Gu Nian ignored her. She hadn't had much contact with Li Shan, only heard Gu Xin and Gu Si mention her. She knew her two younger sisters' personalities very well, so she didn't have a good impression of Li Shan.
She would love to stay here.
After watching Li Shan leave, Li Muyan secretly glanced at Gu Nian again.
Fortunately, Nian Nian wasn't angry.
Shan'er is quite tactful. Knowing that Niannian doesn't like her, she greets her and then makes an excuse to go back to her room, which is both polite and avoids being disliked.
After a while, Zhu Mingsheng made an excuse that he had drunk too much and needed to go to the restroom.
There was an outhouse in Li Muyan's courtyard, in a secluded corner. Zhu Mingsheng went there without anyone with him, and there was no one at the outhouse.
He left Li Muyan's courtyard through a small door behind the outhouse and waited in a secluded bamboo grove.
A short while later, Li Shan's maid came over.
"Young Master Zhu, here's the thing." The maid handed a small bottle to Zhu Mingsheng and then carefully left.
Zhu Mingsheng returned to Li Muyan's courtyard.
The whole thing took less than a quarter of an hour, so no one suspected anything. Moreover, Li Muyan's courtyard was very large; he lived in most of the Li family mansion by himself. No servants usually came to the area around the courtyard, so no one knew that Zhu Mingsheng had been in contact with Li Shan's maid.
In Li Muyan's courtyard, most of the servants acted as vendors. He also asked Zhu Mingsheng and Su Yan to invite people over. There were about forty men and women, and the small lantern festival was quite successful.
In Gu Nian's words, it was like a class of students going on a spring outing to the ancient street.
Aside from the unpleasant incident between Luo Hailiang and Zhao Mingying, everything else was quite pleasant.
Li Muyan was very good to Gu Nian. He would remember everything Gu Nian saw, and then give her the gifts he won by solving riddles.
Although Gu Nian knew Li Muyan was clever, the riddles at this small lantern festival were still quite difficult. There were several riddles that Gu Nian didn't know the answers to, but Li Muyan did.
Gu Nian heard from Su Yan that Li Muyan had never been to a lantern festival before. Last year, he finally managed to go out, but he was reportedly chased and bitten by a dog. Therefore, she had someone find these lantern riddles to ensure that Li Muyan did not know the answers in advance.
After guessing all the riddles on the stalls, and running out of things to do, Zhu Mingsheng suggested that they light a fire in the courtyard and grill meat together.
He said that people from his estate had brought over some fresh game today, and Su Yan joined in the commotion. Li Muyan then asked Gu Nian if she wanted some.
Gu Nian felt sorry for the kid. Judging from how unfamiliar he seemed with the others, he probably had never played with peers like this before!
She agreed, but also agreed that she would go home after finishing the barbecue.
Li Muyan was as happy as a fool.
The servants brought firewood from the woodshed, started a fire, and brought over the prepared meat and various seasonings.
When it comes to DIY barbecue, Gu Nian is much more familiar with grilling than others.
She grilled the lean meat from the leg for Gu Hui and Gu En first, and then gave it to Li Muyan.
Li Muyan said sourly, "I wonder when I'll become the number one in Nian Nian's heart."
Gu Nian scoffed and said, "Dream on! In my heart, the order of importance is: parents, grandparents, siblings, then uncles and aunts, and only then do you get a place!"
Zhu Mingsheng jokingly asked, "Second Miss Gu, after you get married, which child will be listed as the eldest?"
Gu Nian: "I can't imagine it without children! But I can be sure that children will definitely come before men."
Su Yan laughed and said, "That's alright. After Niannian gets married, the child will come first, the husband second, and we'll move Niannian's current ranking back a bit."
Another young master joked, "So, even if Young Master Li marries Miss Gu, he still won't be able to rank first!"
Everyone burst into laughter, and Li Muyan laughed along with them.
Gu En silently observed Li Muyan. "Hmph, this liar is so perverted. He's clenching his fists so angry, yet he smiles so innocently."
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