A pure heart in a jade pot

Chapter 73

Hearing this, Mo Yan frowned slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but just then a gust of wind blew by, and she pulled her cloak tighter, ultimately not speaking, whether out of impatience or disdain, it was unclear.

Ning Jin interrupted with a laugh, "Where are you planning to go?"

"Have you heard of Zhang Jinxian and Li Waining, the most famous string puppeteers in the capital?" Zhao Yu said with a smile. "I've never seen these novelties from the common people before, so I asked Guard Zhan to take me to broaden my horizons."

Mo Yan's eyes lit up, and without hesitation, she said, "Is it fun? I want to go too!"

"You can't go," Zhan Zhao refused decisively. "Your fever has just subsided; you should go back and rest."

"I'm all better now."

Zhan Zhao reached out and touched her forehead to check her temperature. His palm was warm and hot, indicating that she had been out in the wind and her illness had relapsed. He said helplessly, "Go back quickly and don't come out again."

“But…” Mo Yan still wanted to argue.

Zhan Zhao suddenly remembered something, took out a small package from his pocket, handed it to Mo Yan, and smiled, "I bought this on the way when I passed by Zhouqiao. I thought you would probably like it."

Mo Yan curiously untied it, and inside were dozens of pea-sized fragrant medicinal pills. She took one and put it in her mouth. It quenched her thirst, refreshed her mouth, and soothed her stomach, which was just right for someone who had a poor appetite while sick.

"It's clove-flavored, have a taste." She looked up and smiled, then took another clove and was about to feed it to Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao did not want to offend her kindness, so although it was inconvenient for her to feed him, he still took the food with his hand and put it in his mouth.

Chapter Seven

Both were people of pure and clear character, their interaction entirely natural. However, this scene evoked indescribable feelings in Zhao Yu and Ning Jin. Ning Jin was an old acquaintance of theirs and knew that Mo Yan had never cared about romantic relationships, and Zhan Zhao had always been very kind to her. Therefore, although she felt slightly uncomfortable, she didn't find it objectionable. Zhao Yu, on the other hand, had lived in the palace for many years, where everyone she encountered was strictly observed and behaved with propriety. Zhan Zhao was always reserved, self-possessed, and dignified. She never imagined he would be so intimate with a woman, especially such an ordinary one. She couldn't help but feel an inexplicable aversion to Mo Yan.

Unaware of what the two were thinking, Mo Yan smiled and handed the packet of fragrant pills to Ning Jin: "Would you like some?"

Ning Jin paused for a moment, then casually picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. Mo Yan then carefully wrapped it up and tucked it into her bosom. Zhao Yu, seeing that she was the only one not allowing him to have it, was secretly annoyed, but showed no sign of it on his face.

"Let's go back quickly," Zhan Zhao urged softly.

"oh."

Mo Yanfang finally understood the meaning of "he who takes a man's money is bound to him" and, with his head down, prepared to go back.

Ning Jin reminded her, "Are you still buying the tofu?"

"Buy! Why not buy!" Mo Yan immediately remembered this important matter, frowned and tapped her head, wondering why she had become so confused as soon as she saw Zhan Zhao, and had almost forgotten the important matter she should be doing.

Zhan Zhao asked in surprise, "Buy tofu?"

He raised an eyebrow and glanced at the tofu shop not far away. He knew Mo Yan's temperament best and understood in an instant. He asked, "You want to know if that woman is still alive?"

Having been exposed by Zhan Zhao's words, Mo Yan could only laugh and say, "Brother Zhan is still the smartest."

Ning Jin glanced at her sideways, his tone unfriendly: "What, someone died in the tofu shop? You want me to go and invite that bad luck!"

Mo Yan shook her head vigorously, hiding behind Zhan Zhao: "I didn't say there were dead people inside."

"Wang Chao said that the woman has been rescued," Zhan Zhao said with a smile.

Mo Yan shrank back and said, "Who knows if he's telling the truth?"

“You think everyone is like you, never telling the truth.” Ning Jin really wanted to expose her.

Zhan Zhao smiled and pulled Mo Yan out, saying, "Wang Chao shouldn't lie to me. If you're worried, go and see for yourself."

"I won't look..." Mo Yan bit her lip and said resolutely, "Forget it, whether she's dead or alive, it's none of my business. Anyway, she hanged herself, so she can't bother me. It's not like I killed her. She was just being unreasonable. I just happened to see her. She can't bother me just because I was the first one to see her..." Her rambling words made the people around her frown, but she kept muttering to herself. Originally, it was a way to comfort herself, but somehow she became more and more uneasy as she spoke.

"She's not dead," Zhan Zhao reminded her.

Ning Jin understood the gist of Mo Yan's words and couldn't help but mock, "You're a constable now, how come you're still so timid?"

"That's a ghost! A ghost!" Mo Yan emphasized, but her voice grew softer and softer. "No matter how powerful you are, you can't defeat a ghost."

Zhan Zhao said helplessly, "Xiao Qi, if that person is not dead, then what ghost is there?"

“But I clearly saw… she… she… hanging from the beam, already like that… like that,” Mo Yan stammered, her face turning pale again.

"If she doesn't get rid of this inner demon, how can she recover?" Zhan Zhao sighed, turned around and politely said to Zhao Yu, "Please wait a moment, Princess. I'll be right back." After saying that, he pulled Mo Yan towards the tofu shop.

"Brother Zhan, I...I..." Mo Yan wanted to say that he could go and she didn't need to go, but her hand was held by Zhan Zhao, and the warmth went straight through her. Not only could she not break free, but she couldn't even finish her sentence.

The tofu shop was only a dozen steps away, but Mo Yan walked with great difficulty. When she reached the door, she hid behind Zhan Zhao and held his hand tightly, as if afraid that something unclean might drift over.

To protect the princess, Zhan Zhao did not wear official robes and therefore did not reveal his identity. Seeing a man and a woman busy with their own things in the shop, he stepped forward and said, "Captain Wang of the Dynasty sent me to ask if the person who hanged himself the other day is doing well."

The two men exchanged a glance, both looking embarrassed. The woman wiped her hands on her skirt a couple of times and replied with a smile, "It's alright, it's alright. We're so sorry to have troubled Lord Wang."

Mo Yan recognized the voice and secretly glanced over Zhan Zhao's shoulder. She saw that it was the same woman from the other day who had spoken. She quickly closed her eyes and whispered in Zhan Zhao's ear, "Let her come out into the sunlight. If she has a shadow, she's not a ghost."

Zhan Zhao sighed inwardly and had no choice but to say to the woman, "Could you come out and answer me?"

Although Zhan Zhao was dressed simply in black, he had a dignified and imposing presence, like a jade tree standing in the wind, and was no ordinary person. The woman dared not delay and hurriedly straightened her clothes before coming out and asking, "What else do you need, sir?"

Under the bright sun, her shadow was clearly visible at her feet. Mo Yan breathed a sigh of relief and slowly walked out from behind Zhan Zhao: "I have no instructions, just don't quarrel next time. If you quarrel again, don't hang yourself again. If you hang yourself again... don't scare people."

The woman had barely recognized her before Mo Yan hurriedly pulled Zhan Zhao away.

Upon seeing the two return, Zhao Yu's displeasure was fully revealed. After all, she was a princess, and she never expected that Zhan Zhao would abandon her for this girl. Although it was only for a moment, she could see what he valued more.

"The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits. How could Lord Bao recruit someone like you into the Kaifeng Prefecture as a constable?" Zhao Yu frowned, speaking rudely.

Mo Yan was relaxed and not angry at the moment. She shrugged and laughed, "Anyway, I can't be a constable anymore."

“The safety of the people of the capital is of utmost importance, and naturally cannot be entrusted to you,” Zhao Yu said.