You rascal, stop right there!

The Office of the Minister of Rites.

"Sir, Anian has prepared a midnight snack. Would you like some?" A Yan asked.

Ling Shumo stroked a portrait of a person. The person’s black hair fell on his red shoulders, and his eyebrows and eyes were elegant, which made people’s heart flutter.

"Does it seem like you've been gone for a month?"

In the past, that person always came to have supper with him.

But after Han Miaoran's memory was restored, in order to take his reputation into consideration, he came to see him less frequently and would not come to disturb him in the middle of the night.

Now that I don’t come here at all, I’m really not used to it.

"My lord, it's only been seven days since Bai Shizhao left!"

A Yan had never seen an adult who couldn't even count the days, and he didn't know what he was struggling with every day.

All day long he either stared at the portrait in a daze or devoted himself to official duties, working day and night.

"is it?"

All I can say is that after the two of them started to have some physical intimacy, this kind of separation really felt like a year.

Ling Shumo suddenly looked sideways in embarrassment and closed his eyes calmly: "He made all the preparations before leaving. He is so conceited and..."

Bai Wan left behind a painting of "Star Map" and a painting of "Twenty-Six Lanes of Jiangzhou", which at first glance seem to be of no use.

However, Ling Shumo, as a close friend, saw through Bai Wan's true intention at a glance.

Half a month ago, the Sitianjian, which was responsible for observing the stars, found that a beta star had appeared. In addition, he asked Luo Wenqi to draw a story based on the Jiangzhou case.

When the Betelgeux appears, disaster will occur.

The current emperor has been bewitched by Prime Minister Li, whose power is too great, and what is most likely to be disturbed is your majesty's holy heart.

No matter what kind of emperor he is, he cannot defeat two things: one is the omen of destiny, and the other is the public outcry.

He has already reported to His Majesty in conjunction with the Imperial Astronomical Bureau that Li Xiangzhi's actions are against the will of heaven, and the Beta star has appeared, and there is a fear that disaster will come. And the people's sentiments are also spreading because of the story.

However, Emperor Jiaxing did not stop favoring Li Simeng.

However, it is obvious that the theory of the omen of Betelgeux has shaken his belief.

"In the future, if we can get evidence of his affair with Xuan Li, we can present all his crimes to you. I hope that His Majesty will be dismissed..."

There were layers of mist in Ling Shumo's eyes, and under the moonlight, he seemed to be thinking about something.

He had indeed been taught by Li Simeng, and it is said that the relationship between master and disciple was very close.

However, the rift had already begun when he was only twelve years old.

Han Miaoran was admitted to the painting academy because of his painting "Autumn Moon Over the River". He helped pack his luggage. However, he found that as soon as Han Miaoran left Li's painting studio, all the things he used disappeared. Li Simeng praised his name and said that everything was taken away.

Later, Han Miaoran became a court painter. He often ignored the advice and went out of the palace to paint, which put him under house arrest. He went to his mentor Li Simeng to plead for mercy, but was repeatedly rejected.

Afterwards, Ling Shumo discovered that Han Miaoran was missing, but Li Simeng never went to help look for her again, as if this disciple had never existed.

Needless to say, after he entered the court as an official, the interactions between the two became more official and restrained.

The master and the disciple were not on good terms, their political views differed, and their opinions were diametrically opposed.

These forced him to prefer being a loyal minister rather than joining the prime minister's faction of his mentor Li Simeng.

"Sir, the midnight snack is getting cold..." A Yan reminded.

Ling Shumo finally came back to his senses and nodded slightly at the bowl of tofu pudding and shredded chicken noodles. It seemed as if there was another figure beside him, looming.

"From now on, prepare an extra set of bowls and chopsticks for supper every day." He lightly touched the rim of the bowl with his fingertips.

"Sir, but Bai Shizhao won't come now!"

Ling Shumo's mouth curled up slightly, and he fiddled with the dishes with his fingertips: "What if he suddenly comes back?"

I thought to myself: I don’t know what Abai is doing at this moment.

At this moment, the person he was talking about was tossing and turning in the Li Mansion in Jiangzhou, flipping over and over as if possessed by the pages of a book.

Most white peas have trouble falling asleep if they don’t have a midnight snack.

Besides, he didn't want to paint Li Xiang's parents' faces or garden scenery.

As soon as I closed my eyes, I could see the twenty-six dead souls of the refugees whispering in my ears.

Countless people, some angry, some laughing, seemed to have shrouded his mind in a thick fog, layer upon layer, from which he could not escape.

He opened the door out of boredom, only to find that the guards outside seemed to be more than just his two sword-bearing guards.

He quickly asked the two guarding the door: "What's going on with these people?"

Ah Yi held onto Bai Wan, dodged over, and lowered his voice: "The twenty or so Li family soldiers outside are probably here to monitor us."

Surveillance?

How can I…

Bai Wan sighed and smiled bitterly.

He only saw the masked man Li Li, holding a folding fan, walking towards him from the corridor in the middle of the night. His smile was gentle, but it made people feel cold to the bone.

"After all, Bai Shizhao is from the capital and is also your Majesty's painter. I am doing this to protect your safety." Li Li said sincerely.

Bai Wan gnashed his teeth and said, "I am as strong as an ox. I can beat eight or nine strong men to death. I don't need these guards to protect me."

There are three layers of walls here, clearly trapping him.

Li Li glared at the man, looking a little unhappy: "That won't do. As the housekeeper of the Li Mansion, I have to take good care of all the guests. If you lose your limbs, become blind or lame, it will be difficult to explain to the Daying Art Academy. And..."

This person talked for a long time and was really long-winded.

Bai Wan couldn't help herself: "I heard that the Li Mansion has famous calligraphy and paintings. If Steward Li really wants to take good care of us, why don't you find all of Li Mansion's "Er Xi Bao Tie", "Zixu Tie" and "Dan Mo Qiu Shan Hui" and show them to me..."

Since the hole has been dug, you should dig it carefully yourself.

Li Li on the opposite side did not expect this person to say that, and he was somewhat displeased by the intimidating look in his eyes: "Go, find them in the library and give them to Bai Shizhao."

The two guards beside him responded with confusion and anger, and glared at Bai Wan together when they left.

The instigator nodded in satisfaction and whispered to the two remaining guards: "If they dare to hurt anyone, don't hesitate to beat them to death!"

Then, as usual, "If you help me get through this, I will introduce you to a beautiful wife and a reliable bank."

The sound was neither loud nor soft, but Li Li on the opposite side could hear it clearly.

The man swept his icy gaze towards Bai Wan, filled with such murderous intent that he made Bai Wan shiver.

"Li didn't know that Bai Shizhao had such malicious intentions. Does this mean that he doesn't trust the Li family? How could we embarrass a painter?"

Bai Wan glanced at the man's mask and chuckled quietly: "Indeed, I am poor and cannot afford to cause you any trouble."

It's not that he didn't know this person.

I just feel that there is no need to cause trouble for irrelevant people, and I don't want to have any grudges with Li Simeng's son.