The summer afternoon sun was scorching. As soon as Tang Nian stepped out of the store, she squinted and raised her hand to shield her face from the direct sunlight. Jing Yao quickly opened her umbrella to shade Tang Nian from the sun.
"Miss, this hairpin..."
"Keep it; it was a gift for you."
Tang Nian had originally intended to give this hairpin to Jing Yao, since she needed to ask Jing Yao for help these days, but who knew this unexpected trouble would happen.
Jingyao didn't see what the hairpin looked like, but she received a valuable gift, which made her genuinely happy. Even her walking posture while holding the umbrella became much more cheerful.
As a fox spirit, Jingyao undoubtedly loves beauty. Although she has no worries about food and clothing while following Lou Mu, Lou Mu would not prepare such expensive jewelry for her.
Tang Nian looked at the shadow on the ground and a smile appeared on her lips.
She used her earnings to buy a bunch of things with Jingyao, and also brought a small gift for Minghuan.
By the time the two of them staggered to the front of the Grand Secretary's residence, the sun was almost setting.
Just as Jing Yao handed the package to the servant at the door, a carriage stopped in front of them. It was Lou Mu returning from the palace.
Lou Mu looked exhausted, but his eyes lit up when he saw Tang Nian. He got out of the car and took the umbrella from Jing Yao.
Tang Nian looked at Lou Mu, who was so close to her, and subconsciously lowered her head, her face slightly flushed, making her even more charming in the light of the setting sun.
Lou Mu chuckled and led Tang Nian into the mansion.
Jingyao then explained the things she hadn't finished telling Tang Nian earlier while rushing to find her, and also instructed the servants to prepare dinner.
Lou Mu did not go to the study, but instead followed Tang Nian back to Huasheng Pavilion.
After dismissing the servants, Lou Mu set up a protective barrier.
"How was it?" Tang Nian sat on the couch and stretched out a big yawn.
"The whole court is buzzing with the news." Lou Mu sneered, sitting down next to Tang Nian. "While I was away from court, there were even more spies in the mansion."
"Is it so easy for someone to plant spies in your mansion?" Tang Nian felt that this didn't seem like something the fox in front of her would do.
Lou Mu smiled without saying a word.
Tang Nian pursed her lips and said, "Nobody suspects my identity?"
“Of course, some people have already started investigating.” As he spoke, Lou Mu picked up a grape from the plate.
Lou Mu created a new identity for Tang Nian, but Tang Nian did not want to change her name. If it were discovered that Tang Nian was the famous Tang Tianshi of the Great Chu, not only would Tang Nian be implicated, but Lou Mu would also be in deep trouble.
Tang Nian then set up a spell so that all the people who had seen her would remember her appearance incorrectly.
"What else do you need me to do recently?" Tang Nian yawned, feeling a bit sleepy after a long day.
"It's fine to stay in the manor." Lou Mu recalled what his subordinate had told him. "It would be even better if you could be a little gentler."
He originally wanted Tang Nian to play the role of a frail and sickly woman from Jiangnan. He had already prepared the information and given the instructions. But who would have thought that on their first day in the capital, Tang Nian almost revealed her true colors.
Tang Nian immediately understood that Lou Mu already knew about what happened at the jewelry store today.
She shrugged, looking completely innocent.
This was gentle enough for her; if it had happened before, Yu Zhaozhao would have suffered physical pain.
Are you sure?
Lou Mu thought about Tang Nian's gentle appearance carefully and couldn't help but shiver.
"Alright, just tone it down a bit."
He decided to give the order soon, otherwise the information those people found would be very different from the person in front of him, which would cause trouble.
"Don't sneak out tonight to get revenge."
Lou Mu was still worried and mentioned it.
Tang Nian stopped yawning halfway through and looked at Lou Mu with some surprise.
"What? I was right?"
Lou Mu shook his head helplessly. This girl was just as troublesome as Ming Huan.
"They won't be so blatant anymore," Tang Nian whispered.
She knew her limits; she only intended to scare Yu Zhaozhao a little, and settle the score properly after the matter in the capital was over.
But after Lou Mu said that, Tang Nian had no choice but to abandon the idea for the time being, and secretly made a grudge against Yu Zhaozhao in her heart.
"Oh right, I sent Minghuan away." Tang Nian also picked up a grape, peeled it, and put it in her mouth.
Unlike Jingyao, Minghuan was not as clever. Leaving that clumsy bird in the capital would leave them with too many things to worry about. Sending Minghuan away would also be a good opportunity to test him.
"It seems you've achieved your goal." Otherwise, Ming Huan wouldn't have left so easily.
Lou Mu recalled that Tang Nian and Ming Huan had gone to Jin Guang Temple together, and Ming Huan left on the way back, which made him suspicious.
When it comes to Jin Guang Temple, besides Abbot Huian, the most famous thing is its two thousand-year-old relics.
"You got the relics?"
Tang Nian paused in spitting out grape seeds, almost choking, and cursed inwardly.
What a vixen! She can guess even from such a small clue.
In fact, Lou Mu guessed more. The fact that Ming Huan could leave first meant that the relic was not something Tang Nian needed herself. The only possibility was that the High God sent her to retrieve it, and Tang Nian had Ming Huan deliver it to the High God.
Tang Nian's purpose was not only to send Ming Huan away, but also to test him. It seemed that Ming Huan's actions in Muyun County had already aroused Tang Nian's suspicion.
Lou Mu guessed that Abbot Huian was very satisfied with Tang Nian, and at the same time, he did not want the deity to obtain that relic.
Abbot Huian was a highly respected monk at Jin Guang Temple, and Lou Mu had the privilege of speaking with him. He was unfathomable, and even Lou Mu couldn't fathom his true thoughts. However, the fact that he bestowed the Buddha's Light upon Tang Nian meant that Abbot Huian held Tang Nian in high regard.
Seeing that she was unaware of what Abbot Huian had done, Lou Mu did not intend to remind her.
There was a gentle knock on the door, and Jingyao's voice came from outside.
"My lord, my lady, dinner is ready."
"Bring it here," Lou Mu said, waving his hand to remove the barrier.
Tang Nian sat down at the table with great joy, ready to have a big meal, but when she saw the dishes brought up by the servants, she was completely deflated.
Tang Nian is a snake, and she can't live without meat, but apart from a bowl of chicken soup, the rest of the dishes on this table were all vegetarian.
"Is this dinner?" Tang Nian leaned sickly against her elbow, her stomach rumbling with hunger and she instantly lost her appetite.
She frowned, picking up her chopsticks but unsure where to begin.
"Your injuries haven't healed yet, so it's best to eat something light."
As he spoke, Lou Mu placed a piece of celery on Tang Nian's plate.
Tang Nian looked down at the celery in her bowl with disdain, slowly picked up a stalk, and put it in her mouth. She chewed a few times, frowned, and swallowed.
Jingyao took a small bowl again, and Lou Mu took the bowl and ladled out a bowl of hot chicken soup for Tang Nian.
Tang Nian picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, gently blew on it to cool it down, and then drank it. Her tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.
Lou Mu wanted to take this opportunity to put some more vegetables on Tang Nian's plate, but after the lesson she had just learned, Tang Nian quickly held the bowl aside.
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