Chapter 495: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 495: Who is More extravagant (3)
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruiyuan collected himself and carefully examined the ginseng in the wooden box. After a while, he looked up at Mo Yan and said, "This ginseng is extremely rare, and I’ve never seen one like it before. I can't determine its exact age. Yan'er, may I take it back and have the Ghost Doctor examine it?"
Since she had found the ginseng for him, Mo Yan naturally agreed, "Brother Xiao, you can take it. But if it’s not old enough, could you return it as soon as possible?"
Fearing he might misunderstand, Mo Yan quickly recounted how she found the ginseng, omitting any mention of her spatial storage. She concluded, "That 'big black cat' might be a spirit. Perhaps it’s hiding even older ginseng. If this one isn’t a thousand years old, I’ll see if I can trade for another."
Xiao Ruiyuan patted her head, his voice low and gentle, "Yan'er, you don’t need to explain. I understand."
He never doubted Yan'er’s intentions. Even if she had kept it for herself, he wouldn't think less of her. After all, even a ginseng that wasn’t a thousand years old could be a life-saving treasure. He wouldn’t give it away lightly either, especially since she risked her life to get it.
Thinking of the beast in the deep mountains that commanded the respect of the four beasts, Xiao Ruiyuan didn’t want his beloved to take such a risk again. He sternly looked at Mo Yan and said with unprecedented seriousness, "Yan'er, the 'big black cat' you mentioned is too dangerous. Even if it has older ginseng, I don’t want you to seek it out again. Do you understand?"
Mo Yan stared at him, easily seeing the deep concern in his eyes. She nodded firmly, "If this is a thousand-year-old ginseng, I definitely won’t go back to find the 'big black cat.'"
Hearing the implication in her words, Xiao Ruiyuan frowned and finally said helplessly, "If you must go back into the mountains, you have to tell me first! Yan'er, promise me!"
Mo Yan couldn't refuse. Besides, she was unlikely to go looking for the 'big black cat' again, so she agreed with a smile.
Xiao Ruiyuan breathed a silent sigh of relief, glanced at the ginseng on the table, and finally closed the wooden box with hopeful anticipation.
Last year, upon receiving news of a thousand-year-old ginseng, he secretly dispatched many people to find it, but to no avail. Later, he had to go north to fight the enemy, leaving the task to Huai Xi. Huai Xi searched for months until recently discovering that the news was a deliberate falsehood to test whether they had the antidote ingredients to cure his cousin.
If this ginseng were truly a thousand years old, his tormented cousin’s recovery would be imminent, which excited him greatly.
Feeling Xiao Ruiyuan’s joy, Mo Yan was also happy. But remembering that he, too, had been poisoned by the Heart Devouring Poison and nearly died, while only Prince Kang was punished and others remained free, she couldn’t smile.
Seeing her frowning, Xiao Ruiyuan held her hand and asked in confusion, "Is something troubling you?"
Mo Yan nodded honestly and said, "Brother Xiao, Prince Kang being stripped of his title and confined to the mansion is deserved, but more than just him harmed you. Others are still free, enjoying wealth and power. It’s too unfair to you!"
Surprised that she was indignant on his behalf, Xiao Ruiyuan felt warm inside and didn't want to see her upset. He comforted her, "Though they appear to have escaped, His Majesty won’t let them go unpunished. Once I recover and return to court, there will be other arrangements. Don’t worry, Yan'er."
His words were vague, but Mo Yan understood, feeling somewhat comforted. She continued to ask, "Who exactly wants to harm you? Have you found out? Do you know who made the Heart Devouring Poison, and can you find evidence to bring them down..."
Listening to her string of questions, Xiao Ruiyuan’s lips curled into a faint smile. He patiently answered each one, "We have a good idea of who’s involved, and we have leads on the source of the poison. We just need more time to trace it back to the culprit..."
"That's good... Brother Xiao, be careful. Though they may not try to assassinate you in the capital, they might frame you in court..."
Having gotten the answers she wanted, Mo Yan finally stopped her relentless questioning. She then, like an old lady, carefully reminded him of many things before finally stopping as Xiao Ruiyuan responded with a smile.
It was rare for them to meet, and they seemed to have found a thousand-year-old ginseng. Even the troublesome matters seemed to have solutions. Both were in a good mood, sitting together by the desk, chatting about various topics. Most of the time, Mo Yan talked while Xiao Ruiyuan listened, occasionally chiming in with insightful comments.
Learning that the papers on the desk were designs for a winery, Xiao Ruiyuan became very interested. He carefully looked at the plans, impressed by the unique designs, and listened to Mo Yan’s explanations, feeling a sense of pride.
However, building a winery was clearly a massive project. Besides the land, the construction costs alone were substantial. Xiao Ruiyuan wondered where Yan'er got so much money and worried about the financial burden. Instead of scolding her for being extravagant, he silently calculated his own savings, thinking of using them to fulfill her dream. In truth, it was hard to say who was more extravagant!
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