The yard was so quiet that they could clearly hear each other's heartbeats, as if they were right next to their ears.
The gentle spring breeze seemed to carry an ambiguous warmth. Otherwise, why would Lu Yinxi feel that her cheeks and earlobes were burning?
She hadn't had this feeling even when Shang Luoshu had held her in his arms just now!
Of course, she wasn't the only one in this situation. The man a few steps in front of her wasn't faring any better.
It was no exaggeration to say that Shang Luoshu was stunned by the girl's straightforward words. His mind went blank for a moment, and he even forgot how to respond.
Seeing his expression, Lu Yinxi suddenly realized that what she had just said might not be appropriate in this era.
Scratching her cheek awkwardly, the girl's mind raced. She had to make up for it quickly, or something just felt off.
"Um, I didn't mean..."
"So this is where the Fourth Sister is. It took me quite a while to find you!"
Her words were abruptly interrupted. Lu Yinxi pouted unhappily. She had discovered that the natives of this era liked to interrupt people!
"Is His Highness the King of Jing here too?"
Lu Jinran happily took a step closer to the man. However, Shang Luoshu, who had already recovered, subtly took a step back and concealed his expression.
"I was on my way to the front yard and happened to meet Miss Lu the Fourth."
Before Lu Jinran could speak again, he cut her off, "I'll take my leave. You should also go home early!"
The man had already walked far away. Since he was out of sight, Lu Yinxi couldn't very well pull him back, so she had no choice but to let it go.
"Fourth Sister, are you very familiar with His Highness the King of Jing?"
As soon as the figure disappeared from sight, Lu Jinran grabbed the girl's sleeve with a fake smile, as if they were truly close sisters.
"Aren't you tired?"
Lu Yinxi mercilessly pulled back her sleeve and sized up this so - called third elder sister with a look as if she were looking at a monster.
"When you first came this morning, you didn't even want to talk to me. Now you're clinging to me. Aren't you tired of changing your attitude like this? I'm tired just watching you!"
Not bothering to talk to her anymore, the girl took Hongmei and returned to the carriage first.
Seeing her daughter return early, Lady Lu naturally expressed her concern. After learning that the Spring Banquet had been disrupted, she said a few words of concern and then fell silent.
As long as her daughter was safe, nothing else mattered.
"Hongmei, do you know that Miss Feng?"
After returning to the yard, Lu Yinxi finally had time to sort out what had happened at the Qi Prince's Mansion today.
The first thing she focused on was Miss Feng. After all, she had been acting very strangely at that time, which made Lu Yinxi couldn't help but pay attention.
Hongmei hesitated for a moment before speaking, "This servant naturally knows."
She knows everything!
The girl didn't hide her surprise.
Judging from Miss Feng's appearance, she must have come from a noble family. How could Hongmei know the secrets behind it?
"Hongmei, is there any secret in the capital that you don't know?"
"Before this servant was sent to serve Miss, the master once instructed that I must remember all the secrets of the noble families in the capital in case Miss might need them."
The sudden mention of the "master" made Lu Yinxi think of the scene in the garden again. It was just so embarrassing!
She was so embarrassed that she felt like she could dig out a three - bedroom apartment with her toes. Why had she blurted out those words at that time?
"Cough, cough," The girl covered her lips with her fist and pretended to cough twice, forcibly turning the topic back, "Tell me about Miss Feng!"
Hongmei held back her smile and continued, "Miss Feng is the third daughter of General Piaoji Feng Zheng. Her given name is Wan."
"She used to have an older full - sister, but a few years ago, she committed suicide."
Hearing Hongmei's lowered voice, Lu Yinxi was first stunned, then seemed to think of something, "That Kong Jiao?!"
She still remembered that Hongmei had told her before that among the young ladies whose reputations had been ruined by Kong Jiao, one had committed suicide.
In this way, all of Feng Wan's actions today could be explained.
So that's why Kong Jiao had struggled free and tried to "attack" Feng Wan later. After all, sisters who shared the same parents would always have some similarities.
As the sky was getting dark, an unexpected guest arrived at the Jing Prince's Mansion. Dressed in his imposing official robe, who else could it be but the Regent King?
"Uncle Regent is always busy with official duties. What brings you to my humble mansion?"
Shang Luoshu was not at all surprised by his appearance. In fact, he even thought he had come a bit late. Since the Minister of Rites was still useful, Shang Mozheng couldn't just ignore his son.
"I heard that you tied up someone at the Spring Banquet today and forcibly interrupted the banquet. So I came to ask about the situation."
"It's just a small matter. There's no need for Uncle Regent to come and ask in person. I'll handle it properly." The man calmly served him tea and then sat down in the main seat.
"Luoshu, are you not going to give Uncle Regent any face?"
"Nephew is dull. I don't understand what Uncle Regent means?"
The old man's knuckles tapped on the table leisurely. Shang Mozheng was obviously not satisfied with this answer.
"Kong Shangshu's youngest son has been mentally impaired since childhood and is no different from an ordinary toddler. Why do you have to argue with him?"
Normally, releasing the person wouldn't require the Regent King to come in person. Usually, just a token and a message would do.
But this time, he was dealing with Shang Luoshu. After revealing his strength in the Fang Qinhu incident, Shang Luoshu had completely stopped hiding.
Therefore, all the people guarding Kong Jiao were the Jing Prince's trusted subordinates. Without the Jing Prince's order, no one could take anyone away.
Helplessly, the Minister of Rites had to plead with the Regent King. Crying and hugging Shang Mozheng's leg, he finally forced the Regent King to come to the Jing Prince's Mansion in person.
"Or, Luoshu, are you going to oppose Uncle Regent?"
The tapping of the knuckles had stopped, and there was no sound in the room. It was as if there were swords clashing in the air.
Finally, Shang Luoshu spoke first, "Nephew wouldn't dare!"
"Actually, Uncle Regent, it's not impossible for me to release the person. But I also hope that Uncle Regent can give Lord Kong a good talking - to."
"If a son does something wrong, it's the father's fault. Even a six - or seven - year - old child should be taught some principles. Otherwise, if I happen to see him do something wrong again next time, will Uncle Regent still come here in person for him?"
The threat was obvious. The Regent King squinted his eyes and vaguely saw another person's shadow in him.
The late emperor's adopted son?
"Nephew, rest assured. I will talk to him."
When the Regent King left, the sun had completely set behind the mountains, and the candlelight was the only source of light in the night.
"How is it?"
"Your Highness, this matter may be related to Miss Lu the Fourth."
"He's the top scorer in the provincial examination! My young master is the top scorer!"
"I passed the exam? I passed!!! Mother, Father, can you see? Your son passed the exam! Your son passed!"
Endless congratulations echoed into the mansion. Even Lu Yinxi, who was in the inner courtyard, could hear them. Unfortunately, this joy didn't belong to the Prime Minister's Mansion.
The servants who wanted to please the family had gone to check the list early in the morning. Lu Yinjian's name wasn't on it.
As the only male heir of the Prime Minister's Mansion, failing the imperial examination twice was not a glorious thing for either Prime Minister Lu or Lu Yinjian.
But Lady Lu seemed not to care at all. She just said, "Your elder brother knows what he's doing. You don't have to worry."
Since her mother had said so, it seemed really unnecessary for her to worry anymore.
Taking a sip of the porridge that Lady Lu had served her personally, Lu Yinxi thought truthfully.
Before she had even finished the bowl of porridge, a servant suddenly rushed in.
"Madam, Miss, something bad has happened. There are rumors outside that the Prime Minister publicly impeached the Regent King in the court!"