The young lady is delicate and soft, yet she criticizes the powerful minister for bowing and scrapin

Wei Jun changed into a black long robe, his hair was neatly combed, and his stubble was clean-shaven. He lost some of his imperial majesty and regained his previous image as a young nobleman.

He didn't even bring any guards; he just had Xie Dongpo keep watch for him at the alley entrance from a distance. He walked alone, following the location on the map, his steps very light.

The alley was narrow, filled with the aroma of cooking wafting from the streets. This smell was rarely found in the Imperial Study.

To be precise, he hadn't smelled the cooking fires in the kitchen since he became emperor.

The gate to the courtyard was not closed, but slightly ajar, and he gently lowered his gaze to the courtyard.

"Sister, the teacher taught us a new poem today, and I've already memorized it. I'll recite it for you!"

Qi Yunsi drank water as soon as she got back, and then skipped and hopped around.

This person's personality is much more lively than Wei Jun remembered.

Wei Jun's heart was pounding. She was doing very well, really.

Her brows will never furrow again; she can laugh whenever she wants and has become the person she wanted to be.

She and her younger brother listened to the poems in the courtyard. Her brother was indeed a man of excellent memory and exceptional intelligence.

"You memorized it so well. I'll make you osmanthus cake tonight."

"Ah, why isn't it plum blossom cake?"

"When winter comes and the plum blossoms bloom, we'll have plum blossom cakes to eat."

Qi Yunli reached out and gently patted her younger brother's head, smiling softly.

Wei Jun quietly turned his head away. This happiness was ultimately irrelevant to him; without him, A-Li was still doing very well.

A surge of bittersweet emotion welled up in his chest, and he raised his hand to his brow, concealing the slight moisture in his eyes.

"Since you're here, why don't you come in and have dinner before you leave? There's no reason not to invite a guest to stay at the door."

That voice belongs to Ah Li.

Wei Jun froze, unable to believe his ears, as he met those familiar eyes.

She had walked up to him without him noticing, and there was no annoyance, only indifference.

When did she discover him?

"cousin!"

Compared to Qi Yunli's calm and indifferent demeanor, Qi Yunsi was much more excited. She accidentally called out the title, but then quickly corrected herself.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

"Just call me cousin, it sounds more friendly."

Wei Jun walked into the courtyard, his steps unsteady, and couldn't help but look around. On the stone table lay an unfinished jewelry design, and the flowers and plants at the entrance of the courtyard were planted in vibrant colors.

Wherever Ah Li is, there the flowers will be.

"Please sit for a while. The food is ready. I'll just go to the kitchen and bring it over," Qi Yunli said.

Qi Yunsi quickly held her sister down and made her sit still on the stool.

"Sis, I'll go, you two chat!"

Qi Yunli couldn't help but wonder when her younger brother had become so enthusiastic towards Wei Jun.

Before long, several small dishes were brought out, including stir-fried seasonal vegetables, a plate of braised fish, and a bowl of tofu soup.

The three dishes filled the small stone table; the dishes were simple, but the aroma was irresistible.

"There's nothing special to offer, just some simple home-cooked meals, please don't mind."

Qi Yunli served him soup.

"I'll do it myself," Wei Jun said, taking the soup bowl from Wei Jun.

Qi Yunsi tentatively asked a couple of questions about things in the palace, such as what the emperor does on a daily basis and the relevant content in the memorials.

Wei Jun answered in great detail, explaining everything from the tasks an emperor undertakes after ascending to the throne, to how to revise memorials, and how to respond to them.

With such a warm and detailed answer, Qi Yunsi gradually let go of her initial caution and began chattering about her interesting stories.

"Cousin, did you get to eat many exquisite pastries made by the imperial kitchen while you were in the palace? Were they delicious?"

Qi Yunli gave her younger brother a wink, but he didn't catch it.

A smile flickered in Wei Jun's eyes as he answered truthfully:

"The pastries in the palace look exquisite, with dragons and phoenixes carved into them, and they look very beautiful when displayed. However, the imperial kitchen is very careful and afraid that the ingredients might clash and harm the emperor's health, so they remove many of the ingredients that would enhance the aroma and flavor. Some are steamed until soft and tender, which is considered healthy, but they don't have the same fragrance as the pastries outside."

Qi Yunsi looked at Wei Jun with a somewhat disappointed and pitiful expression.

"My sister makes delicious osmanthus cake. My cousin hasn't tasted anything made outside in a long time. Why don't you stay a little longer and wait until after dinner? My sister will make more cakes."

"His Majesty is so busy with state affairs, how could he possibly have so much time to visit?" Qi Yunli shook her head. "It would be best to send His Majesty back as soon as possible."

Wei Jun quickly swallowed the fish in his mouth: "It's alright. I already finished reviewing the memorials a few days ago."

In order to stay in the courtyard a little longer, he could only pretend not to understand the implied meaning.

Qi Yunli concealed the emotions in her eyes.

"Alright, since we're making pastries anyway, I'll make an extra portion for you. If you're free, feel free to stay and have a seat."

"It's alright. No one knows where I am this time."

Wei Jun knew what Ah Li was afraid of, so he deliberately said it.

After finishing their meal, Qi Yunli hurriedly stood up and said, "You guys chat first, I'll go prepare some pastries."

"Sister, I'll help you start the fire." Qi Yunsi ran towards the kitchen.

As Qi Yunsi passed by Wei Jun, she bumped into him unexpectedly and gave him a look.

"?"

From the direction of the kitchen, firewood was burning, crackling and popping, and the sound of a brother and sister talking in hushed tones could be heard.

Qi Yunli gave her younger brother a stern scolding, saying he shouldn't have spoken out of turn.

"I'm only doing this for my sister's lifelong happiness. This time, it was my sister who asked her to stay, I didn't offer to."

Qi Yunsi's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the person coming from the doorway to hear.

"I saw my cousin as soon as I got home from the private school, but I didn't greet him."

Wei Jun turned sideways and left the kitchen.

He was still pondering what the siblings had just said.

Qi Yunli came out first, and after a while, Qi Yunsi came out carrying a bamboo basket. Opening the basket, she found freshly cut osmanthus cake inside, which she placed in the center like a precious treasure.

"Try it, cousin, it's freshly steamed and still hot!"

Wei Jun wanted to wait for the two of them to eat first, but seeing their expectant eyes, he could only take a piece of osmanthus cake and take a bite.

The osmanthus cake is fragrant and soft, bursting with flavor on the tongue. There are no other seasonings, only the pure sweetness of osmanthus and the texture of flour.

"It's delicious."

Qi Yunli smiled with relief upon hearing this.

Unexpectedly, my younger brother shouted from the side, "This is the first time I've ever seen my cousin laugh so happily!"

Qi Yunli quickly stuffed a piece of osmanthus cake into her younger brother's mouth.

"Even food can't shut you up, when did you become so noisy?"

As darkness fell, the sounds of footsteps echoed as neighbors returned home, along with some coughing.

Wei Jun could not stay any longer; if he were seen by someone, it would be a disaster.

"After today's parting, I don't know when we'll meet again."

Wei Jun took several steps forward and said to the people behind him:

"Ah Li, wait for me. I will prove my feelings to you. Whether I am the heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion or the Marquis of Dingyuan, even if I become the emperor, my heart will only have you. There may not be three thousand beauties in the harem, but all three thousand positions will be yours."

Qi Yunli neither agreed nor refused.

Wei Jun tiptoed away, hiding his face as he walked quite a distance. When he reached the alley entrance, he heard Xie Dongpo complaining:

"If you don't come back soon, I'm going to be bitten to death by mosquitoes!"

"I'm sorry, she invited me to her home."

"You mean you went out for a meal and came back, and I waited for you at the alley entrance for ages, hungry and bitten by mosquitoes? If you don't give me a raise, I'm going to badmouth you to the officials in charge of remonstrance and ruin your reputation in the history books."