Chapter 81: Luo Jin'an expresses his feelings and Xu Nian faces his heart knot

Zheng was looking up, trying hard to hold back her smile as she gestured to Xiao Wang to look at the two figures; both of them couldn't help laughing.

"In fact, apart from his status as a prince, he is quite compatible with our Nian'er."

Zheng felt that she had finally found a like-minded person. She nodded repeatedly and whispered, "A girl as independent-minded as Nian'er would be wronged if she married into a small family. Look how good the prince is to Nian'er..."

"What are you talking about, sister-in-law? You look so happy."

When Mrs. Zheng saw her sister-in-law coming over, she quickly shut up. She had not forgotten her sister-in-law's concern about this matter. Mrs. Wang smiled and said, "We say that Nian'er's cooking skills are getting better and better."

Tian smiled proudly. Her daughter was indeed good in every way. However, she felt uncomfortable when she thought that such a good daughter would become someone else's in two years.

Xu Nian had no idea that her mother was thinking so far ahead. She took Luo Jinan aside and passed the grilled skewers to him.

"You've worked so hard for so long, hurry up and try your hand at cooking, or else you'll all be in Xiao Liuzi's stomach in no time."

Luo Jinan's eyes lit up after taking a sip. This tasted better than what Chef Yu in the palace made. Actually, he never had a big appetite, but tonight he couldn't stop eating. In the end, Xu Nian stopped him from extending his hand again.

"It's too late. I ate too much and can't digest it."

"Maybe Nian Nian's cooking skills are so good that I forgot about the food."

Seeing that Luo Jin'an was a little embarrassed, Xu Nian had to explain: "I'm worried that your body can't bear it. Come on, I'll take you for a walk."

Seeing that everyone in Shouzhuyuan was still in high spirits and had no intention of leaving, Xu Nian had no choice but to talk to Tian and take Luo Jinan with her to digest the food.

Two people walked in front holding lanterns, Xiu'er followed behind Xu Nian, and Luo Jin'an felt a sense of happiness as he looked at Xu Nian walking side by side with him.

"Don't eat without restraint in the future. If you like it, I will make it for you again."

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

For some reason, the words "I'll listen to you" made Xu Nian's heart beat fast. She took a deep breath and continued, "I've always wanted to return the jade pendant you put here, but I never had the chance."

As he said this, he took out the jade pendant from his sleeve and was about to return it to Luo Jinan, but the other party did not take it.

"Niannian, why don't I tell you the origin of this jade pendant?"

Xu Nian looked at the young man beside him who suddenly looked sad, withdrew his hand and said okay.

"The late emperor had only three sons in his life. The eldest son was mediocre and was controlled by his mother's family. The second son was gifted but died at the age of thirteen. The third son had the ability to lead troops but not the talent to govern the country. Therefore, the late emperor had sleepless nights in his later years.

Until the Third Prince's wife became pregnant again, Qin Tianjian observed the stars at night and saw something strange, and told the late emperor a prophecy: the child in the Third Prince's wife's belly is the Purple Star, which can prosper the dynasty for a hundred years.

The late emperor was overjoyed, but in order to conceal his identity, he chose a date to appoint his eldest son as the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace. He originally wanted to wait until the Third Prince's wife gave birth safely before making other arrangements, but he did not expect that the Third Prince's wife was poisoned by the Tianshan Snow when she was five months pregnant.

As the name suggests, this poison will not kill people immediately, but when the poison takes effect, it makes the Third Prince's wife feel like she is trapped in an iceberg. She becomes weaker and weaker day by day, until she is no longer able to give birth to one corpse and two lives.

But the heavens did not seem to want to fulfill the poisoned man's wish. A wandering monk knocked on the door of the Third Prince's mansion in the middle of the night and told him that there was a way to detoxify him. The Third Prince was eager to save his wife and agreed without hesitation. Because of this method, the baby in the Third Prince's wife's belly was destined not to live to the age of twenty.

Xu Nian listened carefully, but her heart couldn't stop aching, because she knew that the child was Luo Jinan.

"When the late emperor learned of the tragic news, he fell seriously ill, but he still managed to issue three decrees. The first decree named his third son the King of Zhenbei, giving him real power in the northern border and commanding a 100,000-man Zhenbei army. The second decree named the unborn son of the third prince's wife the King of Changjun, with a fief of 10,000 households. The third decree named the prince's uncle the Duke of Weiguo, to assist the new emperor in governing the country.

This jade pendant was given by the late emperor during his last court session. On the surface, it was just a favor, but in reality, it came with a secret decree that if Prince Chang could grow up to be a young man, he could inherit the throne."

Xu Nian's hand holding the jade pendant trembled. She did not expect that Luo Jinan still had the power of Sheng Dynasty on his shoulders.

Luo Jin squeezed Xu Nian's hand soothingly, then let go and continued, "Nian Nian, I tell you this because I want you to know me better. I hope that everything that happens to me will be told to you in person, rather than through other people's mouths."

"Then Luo Jin'an, can you tell me why you gave me such an important jade pendant?"

Luo Jin'an lowered his head and whispered, "That day when you came to Lingshan Temple to see me, I was playing chess with Master Yunxin. He told me that I was still not close to my 23rd birthday. At that time, I thought that I should not delay your life because of my selfishness.

Nian Nian, I do want to live a life away from you, but I am unwilling to do so. What if?

So I gave you the jade pendant when I left. I thought that if I was in good health in the future, I would use this jade pendant as a token of trust and invite you to be my future princess.

Even if something happens to me, even if the world is in chaos, this jade pendant can mobilize 30,000 troops to serve you and keep you safe."

"What about now?" Xu Nian asked softly while polishing the jade pendant in his hand.

"Now I..."

"Nian'er, you and the prince are still taking a walk. You should go back and have a rest after a tiring day." When Tian and Xu Yaozu returned to the main courtyard, they happened to see the candles here. When they came over to take a look, they found that it was their daughter who was taking the prince to help digest his food.

Xu Nian calmed down and walked over to ask, "Has everyone at Shouzhuyuan dispersed?"

"Let's go. Your grandma is old and can't rest too late. Little Six made a fuss about this and it took your auntie to give him a lecture before he calmed down..."

Luo Jinan felt a little disappointed when he saw the mother and daughter leaving together. He hadn't said what was in his heart yet, but then he thought that today was a breakthrough in their relationship, and there was a long way to go, so he could wait.

"Prince, I will take you back."

Luo Jinan nodded slightly and walked towards the courtyard with Xu Yaozu.

After returning to Qingteng Courtyard, Xu Nian soaked herself in the bathtub, but she kept looking at the jade pendant in her hand. She thought of what Luo Jinan had just said, "Will you keep me safe?"

Xu Nian slowly sank herself into the water. After two lifetimes, she had never felt such a passionate emotion. Could there really be someone who loved her so much?

"Miss, Miss, what's wrong with you?" Xiu'er leaned forward and dived into the water in panic.

"Blah~"

"Cough cough cough"

Xu Nian patted Xiu'er's back to comfort her, "Silly girl, you don't know how to hold your breath and you dive into the water."

"Well... I'm worried that something might happen to the young lady... I can't care... so much."

Xu Nian paused as he was patting her back, and couldn't help but laugh, "Xiu'er, how about I protect you forever?"

"ah?"