As long as it was something she didn’t like, he wouldn’t force it.

For her reputation, he had done his utmost to avoid anything that might cause her trouble.

But the fact that she was so wary that she wouldn’t even take an umbrella made him feel a bit hurt.

While Feng Shuo was lost in thought, someone suddenly dashed into his arms and quickly planted a kiss on his lips, standing on tiptoe.

It was Jiang Yanyi, who had turned back after walking away.

“You don’t treat your old wounds as significant anymore, but I can’t ignore them.”

After saying this, she glared at him, turned, and ran away into the snow.

When she reached the corner, she turned back to wave at him. “I’m heading back!”

Feng Shuo stood there holding the umbrella, stunned for a while, before using his other hand to touch his lips, unable to suppress the smile that was creeping onto his face.

---

After Jiang Yanyi ran out of Feng’s residence, she leaned against the wall for a moment, her heart pounding, and her face felt as if it was on fire.

Although it wasn’t her first kiss with Feng Shuo, the difference between taking the initiative and being passive seemed quite significant.

That silly guy! She could tell from far away what he was thinking!

After calming herself for a while, she returned to the shop.

Chef Yao and the others had already finished dinner and left, leaving only Qiu Kui and Chu Zhong in the shop.

Due to a lack of rooms, Chu Zhong had to take care of Chu Yan Gui’s daily needs, so he made a bed on the floor in Chu Yan Gui’s room.

Qiu Kui was at the stove, leaving some food for Jiang Yanyi.

She quickly ate and prepared the soup for the next day, taking advantage of the fact that Chu Yan Gui hadn’t gone to sleep yet to bring him a coal stove for warmth.

Chu Yan Gui was chatting with the parrot when he saw Jiang Yanyi enter the room and asked, “Sister, did you buy this parrot?”

Jiang Yanyi replied, “No, it was a gift from the neighboring Wang residence when the shop opened.”

“I see,” Chu Yan Gui said, his face displaying an innocent smile, but his eyes held an indescribable complexity. “It was thanks to the Wang residence’s carriage that we could move today.”

Feng Shuo had a bad reputation, with people saying he was cruel and unkind.

Jiang Yanyi was afraid that Chu Yan Gui might hold some bias against Feng Shuo, so she said, “The people in the Wang residence are quite friendly. When I first opened the shop, some ruffians caused trouble, and it was the Wang residence that helped me out.”

Upon hearing that someone had caused trouble, Chu Yan Gui’s gaze sharpened. “Who was that ruffian?”

“It was Xie Zhi Zhou’s nephew-in-law. He committed a crime, and his whole family has been in jail since.” As she added oil to the nearby lamp, Jiang Yanyi spoke calmly, seemingly unfazed by the past.

However, the hand that Chu Yan Gui had hidden under the blanket tightened slightly.

He said, “Sister, I won’t let you suffer like that again.”

The door hadn’t been closed properly, and a cold wind rushed in, almost extinguishing the lamp.

Jiang Yanyi quickly cupped her hands around the tiny flame.

Once Chu Zhong closed the door, the trembling flame in Jiang Yanyi’s palm finally brightened.

She smiled, “It’s a good thing the wind didn’t blow out the lamp. Those things are all in the past. I’m no longer worried about them. Yan Gui, don’t think too much about it. Get some rest; I’ll be in the next room. If you need anything, just call for me.”

“I will. Sister, you should also rest early,” he replied.

After Jiang Yanyi left the room, Chu Yan Gui gazed at the small flame on the table in a daze.

Wasn’t he just a small flame, protected by his sister, still flickering but not extinguished?

He needed to become stronger as soon as possible.

---

The next morning, the butler of Feng’s residence arrived early to discuss the rental of the west courtyard with Jiang Yanyi.

Although it was called a discussion, there was hardly anything to negotiate; the west courtyard was the best option, no matter the arrangement.

Moreover, just last night, Feng’s residence had already ordered someone to brick up the large gate leading to the west courtyard from their side.

Now, Feng’s side could no longer access the west courtyard; they had to break through the courtyard wall from Jiang Yanyi’s side to enter.

Aside from being impressed by how quickly Feng Shuo handled things, Jiang Yanyi couldn’t quite describe her feelings at that moment.

The butler, Fu Xi, handed the land deed to Jiang Yanyi, but he did not collect any rent, saying it was Feng Shuo’s order.

That afternoon, Jiang Yanyi went to find Feng Shao.

He was reading in his room, and when he lifted his head from the scroll, he pinched her nose with a mix of helplessness and affection, saying, “When will you stop overthinking things? Just accept what I give you. You will eventually be my wife, and in the future, all the family affairs of the royal residence will be handed over to you. What does one courtyard matter?”

“But…”

“Instead of worrying about these trivial things, you’d be better off practicing your calligraphy.” Feng Shao took out a calligraphy book and handed it to her.

Jiang Yanyi’s brows drooped instantly: “No, no, I’m busy at my shop.”

Feng Shao didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry. He asked her, “Is practicing calligraphy really that hard?”

Jiang Yanyi shrugged, saying, “Every profession has its own specialization.”

Feng Shao set down his scroll and glanced out the window: “Forget it. Come with me outside the city; I’ll take you to an interesting place.”

“Where to?”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

---

Feng Shao took Jiang Yanyi on horseback out of Xizhou City, heading towards the outskirts.

If she didn’t trust him completely, Jiang Yanyi would have suspected he was taking her to a desolate place to sell her.

The warhorse stopped in a grove of plum trees, where heavy snow weighed down the branches, and the red plums bloomed vibrantly, creating a scene that looked like a painting.

Feng Shao dismounted first, wrapping his arms around Jiang Yanyi from underneath and lifting her off the horse as if she were a child.

This grove of plum trees was clearly seldom visited; there were no footprints in the snow, and here and there, a few blades of withered grass broke through the snow near the dark plum tree roots.

Draped in a red velvet cloak lined with white rabbit fur, Jiang Yanyi’s skin glowed as if kissed by frost and snow.

“What is this place? Why are there so many plum trees?” Jiang Yanyi asked, rubbing her hands and blowing on them for warmth.

The plum grove was indeed beautiful, but it was a bit chilly.

Feng Shao wrapped his large hand around hers and led her further into the plum grove: “This is where Xizhou City’s most famous plum wine is produced. Can you guess where we are?”

After walking a short distance, a delightful scent of wine wafted through the air.

Turning a corner, they spotted a thatched hut covered in snow.

Outside the hut were several large jars used for brewing wine, and neatly arranged in the courtyard were many jars for storing the finished wine.

Before they could approach, an old man with graying hair emerged from the hut, smiling as he asked Feng Shao, “You’re back. What wine do you want?”

“Same as usual,” Feng Shao replied.

He looked down at Jiang Yanyi: “What kind of wine do you like?”

Jiang Yanyi shook her head: “I don’t drink.”

“It’d be a shame not to get a good bottle of wine while we’re here,” he said, turning to the old man. “Bring a jar of fruit wine.”

The old man nodded and went to fetch the wine.

Feng Shao clearly frequented this place, heading straight to a low table covered with bamboo mats and casually sitting on a cushion. He raised an eyebrow at Jiang Yanyi: “Sit.”

With the bamboo window half-open, one could easily gaze out at the plum grove.

Jiang Yanyi walked over, kneeling on the cushion and admiring the view outside: “This truly is an elegant place.”

The old man soon brought over the drinks; Feng Shao received a large jar, while Jiang Yanyi had a small wine pot, although the cups were all palm-sized earthenware bowls.

The old man cheerfully said to Jiang Yanyi, “The fruit wine I brew isn’t intoxicating, so you can try it.”

The snacks served were a plate of boiled peanuts and a plate of bean curd cakes, not particularly exquisite, but paired with the scenery and the wine, they created a more refined atmosphere.

Jiang Yanyi felt that compared to this place, the decorations in her hot pot restaurant were merely superficial elegance.

Beside them, a small stove kept the wine warm, with flames flickering and steam rising from the pot above.

Feng Shao filled a cup to the brim and downed it in one gulp, looking extraordinarily bold.

Jiang Yanyi was taken aback to see him drink; her eyes widened in surprise.

Feng Shao asked her, “What are you staring at?”

Jiang Yanyi hesitated before saying, “Um… I can’t ride a horse, so maybe you should drink a little less.”

If he got drunk here, they might not make it back tonight.