diskusbooks Chapter 162 Small talk
Chapter 162 Small talk
This must have been decided a long time ago, but I just haven't told her yet.
She even told Xue Yunting, "Luo An cares about me." Cares about me my ass!
Nianyao grew angrier as she spoke: "You think you can just save him like that? Now that everything's out in the open, how are you going to save him? You might as well just say you're going to your death. An Liangchen is truly ruthless; he not only sends his own brother to his death, but he also sends you to your death."
Luo Andao said, "...Jing Chen practically grew up in a high-class entertainment venue..."
Nianyao said, "So what? Their own parents and siblings aren't worried, why are you?"
Luo An asked, "What about Xue Yunting? Isn't he the same?"
Nianyao said, "What does this have to do with Yun Ting? Why are you bringing him into this?"
Luo An stood up: "Only officials are allowed to set fires, while common people are forbidden to light lamps. Xue Yunting also has parents and siblings, yet he still uses you to sow discord, and you still speak up for him."
Nianyao, you haven't met Jingchen, you don't know what he's like. I can't speak for others, but he's at least better than Xue Yunting. I'll bring him back and take him to Chongming Island to see you. He's very, very good; you'll definitely like him.”
Nianyao's voice choked with sobs: "There's no room for discussion. If you go to the Northern Desert, we'll get a divorce. Don't go to Chongming Island again; you're not welcome there."
Luo An walked towards her: "Nian Yao..."
Nianyao took a step back, turned, and ran away. Luo An reached out and only felt the cold wind rustling through her clothes.
Gu Yu brushed past Nian Yao and, seeing the tears on her face, exclaimed in surprise, "Madam?"
Nianyao ignored him and ran off. Gu Yu glanced at Nianyao's retreating figure, then turned back to Luo An and tentatively asked, "Young Master?"
Luo An stopped: "Is something the matter?"
Gu Yu said, "The Crown Prince has invited you, saying it is related to Prince Jingchen."
When Jingchen went to the northern desert, he was accompanied by six shadow guards. Xiaoxue and Daxue, with their last breaths, delivered the secret report that the northern desert was about to send troops to Fengzhou before dying.
During the Lesser Cold and Greater Cold periods, they brought back maps of the northern desert terrain and defenses, as well as troop deployment maps, to Bianjing. They also brought back news that Jingchen's hostage residence had been destroyed by fire, and Jingchen's whereabouts were unknown. There was no news regarding the Lesser Cold and Greater Cold periods.
An eye for an eye—this is similar in nature to the fire at the Yuan residence.
Luo An's heart sank, but he comforted himself, thinking that no news was good news.
Xue Yunting caught a glimpse of Nianyao leaning against a pillar, her forehead resting on her arm. He seemed to hear a sob. He stepped back slightly, then deliberately increased the weight of his steps once he was some distance away.
Upon hearing the sound, Nianyao rubbed her eyes on her sleeve and straightened up. Xue Yunting was carrying a tray with a small casserole dish, bowls, and spoons on it.
Nianyao asked, "What is this?"
Xue Yunting said, "Three-Kernel Porridge is made by cooking walnut kernels, jujube kernels, cypress kernels, and japonica rice. The doctor said it can nourish the heart."
The wealthy young general actually cooks porridge, styles hair, and feeds people? Nianyao said, "I originally thought you were a young master who never lifted a finger."
"Sister, you've misunderstood," Xue Yunting said. "When I was thirteen, my father, in order to train us, asked me and a group of other young people, including Qi Yang, to go to the top of Nandan Mountain to worship the five gods of fortune, prosperity, longevity, happiness, and wealth."
Nandan Mountain is densely forested, teeming with wild animals and mosquitoes, and is completely uninhabited with no roads. We entered the mountain from the east, reached the summit, and then descended from the west. The journey took three months; thirty people went into the mountain, and thirteen returned.
Xue Yunting, who was always gentle in front of Nian Yao, gradually became sorrowful: "My father is a general, and I have been called the young general since I was a child. I have always worked very hard, for fear that I might do something wrong and be laughed at, thus disgracing the Xue family."
Sister, we spend our whole lives striving to be outstanding and stand out from the crowd, as if mediocrity is a sin. I've been praised by everyone since I was little, and I'm sick of hearing nice things, yet I still don't understand why we can't live a simple, peaceful life?
Nianyao stared blankly at Xue Yunting. How could such an outstanding person have such thoughts?
Xue Yunting realized she had lost her composure and sighed, "Mingzhu has no friends or anyone to talk to in Bianjing. Could you go over and chat with her for a while, sister?"
How could we refuse such a sincere request!
Xue Yunting slowed his pace, talking as he walked: "My father was strict with boys and strict with girls. Later, when Yunfan grew up, my father also wanted to send him to Nandan Mountain for training. My mother and I knelt on the ground and begged him, and that's how the matter was dropped."
Yun Ge was a girl, and although she had maids and wet nurses to serve her, my father insisted that she take care of herself independently. Yun Ge was only four or five years old at the time, so how could she have styled her hair properly or dressed nicely?
The servants were afraid of my father and dared not act on their own. Yun Ge always had messy hair and wore her clothes crookedly, looking like a beggar. I would braid her hair and tidy her clothes, and later I got into the habit of carrying a comb with me. I even took it with me to the army camp, and would touch the comb when I missed her.
Nianyao said admiringly, "The eldest brother is like a father, that's truly true. Mingzhu is so lucky to have met you..."
Who could resist a young master from a prestigious family who always carries a comb and can braid hair into elaborate styles?
Xue Yunting said, “Mingzhu is smart and pampered by her family. The Duan family has a large courtyard of her own, and her father has provided her with eight servants, eight maids, and eight guards. She never has to worry about the trivial matters of daily life. After meeting her, my comb came in handy again.”
Nianyao sincerely apologized: "I'm sorry, I almost hit you..."
Xue Yunting said, "Sister gets angry because she cares about me. If she didn't care, why would she want to hit me?"
Nianyao was speechless.
Duan Mingzhu was lying in bed when she saw Nian Yao follow Xue Yunting in. She noticed that Nian Yao's eyes were red and looked at Xue Yunting with a question in her eyes.
Xue Yunting helped her up and sat her down at the table: "I was afraid you'd be bored, so I came over to chat with you."
Duan Mingzhu said, "Thank you, sister."
Xue Yunting ladled the porridge from the clay pot into a bowl, tasted it, and placed it in front of Duan Mingzhu: "It's edible, not too hot."
Duan Mingzhu smiled: "I don't eat much and get hungry easily, so Yunting gives me extra food. Sister, Yunting doesn't talk much, but he's a very nice person and takes good care of people."
Xue Yunting was overjoyed by Duan Mingzhu's praise and smiled, "You two chat. I heard from the kitchen that the orchids in the garden are blooming beautifully, I'll go pick a couple."
Seeing his light and agile figure, Nianyao couldn't help but say, "He's so good to you, unlike..."
Unlike that pig Luo An, who doesn't even consider her.
Duan Mingzhu said, "Sister, don't talk about brother-in-law like that, or I'll try to sow discord between you two again."
Nianyao asked, puzzled, "Why?"
Duan Mingzhu said, "Dongyang is surrounded by enemies on three sides, and Nanyue is ambitious. Prince Rui is a brilliant strategist. My brother-in-law has deep feelings for the Dongyang royal family and will definitely become an obstacle to Nanyue's unification of the world in the future. If my sister and brother-in-law do not get along, the Dahe Gang's navy may be used by Nanyue."
Nianyao wasn't angry. She asked frankly, "How long have you known Yunting? And you're already plotting for him like this? Your parents and family have always doted on you. How can you treat them like this? Won't they be heartbroken? Won't you feel guilty?"
Duan Mingzhu's spoon struck the bowl with a crisp sound. She simply put down the spoon: "Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them. Can't excessive pampering be another form of harm?"