You rascal, stop right there!

Beijing.

As soon as Ling Shumo returned to Beijing, he was placed under house arrest for ten days by the capricious Emperor Jiaxing for delaying the painting deadline and disturbing the emperor's hearing, and was then fined one year's salary.

Although Xuan Li no longer caused trouble and did not station troops on the border, he adhered to the non-aggression treaty which had not yet expired.

However, these years of great success are also filled with internal and external troubles.

His younger brother Ling Han was extremely angry: "This tyrant! It's fine if he just confined you for ten days, but now he's also fining you your salary! He didn't even think about who drew this strange painting for him and solved Xuan Li's problem!"

"Brother, isn't Prime Minister Li your and Brother Yuebai's mentor? He didn't even plead for you."

This man keeps mumbling.

Mentor?

As soon as Ling Shumo arrived in Beijing, he soon learned that it was not just His Majesty who asked him to take over the so-called "Bull Giving Birth". It was his mentor, the Prime Minister Li Simeng.

The prime minister has been very powerful for many years, and even he himself has to be careful with his words and actions.

They gave up painting and entered officialdom, and their relationship was no longer just that of a master and a disciple.

Although he was one of their followers, he never got involved in party disputes and never joined a party to do anything for them.

On paper, they are master and disciple, but in reality they rarely interact with each other.

What's more, he has been investigating the case of Xuanli's mission and the killing of the envoy in the past few months, and found that powerful officials in the court were involved.

I hope that Xuan Li’s previous incident has nothing to do with my mentor...

So Ling Shumo put down the official document in his hand and said to him: "Zi Huan, the affairs of the court are not that simple."

Ling Han felt that he had gone a little too far, but he still felt dissatisfied.

He shook his head helplessly, then stood up and stopped disturbing him from doing his business.

I just felt frustrated and had no place to vent, so I paced back and forth in the room.

While wandering around, he suddenly discovered a painting of Plum Blossoms that was hung in Ling Shumo's study and had not been completed yet.

Judging from the rough draft, it seems like he has just started drawing.

"Brother, aren't you referring to the Luomei painting? You are already so busy with official duties! And you still do something like this?" Ling Han looked at him in confusion.

Talking about this painting, Ling Shumo straightened up, and there seemed to be some spirit in his eyes.

"I heard that he passed the state government examination and will soon enter the provincial examination for the Anfusi Road. I think he needs a little spur and encouragement."

Ling Han sighed inwardly: "Brother, you have been treating Brother Yuebai the same way for more than ten years!"

He knew that his elder brother and Brother Yuebai had grown up together, and their friendship was incomparable.

What's more, it's natural for me to care so much about this friend that I have lost and found again.

only……

However, he always felt that his elder brother had become a little different after returning this time.

For example, I have to communicate with Brother Yuebai every ten days. No matter how close our relationship is, it shouldn't be so frequent.

For example, every few days, he would go buy white sugar cakes to eat at home. Brother Yuebai liked to eat them, but when I was young, I had never seen him eat them.

For example, my eldest brother always likes to draw butterflies or mandarin ducks...

All in all, it's a bit weird.

I didn't notice the change in this person's tone.

Ling Shumo just smiled slightly: "He is very good and deserves to be treated well by others."

When he said this, every word was powerful.

But in my eyes, it seems as if spring is in the air, flowers are blooming, petals are falling, and the beautiful scenery of spring is all there.

Ling Han looked at the man with such a smile on his face and couldn't help laughing: "Brother, do you know what your expression was like when you said this just now?"

"Like what?" Ling Shumo was a little curious.

Ling Han said maliciously: "If I didn't know you were talking about Brother Yuebai, I would have thought you were talking about the girl you love!"

The person on the other side was shocked: "..."

He always believed that he could control his emotions, but he didn't expect that no matter how careful he was, he would sometimes be unable to conceal his unintentional expressions.

cough……

Ling Shumo was busy holding the teacup and sipping tea, seeming embarrassed.

The people opposite looked at him and laughed.

He just felt that it was surprising that this elder brother, who was such a gentleman on weekdays, could be in such an embarrassed state.

It’s a pity that Brother Yuebai is a man, otherwise they would truly be a perfect match.

what a pity……

……

Ten days later, Bai Wan received a painting of plum blossoms sent from the capital.

It is said that Ling Shumo learned that he had passed the top three in the provincial government, and then sent him over overnight.

I originally didn't plan to be so anxious, but the post station delivered the painting at full speed.

The people in Luo Mansion Garden were looking at the dusty messenger early in the morning.

Listening to the instructions, the painters around were trembling a little. The speed was so urgent that it could be as fast as an urgent report sent over eight hundred miles away.

"Mr. Bai, the person who sent this painting wants you to open it and see it yourself."

The man's shoes were covered in dust and his forehead was stained with sweat.

Bai Wan looked at this man and recalled how Ling Shumo treated A Yan.

He patted the man on the shoulder, turned around and got him a cup of tea: "You've worked hard, have some tea and take a rest."

The messenger looked at him, with starlight and emotion in his eyes.

Bai Wan held her breath and solemnly opened the painting of plum blossoms. The plum blossoms were like a general who cut through thorns and brambles, leaning against the wind and snow, with every branch like a blade.

"This!!" Bai Wan saw that every petal on the plum blossom painting was actually drawn with finger marks.

Oh my God!

How much trouble does this take?

"Hey, Xiaobai. Brother Zichen wants to encourage you to be as proud as the plum blossoms in the snow and not afraid of wind and snow! To prepare for the provincial exam!" Luo Wenqi patted his shoulder with emotion.

That’s true, but Brother Zichen is so busy with official duties!

I actually still have time to do this kind of thing.

Is he getting bored because he has nothing to do?

"Xiao Luoluo, has he always been like this?" Bai Wan was deeply confused.

He thought, if it were him, would he use his finger prints to draw plum blossom petals to encourage others?

Unless that person is Ling Shumo!

Otherwise, I would never be able to do such a thing.

So, Bai Wan slowly stroked the scroll and pondered.

Beside him, Luo Wenqi had a smile in his eyes:

"Don't you know that when Brother Zichen took the painter exam, you, as Han Miaoran, also gave him a plum blossom painting that you drew with your own finger marks?"

Bai Wan was silent for a moment.

Yes, Han Miaoran is himself.

Even though the talents and memories are currently different, the behavioral trajectories are still very similar.

If he even thought about it for a moment, he would do the same thing.

Next to the plum blossoms in this painting is Ling Shumo's elegant and fluent cursive script: Proud of the snow and frost

It's like that person is looking at you across thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, so heartwarming.

Even though my current level is not good, one day through practice, I will become the person I was in the past.

If it was Brother Zichen, he would probably wait for me!

"My brother Zichen and I agreed to become the court painter and paint the best picture in the world!"

Wait until the day when Bai Wan truly recovers and becomes Han Miaoran.

…………