Although Qin Zhao was somewhat dissatisfied with the fact that her young husband ignored her just because he had a friend, she did not stop Jing Li from interacting with Yue Qingzi.

Jing Li has never had many close friends in the capital city, so it is a good thing for him to get to know Yue Qingzi.

As for the prefect, he was worried and confused, and he still couldn't completely put his mind at ease after receiving Qin Zhao's reply.

But after all, he was the one who said that he hoped Yue Qingzi and Jing Li would spend more time together, so he couldn't just swallow his words now.

As the days passed, the affection between the two teenagers grew stronger, and the magistrate and his wife finally dispelled their doubts.

However, the concerns of the magistrate and his wife were not unfounded.

After all, Yue Qingzi was an unmarried Shuang'er, and even though he kept a low profile, Qin Zhao still received a lot of attention. A Shuang'er constantly visiting Qin Zhao's residence could easily lead to misunderstandings.

After Qin Zhao thought about it, he tactfully brought up the matter with Jing Li.

Yue Qingzi was now living at the prefect's house, so it was inconvenient for Jing Li to visit him. However, Jing Li was currently writing the third volume of "Dream Talk" and hoped Yue Qingzi could give him some advice, so Yue Qingzi would often visit Jing Li's house.

Upon closer inspection, it was actually Yue Qingzi who obeyed Jing Li's wishes.

Jing Li now fully understands the difficulties Shuang'er faces in this era. He and A Zi hit it off right away, and naturally he doesn't want his good friend's innocence to be slandered for no reason.

After careful consideration, Jing Li took the initiative to propose to Yue Qingzi that they meet outside next time.

"Aren't you worried that someone might see your manuscript if you write it outside?" Yue Qingzi objected. "Is it inconvenient?"

The boy was simple and frank, but he was also very understanding of human nature. He could tell Jing Li was weird at first glance.

Jing Li had no choice but to express his worries.

"I thought it was nothing." Yue Qingzi listened but didn't care much. "At worst, I can avoid suspicion in the future and come back when Mr. Qin goes to teach at the Gu Mansion."

"But..." Jing Li hesitated to speak.

This is actually not safe.

Rumors are scary, and Yue Qingzi can't avoid them just by trying to avoid suspicion.

Moreover, this incident affected more than just Yue Qingzi.

Qin Zhao has always been in the spotlight. If it were really rumored that Shuang'er frequently came in and out of his home, it would also affect Qin Zhao's reputation.

You know, the imperial examination also pays great attention to the character of the candidates.

Jing Li couldn't let these two people who were so important to him take risks because of him.

He and Yue Qingzi now spoke openly about everything and expressed their thoughts clearly and generously.

The latter fell into deep thought.

"In fact, this matter ultimately comes down to others not trusting the relationship between you and Mr. Qin." After a moment, Yue Qingzi came to the conclusion.

Jing Li: “Ah?”

He didn't understand why Yue Qingzi suddenly thought of this.

Yue Qingzi patiently explained: "Think about it, Qin Zhao has no power or influence, so why do the people of the capital city care so much about Qin Zhao's private affairs? It's because they haven't given up."

"You know full well that most people in the capital don't believe Qin Zhao's claim of not wanting a concubine. They simply think he's not interested in her and use that as an excuse. Because of this, there will always be some people who harbor a glimmer of hope and blindly believe they can find a chance to persuade Qin Zhao."

"Isn't that what my uncle and aunt think?"

“…” Jing Li opened his mouth, not knowing how to respond.

He didn't know whether to say that A Zi was insightful or straightforward. He actually dared to judge the prefect in this way. If others heard such words, he would definitely be in trouble.

Jing Li didn't reply, so Yue Qingzi continued, "So, as long as we can make those who are watching Qin Zhao give up, no one will pay attention to his life anymore, and we can continue to interact."

"...Besides, isn't this what you wanted?"