20demayo Chapter 316
Chapter 316
"elder sister……"
The boy was exhausted. His fingertips gently gripped her collar. His voice grew weaker and weaker. He nestled in her arms as if he had fallen asleep. It was unclear whether he could hear her or not. The surroundings were silent, with only the faint breathing of the person in his arms.
Nalan Jingwen held him in the water, his thoughts drifting. The hideous black lines on Anian's body, which resembled vines, had gradually disappeared, leaving his chest smooth. The air was filled with a strong herbal scent, mixed with a strange, indescribable smell. The water in the bucket, which was originally dark brown, had turned as black as ink, perhaps due to his imagination.
An hour later, a knock came at the door, accompanied by Aman's slightly sarcastic voice.
"The time has come. His body can't stay in the water for long. If he doesn't get up soon, we'll be collecting his corpse."
Nalan Jingwen finally snapped out of his thoughts, carried the person out of the bathtub, wiped the person's body clean with water before carrying him to bed. He was very careful. Anian was too tired and was sleeping soundly, so he was not woken up. After covering him with a blanket, Nalan Jingwen turned and left the room.
Aman stood at the door. When she saw her come out, he looked her up and down, then stretched out a hand and said, "I've saved the person, but where are the things?"
Nalan Jingwen glanced at her, then gave a look to the servant beside him. The servant obeyed and left, saying, "I'll bring it to you later."
Upon hearing this, Aman said no more and went downstairs.
Xiao Congyu, who had been waiting at the door, stepped forward and said, "Miss, the hot water is ready."
Nalan Jingwen nodded and instructed, "Guard this place well. No one is allowed to enter except me."
Xiao Congyu's expression was serious. "I understand."
Nalan Jingwen returned to his room and washed up. Thinking of A Nian's plea earlier, he went to his desk, picked up a pen and wrote something on a piece of paper. After half an incense stick had burned, he folded the letter, walked to the window, and made a whistling gesture.
Although there was no sound, it seemed as if a ripple was spreading through the air. A moment later, a huge black eagle landed in front of the window.
Nalan Jingwen placed the folded letter in the small bucket beside its legs, and finally patted its head, "Go on."
The black eagle rubbed against her palm before spreading its wings and flying away, gradually disappearing into the clear blue sky.
Just as Nalan Jingwen closed the window, he heard a loud knocking on the door and Aman's angry voice.
"Open the door!! Open the door now!!"
Without any surprise or fear, Nalan Jingwen opened the door and saw Aman with an angry expression.
"You liar!! Didn't you say there would be three pots? Why is there only one?! You were just kidding me! You broke your promise, you liar!!"
"Give me back my wine!!"
Two jugs of wine were enough to make the usually composed person lose his composure and break down. Nalan Jingwen not only did not panic, but under her angry accusations, the corners of his lips curled up into a faint smile.
She had only taken two jugs of the white jade wine originally. Saying she took three jugs was just a last resort. She had no choice but to lie to save people. She would only be able to find a way to take two more jugs when she met Changsheng again.
Seeing that Nalan Jingwen remained silent, Aman became even angrier. This was the first time she had been deceived. Before, all those people had begged her to come out of seclusion to save people with mountains of gold and silver and beautiful women and jewels. They had all fawned over her, afraid that she would go back on her word if she was unhappy.
Only this woman in front of me! We had a clearly agreed-upon deal, and in the end, I saved someone for her, and she still tricked me like this! If word gets out, how will she ever face anyone in the martial arts world again?!
Aman grew angrier the more she thought about it, and raised her fist to swing at Nalan Jingwen's face. The servant who was following behind Aman was shocked when he saw this and hurriedly tried to stop her. But as soon as he took a step, he saw Nalan Jingwen easily deflect the punch and firmly grasp her fist in his palm.
Aman tried to pull her fist away from her, but after several attempts, it wouldn't budge. She couldn't help but curse again, "You, a woman, are so shameless, doing such despicable things! You're shameless!!"
She looked at the furious Aman, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes. She exerted a little force in her palm, and Aman staggered back two steps, regaining his balance, his eyes wide with anger.
"Is this the behavior of a gentleman?!"
It sounds rather incongruous for someone from the martial arts world to constantly talk about being a villain or a gentleman.
Ignoring her anger, Nalan Jingwen slowly said, "It's just two jugs of wine, I'll owe you for now."
His casual tone, however, broke Ah Man's defenses once again.
"What do you mean 'just two jugs of wine'?! If you hadn't said you'd exchange three jugs of wine for that person's life, would I have gone to so much trouble to save him?! If it weren't for this wine, I wouldn't have even given him a second glance. What does it matter to me whether he lives or dies?!"
"If you had said earlier that you didn't have that much wine, I wouldn't have wasted so much time talking to you!"
Ah Man was furious, but she couldn't beat the other woman, so she could only glare at her.
Nalan Jingwen showed no remorse, calmly looking at her and saying, "I don't have Baiyu Wine, but there are other kinds of wine in this world. If you want, I can give you wines that are even more precious than this."
The Fengtian royal family has all kinds of wine. Every year, the other three kingdoms also send so much tribute. Nalan Fengxing sends dozens, if not hundreds, of cases of wine to her residence every year. However, she is not in the residence for most of the year and does not drink much, so all the good wine is just piled up and no one drinks it.
"Stop lying to me! If I believe you again, I'll have lived all these years in vain!!"
"I never lie."
"Bullshit! Give me back the two jugs of white jade wine you owe me first!!"
Nalan Jing paused upon hearing the voice, somewhat helpless.
"I do not have the white jade wine, but..."
As she spoke, she took out a token from her bosom and handed it to her, saying, "With this token, you can drink as much alcohol as you want."
Aman's gaze followed her movements and subconsciously fell on the token in her hand. His pupils shrank instantly at just one glance.
"You're that lecherous good-for-nothing?!"
Upon hearing this, not only the attendants around him, but even Nalan Jingwen fell into an unusual silence.
Her image is still so deeply ingrained in people's minds.
Nalan Jingwen cleared his throat and handed her the token. "Take this to the Prince's Mansion. You can drink as much as you want."
Aman's eyes changed the moment she saw the token. Her expression became somewhat strange, and a variety of expressions flashed across her face before finally settling on a clear expression.
She had previously mentioned that this person had a dying man with him along the way, and she didn't know why, but if it was Nalan Jingwen, then it would make sense.
Aman's thoughts wandered off course, and Nalan Jingwen noticed it, but he didn't say much. He just looked at her calmly.
Aman hesitated upon hearing her words, then looked up at Nalan Jingwen. Her tone was no longer as urgent as before, but a wary look appeared in her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Nalan Jingwen raised an eyebrow slightly. "Can't you tell?"
"I just wanted to be friends with you."
Her tone was casual, as if she really just wanted to make a friend.