Yun Zhu called Ning Yi out, mainly wanting to talk to him about two things. The first was about his relationship with Qin Si Yuan, which was pretty much what Ning Yi had expected.

Back then, he'd hoped Qin Si Yuan would adopt Yun Zhu as his adopted daughter, as a sort of exchange of favors. Firstly, he wanted Yun Zhu to have a home, and secondly, he felt that Kang Xian, or Qin Si Yuan, their backgrounds could provide Yun Zhu with a protective umbrella, mainly against the Su family. But now, it had become a minor inconvenience.

Qin Si Yuan was now the Right Chancellor, and regardless of his style or how many people feared him, he wouldn't lack enemies behind his back. Yun Zhu, after all, came from a brothel, a fact that couldn't be erased. If someone used this as a rumor to attack Qin Si Yuan, it would inevitably cause him trouble. Yun Zhu felt that Qin Si Yuan had a good nature, and although the matter of recognizing them as father and daughter hadn't been widely publicized before, it probably would be now. It would be best if she regretted it first, giving him a way out. Therefore, she hoped Ning Yi would speak to Old Qin about this matter, unaware that Ning Yi had already done so.

If it were an ordinary family, they would probably try every possible means to cling to a relative who was a chancellor. Ning Yi, however, had a completely different idea. Such a scandal in the chancellor's family, what impact could it have on the Right Chancellor during wartime? It wouldn't greatly shake his power, and those who wanted to curry favor would still desperately try to do so. The only one who would be hurt would be Yun Zhu. In this sense, he was now somewhat disinclined towards Old Qin's background and didn't plan to become relatives with him.

"...So, when I saw him just now, I brought up this matter first... Of course, the Qin family are all good people. You're familiar with Madam Qin and Aunt Yun. When you see them, treat them the same as before, don't discriminate against them... Fortunately, the matter of recognizing relatives wasn't widely publicized before, and not many people know about it..."

Ahead, the streetlights stretched out, reflecting in the city river on one side. The stone railings by the river were ancient, faintly showing a greenish hue after being washed by the rain. Ning Yi and Yun Zhu walked under the trees by the river. Yun Zhu's skirt fluttered, one hand held in his, the other carrying a small purse.

"I wouldn't dare," Yun Zhu glanced at him, then said softly, "Xiang Gong (husband), you always like to talk nonsense."

They had been together for quite some time, but hadn't specifically mentioned terms of address before. Ning Yi wasn't particularly good at such little romances and didn't particularly care. Now, it was the first time Yun Zhu had called him "Xiang Gong," and even though her voice was light, it was truly touching. Ning Yi squeezed her soft palm, holding it tighter. The night breeze blew, and he smiled softly. Yun Zhu's face flushed slightly, she smoothed her hair, a little embarrassed, but they understood each other's hearts.

"I never talk nonsense."

The two walked a distance along the river in the gentle breeze. Yun Zhu's hand had been held by him for a long time, and with Ning Yi by her side, she became more generous. She was wearing a light green dress at this moment, elegant and graceful. Even though she deliberately hid in the shadows beside Ning Yi, people still occasionally glanced over. As they walked forward, the scene between the streets changed, buildings shifted, and some beautiful shops and courtyards gradually appeared in the night. Ning Yi pointed to the most magnificent building in the night, heading towards it: "Didn't you say there was something else? What is it?"

"Uh..." Yun Zhu looked at him, "It's about Jin'er."

"Oh? What did she do again?" Hearing that it was about Yuan Jin'er, Ning Yi's tone immediately lacked sincerity. Honestly, he wouldn't be surprised no matter what that girl did. And the after-effects of accidentally hugging her to avoid Yan Qing hadn't passed yet. Although he could still manage to communicate with some jokes, he didn't want to provoke her lately.

Seeing Ning Yi's attitude, Yun Zhu pouted, stopping. When Ning Yi turned around, putting on a serious face, she hesitated and said, "You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"Wen Yu didn't tell you?"

"Su Wen Yu?" Ning Yi was really stunned this time, "What does it have to do with him?"

"He said..." Yun Zhu stared into his eyes, "He's fallen in love with Jin'er, and wants to marry her."

"...Huh?" Ning Yi blinked, then pulled her forward, thinking for a while before saying, "He told you?"

"No, he found Jin'er himself yesterday and said it very seriously... Of course, Jin'er said he stuttered a bit. I thought he would talk to you first."

Ning Yi shook his head: "He wouldn't talk to me. Although we've gotten closer recently, it's not to the point where I can propose marriage for them. But Wen Yu is a decent person, of average talent, but useful with some training. Did Jin'er agree to him?"

"She refused," Yun Zhu shook her head, "Jin'er listened to him and then refused. Then she came and told me... Of course, it shouldn't be hurtful. Jin'er is usually carefree, but she'll pay attention to this kind of thing. After she told me, I felt I should tell Xiang Gong (husband) about it."

"I understand," Ning Yi nodded, then smiled, "I'll enlighten Wen Yu... Actually, he has good taste. I'll encourage him tonight. It's just a temporary setback. Girls aren't so easily talked into marriage, you have to get to know them first, see what they like, and try to please them. Jin'er, she's almost twenty after all. Wen Yu's family isn't bad, and she'd marry as the first wife. Her parents are a problem, but if it really works out, I'll help coordinate..."

Yun Zhu was stunned for a long while: "I, I didn't say that..."

"Then what did you want to say?"

"Jin'er already refused him, Jin'er doesn't like him..."

"But they've only known each other for a few days, maybe she'll like him in the future..." Ning Yi said, then laughed and patted his head, "Of course, I know it's mostly like this now, but after I go to Shandong, Wen Yu and Yan Ping will at least leave one behind, so there might still be a chance for a change. Of course, it depends on his own ability. As long as he doesn't force it, maybe he can really win Jin'er's heart. Jin'er says she likes you, but it's not real... At least not in the way she said about two girls being together, I know that. She's so good to you, and if she's really single, we can take care of her for a lifetime of happiness. But if she can really find someone she likes, we should bless them."

In this era, girls could get married at fourteen or fifteen. The most attractive period for brothel girls was between fourteen and eighteen. After twenty, it could be said that youth was fleeting. Even if a woman was beautiful and talented at this time, she could only choose to be a concubine or a replacement wife if she wanted to get married. Of course, some women relied on their exquisite skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and could still have fame and visitors even in their thirties. But those who wanted to marry them, even if they wanted to marry them as concubines or replacement wives, were almost gone.

Jin'er had retired at her most glorious time after all, but now she was almost twenty. This age, which would be considered terribly young in later generations, had now become an old maid. In the past, she said she would spend her life with Yun Zhu, and with the older Yun Zhu by her side, this problem didn't seem so urgent. But now that Yun Zhu was with Ning Yi, her problem became obvious.

Su Wen Yu was a year younger than Ning Yi, but he was still unmarried at home. If he and Jin'er were really in love, Ning Yi felt that it might be possible to persuade him to marry Jin'er as his first wife. He spoke sincerely about this matter, and Yun Zhu hesitated to speak. The two walked on the darker side of the road, and Yun Zhu leaned towards Ning Yi, nestling against him contentedly, but the smile on her face seemed complicated.

"Li Heng, if..."

"Hmm? What?"

"...Nothing."

"Heh, strange..." Ning Yi shook his head, then pointed to the magnificent and beautiful buildings on the street ahead, "Look, it's so beautiful. Although it might be a brothel... We can also refer to it when we set up Zhu Ji in the future..."

The buildings in the distance stretched out in rows, appearing quite majestic. The lights upstairs weren't particularly luxurious, but the scattered lights added a bit of ancient elegance to the beauty. Some of the buildings were probably quite old, but they didn't appear dilapidated, but merely exuded the elegance of time. Such buildings were mostly wooden structures, and to have such a feeling, good maintenance was essential. Ning Yi and Yun Zhu walked towards the main entrance as they looked around. On the wooden corridors connecting the upper floors, there were figures of women leading guests, and the sound of strings and bamboo flutes came from the air, elegant and refreshing.

"This... Could it be Fan Lou (Varnish Tower)?" Yun Zhu looked at the scene upstairs and said softly, "In that case, Miss Shi Shi (Li Shishi) is not far from us..."

"Fan Lou (Varnish Tower)?" They were still far from the main entrance at this time, on the side, unable to see the signboard clearly. Ning Yi blinked, "Yun Zhu, you've never been to Bianliang (Kaifeng)..."

"I've heard people mention it here..." Yun Zhu replied softly. She must have had guests mention it when she was in the brothel. Fan Lou (Varnish Tower) had always been the number one brothel in the capital, talked about for more than ten years. Although Li Shishi's reputation had risen in recent years, she was only one of the famous courtesans. The two walked to the street opposite the main entrance, looking at the large signboard, which indeed read Fan Lou (Varnish Tower). The two had been taking a walk, basically going in a circle, but they didn't expect to live so close to Li Shishi. Ning Yi thought to himself, looking back to try and find the location of Wen Hui Lou (Literature Gathering Tower), but Yun Zhu pulled on his sleeve.

"Li Heng... Li Heng, let go of me, someone's watching on the other side..."

Ning Yi turned around. On the other side of the road, a group of people were coming out of the entrance of Fan Lou (Varnish Tower). Many people were chatting while waiting for their carriages, and an old man in his fifties, dressed in expensive clothes, was looking over here with a gloomy gaze. Ning Yi was about to let go of Yun Zhu's hand when someone seemed to greet the old man. The old man waved his sleeve, grunting, "Morals are declining, people's hearts are not as they used to be, pulling and tugging in public... What kind of behavior is that!"

His voice wasn't small, and everyone nearby could hear it. Although it wasn't specifically aimed at anyone, several people were already looking at Ning Yi. Ning Yi was indeed pulling and tugging at Yun Zhu, and didn't have much of an image to begin with. He merely straightened his body slightly at this time, frowning. The aura that originally belonged to a superior person was already revealed: "Since when do people who have just drunk flower wine in a brothel have the nerve to say such things!"

His tone was low and authoritative, but after all, he looked like he was in his early twenties, not enough to scare people. But he didn't let go of Yun Zhu's hand, and Yun Zhu didn't struggle anymore, just lowered her head, her face flushed red. The old man on the other side became angry: "Youngster, who are you! How dare you speak to me like that! Tell me your name if you have the guts!"

Ning Yi held Yun Zhu's hand and slowly raised it here, then tilted his head: "You don't know me anyway, why wouldn't I dare... Go! Die! You!"

After cursing the person word by word in a clear and sharp voice, Ning Yi expressionlessly pulled Yun Zhu and turned to leave. When the people over there started shouting, "Come on, arrest this madman..." Ning Yi had already entered the alley, then picked up Yun Zhu before she could react, and ran wildly. He laughed as he ran through the long alley.

Above Fan Lou (Varnish Tower), there was a pair of eyes watching this scene at this time. It was a window on the third floor, and the woman by the window was dressed in white, looking pure and ethereal. Her hair danced lightly in the night breeze, and her eyes contained a smile. She had accidentally seen this scene by the window, and faintly heard the sentence "Go! Die! You!" She was laughing. A man walked over beside her: "Shi Shi (Li Shishi), what did you see that was so interesting?"

This man was named Xu Dong Mo, a talented scholar in Bianliang (Kaifeng) with a family and a reputation. He had met Ning Yi once in Jiangning. He looked at the somewhat furious crowd at the main entrance below: "Oh, the one who's angry is Xue Gong Yuan (Master Xue) of the Juan Wen Society (Elegant Literature Society). What happened? Look at how he's hopping mad. That one is Yu Shao Yuan, a rising star. The Juan Wen Society (Elegant Literature Society) wants to invite him to join, right? Shi Shi (Li Shishi), have you read his articles?"

Li Shishi smiled and shook her head. In Xu Dong Mo's recommendation of "you must read them," she watched the couple run through the long alley, disappear into the crowd.

As expected, former playmates are more interesting... she thought to herself.