Chapter 94 Brother Jinglan
In the study, the secret guard quickly presented the layout of Qimei Garden and the list of servants to Xie Jinglan.
He and Wen Ning unfolded the blueprint together and found that the garden was even more spacious than expected.
Next to the old residence of the Taifu at the foot of the mountain, there is a blue-gray tiled academy, which was where the Taifu of the previous dynasty taught his students.
After the fifth princess took over, she did not change the layout. She just cleaned up these places and used them as guest rooms, connecting them to the old courtyard. This actually had dozens more residences than an ordinary garden.
The slender fingers flipped through the list and saw the name "Yin'er".
Jiaziyuan, serving as a maid.
Xie Jinglan pondered.
Guests can stay overnight at Qimei Garden. They can see the red plum blossoms halfway up the mountain by opening the window. When the snow falls, the fragrance of plum blossoms mixed with the cool air drifts into the window lattice. Such scenery is hard to find anywhere else in Beijing.
He thought most of the guests would stay, so he took the opportunity to stay overnight, blending in with the crowd and not attracting attention.
"I'll take two clever maids with me," the man tapped the roster on the table with his fingertips. "If I personally ask a servant to find out about a maid, it would be too conspicuous."
As soon as the words fell, Wen Ning reached out and gently held the booklet in her palm, "My Lord, can you take me there?"
There was earnestness mixed with a hint of anxiety in her eyes. "Master has been waiting for twenty years, and he must be hoping to find Sister Yin'er as soon as possible. I will accompany the Marquis and will not cause any trouble."
Xie Jinglan reached out and pulled her over, letting her sit on his lap, and gently scratched the tip of her nose with his fingertips.
The expectation in her eyes was like crushed starlight, so bright that it made people unable to refuse.
He pondered for a moment, then curled his lips and said, "Great, it's really great to have Ning'er accompany me to appreciate the plum blossoms."
Although he didn't want her to be exposed to the complicated temperaments among the powerful too early, he changed his mind and thought that she would be by his side all the time in the future and would not be able to avoid it after all.
This way she could fulfill her wish to share her master's worries, and he could go with her under the pretext of appreciating the plum blossoms, which was actually better than her original plan.
On the day of plum blossom viewing, Wen Ning dressed up as a little maid in a green cloth skirt, and she and Yunxiu served on either side.
As soon as he entered the garden gate, a butler eunuch in an indigo round-necked robe came forward with a smile. "Ah, my Lord, you're finally here. The Fifth Princess specifically requested that you be given the upper room in the west warm pavilion." He bowed and took a half step closer, lowering his shrill voice. "It's a wing room in the same courtyard as the princess. It's the best place to enjoy the plum blossoms."
Xie Jinglan coughed lightly in his throat and turned sideways calmly.
I saw that the person behind me still had his eyes downcast, showing no emotion at all.
He withdrew his gaze and said in a cold and indifferent voice, "Thank you for your kindness, Fifth Princess. This is against the rules. I will just stay in Courtyard A."
The eunuch was startled when he heard this and wanted to persuade him again, "This... This Jiazi Courtyard is remote, the princess specifically instructed..."
Xie Jinglan raised his eyebrows slightly, twisting his fingertips fiercely on the white jade ring, "Eunuch, do you want me to personally decline the princess's kindness?"
The eunuch's heart trembled, and he waved his hands hurriedly, "Oh, my Lord, you are joking. I will go and order someone to clean up Jiazi Courtyard right away."
As he said this, he hurriedly took two steps back to make way. When his eyes inadvertently swept across the maid behind the Marquis, he was suddenly stunned.
The little maidservant stood with her head lowered, her snow-white neck exposed from the green cloth collar, shining brightly in the warm winter sun.
The eunuch's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he was secretly surprised. This girl's overall demeanor and appearance were even more noble than many masters in the palace.
…
Wen Ning and Yun Xiu were packing their luggage in the side room. Outside the window, they could hear the soft sound of Xie Jinglan's boots rolling over the snow.
He looked around at the servants in the yard, and walked around the half-dead plum tree while thinking.
What you fear will come true.
There was a commotion outside the courtyard, and the fifth princess came riding on a sedan chair, surrounded by more than twenty palace maids.
Some held green silk umbrellas, some held gilded heaters, some embraced white fox fur coats... as she followed them, they poured into the courtyard like a tide.
Xie Jinglan was standing under the plum tree with his hands behind his back, and his brows furrowed when he saw this.
The tranquility of the garden was instantly destroyed by this extravagant scene.
The Fifth Princess, with her hair full of pearls and jade, looked at Xie Jinglan in front of her and felt her breathing slow down for a beat.
Those phoenix eyes were narrow and long, covered with long eyelashes like crow feathers. When he raised his eyes, his eyes were indifferent and cold. However, his nose was high and his lips were clearly defined, which made him look even more handsome.
He stood tall and graceful under the plum tree, a corner of his dark cloak lifted by the wind, and his whole body seemed to be shrouded in a layer of alienation, keeping strangers away. But it was this aloof demeanor that made her unable to take her eyes away.
She clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her heart beating uncontrollably. "Brother Jinglan really knows how to choose a place. This Jiazi Courtyard looks plain, but it hides a beautiful view."
The Fifth Princess has always called him that. Although he is aloof by nature, he doesn't want to care too much about this title and can only let it go.
Seeing her come in, Xie Jinglan reluctantly raised his hand to untie the cloak tie around his neck.
Qingfeng immediately understood and hurried forward to take it and put it in his arms.
Xie Jinglan bowed slightly as his robe sleeves swayed, the tassels of the jade crown beside his temples swaying slightly, "Greetings, Fifth Princess."
The fifth princess walked forward, lifting her skirt, almost reaching his shoulder. "Brother Jinglan, the plum forest is most beautiful at night after the snow. How about we enjoy the night plum blossoms together after dinner?"
Xie Jinglan frowned slightly and inadvertently took two steps back, just enough to put half an arm's length away from her. "Princess, you're joking. It's against the rules for men and women to travel together. Besides...it's late at night and the dew is heavy. I'm afraid it might hurt your body."
The fifth princess was rejected repeatedly. First, she was asked to live in the same courtyard with him, and then she was asked to appreciate the winter plum blossoms at night. The excitement in her heart seemed to be poured with two buckets of cold water.
But Brother Jinglan's words "I'm afraid it might hurt your body" made her feel uneasy.
Her face blossomed with a smile like a spring flower in March: "Since Brother Jinglan is so considerate, it would be wonderful to enjoy it together tomorrow when the weather is nice and the wind is blowing."
Having said that, Xie Jinglan couldn't refute it anymore and just nodded slightly in agreement.
Seeing that he did not refuse again, the Fifth Princess felt much more cheerful. After chatting for a few more minutes, she left Jiaziyuan with her followers.
The moment the courtyard gate closed, Xie Jinglan almost turned around and walked into the house. Wen Ning, who was standing beside the door, had just gotten up from the ground.
Yunxiu, who was standing aside, watched his nose and thought about his heart, then quietly retreated, closing the carved door.
“Puff——”
Wen Ning couldn't suppress her smile for a moment, and the stiffness she had shown when she was pretending to be a maid just now disappeared.
I was worried that she would overthink it, but unexpectedly she laughed out loud.
The man reached out and pulled her in front of him, pinching her chin with his fingertips and lifting her up, his tone was a little inquiring, "Why are you laughing, Ning'er?"
Wen Ning looked up at him, a smile curling her eyes as she called softly, "Brother Jinglan..."
When these four words fell into my ears, it was like a feather gently scratching my heart.
Xie Jinglan's eyes suddenly darkened, and his throat rolled unconsciously.
He had never thought that his name, spoken from anyone's mouth, could be so captivating.
He applied a little force with his fingertips and pulled her closer to him. The tip of his nose touched her forehead and said, "Scream again."
Wen Ning's heart skipped a beat when she saw the emotions surging in his eyes. She froze her smile a little and didn't dare to joke anymore. "My Lord, My Lord..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
