A pure heart in a jade pot

Chapter 181

A loud commotion suddenly arose outside. It turned out that Yelü Chongguang had sent some fresh wild boar meat to the Liao guards here for a treat. They were lighting a bonfire and singing loudly.

Mo Yan came to her senses and knew she couldn't stay there any longer. Not wanting Yelü Pusa Nu to notice anything, she deliberately messed up the room, took some valuable items, and even used a dagger to cut off the gold ornaments inlaid on her belt and boots, making it look as if a thief had broken into the tent to steal.

After doing all this, she quietly withdrew through the breach and slipped away unnoticed.

She hurried along in the darkness until she reached the spot where Zhao Yu had fished during the day. The hole in the ice was still there, so she threw all the other odds and ends she had stolen into the hole, keeping only the jade comb and silver box in her bosom before returning.

On her way back, her mind was in turmoil, so her pace slowed considerably. It took her more than an hour to walk the short distance back to the camp.

She only wanted to go back to her tent to rest, but was stopped by a maid.

"Prince Ning instructed that you go to the east tent hall after you return."

"What is it?" Mo Yan frowned slightly and inquired.

The maid smiled and shook her head: "I don't know."

It probably isn't anything serious. It seems that Ning Jin hasn't encountered anything of great importance. Mo Yan scratched her ear and nodded helplessly, saying, "Okay, I'll go over there."

Upon arriving outside the tent hall, before even entering, they heard Ning Jin's voice from inside: "This sable fur is quite nice, Brother Yelü, what do you think of making hats from it?"

Yelü Pusa Nu was also inside? Mo Yan was stunned. She wasn't prepared at all and had no idea what to do if she saw him.

Maybe this person is the eldest brother?

Big brother...

She was restless and anxious, her mind blank from panic, and she had no idea which way to move her feet.

"Xiao Qi, why aren't you coming in?"

Ning Jin glanced outside and caught sight of her. Seeing Mo Yan standing outside, he quickly called out to her.

"oh."

Mo Yan slowly shuffled inside. As soon as she entered, she saw Yelü Pusa Nu standing to the side. As soon as her eyes met his, she quickly turned her head away, looking at the mountain of leather goods piled on the table.

It turned out that Yelü Chongguang had specially asked Yelü Pusa Nu to prepare a lot of precious furs to give to Ning Jin in order to build a relationship with him, and had also invited Ning Jin to a banquet the next evening.

“Girl, we have more than we can use, so come and pick one.” Ning Jin picked out a snow-white, glossy fox fur and said to her, “This one is quite nice, you can take it and make a fur robe. Bao Heizi is so stingy, making the outfits of your Kaifeng Prefecture look rather shabby.”

Mo Yan's mind was still a mess, and she had no intention of arguing with him. She reached out and took the fox fur, saying vaguely, "Thank you for your kindness, but I'll take this one."

Her answer surprised Ning Jin, who glanced at her questioningly, then picked up a wolfskin with his other hand and tentatively asked, "Do you want this?"

"Okay, thank you." Mo Yan took it blankly and hugged it to her chest along with the fox fur. At this moment, all her attention was on Yelü Pusa Nu out of the corner of her eye, and she didn't even notice what she was holding.

Seeing her dazed and confused expression, Ning Jin frowned and waved his hand in front of Mo Yan's eyes: "Girl, girl! Have you lost your mind?"

Mo Yan thought Ning Jin had brought over another fur coat, and reached out to take it, but unexpectedly she grasped Ning Jin's warm hand, which startled her before she came to her senses.

Seeing Mo Yan withdraw her hand, Ning Jin smiled slightly, not offended at all, and slowly closed his palm, pulling it back into his sleeve.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now. I hope Prince Ning will be able to attend tomorrow night,” Yelü Pusa Nu said, bowing slightly.

"Definitely, definitely," Ning Jin replied with a smile.

As the Southern King of Liao, Yelü Chongguang was a potential threat to the Song Dynasty. Ning Jin wanted to test him further, so he certainly wouldn't miss this opportunity.

Yelü Pusa Nu didn't say another word and turned to leave. Mo Yan was stunned for a moment, staring blankly as he walked out of the tent. She desperately wanted to call out to him, but when she tried to open her mouth, no sound came out.

Why, at this moment, did even his back look so familiar and dear to her?

Could he be the eldest brother?

She was eager to know, yet terrified to approach the answer.

Volume 3, Chapter 24

"Girl, what's wrong with you?" Ning Jin turned around, sat down at the table, waved for the maid to put away the furs, and then brought out the snacks.

Yelü Pusa Nu's figure had already disappeared. Mo Yan shook her head and said calmly, "It's nothing." She looked down and saw the furs she was holding in her arms, and asked inexplicably, "Where did these things come from?"

Ning Jin rolled his eyes and said seriously, "Tell me, what were you thinking just now? Why did you become so distraught when you saw Vice Envoy Yelü?"

"I didn't!"

Mo Yan didn't know why she suddenly thought of last night, and her face turned red.

If he were my older brother, how wonderful that would be?

But if it weren't for my older brother, then...

Is that so? Isn't it? Is that so? Isn't it? ...Her mind immediately went back to a state of complete confusion.

Ning Jin leaned closer to her, staring suspiciously into her eyes: "You wouldn't actually have fallen for that Liao man, would you?"

Mo Yan didn't want to answer, nor did she know how to answer. She put the furs in her arms on the table and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."

"Why are you leaving? You've only been here for less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea." Ning Jin was a little annoyed. "I don't think you have any respect for me, Prince Ning."

He wasn't one to put on airs, but now that he was raising his status, it was clear he was genuinely annoyed. Mo Yan had no choice but to stop and look at him helplessly: "Please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything."

Ning Jin stared at her for a moment, his annoyance gradually subsiding. He sighed and said, "Fine, I know you don't care about me at all. If you really like that Liao person, there's nothing I can do..." He paused for a while before continuing, "As long as you're happy in your heart, that's all that matters."

Mo Yan remained silent for a long time. She was well aware of Ning Jin's feelings for her, but how could she control the course of her emotions? "Your Highness, thank you for taking care of me all these years. But whether my elder brother is dead or alive, my heart still belongs only to him, and there is no room for anyone else. I..." She bit her lip lightly, "In short, thank you. In my heart, you have always been an extremely good person. If you ever need my help, I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation."

After saying this, she hastily bowed and quickly left.