Zihe hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said: "Miss Ye, why don't I help you send it over?"

  This girl is quite good. Ye Zhuo glanced at her and shook his head, saying: "No need, Grandmother has instructed that it must be personally delivered to Master Du's hands." He signaled to Qiuyue to follow him, and they walked out of the door slowly.

  Zi He hesitated for a moment and didn't follow, but instead called out to Ye Zhuo's back: "Miss Ye, I'll take care of the house here, you can find a place with Qiu Yue, right?"

  Taking advantage of her good intention to help send some pastries, even if she wanted to follow, Ye Zhuo would let her stay behind. So after hearing this, she didn't mind and replied: "If you can find it, if not, just ask someone when you see them. You stay home, we'll go and come back."

  "Yes, Miss Ye, take your time." Zihua sighed and turned to see the package that Qiuyue had placed on the bedside table. She shook her head. Judging from Miss Ye's style of doing things, this bed might not even have a chance to get warm before she would be driven out again. However, as just a small maid who was no longer favored by Lady Nie, there were some things that she really couldn't say.

  Qiu Yue followed Ye Zhuo out of the door and walked on the small path between the flowers and trees. Seeing that there was no one around, she quickly took a step forward and asked in a low voice: "Miss, when did Old Lady let someone take some pastries to give to Master Du? Why didn't I hear about it?"

  "Autumn Moon." Ye Zhuo stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at Autumn Moon, "Do you believe your family's daughter?"

  "Believe, of course I believe." Qiu Yue nodded vigorously. For the past half year, everything Ye Zhuo had done made her admire him from the bottom of her heart, this admiration having nothing to do with his background or status, but rather because of Ye Zhuo's cleverness and diligence.

  "Trust me. Just listen to me and do what I tell you to do, don't ask anything." Ye Zhuo's eyes were confident and firm.

  "Yes." Qiūyuè replied with a smile on her face. She was originally worried that Yè Zhēn would be intimidated by the power and wealth of Niè Fǔ and lose his composure, making mistakes in words and deeds. Now that she knew he had an ulterior motive for doing so, she naturally put her mind at ease.

  The two servants left the courtyard and headed towards the second gate. The woman on duty at the second gate had received instructions from Zhen Shi when she was summoned to see Ye Zhuo. Now, seeing Ye Zhuo leave, she didn't stop her, but just smiled and greeted her before letting her pass.

  Out of the second gate, I saw a large courtyard not far away with the words "Pu Institute" written on it; walking further east, I saw a pond. The south bank of the pond was full of bamboo, and from the bamboo forest, a flying eave protruded. Walking over to take a look, there was a plaque hanging on the gate wall with the words "Bamboo Institute" written on it.

  Standing in front of the courtyard gate, all I could hear was the chirping of birds not far away and the gentle gurgling of the stream. All I saw were the lush green bamboo leaves and the tender green grass beside the winding path, and all I breathed in was freshness. Seeing this serene and elegant environment, even Ye Zhuo, who had few material desires since his rebirth, couldn't help but like the place at first sight.

  Autumn moon knocks on the door.

  However, there was no movement inside for a long time. When Autumn Moon couldn't bear it anymore and wanted to go forward and knock on the door again, there was a series of footsteps coming from outside to near, followed by someone asking, "Who?"

  "I am a maid of Ye Gongzhu from Nanshan Town. My mistress has come to pay her respects." said Qiuyue.

  "Miss Ye?" A low murmur came from inside the door, which then creaked open a crack. A face with a thick beard appeared. The man took a glance at Ye Zhuo, then swung the door wide open and smiled: "So it's Miss Ye! What brings you to Nie Manor? Come on in, please."

  Ye Zhuo saw that this person seemed to be very familiar with her, but she had no impression of him at all. Although she was puzzled in her heart, she didn't show it and only smiled: "Young Master Du has helped my family a lot, so when he came to Nie's house this time, my grandmother asked me to bring some pastries for Young Master Du to try. I wonder if Young Master Du is at home?"

  "That's right." The man stepped aside and made a "please" gesture, saying, "My name is Du Wang, I'm the servant of my family's young master."

  Even Autumn Moon couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. What's meant by "being a subordinate of the young master of my family"? Why does this sound so awkward?

  Ye Chou walked in, looked up and found that the yard was indeed very large. In front of her was a large pond with green waves like a small lake. The shore of the pond was lined with green willows, and there was also a waterside pavilion built on the water. It seemed that in another two months, many lotus leaves would grow out of the pond, and in summer, it would be full of blooming lotus flowers. Sitting in the waterside pavilion to enjoy the lotus flowers would be the best. The extension of the waterfront was a small stone mountain peak rising from the ground, with a large area of peach trees planted on the slope, and some plum trees interspersed among them. As it was spring, the mountain was full of blooming peach blossoms and plum blossoms at this time. Looking far away, a piece of pink and white, like the clouds and mist at the horizon, seemed to be a fairyland, making people feel relaxed and happy, reluctant to leave their gaze.

  "Miss Ye, this way please." Du Wang led Ye Zhuo and Qiu Yue along a small stone path.

  Passing by the lotus pond, she walked straight towards the foot of the mountain. The peach and plum forest was getting closer and closer, and with a glance, she could see the vibrant pink and white petals in full bloom. As the wind blew, the peach blossoms and plum blossoms would occasionally fall, drifting to the ground. This breathtaking sight made Ye Zhuo unable to help but stop in her tracks, stretch out her hand to catch a floating peach blossom, bring it to her nose for a sniff, and then lift her head again to take a deep breath, feeling that the air was filled with fragrance.

  When I have money, I will also set up a peach forest like this.

  Ye Chou-ju thought.

  "Miss Ye, it's just ahead." Du Wang reminded her as he saw Ye Zhuo standing there motionless for a long time.

  "Oh, okay." Only then did Ye Zhuo take a step forward.

  As I walked a little further forward, I saw that on the mountain slope with peach blossoms everywhere, a small pavilion was built. A tall man wearing a sky-blue shirt was sitting there with his back to me, doing something unknown. As I stepped up along the stone slab steps, I got closer and found out it was actually Du Haoran. At this moment, he held a book in his left hand and stretched out his right hand to lift the teapot on the small stove beside him, pouring water into a purple sand pot on the desk. The elegant movement of sky blue, combined with the peach blossoms everywhere, plus the misty air coming from the teapot, was like a beautiful ink painting by a master, which shocked my soul.

  Ye Zhuo stood on the steps in front of the pavilion, lost in thought for a moment.

  "Master, Ye Xiaojie has arrived." Du Wang's voice broke the tranquility of this scene.

  Du Haoran turned his head and saw that below the steps, a woman in a light green silk embroidered flower dress was standing quietly on the steps covered with peach blossom petals, gazing at him. He seemed not to be surprised by Ye Zhuo's arrival, only slightly nodding his head and saying softly, "You're here? Come up and sit." After finishing speaking, he took out a teacup and placed it in front of him, then picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea. He made a gesture to Ye Zhuo who was walking slowly into the pavilion, "Please."

  Ye Zhuo didn't decline either and walked over to sit down opposite Du Haoran.

  Qiu Yue saw this and hastily opened the pastry box in her hand and placed it on the case table, then stepped back to one side.

  Ye Zhuo didn't say a word, picked up the teacup and took a light sip, then nodded: "Mingqian Longjing, indeed good tea." The Nie family gave Du Haoran such a good courtyard to live in, it's not surprising that he has this kind of famous and expensive good tea to drink.

  Du Haoran picked up his teacup and took a sip, smiling: "Miss Ye is a connoisseur of tea. I still remember her brilliant remarks at Guangneng Temple."

  Ye Zhuo smiled slightly and didn't continue the conversation, his gaze falling on the chessboard on the desk.

  Du Haoran followed her gaze to the chessboard and put down the chess manual in his left hand, saying: "Shall we have a game?"

  "Good." Ye Zhuo replied softly.

  Du Haoran put down his teacup and began to tidy up the chess pieces on the board, then asked without lifting his head: "Miss Ye is not willing to be a pawn on this chessboard, so why did she come to Nie Manor?"

  Ye Zhen didn't find it strange that Du Haoran could see through her situation and thoughts. Nie Bowen, being in the midst of it all, thought that the Nie family was powerful and prestigious in this region, and someone like Ye Zhen would be honored to join them, even if she had some initial hesitation, thinking she was just afraid of offending Gu Chen, not unwilling to be a pawn for the Nie family. Only Du Haoran, with his ordinary citizen status, could make Nie Zhongkun helpless, except for trying to buy him off or win him over, there was no other way, which showed that he had an extremely clear mind, even transcending the five elements, standing at an extremely detached angle to observe the multitude. It wasn't strange that he could see through her thoughts either.

  For someone like him, if you want to make use of him, there is no other way but to openly and honestly acknowledge him in order to gain his recognition and cooperation.

  So she picked up the chess piece with her hand, and said very calmly: "As a small ant, can you not be a pawn if you don't want to? If you have to be a pawn, and you can't be the one controlling the board, then all you can do is take it one step at a time, think of ways to preserve yourself."

  Du Haoran obviously didn't expect Ye Zhuo to be so straightforward, directly admitting that he was unwilling to come to the Nie residence and become a pawn of the Nie family. He raised an eyebrow: "You know my relationship with the Nie family is not ordinary, yet you still dare to speak to me like this, aren't you afraid I'll tell Nie Bowen?"

  Ye Zhuo sighed, his hands still moving slowly and steadily as he picked up the chess pieces: "That can only be blamed on me for not knowing people clearly, my fate is already sealed. But it's also good, I can just reincarnate again, and in the next life, become someone who can control others' fates."

  Du Haoran quietly looked at Ye Zhuo for a while, then burst out laughing. He cleaned up the chess pieces on the board, grabbed a few white chess pieces in his hand and stretched them out in front of Ye Zhuo: "Guess first."

  Ye Zhen picked up a black piece and placed it on the chessboard.

  Du Haoran opened his palm, and on that long and powerful palm lay three chess pieces: "You win."

  Ye Zhuo reached out and took over the black chess box, picked up a piece and put it on the chessboard.

  Du Haoran stopped talking and picked up his chess piece, starting to make moves as well.

  At this time, the pavilion was quiet except for the slight sound of falling leaves, and only a few bird calls and the sound of wind blowing through the trees could be heard from somewhere.

  Suddenly, a woman's voice came from the foot of the mountain, breaking the tranquility: "Du Wang, how dare you block me? Don't deceive me. What about Brother Du wanting to read and not letting people disturb him? And what about the woman who just went in? Are they doing something shameful that can't be seen?"

  Thank you Flower Wing Rong for the pink vote, muah! (If you like this work, welcome to cast a recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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