Ji Xingzhi's purpose for leaving the palace this time was to visit Wuzhou Gate. Wuzhou Gate had been busy with expansion in recent years and was reportedly nearing completion. Ji Xingzhi was curious about what the underground palace she'd drawn would look like; even in modern times, it would be a massive undertaking. Furthermore, Nian, Ran Xu, Su Cheng, Tong, and Zhou You had returned to Wuzhou Gate and informed Ji Xingzhi that they had found something she had been searching for for a long time, and this was the main reason for her departure. Half an hour later, a carriage stopped far away near the Du family courtyard. Ji Xingzhi disembarked and entered the courtyard with Zhou Zheng. The guards at the gate made no attempt to stop them or greet them, simply ignoring them, clearly accustomed to the situation. Entering the courtyard, Ji Xingzhi encountered someone she knew. In the courtyard, a man in gray was playing a bamboo flute to himself. The melancholy melody of the flute was so distant and ethereal that it evoked a deep sense of sorrow. A faint sadness shrouded his calm face, and his presence emanated an aura of compassion. His name was Lian Qing, the same name as the long-vanished demon Lian Qing. The difference between Lian Qing and that demon could be likened to two flowers. If that demon was a poppy, then he was an orchid. One was extremely dangerous; the other was tranquil and beautiful. Ji Xingzhi observed Lian Qing's melancholy expression, a faint smile playing beneath her veil. She teased, "Mr. Lian, are you expressing your compassion again?" Lian Qing paused, stopped playing, and smiled back, "Miss Jian, are you here to reminisce about your childhood again?" Ji Xingzhi was stunned. She remembered that a few years ago, when she was only twelve years old, she would always come to the Du family compound every night to hear Lian Qing playing the flute. Although Lian Qing's flute sounded beautiful, it was too sad. She was currently troubled by some trivial matter, and Lian Qing's flute made her even more upset. He was a real troublemaker! Ji Xingzhi couldn't help but grumble, "Mr. Lian Qing always plays such sad music, and it makes me sad too. Is Mr. Lian Qing just complaining or showing compassion?" At that moment, Lian Qing was slightly stunned, his expression frozen for a moment. Ji Xingzhi still remembers his reply clearly: "It's not compassion, it's my fate that I'm sad about." "Miss Jian Yao keeps coming here every now and then. Is she lonely or looking for trouble?" Lian Qing retorted. Ji Xingzhi was a little confused by Lian Qing's answer. When she heard Lian Qing's question, she answered without thinking, "It's reminiscing about my childhood." Remember, she was only twelve at the time. What kind of childhood was she reminiscing about? Therefore, Lian Qing had teased her about this for the past four years. Thoughts returned, Ji Xingzhi smiled and shook her head, changing the subject: "The capital of Lizhou is going to be bustling in the coming days." Lian Qing was confused by this and asked with a smile, "What do you mean?" Ji Xingzhi couldn't help but wonder, "Mr. Lian, don't you know?" "What should I know?" Lian Qing asked with a slight frown. Ji Xingzhi thought for a moment and suddenly remembered what Wu Fang had told her: this Lian Qing was very strange. He had bought a bungalow near the Du family's courtyard, grew all his own food, and had enough clothes. Apart from teaching at the Du family's courtyard, he never went anywhere else, had no relatives or friends, and lived alone all year round.