kingnovel Chapter 26 Treasures of Shuimu
Chapter 26 Treasures of Shuimu
Luo Sifan naturally didn't overlook the unusual activity of the carriage team.
They cautiously and slowly made their way forward, gradually catching up with the carriage that moved as slowly as a tortoise.
The car window was flung open, revealing most of a beautiful woman's face, who then aggressively looked Luo Sifan up and down.
Luo Sifan puffed out her chest even more without any hesitation.
"Young lady, are you heading to Yongning Prefecture?"
The beautiful woman concealed the disappointment in her eyes, smiled, and her attitude softened considerably. She spoke in standard Northern Mandarin, clear and pleasant to the ear.
Luo Sifan glanced at the four-clawed golden dragon painted with gold on the bottom of the carriage and felt a slight stirring in his heart.
Force out a standard smile:
"Madam guessed correctly, I am indeed on my way back to my home in Yongning Prefecture."
"They're going the same way as me!"
The beautiful woman had expressive features and feigned surprise.
"Wei San! Stop the car!"
She then pushed open a car door, and the beautiful woman stretched out a soft, jade-like hand, raising it in front of Luo Sifan's face.
"If you don't mind, young lady, please get in the car and come along!"
Without any hesitation, Luo Sifan hooked his arm around the beautiful woman's soft, smooth hand, lifted her skirt, and swayed his waist as he stepped into the carriage.
His gaze swept over the fur-collared boy with half-exposed dark eyes and a listless expression. His mind trembled, and a certain alien spiritual energy evolved from the Taiyi spiritual energy reacted violently.
Secretly startled, Luo Sifan revealed a hint of surprise:
"Madam, is this...?"
The beautiful woman, observing Luo Sifan's subtle expression, smiled even more naturally:
"It was my son and I who came all the way from the countryside of Ningyan City to treat this child's health problems."
"This child is good in every way, except that he is a little weak and lazy."
"Which prominent family in Yongning Prefecture are you, young lady? Your bearing is extraordinary even from afar."
The beautiful woman's eyes were piercing.
Luo Sifan smiled faintly:
"Madam, you flatter me. I am the eldest daughter of the Lin family in Yongning Prefecture, which is hardly a prestigious family."
"Lin family? Lin family?"
The beautiful woman thought for a moment, had no recollection of it, and slapped the boy with the fur collar hard:
"Why aren't you going to greet Miss Lin yet?"
The boy with the fur collar reluctantly sat up straight and bowed to Luo Sifan.
"Xu Huanzhen of the Xu family of Cangjian Mountain in Ningdu greets Miss Lin."
Ningyan City is the capital of the Silverfrost Empire, and is often referred to as Ningdu in common parlance.
Losfan extended her hand in greeting, a standard gesture of courtesy from an unmarried woman like Silverfrost.
"Lin Xiaozhi of the Lin family of Yongning Prefecture greets Madam and Young Master Chen."
The beautiful woman scanned the two men's faces, growing more and more fond of them with each glance.
“Miss Lin is about the same age as my son, so there’s no need to address her as ‘Madam’ every time; that’s too formal. Miss Lin, just call me Aunt Su.”
Luo Sifan had no choice but to sit upright, bow, and call out "Aunt Su".
Aunt Su beamed with joy, as if she had already won over half of her daughter-in-law.
By this time, the carriage was near the city gate. The city guards split into two groups and cleared both ends of the gate to welcome the carriage into the city.
Luo Sifan watched all this without being moved. Aunt Su and Xu Huanzhen exchanged glances, their curiosity about Luo Sifan growing even stronger.
The carriage clattered along the main street of Yongning City, heading east. Luo Sifan glanced out the window from time to time; the Lin residence seemed to be not far away.
Aunt Su suddenly asked:
"Miss Lin, you must be familiar with Yongning City. But are you aware of the Mu family of Danmen?"
Luo Sifan's expression showed slight surprise:
"Aunt Su is going to the Mu family? I do have some dealings with them."
Aunt Su's face lit up with joy. She reached out and took Luo Sifan's hand, patting it gently twice.
“That’s great. I was worried that the people leading the way would get lost, but now that you’re here, I don’t have to worry about them going astray.”
Luo Sifan smiled helplessly and nodded in agreement, having to suppress his idea of jumping off the train halfway home.
The convoy traveled smoothly without any obstacles. At intersections and turns, soldiers from Yong'an Prefecture were already on guard with flags and acting as guides. There was no need for Luo Sifan to give any instructions.
Before long, the convoy stopped in front of the Mu family mansion. Important members of the Mu family were already lined up and waiting.
A young man, who had been waiting there for a long time and was dressed in fine clothes, bowed to the carriage, then looked up and arrogantly uttered:
"Lady Anle, the Heir Apparent of Anle has arrived!"
Luo Sifan narrowed his eyes, while Madam Su and Xu Huanzhen remained calm and composed as if they hadn't heard anything.
As soon as the car door opened, a young woman in a white dress with a graceful figure stepped out, lifting a footstool with her skirt. The Mu family members were immediately struck by her beauty.
When Luo Sifan looked up, Mu Cundao and the others who had just dealt with Luo Sifan immediately widened their eyes.
"Miss Lin!"
A few low gasps rose and fell among the crowd.
Luo Sifan smiled awkwardly and nodded in acknowledgment, focusing most of his attention on helping Madam Su step down from the stool.
Madam Su's gaze swept over the Mu family members, then she smiled and looked back at Luo Sifan:
"Miss Lin, I didn't know you were a celebrity in Yongning Prefecture."
Luo Sifan, supporting Madam Su, gave a wry smile:
"That's because of the Duchess of Anle. They never expected an acquaintance to come out of the carriage. They were just surprised."
Xu Huanzhen followed closely behind and was helped down from the carriage by a composed middle-aged man. She looked tired and leaned weakly on the shoulder of the steady middle-aged man.
Mu Cundao led his men over to pay their respects, and after a round of pleasantries, he learned that Luo Sifan had hitched a ride from outside the city, which eased his doubts considerably.
After the ceremony, the group went straight into the ancestral hall of the Mu family. The three doors were wide open, and there were many fresh flowers arranged on the tables and chairs that they had not seen last time.
The Mu family's scouts were stationed every three steps and every five steps, making it seem as if the entire family had come out in force.
Madam Su held Luo Sifan's hand tightly the whole way, and the two chatted intimately. Most of the Mu family members who did not know Luo Sifan regarded her as a close relative of Madam Su.
Unable to escape, Luo Sifan finally sat down next to Xu Huanzhen in the guest seats on the Anle Duke's side.
After tea was served, the two sides exchanged pleasantries. Luo Sifan listened attentively and learned that the Duke of Anle was from the Silverfrost Empire's most prestigious family, comparable to the royal family. They were not required to bow in court and sat at the same table as the emperor. The depth of this favor surprised even Luo Sifan, who already knew him.
I never imagined that this simply dressed and easy-going Lady Anle was hiding such a deep secret.
"Patriarch Mu! Do you recognize this item?"
Madam Su's expression turned serious, and her tone became much more solemn. Suddenly, she held an old scroll in her hand.
Mu Cundao's smiling expression froze, realizing that the important matter of the day had arrived.
Stepping forward, Mu Cundao took the scroll from the smiling Madam Su. He had only unfurled a few inches when a clear look of difficulty appeared on his face.
“Madam Anle, I naturally recognize this item. It is a copy of the Shui Mu Cang Zhen Juan, a family heirloom of my Mu family.”
Madam Su's face lit up with joy, and she clapped her hands, saying:
"Excellent! I see a recipe for a pill called the Marrow Cleansing Pill in the scroll. May I borrow it to take a look at the Anle Duke's Mansion?"
Madam Su's eyes were piercing, and although her words remained graceful and gentle, her imposing presence was gradually becoming more and more intimidating.
Mu Cundao stood frozen in the hall, holding the scroll in his hand, his mind racing, and before he knew it, he was sweating profusely.
Under Madam Su's suspicious gaze, Mu Cundao hesitated for a moment before forcing himself to speak:
"Madam Anle! Please forgive my bluntness, but while the scroll of Shui Mu Cang Zhen is indeed genuine, the Mu family's treasure trove has remained unopened for a century since our ancestor passed away!"
Madam Su raised an eyebrow:
"What is the meaning of Patriarch Mu's intention? Can't you open the treasures of my Anle Duke's Mansion even once?"