Free Web NovelChapter 183: Chapter 182: Ginger Candy
A gentle voice sounded by her ear, and Du Yunluo stared directly at Mu Lianxiao’s slender black eyes, which were so close that they reflected a shadow of emotions she couldn’t quite decipher—surprise, panic, or perhaps a hint of joy.
As they spoke, Du Yunluo could even feel Mu Lianxiao’s warm breath entirely upon her nose tip.
Du Yunluo thought her nose tip might be sweating; it felt a little itchy, a little hot.
She hurriedly nodded, her movement a bit too large, causing a bump as her forehead collided with Mu Lianxiao’s.
Du Yunluo’s eyes suddenly tightened.
Mu Lianxiao was taken aback, unmoving for a moment until he realized their proximity was indeed too close, prompting him to quickly step back, and Du Yunluo lowered her head.
Though an accident, the incident swept away the gloom brought by Princess Yunhua between them, and without realizing it, Mu Lianxiao’s heart beat faster.
He took a long, deep breath in secret.
After all, they were outside the palace gate, with the Du family’s carriage and maid around, so even if Mu Lianxiao’s heart raced, he couldn’t just go and hold Du Yunluo’s hand again like before.
Clearing his throat to mask the awkwardness, Mu Lianxiao said, "Let’s get on the carriage and go fetch the medicine first."
Du Yunluo looked up at him and, seeing his unease, couldn’t help but chuckle, curving her lips.
She didn’t say yes or no, simply held onto Jin Rui’s hand and stepped onto the carriage.
Jin Rui bowed to Mu Lianxiao and followed her up.
Just as they entered the carriage, Jin Rui noticed Du Yunluo leaning against a pillow, her gaze fixed on the gauze curtains, looking out at the scenery outside.
Jin Rui sat next to Du Yunluo, offering her a bowl of almond drink, her eyes following Du Yunluo’s view outside, just in time to see Mu Lianxiao mounting a horse.
Du Yunluo sipped the almond drink.
The almond drink was neither cold nor hot, just right for this season, made sweeter with honey to suit her preference, smooth and sweet, which Du Yunluo enjoyed.
"Jin Rui’er," Du Yunluo continued looking outside without turning back, "see, my hand is injured, oh..."
Jin Rui lowered her eyes, concerned, "Miss, it’s just a scrape, it’s bound to hurt a bit, you’ll have to bear with it."
"It doesn’t really hurt," Du Yunluo softly laughed, "as long as Mother doesn’t get angry and hit my palm again."
Jin Rui was momentarily stunned, thinking how could the madam hit her palm when her hand was already hurt, just as she was about to ask, she saw Du Yunluo’s smiling face and suddenly realized, keeping silent.
Miss is telling her not to inform Madam.
Jin Rui was deeply troubled, afraid that if she told, Miss wouldn’t forgive her, but if she didn’t and Madam found out later, what would she do?
Caught between two difficulties, Jin Rui hesitated greatly, thinking that if she had known such a situation would unfold today, she would have gladly swapped with Jin Ling and stayed to guard the Anhua Courtyard.
Thinking of this, Jin Rui’s eyes lit up.
Jin Ling, yes, Jin Ling!
Jin Ling had accompanied Miss several times before, and last time when the Princely Heir sent Miss back to the mansion, it was Jin Ling who served them.
Looking at how Miss and the Princely Heir conversed, it was obviously not the first time, yet Jin Ling never mentioned it.
Jin Rui lightly bit her lip, that sneaky girl, keeping such secrets, it’s clear she’s just as complicit with Miss...
Forget it, forget it, if Jin Ling turned a blind eye, if she spoke out in front of Madam, how would she compete with Jin Ling in front of Miss later on?
Jin Rui figured it out, smiling playfully, "Miss, Madam dotes on you the most. Seeing your injury, she might even shed tears. The medicine from the Princely Heir must be good; your wounds will heal quickly, so Madam will be at ease."
Du Yunluo pursed her lips, softly replying after a moment.
Only then did Jin Rui put her mind at ease, pulling out a lacquered food box, opened it for Du Yunluo to choose.
The snacks from the kitchen at Du Mansion couldn’t rival the Imperial Kitchen or Suyun Workshop, but were sweetened for Du Yunluo’s taste, so she was used to them and quite liked them.
In the round platter, divided into quarters, there were red bean cakes, mung bean cakes, lily cakes, and cloud slices, with ginger candies inside.
Du Yunluo raised her brows.
Mu Lianxiao didn’t favor sweet flavors, while what Du Yunluo found just right, Mu Lianxiao found too sweet.
Except ginger candies, perhaps because Mu Lianxiao loved ginger candies, their tastes were somewhat similar.
Du Yunluo picked one and popped it into her mouth, savoring the spiciness softened by honey, leaving a ginger fragrance, she nodded contentedly.
Parting the curtain, Du Yunluo smiled and called, "Princely Heir."
Mu Lianxiao, riding on a horse, turned his head to see her beaming smile, and couldn’t help but smile back, "What is it?"
Fingers took a piece of ginger candy from the food box, Du Yunluo extended her hand out of the carriage window, "Want some ginger candy?"
Ginger candy?
Mu Lianxiao’s gaze fell on Du Yunluo’s fingertips.
Her slender jade-like fingers, the nails still showing some color from the recent dye, held a piece of ginger candy, and its owner looked at him expectantly.
Her almond eyes sparkled, like stars captured within.
It reminded him of a child eager to be praised after writing a good piece of calligraphy.
Mu Lianxiao chuckled, not knowing why he thought of it that way, but feeling her eyes were truly beautiful, their beauty warming his heart.
Without thinking much, Mu Lianxiao gently tugged at the reins, drawing closer to the carriage, suddenly bending down, and opened his mouth to take the ginger candy.
As his cool, thin lips touched Du Yunluo’s fingers, she was momentarily at a loss, just feeling the candy being whisked away from her hand, the warm tip of his tongue brushing across her fingertips, returning to see Mu Lianxiao with a smile, straightening up.
Her arm slightly froze, slowly retracting, the fingertip’s sensation so clear she didn’t know how to converse with Mu Lianxiao.
This person, this person is truly something!
Always like this, quietly stirring up one’s heart, now he is clearly like a young man opening his heart, so direct it leaves one...
Mu Lianxiao himself was a bit stunned, Du Yunluo handed him the candy intending for him to take it by hand, yet he went directly to take it with his mouth.
He knew his action was undeniably forward just now, but he couldn’t help feeling joy, the touch of his tongue against those fair fingertips, sweeter than ginger candy.
Looking at Du Yunluo, who hadn’t quite come to her senses, Mu Lianxiao said, "Very sweet."
Du Yunluo’s heart trembled, biting hard into the ginger candy in her mouth, she let the curtain fall with a flick.
Jin Rui buried her head eating mung bean cake, while Du Yunluo rolled her eyes, giving a playful glare at the outside for Mu Lianxiao, not caring whether he saw or not, subtly clenching an empty fist, rubbing her fingertips instinctively.
The carriage stopped at the back street of a medical hall on East Street.
Mu Lianxiao dismounted, turning to enter the medical hall, returning a moment later.
Du Yunluo lifted the curtain again, accepting a box of ointment Mu Lianxiao handed her.
"Give it a try," Mu Lianxiao said.
Du Yunluo nodded, and Jin Rui took the ointment, carefully opened it—a fragrance emanating—scooping a small portion, Jin Rui gingerly placed it in Du Yunluo’s palm, cautious not to hurt Miss again.
It felt cool, a bit tingly, but not painful.
Seeing Du Yunluo’s normal expression, Jin Rui breathed a sigh of relief.
