In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

Xie Yige was dumbfounded.

Are all people in Beijing this daring?

Should we talk to Zhiwei about this?

"Miss, are you awake? Miss Zhiwei is here, she said she's looking for you." Bichun walked in carrying a copper basin.

As if on cue, Xie Yige's spirits lifted.

"Please ask her to wait a moment, I'll freshen up and be right there."

After washing up, Xie Yige had Bichun quickly comb her hair into a low ponytail and simply pin it with a jade-colored hairpin. Although she was without makeup, her face was radiant with spring-like beauty and her eyes were full of affection; she was a captivating and lovely woman, like a lotus emerging from clear water.

Li Zhiwei, who had come early in the morning to thank her for her righteous help yesterday, was stunned.

"Sister, what did you do last night? Why do you look so lovey-dovey this morning?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Xie Yige bluffed, pretending to pounce on her and punch her.

"With your pathetic skills and feeble strength, you're barely good enough to tickle me!" Li Zhi smiled and dodged. "I came all morning to thank you! Today's food, drinks, and entertainment are on me. How about that, sister, am I generous enough?"

When they weren't familiar with each other, Li Zhiwei would pretend to be a lady, but now that she's in front of Xie Yige, she doesn't even bother to pretend anymore.

"I happen to have something to tell you," Xie Yige said carefully. "Let's find a place to talk properly."

"Let me take you boating on the lake, we can talk on the boat."

Lake Himonuma is located in northeastern Kyoto and is famous for its unique turquoise marshland in the center of the lake.

At this moment, Xie Yige and Li Zhiwei, accompanied by their respective maids, were boating and brewing tea on the lake. The spring breeze was slightly chilly, but it did not dampen their spirits at all.

"Yige, quickly try this pre-Qingming tea." Li Zhiwei personally poured a cup and handed it to her. "I heard it's made from the tenderest buds picked before Qingming Festival, and the taste is very fresh and mellow."

Xie Yige brought the teacup to her nose, took a gentle sniff, and then sipped it. Her eyes brightened slightly: "The tea has a delicate aroma, very low bitterness, and a rich floral and fruity fragrance. It's smooth on the palate with a sweet aftertaste. It's a good tea."

"Right!" Li Zhiwei proudly poured herself a cup as well. "I didn't like drinking this stuff before, but after returning to the capital, I was forced to learn the etiquette of noble ladies in the capital—tea making, flower arranging, playing the zither, chess, calligraphy and painting, etiquette and manners—I can't learn anything well, but I'm still pretty good at brewing and tasting tea."

Her tone was carefree with a hint of self-deprecation, showing that she had a good ability to cope with her emotions.

"My mother always says that you should do what you love," Xie Yige said softly. "As for other things, knowing a little bit is enough so that you won't be ashamed of yourself."

"Your mother was so good." Li Zhiwei's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "It's a pity I no longer have a mother. My father has always been stationed on the frontier..."

She paused, then looked at Xie Yige: "You said this morning you had something to tell me, what is it?"

Xie Yige looked at her, her face slightly flushed, and leaned close to her ear to whisper what she had seen and heard behind the rockery yesterday—of course, Cui Yutang was completely omitted from her account.

"Bang—"

Li Zhiwei nearly overturned the table with her hand. Her face was ashen, and anger welled up in her eyes: "Those two scoundrels! How dare they do such disgusting things behind my brother's back! I'll go and wipe them out!"

"Zhiwei, don't rush." ​​Xie Yige pressed her hand down, then said carefully, "I know some other things... but don't ask me how I know them, you'll have to investigate yourselves."

She lowered her voice: "Li Zhixuan... is probably not of your general's bloodline. He was born to his mother and another man."

Li Zhiwei's expression changed drastically, and she abruptly stood up: "What? How could Second Aunt...?"

Her second uncle had always followed her father to guard the frontier. If this is true...

The boat was drifting to the middle of the lake, and although Li Zhiwei was extremely anxious, there was nothing she could do.

"Miss, that boat ahead seems to have hit the swamp in the middle of the lake," Bichun quickly reported, pointing ahead.

Looking over, everyone saw a small boat tilted at the edge of the green swamp, with two people on board in a panic.

"Help! Can anyone save us?" The people on the boat cried out for help as soon as they saw the boat coming. Their voices were trembling with tears.

Xie Yige and Li Zhiwei quickly stood up. There were only two women on the ship, and they looked terrified.

"Let's move the boat closer and use the oars to build a bridge to rescue them," Xie Yige decided immediately, directing Bichun and Li Zhiwei's maid, Jingyan, "Be careful not to touch the swamp."

"You're not strong enough to control the boat well." Li Zhiwei took the oar from Bichun's hand. "Jingyan and I will row together."

The two men on the boat wept with joy upon seeing another boat approaching. Xie Yige steered the boat to a relatively safe area, just within reach of the oars.

"Zhiwei, keep control of the boat. Jingyan, put the other oar on the opposite boat." She then looked at the two panicked women—clearly a young lady and a maid—"Put your two oars over as well, to make it wider."

"it is good."

Several people, holding onto the oars, slowly helped the two women out of the central swamp.

"Thank you both for saving my life." The woman straightened her clothes slightly, gave Xie Yige and Li Zhiwei a solemn curtsy, her voice still slightly choked, "Cui Yuran is deeply grateful and will repay your kindness in the future."

"Cui Yuran?" Li Zhiwei asked, "Are you the fourth daughter of the Prime Minister's residence?"

The Prime Minister's residence? I wonder if it has anything to do with him? Xie Yige silently observed the woman's features—gentle yet aloof, with graceful manners.

"That's right." Cui Yuran nodded. "Cui Zhinuan is my uncle. May I ask how you two benefactors are addressed?"

"So it's Miss Cui Si." Li Zhiwei returned the greeting with her hands folded in a respectful gesture. "I am Li Zhiwei, and this is my good friend Xie Yige. This place is not safe to stay any longer; let's leave first."

Without further hesitation, the group set sail and departed.

"Miss Cui, why are you all alone in the middle of the lake?" Li Zhiwei asked, puzzled. Usually, pleasure boats are used by groups of close friends or sisters.

"Sister Zhiwei, you can just call me Yuran," Cui Yuran said gently. "I had arranged to go boating on the lake with my cousin, but she didn't show up for some reason."

"What else could it be?" the maid behind her couldn't help but say indignantly. "She must have secretly gone to see the eldest son!"

Xie Yige's heart sank. Who was the eldest son the maid mentioned...?

"Yun Cui, don't speak carelessly." Cui Yuran's tone was stern, but without any intention of blaming.

Xie Yige lowered her eyes, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and smiled slightly: "Sister Yuran, would you like us to take you to find your companions?"

Cui Yuran's face darkened slightly, and she remained silent for a moment before speaking: "My two older sisters saved my life. To be honest, my cousin... probably used me as an excuse. I didn't mind in the first place."

She paused, a hint of coldness in her voice: "But she was the one who chose this boat for me. She shouldn't have kept me stuck here just to buy time. She really thinks I'm a fool. How dare she even think about my cousin? She should know her own worth."