A pure heart in a jade pot

Chapter 97

“By the way,” Ning Jin had wanted to ask her something since she first arrived, but after hesitating for a long time, he finally couldn’t help but ask, “Do you know that Zhan Zhao is going to the Liao Kingdom?”

Mo Yan nodded.

Ning Jin added, "His departure is to protect the princess, and he may spend the rest of his life in Khitan."

"I know," she nodded indifferently.

This greatly surprised Ning Jin, who asked suspiciously, "Don't you like him? Aren't you heartbroken?"

Mo Yan hesitated for a moment before smiling and saying, "I am quite sad."

Ning Jin observed her for a while, then squinted and leaned closer to her, asking softly, "To be honest, have you finally realized that the cat isn't so great after all?"

“Brother Zhan is naturally good in every way…” She paused, then thought of Zhan Zhao’s appearance and smiled, “He’s just a little bit silly sometimes.”

Ning Jin slammed his hand on the table and nodded approvingly: "You finally figured it out. That cat isn't just a little dull, it's downright inflexible, rigid, and utterly pedantic..."

"Hello! Hello!"

Mo Yan interrupted him, her face hardening, and said angrily, "Don't talk nonsense. Brother Zhan is not that kind of person. He's just more serious about his work than others."

“Girl,” Ning Jin sighed, “Don’t say I didn’t try to persuade you. Someone like Zhan Zhao would never turn back, even if he were to suffer to death. Anyone who stays by his side will only suffer. Besides, he’s going to Liao. You should just give up on that idea.”

"I won't!"

Unwilling to listen to him any longer, Mo Yan abruptly stood up, gave a hasty bow, and said, "Farewell!" Without waiting for Ning Jin to speak, she quickly turned and left.

Ning Jin still had something to say, but seeing her already gone, he stood there stunned for a long time. Finally, his worries, which he had nowhere to vent, turned into anger. He swept his sleeve across the table, knocking all the cups and plates off with a clatter. A cold wind swept in, and a few fallen petals settled on his robes. He stared blankly at them, unable to brush them away.

The author has something to say: I've already donated money, and now I want to donate blood, but because of my son, I can only do it on weekends.

After watching the news for a few days, I felt powerless. My individual strength is too weak; I can only do my best.

Regardless, I really want to say: Salute to the People's Liberation Army, you truly deserve to be called the most beloved people!

Chapter Thirty [VIP]

Author's Note: My baby lion has recently started teething and is being very fussy, wanting to be glued to me 24/7. So, updates will probably be slower for a while. Please understand.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, lanterns are lit throughout the city, the moon shines and the stars are bright, making it feel like daytime even though it is night.

Mo Yan didn't even eat the glutinous rice balls. Alone and bored in the small house, she felt no joy at the festival. The glutinous rice balls were fragrant and delicious, and she was starving, but she could hardly eat anything. The lights outside were bright, something she had been looking forward to for a long time, but she couldn't even go out the door. It was freezing cold, and she was wearing a cotton robe, but she wished she could soak in the snow water to feel refreshed.

All of this has one and only one simple reason—

She started getting her wisdom teeth. Toothache isn't a disease, but it can be excruciating. Mr. Gongsun was also at a loss, and could only tell her that there was no other way to deal with the pain of wisdom teeth coming in except to endure it, unless she had the tooth pulled. But firstly, her tooth was perfectly fine, and secondly, the pain of extraction would definitely be considerable, so Mo Yan naturally preferred to endure it a little longer.

This was bad enough, but when she got up to do her hair in the morning, she realized that half of her cheek was swollen, as if she had half a steamed bun stuffed in her mouth.

How could she face anyone looking like this! She was supposed to go see the lanterns with Brother Zhan tonight! Mo Yan was truly worried, and she couldn't come up with a solution even after a whole day of worrying. As the sun began to set, she imagined the streets must be bustling with activity, and she couldn't help but feel restless.

"Xiao Qi!" Someone came into the courtyard and knocked on the door.

"Brother Zhan! I can't let him see me like this!" In her panic, Mo Yan forgot that the door was already bolted. She rushed to the door and cried out, "Brother Zhan, don't come in!"

Zhan Zhao was taken aback, mistaking her for someone changing clothes. His handsome face flushed slightly, and he immediately turned his back and said softly, "Then I won't go in. I'll wait for you in the courtyard."

"..." Mo Yan bit her lip in annoyance, but still said, "Brother Zhan, go see the lanterns yourself, don't wait for me."

Unexpectedly, she said that, and Zhan Zhao asked curiously, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"...Yeah, it's okay...I can't go anyway."

She stammered, her voice growing softer and softer. Zhan Zhao, separated by the door, couldn't hear her clearly and became increasingly puzzled.

"Xiao Qi, where do you feel unwell? Open the door and let me see." He said in a deep voice, "If you are really sick, we will have to call a doctor to take a look."

Mo Yan peered through the crack in the door, dejected, and said, "It's no use. Master Gongsun has examined them all and said there's no cure."

Hearing these nonsensical words, Zhan Zhao's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "What exactly is the illness? How can it be incurable?"

"..."

Mo Yan remained silent for a long while before saying, "Brother Zhan, you should go back and leave me alone."

Her voice was weak and indistinct, which made Zhan Zhao even more nervous. He knocked on the door urgently: "Xiao Qi, please open the door quickly and let me see what's wrong with you."

He pounded on the door repeatedly, the sound causing her teeth to ache. She had never seen Zhan Zhao so rough before. Afraid that he would smash the door to pieces, Mo Yan had no choice but to tell the truth: "I just have a bad toothache, I'm not sick."

Upon hearing this, Zhan Zhao was both amused and exasperated; so that's how it is.

"Is it very impressive?" he asked softly.

"Um."

"Open the door and let me see."

"……no."

Seeing her throwing a childish tantrum, Zhan Zhao smiled and said, "A toothache is nothing serious, but why are you afraid to even open the door?"

There was a long silence behind the door before she stammered, "I... my face is swollen."

Zhan Zhao was taken aback, and then he understood why she had been making excuses and refusing to open the door. No wonder, although she was usually casual and straightforward, she was still a girl after all, and a swollen face was not a good look, so it was no wonder she wouldn't open the door.

"Have you eaten yet?" He was afraid she hadn't gone out and had been hungry until now.

"It hurts so much, and I don't dare to go out. I can only drink tea," she said, feeling wronged.