Gu Lan’s serene expression slightly stiffened as she looked around.
Because she was ill, her vigilance had diminished, and she hadn’t noticed there were other people around.
Then, she saw Xie Yun, whom she had t briefly last night, leaning against the ancient tree in the neighboring courtyard, with its branches blown thin by the rain, leaving only a few leaves.
It seed to be a magnolia tree, except its flowers had wilted and scattered, and the air carried a faint fragrance of magnolia.
Xie Yun looked at Gu Lan, his eyes gentle and lips curled into a slight curve: "Nice to et you again, Lan."
Gu Lan looked at Xie Yun in bewildernt, perhaps understanding why Rong Heng always looked at her as if she were a fool.
— Climbing trees and scaling walls really does make one look silly.
Even if Xie Yun had an unparalleled handso face, she still thought he looked a bit foolish.
Seeming to sense the disdain in Gu Lan’s eyes, Xie Yun explained, "I didn’t co here on purpose. I live next door now."
Gu Lan furrowed her brows and said, "Even if you move in with Gu Changting, you’re not allowed to influence him; he’s the eldest of our Gu Family."
She felt sothing was off about this man spending every day with Gu Changting.
Xie Yun: ...
Why do all the Gu Family mbers keep thinking that way about him?
"Young Master misunderstood. I’m not living with Changting; this place is originally the ancestral ho of the Xie Family. The flood washed away my ho, so I temporarily moved here, while Changting actually lives a bit further."
Xie Yun paused and explained quite seriously.
Gu Lan gazed into the distance, finally seeing that there was indeed another wall, and felt relieved.
It’s good Xie Yun doesn’t fancy Gu Changting, or else Mrs. Wang might break down and be unable to make her those small snacks.
Besides, this man is handso, and she’s worried Gu Changting might not be able to resist.
She lowered her head, sorting the remaining candies by flavor and placing them into their respective jars, ignoring Xie Yun.
No matter if Xie Yun was the first young master or the future pri minister, soone who could make it to the end wouldn’t simply be a gentle gentleman, she felt dizzy today and wasn’t in the mood to deal with him.
After a while, Gu Lan began practicing martial arts and stance training.
A few days ago, she requested the Gu Family’s heirloom secret martial arts manual, which was straightforwardly nad Spear Technique of the Gu Family, from the Old Madam Gu.
After flipping through the manual several tis, Gu Lan had already morized the spear technique moves.
However, her favorite part was the Qinggong within the Gu Family Spear; she felt that once she trained well, she would be able to run as quickly as Yuan, who chased her last ti.
Gu Lan was indifferent to those around her while practicing, and Xie Yun continued to lean on the tree branch, watching her train until she was drenched in sweat, his expression from calm turning to surprise, and finally admiration.
A hint of heartache flashed in his eyes as he silently watched.
At that mont, Gu Lan picked up a wooden spear and perford the initial move of the Gu Family Spear—fast as the wind.
The spear swept horizontally, like wind weaving through;
Dark hair like clouds, gaze unrestrained.
Xie Yun gazed intently at the youth in white in the courtyard, spear blazing.
From Gu Lan’s figure, he saw a familiar sharp silhouette, the two rging together.
Both full of youthful vigor, with eyes bright as stars, seemingly overlooking the world’s heroes.
Xie Yun quickly regained his composure, clasped his hands: "Apologies, please forgive Jingqi for glimpsing the Marquis Mansion Spear Technique, Jingqi shall leave at once."
With that, he imdiately leaped down from the tree in a few swift moves.
Gu Lan didn’t mind. She practiced the spear at her own will, occasionally mixing in the killing skills from the past organization, which Xie Yun might not completely understand. Even if he did see and rember, the initial move of the spear wasn’t so wondrous secret manual.
Separated by a wall, Xie Yun looked up at the vast, azure sky.
His lips slightly pursed, his clear eyes reflecting the color of the sky, conveying warmth and a sorrowful reminiscence.
If Sister Luan saw how diligently little Lan worked like this, he wondered what she would think.
Xie Yun took a deep breath, resolute determination flashing in his eyes, then turned back to the house, picked up a pen, and started drafting a morial.
He didn’t know how she would feel, but he wouldn’t forget what he’d promised—to protect little Gu Lan and let her grow up safely and happily.
His word was his bond.
Gu Lan hadn’t even completed half the spear routine when Zijin grabbed her for a rest.
Zijin said angrily: "Young Master finally got so ti off, was feverish last night, why are you still practicing so hard today?"
Gu Lan: "To exercise, of course."
Zijin helplessly stuffed her mouth with a piece of pastry: "This is Mrs. Wang’s newly developed chestnut cake."
"It tastes quite good." Gu Lan nodded in praise, "I’ll take a piece for Brother Hang when I return to the palace."
Zijin whispered: "Young Master, you keep ntioning Brother Hang every day, have you really taken yourself for a man?"
Gu Lan lifted Zijin’s chin, approached her red lips, and whispered, "Zijin, I’m upset if I don’t want to be a man, and you’re upset if I do. Do you want to show you what a real man is?"
Zijin:... She still lost to Shaless.
"Young, Young Master... Sister Zijin, what are you doing?" You’er walked over with a cup of tea, witnessing the scene, almost dropping the tea, eyes wide open.
Zijin blushed and said nothing, feeling ashad to explain.
Gu Lan casually withdrew her hand, unfazed, shifted the topic earnestly: "By the way You’er, isn’t Second Uncle living next door? How co I saw Xie Yun?"
Zijin curiously said: "Young Master Xie lives at Second Young Master’s house?"
"Xie... Young Master Xie and Young Master Changting live together!?" You’er repeated in shock, with a sowhat low voice.
Zipei, who had just co over, repeated fearfully: "Xie Yun and Young Master Changting slept together!?"
Gu Lan: Now she finally understood how rumors spread.
After Gu Lan’s explanation, everyone realized that a new neighbor had moved next to the Marquis Mansion, Xie Yun.
Zijin recalled and then said: "I rember, indeed, there are two families next door to the Marquis Mansion, one is Second Young Master’s family, the other has been vacant for years. If it’s the Xie Family, it’s possible."
Ever since she could rember, she knew Second Young Master Gu’s family lived next door, aware there was also an unused courtyard.
Gu Lan pressed her brow and asked: "What’s Xie Yun’s background?"
In the book Xie Yun had a bunch of fangirls, and when she inadvertently clicked open the comnt section while reading, she saw comnts praising him as the friend of won, the light of Dayan n, creating quite a buzz.
Unfortunately, Xie Yun appeared in the latter half of the original book, which she automatically skipped.
Zijin teased: "Xie Yun is our Dayan’s first young master, yet Young Master doesn’t know him?"
She thought the madam previously worried about things like her daughter naive and lovestruck getting deceived, impulsively deciding lifelong companionship with so scoundrel, were overthinking.
Young Master’s favorite pastis now seem to be dressing as a man and teasing young ladies.
What a ridiculous thought.
Gu Lan earnestly: "I’m a man, why should I know about the first young master."
Zipei chid in: "But I’m also a man, and I know about him!"
Gu Lan: "You can choose not to be a man; do you want to help you?"
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