Chapter 131: Has That Mo Ziyuan Fellow Returned?
In the forest deep in the back mountain, Lin Xin leisurely walked forward, with a sturdy white giant wolf following beside her.
“Awoo~” The giant wolf suddenly let out a low growl from its throat, lightly trotted past Lin Xin and stopped under a big tree, pawed the ground twice with its huge wolf claw, then ran back to Lin Xin, circling around her while shaking its head and wagging its tail.
“Found something good?” Lin Xin patted its big head and went to check the spot it had just pawed.
“Roar roar, amazing, you’ve made a big contribution this time!” In the bushes under the tree, five or six ginseng plants with leaves topped by red berries stood there, as if waving to Lin Xin, “Come dig me up quick!”
“No problem, I’ll definitely satisfy you all!” Lin Xin took out a small hoe from her space and began digging the pit stroke by stroke. The giant wolf circled around nearby to help. With the aid of its big claws, Lin Xin’s progress was fast. In less than half a day, all six ginseng plants were dug up intact.
One 120-year-old, two 100-year-old ones, one 80-year-old, one 50-year-old, and one 30-year-old. Actually, she looked down on the 50-year-old and 30-year-old ones, but if she didn’t dig them, villagers might stumble upon this place someday and take them. Although this was already considered deep mountain territory, it was still some distance from the true deep mountains. She didn’t want to let those villagers benefit.
In recent years, the villagers’ attitude toward her, Lin Nan, and Lin Tao had not been friendly. There were always people spreading yellow rumors about her, saying she was unclear with Mo Ziyuan. Now that Mo Ziyuan was gone, Meng Yichen had seamlessly taken over. Others said Lin Tao was the child she bore for a wealthy family in town, but after the child was born, they didn’t want her, so she had no choice but to take the child back to the countryside. All sorts of things were said.
At first, Meng Yichen was very angry and wanted to argue with the villagers, but Lin Xin stopped him.
“Why bother with them? The more you argue, the more energized they get. If we ignore them, they’ll settle down on their own. Anyway, as long as they fall into my hands, I’ll deal with them harshly. As for the rest, we can’t control them even if we want to, since their mouths are under their own noses.” That’s how Lin Xin advised him.
“Miss Lin is right. Our current status isn’t suitable for being too high-profile. Just endure it!” Meng Yixuan also advised his younger brother.
With Lin Xin’s ginseng, Cui Shi had already prepared the medicine to treat Meng Yixuan. Over these years, his body had been nursed back to almost the same state as his peak condition.
Although he knew Lin Xin was the girl his younger brother loved but couldn’t have, it didn’t affect his good impression of her. In fact, many times he felt that Lin Xin wasn’t like a girl living in a mountain village who had suffered hardships since childhood. Many of her insights made him feel enlightened.
“Miss Lin is not a simple person.” Fu Jing had once said this privately to Meng Yixuan.
“Such a girl would be perfect for Zi Yuan, wouldn’t she?” Meng Yixuan responded with a faint smile.
Fu Jing looked at him with a complicated expression for a moment but said nothing.
Lin Xin put the ginseng back into her space, checked the time of day, and started heading back with the giant wolf. Along the way, she didn’t let any wild chickens or wild rabbits escape, and she also harvested twenty or thirty wild eggs, wrapped them in a huge leaf, tied them up, and placed them on the giant wolf’s back to carry along with the game.
Of course, it wouldn’t work for free. Lin Xin had already promised it two beggars’ chickens as “payment.”
When they were almost at the foot of the mountain, a figure suddenly jumped out in front of them. Lin Xin instinctively kicked out, the white wolf crouched low and growled from its throat, preparing to attack. The person quickly dodged the kick and said helplessly, “Xin’er, it’s me.”
??? Mo Ziyuan? This guy was back?
Lin Xin absolutely wouldn’t admit that at this moment, she was very happy inside, even starting to feel elated.
But thinking about it, it made sense. News of the Emperor’s death had come half a month ago, and their mission here should indeed be over. He naturally had to come back to wrap things up.
“When did you get back?” After comforting the white wolf that wanted to pounce and bite this two-legged beast who dared to “touch” its master, and removing the hand from her shoulder, Lin Xin asked.
“Just arrived. When I heard you went into the mountain, I came to meet you.” Mo Ziyuan greedily looked at the girl who had haunted his dreams for months and answered softly.
“Did your matters succeed?”
“Yes, I came back this time entrusted by Your Majesty to escort Crown Prince back to the capital city. Also,” Mo Ziyuan touched his nose, “Your Majesty has granted you a house and wants you to bring Nan Nan to the capital together.”
“Me? A house?” Lin Xin widened her eyes in surprise. She had known from reading novels before that some emperors loved granting houses at the drop of a hat, but she didn’t expect to encounter such an emperor herself.
Thinking of how in her previous life she had struggled until the apocalypse came without paying off her mortgage on a rundown small place, she suddenly looked forward to the house in the capital. His Majesty’s generosity shouldn’t be too bad!
“But our identities······” Lin Xin hesitated a bit. Her and Lin Nan’s identities were a minefield. She had self-protection abilities, but Lin Nan didn’t. Although she could put Lin Nan in her space, what about later?
“Don’t worry. After returning to the capital, I’ll report the truth of the matter to Your Majesty. Your Majesty is a wise ruler; nothing will happen.” Mo Ziyuan answered affirmatively.
Lin Xin raised an eyebrow, recalling the young man she had briefly met years ago. A wise ruler?
“Alright, if Nan Nan agrees, I’ll go to the capital with you.” Without much consideration, Lin Xin agreed outright.
“This time, Yi Chen and Old Cui should go back with me too. How could we leave just you siblings behind! Nan Nan’s studies need to continue!” Having gotten the answer he wanted, Mo Ziyuan looked at Lin Xin with indulgence and smiled.
“Let’s go! I had a good harvest today; I’ll make you something delicious when we get back.”
“Great, it’s been so long since I ate your cooking. I’ve missed it terribly.” Mo Ziyuan naturally took the wild eggs and bundled game from the white wolf’s back and walked side by side with Lin Xin. Relieved of the load, the white wolf bounced and ran alongside them.
Only when they reached the foot of the mountain did Lin Xin realize how exaggerated the entourage Mo Ziyuan had brought back with him was.
“No choice. Although he hasn’t paid respects to heaven and earth yet, Tao Tao Crown Prince’s status is already set in stone. This is considered simple.” Mo Ziyuan explained.
“Fine! Damn feudal society!” Lin Xin muttered in an extremely low voice.
“What?” Mo Ziyuan only heard her voice but not the content, unwilling to miss anything related to her, and quickly leaned down to ask.
“Nothing, I said it’s pretty good.” Lin Xin wasn’t stupid, so she made an excuse to brush it off.
“Oh!” Mo Ziyuan was certain she hadn’t said that, but since she didn’t want to mention it, he simply didn’t ask.
Lin Xin went back home first. Although she was skilled, after a trip into the mountain, her body inevitably had dust and leaves on it. She planned to clean herself up first.
“Zi Yuan, come here. I have something to say to you.” Fu Jing stopped Mo Ziyuan who wanted to follow Lin Xin home and gave Lin Xin a complicated glance.
“You go ahead. I’ll come find you later.” Mo Ziyuan said to Lin Xin.
Lin Xin nodded and walked off empty-handed, with the white wolf hopping along behind her.
