La luna brilla intensamente sobre las montañas desiertas y las flores llenan el cielo

Capítulo 11

Long San readily agreed: "Okay."

But Feng Ning was unhappy again: "You didn't even try to keep me here?"

Long San shrugged: "You said I can't lie to you."

Feng Ning crossed her arms and tilted her head, "Alright then, I was just testing you, I didn't really want you to keep me here." Long San was amused by her expression, and Feng Ning continued, "But you'll still hurt my feelings, so you have to make it up to me."

Long San's smile faded, and he secretly became wary. He asked, "How will you compensate me?"

Feng Ning smiled, her eyes crinkling, and pulled him along, saying, "Come with me." She dragged him along, and they secretly sneaked to the backyard of the kitchen. Long San saw this and, remembering Long Er's complaint, quickly cleared his throat and said, "I'll take you out to eat something delicious. Maybe you'll remember something if you wander around."

Upon hearing this, Feng Ning was overjoyed and nodded vigorously, "You're right." Apart from sneaking out last night, she really hadn't been able to go out and have fun properly. Now that she could go out openly, she was naturally more than happy to do so. Long San was slightly relieved, but unexpectedly, Feng Ning quickly peeked through the window, ran back to him, and said, "Chef Tang is guarding inside. Call him out for a chat."

Long San grabbed her and asked in a low voice, "Didn't we agree that I would take you out to eat?"

“We’ll have to go out for that meal, and we’ll have to have this snack too,” Feng Ning said confidently.

"Then there's no need to steal it, is there?"

Feng Ning's eyes lit up: "If you're willing to back me up, I can even take it by force." Besides, it would definitely be more impressive to take it by force, and Feng Ning was seriously considering this.

Long San was both amused and annoyed. He said, "Stop being naughty." Just as he was about to grab her, she ducked down and ran away from his grasp. In the blink of an eye, she sneaked to the kitchen window, observed the kitchen, and then turned around and waved to him, urging him to lure the soup chef out.

Long San was actually a troublemaker since childhood, otherwise his parents would not have sent him outside to learn martial arts. Seeing Feng Ning having fun, his playful side came up. He suppressed his laughter and loudly called for the chef.

Hearing the noise, Chef Tang came out. Long San saw Feng Ning climb in through the window the instant Chef Tang left, and almost burst out laughing. He said to Chef Tang, "I wanted to ask, I heard that Feng Ning's appetite hasn't been very good lately. I wonder if Doctor Chen has given any advice on her diet..."

Feng Ning heard Long San's voice. She quickly poured the freshly cooked jujube paste rolls from the stove into a bowl, muttering, "You're the abnormal one. It's shameful for a grown man to eat so little." She sneaked out the front door, turned back to the corner of the backyard wall, flicked a pebble that hit Long San on the back, and then ran away with the bowl in her arms.

After a while, Long San ran out and wandered around for a long time before finally finding Feng Ning in the garden, who was stuffing snacks into her mouth. He walked over and asked, "Why did you throw stones at me?"

"That's a signal that we've succeeded and should retreat quickly."

Long San plopped down next to her, reached for a piece of pastry, and put it in his mouth, saying as he ate, "What's so good about this?"

Feng Ning turned her back and held the bowl protectively to her chest: "Then why are you still eating?" She quickly finished another one and said, "It's a promise, you'll take me out to eat, drink and have fun later."

"We're not going to eat, drink, and have fun; we're going to find clues."

Feng Ning waved his hand, generously letting him decide what to say. Long San then said, "I will tell you about the past and see if you can remember anything."

Feng Ning was delighted: "Then you should tell me more. Don't be like Granny Yu, who only tells me bits and pieces and hides them, making it hard for me to remember anything."

"You can't remember and you're blaming others? I'll tell you what I know."

Feng Ning nodded repeatedly, then asked again, still not entirely sure, "If you take me out, you'll definitely provide meals, right?"

"You still haven't paid me back the money you owe me for breakfast?" Long San teased her.

"What do you mean, 'repay'? You big liar, I haven't even settled accounts with you yet." Feng Ning glared at him. "It's a man's responsibility to make sure his wife is well-fed and clothed. Even though your family doesn't like me and I look down on you, I still have to take responsibility."

Long San reached into her bowl and snatched another piece: "With your appetite, other families can support three people, but you have no shame."

Feng Ning was about to retort when she looked up and saw Long Er walking over. Before he even reached her, he called out, "You two..."

Having already fought several times over food, Feng Ning was experienced. She quickly jumped up, grabbed Long San, and said, "Let's go!" She dragged him away in a hurry.

Long Er frowned and glared at the two backs, muttering to himself, "Third brother's gone mad too, he must have hit his head before. This Feng Ning is strange, I wonder if his method will work?"

Author's Note: I suddenly remembered that when I wrote about the Long family's background in Rongyan, it was mentioned that they had an older sister who was a concubine, but I completely forgot about that when writing this story. To avoid misunderstanding for readers with good memories, I'll clarify here that the Long family is set up with only three brothers. I'll go back and check Rongyan; if I did write about an older sister, I'll delete her, since she's never appeared in the story.

I apologize for the lack of rigor in the character design during the initial concept development. Fortunately, it didn't cause any plot confusion, and I will definitely pay more attention in the future.

8

8. The Third Madam of the Dragon Clan, who wanted to become an assassin...

Long San followed Feng Ning all the way out of the gate. Feng Ning suddenly said, "Oh dear, I shouldn't have run away. I have a powerful backer now." Long San replied, "A powerful backer who steals food? That's definitely not me."

Feng Ning glared at him angrily, and Long San added, "I can barely be a reliable source of support when it comes to buying things and food."

"Hmph." Feng Ning said, "Then I'll reluctantly lean on you."

Long San smiled and led Feng Ning towards the bustling market to the east. Feng Ning had never shopped before and was very curious about everything. She walked and looked around, sometimes admiring a clay figurine and saying to Long San, "I want this." Other times, she liked a wooden doll and said, "I want to buy that." Or she would openly pick out a kite and say to Long San, "Pay up the money."

Long San felt a little awkward. It wasn't that he was heartbroken about the money, but that this woman was treating him too much like a husband now. Back then, the two of them would barely exchange a few words when they were alone in a room. Now that she had lost her memory and was completely unaffected by the past, she had changed entirely. But he was different. He remembered everything about her clearly, and it was impossible for him to feel no resentment towards her.

But this completely different Feng Ning was laughing so happily, so innocent and straightforward, like a child. Most importantly, she was hiding a secret. She had given herself away and lost her memory, which was the perfect opportunity to dig out the secret. He had to get it out of her.

As he was thinking, he suddenly heard Feng Ning ask, "Husband, where did I used to like to go for fun?"

"I don't know, I've never gone out with you."

Feng Ning was stunned for a moment: "Didn't you say it's been almost three years, and not even once?"

Long San responded with a low "hmm" and said, "You used to go out with your dowry maid."

Feng Ning understood. She hugged the little trinket she had just bought tightly and forced a smile, saying, "Then this time, it's a good make-up."

The two fell silent in awkward silence. After walking for a while, Long San saw a restaurant and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled Feng Ning along and said, "This Zhenwei Restaurant is the most famous in the city. Let's go there." Feng Ning naturally didn't refuse and followed him upstairs.

Long San was clearly familiar with the place; the waiter and the manager both recognized him and quickly greeted him upon his arrival: "Master Long San."

Long San reserved a private room on the second floor, with a window overlooking Qingyang Lake, offering a beautiful view. Feng Ning put down her belongings and walked around the room. After Long San described the scenery, she went to the window and saw the shimmering lake with several boats bobbing on it, a truly picturesque scene. Looking at the lake, Feng Ning suddenly felt dizzy and clutched her head, crouching down abruptly.