Two people
"Don't bother becoming my apprentice!"
"Why?"
"I've never even seen my master's face. Now I know he has a whole bunch of nasty rules. One of them is that men can't show their faces. Anyone who sees his face will want to be with him and will have a strange fragrance on them. You can't be open about it. There might be even more trouble. Do you want it?"
Qi Mingshuo slowly shook his head and sighed, "It seems we are truly destined to be apart!"
Qi Guanlan also sighed.
"A married brother is like water spilled from a bowl!"
During a major holiday, the repeated sighs were somewhat unlucky. Qi Mingshuo belatedly sighed again and said with a mischievous smile, "I won't get in anyone's way."
No sooner had he left than Qi Guanlan began dredging up old grievances, "So, you have a junior brother?"
"You looked at his face?"
"He wants to be with you?"
How could you guess so accurately!
Gu Ying's words, "You're really good," still echo in my ears!
If it were Gu Ying, Wen Ruo thought to herself for a moment. First, she didn't look at his face; second, she and Gu Ying were just fellow disciples and colleagues; and third, he was taken in by her master, so it had nothing to do with her!
Qi Guanlan stared at her intently, his gaze intense. "Do you need to hesitate like this? It won't hurt me if you just say it!"
That's not how you should put it!
Qi Guanlan discovered the investigation into the Sun family and then used it as an excuse to spread rumors about Gu Ying, claiming that all the rumors about him were exaggerated and that he had created a persona specifically for Gu Ying, making him a powerful figure in the entire capital!
"Gu Ying."
Upon hearing the name, Qi Guanlan was slightly taken aback. Seeing this, Wen Ruo immediately grabbed his hand, "How about we treat him to a meal to thank him for his help!"
Qi Guanlan still wouldn't give up, "Your junior brother?"
"Why are you talking about a junior brother whose face you've never even met!"
"I just don't know if he'll do me the honor."
After all, he doesn't socialize with outsiders.
Qi Guanlan clenched his fist, his expression slightly unnatural: "Let me ask!"
Wen Ruo breathed a sigh of relief, "I'll wait for your good news!"
Before they knew it, the Lantern Festival was almost here, and Gu Ying finally graced them with his presence.
Qi Guanlan chose his own garden as the location, and Gu Yinglai still wore a mask on the day of the appointment.
Everyone in the garden was asked to leave. Wen Ruo sat in the pavilion, and Gu Ying sat opposite her. The host went to get the wine. At this moment, the garden was quiet, and the fish in the pond were playing and frolicking, much more carefree than the two of them.
"You didn't take off your mask when you drank with Qi Guanlan?"
I don't drink alcohol.
"This doesn't seem like Tao Yan."
There were only three people at the dinner table. Gu Ying sat opposite her, and Qi Guanlan was very close to her. If Wen Ruo raised her arm, she would bump into him if she wasn't careful.
"Don't flirt in front of me!"
"Jealousy!"
So this is how the two of them get along in private.
Wen Ruo asked curiously, "How do you eat if you don't take off your mask?"
He must have been disguised.
Gu Ying hesitated for a moment before taking it off.
Qi Guanlan suddenly reached out and covered her eyes, asking, "You don't have that ridiculous rule that you can't be seen by people, and that women can cling to someone just because they saw you, right?"
Gu Ying paused for a moment, then said, "Yes!"
Qi Guanlan seemed to realize something, his expression turning wary: "You wouldn't happen to be her junior brother, would you?"
"Just kidding, don't pick it!" Qi Guanlan turned around and said, "He's rather delicate-looking, there's nothing to see."
Wen Ruohua was on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it back down.
Qi Guanlan raised his glass: "Come, let me toast you!"
"You deserve a large part of the credit for my reconciliation with my mother. From now on, let's join forces and roam freely in the capital!"
"Do as you please!"
With a crisp sound, Gu Ying put down his wine glass. "Sure!"
Wen Ruo gave an awkward smile. Why was there a hint of disdain in the air? It must be Gu Ying, not her.
"I heard that on this trip to Lanzhou, Young Master Gu went to the mountain cellar alone, fearless of death, and killed twenty villains. He is truly brave and extraordinary. Wen Ruo has avenged her great enemy, so I also toast to you!"
Gu Ying raised his glass and clinked it with his own. "That's an exaggeration. I brought hidden weapons and sleeping pills. As I walked, a whole bunch of people lay dead behind me!"
Wen Ruo almost choked. She paused for a moment, then said, "Young Master Gu is too modest!"
Gu Ying raised his wrist, his eyes flashing when they first met. "This is it!"
Qi Guanlan moved slightly closer and said, as if to claim credit, "I asked his uncle for it for him!"
Gu Ying nodded leisurely, "The rumors outside are all unreliable!"
Wen Ruo asked in surprise, "You mean those in the military camp were fake too?"
"Half and half!"
Wen Ruo suddenly realized that Qi Guanlan might have done it on purpose, and Gu Ying actually cooperated with him, disregarding his image. What should she say?
The lantern festival was bustling with activity. Qi Guanlan invited her to admire the lanterns, and she naturally accepted. As they walked along, she was dazzled by the sights.
"Cao Xi!"
Zhao Heng followed beside her, chatting and laughing. The key thing was the pair of mandarin duck lanterns they were holding.
Wen Ruo wondered, what happened after they left?
However, the reaction from those around her was even more intense. After listening carefully, she realized that someone had placed a bet!
Through the mask, he saw Sun Xuerong dressed in her finest attire once again. Her brows shone with light, and joy radiated from her face. She adjusted the jade belt at her waist and went to greet her.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Cao Xi said something that made Sun Xuerong's smile stiffen slightly.
Wen Ruo touched the mask on her face and didn't go over to join in the fun.
Suddenly, a fragrant aroma filled the air, and several bright figures, smiling and looking around, with the bows at their waists fluttering as if about to take flight, landed beside Sun Xuerong, addressing her as "Sister Xuerong."
"Sister Xue Rong, why did Cao Xi leave?"
"perhaps……"
Sun Xuerong's eyes darkened slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she chuckled and said, "Perhaps she thought it was too noisy. She said she had an appointment with Wen Ruo."
Wen Ruo happened to hear this, raised her eyebrows, and said, "Me?"
Sun Xuerong just blurted things out.
"It's Wen Ruo again!"
"So that's why they ignored us. Turns out they like the look of the poor."
Several sneers suddenly rang in my ears, "Pretentious arrogance! What makes her think she looks down on us?"
"What talk of seeing through the world's illusions? He's still having an affair with Zhao Heng. Prince Ye is so stubborn."
"Looking at it now, Cao Xi really does anything for fame. My brother actually fell for it. He must have lost his mind."
The last person to stand by her side, sharing her hatred of the enemy, was Sun Yueyou, who was sent back to her hometown.
Wen Ruo thought for a moment, then raised her voice, "Cao Xi treats everyone equally and teaches diligently, never discriminating between high and low status. With such a kind and beautiful heart, it's no wonder that she is admired. Your brother has good taste."
Sure enough, Sun Xuerong's fingernails, which were clenched behind her back, turned white!
Before he could finish speaking, the girl next to him turned around aggressively and demanded, "Who are you? What are you meddling for?"
"I am but a humble person who admires Miss Cao's character and cannot tolerate her being slandered."
"eventful!"
"You don't understand! Wen Ruo is perfectly fine now, while Her Highness the Princess almost drove her son out of the capital. What does that prove?"
The girl was indeed naive, and she followed suit, asking, "What does that mean?"
"It's all because the princess cherishes talent and cares about the country. In my opinion, it's only a matter of time before the two of them reconcile!"
The scornful laughter vanished in an instant, and the atmosphere became subtly tense. More and more voices began to agree with her, and the initial disdain turned into envy.
Seeing this, Qi Guanlan bowed slightly, "I almost forgot you had this skill!"
"You want to learn?"
"I want to hear it!"
"Dream on!"
"Ever since you returned to Beijing, I really thought you had handed over all your previous skills to the dean."
"It turns out that only the people have changed."
Qi Guanlan shook his head, deeply moved.
"Cao Xi has gone up to the city wall!"
Wen Ruo's gaze lingered on the distant city gate. A large crowd stood not far from the entrance, bustling about. Seeing it with her own eyes, she still found it hard to believe.
He An once said that ever since Qi Guanlan led people up there, and she went to Honghu Academy, the news spread throughout the capital that climbing the ladder was a good omen, signifying soaring to new heights in the new year.
His Majesty even opened a small section of the city wall for people to watch the lanterns, but it turned out to be full of scions of noble families who fought tooth and nail for positions. Later, a minister suggested that a few people be given special quotas to go up to the city wall, which at least made things much better on the surface.
But those who can ascend the city wall must come from extraordinary families. Daughters of noble families usually demand that even their hairpins be unique, let alone something like this; they would probably compete with each other secretly.
"Thanks to you guys, I actually had to deal with a few more people on New Year's Eve." Qi Mingshuo appeared out of nowhere behind the two of them, speaking through gritted teeth.
"Won't the one on the city wall give himself away?"
"Be indifferent at first, then smile, and nod occasionally—that's enough!"
They've really figured out a way to be lazy.
“It was that girl last year. My aunt called her alone, and somehow it got around that she was about to be betrothed to her.”
"The rumors circulated for a year without any sign of him, but then suddenly he signed a marriage certificate with a woman from a commoner family."
Qi Guanlan frowned in displeasure. "That matter is over."
After saying that, he seemed a little unsure. He turned his head to the side, his tone tentative, "Right?"
Wen Ruo was about to nod when she caught a glimpse of something to the side and immediately changed her mind, "That's not necessarily true."
Sun Xuerong smiled politely but seemed somewhat absent-minded, nodding occasionally in agreement, but her eyes remained fixed on the upstairs.
Is she really not going up?
"Sister Xue Rong, your hibiscus dress and jade hairpin today are truly unparalleled in elegance. I think you don't need to wait for any auspicious time. Cao Xi has already gone, and we can't fall behind."
Sun Xuerong frowned slightly, her gorgeous makeup unable to conceal her worry. "The princess is unwell, and I am also uneasy. I was preparing to go to Xiangguo Temple to pray for her, so I declined my father's offer."
They're not going!
The woman in the rose-red dress looked regretful for a moment, then said angrily, "I heard that the princess fell ill because of Wen Ruo. She's really done a lot of harm."
"Zhiqiu, don't say that!" Sun Xuerong tugged at her sleeve, clearly used to her bluntness, and looked like she couldn't do anything about it.
But Zhi Qiu's temper flared up, her willow-leaf eyebrows arched and then flattened, and the dark red corners of her eyes suddenly revealed her spoiled nature, "I insist on saying that Qi Guanlan has no taste at all, with such deep affection and courage from his sister!"
“Be careful what you say. I’ve given up. If she can accept me, we’ll only be like brother and sister from now on.”
"You took care of the princess, and as soon as she returned, she eloped with Qi Guanlan. How shameless!"
"I heard that the Crown Prince and Wen Ruo are very close, is that true?"
"It's full of vixens!"
"The Crown Prince has not taken any concubines for many years; could it be that he is ill?"
snort!
Qi Guanlan crossed his arms, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. Not only was he annoyed, but Wen Ruo was also somewhat irritated. "They can even make it sound so nice when they're being turned away."
Wen Ruo turned around and confirmed, "Was the last part just a joke?"
"nature!"
Qi Guanlan: "My cousin simply doesn't want to."
Qi Mingshuo nodded, then glared at the group and shouted, "Isn't that Her Highness the Princess?"
"Was it Cao Xi who was invited by the princess?"
Sun Xuerong has been very popular these past two years, so naturally many people know her. As the two were talking, many people around them unconsciously perked up their ears.
"The princess is here too. Didn't you say it wasn't ready yet? Sister Xue Rong, do you know what's going on?"
Sun Xuerong clenched her fists, barely managing a smile, "Perhaps she didn't want to disappoint us and wanted to give everyone a surprise."
Wen Ruo lowered her eyes, chuckled to herself. Holding her head too high was tiring; it was good to lower it occasionally. With the group of people around her, Cao Xi's every move was observed.
"Cao Xi seems to have gone to the princess's side!"
"Could it be that you're really not angry with Cao Xi anymore?"
"They've surely reconciled. It's all because my son is so stubborn; he insisted on marrying Wenruo no matter what."
"If Cao Xi is brought along, but Wen Ruo is not seen, there will be some laughs to hear later. Sister Xue Rong, don't be discouraged. Cao Xi will only be in the capital for a few days. The princess will definitely still like you the most."
Sun Xuerou shook her head, "The most important thing right now is for the mother and son to reconcile; I don't care about anything else."
"Sister, you are just too gentle and easy to talk to."
She was so eloquent; Wen Ruo was amazed. If she went to the academy, she would definitely be a master debater.
She got tired of listening!
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