Yuan Yuanman had already stepped back, her eyes fixed on the two hands clasped together.
It was the first time they had ever seen their young mistress being touched by a man from another family.
However, both maids chose to remain silent, pleased with the outcome, and their faces showed happiness.
Nanxing watched from the side, blinked a few times, smiled silently, and involuntarily revealed her big white teeth.
Gu Shaoyu glanced at him, and Nanxing quickly lowered his head.
The old ironwood tree in his yard has a rather stunning display of flowers!
Xie Zhaozhao got off the carriage, and the two separated.
Gu Shaoyu put his hands behind his back, gently rubbing his thumb and forefinger together. His hands suddenly felt empty, and he felt a little disappointed.
Looking at Xie Zhaozhao in her delicate spring attire today, so different from her usual dignified appearance, she seemed lively and spirited, a unique kind of beauty.
He would steal glances at her every now and then.
"I had someone tidy up the island a few days ago. Go take a look, and if you don't like it, rearrange it."
Xie Zhaozhao smiled and nodded.
The last time she saw him at the teahouse, she said the environment there was nice. He was touring Jiangnan and even thought about having someone clean up the place. Was this for her?
The two walked side by side toward the island in the middle of the lake, with Yuan Yuanman and Nanxing following far behind.
"This trip to the south had some twists and turns, and I returned late, which made you worry."
Gu Shaoyu originally wanted to say that he had worried the young lady, but when the words came out, he felt that it was more intimate to address each other as "you" and "me".
According to Xie Zhaozhao's usual habits, she would definitely say some polite words, but now she doesn't want to say those empty words.
“I was really worried. I got quite anxious yesterday when you didn’t come.”
“I just returned from the south early yesterday morning. I had some things to present to His Majesty immediately, so I went to the palace first.”
When I arrived at the palace, I learned that His Majesty had asked the Marquis's residence for my betrothal gift list a few days earlier, added some items, and even sent the Imperial Guards and the Thousand Bull Guards to deliver the betrothal gifts on my behalf.
After handing over the items, I expressed my gratitude, and all that back and forth took some time.
He returned to the capital yesterday, and while instructing Nanxing to open his private treasury and bring out the betrothal gifts according to the list he had written, he hurried to the palace.
He is really busy.
However, he said that he had consulted the Living Buddha Yuanji beforehand to calculate the time for the betrothal ceremony. The first quarter of noon was the most auspicious time, when the midday sun was at its most intense and righteous.
This was the first time Xie Zhaozhao had heard of such a saying, but the time chosen by Living Buddha Yuanji must have been the best.
Yesterday she was extremely worried and was also bullied by Xie Xiangxiang and Xu's group. It wasn't until His Majesty offered him such a generous betrothal gift and he personally came to the mansion that he forcefully slapped Xu's group in the face, finally getting his revenge.
Ultimately, it was all thanks to Grand Secretary Gu who gave her the utmost respect.
She felt very grateful and touched.
As Gu Shaoyu spoke, he observed people's expressions and demeanor, being neither rash nor indecent, but very sincere. Xie Zhaozhao truly felt his immense charm in dealing with people.
Just one word: Comfortable!
The garden at Yuehu is very large, with apricot groves, cherry groves, and several pear groves.
The rest of the area consists of various flowerbeds.
The lake water rippled and shimmered, with fish occasionally blowing bubbles.
As they talked, admired the scenery, and inhaled the fragrance of flowers and grass in the air, they walked along the winding paths to the island in the middle of the lake.
A small bridge leads from the central island to the entire Moon Lake Garden. Crossing the bridge leads to the Moon Gate, the only point of contact between the island and the outside world.
Inside the moon gate lies a completely different world.
The first thing you see is a small and exquisite pavilion connected to a corridor. Outside the corridor are rocks built along the contours of the mountain, with winding paths leading to secluded spots and ever-changing scenery with every step.
A clear pond, pavilions, ancient trees and famous flowers complement each other in a harmonious and picturesque way, creating an endless artistic conception. The goldfish playing in the water are lively and vivid.
At the end of the corridor is a gatehouse with flying eaves and a roof-like structure. On the left and right are several exquisite rooms, including a tea room, a calligraphy and painting room, and a music room.
The second courtyard is the reception room, planted with flowers for all four seasons (magnolia, bamboo, osmanthus, and wintersweet), and decorated with a small art piece featuring vines embracing rocks.
The last courtyard is a place to rest.
Xie Zhaozhao had a vague sense of familiarity about her.
Thinking about it carefully, she had never been here in either her past or present life.
Beyond that was a small garden and a high wall, five or six people tall, completely blocking the view from the outside.
The entire island is like a beautiful garden, elegant and exquisite.
Seeing that she kept looking at the courtyard at the back, Gu Shaoyu quietly took the lead, pushed open the cave door, and led her into the courtyard.
With a white wall as the background and green bamboo as the brush, a picture of "white wall and bamboo shadows" is formed, and the bamboo shadows sway in the breeze.
A swing set up in the yard, purple flowers fell, and the swing was covered in a pale purple.
Except for the swing set, it was exactly the same as her yard.
"How...did you cultivate yourself to this state?"
She was very surprised and happy.
"I asked my older brother, and he gave me the blueprints. But I don't know anything about your boudoir, so you can decorate it as you like."
The elder brother he mentioned was Xie Yu. He had specially decorated this courtyard to resemble her boudoir, so that she would feel like she was coming home.
Xie Zhaozhao was truly moved at this moment. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she said, "Thank you, Your Excellency."
Having been deeply wounded in her past life, she woke up to the day she would exchange birth certificates with Gu Chengyan again. Her heart was riddled with holes, and she no longer had the expectations she had for marriage in her youth.
Feelings are such a luxury.
However, she is now genuinely grateful and has even developed feelings for him.
Gu Shaoyu said, "Why are you thanking me? Actually, I want to thank you. If you hadn't told me that information, I might not have been able to come back from Jiangnan this time."
"Huh?" They really dare?
"Just as you said, they did hire bandits, and they took action on the very day I started investigating the case."
Seeing Xie Zhaozhao's expression change, he hurriedly said, "I've made thorough preparations and am just waiting for them to come out. I can't make a move until they do."
This time, the operation was thorough, and all the officials in Jiangnan were purged.
As for the capital, the direct target is the Crown Prince's faction.
However, he only reported matters concerning the Crown Prince to His Majesty and did not mention them to anyone else. On the surface, no one in the capital was implicated.
He handed her a set of keys: "Here are the keys to this place. If you want to come and enjoy yourself here, or invite your friends along, it's up to you."
From now on, this place belongs to her, and she can arrange it however she wants.
Xie Zhaozhao took it; it still carried his body heat, a warmth that made her ears turn red again.
"There's a racecourse and an amusement park up ahead. See if you can find anything you're missing, and I'll have someone add it later."
In other words, he owns the entire northern half of the Moon Lake Scenic Area?
What an honor!
However, she is petty and doesn't want to share with certain people.
"Does this property belong to the Marquis's residence? Do the people in the Marquis's residence know this?"
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