Chapter 193 - An Apple, A Touched Heart (2/2)

When the four of them have assembled the things and Lan You Nian checked to make sure everything was perfect and after she hastily had a meal at Zhen Wei Pavilion, Lan You Nian and the four of them gathered in the room packaging every apple.

“Wow!” Lan Wu picked up the adorable multi-colored apple that Lan You Nian wrapped up, exclaiming, “Young miss, it’s so pretty!”

Lan You Nian didn’t say anything, only teaching the three other girls how to package the apples. Meanwhile, the only man, Lan Ren, acted as an assistant. Such feelings, such interactions was how it was like all these years. They weren’t family but they surpassed family.

As night gradually fell, Lan You Nian shoved open the window of the suite in Zhen Wei Pavilion. The snow at dusk, deeply, seemed to have thousands of emotions, at the same time, tumultuous as the sea that could drown everything. It seemed to uncovering something concealed, exposing it to the world. The snowflakes were all shapes and sizes, crystal clear, as if warriors on a campaign, donning silver armor, and like white war sails on a voyage…

Lan You Nian chose four apples that she packaged and gave it to the people with her, saying, “Tonight is Christmas Eve. If you eat an apple this night, may you have a good and peaceful life next year!”

{T/N: Christmas Eve is 平安夜 in chinese, which directly translates to Peaceful Night. It’s a play on words here, since apples is 苹果, which shares the homophone “ping”}

The four of them didn’t know there was such a saying. Holding the apple in their hands, they slowly unwrapped the recently packaged apples in front of Lan You Nian; then, they were red-eyed as they devoured the apple, bite after bite. This was their young miss’s hopes for them, as well as her care for them.

By the time the four of them left Zhen Wei Pavilion, it was already dark out. Lan You Nian had the four of them deliver those apples to those people…

When Lan You Nian returned to Ming wang manor, lanterns were already hung up on Ming wang manor’s gates. In the heavy snow, under the hazy light, the man donned in black robes, whose face was as handsome as a god’s and his bearing was so noble that people couldn’t bear to profane, yet his gaze was tender, for those faintly purple eyes were as gentle as water.

Lan You Nian’s lips couldn’t help curling up as she saw Feng Yi Xuan; then, hurrying her pace, she walked over to his side and naturally dove into his open arms, savoring the warmth of his body.

“Why are you waiting for me outside? Aren’t you cold?” Lan You Nian scolded, but her voice was filled with concern.

Feng Yi Xuan shoved the girl into his wide outer robes, walking as he talked, “I wanted to see you as soon as possible!” Even though it just a short distance from the entrance of the manor to his study, he still wanted to see her as soon as possible.

Ming wang manor’s front hall was lit up with a burner. As soon as they entered the hall, Lan You Nian felt the warm air rushing at her. The table was full of delicious dishes on it.

The two of them sat across from one another. Lan You Nian took out an exquisitely wrapped apple from her outer robe and handed it to Feng Yi Xuan. Her big eyes were curved like crescents and her twinkling eyes were like the sparkling stars at night, especially beautiful. The corners of her cherry lips were curled upwards, having hints of a child-like cuteness.

Feng Yi Xuan very naturally took it from her. Seeing Nian Nian so happy, his heart was nearly reverent with joy. He liked her childishness, he liked her spoiled temper, he really really liked the girl before him.

Lan You Nian tilted her head saying, “Xuan, do you know, tonight is Christmas Eve. If you eat an apple on Christmas Eve, you will have a safe and peaceful life, so…” Lan You Nian looked into Feng Yi Xuan’s no longer concealed purple eyes, “I want Xuan to be safe and sound, always safe and sound!”

Feng Yi Xuan’s gaze was as gentle and intimate as it always has, making people couldn’t help but immerse themselves in it, not wishing to wake up. Gingerly, he unwrapped the apple in his hand. Though he really wanted to hide this apple away, he couldn’t bear to disappoint Nian Nian. He wants a safe and peaceful life; even more, he wanted Nian Nian to have a safe and peaceful life.

Feng Yi Xuan took a bite of the apple; then, he nudged the apple to Lan You Nian’s lips, “I want to have a safe and peaceful life with Nian Nian!” Feng Yi Xuan even started to wish, if he ate the apple, Nian Nian’s poison will be cured and they could be well. He didn’t know, but he was certain, he won’t let Nian Nian be alone. He will be with her wherever she goes.

Lan You Nian took a bite of the apple from Feng Yi Xuan’s hand, her brows lit up with a warm and gentle smile. Her exquisite face was filled with a moonlight softness. (Xuan, do you know, the current me wishes to live. More than anyone, I wish to live, because I love you. I can’t bear to leave you!)

Like a painting, the two of them sat there, one taking a bite after the other as they finished this apple that represented peacefulness, their hearts getting closer as always.

Meanwhile, many people in the capital received their own apple that represented peacefulness.

Lan manor, Lan Jian Jun and Lan Mo Xian looked at the apple in their hands. In the father and son’s hearts, they felt the same pride. Lan You Nian finally accepted them as family in her heart. She finally no longer rejected them. They finally have become a real family. You Nian Pavilion’s guards all received an apple. They all felt they followed a good master. Not only capable, she also cared for them. With this apple, Zhang Lin and the other guards became even more loyal.

Jing manor, Jing Leng looked at his son, Jing Wu An and “daughter-in-law” Yu Liu Li. All three of them held an exquisite apple. Thinking of Lan You Nian’s consideration, their hearts were moved. Jing Leng especially lamented why wasn’t such a child his own family’s?

Fourth wangye’s manor, Feng Xia Qi held the apple Lan Feng delivered, a smile lit up with happiness. Though he couldn’t confess his feelings, but wasn’t this enough? Using the position of friend and older brother, taking up a place in her heart, it was already very good.

Junzhu manor, Hua Mu Qing looked at the cute looking apple. Turning it over in her hands, she couldn’t bear to eat it. She didn’t have any family, so this feeling of being cared for was very nice. Hua Mu Qing felt Lan You Nian will be her little sister for a lifetime, always be her friend.

The guest palace, when Yue Bai Lian received the apple, she was surprised. She didn’t expect Lan You Nian to remember her at this time. Thinking that she will use another identity to live in Feng country, it was fine as long as she got to see her.

Xiao Jin Pavilion, after Gui San took care of business and returned to the suite, he received the apple. Gui San smiled indulgently at the apple. Only little junior could have thought of these quirky things. Gui San criticized mentally but he still devoured the apple, for little junior sister’s thoughtfulness.

Ming army’s army camp, Gui Wu held the apple in his hands, chuckling, making a group of rough old man envious from admiration upon hearing Lan Feng’s words. How come they didn’t have someone caring for them? Then, everyone started to fighting over this humble apple.

Meanwhile, in Ming wang manor, after Feng Yi Xuan and Lan You Nian finished their dinner, Lan Feng and Lan Ren carried box after box of apples into Ming wang manor. Lan You Nian had the shadow guards all gathered in the hall. Though none of them knew what wangfei wanted to do, but they all liked this little wangfei very much, so they all stood there respectfully.

Though Lan You Nian hated explaining herself, but facing these subordinates who’ve been following Feng Yi Xuan all these years, Lan You Nian felt gratitude towards them, so Lan You Nian told everyone of eating apples on Christmas Eve; then, under their burning gazes, she gave everyone an apple.

Whether it was steward Uncle Feng or An Yi and the other shadow guards, or Ming wang manor’s manservant and the cooks in the kitchen. No one was left out. She knew many of the people in Ming wang manor seemed ordinary, but all of them had their own talents. It wasn’t her intention to draw them to her side or anything. She wanted Ming wang manor to seem more like a home, so her Xuan won’t be so lonely.

Those who received the apple all felt gratitude. They felt they were being respected and valued. Though wangye was a very good master, wangfei gave them a warmth wangye wasn’t capable of giving. This kind of Ming wang manor seemed more like a home.

What Lan You Nian didn’t know is, Ming wang manor’s shadow guards were all people from the Ghost Realm, so when Ghost Realm’s assassin’s learned of this, they all asked to change shifts and guard Ming wang manor. For this, all the men in Ghost Realm’s fought over it for a long time.

Feng Yi Xuan looked at Nian Nian who was standing beside him, smiling at his subordinates. He too smiled. His Nian Nian was like an elf in the night or like a celestial maiden from the ninth heaven, beautiful, enchanting, pure, clean, her entire body permeated with a captivating aura and perfection. Feng Yi Xuan felt he would be addicted as soon as he encountered her, unable to extricate himself. If he couldn’t meet this girl in this life, he will live his life alone until the end and continue to wait in the next life.