Jiang Yanyi was standing with her back to the path leading to the pavilion, preparing to speak with Lu Linyuan, when she noticed his expression suddenly change.

She turned around and saw Feng Shuo striding toward them with a determined look.

Inwardly, she scolded herself for being careless.

Of course, Feng Shuo, as their superior, would be here to honor the general’s wedding with his presence and share a cup of celebratory wine.

As she met Feng Shuo’s cold and piercing gaze, Jiang Yanyi felt a chill down her spine, like a woman caught secretly meeting her ex while still with her current boyfriend.

“Ugh, what nonsense!” She quickly dismissed the ridiculous thought from her mind.

It wasn’t as if she had deliberately avoided delivering medicine to the Feng residence.

So why should she fear seeing Feng Shuo?

By the time he approached, she had already regained her composure.

“Your Highness,” Lu Linyuan greeted him with a deep bow, his face showing obvious respect.

Noticing Feng Shuo’s dark expression, Lu Linyuan couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Earlier, he had insisted he didn’t know Jiang Yanyi, but then Chu Changping came from Xizhou, revealing the truth.

Now, seeing Feng Shuo’s stern face, Lu Linyuan assumed he was angry at being deceived.

A wave of guilt and regret washed over him, though he wasn’t sure how to explain himself.

However, Feng Shuo wasn’t paying much attention to Lu Linyuan’s fleeting expressions.

His eyes were on Jiang Yanyi, who stood there upright, looking back at him without the slightest hint of guilt, which only intensified his simmering frustration.

He asked in a low voice, “What are you doing here?”

Jiang Yanyi shivered under his icy gaze and was about to respond when Lu Linyuan spoke from behind her.

“Apologies, Your Highness. I was resting in the pavilion, having dozed off for a bit. When I woke up, I was just leaving when I ran into Miss Jiang, who had come here to rest.”

After his greeting, Lu Linyuan had maintained his bow, waiting for Feng Shuo to give him permission to rise.

Not receiving it, he didn’t notice that Feng Shuo’s question was directed at Jiang Yanyi and assumed it was meant for him.

In a few words, he explained how he and Jiang Yanyi happened to be in the pavilion together.

Feng Shuo cast a glance at Lu Linyuan. “Earlier in the main hall, Lord Song seemed to be looking for you.”

Lord Song was Lu Linyuan’s immediate superior. Without a second thought, Lu Linyuan bowed, bid farewell to Feng Shuo, and hurried off.

The steward of the Han residence sensed the tension and wanted to intervene, but he was waved away by Xing Yao. Xing Yao took a quick look toward the pavilion from a distance and, recognizing the situation, also discreetly withdrew.

Now, with Lu Linyuan gone, only Jiang Yanyi and Feng Shuo remained in the pavilion. Although the wind blew freely from all sides, Jiang Yanyi felt as though the air had thinned with Feng Shuo standing so close.

The chill in the air had intensified, and her lips were dry and chapped from the wind. She unconsciously licked them before saying, “Your Highness, with your injuries, you really shouldn’t be out here in the wind.”

Feng Shuo’s gaze bore down on her with an overwhelming intensity. “Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to be resting your injured foot?”

Jiang Yanyi could hear the accusation in his tone, and realizing he had misunderstood, she explained, “Just a few days ago, I needed help even to walk. I only started to feel better today. Master Li has back pain and couldn’t handle the banquet arrangements for the Han residence, so they asked me to step in. It’s a joyous occasion, so I couldn’t refuse.”

Her explanation seemed to ease Feng Shuo’s jealousy somewhat, though his expression remained stern. “If you were here to help with the banquet, what are you doing in the pavilion?”

Jiang Yanyi was about to elaborate but suddenly stopped, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. “Your Highness… are you… jealous?”

“Ridiculous! What would I be jealous about?” Feng Shuo retorted, his face an icy mask.

Jiang Yanyi understood that Feng Shuo now knew her true identity and was aware of the marriage arrangement she once had with Lu Linyuan. Nowadays, she barely acknowledged Lu Linyuan when they passed in the street, and she certainly didn’t want this incident to sow discord between her and Feng Shuo. She explained, “Someone was lying on the bench in the pavilion, and with the surrounding bushes, I couldn’t see him from the outside.”

Feng Shu said, “I didn’t ask you about all that. Why are you telling me so much?” Though his words were dismissive, the corners of his lips, previously tightly pressed, had now turned upwards into a smile.

Jiang Yanyi was speechless.

She silently reminded herself not to get upset—he just liked to be sharp-tongued every now and then.

At that moment, she suddenly realized that her earlier worries about her identity being exposed didn’t seem to matter at all with Feng Shu. It was as if he never cared about the lies she had told. The distance between them felt the same as before—or perhaps even a little closer.

Jiang Yanyi felt something shift inside her as she watched the slight smile on his lips.

“What are you smiling about?” Feng Shu asked.

Jiang Yanyi didn’t answer.

The lake breeze blew past them, and their clothes seemed to brush against each other in the wind. For a moment, it was as though Feng Shu understood why she was smiling. When their eyes met, his gaze softened, but he quickly averted his eyes, clearly uncomfortable, with his ears turning red.

After standing in the wind for a while, Feng Shu couldn’t help but stifle a few coughs behind his hand.

Jiang Yanyi said, “Let’s stop standing here in the wind. Let’s find somewhere sheltered to sit.”

Feng Shu extended his hand, looking like he was waiting for her to support him.

How pampered he was!

Whatever tenderness Jiang Yanyi had felt moments earlier was instantly wiped away.

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, she reminded him, “Your Highness, my foot hurts.”

Feng Shu gave her a sidelong glance. “I’m asking you to hold onto my hand so you can walk more easily.”

Jiang Yanyi was at a loss for words.

Feng Shu added in a low tone, “If you don’t mind, I could carry you instead.”

This time, Jiang Yanyi chose to ignore him.

As the two of them walked out of the pavilion, one after the other, Xing Yao emerged from behind a rockery, looking rather puzzled.

Earlier, seeing his master’s expression, he had expected an outburst of anger. Yet, after just a few words in the pavilion, his master was now walking behind Miss Jiang with a faint smile on his face?

---

Thanks to Feng Shu’s influence, someone had been sent to track down Chief Zhao, who was finally found helping with the gift registry in the ceremonial room.

Jiang Yanyi, carrying the medicinal herbs she had bought earlier, headed over to find Chief Zhao. It was likely mealtime by now, and many guests were lining up to present their gifts. Seeing how busy Chief Zhao was, Jiang Yanyi didn’t squeeze her way in.

Several tables were set up in the ceremonial room, though only one was used for writing down the gifts. The others were set aside for guests to play Pai Gow and Ma Diao. The banquet was in the front courtyard, and since no meal was being served in this area, many guests had left for lunch, leaving some seats unoccupied.

Jiang Yanyi casually found an empty seat in the corner, deciding to wait until Chief Zhao was less busy before approaching him.

The tray on the table held some salted peanuts and sunflower seeds, with the floor littered with peanut and sunflower seed shells.

With nothing better to do, Jiang Yanyi began cracking sunflower seeds and eating them. The kitchen staff wouldn’t get to eat until all the guests had finished their meals, so they would be dining with the Han family’s servants. Jiang Yanyi wasn’t particularly interested in the food—she just wanted to pass the medicinal herbs to Chef Li through Chief Zhao. Otherwise, she would have already returned to her small shop.

Next to Jiang Yanyi sat an elderly woman with white hair, wearing a robe adorned with the symbols of fortune, longevity, and happiness. Watching Jiang Yanyi crack sunflower seeds, the old woman smiled warmly, her gaze kind and gentle.

“Why aren’t you having lunch in the front?” Jiang Yanyi, feeling a bit embarrassed under her gaze, asked.

The elderly woman seemed hard of hearing, likely due to her age. She didn’t hear what Jiang Yanyi said, but seeing that Jiang Yanyi was looking at her and moving her lips, she pointed to her ear and waved her hand dismissively.

Jiang Yanyi guessed that this might be the “auspicious granny” the Han family had invited for good luck. She wasn’t sure why the old woman was watching her so intently. Could it be that the tray of snacks was placed too far away, making it hard for her to reach?

Jiang Yanyi grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds to offer to the old woman. The woman smiled and waved her hand again, then pointed to her mouth, indicating her toothless gums.