Murong Xi put on her own clothes, and naturally, Jing Zhe's clothes were also put on by Murong Xi.

After getting dressed, he walked out of the newspaper office.

The two were in good spirits, and the weather was also very fitting.

Tonight, the moon is bright and the stars are few. The moonlight is so clear that it shines on the road, making it look exceptionally beautiful.

Jing Zhe held Murong Xi's hand, and Murong Xi leaned against Jing Zhe as they walked through the alleyways. Although the scenery was no different from the previous days, their feelings were completely different.

No one spoke; it seemed that this silent companionship was the only thing that belonged to the quiet and peaceful night.

Jing Zhe didn't want to break the atmosphere, so he pulled Murong Xi along slowly, then suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Murong Xi was lost in her own world with Jing Zhe when he stopped, and she immediately asked him curiously.

"It's nothing... I think I forgot something..."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and looked behind him. The narrow alley was empty, except for the bright moonlight.

Could it be that I'm imagining things?

"Forgot what?"

Murong Xi did not notice anything amiss and asked again.

Not wanting her to worry, Jing Zhe smiled and said, "I remember now, we haven't eaten dinner yet. Why did we skip those stalls? Should we turn back, eat our fill, and then go back?"

Murong Xi was initially excited after hearing this, but then, as if remembering something, her eyelids drooped: "Let's forget it. It's already late enough. If we don't go back soon, your second sister will really come looking for us!"

Murong Xi had an innate aversion to Zhu Xinning.

She thought that since she had taken the "Emperor's Elixir" and consummated her marriage with Jing Zhe ahead of schedule, she had won this round and would be full of confidence when she saw Zhu Xinning again.

But the reality is quite different. Murong Xi is now even a little afraid to see Zhu Xinning, and always feels somewhat apprehensive. Is this what they call a guilty conscience?

Thinking this through, Murong Xi urged Jing Zhe to go back quickly.

Jing Zhe nodded. He was just making up an excuse for his sudden stop earlier. So when he saw that Murong Xi did not agree, he stopped insisting and pulled Murong Xi forward again.

This time, however, he was much more alert and focused his attention on the changes around him.

Under the bright moon, the wind was not strong, and the alley was exceptionally quiet. Jing Zhe finally concluded that someone was indeed following them!

The man followed from a great distance and was quite strong. Because the noise he made was so subtle, if Jing Zhe hadn't already reached the pinnacle of both internal energy and lightness skills, he probably wouldn't have been able to detect him!

However, Jing Zhe did not stop and look back again, but only glanced at it casually as he turned towards the alley ahead.

Under the cover of night, a dark shadow flashed across the wall.

A cold glint flashed in Jing Zhe's eyes, then disappeared.

...

Before long, the two arrived at the street corner where Wenxiangju was located. From a distance, they saw Zhu Xinning and Zhang Xiaoyu standing at the door talking. Zhang Xiaoyu would occasionally tiptoe to look in their direction.

Jing Zhe immediately pulled Murong Xi to hide in the shadows, where Zhang Xiaoyu did not see them.

"What should we do?"

Murong Xi was terrified. "Why don't you go ahead by yourself? They'll think I'm inside anyway. I'll go up by myself after you go back with them!"

Because Jing Zhe and Murong Xi each sent a message back to Chen Jiannan at noon, Jing Zhe should be eating at Ruyi Restaurant, while Murong Xi should be resting upstairs.

Murong Xi's proposal was very suitable.

However, Jing Zhe refused without even thinking about it.

If he wasn't mistaken, the person who had been following them all along was the disciple of the Soul-Severing Fan. He must have heard that he had injured his master and had come to seek revenge.

Murong Xi was right. He didn't take action immediately but observed beforehand. He would probably observe for a while longer, so Jing Zhe was worried about leaving Murong Xi alone outside.

"I'll take you up first."

"Take me upstairs first... They're right at the door, what if they spot us?"

Jing Zhe smiled and said, "You forgot, I can fly!"

As he spoke, Jing Zhe led Murong Xi around to the back of Wenxiang Residence, intending to take advantage of the fewer people there and escort her to the second floor…

...

At this moment, outside the gate of Wenxiangju.

"Second sister, do you think... there might be some problems?"

Zhang Xiaoyu stood on tiptoe and looked for a long time, but she couldn't see Jing Zhe's figure. A sense of crisis welled up in her.

"I don't think so, do I?"

"But...didn't His Highness Mo Chen say that the two of them didn't go to the newspaper office this morning? What did they do all morning? There's definitely something wrong!"

Zhang Xiaoyu analyzed.

Zhu Xinning smiled and said, "The biggest problem is Murong Xi, but she came back this afternoon and has been resting upstairs without coming down for a moment. So what problem could there be?"

He then added, "Moreover, I sent someone to ask at Ruyi Restaurant, and the newspaper staff did indeed go there for dinner to celebrate. Zhe'er is definitely there too! He must be happy, so he came back a little late. Let's just wait for him!"

Zhang Xiaoyu nodded, but she was still somewhat worried.

"Second sister, it's already dark, and our husband still hasn't returned. Could he have drunk too much?"

Zhu Xinning thought for a moment and smiled, "After the newspaper is published tomorrow, the newspaper office will be on holiday for the New Year. We've been busy for so long, it's normal for Zhe'er to have a drink when he's happy, and besides—"

Zhu Xinning's eyes lit up and she said, "The more you drink, the better!"

"Is it better to drink more?"

Zhang Xiaoyu was somewhat confused.

Zhu Xinning then explained with a smile, "Xiaoyu, if Zhe'er comes again tonight, can you still stand it?"

"..."

Thinking of the crazy scene last night, Zhang Xiaoyu felt her legs go weak and immediately waved her hands, saying, "Second sister, no, Xiaoyu can't take it anymore. Last night, Xiaoyu felt like she was going to die—didn't you feel anything, second sister?"

"I'm not much better than you—last night when I couldn't take it anymore, I even thought that even if Empress Yueyao had come then, I wouldn't have stopped her anymore. Who told Zhe'er to be so amazing?"

Then he changed the subject again: "So, what do you think would happen if Zhe'er drank too much? Wouldn't it be much easier for the two of us tonight?"

"Yes!"

Zhang Xiaoyu also realized what was happening and said hopefully, "Then... it would be best if my husband drank too much!"

"Yes, and didn't you want to know what Zhe'er and Empress Yueyao did this morning? They say people speak the truth when they're drunk. If Zhe'er really drank too much, we can not only relax tonight, but also take advantage of his drunkenness to ask him a good question!"

After Zhu Xinning finished her analysis, Zhang Xiaoyu immediately smiled and agreed.

"Second Sister is so thoughtful!"

After saying that, the two women continued to stand outside the door, looking at the street in the distance, eagerly waiting.

————