Hear the voice of your heart

The next morning, Lin Yan went to a famous shop in the capital and spent a lot of money to buy the best jade bracelet in the shop. Since he had lost his dagger, he had to use the jade bracelet instead.

Lin Yan went directly to the Zhong Mansion. Aning should be in the mansion now. She said to the servant at the door, "Please tell Madam Zhou that Lin Yan wants to see you."

Not long after, Mrs. Zhou's personal maid Bilu came and led Lin Yan into the Zhong Mansion.

Walking through the corridor of the Zhong Mansion, he passed by Zhong Yuxi. Zhong Yuxi had changed her clothes. Lin Yan felt that she looked familiar, but did not recognize her.

Zhong Yuxi saw Lin Yan being led by Bilu, and after he walked away, she asked the maid beside her: "Who was that just now?"

"I don't know"

"Go check it out," Zhong Yuxi ordered.

She saw that the man had a sword on his waist, and he looked like a man of the world. The gem on the hilt shone brightly in the sunlight, which made people feel creepy.

In addition, Lin Yan was led by Madam Zhou's personal maid, so it seemed that he was related to Zhong Ningning. Could he be an important character in the book?

In the pavilion of the Zhong Mansion, Mrs. Zhou saw Lin Yan coming and warmly invited her to sit down.

If it weren't for Lin Yan, Mrs. Zhou might never have found her daughter in her life. In Mrs. Zhou's eyes, Lin Yan was her benefactor.

"I have asked someone to call Ningning over. She will be very happy if she knows you are here. Xiaoyan, please wait for a moment," Mrs. Zhou poured a cup of tea for Lin Yan and said kindly.

"No hurry." Lin Yan took a sip of tea, took out the gift he brought, and said, "I heard Aning say that you like tea. These teas are what I found when I was traveling around the world."

"That's impossible," Mrs. Zhou evaded, "child, why do you bring any gifts when you come?"

"It's just a token of my appreciation, please don't refuse, Aunt Zhou."

"Then I won't be polite." Mrs. Zhou accepted the tea with a smile.

Not far away, Zhong Ningning was running towards the courtyard, and the maid following behind her was panting: "Miss, please slow down."

"This girl doesn't look like a lady from a noble family at all." Although Mrs. Zhou said this, her tone was full of doting.

Zhong Ningning rushed over and gave Lai Linyan a big hug, complaining: "Sister, why did you come to see me just now? We haven't seen each other for three years."

"I've been busy for the past three years and couldn't get away. I told you before that all the good things in these years were given to that ungrateful guy." Lin Yan grabbed Zhong Ningning's ear and asked in a low voice.

"Sister, sister, I was wrong, I was wrong." Zhong Ningning acted as if begging for mercy.

Mrs. Zhou knew that they still had a lot to talk about, so she quietly left to let them have a good chat.

This was not a place to talk, so Zhong Ningning pulled Lin Yan back to her own Luoting Courtyard.

Lin Yan took out the jade bracelet he had bought and handed it to Zhong Ningning: "Your birthday is in a few days, so I'm giving it to you as a birthday gift in advance."

Zhong Ningning was surprised and hugged Lin Yan and said coquettishly, "Thank you, sister."

After saying that, he began to study the jade bracelet.

Zhong Ningning looked at the jade bracelet and felt that it looked familiar, so she said, "Sister, why do I feel like it looks a bit like the stuff in that store in the west of the city? I was there a few days ago, but it was too expensive, so I couldn't bear to buy it."

Lin Yan touched his nose and thought guiltily: "We are really in sync. It's such a coincidence that I bought what Aning liked."

Zhong Ningning knew something was fishy when she saw Lin Yan's expression, and she asked, "Every year my sister gives me a sword or a knife as a birthday gift, and they are all won by you in martial arts competitions. Some time ago, you mentioned to me that you were going to a sparring meeting, and I remember you said that you would give me the prize you won as a birthday gift. I don't believe that prize was this jade bracelet."

Lin Yan knew that he couldn't hide it, so he told An Ning everything that happened last night, omitting the letter and the strange things in the second half.

"I've heard about this. My mother came to me early in the morning and told me that Princess Yong'an was assassinated in Jinhua Temple last night. She said it was a good thing I didn't go, otherwise I would have been in danger." After hearing what Lin Yan said, Zhong Ningning began to feel regretful: "If I had known you were going to look for me, I would have gone."

Lin Yan tapped Zhong Ningning's head and said, "Are you stupid? There are so many assassins and their swords are merciless. Why do you still go when there is danger?"

"Sister is here, how could there be any danger?" Zhong Ningning stuck out her tongue.

"Oh, that's the only sister of the current emperor, the only princess of the dynasty, Princess Yong'an. Sister, you saved such a noble person, you are worthy of being my sister."

"Stop, stop, don't tease me." Lin Yan looked at Zhong Ningning helplessly and pinched her face: "You, you."

"Speaking of Jinhua Temple, I get angry. It's all Zhong Yuxi's fault. I was supposed to go there yesterday, but Zhong Yuxi splashed water all over me. Otherwise, we would have met yesterday," Zhong Ningning complained.

"Who is Zhong Yuxi?" Lin Yan asked doubtfully.

"It's a long story," Zhong Ningning scratched her head. "My sister said she had important things to do in recent years. I didn't want to disturb you, so I didn't tell you about her."

"After I went missing, my mother cried all day long. My father brought a girl back and registered her under my mother's name, saying that she could accompany my mother to ease her sadness of losing me. My mother disagreed at first, but it was my father's intention after all. The little girl's father died, and her mother was my father's distant cousin. She was unable to raise her daughter, so she entrusted her to my father. The little girl is today's Zhong Yuxi."

"Ama has never really been able to get close to Zhong Yuxi, but my grandmother seems to like her very much. After Ama found me, she was afraid that I would think too much, so she wanted to send Zhong Yuxi away, and at most give her more money. But my grandmother strongly opposed it. I didn't want to embarrass Ama, so I persuaded my mother to let Zhong Yuxi stay. She should see Zhong Yuxi less often and just pretend that she doesn't exist."

"One time, Zhong Yuxi accused me of stealing her things in front of my grandmother. I had no evidence, and my grandmother disliked me after that. After that, Zhong Yuxi kept trying to sow discord between me and my grandmother, and my grandmother became even more displeased with me."

"My grandmother had always been very kind to Zhong Yuxi, loving her like her own granddaughter. Later, she felt that my return had wronged her and became increasingly indifferent to me. My mother felt even more uncomfortable seeing my grandmother like this, but my grandmother protected her closely. My father also often advised my mother not to go against my grandmother. My father was also a fool, but he also helped to protect Zhong Yuxi."

"After Zhong Yuxi framed me, I wanted to stay away from her, but after that, she kept crying with me, saying that she just didn't want to lose her grandmother's love for her, so I think she is quite good at pretending to be pitiful."

"And I will be unlucky if I meet her. If I stay in the same place with her for a long time, my luck will always be bad, so I always want to stay away from her as far as possible."

"In short, she is a very strange person. I will be unlucky if I get close to her," said Zhong Ningning.

Lin Yan frowned slightly, not expecting there were so many connections between them.

"If you see her, stay away from her."

At this time, Mrs. Zhou suddenly came to Zhong Ningning's yard and saw Zhong Ningning lying on the table like a boneless person. Mrs. Zhou said angrily: "You don't know how to sit properly. You don't look like a lady at all."

Zhong Ningning immediately stood up, hugged Mrs. Zhou's arm and acted coquettishly, "Mom, don't scold me. My sister is here. Please give me some face."

"You are too shy at this time." Mrs. Zhou pinched Zhong Ningning's face and turned to see Lin Yan who was sitting upright. "Look at Xiao Yan, why don't you learn from him?"

Zhong Ningning couldn't argue with her mother, so she started to change the subject: "Mom, is there anything I can help you with?"

"If there's nothing wrong, you can't come," Mrs. Zhou pinched Zhong Ningning's nose, "but there is something real going on now."

Mrs. Zhou softened her voice and said to Lin Yan, "Ningning's birthday is in three days. I plan to hold a birthday party for Ningning. I wonder if Xiao Yan has time. Why not stay for a few days and spend her birthday with Ningning before leaving."

"I will definitely stay for Aning's birthday party," Lin Yan replied.

"If Xiao Yan doesn't mind, would you please stay in the mansion for a few days?" Mrs. Zhou invited warmly.

"I have booked an inn. I'm afraid it would be a bother to you if I let you stay at my house," Lin Yan said hesitantly.

"What's the trouble? An inn is not as comfortable as a mansion. It's settled. You can live in Ningning's yard. Her yard is spacious and you can stay as you like." Mrs. Zhou said and left.

Lin Yan helplessly watched Mrs. Zhou's departing back, turned his head to meet Aning's death stare, "Sister, don't you want to spend more time with me? Why do you want to stay in that shabby inn?"

"Yes, of course I do," Lin Yan comforted Zhong Ningning.

"That's good," Zhong Ningning said, and excitedly asked the maid to clean up a room, "Cuizhu, come and clean up the west wing, it has good ventilation and sunlight."

"And the pot of green radish in my room, move it to the west wing as well."

Mrs. Zhou breathed a sigh of relief after coming out and persuaded Lin Yan to stay. In fact, Mrs. Zhou was secretly doing this for her daughter. She knew that in Ningning's eyes, no one could compare to Lin Yan.

When Ningning regained her memory, she didn't want to go home with her, but only wanted to follow Lin Yan. This shows how important Lin Yan is to Ningning, more important than her biological mother. When Lin Yan came, Mrs. Zhou could feel how happy Ningning was.

Mrs. Zhou always felt indebted to Zhong Ningning. If she had not failed to look favorably upon Ningning, Ningning would not have been lost.

Thinking of Zhong Yuxi who couldn't be driven away from the mansion no matter what, Mrs. Zhou sighed helplessly.

Mrs. Zhou was very grateful to Lin Yan. If it weren't for Lin Yan, she might never have seen Ningning in her life.

Although Ningning had never told her about Lin Yan's identity, Mrs. Zhou guessed that Lin Yan must be extraordinary. He was able to raise An Ning to this age and take her with him to travel the world by himself. He must not be an ordinary person.

This huge Zhong Mansion may seem peaceful and tranquil, but it actually contains countless mysteries. Madam Zhou knows that one day something will happen in the mansion.

Mrs. Zhou doesn't care about her situation, but she still has Ningning, and she is always worried that she can't protect Ningning.

But three years later, when she saw the calm Lin Yan again, Mrs. Zhou inexplicably felt that no matter how big the problem was, she could handle it.

If something happens to the Zhong Mansion one day, I hope Lin Yan can take Ningning away.

In Luotingyuan, Lin Yan saw Zhong Ningning busy with this and that, and pushed her aside, "No need to make so many arrangements. Let's go to the inn with sister and check out of the room."

"All right"

"Cuizhu, light the sandalwood in my storeroom in the west wing."

Seeing that Zhong Ningning ignored his words, Lin Yan had no choice but to drag her out.

After checking out of the guest room and taking the things left at the inn, Zhong Ningning took Lin Yan for a walk around the area.

As luck would have it, I ran into Zhong Yuxi as soon as I entered the jewelry store.

"What a coincidence! My sister is here to pick out jewelry too?" Zhong Yuxi smiled at Zhong Ningning, looking very surprised.

"Yes," Zhong Ningning said with a forced smile.

Of course it was not a coincidence. Zhong Yuxi's maid found out that Lin Yan was the elder sister that Zhong Ningning recognized from the Jianghu.

But there was no such person as Lin Yan in the plot, so Zhong Yuxi wanted to go and investigate in person.

Lin Yan felt that Zhong Yuxi looked familiar since she saw her. It was very dark that night and she could only vaguely see the outline of the woman.

She became suspicious when Aning mentioned that Zhong Yuxi went to Jinhua Temple.

Now, looking at the glowing number above Zhong Yuxi's head and the luck value written next to it, Lin Yan narrowed his eyes slightly.

The woman I saw last night was her.

Zhong Yuxi pointed at Lin Yan next to Zhong Ningning and asked Zhong Ningning: "Sister, is this person next to you your friend? Can you introduce him to me?"

"You don't need to know," Zhong Ningning said impatiently, "I'm going back home and won't talk to you anymore." After that, she pulled Lin Yan towards the carriage.

Zhong Yuxi seemed not to notice Zhong Ningning's impatient expression and followed her. "Sister, wait for me. My carriage is broken, so I can only trouble you to give me a ride."

Seeing her persistence, Zhong Ningning knew that she would not give up until she achieved her goal, so she stopped refusing. Just like that, Zhong Yuxi appeared in the carriage.

At this time, Lin Yan was still in a trance.

In the crowded carriage, Zhong Ningning did not answer Zhong Yuxi's question, so Zhong Yuxi asked Lin Yan: "May I ask what your name is?"

Lin Yan

“There’s no such person in the book.”

Lin Yan: “”

She suspected that she was hallucinating. Zhong Yuxi's mouth was not open, so where did the sound come from?

Then Zhong Yuxi's voice sounded again: "Is that a pseudonym?"

Now Lin Yan saw clearly that Zhong Yuxi didn't open her mouth, and Zhong Ningning's expression didn't change at all. She didn't hear anything, so he was the one who could hear Zhong Yuxi's inner thoughts?

"Is Miss Lin's last name really Lin?" Zhong Yuxi asked tentatively.

Zhong Ningning was speechless and said, "What kind of question is that? My sister's surname is not Lin, but Zhong."

"I will not change my name or surname. This is Lin Yan. I have no other name," Lin Yan said.

"This is strange. This person's name has never appeared in the book. Could it be that I changed something that made this person appear?" Zhong Yuxi thought.

"Since this person doesn't exist in the plot, it shouldn't be important."

Zhong Yuxi didn't ask any more questions after that, and no one spoke until they returned home. Of course, Lin Yan heard a lot of what Zhong Yuxi had to say.

As soon as Zhong Ningning got off the carriage, she pulled Lin Yan back to the yard quickly. She slumped in the chair and let out a long sigh.

Seeing this, Lin Yan smiled and asked, "Is it so exaggerated?"

Zhong Ningning took a sip of tea and said, "I feel uncomfortable when she and I are together. It feels like something is sucked away from my body, and this feeling is gradually getting deeper."

After hearing what Zhong Ningning said, Lin Yan was lost in thought. Suddenly, he felt that this was not a coincidence, and perhaps it was really related to Zhong Yuxi.

Thinking about what I heard in the carriage, it seems that Zhong Yuxi knew what would happen through this. What does the number on his head represent, and what is the luck value.

Lin Yan has traveled around the world over the years and has seen many strange things. Although this one was too absurd, it was not difficult to accept.

But the most important thing right now is that the secret hidden by Zhong Yuxi must be related to Aning, and we have to find out.