After going to the Ministry of Rites to report for duty today, Shen Qinghuai went straight back to the Shen residence.

He counted on his fingers. The white jade wine that Shen Yunjiao had promised to make for him should be ready to be taken out of the cellar and drunk in the next few days.

He and his sister, two drunkards, spent their days researching which wine tasted better and was more intoxicating. If Shen Zhizhang found out, he would definitely be so angry that he would beat himself with a ruler, blaming him for corrupting his sister.

But Shen Qinghuai was not afraid of his father.

The fact that the son of the Prime Minister is young and promising, and does not cause trouble or philander, is already quite remarkable.

Shen Qinghuai is going to find his sister to drink with today, and have a good time!

When he arrived at Shen Yunjiao's room, he was told by Granny Lin that Shen Yunjiao was not there, but in Miss Ye's room.

"Miss Ye? Ye Zhixuan?"

The image of a delicate and charming little girl immediately came to mind for Shen Qinghuai.

Lin Mama said, "It is indeed Miss Ye. She has been staying in the guest room in the east courtyard of the mansion for a few days now. The young lady is talking with her right now."

Upon hearing this news, Shen Qinghuai headed towards the east courtyard.

Before I even reached the courtyard gate, I could hear a woman's soft voice coming from the other end.

It turned out that Shen Yunjiao found the room stuffy and hot, so she pulled Ye Zhixuan to a shady spot in the courtyard corridor.

The two sat at a small square table under the moon window. Shen Yunjiao was a little drunk and leaned against the wall, while Ye Zhixuan put the embroidered handkerchief aside and pushed the wine glass and bottle in front of Shen Yunjiao further away.

"Yun Jiao, please stop drinking. Be careful not to get drunk and harm your health."

Shen Qinghuai walked into the covered walkway, glanced briefly at the moon-shaped window, and then involuntarily stopped in his tracks.

The woman sitting next to Shen Yunjiao wore a simple light blue shirt, and her silky black hair was loose, which made her fair skin look even more delicate.

Just as he paused, the woman looked in his direction.

Sunlight shone into her eyes, making them seem to sparkle.

For a moment, Shen Qinghuai was somewhat lost in thought, and the woman was also a little surprised, hesitatingly asking, "Young Master Shen?"

Shen Qinghuai instantly regained his composure.

He strode up the steps, walked to the table, and greeted her with a smile, "Are you Ye Zhixuan, who used to live next door?"

Ye Zhixuan quickly stood up, somewhat flustered, and said, "Young Master Shen, it's been a long time."

Shen Qinghuai glanced at his younger sister, who was dozing off beside him, and frowned, saying, "Yun Jiao is becoming more and more unruly these days."

Ye Zhixuan felt a chill run down her spine. She wanted to explain, but then felt it was inappropriate. It was already inappropriate for her to be staying at the Shen family's house, so how could she have the right to interfere in how they taught her younger sister?

But she still answered, "Yun Jiao didn't actually—"

"How come she drank the whole bottle of wine without leaving me a drop?"

Ye Zhixuan was stunned when Shen Qinghuai said this, and then she felt a little amused and exasperated.

So that's what Young Master Shen meant.

The brother and sister both enjoy drinking; it's not surprising that they share the same hobby.

As Shen Yunjiao was feeling dizzy and lightheaded, she seemed to hear a familiar voice in her ear. She struggled to open her eyes and looked up to find her brother standing beside her.

Shen Yunjiao was overjoyed to see him. "Brother, you've come back just in time. The wine I brewed is ready to drink."

Shen Qinghuai then pulled up a chair and sat down as well.

Seeing that Ye Zhixuan was still standing there awkwardly, he smiled and said, "Ye Zhixuan, am I that scary? You're so frightened that you don't even dare to sit with me."

Ye Zhixuan quickly shook her head, bit her lip, and sat down as well.

Her heart was in turmoil, as if trampled by hooves.

Shen Yunjiao only then noticed the expression on Ye Zhixuan's face. She poked Shen Qinghuai's arm and said in a warning tone, "Brother, you are not allowed to tease Zhixuan."

Shen Qinghuai stretched out his long arm and took the wine bottle from him. "Yes, yes, then I'll just drink and not say anything, okay?"

Shen Yunjiao smiled at Ye Zhixuan and said, "Zhixuan, you probably haven't spoken to my brother much. Don't let his frivolous appearance fool you, he's actually a pretty good person."

Upon hearing Shen Yunjiao say that he was indecent, Shen Qinghuai immediately retorted with dissatisfaction, "I only relax at home. I'm much more serious outside."

"Really? What decent young man would drink with a bunch of scoundrels until midnight and then be punished by his father to kneel in the ancestral hall?"

"I wasn't going out for drinks, we were discussing official business!"

Watching the two siblings bickering, Ye Zhixuan no longer felt as reserved as before.

However, when she accidentally glances to her side, she can't help but blush and her heart races.

He was dressed in a flowing indigo brocade robe, dashing and elegant, with an air of effortless arrogance in every gesture.

Shen Qinghuai.

This person was the object of her affections since childhood.

Ye Zhixuan glanced at him secretly, then quickly lowered her gaze and took a sip of wine, pretending to be calm.

Seeing Ye Zhixuan sipping her wine, Shen Qinghuai felt a tickle in his heart and intentionally or unintentionally tried to strike up a conversation with her.

"Ye Zhixuan, do you remember when I was little, I was playing and climbed a tree, and I fell into your backyard?"

"I remember, later Lord Shen punished you by making you copy books, and you sneaked out halfway through," Ye Zhixuan said softly.

Shen Yunjiao raised an eyebrow, "Brother, so you've always been this mischievous since you were little."

Ye Zhixuan smiled and glanced at Shen Qinghuai before saying to Shen Yunjiao, "Young Master Shen is a very kind person. When he sneaked out, he happened to see me being bullied by a group of children of similar age, so he helped me get revenge and drove those people away. I have always been very grateful to Young Master Shen."

Shen Qinghuai was taken aback when he heard about this, as so much time had passed and he had no recollection of it at all.

Shen Yunjiao was unaware that her brother had actually helped Ye Zhixuan.

Her keen sixth sense told her that something might happen between them.