This year’s winter in the capital was exceptionally cold. Pedestrians hurried along the streets, yet tavern business flourished more than ever.

In the freezing weather, people who had finished their business outside would go to taverns to drink liquor while enjoying mutton stewed over charcoal braziers—now that was one of life’s pleasures.

Chunfeng Tavern was packed with drinkers, filled with the mingled aromas of meat and wine, creating a steaming, lively atmosphere.

The sound of hoofbeats struck the frozen-hard slate stone road with crisp clip-clop sounds, drawing near in the blink of an eye.

A server standing outside Chunfeng Tavern immediately went forward, took the reins, and bowed with a smile: “Lord Chi, you’ve arrived.”

The young man who dismounted wore a slate-azure plain brocade cotton robe with a black cloak over it. His eyebrows were heroically sharp, his lips red, and his teeth white. Though dressed so plainly, with the flowing light in his eyes, he was as dazzling as the blazing sun, making people dare not look directly at him.

He passed through the tavern’s main hall, and the hall fell silent. Only after that upright yet somewhat casual figure disappeared at the top of the stairs did the liveliness resume.

“Tsk tsk, who was that young master who just went upstairs? So damn handsome!” The speaker was drunk, staring at the stairway entrance with infatuated eyes and drooling. “Even prettier than women—if only—”

His tablemate quickly pulled him back, his face changing: “Stop talking nonsense! You’re new to the capital and don’t know—”

Before he could finish speaking, two strong, burly men approached, lifted the drunk man by his arms from left and right, and efficiently threw him out the door.

The people drinking in the hall were used to such sights. After the drunk’s companion chased after him, they all burst into laughter.

“That’s the third one, right? Every month, there are always a few blind fools thrown out like this.”

“Exactly. They don’t even bother to find out who that young master was—as if we common folk could afford to provoke him?”

Chi Can entered a private room on the tavern’s second floor. The person waiting inside laughed: “Shixi, another blind fool got thrown out?”

Chi Can sat down across from Zhu Yàn, raising an eyebrow with a smile: “What’s so unusual about that?”

Zhu Yàn couldn’t help but sigh: “If we just drank in the back room, we’d avoid these troubles.”

Chi Can glanced at Zhu Yàn and sneered: “I was born this way—should I cover my face just because of some filthy-minded scoundrels?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Zhu Yàn smiled bitterly.

“I don’t want to drink in the back room.” Chi Can reached for the white jade wine pot and poured himself a cup.

His pale, slender fingers gripped the wine cup of the same material as the pot, yet those fingers were more lustrous than the white jade cup itself.

“Before, four people drank there together. Now there are only the two of us—what fun is there in going there?” Chi Can swirled the wine in his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Hearing this, Zhu Yàn fell silent.

Of their four childhood friends who had grown up together, only he and Chi Can remained in the capital now.

Yang Houcheng was busy fighting pirates with no time to return to the capital, which was understandable, but Shao Mingyuan had been enfeoffed as prince in the Northern Territories—they might never see him again in this lifetime.

“By the way, when will you hold the full-month celebration for your second son?” Chi Can broke the silence.

“I’ll send you an invitation when the time comes.” When Chi Can mentioned his recently born second son, Zhu Yàn’s eyes and brows filled with smiles. Glancing at his friend, he advised: “I already have three children, and even Chongshan has married in the south. How is it you still have no movement?”

Chi Can glanced sideways at his friend, smiling lazily: “You’re worrying about this too?”

Zhu Yàn sighed inwardly.

Among the three friends, Shixi could truly be called a lone man with no family elders to worry about his lifelong affairs.

Moreover, with the young master ascending the throne, Shixi’s relationship with the imperial family had grown increasingly distant. These past two years, if not for Chief Minister Xu’s care, things might not have gone so smoothly for him at court.

Of course, Shixi’s ability to gain Chief Minister Xu’s care wasn’t based on anyone’s connections, but because he had contributed greatly when bringing down Lanshan years ago, reaching some kind of understanding with Chief Minister Xu.

“This isn’t about worrying or not—you’re no longer young. Do you plan to continue like this forever?”

“What’s wrong with this?” Chi Can drank another cup of wine, smiling: “No one to manage me. I can drink when I want to drink, return whenever I want to return. Unlike you, who has to ask your wife for leave to come out once.”

“Shixi, don’t change the subject. After all these years, haven’t you found any girl you fancy?”

“No.” Chi Can gave his answer without hesitation, his expression serious.

He had once encountered the best—why settle just for the sake of marriage? It would ruin both himself and others.

Seeing that Zhu Yàn wanted to persuade him further, Chi Can curled his lip: “Married people are just so clingy. If we’re drinking, let’s drink—why talk about such things?”

Seeing this, Zhu Yàn felt it inappropriate to say more. He raised his cup to clink with Chi Can’s, and they drank together.

When the two men left, snowflakes were falling outside, dancing like willow catkins filling the sky.

Looking at Chi Can with his flushed cheeks, Zhu Yàn instructed a server: “Escort Young Master Chi home.”

Chi Can squinted slightly and waved his hand: “No need. This little bit of wine won’t make me drunk. Just bring my horse.”

When Shao Mingyuan left the capital, he had transferred Chunfeng Tavern to Chi Can, making Chi Can the tavern’s behind-the-scenes owner. Naturally, the servers obeyed his every word and quickly brought his horse.

Chi Can nimbly mounted his horse and waved at Zhu Yàn: “I’m leaving.”

As the horse began to run and the cold wind blew, he sobered up considerably.

Soon, he saw the familiar residence. Chi Can brushed the snow off his clothes, dismounted, and walked inside. Just after passing through the second gate, he heard a young girl’s joyful laughter.

“I don’t want a carrot nose—use a potato!”

“Miss, everyone makes snowmen with carrot noses.”

The girl said crisply, “Everyone uses carrots for snowmen noses, so I can’t use a potato for my snowman’s nose? What kind of logic is that!”

“Chi Jiao.”

Hearing the call, the girl looked around and, seeing Chi Can, ran over: “Big brother, you’re back.”

The girl was only about five or six years old, not even reaching Chi Can’s waist. She wore a bright red cloak and deer-skin boots, as adorable as a little dumpling.

“I’ve told you countless times—don’t hug my leg!” Chi Can frowned with disgust.

The girl paid no attention and instead pulled Chi Can’s hand: “Big brother, do you think a carrot nose or a potato nose looks better on a snowman?”

“Use whatever you want. It’s your snowman, not mine.”

The girl clapped her hands with delight: “See! Big brother also supports me using a potato for the snowman’s nose.”

Chi Can watched the girl run back happily to stick a potato on the snowman’s face, and couldn’t help but touch his nose.

Children were truly foolish.

He wondered what kind of children someone as intelligent as Li Third Miss would have.

Not long ago, he had received a letter from Shao Tingyuan—they were about to have their second child.

Chi Can stroked his chin thoughtfully, then beckoned to the girl: “Chi Jiao, come here.”

“What is it, big brother?” The girl ran back, clearly holding her incomparably handsome big brother in great admiration.

“You’re not small anymore. Would you like to take a long trip with me?”

“Yes!” The girl nodded eagerly: “Big brother, where are we going?”

Chi Can’s gaze turned toward the distance: “When spring comes, we’ll go north.”