A pure heart in a jade pot

Chapter 31

“Your Highness is afraid of women’s nagging,” he continued, to himself, “but what are you afraid of?”

Zhan Zhao remained silent, smiling slightly as he lowered his head.

"What are you afraid of, right?" Ning Jin's face was almost touching his. "Are you afraid of not finding someone you like, or afraid of implicating other girls? If you don't find anyone you like, I'll arrange a marriage for you when I return to the capital. You're a fourth-rank bodyguard, after all, how could you be afraid of not finding someone to marry..."

"Your Highness is joking." Zhan Zhao subtly moved a few steps away.

“If you’re worried about implicating that young lady,” Ning Jin, who didn’t need to worry about others’ moods, continued to nag, “then I’ll tell Bao Heizi that you can come and follow me. I can’t guarantee you’ll live a life of luxury, but at least your life won’t be in danger.”

Now it was Wu Zichu's turn to smile wryly.

Zhan Zhao lowered his head to pick up some food, a faint smile still on his face.

Because of one thing, Ning Jin was right.

He was afraid of implicating others.

How can someone who cannot even predict their own life or death promise someone else their entire life?

Author's Note: Thank you everyone!

If possible, Lion will try his best to update, so there's no need to rush him.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ning Jin's voice gradually lowered, and Zhan Zhao and Wu Zichu tacitly avoided disturbing him, hoping that he could fall asleep.

Upstairs, it was almost completely silent, with only the occasional muttering of Ning Jin.

At that moment, a commotion suddenly broke out downstairs, with many people shouting something...

Although Wu Zichu had drunk a few cups and was slightly drunk, he dared not forget his duty, fearing that someone might cause trouble and disturb the prince. He and Zhan Zhao hurried to the railing and leaned down to listen carefully.

"A water ghost! There's a water ghost!..."

"It's a female ghost! There's a female ghost in the lake!"

...

Downstairs, someone was pointing at the lake and screaming at the top of their lungs, "Female ghost!" Ning Jin heard it too, and his drunkenness vanished instantly. He staggered to the railing, and Wu Zichu quickly helped him up.

Zhan Zhao had already seen people bobbing in the icy lake water, surfacing to take a deep breath and then diving several dozen feet in one breath. This was not a female ghost, but someone extremely skilled in swimming. He looked closely and saw that there was more than one person.

"Where? Where?"

Ning Jin opened his dazed eyes and tried his best to find the so-called female ghost.

"Your Highness, it's not a female ghost, it's just someone splashing around in the water."

Wu Zichu kindly dissuaded Ning Jin, whose curiosity had overwhelmed him, and stood in front of him. The people in the water were of unknown origin, and he dared not be careless in the slightest.

They seemed to be swimming in this direction.

Not far from the restaurant, the man in front of him dived into the water once again.

Such sneaky behavior was alarming, so Wu Zichu squeezed the wine cup in his hand and crushed it. By the time Zhan Zhao realized what was happening and tried to stop him, it was too late.

Several fragments shot out, heading straight for the people in the water...

The person in the water was clearly angered. In an instant, a curved blade sliced through the water, splashing water everywhere. The water reflected the blade's light, as beautiful as shattered gold and silver. With a few crisp sounds, shards of wine glasses were knocked back.

The newcomer also leaped out of the water, using the willow branches by the lake to land on the second floor. His curved blade, like a crescent moon, came directly towards Wu Zichu!

Almost simultaneously, Zhan Zhao recognized the person: it was Mo Yan's senior sister, Ning Wangshu, whose face was full of anger, quite different from when they met the day before.

"Wait a minute, you two!" he shouted urgently.

Wu Zichu did not step forward, but stood protectively in front of Ning Jin, watching Ning Wangshu warily.

Upon seeing Zhan Zhao, Ning Wangshu was slightly taken aback. Before she could even ask, Mo Yan arrived behind her, her sword flashing silver like snow. Without asking any questions, she went straight for Wu Zichu.

"Miss Mo, please don't be rash!"

Before Wu Zichu could make a move, Zhan Zhao rushed forward, dodging Mo Yan's sword and taking advantage of her moment of hesitation to disarm her.

This girl is reckless; if she accidentally stabs Ning Jin with her sword, even the Kaifeng Prefecture won't be able to protect her. He feels a little more at ease knowing she doesn't have a sword in her hand.

Mo Yan seemed to only see them clearly at this moment, and when her gaze swept over Ning Jin, she made no attempt to hide her disgust.

"Why is it you again?" she said.

This was exactly what Ning Jin wanted to say, and it was already on the tip of her tongue, but she blurted it out first. She immediately felt that she had lost the upper hand, so she could only look at them angrily: "What are you doing sneaking around the lake in the middle of the night?"

“Your Highness, the laws of the Song Dynasty do not prohibit people from admiring the moon in the lake.”

What's the point of admiring the moon while soaking in water?

“I do.” Mo Yan challenged him.

Ning Wangshu sheathed her sword, impatient with their bickering: "Since Xiao Qi recognizes you, I'll let it go this time. Don't hurt anyone so easily next time." She turned to Mo Yan: "Why did you follow me here again?"

“Someone is worried and insists that I come with you.” Mo Yan looked at her cautiously and said slowly, “He also said that I should apologize to you on his behalf.”

“Who wants him…” Ning Wangshu said angrily, but stopped abruptly after speaking. After a long silence, she was still worried: “Is he alright?”

"She doesn't look well. Her face is as white as paper, and she looks like she might faint at any moment," Mo Yan said honestly.

Ning Wangshu froze, bit her lip, and turned to leave.