After getting married, she spent every night alone in her room; when she asked for a divorce, he kne

Upon hearing Xiao Jinghan's voice, the three of them froze on the spot.

Liang Yuheng turned around first, and after seeing Xiao Jinghan's face clearly, he stomped hard on Feng Liangcai's foot.

Feng Liangcai stumbled and bumped into Yan Ji. "Ji, look at that noble young man in the black robe, with a face like jade and an extraordinary temperament. Isn't that our good friend, Prince Xiao Jinghan?"

Yan Ji gasped, "It's him, it's definitely him!"

He wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes, and was about to kneel down to apologize to Xiao Jinghan when he suddenly saw the woman standing behind Xiao Jinghan.

The woman wore a light blue cross-collar ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and carried a matching veiled hat. She was so beautiful that even the moon and flowers would blush with shame, and I felt pity for her. Especially her misty eyes, which held a hint of resentment and anger, were both cool and captivating. Anyone who looked into her eyes would find it impossible to look away.

Yan Ji was stunned.

Feng Liangcai and Liang Yuheng were both stunned.

The two exchanged a quick glance and silently discussed in their hearts—if Xiao Jinghan's wife looked like this, being promiscuous wouldn't be a problem!

It's tolerable!

As Yan Ji was guessing the identity of the woman in blue beside Xiao Jinghan, he squeezed out three words from his throat: "It's my sister-in-law!"

The voice seemed to come from nowhere, winding through the mountains, carrying a humble, ingratiating tone and utter disbelief. Feng Liangcai and Liang Yuheng nearly collapsed upon hearing it; they had absolutely no idea that this beautiful woman was Liu Yuansheng!

Is Liu Yuansheng really that good-looking?

Xiao Jinghan didn't suffer any loss at all!

Feng Liangcai and Liang Yuheng were greatly shocked, staring at Yan Ji from either side, trying to find evidence that he had mistaken Liu Yuansheng for someone else. Although Yan Ji didn't recognize Liu Yuansheng's face, he remembered Liu Yuansheng's clothes, so he was quite certain of Liu Yuansheng's identity!

He walked over and said, "Hello, sister-in-law."

Before he could finish saying "hello," Liang Yuheng grabbed him by the collar, ruthlessly throwing him behind her. Then, he smiled and bowed to Liu Yuansheng, saying, "Hello, sister-in-law, I am Liang Yuheng."

"I am Feng Liangcai." Feng Liangcai hurriedly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to Liu Yuansheng, "We are both Jinghan's colleagues and his good friends."

Liu Yuansheng lowered her eyes and ignored the three of them.

The three of them looked at each other, guessing that Liu Yuansheng had overheard their conversation, and were quite embarrassed.

After being rebuffed by Liu Yuansheng, the three of them turned their attention to Xiao Jinghan.

Feng Liangcai: "Jinghan, what a coincidence, we've run into each other here."

Liang Yuheng, "You're here to eat too, right?"

Xiao Jinghan gave the three of them a cool smile. "Did I come to Yanchun Pavilion not to eat, but to watch you three put on a monkey show?"

The three of them gave a wry smile.

Yan Ji: "Since you're here for a meal, please take a seat!"

He looked sincerely into Liu Yuansheng's eyes. "Sister-in-law, there might be some misunderstanding between us. Please listen to our excuses... no, our explanations!"

"Yes, yes! We never believe rumors or gossip," Feng Liangcai chimed in.

Xiao Jinghan stared intently at the three men who were grinning like weasels. "No need to fawn over them. You guys eat your food, we'll eat here."

After saying that, he led Liu Yuansheng into the next private room.

The private room was quite spacious, and the round table that seated ten people seemed a bit empty. Liu Yuansheng sat down next to Xiao Jinghan, but although she was seated, her mind was elsewhere. She kept turning her head and staring at the crowds coming and going outside the window.

"What's wrong? Are you angry with those three?" Xiao Jinghan scrutinized Liu Yuansheng's expression. "If they really angered you, then those three are quite capable."

Liu Yuansheng did not understand Xiao Jinghan's meaning, nor could she sense whether Xiao Jinghan was mocking her or something else.

She didn't want to think too much about it, so she turned her head and looked at Ying'er, who was curiously looking around, and said, "Ying'er, you should sit down too."

"May I sit here too?" Ying'er swallowed hard. "This is Yan Chun Lou, where many high-ranking officials and nobles come. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for them to see the masters and servants of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion eating together?"

Xiao Jinghan: "Just sit down when I tell you to. Why all the nonsense? But do you even have room for food?"

Upon hearing this, Ying'er plopped down. "Yes!" she exclaimed, sucking in her stomach. "There's still room if you squeeze in!"

Xiao Jinghan was amused by Ying'er's greedy expression. "Waiter, bring out the dishes! First, bring out your restaurant's ten signature dishes!"

"Alright!"

The waiter ran off to serve the dishes like a whirlwind. Xiao Jinghan pointed to the names of the dishes hanging on the wall, and was about to ask Liu Yuansheng which dish she was interested in when he saw Yan Ji and the other two crouching down as they walked in.

Xiao Jinghan reached out and said impatiently, "What are you three doing?"

The three of them shamelessly sat down.

"This is the first time the three of us have met you, sister-in-law, so of course we should offer you a toast," said Feng Liangcai. "Sister-in-law, my name is Feng Liangcai, Liang as in 'good man' and Cai as in 'talented person'."

Feng Yuheng raised his wine glass with a flourish. "My name is Feng Yuheng. The origin of my humble name is the phrase 'holding jade and maintaining balance.'"

Yan Ji, not to be outdone, replied, "I am Yan Ji, a censor personally appointed by His Majesty. I just met you on Donghua Street, sister-in-law. I wonder if you remember me?"

After saying that, the three of them stared at Liu Yuansheng.

Liu Yuansheng felt extremely uncomfortable.

"Are you three ever going to stop? If you're going to offer toasts, then hurry up and do it. After you're done, get back to your private room!"

Xiao Jinghan's face was cold; he was even less willing to see these three people than Liu Yuansheng.

Liang Yuheng pleaded with a forced smile, "Jinghan, please don't kick us out!"

"That's right," Feng Liangcai said. "We're all good brothers. Getting to know each other today will give us more opportunities to see your wives in the future!"

"It's fate that we met, Brother Jinghan, you can't stop us from forming a bond!" Yan Ji chimed in.

Xiao Jinghan snorted, "Fate? What fate!"

"It's all about the bonds between people!" Yan Ji said seriously. "Sister-in-law, you used to practice Buddhism at Shuiyue Nunnery while still keeping your hair, right? My mother often went to Shuiyue Nunnery and was very familiar with Abbess Jing'an there!"

"Did your mother also know Master Jing'an?"

Upon learning that Yan Ji's mother knew Abbess Jing'an, Liu Yuansheng's icy expression finally softened.

Seeing that Liu Yuansheng was willing to talk to him, Yan Ji immediately became interested and said with burning eyes, "I know her! Of course I know her! This Abbess Jing'an disappeared mysteriously a while ago. After she returned to Shuiyue Nunnery, another abbess took her position as abbot. It was my mother who stood up for her and helped her get it back!"

Liu Yuansheng listened attentively, and after she finished, her gaze towards Yan Ji softened.

Xiao Jinghan scoffed, "You call this a bond? How come it didn't kill you?"

Yan Ji pouted, "Brother Xiao, why are you yelling at me!"

The waiter brought out the food and drinks, and Liang Yuheng raised his glass. "Alright, enough chit-chat, let's all toast your wife!"

"good!"

"Sister-in-law, I toast you!"

Yan Ji and Feng Liangcai both raised their wine glasses, but Liu Yuansheng remained unmoved, staring thoughtfully at Yan Ji's fingers.

Yan Ji said considerately, "Sister-in-law, you can't drink, can you? Then let Brother Xiao drink for you!"

"Yes, let Brother Xiao drink; he has a huge capacity for it!"

Liu Yuansheng looked away and stared into Yan Ji's eyes, saying, "I don't drink, and you'd better not drink either."

"Oh?" Yan Ji asked, holding his wine glass. "What do you mean by that?"

Liu Yuansheng said softly, "May I ask if Lord Yan is prone to heat and excessive sweating, palpitations and trembling hands, drowsiness and coldness, and cold hands and feet? I noticed that the lunulae on your nails are cloudy and small, almost disappearing, so I guess you have a weak spleen and stomach, and excessive liver yin and fire, which is really not suitable for you to drink alcohol."

Upon hearing this, Yan Ji immediately lowered his eyes to look at his trembling hand holding the wine glass.

He quickly put down his wine cup, still shaken, and said, "The imperial physician said my health wasn't very good, but I ignored it. Could it be that it's gotten worse lately?"

"Lord Yan, it would be best to be cautious," Liu Yuansheng said.

Yan Ji inexplicably felt that Liu Yuansheng's medical skills were superb and that she was very trustworthy, so he toasted her with tea instead of wine and then made an excuse to leave in a hurry.

After Yan Ji left, Liang Yuheng and Feng Liangcai also tactfully left. Ying'er closed the door to the private room and began to eat heartily.

Yan Chun Lou lives up to its reputation, with ten signature dishes, each one delicious and visually appealing, leaving a lasting impression.

Ying'er ate heartily until her belly was round. Even Liu Yuansheng, who usually had a poor appetite, was influenced by her and ate quite a lot. After returning to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, he quickly brewed a pot of hawthorn water to drink.

As night fell, Sui'er came in carrying a sandalwood brocade box, smiling and saying, "Miss, I have something for you."

Liu Yuansheng was combing her long hair when she heard this. She put down her comb and asked, "For me?"

"Yes." Sui'er handed the brocade box to Liu Yuansheng. "It's a thank-you gift from Lord Yan Ji to Miss."

Liu Yuansheng was taken aback upon hearing this, took the brocade box, and hesitantly opened it.

The brocade box was exquisite, and the jade fan inside was equally ingenious. Liu Yuansheng took out the jade fan, examined it carefully for a moment, and said, "Lord Yan is too kind."

"What did Yan Ji bring you? Let me see."

As they were talking, Xiao Jinghan walked in from the outer room and went straight to Liu Yuansheng's side.

Liu Yuansheng then showed him the jade fan, and Xiao Jinghan casually fanned himself with it, saying, "Yan Ji does know how to repay kindness."

He returned the jade fan to Liu Yuansheng, saying, "Your medical studies haven't been in vain; you've even learned how to treat illnesses."

"It's just a superficial skill." Liu Yuansheng glanced at the water clock. "Young Master, you should rest early. I have to go to Nanhua Street tomorrow."

Xiao Jinghan chuckled upon hearing this and sat down on the daybed, saying, "You don't need to go to Nanhua Street anymore. I've taken back those two shops for Grandmother."

Liu Yuansheng paused, "Then I'll return the contract to the old lady."

Xiao Jinghan said, "Yes, and bring the medical clinic's contract over as well."

Liu Yuansheng frowned. "A clinic?"

"Yes, a clinic. My grandmother and I got you one," Xiao Jinghan said with a smile. "I think you don't have the same ruthless methods as your sister-in-law, and you can't handle all those messy accounts, so you might as well run a clinic. What do you say?"

Liu Yuansheng remained silent for a moment, neither thinking it was a good thing nor a bad thing, then said, "Okay."

She responded to Xiao Jinghan, handed the jade fan to Sui'er, and said, "Go and rest."

Sui'er bowed slightly and was about to leave with the jade fan when Xiao Jinghan called out to her, "Wait."

"Does Your Highness have any further instructions?" Sui'er asked respectfully.

Xiao Jinghan took a sip of hawthorn juice, staring at Sui'er with a half-smile. "I'm asking you, where did you go this morning after your young lady left the manor?"