I want to be innocent, but they don't allow me

However, this was all Li Wu knew.

At the dinner that followed, the 'three people from the Li family' sat at the same table again, which was a rare occurrence.

For this meal, Li Ling'er even specially invited the new courtesan from Lingyin Pavilion to perform at the palace.

The new courtesan is called Runniang, a 19-year-old girl from the waterside town.

He had a pair of big, expressive eyes, and his musical skills won over most of the wealthy and powerful people in Yanshan City in a short period of time.

After the song, Li Mu rewarded the courtesan with six big yawns.

I don't know if there is any hint in it, but the resentful expression on Runniang's face when she was leaving probably shows that she never wants to enter the gate of Prince Yan's Mansion again in her life.

"I spent a lot of effort to invite Runniang here. You are really disrespectful to her."

Although Li Ling'er said this, there was no sign of complaint on her face. In fact, it was almost as if "Your performance was very good. This princess is very satisfied" was written on her face.

Li Mu also knew that there had never been a precedent of the courtesan of Lingyin Pavilion coming to his house.

But Li Mu is now a man who has seen and experienced everything, and this kind of beauty is really not in Li Mu's eyes.

Besides, this courtesan Runniang, let alone compared with Li Ling'er at the table, is still a little bit inferior to the former courtesan Luo You who was taken advantage of by Li Mu.

"With a beautiful girl like you sitting here, other girls can only serve as foils."

After all, she enjoyed this privilege that only the powerful and wealthy could enjoy, so Li Mu still praised Li Ling'er.

"Really? Then who is prettier, me or Yu Wei?"

Li Linger opened her eyes wide and stared at Li Mu without blinking, as if she was expecting Li Mu's answer.

Li Mu looked Li Ling'er up and down, looking thoughtful.

In fact, he was listening to see if there was anyone hiding outside the house in case Li Linger set a trap for him.

Seeing this, Li Linger stood up with interest, took two steps back, and turned around on the spot so that Li Mu could see clearly.

Li Mu confirmed that there was no one nearby, then nodded slightly and said sincerely,

"Ling'er is still prettier."

Hearing this, Li Ling'er was slightly stunned, obviously not expecting such an answer.

But this was only for a moment, and then her face lit up with joy, a faint blush appeared on her round oval face, her chin was slightly retracted, and she said delicately,

"I thought you would say equally beautiful."

Li Mu curled his lips imperceptibly, thinking,

"What level are you at? You can say they are equally beautiful. For this kind of question, of course whoever asks it is the prettiest. Thank you to someone, thank you to a blogger, thank you to the scumbag who provided the standard answer, bah, seniors."

"How could that be? Beauty is beauty, and it can't be faked."

Li Mu pretended to be indifferent and said seriously.

"Who told you to give Shisui and the secret manual? You are taking advantage of others and you are just being ungrateful."

As Li Mu was thinking this, he saw Li Ling'er becoming even more shy, with her head almost lowered under the table. She grabbed the hem of her skirt with both hands and twisted her body left and right.

"Oh my god, what's wrong with this girl today? She seems a little abnormal."

Li Mu looked at Li Wu who was sitting across the table, only to see that he was working hard to eat without even raising his head, as if he hadn't eaten in years.

----

The inner court.

Xu Youzhi sat in front of the dressing table, read the small words on the cloth in her hand, and took a deep breath.

The cloth is then placed on the oil lamp until it burns out.

At this time, there was a knock on the door.

Before the voice fell, a squeak was heard and Zhang Hanrui walked in from outside carrying a food box.

"Youzhi?"

"I am here."

"I haven't eaten with my sister for a long time. I heard that you haven't eaten well in the past two days. Are you sick?"

Zhang Hanrui said with some heartache when she saw Xu Youzhi walking out of the inner room.

"No, I just don't have much appetite."

Xu Youzhi walked to the table, glanced at the food on it, and shook her head slightly.

"Eat a little, just consider it as keeping me company."

Zhang Hanrui reached out and pulled Xu Youzhi to sit next to her, and persuaded her softly.

"Ah."

Xu Youzhi had no choice but to accompany him obediently, but her hands never reached for the chopsticks.

Zhang Hanrui sighed slightly when she saw Xu Youzhi's hesitant look.

"Are you blaming me for taking the initiative that day and announcing at the wedding that it was you and Li Mu who were getting married?"

"No, I am a maid in the palace. I will marry whoever my master wants me to be with. How dare I have the slightest dissatisfaction?"

Xu Youzhi lowered her head, and there was no emotion in her voice, as if she was talking about someone else.

"You're still saying no, you crooked bastard, you're just about to point at my nose and scold me."

Zhang Hanrui could hear the resentment in Xu Youzhi's words, but she was not angry. She reached out and held Xu Youzhi's hand, her tone somewhat helpless.

"I acted on my own that day. Although my intentions were good, I did let you down a little."

Xu Youzhi felt the coldness coming from Zhang Hanrui's palm, and suddenly came back to her senses, secretly annoyed at herself for saying such words just now.

He quickly explained,

"That's not what I meant. I don't blame my sister."

Zhang Hanrui touched Xu Youzhi's head lovingly.

"I watched you grow up. We are like mother and daughter, or sisters. When have I ever treated you as a maid?"

Xu Youzhi looked up at Zhang Hanrui, her eyes reddened, a crystal teardrop hung under the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, refusing to fall for a long time.

"Youzhi knows. Youzhi remembers all the kindness that my sister has shown you. Youzhi just, just..."

Zhang Hanrui looked back at the door, raised her hand to wipe away the tears on Xu Youzhi's face, stood up and said,

"Okay, I know everything. Leave this to my sister."

Then he pointed out the door and said with a smile,

"Someone who cares about you is here again. Be obedient and eat well. Don't worry about other things. Sister will give you an explanation."

Just as he finished speaking, he heard Li Ling'er's clear voice coming from outside the door.

"Youzhi! Youzhi!"

Then, the door was pushed open from the outside.

Li Ling'er's big round eyes were full of smiles. She was surprised to see Zhang Hanrui and said,

"My aunt is here too."

"I've told you so many times to pay attention to your manners. You've only recovered for a few days, and you're acting like a crazy girl again."

Zhang Hanrui pretended to be dissatisfied when she saw Li Linger's careless look.

"My aunt is like an iceberg in front of outsiders, and she is not serious at home either."

When Li Linger heard what Zhang Hanrui said, she wanted to refute, but she didn't dare to, so she could only mutter in a low voice.

"Okay, you stay here and have dinner with Youzhi. I'm going to go back and have my beauty sleep."

As he spoke, he nodded to Xu Youzhi, signaling her not to worry.

Li Linger heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Zhang Hanrui leave. She sat down next to Xu Youzhi and asked,

"I invited you to dine with me before but you didn't come. So you've been cooking for yourself secretly."

"No, I'm afraid of disturbing the world of two between you and your brother."

After what happened just now, Xu Youzhi returned to her usual mischievous self. When Li Linger asked about it, she teased her directly.

"No way, Xiao Wu is here too. Besides, you'd be missing out if you didn't come. Runniang's piano skills are really amazing. The songs she played today are all your favorites."

Li Ling'er was obviously much more relaxed when she was with Xu Youzhi, and she no longer looked like the delicate little girl she was in front of Li Mu.

"It's okay, I'll go to the Listening Pavilion another day..."

Xu Youzhi waved her hand and said this, but she found that Li Ling'er was staring at her without blinking, with a hint of heat in her eyes.

He paused, leaned back slightly, and asked,

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Li Ling'er raised her eyebrows at Xu Youzhi, and slowly leaned forward. Just when their lips were about to touch, she opened her mouth slightly, exhaled a sweet breath and said,

"Youzhi, I think you are really beautiful."