A pure heart in a jade pot

Chapter 100

“This girl…” Seeing Mo Yan’s smug look, Ning Jin couldn’t help but laugh and shook his head, “She doesn’t even know the rules of the water swing. She’s going to make a fool of herself later.”

After dawdling for half a day, not only were the onlookers below getting impatient, but even the person on the swing opposite her was getting restless and started swinging first.

Mo Yan then began to sway her body slowly, gradually rising and falling with increasing amplitude, far surpassing the previous performers. It almost made one wonder if she was trying to fling herself to the moon. At the same time, she flipped freely on the swing, even hooking the swing with the instep of only one foot, hanging upside down and swaying leisurely.

Regardless of the onlookers below, Zhan Zhao couldn't help but feel a little alarmed: she was swinging so high, even if she knew how to swim, the moment she fell would be quite a shock. Ning Jin had originally intended to make a joke, but he couldn't help but worry about her: if she didn't land properly and fell onto the deck, even if she knew martial arts, she would probably get injured.

Only Wu Zichu remained unconcerned, admiring the performance with a smile, and casually remarked, "I didn't realize Miss Mo had such a talent for acrobatics; she's truly remarkable."

No one responded or paid him any attention. The person on the swing opposite Mo Yan swayed for a long time, getting dizzy from the shaking. Before Mo Yan could swing over, he gestured to her, meaning: Since you're not coming over, I'll go over to you.

Seeing his gesture, Mo Yan nodded happily, hooked her legs firmly onto the swing, hung upside down, and stretched out her arms, ready to catch him. Her series of movements were quick and smooth, looking like those of a pro.

However, it's only similar.

For Mo Yan, being on a high swing was a completely different experience from being on a practice swing below. The lights around Jinming Pond were dazzling, and the person swinging towards her was sometimes in the lights and sometimes hidden in the night, appearing and disappearing intermittently. She could only react instinctively.

In a flash, she caught the man!

However, she had only grasped two of the man's fingers. The swing was still swaying, and she could feel the object in her hand gradually sliding downwards, slowly, yet irresistibly...

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, including Zhan Zhao, the unfortunate fellow jumped into the water with a "plop." The masked woman still on the swing quickly made a decision, whether out of a sense of shared hardship or overwhelming shame, she also flew off the swing, performed two graceful somersaults, and then leaped into the dark pool.

Chapter 33

Unexpectedly, she jumped in so quickly. Ning Jin hurriedly dropped his teacup, leaned halfway out, and peered into the water, but could see nothing but a few ripples. The onlookers below remained silent.

"Was there any splash?" Ning Jin asked almost without hope. In his opinion, Mo Yan was clearly the kind of person who would make a fool of herself all the way through.

"Your Highness, not at all," Wu Zichu replied. He had been standing the whole time and had seen it clearly then. Mo Yan's entry into the water was extremely beautiful; not a single drop of water was splashed. The reason the spectators below were silent was probably because the contrast in his skill before and after was so great that they didn't know whether to cheer or boo.

"Is that so!"

Ning Jin laughed, it was unclear whether he wanted to see Mo Yan make a fool of herself or shine, but he was in a great mood at the moment.

Zhan Zhao hadn't expected Mo Yan to enter the water so nimbly and gracefully. A smile played on his lips as he kept his eyes fixed on the surface, waiting for her to surface. However, he waited for a long time; everyone who had entered the water before her had already been ashore for half a day, yet he still hadn't seen her. In such cold water, if she were to cramp up from the cold, it would be no joke.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. Zhan Zhao will go and take a look."

Worried, and without waiting for Ning Jin's permission, Zhan Zhao hastily bowed and left.

Ning Jin turned to Wu Zichu and said, "Go and check on that girl. She's so reckless; I hope nothing bad happens to her." Wu Zichu obeyed.

Zhan Zhao searched the riverbank extensively but found no trace of Mo Yan. In a short time, his worry turned into frantic anxiety. Although she was a good swimmer, the water was icy cold; if she hadn't come ashore by now, he couldn't even imagine what would happen… He had never regretted not being a swimmer as much as he did now. His face paled, and he kept asking the onlookers on the bank if they had seen the masked girl come ashore. His usual composure had vanished. Wu Zichu had never seen Zhan Zhao like this before…

"Let's go aboard and ask," he cautiously suggested to Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao paused, then quickly turned and ran towards the boarding ramp not far away. He should have gone aboard to ask; how could he not have thought of that? He had to admit that he had indeed lost his composure when it came to Mo Yan's matter.

The troupe leader stared blankly at the two men before him, bewildered. He couldn't understand how such a festive occasion had attracted so many people—first the constable, now the imperial guards, and even a fourth-rank imperial bodyguard on board. He secretly resolved to go to the temple tomorrow to burn incense and pray for peace.

"Where is that masked girl from earlier?" Zhan Zhao asked him in a deep voice, trying his best to suppress his emotions.

Thinking something serious had happened and fearing he would be implicated, the troupe leader was so nervous he was almost incoherent: "Lord Zhan, you mean that girl? That girl said she was a constable from Kaifeng Prefecture and was here to investigate a case, so... so I let her in. I... I really don't know anything else!"

"I'm asking you, where is she now?"

"I...I don't know."

"How could I not know? Didn't she get back on the ship?"

"She changed her clothes and went ashore. I didn't dare ask her where she was going. ... Lord Zhan, you must investigate this thoroughly. I absolutely did not collude with her. I was forced into this situation and didn't know who she was. You must investigate this thoroughly!"

Hearing only the first half of her sentence, and hearing that she was safe and sound and had changed her clothes and come ashore, Zhan Zhao finally felt relieved. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh of relief. Suddenly, he realized that his heart had been pounding like a drum, but he hadn't noticed it at all.

Wu Zichu patted him on the shoulder and laughed, "Now you can rest assured, right?"

Zhan Zhao looked slightly embarrassed, then lowered his eyes and smiled.

At that moment, Mo Yan was hiding in a small noodle shop selling hot soup, having ordered a bowl of wonton noodles and eating slowly. Feeling ashamed of the embarrassment she had just made, she secretly found a secluded spot to go ashore. The first thing she did was throw away her mask, then slipped onto the boat to change her clothes, apologized to the troupe leader, and disappeared in a flash.

Her face was still swollen, but soaking it in ice water actually made it less painful. Since Zhan Zhao couldn't see her face right now, she could tolerate it if others did. She heard people talking about the water swings nearby, so she quickly lowered her head, eating her noodles while eavesdropping.

Those people laughed and chatted for a while, making a lot of sarcastic remarks about the person wearing the mask. Mo Yan's face turned red and white in turns, and she seemed determined to change careers and go to a circus troupe to hone her skills.

After finishing her noodles, her body slowly warmed up. Just as she was about to pay, she looked up and saw Zhan Zhao and Wu Zichu standing outside the shop, their four eyes staring at her...

She quickly covered her face, stood up awkwardly, paid the bill, and left. Having made such a fool of herself on the water swing, she was too embarrassed to mention it, and could only smile at him.

Are you still cold?

Zhan Zhao asked, worried that even if she changed her water-wearing clothes, the pool water was still cold, and she might catch a cold.

"It was a bit cold just now, but I feel much better after eating the noodles," she said honestly.

Wu Zichu laughed and said, "You silly girl, Brother Zhan thought you hadn't come ashore yet, and he was so worried that his face turned pale."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan chuckled, turned to Zhan Zhao, tilted her head, and asked, "Did you think something happened to me and that you'd never see me again?"

Zhan Zhao did not answer, his face ashen.

Mo Yan covered her face with one hand and tugged at his sleeve with the other, continuing, "Why are you in such a hurry? In a few more days, when you go to the Khitan, you won't see me anymore, will you? At that time, whether I live or die, worrying won't help, being sad won't help. So what will you do then?"

Zhan Zhao was taken aback by her words, staring at her intently. Yet, her face remained smiling, making him even more bewildered. This was something he had never considered before. Once he went to the Liao Kingdom, he might never see her again, never know if she was well, never hear her cheerful voice. What use would his worries and sorrows be then?

Her eyes darted around his face, as if observing his reaction.

"Let's go, Prince Ning is still waiting upstairs at the restaurant," Wu Zichu urged.