Liu Qingmei left the Prime Minister's residence wiping away tears, just as she boarded her carriage. The storybooks and the plates of snacks inside were scattered all over the carriage by her.
The loud banging made the coachman outside frown.
Xiao Hong didn't dare to say a word of advice, and just waited for Miss Liu to finish venting before smoothing her disheveled hair and saying, "Let's go back to the Minister's residence."
Su Wanting ate lunch at the county princess's residence. Because she was there, Gu Zhan returned to the general's residence in silence after lunch.
"You're being far too blatant." Watching Gu Zhan swagger out the door, Su Wanting tapped Xu Nian's forehead. "The Emperor punished him by confining him to his quarters to reflect on his mistakes, but he's doing just that, coming here to eat every day. If someone with ulterior motives impeaches you again, you'll be in deep trouble."
Xu Nian pulled her towards her own Furong Garden, her light steps causing the hair ornaments on her head to sway back and forth. "What did someone say to Wan Ting?"
Having been in the capital for several months, she's learned her lesson.
People here tend to speak in roundabout ways, using multiple layers of embellishment. If you're even slightly careless, you might fall into someone's trap.
"Liu Qingmei came to see me today." Su Wanting described in detail what had happened at the Prime Minister's residence. "You should also be careful these next few days and see if there is anyone dishonest in the residence, so that we can take precautions early."
There might not be that many people in the inner courtyard yet. Xu Nian also has Da Bao and Er Bao. The maids and servants who serve Er Bao are all carefully selected by her and Gu Zhan, so there is no way there could be any mistakes.
The kitchen was also carefully inspected by Gu Zhan's wet nurse, just in case any troublemakers sneaked in from the outer courtyard.
If even someone as seemingly innocent as Liu Qingmei could have an inside maid, it's hard to guarantee that others wouldn't have similar intentions.
Xu Nian naturally understood this principle as well. From the first day she entered the manor, she placed a magic array within it, just like a surveillance system, so that no one's every move could escape her eyes.
He patted Su Wanting's hand reassuringly, "Don't worry, I know who's in here. Most of them are in the outer courtyard, and the higher-ups in the inner courtyard can't be touched."
She blinked, her mischievous and lively expression making Su Wanting cover her mouth and giggle.
Suddenly remembering something else, she pulled him into the house and said, "Furthermore, you and Gu Zhanruo are truly in love. Let him go to the Emperor as soon as possible to dissolve our engagement, so that no one will gossip and it won't be good for your reputation."
Both the person inside and outside the house blushed.
Xu Nian, unusually hesitant, said with half her ears flushed red, "I have no relationship with Gu Zhan, we're just good friends, Wan Ting, please don't misunderstand. But the engagement will still be dissolved, after all, we can't let it affect your reputation."
Gu Zhan had come back specifically to retrieve something he had left behind, but upon hearing Su Wanting's words, he quietly followed her to Furong Garden.
The servants all recognized him, and there was no announcement. He intended to push open the door and ask Su Wanting if she knew who the spy was, but instead he overheard the two of them having a quiet conversation.
His heart leaped into his throat; he felt that Xu Nian must also have feelings for him.
He couldn't help but feel nervous, so he moved even closer, wanting to hear her answer. As soon as she spoke, the smile that he couldn't help but keep disappearing from his face.
It felt like a huge rock had struck my heart, causing a sharp pain. After that, I couldn't feel anything else.
A profound sense of loss overwhelmed him. Gu Zhan didn't even know how he got back to the General's Mansion, or whether Xu Nian had discovered him. Sitting in his room, his vacant eyes moved slightly.
"If you truly love her, then go and tell her. Then break off the engagement with the Emperor, and don't delay Wan Ting's life."
Jiang Yuanling's words suddenly echoed in his mind: at the housewarming banquet that day, he had kept him sitting in the general's mansion for a long time, drinking cup after cup of tea.
In short, he just wants to get married to Xu Nian so that Jiang Yuanling and Su Wanting can be together as a couple.
I still have to tell Xu Nian myself.
What if she was just unaware of her own feelings and said those words out of shyness?
In a few days, it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival.
During this time, Xu Nian followed Su Wanting around, buying a lot of things. This prevented Gu Zhan from finding an opportunity.
The emperor held a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, ruining Xu Nian's plans to celebrate the festival with her two younger brothers. Under Su Wanting's arrangement, she wore a crimson palace dress embroidered with gold.
The headdress she was wearing was a complete set of ruby jewelry that had just been bestowed upon her by the empress in the palace a few days ago.
With her radiant appearance, she was as beautiful as a fairy princess. Anyone who saw her would be stunned for a long time before they could come back to their senses.
【What a nice view……】
I finally understand what it means to have a smile that could launch a thousand ships, leaving all the beauties of the imperial harem pale in comparison.
[Fortunate to have seen your face like a peach blossom, from then on, the fields and paths are filled with the warmth of spring.]
[Don't read aloud upstairs, it's giving me a headache.]
Xu Nian couldn't see the clamor of the comments; before her eyes, Gu Zhan wore a red official robe and an ebony crown.
It was just the most common attire for military officers of this dynasty when entering the palace for banquets, but because of that face, the whole outfit looked a bit more noble.
The two stood together, looking like a newlywed couple about to enter their wedding ceremony. The red color made them both look joyful, and Xu Nian's cheeks felt slightly flushed.
She stepped forward, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "It's rare to see you wearing such a bright color, it looks pretty good. By the way, it's not that I didn't want you to pick me up, I just went with Wanting and the others in their car."
Gu Zhan suddenly came to his senses. Ever since Xu Nian became the county princess, every time she dressed up in her finest attire, she would make him lose his composure.
He was stunned for a moment, avoiding the girl's gaze, and coughed twice. "I remember, I just had something to say to you."
"What?" Seeing the unusually embarrassed look on the person in front of her, Xu Nian felt a little curious, since it was still early.
Su Wanting and the others would arrive in a while. She tilted her head and looked at Gu Zhan, waiting for his next move.
Gu Zhan was taken aback by the cute little gesture. He let out a soft breath to calm himself down before slowly saying, "I want to say, Xu Nian, I love you. I wonder if you would be willing to become my fiancée, and then my wife?"
Xu Nian froze, wanting to run. But under Gu Zhan's watchful gaze, she couldn't move an inch.
How did you end up confessing your feelings?
The live chat was already buzzing with excitement, with gifts being given out like they were free, and everyone clamoring for her to quickly agree to be with this man.
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