Chapter Thirty-Two: Barbecue Party

The autumn wind swept through the courtyard, carrying withered leaves. The old pear tree in Qingfeng Courtyard had lost its former glory, and its yellow leaves swirled and fell onto the window frame.

Li Bao'er leaned against the carved window, her fingertips gently tracing her left shoulder. The gruesome arrow wound had finally healed, leaving only a light pink mark.

During her recovery period, Wang Qingzhi brought almost all of the Wang family's rare tonics to Qingfeng Courtyard.

Today, Tianshan snow lotus stewed with pigeon, tomorrow, bird's nest simmered with ginseng soup—these dishes have somehow given her pale cheeks a healthy, rosy glow, and even added a soft curve to her waist.

Just as Li Bao'er was about to send someone to call Li Yu, she suddenly saw a figure in black stepping on fallen leaves at the courtyard gate.

Ling Jin stood under the corridor with one hand on his sword, his shoulder still covered with unmelted morning frost. This young guard was always so elusive.

Ling Jin clasped his hands in a respectful greeting. "Young Miss, the Young Master instructed me to convey a message: the Imperial Preceptor will be hosting a banquet tomorrow." He paused, a rare, strange look appearing on his usually stern face. "Everyone is required to ascend the hundred-step Heavenly Staircase on foot."

"Level 100?" Li Bao'er raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

What is that old fox, the Imperial Advisor, plotting now? Why is he tormenting these scions of noble families for no reason? How can someone as frail as her possibly compete?

With a sudden thought, she chuckled softly. Wasn't this the perfect occasion for Li Zhou to slip and fall in a sorry state?

“I will still go. Perfect timing, take me to Hualin Academy.”

Before even entering the courtyard, one could hear the sound of sword energy piercing the air.

Li Yu, dressed in a moon-white outfit, was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard. The young man's figure was like a crane, and the sword's edge stirred up a flurry of ginkgo leaves.

Upon seeing them arrive, the tip of his sword swiftly lifted something from the stone table.

"Catch it, sister!"

The celadon medicine bottle arced through the air, and Ling Jin moved slightly to catch it steadily for Li Bao'er.

Ling Jin couldn't help but frown, feeling a little resentful. How could the young master be so reckless? What if the young lady hadn't caught it?

"The Rejuvenating Pill from Longhua Temple, which strengthens the body," Li Yu sheathed his sword, his forehead stray hairs soaked with sweat.

"Thank you. Would you like some barbecue, Ayu?" Li Bao'er asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at the slightly panting boy.

Li Yu's face lit up with joy, her eyes widened slightly, and she stopped practicing her swordplay. She stepped forward, grabbed Li Bao'er's sleeve, and started to pull her outside, saying, "I've been craving this for so long, let's go!"

Li Bao'er lightly traced three lines on Li Yu's palm with her fingertips; this was their secret signal.

The boy's eyes instantly lit up like stars, and a sly smile appeared on his lips.

"Ling Jin, go tell Brother Xiao and the others that I'll be waiting for them at the usual spot today."

Ling Jin remained silent, sword in hand. Although his face was still expressionless, the movement of his throat betrayed his true thoughts. After all, the food made by the young lady was truly delicious.

Over the years, Ling Jin has long been an accomplice in their secret operations.

After Ling Jin left, Li Yu immediately darted behind the artificial hill, magically producing a gray cloth bundle. She then proudly displayed two coarse cloth garments, exclaiming, "Let's go now!"

"Keep your voice down!" Li Bao'er pretended to pinch his ear, but her eyes were full of laughter.

They specially purchased this outfit in a slum in the west of the city. Even Wang Qingzhi didn't know that the eldest son and daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion would disguise themselves as ordinary siblings and mingle in the marketplace.

Li Yu held Li Bao'er's body and with a light touch, they flew out of the Prime Minister's residence.

When they arrived at the secret base—Qingshui Manor by Yaohu Lake—Li Bao'er remembered something. It seemed that Prince Jing had said he would also be having a meal there.

"Ayu, we forgot something very important."

Seeing Li Bao'er's serious expression, Li Yu's heart sank. She thought she had forgotten something important that might delay today's barbecue plan, and her tone became somewhat solemn: "Sister, what is it?"

Li Bao'er blinked. "We forgot to inform His Highness Prince Jing that he was coming for a dinner party."

"......"

Li Yu's expression froze.

It seems that Mu Cenlin did mention coming to a dinner party that day.

Li Yu scratched her head, feeling a bit of a headache, and hesitated before saying, "How about we just pretend we forgot he was coming?"

Mu Cenlin was too imposing; with him around, Li Yu didn't dare to eat heartily, and besides, she had really forgotten about him.

“I wholeheartedly agree.” Li Bao’er quickly tied on her apron. “Anyway, as long as the few of us don’t say anything, he won’t know whether we had a get-together or not.”

The siblings exchanged a knowing glance and successfully convinced themselves with this excuse.

The servants at Qingshui Manor had already prepared charcoal and ingredients, and the courtyard was filled with the sweet fragrance of fruitwood.

"Ah!" Li Yu, who was washing vegetables, suddenly looked up. "Should I go pick up that girl Ye Yun?"

Li Bao'er sighed, rubbing her forehead. Sure enough, their memories were both incredibly unreliable: "This time you have to pick her up yourself. Ye Yun isn't an outsider."

*

Li Yu hummed a little tune as she arrived at the residence of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. From afar, she saw Ye Yun carrying a food box and looking around at the door.

The little girl had specially changed into a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) today, and a fresh hibiscus flower was pinned in her hair.

"Brother Yu!" Ye Yun ran up to him, "I brought some homemade pastries."

She knew that Li Yu was really coming to pick her up in person, and she paced anxiously in the mansion. She felt shy whenever she saw her brother Li Yu, and she couldn't help feeling shy.

The two had not gone far when they bumped into a man in black, who was leaning against a wall with a sword in his arms.

The man watched them as they ate pears with a half-smile.

Li Yu instinctively shielded Ye Yun behind him: "What brings you here, sir?"

The man in black was Yuan Ting. He spat out the pear core, glanced meaningfully at the food box in Ye Yun's hand, and then turned and disappeared into the alley.

"Strange people," Ye Yun muttered to herself, unaware that their whereabouts had already reached Zuixianlou.

The second floor of Zuixianlou

Yuan Ting knocked on the door of the private room. "Master, Young Master Li is leading the Ye family maid west of the city." He paused, "Judging from the direction, it seems to be Qingshui Manor."

Mu Cenlin paused, causing ripples to spread across the Longjing tea in the teacup.

The conversation I had at the paddock a few days ago still echoed in my ears.

"Once my sister's injury heals, we'll have a barbecue at Qingshui Village!" The boy's clear voice still lingered in my ears.

Mu Cenlin's tone was icy: "Has anyone from the Prince's residence delivered an invitation today?"

Yuan Ting lowered his head: "No."

The celadon cup suddenly cracked open.

“Master, you want me to go down…” Yuan Ting made a gesture to stop him.

"No need."

It's not like he can't afford a meal. What a joke! Do you think anyone really wants to go?

The tea in his hand tasted less and less flavorful, and the dark blue figure disappeared from the private room in the next second.

Li Yu was chatting and laughing with Ye Yun when she suddenly saw a dark blue figure standing at the end of the long street ahead. When she saw who it was, Ye Yun was so shocked that she almost dropped the food box in her hand.

Li Yu inwardly wanted to exclaim, "How can the capital be so small!" "Should we pretend we didn't see him?"

Ye Yun's face turned pale: "But...but he's already here."