Chapter 22 Entering Lenovo Country 1

  Nalan Xixi was silent. She didn't know what Nangong Hongye's words meant. Was he saying that he knew, but couldn't tell her? Or was he also unable to answer?

  "Our mother is where." This phrase we use here still has some unadaptability, some unfamiliarity. Today, Officer Hong Ye's two short sentences have already made her completely unsettled. Then why not ask to the end.

  "For now... it's not necessary to know." replied Kougen Hiroya vaguely. He seemed to be put in a difficult position by his own sister.

  Nalan Xixiao was taken aback for a moment, then revealed an expression that was calm yet slightly sorrowful. She had never expected familial love in the first place, so why did she now feel such obvious loss and hurt? It always felt like she was the one being excluded. But indeed it was true, otherwise why would she know nothing about it.

  "It's like that. I know now." Nalan Xianuo said lightly, trying to conceal the tremble in her voice for a moment. She really succeeded. Because in Shangguan Hongye's ears, this sentence was extremely cold.

  The second day, when I saw Shangguan Hongye again, Nalan Xixi had completely returned to normal and accepted the fact. Although nothing had changed, at least she knew something now.

  "Where is the Isle of Medicine?" It seems that there's still some disturbance. Nalan Xinnuo felt that she asked this question a bit awkwardly. She didn't know if Shangguan Hongye had noticed it or not. Finally, she understood why previously when Shangguan Hongye wiped away her tears, she inexplicably felt warmth. "Brother", this word, in those modern TV dramas, was always a warm and fuzzy term. "Brother" was someone to rely on, just like Nangong Yan was to Nangong Jin. She also had an older brother of her own. Even though the way they interacted hadn't changed, but deep down, she really felt warmth...

  "This... I can't tell you." Shangguan Hongye hesitated for a moment and still refused to say.

  "Why." Nalan Xixi didn't understand why Shangguan Hongye kept hiding the truth from her. Once it involved Nan Gongyin, she couldn't remain calm anymore. "I must know."

  "You really love Nan Gong Jin." Shang Guan Hong Ye asked, seemingly changing the subject.

  "Yes, and I said it. He is my husband." Nalan Xixi didn't understand why Shangguan Hongye was always so concerned about who she loved. This person's thinking was completely incomprehensible. Just like the first time they met, when he gave her a recipe for birth control pills out of nowhere.

  "He..."

  "It doesn't matter who he is, I love him." Nalan Xixi interrupted Shangguan Hongye's words. She seemed to have already guessed what he was going to say next. It was nothing more than what he said when he just found out that Nan Gongyu was her husband. She didn't want to hear it again. "He is just Nan Gongyu."

  Shangguan Hong Ye was silent and didn't say a word.

  "Really, can't you tell me where he is?" If it were someone else, Nalan Xixi wouldn't have asked a second time. But this was because of Nan Gongjin, and also because the person in front of her was Shangguan Hongye. So she opened her mouth to ask again.

  "Don't go disturb him. Let him recover from his injuries." Shangguan Hongye said so, not directly refusing, yet also refusing.

  Nalan Xixi smiled slightly. "Never mind. He didn't say anything. Can't you find it yourself?"

  "I'll leave first then." Nalan Xixi smiled indifferently and stood up, but was stopped once again by Shangguan Hongye.

  "Can't bear to look at him one more time before leaving."

  "It's no longer necessary. As long as he is fine, I can rest assured." Nalan Xixi said and continued walking forward.

  "Wait." Xiang Guan Hong Ye called out to her, then got up and walked over to her side. He took a handkerchief wrapped in his sleeve from his blue shirt and handed it to Na Lan Xi Nuo.

  Hesitantly, she took over the handkerchief and opened it with a puzzled expression. Suddenly, she was shocked to find three broken jade pendants inside. From their outline and pattern, they were unmistakably the Double Dragon Jade Pendants she had returned to Du Guhan. How did they break?

  "This was discovered by Hua Que when she was cleaning Du Gu Han's room." Shangguan Hong Ye looked at her puzzled expression and explained, "I've been thinking about it too, and I think this jade pendant has something to do with you. Because you went in to see him and only then did the jade pendant appear. I don't know what emotional entanglement there is between you two, but since you're leaving, as a courtesy, you should go say goodbye." When Shangguan Hong Ye said this, he was truly speaking from his brother's perspective, and Nalan Xian Nu seemed to sense it too.

  "Mm." He nodded, rewrapped the jade pendant and handed it to Shangguan Hongye. Since he had abandoned the jade pendant, shouldn't he also let go of his feelings? Thinking this way, Nalan Xianyu felt that he should indeed go bid farewell, as a friend, or perhaps a good friend.

  "Hand it over to me for what." Taking over the jade pendant, Shangguan Hongye said somewhat annoyed.

  "The jade pendant is broken. It's no longer a jade pendant. It's just a discarded thing. Do whatever you want with it." Nalan Xianyu said, and then walked towards Dugu Han's room.

  Shangguan Hong smiled faintly, feeling a bit helpless and speechless. It can't be helped. Now it seems like he's really become an older brother...

  Hearing the sound of the door being pushed open, Dugu Han, who was meditating with his eyes closed, opened them to see Nalan Xianyu. His gaze flickered for a moment before quickly returning to normal.

  "I didn't mean to wake you up." Nalan Xixi tried her best to keep a calm demeanor in front of Dugu Han, asking him as if she were asking an old friend.

  "There isn't." Du Gu replied coldly.

  "Take good care of yourself. I'll leave first." Nalan Xixi wanted to show some concern for him, but the words that came out felt a bit stiff.

  A hint of sadness and helplessness flashed across Du Gu's eyes, followed by a faint smile, though tinged with sorrow. "You've come to bid me farewell."

  Nalan Xixi nodded and said: "Nowadays, the three-legged cauldron is temporarily stable, and you can live a peaceful life here, so just rest assured and recover from your injuries."

  Du Guo Han opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say, so he just kept silent.

  "I have a question." Nalan Xixi seemed to think of something and said, "Jin's origins. You know about it, don't you?"

  Rumors of this sentence, Dugu Han was stunned for a moment. Then he looked at Nalan Xianyu with complex eyes. In fact, Nalan Xianyu didn't know why she asked either. Anyway, just wanted to hear his thoughts in person.

  "I know." A faint voice. But Nalan Xixiao heard the anger and sorrow of Dugu Han from such a voice. "Not long after that big war, I knew."

  "The country master told you."

  "No, I found it myself. Inside the screen of Father Emperor's bedroom. I accidentally discovered a portrait of someone who looked exactly like Empress Murong." Dugu Han paused for a moment before continuing, "Coincidentally, at that time, Father Emperor came in, so I asked him."

  Nalan Xixi did not make a sound and waited for him to finish speaking.

  "I hate Nan Gong Jin, I also hate my father." Du Guo Han's face was not as calm and cold as usual, but rather gloomy and chillingly cold. "He has always been very friendly to Luo Tian, at first I didn't understand, but after knowing the truth, everything became clear. The big war back then, my father did not take action, it wasn't because of Du Guo Qiang and Du Guo Yan's guarantee, but also because he wanted it that way. However, my two brothers were unaware of this, they thought it was their fault that our family suffered, and felt guilty for the rest of their lives... until their dying day... All of this is caused by Nan Gong Jin's tyranny, as well as my father's indulgence..."

  Nalan Xixiao remained silent for a long time after hearing his words. Everyone has their own difficulties. Everyone is selfish, leading to such consequences. Who is right and who is wrong can no longer be easily distinguished.

  "Such an identity, it makes you so sad, just ignore it." Nalan Xixi wouldn't comfort people, but still said stiffly, feeling a bit inexplicable, bringing up someone's painful past and then coming to comfort them. When did she also become so annoying?

  Dugu Hansheng fell silent. Not because of her persuasion, but because of her. What he resented the most was that even Nalan Xinnuo had fallen deeply in love with Nan Gongyin.

  Nalan Xixi took a deep breath. Dugu Han, indeed, still felt that he owed him.

  Nalan Xixi stood up, softly saying: "Sorry... and thank you." Then she quickly turned around, not letting Dugu Han see her slightly sad and apologetic expression. A thousand words, perhaps only these two words could barely express how much she couldn't let go of him.

  Dugu's heart was filled with bitter laughter, as if it had been crushed by a huge boulder, a dull ache that lingered on. Fortunately, she turned around in time and didn't see the bitterness at the corner of his mouth, nor the tears of unyielding sorrow that slid down from the corners of his eyes.

  Hurriedly walking into the courtyard, Shangguan Hongye still maintained his usual leisurely posture, carefully flipping through the book in his hand.

  "That's it, goodbye." As he walked past Shangguan Hongye's side, Nalan Xianyu still said awkwardly, then walked outwards.

  Dai Nalan Xi Nuo had already walked to the gate when Shang Guan Hong Ye finally shifted his gaze from the book, looking at her back and lightly curling up a smile.

  Nalan Xixi had just walked out of the gate when she ran into Hu Lian and Hua Que, probably just back from collecting medicine.

  The giant lion saw Nalan Xinnuo walking out of the courtyard. It let out a soft hum, somewhat like a spoiled child. Nalan Xinnuo didn't understand.

  "Stinky lion, you've only been with me for a few days and now you're acting like this? I didn't see you like this when I was leaving. And to think I treated you so well." Huā Què muttered discontentedly. But the giant lion continued to make those low, gentle humming noises. Nalan Xinnuo realized from Huā Què's words that the giant lion was going to miss her.

  It was a rare sight, because the animal's unbridled emotions had moved Nalan Xiong's heart, which had always been cold and aloof, to stir slightly, revealing a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

  "Good boy~" Nalan Xino stroked its head, the giant lion also gently rubbed against him. However, there wasn't that harmonious feeling because the giant lion was really too big. It also had self-awareness and didn't rub too hard.

  Nalan Xixi withdrew her hand and left directly. Huajiao watched her back, feeling a bit down and muttering to herself: "It's really... I thought we'd get along well for several days. When leaving, she didn't even say goodbye."