Chapter 278 Sugar-Fried Chestnuts (1/2)

The corners of Lin Mengya’s mouth curled up into an easy and elegant smile.

She lifted her eyes to the sky dotted with clouds outside the courtyard. If she broke free from the framework of this mansion, she would be able to fly as high as she wanted.

“Indeed, I wish I could leave. This is not my rightful place after all. Instead of being like a bird in a cage, I’d much rather be one that is free in the wild.”

There was a look of longing for freedom in Lin Mengya’s dark black eyes.

On the other hand, hidden in Qinghu’s eyes was a look of regret in spite of the smile at the corner of his mouth.

Even he was unaware that he had been attracted to this lady in a long elegant robe. Though not seductive, he was secretly drawn by her beautiful complexion.

Be it him or Xiaoyu and the man hiding in Qinwu Courtyard, their hearts had been unknowingly drawn to her.

How could such a girl hide herself in the forests and mountains?

Nevertheless, he would give it a try since it was her wish. He only wanted to make her happy and see her smile.

“Come, let me take you out.”

Qinghu put his arm around her slim waist. Although she was in Qinghu’s arms, he did not feel a bit touched.

Using his inner energy, he leaped up and the two of them rose into the air like butterflies. After leaping over a few spots on the roofs, they ended up in the alley behind the mansion’s backyard.

All of a sudden, Qinghu’s lungs heaved and his face fell. He let go of Lin Mengya immediately and turned away as he vomited out fresh blood.

The effects of that d*mn poison had been getting increasingly stronger.

A look of worry flashed across Lin Mengya’s eyes as she looked at Qinghu from behind.

His body had been weakened and he thought he was hiding the effects of the poison well. However, how could he fool her given that her eyes were as sensitive as radar?

She recalled that Teacher had casually mentioned to her a kind of medicine that could prolong Qinghu’s life.

Unfortunately, the raw materials of the medicine only grew on the top of the snowy mountains, and the other components could only be found near the mouth of the volcano, where it was extremely hot.

Although those things were very valuable, even if they wanted to pick the herbs on their own, they might also have to make many sacrifices to obtain them.

If she wished for Qinghu to get better soon, she needed to develop Sanjue Hall and focus their resources.

“Hey, what are you doing? Are you laughing to yourself?”

Lin Mengya gathered her thoughts and pretended to look like she was unaware of Qinghu’s condition. Pouting, she glared at Qinghu with angry eyes.

Qinghu finally managed to suppress the blood from coming out from his throat and put on a smile when he turned around to face Lin Mengya.

“I wouldn’t dare! I would be asking for death if I dared laugh at you. I may not be able to live much longer, but I treasure my life.”

The two of them argued for a while more before the four maidservants, all clad in men’s clothes, rushed over to the horse carriage.

“Master, Qinghu, get into the horse carriage quickly. We have to come back before it’s dark.”

Baisha’s heroic spirit was enhanced by the men’s clothes she had changed into.

With a horsewhip in her hand and dressed in coarse clothes, she looked like a good-looking young male servant.

She was indeed very smart to have picked up the skill of driving a horse carriage in only a few days. She looked like a real coachman.

“Good, let’s hurry on.”

Lin Mengya and Qinghu were seated one in the front and one at the back of the horse carriage. With one wave of the horsewhip in her hand, Baishao drove off, and soon, the horse carriage disappeared behind the mansion’s backyard into the alley.

Lamps and ribbons were hanging everywhere on the streets. There were people coming from the other towns who had come to the capital city to buy the New Year’s goodies.

Lin Mengya, who had grown up in a city, looked out of the carriage at the people going about their business.

Spring Festival couplets and scrolls with the word “blessings” written on them or pictures of plump dolls hugging koi fishes were hanging at the shops along the streets.

Fragrant pumpkin seeds and sugar-fried chestnuts looked and smelled mouth-watering. Not to mention how tempted the greedy Baizhi was, even Lin Mengya was attracted by the bustling scene.

“Stop swallowing your saliva. It makes me want to eat,” teased Lin Mengya, as she tapped her fingers on Baizhi’s forehead.

Everyone burst out laughing at the sight of the resentful look in Baizhi’s eyes.

“Stop feeling so miserable. My daddy and mommy must have gotten everything prepared. What my mom makes is many times more delicious than what’s sold in the streets. I’m sure in a while, all of your stomachs will burst with her cooking.”

Baiji also tapped her fingers on Baizhi’s forehead. She had told her father and mother to prepare more food beforehand.

It was the New Year’s Festival after all, so everyone was looking forward to the festive atmosphere.

Lin Mengya smiled at all the lively conversations, while in her heart, she was thinking about how she could sneak out with Qinghu to take a peek at the real Sanjue Hall outside the city.

Given that they were all in men’s clothes, they could openly stop the horse carriage right in front of the main gate of Sanjue Hall.