Chapter 160 Painting of Bamboos in Waterside Pavilion

Yun Jinyan glanced at Minglan and took the invitation list. "Please help me check if the order is correct. I am familiar with the new ministers that His Majesty brought from Yuzhou, so I am not worried about making mistakes. However, I do not know any of the old ministers in the capital, so I can only rank them according to their official positions. However, I am afraid that some of the officials will have conflicts with each other, and if I rank them together, that would not be good."

Minglan looked at the list and was secretly surprised. Gu Tingye had invited all the officials in Bianjing City. It seemed that this was also an opportunity for the new emperor to test the attitudes of the ministers. It would depend on which officials were willing to show favor to Gu Tingye, and those who were interested in following the new emperor.

Minglan had been with the Empress Dowager for some time and had a general understanding of these ministers. Together with Yun Jinyan, she pointed out several inappropriate positions. Molan also pointed out the inappropriateness of several adults through the interactions between the girls from various families.

"I know about these overt disagreements, but I don't know much about what goes on in private. However, it doesn't matter. Since these adults are willing to come, they are willing to give face to Second Brother Gu and will not cause unpleasantness because of the position. But, you know the dietary taboos of the adults and their families. Sister Wu brought a list, which was compiled by my eldest lady."

Rulan handed the list to Yun Jinyan, who took it and said with a smile, "Thanks to you all for thinking about me. The young master also brought a list when he came. It was given to him by the princess. I think the two lists just make up the difference. I'll go and tell someone to arrange it!"

Yun Jinyan made the arrangements in a hurry, and did not forget to turn around and say to Minglan, "The young master is in the backyard!"

Minglan was moved when she heard this, and wanted to go to the backyard to see Qi Heng. Rulan and Molan saw what she was thinking and pushed Minglan out. "Sixth sister, go to the backyard and see if Brother Yuanruo needs any help. We are here, so you can go without worry!"

Minglan was not shy and called a maid to lead the way to the backyard.

There were several pavilions and waterside pavilions in the backyard of the Gu Mansion. Gu Tingye asked Qi Heng to help decorate them more elegantly, which would also be convenient for the adults and family members to enjoy.

The maid took Minglan to the backyard and went to work. Minglan looked around and didn't see anyone, so she walked in along the bluestone road. The garden of the Gu Mansion was very large and the scenery was nice. Minglan walked around and didn't see anyone. She thought they all went to the front yard to work. But where is Qi Heng?

Unable to find Qi Heng in the garden, Minglan couldn't help feeling a little disappointed and depressed, as if even her steps were a little heavier. Just when Minglan was feeling a little disappointed, her eyes were attracted by a scene in front of her - it was a water pavilion covered with soft curtains, like a shy girl, half-hidden between the green and the blue waves.

When the breeze blew, those delicate curtains danced with the wind, they gently touched the water surface, stirring up circles of delicate ripples, as if they were the most delicate brushstrokes of nature, outlining a touch of lively vitality on this peaceful painting. The sunlight shines through the gaps in the curtain, casting mottled shadows, which complement the shimmering waves on the water, making it quite artistic.

In the waterside pavilion, there is also an ancient desk, which seems to be covered with a piece of drawing paper, and there are also a few bamboos on the table, which blends in with the surrounding scenery, giving it a sense of being out of the dust. Minglan involuntarily slowed down her pace and approached the waterside pavilion step by step. As she got closer, the fresh breath of water entered Minglan's nose, and Minglan was intoxicated. The wind blew up the curtain and passed through Minglan's palm, and Minglan's heart began to ripple. Minglan couldn't wait any longer, and walked quickly into the waterside pavilion. She was immediately attracted by a picture of bamboo in ink on the desk, and walked forward to observe it carefully.

Suddenly, Minglan felt a breath approaching quietly from behind. She was about to turn around to check, but her feet slipped slightly and she lost her balance. At this moment, an arm behind her quickly wrapped around her waist and pulled her steadily into a warm embrace. All around, soft curtains swayed gently, gently surrounding the couple, isolating them from the noise and disturbance of the outside world.

Their breathing became unusually clear at this moment, intertwined together, like the mist entangled in the morning light, with a bit of shyness and sweetness, rising slowly and merging slowly. The water vapor in the air combined with the fragrance of bamboo and ink makes people feel as if they are in a world full of poetry and dreams, which is intoxicating.

In this small space, time seemed to freeze, leaving only two hearts slowly approaching in silence, the warmth of each other transmitted through the clothes, warm and real.

Minglan lowered her head, her eyelashes trembled, her hands curled up unconsciously, shyly dared not touch Qi Heng, her throat rolled unconsciously, her eyes flickered, and she was a little at a loss. He quickly let go of the arm that was originally supporting Minglan, with a bit of panic and caution in his movements, fearing that his actions would deepen her shyness and uneasiness.

"Why are you behind me?" Minglan adjusted her rapid breathing and found a topic in a soft voice.

"I saw you as soon as you entered the garden. I walked behind you to tease you, but I didn't want to scare you, and I almost made you fall." Qi Heng was a little annoyed.

Minglan recalled what happened just now, and her mouth was dry. She swallowed her saliva, saw the ink bamboo painting on the desk, and changed the subject, "Did you draw this?"

Qi Heng moved his eyes down and also looked at the ink bamboo painting, "Well, when I saw the bamboo forest in the garden, I thought of the bamboo in Sheng Mansion. I broke off a few sections and put them in a vase. I really liked it, so I drew it."

Qi Heng said, and his eyes moved to Minglan again, staring at Minglan's red lips, thinking of Minglan standing in front of the green bamboo in a green dress, the wind gently blowing up her skirt, and she looked back at him.

Minglan stared at the ink bamboo painting with joy and said, "I like bamboo and this ink bamboo painting."

Qi Heng looked at Minglan's smiling face and said, "I know!"

The three gentle words were like a feather scratching Minglan's heart, making Minglan's heart itch and her ears red. She subconsciously looked at Qi Heng and bumped into Qi Heng's gentle eyes. Minglan's heartbeat accelerated again.

"Ahem..."

A deliberate cough came, and the two came back to their senses. Not far away, Molan covered the smile at the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.

"I don't want to disturb you either. It's really a guest. I'll just say it

once." Molan couldn't help laughing and almost overflowed from her lips. She was afraid that the two would be embarrassed, so she turned around and left as soon as she finished speaking.

"Then let's go to the front hall." Qi Heng said to Minglan, and then looked around, "The backyard is decorated like this, it should be fine."