Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by He Changdi. He stared at Mo Chenggui unhappily with a threatening aura that demanded obedience. âUncle Mo, you had better remember this. Nothing happened to Lianâer at all. If I happen to hear anything that says otherwise, I wonât let you off easy even if youâve served our family for so long!â
Mo Chenggui was shocked by the sudden forceful air his Third Young Master had taken. That aura had been exactly like that of the old count when he had still been alive. Like a bucket of cold water, it had completely woken him up.
In the end, Mo Chenggui glanced at He Sanlang and chose to seal his lips on this matter. âPlease rest assured, Third Young Master. This old Mo knows how to behave.â
âItâs good that Uncle Mo knows how to behave. I hope that Uncle Mo will pass down this order to the rest of the old soldiers. I donât want to hear any other misunderstandings about Lianâer in the future either.â
After throwing down those words, He Changdi twitched the reins in his hands and pushed his horse ahead to the warm pen where Chu Lian was.
Mo Chenggui stopped his mount and stared at He Changdiâs leaving back as he moved to meet his wife. Uncertainty wavered in his heart. Ever since he had come to the northern border and seen everything that He Changdi had done in the military for himself, his turbid old eyes had a new shine to them.
The current Count Jingâan, also known as the North Defender General of the border at Mingzhou, was a large, tan and burly man who simply didnât look at all like the tall and slim Old Count Jingâan.
If not for how loving the old count and countess had been and how he had watched Matriarch He swelling up for ten months and eventually giving birth to Count Jingâan, he would even have suspected that the current Count Jingâan wasnât the old countâs biological son.
Everyone said that He Sanlang took after his mother, Countess Jingâan, but that was because they had never seen Old Count Jingâan in person. Out of the three sons that Madam Liu had given birth to, He Sanlang was the most similar to the old count when he had been young. This was most evident in his slender build and his steady and introverted nature.
It was most likely because of the similarity to her husband that the matriarch liked this grandson of hers the most.
The second son of House Jingâan was already twenty four this year. Even though he still refused to take a wife, the matriarch had left him to his own devices. However, when He Sanlang came of age, the matriarch had gone to plead the empress dowager for the sake of getting him one of House Yingâs fertile young misses.
This wasnât purely because Matriarch He wanted the He bloodline to go on, but also because she wanted the grandson who looked the most like her husband to leave behind some children of his blood for the future.
A resolute glint lit up in Mo Chengguiâs old eyes. He seemed to have returned to the days when he had followed the old count to the battlefields and lost themselves in the heat of battle. Since the old count had already gone ahead without him, he would have to take the place of the old count to take care of the grandson who looked the most like him.
When they returned to the He Estate, He Sanlang actually personally helped Chu Lian out of the warm pen.
Wenqing and Wenlan were waiting on Chu Lian nearby. When they saw this, they couldnât contain the elation on their faces. It seemed like this incident hadnât created a gap between Third Young Master and Third Young Madam, but had actually pulled the young couple closer instead.
Chu Lian shot a look at the huge palm that He Sanlang had offered to her and placed her tiny hand in. The corners of her lips curled up.
Just as the couple had entered the He Estate and settled down at the table, before they even had the time to breathe, Mo Chenggui had already strode in with someone behind him. It was a familiar face to all of them: Laiyue.
This was when Chu Lian recalled that He Changdi had entrusted the matter of searching for the Snow Mountain Mists flower to Laiyue. Did this mean that there was good news?
As the thought crossed her mind, she became even more alert.
When Laiyue entered the hall after Mo Chenggui, his face was practically radiating joy. Even before He Changdi or Chu Lian could ask, he had already spoken up, unable to contain himself. âThird Young Master, Third Young Madam, we found it! We found the Snow Mountain Mists!â
As expected. Chu Lianâs almond-shaped eyes lit up, âDid you find it at Mount Ah-ming? Have you heard when it will bloom?â
Laiyue nodded so furiously that he looked like a chicken pecking at grain. âWeâve investigated all the details. It seems like the Snow Mountain Mists will bloom in about seven or eight days. We heard from an old barbarian living at the foot of Mount Ah-ming that the flower blooms for about five days. We just have to climb up to the mountain peak during this period and pluck the flower.â
Although there wasnât any change in He Changdiâs expression, his eyes were also overflowing with the light of expectation. âSince thatâs so, send out the orders. Prepare to leave immediately, weâll depart for the mountain tomorrow!â
Mo Chenggui had received the good news along with them, so he followed Laiyue and went off to prepare for the journey.
Soon, only the young couple were left in the hall, along with Wenqing and Wenlan.
Chu Lian abruptly turned to He Changdi with her eyes sparkling. She was about to speak when He Changdi cut in first.
âYouâre not allowed to go!â
Chu Lian was stunned speechless, but she had enough wit left to roll her eyes. What was this? When had He Sanlang learned how to read her mind? She hadnât even said anything yet, but he had already anticipated what she was going to say.
He Changdiâs gaze fell onto her ankle.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âThe wound on my ankle healed a long time ago. I can walk the same as any other person now.â
He Sanlang remained resolute, âEven so, youâre not allowed to go. Be good and stay in the He Estate. Iâll lead my men to Mount Ah-ming.â
In the end, no matter how Chu Lian tried to persuade him, He Sanlang was stubborn and refused to let her go. Even though Chu Lian was on the verge of getting angry at him, He Sanlang still remained steadfast.
Chu Lian had no choice but to give up on following along.
Actually, she knew that He Sanlang was worried for her health. However, when she saw him being so stubborn, she just wanted to knock heads with him anyway.