Jiang Yanyi picked up a piece of chicken and placed it into Qiu Kui’s bowl.

Clearing her throat, she said, “I accidentally kicked you when I lifted my foot.”

Only then did Qiu Kui eat with a hint of suspicion.

Yang Xiu spoke awkwardly, “That old scholar’s family is poor. His elderly mother, on her deathbed, wanted to eat some fish.

But the old scholar had borrowed money from relatives and neighbors to travel to the capital for the imperial examination.

After failing, he returned home in disgrace, still owing a large sum of silver. The old scholar couldn’t afford to buy fish for his mother, and while he was telling stories at Laifu Tavern, a customer in a private room ordered a plate of fish.

When the customer paid the bill, only two chopsticks had touched the fish, but the old scholar secretly hid the fish, planning to take it home for his mother.”

“Who would have thought that a waiter at the tavern saw him? The waiter reported to the tavern manager, claiming the scholar had dirty hands and was secretly hiding the customer’s fish.

When the manager investigated, he indeed found the fish that the old scholar had hidden.

Mistaking it for the scholar stealing food, he immediately reported it to the tavern owner. The owner ordered the scholar to roll up his bedding and leave.

The scholar tried to explain, but no one believed him, and both he and the fish were thrown out into the street, ruining his reputation.”

“Later, the old scholar, with a flushed face, begged the fishmonger to sell him a fish on credit.

When he returned home to cook it for his mother, she heard the rumors about him stealing fish from the tavern and ultimately refused to eat it, passing away with her mouth open.

This incident escalated, and the gentleman who had ordered the fish in the private room spoke up for the old scholar, saying that the fish was leftover from his meal.

However, the rumor had already become a huge wave, and that little voice was quickly drowned out. To this day, everyone still believes that the old scholar was simply greedy and stole the tavern’s fish.”

They say there are all sorts of lives.

Jiang Yanyi never imagined that behind the words of others claiming that the old scholar had dirty hands, there was such a tragic story.

She couldn’t help but sigh, “Next time, you two should accompany me to meet that old scholar.”

She had already decided to invite the old scholar to tell stories at her tavern.

Since he had once been able to tell stories at Laifu Tavern, his skills must be solid.

Moreover, given the grudge he had with Laifu Tavern, Jiang Yanyi was not worried that they would try to poach him.

Having made some delicious dishes, Jiang Yanyi naturally didn’t forget to send a portion to Feng Shuo.

A pleasant surprise was that the mother cat she had been feeding for several days finally seemed to trust Jiang Yanyi more.

Although it still didn’t dare let her touch it, when she went to feed the cats, the mother cat now lay in the cat nest, hardly reacting to her presence.

Several kittens had opened their eyes, huddled under the mother cat, meowing one more adorable than the other.

Jiang Yanyi wondered if it was her imagination, but they seemed slightly bigger than when they were born, and their fur looked denser.

When she entered the room, her face beaming with joy, she said to Feng Shuo, “I think this litter of kittens will survive.”

Today, Feng Shuo was wearing a fine black and gold brocade robe, his long hair half tied up with a golden crown and half cascading down his back, appearing noble and elegant.

“This litter of kittens is so noisy, they keep meowing all day long,” he said, his tone clearly displeased, but there was no sign of annoyance on his face.

Jiang Yanyi hurriedly replied, “Just bear with it for a few more days. Once the kittens grow a bit bigger and healthier, I’ll move them all to my courtyard.”

Now that the mother cat was not as wary of her as before, Jiang Yanyi felt that after a while, she would surely be able to take the kittens away together.

Feng Shuo supported his head, looking at Jiang Yanyi, “What have you been busy with lately?”

In the past, she had to handle the affairs of the tavern and couldn’t come here often.

These days, her foot had healed, but the tavern was still closed, and she had been coming even less than before.

Jiang Yanyi proudly brought the dry pot covered with a lid to the table and smiled, “I’ve been busy making delicious food.”

Even with the pot lid covering it, the fragrant aroma of spicy and numbing flavors wafted enticingly from the pot.

She pulled out a small stove she had brought along. “Put the silver charcoal in here, and we can keep it warm while eating.”

Feng Shuo took her words as an invitation to enjoy a good meal, the corners of his lips lifting slightly, instantly brightening his mood.

However, he replied, “Where did you learn these strange cooking methods?”

Jiang Yanyi’s heart tightened.

This was the first time someone had asked her that question.

She chuckled awkwardly and replied, “I just figured it out myself.”

Fearing that Feng Shuo would ask more questions, she urged him, “Open the lid and give it a try.”

Feng Shuo said, “I haven’t taken my medicinal bath this morning. I’ll eat after I’m done.”

Jiang Yanyi nodded. “Then you should hurry.”

Eating after a bath isn’t good for the body.

As she finished speaking, Jiang Yanyi noticed Feng Shuo looking at her with a hesitant expression before he silently walked toward the back room.

Worried that the dry pot might cool down, she stepped outside and had a servant bring in the hot silver charcoal, placing it in the small stove.

She covered the opening with two iron plates, leaving just a small gap to let the heat from the charcoal warm the pot.

After doing all this, she habitually went to Feng Shuo’s bookshelf to find a book to read.

The servant hadn’t exited yet and was taken aback to witness this scene, his expression one of astonishment, bordering on fear.

Everyone who served in Feng Shuo’s courtyard knew that the bookshelf in his room was off-limits.

Even for regular cleaning, it was handled by Protector Xing.

Just as the servant was about to remind Jiang Yanyi not to touch those books, he heard Jiang Yanyi call out toward the back room, “Where’s the travelogue I was reading last time? I can’t find it.”

Feng Shuo’s cool and low voice soon echoed from the back room, “It’s on the third shelf of the bookshelf, the sixth book from the left.”

The servant looked as if he had seen a ghost, his steps faltering as he exited the room, his mind in turmoil.

It seemed that the prince truly treated this Jiang girl differently; he would henceforth regard Jiang Yanyi with even more respect.

Jiang Yanyi, oblivious to this, followed Feng Shuo’s directions and indeed found the travelogue she hadn’t finished.

She also discovered several other travelogues that seemed fresh and new, their pages crisp and not at all worn from frequent handling.

Clearly, they had been bought recently.

Jiang Yanyi’s heart raced like a startled deer. Could it be that these books were selected for her by Feng Shuo?

“Did you find it?” Feng Shuo’s voice came again from the back room.

Jiang Yanyi nodded, then realized Feng Shuo couldn’t see her.

Her cheeks warmed as she replied, “I found it.”

She glanced at a new travelogue that had been placed on the shelf and asked Feng Shuo, “What’s the second book from the left on the third shelf?”

“The Record of Hu Yang’s Temples, written by Shen Xuanzhi, a former minister of the previous dynasty, after he traveled to various ancient temples.

Although it laments the fall of the previous dynasty, it contains interesting tales and customs regarding different temples that are worth reading.”

Jiang Yanyi had always known that Feng Shuo had a pleasant voice, but never had she found it this captivating.

So it’s true that someone who is well-read naturally exudes an aura of grace?

And he remembered the locations of all the books on his entire shelf?

Not believing it, Jiang Yanyi asked several more book titles and found that Feng Shuo could answer them all accurately.

Still not satisfied, she tilted her head to look at the top shelf, where the books clearly hadn’t been frequently opened, and asked him, “What’s the eleventh book from the right on the top shelf?”

“The Art of War in a Hundred Articles.” As he spoke, Feng Shuo emerged from the back room.

He had changed into a delicately embroidered yundan robe, the ends of his hair slightly damp, a few strands hanging down on his shoulders, creating a striking contrast with the meticulously worn robe.

Coupled with his cool expression, he exuded an inexplicable sense of restraint.

Seeing Jiang Yanyi still standing in front of the bookshelf, he remarked, “Military books can be dry. I was afraid you wouldn’t enjoy them.”

Jiang Yanyi turned around, momentarily stunned by his appearance.

She walked over, holding the travelogue in her hands. “Ahem, I was just curious.”

She sat cross-legged on the mat where she usually read. “You’ve read all the books on your bookshelf.”

Feng Shuo glanced at her. “Why would I keep books on the shelf that I haven’t read? Are they just for decoration?”

Jiang Yanyi had unknowingly added a scholarly filter to her perception of him.

Even if his tone seemed a bit irritating, it didn’t come across as unpleasant anymore.

With her chin resting on her hands, she asked, “Have you read those new travelogues that were just placed on the shelf?”