They all want to change my future.

Chapter 61 The Rendezvous After Dusk

Li Zhi walked out of the imposing gates of the Jingzhao Prefecture and glanced at the sky; it was indeed getting late.

He got into the carriage, and Qu Hongxiao was still there.

"I told you to lure the snake out of its hole, not to use this method. Can't you come up with a better excuse?"

Qu Hongxiao said with some helplessness, looking at Li Zhi with great confusion, what did he mean by going back to eat and coming back tomorrow?

That reason is a bit too far-fetched.

However, the effect was unexpectedly good. Qu Hongxiao, who had been secretly observing, had seen Wei Yu unable to hold back any longer.

The thought of the prefect, who always valued his official authority, showing such a helpless expression made her want to laugh at him.

Considering the plan was completed quite well, Qu Hongxiao, as a very responsible superior, felt it necessary to express her appreciation and looked at Li Zhi:

"Tell me, where do you want to eat?"

This sudden invitation surprised Li Zhi. It took him a while to figure out Qu Hongxiao's thought process.

Is this my reward?

But I really need to go back for dinner?

I have a feeling that it would be interesting to bring up my promise to Ji Baizhi now.

Li Zhi had a sudden thought and said directly, "Sorry, I have an appointment."

"You have plans?"

Qu Hongxiao raised an eyebrow at Li Zhi. This young comrade is so disrespectful to his superiors. Do you still want to work under me in the future?

You dare to refuse an invitation from your superior?

Facing Qu Hongxiao's enigmatic and meaningful gaze, Li Zhi nodded again and repeated, "I have an appointment."

These three words were spoken with force and clarity: I'm not going.

Qu Hongxiao's eyes narrowed, and a dangerous atmosphere began to spread.

However, she still asked casually, "Who did you have an appointment with?"

"Of course it's Ji Baizhi," Li Zhi said matter-of-factly, as if it were the truth.

But Qu Hongxiao laughed when she heard this. It wasn't a cold laugh or a sneer.

Instead, it was as if he had heard something extremely funny, and he laughed so hard that his body trembled slightly, and a strand of hair at his temple swayed gently, giving him a somewhat "shaking and trembling" appearance.

Li Zhi didn't look at the beautiful scene where the waves of laughter rippled; instead, he leaned out of the curtain and spoke to the magnificent white horses:

"Return to the residence."

The intelligent white horse immediately set off back towards Zhaoyang Mansion.

This action caused Qu Hongxiao's smile to fade; she still didn't believe it: "You really don't want to eat with me?"

"What are you saying?" Li Zhi shook his head, sitting up straight again. "Isn't this forcing me to say things that will upset you?"

Unhappy?

What's bothering you?

Qu Hongxiao was naturally very intelligent and quickly figured out what her words meant to Li Zhi.

Choose one: eat it with me, or eat it with Angelica dahurica.

The results are obvious.

Qu Hongxiao sneered: "You're quite the actor. I don't believe Ji Baizhi would agree to have dinner with you."

"If you don't believe me, you can come back to Zhaoyang Prefecture with me and see for yourself."

Li Zhi extended the invitation quite frankly, but Qu Hongxiao's face darkened, and she said coldly:

"Li Zhi, you've gone too far."

Li Zhi was taken aback. How could he have gone too far? It was just an invitation.

Qu Hongxiao didn't look at Li Zhi. The carriage curtain swayed, and she completely disappeared.

Li Zhi was left alone. He muttered to himself, or perhaps asking someone else, "Everything was fine until it all fell apart halfway through. Can someone tell me what happened?"

Soon, Lin Yueyin's voice rang out from the shadows: "She is indeed gone."

"Miss Lin, why do you think she left?"

Lin Yueyin's voice remained cold: "I'm not her, how would I know?"

Is that so?

Li Zhi nodded, then asked again, "Miss Lin, would you like to come to Zhaoyang Prefecture for dinner with me?"

Now that you're facing the same invitation as her, can you tell me how you feel?

Lin Yueyin, in the shadows, looked into Li Zhi's eyes and quickly deciphered the meaning of his words.

Feeling the sudden surge of displeasure within her, she replied with the same words:

"Li Zhi, you've gone too far."

Li Zhi, who was scolded again, was not angry. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and said, "It seems that Miss Lin knows about this. Please explain in detail."

Does Miss Lin know this?

Miss Lin didn't know, so she remained silent.

The carriage fell silent instantly.

Not embarrassed by the lack of response, Li Zhi instead began to analyze the situation with great interest:

"First, let's find some common ground. Both Miss Lin and Qu Hongxiao are grandmasters and they both dislike Ji Baizhi. If we put ourselves in their shoes, it will be easy to understand."

At this point, Li Zhi lowered his head and fell into deep thought, then he showed an expression of sudden realization.

They clearly understand.

But if you don't say it halfway through, and then you already understand it yourself, won't that make onlookers unhappy?

Lin Yueyin was very unhappy. What did you even know?

I'll tell you soon.

Lin Yueyin also wanted to know why she was so unhappy when she heard the invitation.

But Li Zhi didn't say anything more. Instead, he took out a book with the Empress's comments on the cultivation techniques and started reading it.

He nodded as he looked at it, clearly indicating that he had gained a lot from it.

This made Lin Yueyin grit her teeth in anger. She dared to swear to the heavens that Li Zhi was absolutely doing this on purpose.

I've never seen you work this hard before.

Finally, Lin Yueyin couldn't suppress her curiosity and asked directly, "What do you know?"

"what?"

Li Zhi seemed to have discovered something strange: "Miss Lin, don't you understand?"

Lin Yueyin fell silent again. This person was infuriating. She realized she hadn't hit him hard enough last time. She said coldly:

"I don't think your performance today was good. Gentleman Sword needs more practice."

I'll give you extra training so I can beat you up and vent my anger.

Li Zhi naturally understood the threat. He closed the book and slowly said:

"Actually, I don't understand either. Otherwise, Miss Lin, could you tell me how you felt when you heard my invitation? That way, I can analyze it for you."

You did it on purpose, after all.

A hint of smugness flashed in Lin Yueyin's crimson eyes, a satisfaction with her own judgment. So, without much hesitation, she said directly, "Displeased, or rather, resistant."

Is that so?

Li Zhi nodded and began his analysis: "So, you two still don't like Ji Baizhi. You're not even willing to have a meal with her. This woman is really hateful."

Lin Yueyin regretted it a little; you simply don't understand.

It's a waste of my time. I may dislike Ji Baizhi, but not to this extent.

"Your analysis is wrong."

Lin Yueyin simply replied, and didn't say anything more after that, because they had arrived at Zhaoyang Prefecture.

Upon entering Zhaoyang Prefecture, we disembarked from the carriage.

Li Zhi then saw Ji Baizhi, still in her white dress, which shimmered with golden light in the setting sun. Her skirt fluttered slightly, truly like a goddess in a painting, untouched by the dust of the world.

When she saw Li Zhi return, she smiled gently, her beauty breathtaking.

The lovers made their rendezvous after dusk, and the beauty stood in the setting sun.

Li Zhi stepped forward, while Ji Baizhi remained standing still. Lin Yueyin, watching from the shadows, felt even more uneasy.

Just as she was about to leave as usual, she heard Li Zhi's words.

"Miss Ji, I have a question for you. Why are other girls unhappy when I invite them to dinner with you?"

This question made Lin Yueyin stop in her tracks. She had a vague feeling that Ji Baizhi probably knew about it.