Mrs. Xu seemed unaware of Nalan Bo’s thoughts, busy with daily purchases. At night, she would call Nalan Bo to her courtyard. Afterward, he could choose to stay or leave, while she would sleep elsewhere.
Their relationship as husband and wife was rather peculiar.
Nalan Jinlian increasingly doubted her identity, but she said not a word and didn’t ask.
Reaching out to touch her neck, she questioned in confusion, "Chunqiu!"
"Did I wear anything before?"
"Yes, my lady used to wear a Jade Pendant. But a few days ago, you asked me to put it away. Would you like it now?"
Chunqiu immediately went to fetch the Jade Pendant.
Nalan Jinlian held it in her hand; it was a piece of blood-red Warm Jade.
Warm Jade is valuable, and even more so when it’s pure blood-red.
Nalan Jinlian glanced at it a few times, at first intending to wear it, but then decided against it. She handed it to Chunqiu, saying, "It’s too precious; take good care of it for me, don’t lose it!"
Soon, the day to return to the Imperial Capital arrived. Many things from the mansion were packed into boxes and loaded onto horse carriages, totaling more than thirty. Nalan Bo even hired people from the Escort Agency to protect them; the group headed back to the Imperial Capital in a leisurely manner.
Yet, Nalan Jinlian had an impression that the Escort Agency people seemed to have exceptional martial skills.
Nalan Jinlian sat in Mrs. Xu’s carriage, where the mother and daughter played chess.
Nalan Jinlian’s chess skills were outstanding, and Mrs. Xu wasn’t weak either; they won and lost in turn.
"Lianlian’s chess skills are impressive!"
"Perhaps they are inherited from mother!"
Mrs. Xu nodded with a smile.
When alone, Nalan Jinlian would stare blankly outside the carriage.
"Xuanqiu, what month is it now?"
"It’s November, we’ll definitely reach the Imperial Capital before December!"
Nalan Mingzhu also came to talk with Nalan Jinlian, even preparing tea for her to drink. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novęlfire.net
Mrs. Xu never praised nor criticized Nalan Mingzhu’s tea skills, mostly ignoring them.
She didn’t restrict the sisters from getting along, but remained indifferent towards Nalan Mingzhu.
Nalan Mingzhu called softly.
"Hmm?" Aunt Liao gently stroked her belly.
She took a deep breath.
From being a mother to an aunt, it was truly hard to adapt, yet it was unavoidable and had to be adapted to.
"Do you think sister really likes me?" Nalan Mingzhu asked faintly.
"Of course she does!" Aunt Liao replied with a smile.
She didn’t want Nalan Mingzhu to be too anxious, suspecting this and that all day long.
And she showed sincere kindness towards Nalan Jinlian.
She could see that Nalan Jinlian had a very good temperament, gentle and courteous, neither arrogant nor impetuous; though she wasn’t particularly fond of Nalan Mingzhu, there was some goodwill.
She hoped Mingzhu and Nalan Jinlian would bond well.
"Auntie, I don’t know why, but sister always feels unreal to me. I always feel that she..."
"Don’t overthink it!" Aunt Liao interrupted Nalan Mingzhu’s words.
There were some things she knew well, but Mingzhu and Mingcong should absolutely not know.
The more they knew, the more dangerous it became; knowing nothing was safer.
Nalan Mingzhu replied faintly, lifting the carriage curtain to gaze at the snow-covered scene outside.
She saw several young men riding horses swiftly past.
The leading man wore a black silk robe, with a Purple Jade Crown upon his head, his eyebrows and eyes were cold and stern. Noticing her spying on him, he turned and glanced at her, his eyes so cold and ailing that Nalan Mingzhu’s heart skipped a beat, her hand trembled, and she hurriedly let down the curtain.
"What’s wrong?" Lady Liao asked, puzzled.
"Someone just passed by, so frightening!"