Chapter 997: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 997: It's Better to End the Pain Quickly (2)
Mo Yan let out a quiet sigh. She wanted to tell Da Ni'er that the man wouldn’t be coming, to save her the wait. But seeing the hopeful look on the young woman’s face, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. So she told the truth instead: “He’ll probably come. He said earlier that he would.”
Da Ni'er's eyes lit up instantly, and a faint blush bloomed across her pale face. As she ran off, she called out, “Yan girl, I’m heading home to take in the laundry. I’ll be back later for dinner!”
Mo Yan knew perfectly well why Da Ni'er had rushed home, and her heart ached. She wanted nothing more than to tell Yan Junyu right now about Da Ni'er's feelings, to make him speak plainly and shatter the last shred of hope still lingering in her heart.
Not long after Da Ni'er left, Yan Junyu arrived at the Mo residence, bringing along more than twenty carts.
This time, he didn’t come in his usual flashy purple carriage. Instead, he rode a snow-white stallion, looking dashing and refined as ever.
But Mo Yan paid no mind to Yan Junyu’s cheerful greeting from atop his horse. Her eyes landed instead on the woman riding beside him on a black steed.
The woman appeared to be in her late teens, with a round, youthful face and large, expressive eyes. Her lips were small and rosy, her nose well-shaped with a slightly rounded tip—overall, she had a very pleasant and likable appearance. Even though it was their first meeting, and Mo Yan knew nothing about her, she found herself instinctively liking the woman.
She wasn’t tall, but her tightly fitted riding attire gave her a taller, more defined silhouette. The outfit emphasized her curves, making her sweet features appear slightly more assertive. One look was enough to tell that this young woman had a bold personality—far from as harmless as her looks might suggest.
Before Mo Yan could go over and greet them, the woman had already dismounted in one swift, practiced motion, her manner confident and spirited—instantly leaving a good impression.
The young woman gave Mo Yan an assessing look. Whatever thought passed through her mind softened her gaze. Then, she frankly introduced herself, “You must be the Hejia County Princess, personally granted the title by the Emperor. Well, I’m also appointed by the Emperor—my title’s the County Princess of Chang’an. My name’s Chu Yue. We’re of equal rank, so there’s no need for formal courtesies between us.”
County Princess of Chang’an?
Mo Yan’s gaze sharpened. She had learned from Xiao Ruiyuan the real reason Yan Junyu had fled here. If Qing’er hadn’t overheard something, she never would’ve guessed that this sweet-faced girl was the very County Princess who had been pressuring Yan Junyu into marriage.
Still, this County Princess of Chang’an was quite the character. Mo Yan had been in the capital for years and never met anyone so unconcerned with etiquette. Chu Yue’s candid and cheerful nature was rare—especially for someone of royal blood. She didn’t act the least bit arrogant toward Mo Yan, who had risen from humble roots. That alone made her hard to dislike.
Since the County Princess had made her stance clear, Mo Yan didn’t bother with formalities either. She smiled naturally and said, “Since the County Princess insists, I shall respectfully comply.”
The County Princess beamed, clearly pleased, and her smile became even more sincere. “I knew you were a good one. No wonder Imperial Uncle and the Crown Prince are always singing your praises.”
Mo Yan didn’t buy for a second that the Emperor and the Crown Prince had so much free time to talk about her in front of this girl. But since the County Princess was a guest, and had said it with such friendliness, Mo Yan wasn’t about to argue. She simply replied humbly, “I’m grateful for His Majesty and His Highness’s kindness. I’m not worthy of such honor.”
The County Princess waved her hand and said seriously, “You developed high-yield rice and saved countless people from starvation. Just for that, being made a County Princess is hardly enough. If you were a man, you’d be ennobled already. There’s no need to be so modest.”
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