flstandardbreds Chapter 157
Chapter 157
Nalan Jingwen had no intention of pursuing them and went straight back to the main force.
Jinse was puzzled when she saw that Nalan Jingwen still hadn't brought the person back, but seeing that Nalan Jingwen's expression wasn't good, she ultimately didn't ask.
The days without Nalan Yin were exceptionally peaceful. No one would push open her door from time to time, clamoring to sleep with her, nor would anyone interfere when she was tenderly playing the zither.
During this period, Nalan Jingwen acted as if nothing had happened and didn't care where Nalan Yin went, since it wasn't something she cared about.
Jinse wouldn't bring it up herself; she was adept at reading people's expressions and wouldn't want to upset Nalan Jingwen.
Everyone else knew perfectly well that no one had mentioned Nalan Yin these days.
After another loss of control of her body, this time without Nalan Yin's interference, no one forced their way into her room after she gave the order. However, when she woke up the next day, the injuries on Jinse's body still made her feel uneasy.
His brow was slightly furrowed, and his face was deathly pale, as if he had slept terribly. There was hardly an inch of unscathed skin on his body, which showed how hard she had hit him when she was unconscious. It was even more unimaginable that in the previous times, he had dragged his battered body away each time, just to keep her from finding out.
She naively wondered back then if she had just grabbed a random passerby to satisfy her lust, but now that she thinks about it, there are too many flaws. She has never really investigated it in depth.
He ordered someone to bring in hot water, carefully wiped the dirt off his body and the mud between his legs, and treated his wounds.
Despite her movements being very gentle, Jinse was still woken up.
"Your Majesty..."
Nalan Jingwen leaned down and kissed his lips, whispering, "Sleep a little longer."
Jinse shook her head. Seeing that she was wearing her undergarments and applying medicine to her, she felt a refreshing sensation on her body. She knew that it must have been Jinse who had wiped her down. She quickly got up and knelt on the ground.
"Your Highness, how can I entrust you with such sordid matters? I will handle them myself."
Nalan Jingwen pulled her up, but Jinse's legs were weak and she couldn't stand up. She could only lean on Nalan Jingwen for support, her face full of disapproval.
Nalan Jingwen looked at the weariness that he couldn't hide in his eyes and sighed softly.
"I have said it many times: you and I are not master and servant, there is no need for this. We are equals."
Jinse shook her head. Although she disagreed with her words, she dared not refute them and could only change the subject.
"Let me help you change your clothes."
Nalan Jingwen pressed his hand down, picked him up again, and forcibly placed him on the bed. "It's still early. You can rest a little longer. I'm not a child. I can dress myself."
Jinse opened her mouth as if to say something, but Nalan Jingwen silenced her with a kiss, his voice carrying a threatening warning.
"If you disobey me, I will get angry."
Jinse always followed the rules, kept her status very low, referred to herself as a slave, and would never do anything to displease Nalan Jingwen. As long as Nalan Jingwen used this to blackmail her, she would obediently listen to him.
Jinse then stopped insisting and closed her eyes.
Perhaps he was really too tired, he fell asleep quickly. Nalan Jingwen reached out and smoothed his furrowed brows, placing a kiss on his forehead.
……
The days passed slowly, and they were finally close to reaching the capital of Qilin. However, not far outside the city, they saw large numbers of people stationed outside the city. But the so-called stationing was nothing more than dilapidated huts, with groups of people huddled together, unable to withstand the wind and rain. Among them, some people were lying on straw mats, their faces dark and blue, their life or death unknown.
Some people even blocked their carriage, wanting to beg, but Hongyun drove them away.
Nalan Jingwen pulled down the carriage curtain, took out a face-covering veil, and handed it to Jinse.
"Wear it properly, don't take it off."
What just happened didn't look like a natural disaster; it seemed more like the spread of some kind of virus.
Jinse obediently took it and put it on, without asking why, and followed her instructions unconditionally.
As they approached the capital, a group of people stood at the city gate, led by the Crown Princess of Qi Lin, Nangong Shiyu.
To her left was Xue Qingheng, and to her right was a woman dressed in gorgeous clothes, with a gentle expression, holding a fan in her hand, as warm and refined as jade.
This must be Nangong Jiuyan. Just as rumored, she has a beautiful appearance, no wonder so many men secretly admire her.
Nalan Jingwen glanced around. There were no refugees here; it was as if the area had been deliberately cleared out.
The carriage slowly approached, and Nalan Jingwen got off. She turned around and reached out her hand. Jinse glanced at her hand, then at the people around her, lowered her eyes slightly, and placed her hand on top of it.
Nalan Jingwen put his arm around his waist and led him to the front of the crowd.
"It's been a long time, Your Highness."
Nangong Shiyu glanced at Jinse without changing his expression, pondering his identity, and then said, "Long time no see, Your Highness. Let me introduce you. This is my third sister, Nangong Jiuyan."
Nalan Jingwen looked over, a smile playing on his lips as he sized her up.
"So this is the Third Princess. I have long heard that the Third Princess is handsome and approachable. Now it seems that the rumors are true."
Nangong Jiu stepped forward, also sizing up Nalan Jingwen, and nodded, saying, "Not at all, Your Highness is too kind. The journey must have been arduous. Please come to the post station, where we have prepared the finest wine and dishes to welcome Your Highness and wash away the dust of your journey."
Nalan Jingwen gave her a deep look and nodded.
"Then I thank Your Highness the Crown Princess and the Third Prince."
Nangong Shiyu, who was standing to the side, looked rather unpleasant, but she held back when she saw Xue Qingheng's indifferent expression.
He smiled and said, "Please."
Originally, Nangong Shiyu was supposed to be the one to lead the greeting, but Nangong Jiuyan's actions clearly showed that he didn't take her seriously.
Nalan Jingwen walked ahead with Jinse in his arms, while Nangong Jiuyan and Nangong Shiyu chatted beside her from time to time.
But seeing that Nalan Jingwen seemed uninterested, he didn't say anything more.
A crowd had gathered around him. Some were curious whether Nalan Jingwen looked as ferocious as the rumors suggested, while others came to see Nangong Jiu's banquet. However, Nalan Jingwen didn't care about any of them.
Before they even reached the inn, they heard a series of exclamations from ahead.
"Look! The man is coming out!!"
"Quick, go see!! I wonder if he's wearing pants today. I've been drooling over him the past few days!!"
"I wonder how much silver it would cost to spend a night with him?"
"Why don't you ask? Maybe it won't cost much."
Nalan Jing had a keen sense of hearing, so he naturally heard it very clearly.
"It's him again?! A man dressed like that, I wonder who he's trying to seduce!"
"This is absolutely indecent and shameless!!"
Nangong Shiyu and the other person clearly heard it too, and their expressions turned somewhat unpleasant.
"Your Highness, please excuse my rudeness. I will send someone to drive them away immediately."
Nalan Jingwen showed no interest, nodded without saying anything, but caught a glimpse of a red figure out of the corner of his eye, and suddenly stopped in his tracks.