The two duke's mansions were close to each other, so when Xu Yixuan came out, she rode in Dai Zhiwan's carriage.
Xu Yixuan picked up a small pastry from the low table and gently put it into her mouth: "You talk so much every day, I'm tired, how can I have the energy to chat with you?"
Dai Zhiwan pinched the pastry she had put in her mouth with her delicate fingers, took a bite, and said with a happy smile, "If Her Majesty comes to play, don't forget to come too."
Seeing that she was happy, Xu Yixuan did not go against her wishes and said with a smile, "Let's wait until after the tenth of June. Recently, the clan school invited a famous teacher, and my father asked me to go and listen to him."
She felt they had been too high-profile lately, and it wasn't good for them to have too frequent contact with Prince Gong's Mansion in such a short period of time. She wondered what her father thought about these matters, and decided to ask him when she got back.
Dai Zhiwan had no idea of the complicated thoughts in her mind. Upon hearing this, she suddenly realized that the imperial examinations were approaching next year.
However, no matter how talented they are, they must hide their abilities, and the imperial examinations are probably just a formality for them.
Three years ago, her older brother and Nianhe's brother did the same thing. They went there and just wrote down random answers. Only after they came back did they dare to copy down the questions at night and take the test again.
From a young age, Dai Zhiwan was constantly reminded by her mother that the Duke's mansion did not hide its talents, and that those with ulterior motives would keep an eye on things, and even the smallest matters would be magnified.
The reason things seem peaceful now is simply because neither of them poses a threat at present.
Dai Zhiwan didn't quite understand, but it was a matter of life and death for the entire family, and she couldn't be willful and ignorant no matter how much she didn't understand.
On the other side, at Prince Gong's Mansion.
As soon as Su Wanyan stepped into the main room, she saw Yu Nanqing fiddling with something in the corner.
By the light filtering through the window, Su Wanyan could make out a small artificial pond. Water flowed gently down a small artificial hill and poured into a lotus flower. The water then sprayed out from all sides of the lotus petals, forming a small fountain.
The water from the small fountain falls into a small pool at the bottom, and then meanders upwards through a waterwheel.
As soon as Su Wanyan returned, Yu Nanqing caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye, and his eyes immediately lit up: "Yan'er!"
She's finally back!
He waited in the mansion for a very, very long time!
Before he could even wipe the water off his hands, he had already stepped in front of Su Wanyan.
Yu Nanqing was tall and imposing, and every time he walked towards Su Wanyan, he gave her a sense of overwhelming presence.
And this time it was just as the sun was setting, and the room was already shrouded in darkness. Unfortunately, Yu Nanqing hadn't lit the candles yet, so when he walked towards him, a huge black shadow pounced on him!
Su Wanyan subconsciously took a step back: "Why don't you turn on the lamp?"
Thank goodness I called out to her; otherwise, I would have scared her half to death.
Seeing her step back, Yu Nanqing stopped abruptly, her outstretched hand retracting helplessly: "Then I... I'll go and light it now."
Su Wanyan went out at noon, not long after he finished his morning court session.
He thought Su Wanyan would only be gone for a short while, but she didn't return until after sunset. He was getting impatient while also being afraid that Su Wanyan would find him clingy, so he didn't dare send someone to urge her.
He harbored resentment, but the moment Su Wanyan returned, his dissatisfaction vanished instantly.
Not only did it dissipate, but the irritability I felt all day also vanished inexplicably.
Now he just wanted to show Su Wanyan his achievements, so as soon as the candle was lit, Yu Nanqing eagerly stepped forward and took Su Wanyan's hand: "Yan'er, come here."
He pointed to the decorative pond in the corner: "Yan'er, look!"
The decorative pond was placed on a small square table. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that there was a model of a carp in the pond, aquatic plants along the edge, and a water buffalo on the stone steps next to the waterwheel.
The lotus flowers used as a small fountain are exquisitely carved, with even the patterns within the flowers replicated.
Yu Nanqing looked on with a pleading expression, his long eyes brimming with barely concealed excitement.
Su Wanyan couldn't help but chuckle, and gave him a thumbs-up in affirmation: "Great! Beautiful, a pleasant surprise!"
Yu Nanqing's expression grew even more proud: "Do you like it?"
"Of course, I love it!" Su Wanyan nodded without any disappointment.
I asked with a smile, "Did you do this for me because I mentioned last time that I wanted a landscape?"
Yu Nanqing nodded repeatedly: "After you mentioned it that day, I had people start making it. This is it... It's shaped like a lotus flower. Is Yan'er satisfied?"
He knew Su Wanyan liked bizarre things, and he had originally planned to do so, but no matter what he did, it looked a bit like 'peeing'.
To prevent Su Wanyan from having inappropriate thoughts, Yu Nanqing had her master make it in the shape of a lotus flower.
"I'm satisfied. The lotus flowers are so beautiful." Su Wanyan knew exactly what he was thinking and smiled in agreement.
What makes her happiest is that Yu Nanqing always keeps in mind what she says unintentionally. What more could she ask for?
Yu Nanqing took Su Wanyan's hand and led her to the bedside, reaching out to remove her outer robe: "Have you had dinner?"
Su Wanyan turned around: "I haven't eaten yet, I can do it myself."
Yu Nanqing didn't insist, and reached out to untie the hairpin in her hair: "I made braised pork with bamboo shoots and braised venison, stir-fried fennel and 'golden ingots' (a type of fried dough), and a soup of white fungus and lily bulbs to cool you down. I also made some cold dishes. I don't know if it's enough for you."
“How could it not be enough?” Su Wanyan laughed. “You can just have the cook do these. You used to always tell me that I should just give orders, but now it seems like you do everything yourself.”
"I've given all the other instructions." Otherwise, he wouldn't be so idle.
Yu Nanqing paused suddenly, pursed his lips, and said, "If Yan'er had taken me out of the manor, I wouldn't be so idle here."
His tone suddenly turned resentful.
She was both decorating the landscaping and cooking.
It's all because Su Wanyan left him alone in the mansion.
"Oh?" Su Wanyan turned around, her eyes sparkling like stars, and said with great interest, "I'm not bored at all. I went to a jewelry store and a silk store, and I also made an appointment with Dai Zhiwan and Xu Yixuan to go to the Lakeside Pavilion on the tenth of June."
Upon hearing this, Yu Nanqing's brows furrowed immediately: "Going again?"
Why again...
Just then, Qiuye and Huangye brought in a warm meal from outside the door.
Su Wanyan lifted her skirt and walked to the table, slowly sitting down.
Yu Nanqing quickly took two steps forward and sat down next to Su Wanyan: "What about me? Wanyan, are you going to take me?"
"No, I won't bring it."
"Why?" Yu Nanqing's brows furrowed even more.
She had only known Dai Zhiwan and Xu Yixuan for a few days.
How could you have so easily bypassed him?
Su Wanyan glanced at him: "Because I'm afraid your soul will be stolen away."
Yu Nanqing was taken aback. What did this mean?
Seeing that he didn't understand, Su Wanyan stopped teasing him and picked up her chopsticks while smiling, "Dai Zhiwan said that on the tenth day of the sixth month, the lakeside pavilion invited foreign dancers to perform. I'm curious and want to go and see."
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