Taking her into his tent, he incurred the wrath of a powerful and mad minister, from which he could

Qingzhou.

Halfway through the banquet, Li Yunwan secretly sent someone to tell Xie Huaiyu that if she wanted to retrieve the wooden carving, she should go to the lakeside pavilion to find her that night.

Xie Huaiyu hesitated. Ji Mingyi's birthday was less than a month away, and it might be too late to carve a new one.

Li Yunwan was already waiting in the pavilion, where a pot of wine was prepared on the stone table.

She believed Xie Huaiyu would come.

Sure enough, a familiar figure appeared not long after.

"Second Miss, why are you the only one here?"

Xie Huaiyu came alone. He didn't expect that the other party hadn't brought any servants either. It was really improper for an unmarried man and woman to be alone together.

Li Yunwan couldn't help but approach him: "Brother Huaiyu..."

Xie Huaiyu immediately took a step back distantly and cupped her hands in greeting: "Second Miss, I have kept my appointment on time. Please return the wood carving."

Li Yunwan's eyes reddened: "I like you, can't you feel it?"

Xie Huaiyu lowered his head and said, "I already have someone I love, and I cannot accept the Second Miss's feelings."

"She's just a woman from a merchant family; even my father says she's not good enough for you. My Li family is a prominent clan in Qingzhou; how am I inferior to her? If you agree to marry me, my father will definitely help you in your official career. Why cling to a marriage contract?"

Li Yunwan was very unwilling.

Xie Huaiyu raised her head, her expression cold and aloof, no longer wanting to waste words: "The wood carving was a birthday gift that I personally crafted for her. Please return it to me as soon as possible, Second Miss. It's getting late, and I cannot linger any longer, lest I tarnish your reputation."

Seeing that he wouldn't listen to reason or threats, we had no choice but to resort to other methods.

Li Yunwan said, "It's not difficult to get the wood carving. Just finish this pot of wine, and I'll return it to you and won't bother you again."

"really?"

Li Yunwan said dejectedly, "You're leaving tomorrow, so please grant me this last wish. I don't want to see you again."

Xie Huaiyu had already drunk quite a bit during the social gathering. He frowned, but still drank some more.

Li Yunwan's eyes flickered. After he finished drinking, she readily returned the wood carving to him.

Xie Huaiyu carefully put it away, his expression softening: "I am unworthy of the Second Miss. You will meet someone better in the future. I will take my leave now."

Li Yunwan remained silent.

Xie Huaiyu lowered his hands and turned to leave.

But after taking only a few steps, I felt a strong wave of dizziness and couldn't even stand up.

Li Yunwan, who was behind him, immediately supported him. "Brother Huaiyu, you're drunk."

Xie Huaiyu tried to push her away, but he had no strength, and a strange feeling arose in his body.

He couldn't bear to push Li Yunwan away...

Seeing this, Li Yunwan knew that the drug was taking effect, and a triumphant smile flashed across her lips.

Most men in the world are fickle and promiscuous, but Xie Huaiyu is so deeply affectionate and devoted, which makes Li Yunwan even more unwilling to let him go.

Tonight, she's going to make it a fait accompli with him!

Would he dare not take responsibility for her then?

A faint blush quickly appeared on Xie Huaiyu's face. He looked at Li Yunwan beside him and asked in a daze, "Yi'er, why are you here?"

Li Yunwan kissed his lips: "Brother Huaiyu..."

Xie Huaiyu vaguely sensed that something was wrong, but she didn't push her away.

Li Yunwan led him to her boudoir.

After tonight, Xie Huaiyu will have no choice but to marry her. As for that lowly woman, she can generously allow her to enter the household as a concubine.

However, Xie Huaiyu can only belong to Li Yunwan alone!

-

Meanwhile, Ji Mingyi was already on her way out of the city with her younger brother and maid.

She rented an ordinary carriage and a coachman.

Under the cover of night, he packed his bags and secretly slipped out of the Zong residence.

When the carriage reached an open section of the street, Mingyi reached out and lifted one side of the curtain, saying to the driver outside, "Brother Niu, please hurry up. We must get out of the city before curfew and the city gates close."

The coachman responded and lightly patted the horse's body with his whip, making the carriage move a little faster.

Before long, the carriage hurriedly arrived at the city gate.

A leading soldier stepped forward and knocked on the carriage shaft, speaking in a deep voice: "Everyone, get out of the carriage. Check your identification and travel permits!"

They were in a hurry to leave the city, so how could they have time to get travel permits? Those things take two or three days to get.

Moreover, Ji Mingyi originally intended to leave quietly without alerting anyone. If she were to obtain a travel permit, it might attract the attention of Old Madam Zong.

What if this old woman uses some underhanded tricks again?

Mingyi lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage, putting on a meek and ingratiating expression. "Sir, there is an urgent matter at home that requires us to leave the city. Please, sir, have mercy and make an exception. We are law-abiding citizens."

As she spoke, she secretly slipped some silver into the other person's hand.

To her surprise, the other party didn't take it at all, instead pushing her hand away with a stern expression: "The rules are clear: without a permit, no one is allowed to pass!"

Mingyi's smile froze instantly, and her heart sank.

Most city gate guards can be bribed with money, so when did the controls become so strict?

...

Zongfu.

The night outside the window was deep and quiet.

Chang Yu walked quickly to the study in Songhe Garden, stood with his head bowed in front of the desk, and replied with a bow: "Second Master, Miss Biao was unable to leave the city, and all four city gates are currently locked."

Zong Xian was not surprised at all. He had guessed that Ji Mingyi would not be honest and had long ago sent people to keep a close eye on Shuangxu Garden.

The moment they stepped out of the Zong residence, Zong Xian found out.

He just didn't expect that Ji Mingyi would actually leave without saying goodbye and just walk away!

A barely perceptible hint of melancholy lingered in Zong Xian's eyes. He casually placed his brush on the inkstone, the ink spreading in a dark hue, and asked calmly, "Has she returned to the manor?"

Chang Yu paused, straightened his back, and added a touch of caution to his tone: "Miss Biao... she hasn't returned to the manor..."

Zong Xian paused.

-

The city gates were already locked, and even though there was no hope of leaving the city, Mingyi did not want to return to the Zongfu residence.

Besides, she's already packed her bags and left, so why would she go back?

After a moment's thought, he instructed the coachman to turn the horse around and head towards Baixianglou in the city.

Fan Jing had been living in the backyard of the restaurant, and she would stay up very late every day checking the accounts. When Mingyi came to bother her, she was still awake.

Upon learning that Mingyi wanted to stay at the hotel, they immediately instructed someone to arrange two superior rooms for her.

After dismissing everyone, Fan Jing looked at her with reluctance in her eyes and asked softly, "Qingzhou, is it very far?"