flstandardbreds Chapter 162
Chapter 162
Jinse turned her head to look at Nalan Jingwen, her eyes full of tenderness, and he gently shook his head.
"I don't want anything."
In the brothels, he had seen all sorts of rare and valuable things. When he was still the top courtesan, many girls would send him things to his room, but they were all common items that he didn't like and would return. Even if they were valuable, there was still a price to pay.
He didn't have many demands; just not going hungry or cold would be enough. His greatest desire was to grow old with the one he loved.
Nalan Jingwen squeezed his hand, only to find that his hand was empty.
Why aren't you wearing the ring I gave you?
Jinse lowered her eyes and smiled, "I'm always so forgetful, I'm afraid of losing it if I wear it, so I simply don't wear it."
Even so, Nalan Jingwen knew that the ring was of great significance to him; otherwise, he wouldn't have reacted so strongly when Nalan Jingwen burned the ring in front of him.
One reason I don't wear it on my wrist is that I'm afraid of losing it, but the main reason is that I can't bear to part with it.
"You are my husband, how can you be so plain? Anyone who doesn't know better would think I've mistreated you."
Jinse smiled faintly and said, "I don't care about those things."
"I care."
Jinse always saved money for him, even at her own expense, always saying that money shouldn't be spent on him, but on more useful things, because he felt he didn't deserve it.
But how could she not be worthy? The one she loves deserves only the best things in the world.
Jinse stared blankly, remaining silent for a moment.
Nalan Jingwen led him along the road, casually strolling, his gaze sweeping over the street stalls before pulling him over.
"How about this?"
She picked up a hairpin carved with white jade begonias and held it up to his head. Jinse then lowered her head slightly to make it easier for him to hold it.
"Like it?"
"I like whatever Your Highness chooses."
The shop owner, who had a keen eye, could tell from their clothes that they were no ordinary people. He immediately said, "This young lady and young master are such a perfect match, a match made in heaven. You have excellent taste. The one you picked is part of a pair. Here is the other one, please take a look."
As she spoke, she handed over another hairpin carved with white jade begonias, though this one had smaller begonia blossoms.
Nalan Jingwen played with the two hairpins, clearly enjoying them.
She looked at Jinse, "How is it?"
Jinse gazed at the pair of hairpins, his eyes flashing with joy. If he had only liked them because Nalan Jingwen had chosen them earlier, now that he saw they were a pair, he truly liked them.
The reason is self-evident.
Nalan Jing could tell from his expression that he was satisfied, so he immediately took out a silver note and handed it to the shopkeeper.
"I'll take these two."
The moment the shopkeeper saw the money, his face lit up with a smile. "Miss, you are so generous! Young master, marrying you is a great blessing. I wish you both a son soon and a long and happy life together."
Jinse lowered her head at his words, a faint blush spreading across her fair face, quickly reaching her ears like rippling spring water.
Nalan Jingwen chuckled and said, "To meet him is the greatest blessing."
The soft chuckle reached Jinse's ears, filled with doting affection, and he lowered his head even further.
The boss's smile became even more ambiguous, with an expression that said, "I know what's going on."
Nalan Jingwen removed the hairpin from his head and replaced it with a new one.
"How about I have this old one, Jinse?"
Jinse glanced at the somewhat ugly wooden hairpin in her hand and said with some disapproval, "How can such a crude thing be given to the prince?"
"If Your Highness desires it, I will make an even better one for you."
Nalan Jingwen smiled slightly and pulled the person into his arms.
"I want this one."
Jinse wanted to say something, but Nalan Jingwen didn't give him a chance. He pulled him to another stall and bought a candied hawthorn to stuff in his mouth.
"Is it sweet?"
Jinse blinked her beautiful eyes at her, a hint of helplessness in them. Her mouth was gagged and she couldn't speak, so she could only nod.
Nalan Jingwen's smile widened, and she kissed him on the lips, as if savoring the kiss.
"It's really sweet."
Jinse hadn't expected Nalan Jingwen to tease her like this; the blush that had just faded from her face returned, making her look quite beautiful.
Jinse always said that she was too old and not good enough for her, that she was old and faded and her beauty was gone.
That's not true. He's only thirty years old. He's shed his youthful naiveté and become more composed. Time hasn't left any marks on his face. It's as if, under the baptism of time, a pearl has been cleansed of dust, shining brightly and exuding charm.
She never cared about his appearance. Even with his wrinkled face, he was still himself, Jinse.
Nalan Jingwen was pleased by his reaction and leaned forward to kiss those red lips coated in sugar. With the sweet and sour taste of hawthorn, it was hard to tell whether the candied hawthorn was sweeter or the person was sweeter.
She took him to buy many things. Although they were stared at along the way, Nalan Jingwen seemed oblivious, and Jinse's face showed a rare genuine smile.
She carried things in one hand and held Jinse's hand in the other, walking slowly down the road out of the city. The afterglow of the setting sun blurred their figures.
Do you have any unfulfilled wishes?
Jinse thought for a moment and shook her head.
"No."
"Haven't you had this before?"
Jinse paused for a moment, then gave a faint smile, though it carried a hint of bitterness and confusion.
"Yes, but it's been too long, and I don't care anymore."
Sensing the change in his emotions, Nalan Jingwen suppressed the smile on his face.
"May I listen?"
Jinse looked at the endless road, feeling her vision blurred.
"No, I'd rather not. I'm afraid it would offend Your Highness's ears."
"You don't trust me?"
Jinse shook her head, "But it's not that important."
"It's nothing important, yet it's kept you imprisoned for so many years? And you still haven't been able to fulfill this wish?"
Jinse was somewhat stunned. She wanted to refute, but when she opened her mouth, she found that she had no way to refute it.
Nalan Jing frowned, remained silent for a long while, and then asked, "Is it about your parents?"
When he was in a state of confusion, he cried out about his experiences and suffering.
After much thought, only this could hold him captive; in this world, only family ties could make one unable to let go for the rest of one's life.
Jinse smiled, but the smile was stiff and bitter, and her voice was faint.
“When my mother sent me to the brothel, I asked her why she didn’t love me but still gave birth to me.”
She said that since slaves are men, they should be born to serve the family.
"She said that her family had no money and could not afford to raise us children, so she sold us slaves into a brothel."
“Kenu knew she was lying to her. Her older sister was sent to study and could eat meat every day. Her mother said that it was useless for boys to study and eat meat, so it was better to save the meat for girls so that they could pass the imperial examinations in the future.”