Impératrice douairière Xiaoxuan

Chapitre 93

Ning Wangshu knew Mo Yan's temperament best, and took her hand, asking, "Do you really want to go to Liao with Zhan Zhao? Do you know that he won't be back in a few days or months, but will be protecting the princess in Liao for the rest of his life?"

“I know, that’s why I’m even more determined to go.” Mo Yan nodded earnestly. “With me by his side in Liao, he won’t feel bored or lonely.”

"And what about you? Don't you ever feel bored and lonely?"

Like Zhan Zhao, Ning Wangshu also considered his junior sister's temperament. She was free-spirited and unconventional, and how could she bear to spend her whole life in such a harsh and cold place?

Mo Yan paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "But I'll feel even worse if I can't see him. Sister, didn't you also leave the martial world for your husband?"

“That’s different,” Ning Wangshu sighed.

Mo Yan insisted, "How can it be different? It's the same... But he just won't let me go!"

Nangong Ruoxu listened for a while, and seeing Mo Yan's increasingly frustrated look, he advised, "Lord Zhan is also thinking of you. Going to Liao is not just about the harsh and cold wilderness. The situation between Song and Liao is delicate. If there is any disturbance, you will become fish on the chopping block and your lives will be in danger. Such a dangerous place, and you are his beloved, so naturally he does not want you to go with him."

After hearing his words, Mo Yan remained silent, staring intently at Nangong Ruoxu. Of all the words he had just spoken, only the phrase "and you are his beloved" remained in her mind.

"You said I am his beloved?" After a long silence, she asked cautiously.

Nangong Ruoxu smiled slightly: "Lord Zhan is not a reckless person, and Juque is his family heirloom sword. The fact that he would give Juque to you must mean that he regards you as an extremely important person."

Mo Yan seemed to understand, but was still pondering it.

"Then what does he mean when he says he's more worried if I'm not by his side?"

The Nangong couple exchanged a smile. They understood these words deeply and were the most capable of comprehending their meaning. Ning Wangshu patted his junior sister's head and said with a smile, "It means that our little Qi has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and that cat has feelings for you."

"really?"

"really."

"Like how your brother-in-law treats you?"

Ning Wangshu didn't know how to answer, and smiled at her husband. Nangong Ruoxu also smiled with his eyes lowered.

Seeing that the two of them were just smiling and not saying anything, Mo Yan became a little anxious: "Is it true or not?"

Seeing that his wife was just smiling, clearly pushing the problem onto him, Nangong Ruoxu had no choice but to say, "I don't know if it's the same for you as for your senior sister, but I believe that for someone to say such a thing and to present you with the Juque sword, Lord Zhan must be deeply in love with you."

Mo Yan had always considered Nangong Ruoxu a smart man, and hearing his words, her confidence soared: "Brother-in-law explains things clearly, unlike that Second Master Ding, who's supposed to be a great hero, but he's incredibly stupid and can't explain himself no matter what." In truth, anyone with eyes could see that Zhan Zhao treated her very well, but Ding Zhaohui was, after all, a chivalrous swordsman, and rarely dabble in such matters of love and romance. Even if he knew, he wouldn't openly express it. Mo Yan's accusation of stupidity was truly unfair to him.

"Second Master Ding? Is that Ding Zhaohui, the great hero?" Ning Wangshu had naturally heard of this person.

"Yes! He wanted to marry his sister to Brother Zhan, but Brother Zhan refused."

When this matter was mentioned, Mo Yan's face lit up with pride, which she couldn't hide, and she had a somewhat comical look of a petty person who had gotten his way.

Seeing her beaming with pride, Ning Wangshu was both happy for her and couldn't help but worry. Now that her junior sister knew Zhan Zhao's feelings, it seemed she would definitely go to Liao with him regardless of the consequences. But this journey was fraught with danger, and her life was in danger. Should she try to persuade her not to go?

Chapter Twenty-Six [VIP]

Author's Note: Everyone seems to think that Nangong's illness was cured too easily, so... hehe! The lion got angry and simply changed it to three months! With a sneer... in a very good mood, Mo Yan had a hearty meal at Nangong's villa, chatted with her senior sister for half a day, and as the sun gradually set, she carried the Juque sword and returned to Kaifeng Prefecture with a smile as warm as a spring breeze.

As soon as she entered, she ran into Ma Han, who greeted her loudly, "Xiao Qi, someone sent you a few piranhas. Your sister-in-law is roasting them and wants you to go home and eat them!"

The pili, a native product of the Khitan, was extremely delicious and highly prized by the Khitan people, who often presented it as a precious gift to Song envoys. These pili happened to be a gift from an old friend of Ma Han who had returned from Khitan. Knowing that Ma's wife was a skilled cook, he gave them to him. Ma's wife, being close to Mo Yan, naturally thought of inviting her to eat them.

Hearing that there was more delicious food, Mo Yan happily headed towards Ma Han's courtyard. Before she even arrived, she could smell the aroma of barbecue wafting over the wall, so enticing that even though she was already full, it made her mouth water. Upon entering the courtyard, she saw Ma's wife had set up a charcoal grill, on which several plump piranhas were sizzling and dripping with oil.

"Xiao Qi, you've come at the right time. Help me apply the beeswax." Ma Da Sao didn't stand on ceremony with her. There was still soup simmering in the pot. Ma Han knew nothing about kitchen matters, and her own kitchen was not like the one in the government, where there were no assistants. She was so busy that she was practically overwhelmed.

Mo Yan chuckled and picked up a brush, dipping it in honey and applying it to the Pili. A moment later, Wang Chao and Zhao Hu followed the scent in. Wang Chao was carrying a small jar of wine, fanning the smoke as he peered at the Pili on the shelf.

"Sister-in-law, why did you invite us to eat rats today?" Wang Chao had never seen a pili before, so he frowned and asked curiously.

This piranha looks quite like a rat, but it's much bigger, so it's no wonder Wang Chao mistook it for a rat. Although Mo Yan had never eaten it, she had heard more than once that it was delicious and longed to try it. When she heard Wang Chao ask this, she teased, "Wang, can your rats grow this big? If they are this big, how about you catch one and roast it!"

Knowing that Mo Yan was teasing him, Wang Chao ignored her. However, Zhao Hu noticed the sword Mo Yan was carrying in her other hand and asked in surprise, "How come Brother Zhan's sword is in your hand?"

Before Mo Yan could answer, Zhan Zhao was being pulled into the courtyard by Ma Han. He saw her right in front of him and, caught off guard, was momentarily stunned...

"Brother Zhan!"

Upon seeing Zhan Zhao, Mo Yan didn't even bother to answer Zhao Hu. She greeted him with a smile, still holding a small brush in her hand, with honey dripping from it.

He thought that what he said that morning must have hurt her deeply, and that she would probably ignore him no longer. But to his surprise, after only half a day, she still smiled when she saw him. Zhan Zhao was puzzled, but also felt a strange sense of joy.

“You…” He looked at her, unsure of what to say.

Mo Yan stepped forward, handed him the sword with one hand, and said with a smile, "I'm always afraid of losing this sword if I hold it, so you should keep it."

Zhan Zhao took the sword and was about to speak when she turned around and went back to roasting the piru.

"Why did you lend the sword to this girl?" Wang Chao patted Zhan Zhao's shoulder and laughed when he saw that Zhan Zhao was a little stunned. "Be careful she doesn't lose it, or you won't be able to pay for it back."

Zhan Zhao smiled slightly, offering no explanation, but thinking to himself: Since I gave it to her, I naturally know that she will cherish it.

Mo Yan, who was standing nearby, heard this but did not retort. She thought to herself, "He gave me the sword, which means he knows and trusts me. How could I let him down?"

At that moment, they both looked at each other, and when their eyes met, their eyes were full of smiles.

Wang Chao, of course, had no idea what the two were thinking. Seeing that Zhan Zhao did not answer, he assumed that Zhan Zhao was just a kind-hearted person who would not hold a grudge against the girl, and said no more. He pulled him into the house, raised the wine in his hand and presented it as a treasure, saying with a smile, "This is the best Daughter's Red wine. Lord Bao gave it to me a long time ago, but I haven't been willing to drink it. Today, everyone should have a taste."

Zhang Long laughed and said, "I've been eyeing your wine for a while now. If you don't bring it out soon, it'll go bad." Ma Han quickly took the wine and put it on the stove to warm it, while the others chatted and laughed as they went inside.

A little while later, the side dishes were served, and the wine was warmed. Everyone sat down around the table. Mo Yan carefully brought in a large platter filled with eight piranhas and placed it in the center of the table. The piranhas, all with their whiskers and tails intact, were roasted to a golden brown and smelled delicious, making everyone's mouths water.

Ma Han poured wine for everyone. The aroma of the wine was so enticing that Mo Yan took a small sip first. Zhan Zhao couldn't help but whisper to her, "This wine has a strong aftereffect, so don't drink too much."