Wangchun Restaurant.

"The Marquis is now a famous figure in the capital, and even His Majesty always talks about it. If there is an opportunity in the future, I would like to ask the Marquis to support me in this humble position."

After three drinks and five dishes, Li Wuji, accompanied by Luo Ping, walked out of the box and walked slowly downstairs.

Luo Ping said with a flattering smile on his face.

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Li Wuji smiled and responded noncommittally.

Luo Ping nodded happily and respectfully opened the way in front. The dignified commander of the capital guards looked like Li Wuji's follower at this moment.

Li Wuji did not stop him and allowed Luo Ping to show his courtesy in front of him.

He and Luo Ping were just using each other, and neither one would really regard the other as a friend.

At this moment, Li Wuji accidentally spotted a lonely figure in the corner of the hall on the first floor and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

In the corner, a frail scholar sat quietly on a chair, drinking wine with his head lowered. He was not affected by the noise around him and was immersed in his own world.

It was Xiao Hongxing.

"Master Hou?"

Luo Ping, who was clearing the way in front, noticed the slowness of Li Wuji's steps and asked hesitantly, then followed Li Wuji's gaze and looked around the corner.

"Master Luo, I still have some private matters to deal with, so I won't send Master Luo off."

Li Wuji looked back at Luo Ping and said with a smile.

"Oh, okay, Lord Marquis, please help yourself."

Luo Ping hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a smile, bowed his hands and bowed, then turned and walked out. Before going out, he glanced in the direction where Xiao Hongxing was sitting.

After Luo Ping left, Li Wuji slowly walked towards Xiao Hongxing in the corner.

At this time, Xiao Hongxing seemed to be thinking about something, and did not hear that someone had come to his side, with his head lowered, holding a wine glass, and his expression was a little dull.

Looking at the distracted Xiao Hongxing, Li Wuji couldn't help but frown, especially after seeing the bruises around Xiao Hongxing's eyes, he couldn't help but squint his eyes.

Immediately afterwards, Li Wuji sat on the chair opposite Xiao Hongxing, minding his own business.

At this time, Xiao Hongxing finally came to his senses, raised his head and glanced at the person opposite him, then couldn't help being stunned for a moment, and hurriedly stood up to salute.

"I've met the young master."

Xiao Hongxing saluted and turned his head sideways, subconsciously trying to cover up the bruise on his left eye socket.

"sit."

Li Wuji raised his hand to signal and said calmly.

Xiao Hongxing agreed and slowly sat down, lowering his head intentionally or unintentionally, looking a little embarrassed.

Immediately afterwards, Li Wuji reached out and called the waiter over, and ordered a few side dishes that he had just eaten upstairs and thought they tasted pretty good.

There was nothing on the table in front of me except a bottle of wine.

The dignified young master of the Xiao family can't even afford food and drinks when he goes to a restaurant, which shows how hard the Xiao family's second wife lives.

Thinking of this, Li Wuji couldn't help but sigh. After all, if he hadn't invited the owner of the tea stall to Deyunxuan to be the shopkeeper, Xiao Hongxing wouldn't have a place to drink now, so he could only come here and be looked down upon by others.

.

"Something on your mind?"

Li Wuji looked at Xiao Hongxing and asked lightly.

"No..."

Xiao Hongxing shook his head, with an ugly smile on his face.

"Where did the injury on the eye socket come from?"

Li Wuji continued to ask.

"I accidentally dropped it."

Xiao Hongxing touched his eye sockets and said embarrassedly.

"What a fall?!"

Li Wuji snorted lightly and asked in a deep voice.

He recognized it at a glance just now. The bruise was obviously from being beaten.

Hearing Li Wuji's question, Xiao Hongxing swallowed his saliva and became silent.

"Who did it?"

Li Wuji asked in a deep voice.

"I had a conflict with a servant in the mansion and accidentally bumped into him."

Xiao Hongxing hesitated for a moment and answered slowly.

He knew that what he just said could not be hidden from Li Wuji at all.

"So, your head accidentally touched the opponent's fist? What a coincidence."

Li Wuji said with a smile.

After hearing Li Wuji's words, Xiao Hongxing showed embarrassment on his face, and his face gradually turned red.

His eyes were beaten black and purple by his servants, and he was considered the first in the capital.

"Is it Xiao Muqiu's instigation?"

Li Wuji paused and continued to ask.

Xiao Hongxing didn't say anything, but pushed the side dishes brought by the waiter in front of Li Wuji, and silently poured a glass of wine for Li Wuji.

Although he did not answer, he actually gave the answer.

"Don't they know you're mine?"

Li Wuji took a sip of wine and asked lightly.

"So what if I know? Maybe in their eyes, I'm just the young master's dog, and they don't take it to heart at all."

Xiao Hongxing said with a bitter smile.

Hearing Xiao Hongxing's words, Li Wuji couldn't help but frown. If he hadn't been bullied for many years, Xiao Hongxing would never have said such a thing and actually compared himself to a dog.

"I heard that you have a good relationship with the grandson of Zhu Wenqing, the Minister of Household Affairs?"

Li Wuji paused for a moment, changed the subject, and asked slowly.

"ah?"

"That's right, Mr. Zhu is also good at poetry and calligraphy. He met me by chance. He didn't despise me because I am the second wife of the Xiao family. From then on, we have been friends, and we occasionally get together to discuss poetry."

Hearing that Li Wuji suddenly changed the topic, Xiao Hongxing was stunned for a moment, and then slowly explained.

In his words, he was full of gratitude to Zhu Wenqing's grandson.

Li Wuji frowned slightly as he looked at the smile that gradually appeared on Xiao Hongxing's lips.

A friend who is so humble and full of gratitude is not really a friend at all.

"Okay, I have something else to do, so I'll take the first step."

"When I have time, I will find time to go to Xiao Mansion to visit your mother."

Li Wuji raised his head and drank the wine in the glass, left a few words, stood up and left.

"Master, walk slowly."

Xiao Hongxing hurriedly stood up, bowed respectfully, and watched Li Wuji leave.

He was more in awe of Li Wuji, his "friend". Although Li Wuji once said that they were friends and promised him that he would one day become the next head of the Xiao family, he did not dare to take it seriously.

So even if I was wronged or beaten, I would be too embarrassed to tell Li Wuji.

"When is the birthday of the second brother of the Xiao family?"

Outside the restaurant, Li Wuji asked calmly while getting on the carriage.

"Two days later."

Lu Yuan answered respectfully.

"Are the gifts I asked Old Cao Bei ready?"

Li Wuji stopped at the door of the carriage and continued to ask.

"Already prepared."

Lu Yuan answered immediately.

"Will Zhu Hexuan also go?"

Li Wuji asked again.
To be continued...