Yet that fallen verdant lotus leaf swayed leisurely, without any regard, blown by the wind, floating straight towards Li Ruantang.

Perhaps falling into the dust and dirt was its best destination.

Meng Jun’s heart raced. Before he could explain, the drifting and rootless lotus leaf was gently caught by those jade-like, delicate fingers.

“Do you still want it?” She asked flatly.

“Huh?”

The young gentleman was stunned. Realizing what she was talking about, he quickly nodded vigorously, “Yes, I want it.”

As he replied, those extremely beautiful phoenix eyes slightly curved, facing the warm sunlight, shining brightly as they looked at her, suppressing joy.

For Li Ruantang, climbing the wall as tall as a person was extremely easy.

The handed over lotus leaf was light. The young gentleman carefully reached out, but his eyes were still sneakily glancing at the expressionless Li Ruantang. Momentarily inattentive, their fingertips touched.

Meng Jun’s heart trembled in shock. Just now, he had seen how Li Ruantang avoided Sir Qi.

It was over. Originally, he wanted to take it slow, but with this, would she think he was a shameless gentleman?

The young gentleman’s face flushed red with anxiety. He grabbed the leaf stem, just about to explain.

The sweet fragrance faded. Li Ruantang nimbly jumped down and turned to walk towards the study.

There were still faint dark circles under her eyes. She didn’t pay much attention to the movement behind her. Just as she sat down on the round chair and picked up the teacup, Wei Dan bowed and knocked on the door to enter.

“Aristocratic Lady.” The maid who had paid her respects knelt on the ground properly, “Should the Hu family be arranged to stay in the residence?”

Li Ruantang pondered for a moment and shook her head, “Since they are bait, let them stay at Qingshan Academy.”

In the past two years, the villagers of Hu Village rarely left Changshan Valley due to the rumors of the ground collapsing. Even if some went out, they would at most go to the town, let alone come to the capital.

But now, not only had Hu Sanniang’s family walked out of Changshan Valley, they had also found jobs in the capital. She was also the daughter of the late village head. Based on these three points alone, those who made the altar would make a move.

Moreover, the capital had no walls. The fact that Fu Lanxian was being tried in the Inner Palace was not concealed. The news that the Hu family had an account book had probably spread throughout the aristocratic families.

Li Ruantang’s expression turned solemn. She ordered in a low voice, “The lives of Hu Sanniang’s family are now hanging by a thread. Select some unmarried secret guards to assist them.”

“Yes.” Wei Dan cupped her hands. Just as she received the order, she felt puzzled. In the past, when Li Ruantang gave orders, she had never emphasized the three words “unmarried.”

She was silent for a moment. Taking advantage of Li Ruantang rubbing her temples, she mustered up the courage to ask, “Aristocratic Lady, this subordinate doesn’t understand. Why must it be unmarried people who go?”

“It’s not anything special. I just promised Sanniang that I would choose a good family for Young Master Hu.”

Li Ruantang closed her tired eyes. Sitting amidst the fragrance of books and ink, a pair of eyes suddenly appeared in her mind. Obviously extremely happy, yet still trying to hold back.

Little did he know that the irrepressible joy, bit by bit, turned into the rippling light in his eyes, shining brightly, like a handful of clear spring water swept by the east wind, rippling out layer by layer.

It was just helping him pick up a lotus leaf, yet he was so happy. Li Ruantang slightly pursed her lips, imperceptibly curving into a faint smile. His temperament hadn’t changed much, still as silly as when he was little.

However, Qi Yun’s words today were strange.

Thinking of the half-conscious words Meng Jun said about detoxification before she woke up, Li Ruantang suddenly opened her eyes, her face turning solemn. She called Wei Dan over and whispered a few words.

Under the eaves, the sunlight gradually sank. The wind blew the beaded curtains, like a playful child casually plucking strings, creating a crisp sound.

Zhi Dong, who was guarding the outer room, peeked inside and couldn’t help turning back to whisper to Zhi Qiu, who was doing embroidery, “In my opinion, Young Master must have been frightened.”

“Look, ever since he came down from the wall, Young Master has been holding his face and pondering over the lotus leaf. Not to mention anything else, I bet three coins that just now, under the wall, Aristocratic Lady Li must have been fierce again!”

“Shh, keep your voice down.” Zhi Qiu covered Zhi Dong’s mouth with his hand, “Young Master barely ate a few mouthfuls of the bird’s nest congee just now. You should tell the kitchen to prepare some snacks that Young Master usually loves to eat. I’ll keep watch here, and by the way—”

He paused, first glancing inside, then continued, “We know that Young Master is afraid of Aristocratic Lady Li, but others don’t know. You go and find out, if anyone is gossiping, make sure to seal their mouths.”

Zhi Dong’s face turned solemn. He nodded and lifted the bamboo curtain to go out.

The green gauze window revealed the hazy sky.

Meng Jun rested his chin on his hands, lying on the table. His brows and eyes alternated between curving and drooping. It wasn’t until Zhi Qiu came in to light the lamp that he came back to his senses. He hurriedly took the lotus leaf displayed in front of him and held it in front of his body, afraid that the oil would splash on it.

As the folded green lotus leaf was pulled, a vivid yet wilted little red flower rolled out from inside.

Zhi Qiu was stunned, looking at the neatly folded storybooks on the bookshelf with some confusion.

Clearly, he had followed the young master’s instructions earlier and placed this little red flower inside the storybook, waiting for the petals to dry before properly sealing it. How could another one appear again?

Before he could take a closer look, Meng Jun swiftly gathered the little red flower into his palm with quick eyes and hands. The young gentleman’s ears were burning hot. He casually found an excuse and sent Zhi Qiu out.

The confused servant was locked outside the door.

Meng Jun, who had been calm and composed just a moment ago, relaxed his brows and eyes and let out a sigh of relief.

The yellowish candlelight was like a gentle golden color, softly gilding the red wooden table and chairs. The young gentleman sat right in that patch of shadow. He raised his hand towards the light, carefully examining the little red flower that was lost and found again.

A faint sweetness, just like the pleasant scent on her body. Just thinking about it, the young gentleman’s cheeks flushed red.

“Young Master.” The servant’s hurried footsteps came from under the corridor. Zhi Dong was usually not so unruly, so something major must have happened.

Meng Jun casually tucked the little red flower under the pillow and got up to put on his clothes.

The gauze lanterns lit everywhere illuminated the inside and outside clearly. Zhi Dong, who came in a hurry, had a face full of joy. He knelt down with a thud in front of Meng Jun, “Young Master, someone from the palace just came to announce an imperial decree, selecting you as one of the eight stars of the auspicious phoenix this year. Han Fushi is waiting in the front courtyard for you to receive the decree together.”

He spoke with great enthusiasm. The young gentleman had long expected this matter, but he didn’t expect the decree to arrive so quickly, and at nighttime.

In the front courtyard, another pot of fine tea had cooled down.

Meng Jun, who had received the decree, remained calm, while Han Fushi beside him had already been smiling from ear to ear. He read the imperial decree back and forth several times before finally calming down and letting out a long sigh of relief.

“Now that Jiulang has this imperial decree, I believe the Wei family can rest assured.”

His words seemed out of context. Seeing Meng Jun’s confusion, he sent the servants away and explained, “Jiulang, you just returned today. Originally, this matter shouldn’t be told to you in such a hurry, but since the conversation has reached this point, I won’t hide it from you any longer.”

The cool moonlight spilled a ground of brilliance in front of the hall.

The young gentleman’s eyelids twitched. Han Fushi, who was sitting opposite him, was still overjoyed, “Just two days before your return, the Wei family sent an invitation, saying they wanted to discuss a marriage with you.”

“Marriage?”

“Yes, I have also written a letter to your mother about this matter.”

As if afraid that he didn’t know which Wei family it was, Han Fushi raised his eyebrows and added, “Jiulang, don’t be afraid. You also know this lady. It’s Wei Yunruo, the esteemed Wei from the Hanlin Academy.”

“She has achieved a lot at a young age and is truly a good match.”