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

A faint floral fragrance wafted over—it was her scent.

Unfolding the letter, the handwriting was beautiful, elegant and graceful, like the styles of Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan. It read:

Cui Yutang:

Don't be stressed about the exam, and take good care of yourself. The sachet contains mosquito-repelling and calming herbs; remember to bring it with you when you go to the examination hall.

The last character written was "宜" (yí).

The tears he had been holding back suddenly fell, landing on the letter and staining the ink. He quickly picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped away the tears, then read the letter over and over again, as if trying to etch every word into his heart.

That night, he slept soundly for the first time in days, clutching the cloak and the sachet.

On the day of the exam, before dawn, Chang'an City had already awakened.

Outside the examination hall, candidates lined up in long queues, undergoing checks one by one to enter. The queues stretched for thousands. Some were still silently reciting, some were resting with their eyes closed, and some were whispering to their classmates, their words revealing barely concealed tension.

Cui Yutang was at the front of the line, wearing a sky-blue cloak, with an embroidered sachet hanging from her waist and a box in her hand. Further back in the line stood Zhou Xuan'an, carrying a large backpack.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard of the Zhou residence, Xie Yige and Xie Wanrou were pacing back and forth anxiously. Every now and then, they would glance up in the direction of the examination hall, as if they could see what was happening inside.

"Sister-in-law, do you think they've gone inside yet?"

"He should be inside by now." Xie Wanrou twisted the handkerchief in her hands. "I wonder if he brought everything he needed, and if he's nervous..."

The two looked at each other and saw the same anxiety in each other's eyes.

Just then, a red figure strode in.

"Yige, Wanrou, what are you two standing there like idiots for?" Li Zhiwei was like a moving flame, instantly enlivening the courtyard. "It's no use you worrying about Zhou Langjun's exam outside. Come on, let me treat you to something delicious."

"What Madam Li says is true," Bichun quickly advised from the side. "Miss, young mistress, why don't you go out for a walk to clear your heads?"

"Yige, your maid is quite nice, I like her," Li Zhi said with a grin.

"You haven't come to see me in so long, and the first thing you do is try to steal my maid! I'll beat you up!" Xie Yige's worries vanished instantly, and she chased after her, ready to hit her. The two of them laughed and joked in the courtyard, and Xie Wanrou, watching them, couldn't help but smile as well.

Before long, the three of them were sitting in a spacious carriage.

"The Hunyang Mohu and Sushan at Linshui Pavilion are pretty good. Would you like to try them?" Li Zhiwei introduced excitedly.

"What are these two?" Xie Yige asked curiously.

"Hun Yang Mo Hu is made by stuffing a goose with glutinous rice and meat, then roasting it inside a sheep's belly. Su Shan is made by heating ghee and pouring it into the shape of a mountain, inserting colorful flowers, and then freezing it before eating. It is not only delicious, but also very beautiful in color."

Xie Yige's eyes narrowed after hearing this, and she couldn't help but swallow. Li Zhiwei saw this and laughed, calling her a glutton.

As its name suggests, Linshui Pavilion is an elegant two-story building built over the water.

Willows sway gently beside the building, their branches dancing in the breeze and reflected on the rippling blue water. Dining in such an environment instantly lifts one's spirits.

The three entered a private room, ordered dishes, and soon, a series of exquisite dishes were served. The aroma of the braised goose meat was irresistible; the outer layer of mutton was roasted to a golden brown and crispy, while inside, the savory goose meat and the soft, sticky rice blended perfectly, melting in the mouth.

The crispy mountain was uniquely shaped, crystal clear, and topped with a few edible flowers. It was drizzled with amber-colored honey, sweet but not cloying. Just as Li Zhiwei had said, it was both beautiful and delicious.

Xie Yige was gnawing on a goose leg, her mouth dripping with oil.

Suddenly, Li Zhiwei's gaze stopped, staring at a certain spot outside the window of the inner corridor, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Zhiwei, what's wrong?" Xie Yige put down the goose leg in her hand and asked in confusion.

"I think I saw that scoundrel Li Zhixuan go into the private room next door." Li Zhiwei's voice turned serious. "I'll go and see what's going on quietly."

As she spoke, she got up and walked to the window overlooking the water. She pushed open the window, stepped onto the windowsill, and with a light leap, jumped onto the windowsill of the adjacent private room. The windowsill was narrow, and the river flowed below, making it look quite dangerous.

Xie Yige's heart trembled, fearing that she might slip and fall.

Li Zhiwei, however, was completely oblivious. She pressed her ear against the window, listening intently. Gradually, her face grew darker and darker, and her knuckles gripping the windowsill turned white, showing signs of a breakdown.

About half an incense stick's time later, she returned to the private room, her face looking frighteningly pale.

"Zhiwei, what's going on next door? What's making you so angry?" Xie Yige asked anxiously.

Li Zhiwei gritted her teeth and squeezed out a few words: "That bitch Lin Zhiyin is pregnant. The two of them are discussing how to get my brother to take the baby."

Xie Yige and Xie Wanrou were both shocked, their worldviews shattered.

"The reason I haven't come to see you recently is because I've been investigating the matter of Li Zhixuan and his mother." Li Zhiwei took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "We've found strong evidence and sent a letter to my second uncle."

"I never thought that bitch Lin Zhiyin would dare to come here and disgust people," she said through gritted teeth.

Xie Yige pondered for a moment before speaking, "Zhiwei, we need to find a way to expose her about this on the spot. Otherwise, if the engagement is broken off, she might ruin your family's and your brother's reputation in order to protect herself."

"You're right," Li Zhiwei nodded. "We absolutely cannot let her have her way."

The three exchanged glances, closed the doors and windows, sat together, discussed in hushed tones, and finally came up with a proper solution.

The following day, Li Zhiwei used the pretext of "flower appreciation" to host a banquet at the Zhenguo General's Mansion, inviting a group of noble ladies from the capital to attend.

Lin Zhiyin was in a very bad mood when she received the message.

"I was just wondering how to legitimately enter the General's mansion when this invitation came as a godsend."

She immediately dressed up carefully, choosing a lotus-colored, high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) that best suited her figure. She adorned her hair with a red-gold hairpin and examined herself repeatedly in the bronze mirror for a long time, making sure she looked radiant and flawless before leaving the house satisfied.

In the back garden of the general's mansion, hundreds of flowers were in full bloom, and noble ladies gathered in twos and threes among the flowers.

Li Zhixuan saw Li Zhige not far away and revealed a strange smile.

"So what if he's the eldest grandson of the General's Mansion? He'll be mine in the future."