The Ji family father and son were led by Wuhen to the front courtyard for drinking and feasting.

Shang Xiye led Ji Fengyao to the backyard.

After walking for more than ten minutes through the terraces and corridors, the route was lined with small bridges, flowing water, lotus ponds, and blooming flowers. The scenery was serene and quiet, not like a prince's mansion, but more like a secluded retreat where one could pick chrysanthemums by the eastern fence.

Upon arriving at a courtyard surrounded by lush bamboo, Ji Fengyao looked up and saw two characters on the black plaque: "Mo Zhai" (墨斋), written in bold, silver strokes.

"This is my study," Shang Xiye said in a clear, spring-like voice, less soft but more lively, unlike his usual rigid demeanor.

Ji Fengyao noticed his subtle change and turned to look at him: "It seems that Your Highness is a person who enjoys reading."

Indeed, he spent most of his time reading along the way.

"This is also where I reside in my mansion, adjacent to your Hui Nuan Pavilion." Shang Xiye concealed what he originally wanted to say, surprised at his own impulsiveness, which had almost led him to tell her something he rarely spoke of.

Hui Nuan Ge?

Ji Fengyao felt a sudden pang of fear: "The moonlight shines brightly in the night, the moonlight is warm and gentle, is that what it means?"

But it seems that this courtyard was already built a long time ago, and the whole trip to marry her only took two months. This probably wasn't specially prepared for her, so I shouldn't be presumptuous.

Ji Fengyao was new to the manor and didn't know what the other courtyards were like, but the Hui Nuan Pavilion was built with great ingenuity.

Leaving aside the well-arranged pavilions and towers, the beautifully blooming purple wisteria in the main courtyard, and the swing set inside the wisteria trellis that is full of girlish charm, made Ji Fengyao feel happy.

Such a dreamlike thing, she could only dream about it in her past lives, she never expected to have such a surprise in this life.

How pleasant it would be to swing on this swing while refining medicine!

Sure enough, only someone with Master's face would do something so romantic. But Master is a bit eccentric; instead of building her a swing set, he'd carry her over walls and jump over courtyards to other people's houses to swing on. Because of this, they've caused quite a bit of chaos and trouble.

Thinking about the stupid things she and her master had done, Ji Fengyao couldn't help but chuckle.

Shang Xiye followed Ji Fengyao's gaze to the swing, and Wuying's words echoed in his ears, "I heard that most young ladies in the capital yearn to have their own swing, but most families think that it is unsightly for noble ladies to swing, so they haven't built one. I think that the princess is lively and might like it."

"You like it?" Shang Xiye pursed his lips and looked down at the smiling little bandit beside him.

"Yes! I like it!" Ji Fengyao was still half immersed in her memories when she looked at his familiar eyebrows and eyes. His phoenix eyes, which shone like obsidian, smiled like two crescent moons.

Such an open and pure smile seems to illuminate even the darkest corners of one's heart.

Shang Xiye's usually calm mood brightened instantly, and he suddenly felt the joy of his wedding. If he weren't restricted from drinking, he would have liked to go to the front hall to have a few drinks with the guests.

Of course, he only wanted to drink with his subordinates, not with that group of sycophants who were trying to guess the emperor's intentions and come to laugh at him.

At this moment, the guests in the banquet hall in the front yard were subtly divided into two camps.

The smaller tables on the left side were occupied by military generals who were on good terms with Shang Xiye and some of his capable subordinates; the larger tables on the right side were occupied by the other civil and military officials of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

Compared to the lively atmosphere on the right, the scene on the left seemed rather deserted, even dejected.