novelraw Chapter 726 - 706: Like
Chapter 726 - 706: Like
When Xie Jue visited the Lan Family, General Lan had gone out to meet friends, leaving only Lan Ningzhen at home to recuperate. Xie Jue handed the gifts he brought to the maidservant, and he was led by Lan Ningzhen’s people to her boudoir. The room was warm with a floor dragon burning, and Lan Ningzhen was leaning on a soft pillow reading a leisurely book. Knowing Xie Jue had arrived, she draped a short jacket over her shoulders and got up to greet him.
She accidentally pulled at her wound, causing a bit of pain, and she softened her posture slightly. Xie Jue frowned, speaking in a deep voice, "Don’t move, just lie down!"
He had just come in from outside, snow and wind clinging to his shoulders, soaking them. Lan Ningzhen looked at him, her eyes seeming to shine. The two were now engaged, officially bound together. For some reason, Lan Ningzhen blushed slightly upon seeing him. Xie Jue felt a bit uncomfortable being looked at this way. He removed his cloak and hung it up, washed his hands before coming over, while the maidservant tactfully excused herself, closing the door behind her, leaving only a small window open for ventilation.
"How is your injury?" Xie Jue sat on the soft stool beside the bed.
"It’s just a flesh wound, looks scary but it’s actually fine. I know my limits, I wouldn’t really risk my life," Lan Ningzhen said with a smile. Her complexion was pale as snow, lips devoid of color, looking extremely frail. Her long hair draped smoothly over her shoulders, sideburns obscuring some of her features. Even at home, while ill, she was heavily made-up.
Xie Jue looked at her powdered face, slightly frowning, half-smiling as he said, "Even while recovering from an illness, Miss Lan wears such heavy makeup?"
Lan Ningzhen touched her face, a bit embarrassed, quickly finding an excuse, "Our Lan Family has so many relatives, all wanting to see me. I couldn’t possibly greet them with a haggard face, so I had to put on makeup."
"Is that so?" Xie Jue found it amusing, fixing his gaze on her eyes, then his eyes moved to her neck. Lan Ningzhen’s skin tone was slightly deeper compared to the women of Yanyang, not as fair. Her neck was slender, without an Adam’s apple. Xie Jue remembered Fang Chuning, whose neck was also long and contours distinct, his Adam’s apple prominent, looking sexy and appealing drinking water in the heat of summer without reservation. Xie Jue, seemingly curious, reached out wanting to touch her neck, doubting if he had gotten it wrong, but he stopped midway, realizing it.
Lan Ningzhen looked at his hand in confusion, "What’s the matter?"
Xie Jue smiled gently, "Nothing, I wanted to check your wound."
"It’s fine, really. I can go up the mountain to hunt snow wolves after resting for just another day." Lan Ningzhen patted her chest, seemingly confident in her strength, utterly unafraid of her injury.
Xie Jue frowned, saying with some annoyance, "This must not happen again."
There would definitely not be another time gambling his life away. When Dugu Jing’s sword pierced his chest, Xie Jue’s breath halted, deeply fearing any mishap.
Lan Ningzhen didn’t mind the injury at all but was puzzled by one thing: why did Xie Jue, who had always been distant towards her, suddenly change his attitude, why?
She had felt it in the palace, especially after she was injured, clearly hearing Xie Jue call her Anning. She had pestered Xie Jue for a long time, wanting him to call her Anning, but he’d never done so, as if it was a name exclusive to someone else, placing it on another person would sully someone.
Yet, on that urgent day, he called her Anning.
When he held her, Lan Ningzhen clearly saw his eyes filled with heartache and regret, it was Xie Jue’s heartache for Lan Ningzhen. Did he really fall for a woman from a foreign land? Did he find someone he belonged with in a distant land? He couldn’t quite tell if he was happy or sad at that moment, his mood plummeting.
Now, with Xie Jue so close, brows gentle and elegant, Lan Ningzhen could clearly see his regret and pity. This was what she had once longed for, hoped for, yet upon truly obtaining it, her heart felt so heavy. Surely, this couldn’t also be part of an act, she thought. If it were an act, would she perhaps feel a little happier?
Xie Jue’s feelings were also complicated, with many things he wanted to say but couldn’t find a way to express.
Lan Ningzhen couldn’t hold back her confusion and asked, "You... Helian, have you fallen for me?"