Shen Xu was so engrossed in the delicious food that he couldn't come back to his senses for a long time, forgetting all the random thoughts he had been having earlier. "Brother Li, when are you opening your shop? I want to be the first customer and bring a group of people to warm up the atmosphere."

Li Xi was overjoyed. Shen Xu was from a prominent family and must know many people. If he came to warm up the crowd, he would definitely be a living advertisement. She would carefully plan the opening and use all the skills she had learned in her previous life that she hadn't been able to utilize.

"Thank you so much, Brother Shen. You've done so much, I don't even know how to thank you enough," Li Xi said with emotion.

“That’s right. Young Master Shen has been helping us ever since we arrived in Kyoto. Without you, we wouldn’t have had such a smooth journey.”

"Not at all, it is your brother who has been so kind to my family, we will never forget it, and your brother's chivalrous demeanor is truly admirable."

"Young Master Shen, you flatter me. Although we are not blood-related siblings, we grew up together. Xiao Xi has always been like this, sincere and brave. Please forgive me for any impropriety on my part," Meng Zhelan curtsied.

“Miss Meng, you are too kind. Brother Li and I share the same interests and hit it off immediately. I am so glad that Brother Li doesn’t find me dull.”

"Alright, alright, it'll be dark if we keep talking," Li Xi stopped the two from continuing. "What you both say makes sense," Li Xi said, taking out a wine jar from the side and pouring a bowl for each of them. "Stop talking." Li Xi raised her cup: "It's all in the wine." Seeing that their bowls were empty, Li Xi quickly refilled them. If they chatted any longer with classical Chinese phrases, she would be exposed—her knowledge wasn't enough!

The group drank round after round of food and drink, and she didn't even spare Shen Xu's attendants, setting up a table for them with fine wine and food, leaving only the coachman unintoxicated.

"A light sip and a soft song are both elegant, a loud song can move all directions." Shen Xu held his wine bowl, closed his eyes and pondered. It was unclear what sad things he was thinking about, but his eyes were full of disappointment. Perhaps he had been rejected by the girl he loved. Li Xi thought she was right, and her gaze towards Shen Xu couldn't help but feel sympathy.

Just then, Shen Xu opened his eyes and met Li Xi's gaze...

Li Xi: (┳◇┳) Still not drunk? Should I pour you another bowl?

Shen Xu: o(*\/\/\/\/▽\/\/\/\/*)q Is he looking at me? Is he concerned about me? Sigh, actually, gender isn't that important. His father has many sons; it's not his turn to carry on the family line. This Brother Li, up close, does have rosy lips and white teeth, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes…

Seeing his dazed expression, Li Xi called his coachman to help him into the carriage. "Sigh, this lad seems a bit silly," she thought. "Could it be that he's heartbroken from a failed romance?" The poem continued: "Since ancient times, love has been wounded by parting; A devoted heart cannot hold back spring's passing. Beauty fades easily, hair turns white; Black hair gradually turns to snow. Time flies, and one grows old; Years are merciless, like a flying shuttle." Wait, she was actually reciting poetry unconsciously.

Sentences I couldn't understand in class back then, now, seeing this scene, I can't help but exclaim in admiration. Education has a delayed and lagging nature; instilling ideas in Li Xi in advance allows for a moment of enlightenment when she has the corresponding experience. Just as described in the book, many years later, a bullet travels through time and hits her, who was dozing off in the Chinese class. Only then is the education complete.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the loud thud of Tian Tian falling to the ground. It seemed she shouldn't let them drink next time; she seemed to have done something stupid, getting them all drunk, and now she was the one who was busy. Li Xi picked up Tian Tian and carried her back to her room; the four of them had been sleeping on the same kang (heated brick bed) lately.

Meng Zhelan lay on the table, seemingly drunk, murmuring, "Dad, where are you? Where are you?" Li Xi sighed helplessly. Although Meng Zhelan always appeared confident, she was still a little girl at heart, lacking a sense of security, perhaps due to her childhood experiences—a life of hardship and displacement, losing her mother at a young age. Li Xi lovingly picked her up, thinking that she too needed to become strong so that Meng Zhelan could rely on her in the future.

Ling'er staggered towards the room, leaning against the wall. Li Xi turned back, saw her, and quickly went to support her. "Xi'er, thank you and Lan'er for rescuing me from this misery. I'm so happy. I never thought I could live like this. Every day with you is joyful. I hope I can be of help in the future," Ling'er said, her gaze fixed ahead, her eyes filled with determination. Though she looked frail, her heart was resolute.

As dusk settles and the streetlights come on, the entire street is adorned with all sorts of lanterns, creating a dazzling spectacle, while the sounds of vendors hawking their wares fill the air.

Li Xi jumped onto the roof in a few steps. The snow on the roof had been melted by the sun during the day.

In her past life, amidst the hustle and bustle of city life, people often forgot to look up at the starry sky and appreciate the boundless universe and magnificent night view. Now, standing here, gazing at the vast starry sky and twinkling stars, Li Xi felt incredibly awestruck; they seemed to be telling ancient and mysterious stories.

Shivering, Li Xi jumped down, then grabbed some hot water from the kitchen to take to the bathroom. As a native of Guangdong, she was used to showering every day. Shivering, she finished her shower, quickly ran to the kang (heated brick bed), lay down, and pulled the covers over herself—it felt incredibly smooth.

...

"Meng Zhong, are you deliberately delaying? Why hasn't that medicine been developed yet? It's been several months. What kind of trick are you playing? Don't make me force you." "Your Excellency, I really don't know. It was developed by chance a few years ago, and the record book was burned later."

"Do you think I'm a fool? You used to be known as a divine doctor. You say you've forgotten these little things? Do you think I'd believe you? Don't forget you have a daughter. You only released her after you said you'd come back to the capital with us."

“Your Excellency, threatening me with my daughter won’t work. Give me some more time. Actually, I have some ideas, but I’m still in the trial and error stage. Prepare more medicinal herbs for me,” Meng Zhong said, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"Alright, I'll give you one more chance," the Venerable One said, beckoning his subordinate to take Meng Zhong's prescription to make the purchases. The subordinate… how many times had this happened? He was starting to suspect the Venerable One had been cheated. That Meng fellow didn't seem like an honest man. Oh well, he was just an ordinary disciple. The disciple secretly copied the herbal prescription, then calmly descended the mountain, looking around to make sure no one was there.

The disciple climbed over a courtyard wall and entered. The people inside, seeing the newcomer, looked solemn: "Sect Master," a dozen or so people bowed respectfully. "Buy everything on this list. Give it to me when I leave."

The man stood there, his posture ramrod straight, like a pine tree, his shoulders broad and powerful. He was also exceptionally handsome, with deep-set eyes, sharply angled eyebrows that swept into his temples, and lips pressed into a tight line. He seemed lost in thought…

The Prince An's Mansion, situated on Chang'an Avenue, boasts a powerful and vigorous inscription of "Prince An's Mansion" on its main gate plaque. The mansion is surrounded by white walls, with a three-bay gatehouse adorned with hanging flowers and covered walkways on all four sides. Within the courtyard, interconnected paths are interspersed, and rockeries add to the ambiance. A plaque inscribed "Joyful Red and Green" hangs above a five-bay porch.

Prince An sat upright in his study, writing something. "Zuo Yi, have you heard anything about the people I asked you to find? It's been a month and there's still no news. If you don't want to work here anymore, go raise pigs." "Your Highness, there's still no news. Perhaps they've gone home? I'll send people to look for them again."

Zuo Yi was utterly speechless. He had walked along the official road several times without finding her. The world was so vast, how could he possibly search? "I'll go find the postmaster right away to inquire," the prince said. His heart was as unpredictable as the bottom of the sea; last time he said it was fine if he didn't meet her, but now he was saying he had to find that girl. Zuo Yi quickly scurried out and wrote a letter to the postmaster, asking them to keep an eye out.

Prince An has been having the same dream lately: someone in the dream is screaming for help, and he wakes up with a lingering unease. The voice in the dream sounds like the girl who saved him last time. What exactly does she want to say?

Everyone harbors a secret; different people, under the same sky, experience different feelings and emotions. As the night deepens, the intrigues beneath the cover of darkness gradually surface…