suddenly glanced at him. This person had the composure of a victor between his brows, but his earlobes were tinged with crimson. At first glance it wasn’t noticeable, but the more carefully one looked, the deeper that crimson became.

Combined with his proud and pale face, it somewhat suggested someone fierce in appearance but weak in reality.

Ruyi suddenly smiled, like discovering a hidden kitten’s tail, resting her chin on her hand and blinking at him: “Rarely does Your Lordship show such wise favor. If so, why not come to Liu Manor tomorrow to propose marriage and arrange the engagement, so you can experience this young lady’s gentleness and virtue early.”

Shen Qiyuan paused, turning his gaze away somewhat stiffly.

With only this much thick skin, he wanted to turn host into guest?

Ruyi feigned anger, clutching her heart: “I never expected Your Lordship, with all your righteousness, to take pleasure in teasing young ladies. If not romantic feelings, why would you provoke this young lady~”

“Does Your Lordship also fear worldly eyes? Also dread gossip and slander?”

“You truly disappoint me so. I just thought, truly thought~”

“We’ve arrived.”

“Oh, good.”

The tragic drama ended in an instant. She composed that expression of tears about to fall and got out of the carriage as if nothing had happened.

Shen Qiyuan was truly amused by her, but it was only a moment’s curve of his eyes before he resumed seriousness and stepped into the Zongzheng Estate.

“This is the bank note for buying the Nine Phoenix Crown.” He took a redwood box and handed it to her.

Ruyi sat down in the side room and casually slid the lid open.

Bank notes with face value of one hundred taels, so thick they protruded from the lid opening, making her gasp in shock.

“To ensure the crown’s safety, I’ll have people secretly guard you. You just handle the transaction.” He said, “If you can’t buy the Nine Phoenix Crown, the Bright Moon Branch-Stepping Hairpin will do.”

Ruyi closed the lid, looking at him with words unspoken.

Shen Qiyuan somehow understood her expression and said irritably: “They’re all legitimate bank notes, not dirty money.”

“A first-rank official of Great Qian earns only twelve hundred taels annually in salary.” She didn’t believe it. “Your Lordship wears second-rank official robes—where would legitimate channels get so much money?”

Zhou Tingchuan followed in and laughed upon hearing this: “Miss doesn’t know—our lord is the son of the Eldest Princess of Heyang. Just inheriting the family business feeds ten thousand households, not to mention His Majesty’s generous rewards and the large shops on Divine Providence Street—”

“You talk too much.” Shen Qiyuan was displeased.

Zhou Tingchuan shrugged and closed his mouth, pouring tea for Ruyi.

Ruyi understood, smiling as she placed the wooden box in her embrace: “I indeed underestimated Your Lordship. I thought all the capital’s nobility were like He Zeyou, spending beyond their means.”

Shen Qiyuan glanced at her coolly and flicked his sleeve: “If you lack anything else, come speak of it. Tingchuan and I will both be across the way these few days.”

“Very well.”

After seeing the two out, Ruyi’s expression grew solemn.

The dignified son of the Eldest Princess, wanting phoenix crowns and pearl hairpins from the inner palace, needed to spend such a great price to buy them on the black market?

Looking thoughtfully across the way, she hesitated somewhat.

Help or not help?

If she helped, she might invite trouble, but if she didn’t help, she’d also invite trouble.

How had he managed to draw her in?

Her fingertip traced two circles on the lid, then flicked toward the center. Ruyi sighed: “Idle is idle anyway—might as well treat it as finding amusement.”

Thus the next day, as soon as Shen Qiyuan opened his door, he saw Ruyi already standing in the courtyard.

“This young lady is about to go out and buy what Your Lordship wants.” She moved with lotus steps. “Does Your Lordship have any other instructions?”

Shen Qiyuan nodded calmly: “Just be careful on the road.”

How heartless—asking her to take risks without even pretending reluctance to part.

Pouting, Ruyi flicked her sleeve and turned: “Then I’ll go now.”

The stone-blue wide sleeves traced a water mark in the air before being gracefully gathered back to her front. She adjusted the jade hairpin on her head and nonchalantly stepped out the door.

Two purple-capped hidden guards immediately followed.

“Your Lordship will enter the palace today?” Zhou Tingchuan handed him his cloak.

“Mm.” Withdrawing his gaze, he drew on the cloak. “When there’s news from her side, come report directly to me.”

Zhou Tingchuan nodded, seeing off his lord’s carriage before disguising himself and riding toward the direction Liu Ruyi had left.

Ruyi went straight to the Immortal Meeting Wine House.

Though there had been a murder case, the place still operated normally, only the third floor was off-limits, with distinguished guests moved to the second floor.

The shopkeeper had been called to the yamen for questioning, so a waiter was temporarily managing. Seeing her, he came out to bow: “How did Miss come over?”

“Meeting someone.” She settled in a private room on the second floor, instructing the waiter: “If there’s any major commotion here later, immediately have the waiters close both front and back doors. Don’t let anyone leave.”

“Yes.”

Lifting her teacup, Ruyi waited quietly.

She was an old customer of the black market with fixed sellers who did business with her, so she didn’t wait long before a plain-looking middle-aged man sat across from her.

Ruyi opened familiarly: “Nine-flavored cockscomb?”

The person opposite extended five fingers.

She smiled and nodded, passing the box containing bank notes under the table. The man opened it to verify one note, then handed her a package.

Just as the transaction succeeded, a sharp whistle suddenly sounded outside the window.