Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 302 Mirror

Xu Sheng came early in the morning to pick up Nian Yao to see the Emperor. In the spacious carriage, Nian Yao sat opposite Xu Sheng and Hailuo.

Xu Sheng looked her up and down: "You've gained weight. It seems that Madam Luo is living a more comfortable life than Chief Xue."

Nianyao subconsciously raised her hand to touch her face: "Have you really gained weight?"

It's only been a short time and he can tell already. Is it because Mr. Xu has a sharp eye or because she's obviously gained weight?

Xu Sheng took a small mirror out of the seashell pocket and pointed it at her: "Look in the mirror, your face has gotten rounder."

Nianyao leaned closer and then moved away: "No, right?"

Xu Sheng pushed the mirror forward: "Take a good look at yourself in the mirror."

Nianyao took the mirror and examined her face closely, pinching her cheeks: "They do seem a little chubby, but not exactly round."

Xu Sheng said, "Actually, it doesn't matter if it's round. Luo An is good at everything except for his taste; he can't tell whether it's round or flat."

Nianyao threw the mirror at him: "You can't expect anything good to come out of a dog's mouth."

The mirror fell onto Xu Sheng's chest and then onto his knees, its back riddled with holes.

Nianyao picked up the mirror and clicked her tongue twice: "Your Highness, you give away a mirror and then remove the gemstones? Only you could be so shameless. I'll throw the conch shell away for you."

Nianyao pretended to open the car window and throw the mirror.

Xu Sheng moved with lightning speed, leaning forward and grabbing her wrist. Nian Yao felt a sharp pain in her wrist, and the mirror slipped from her grasp.

Xu Sheng twirled the mirror in his hand and played with it: "I know you're jealous, after all, Luo An didn't give you a mirror either."

Nianyao touched her wrist: "I'm not some little girl who carries a mirror every day. Besides, if Luo Anzhen had given me this broken mirror, I would have thrown it a million miles away and given him a good beating."

"Seashell, he's a complete jerk. Why don't you come work for me from now on? Let me tell you, I've known all sorts of men, but none as petty and narrow-minded as him."

Without a second thought, Hailuo shook her head and leaned closer to Xu Sheng: "He's a good person, and he's very good to me too."

Xu Sheng snorted: "Did you hear me?"

Nianyao said, "You're just too inexperienced, listening to Tian's nonsense. We're business people, we've seen a lot. Look at this mirror..."

Xu Sheng said, "Why did you stop talking? He's listening!"

Nianyao said, "What am I supposed to say if you don't give it to me?"

Conch took the mirror from Xu Sheng: "If I don't give it to you, you'll throw it away."

"There's no hope for them!" Nianyao scoffed. "I was originally hoping for... the realm of immortality?"

Xu Sheng's eyes lit up: "You recognize this mirror?"

Nianyao pointed to the characters on the handle of the mirror: "It says here, 'Realm of Immortality'."

Xu Sheng took the mirror back, his tone becoming nonchalant again: "Will the person who looks in this mirror live forever? Then I'll have to look in it more often."

Nianyao scoffed: "It's the realm of immortality, the realm of enlightenment. It's not that looking in this mirror more often will grant immortality, but rather that one's level of enlightenment leads to immortality. Someone like you, who lacks such enlightenment, will only shorten your lifespan by looking in this mirror more."

Xu Sheng asked with a hint of disbelief, "Really?"

Nianyao was proud of her quick-thinking explanation, raising her chin slightly: "Of course, someone as narrow-minded as you wouldn't understand."

Xu Sheng, having grown accustomed to Nian Yao's way of speaking, handed her the mirror: "Chief Xue, you're quite knowledgeable?"

Nianyao looked closely at herself in the mirror: "Of course. I've been traveling with fleets from west to east and all over the country since I was a child. I've seen everything. Not to mention Sanskrit, I also know Korean and Japanese..."

At the very end of the translucent jade handle is a blooming datura flower, with the words "Land of Eternal Life" engraved in Sanskrit on it.

The back of the mirror is made of seashell, with three rings of gold thread on the outermost layer. Inside is a golden dragon made of coiled gold thread, with seven holes from the dragon's head to its tail. The middle hole is the largest, and the other six holes are slightly smaller.

Xu Sheng suddenly leaned closer: "What did you figure out?"

Nianyao pushed him away, threw the mirror back at him, and sat up straight: "There's nothing there."

Xu Sheng said, "Didn't you see that these were just a few pits, with no gems?"

Nianyao replied, "You get what you pay for. It's one price if there's a gemstone, and another price if there isn't."

Xu Sheng said, "Why don't you ask me where I bought this mirror?"

"I'm not your..." Before she could finish the word "mother," Nianyao realized something was wrong and changed her words: "Would you tell me if I asked?"

Xu Sheng shook his head: "No."

Surprisingly, Nianyao wasn't angry: "Then why did you make me ask?"

Xu Sheng returned the mirror to Hailuo: "This mirror isn't mine, nor did I buy it. We've arrived, get off the bus."

Upon getting off the car and seeing the words "Qi Mansion," Nianyao looked at Xu Sheng with a puzzled expression.

Xu Sheng said, "Let me show you Qi Yang's new home first. Men separate their households after marriage; this has been the way since ancient times."

Although it's called the Qi residence, it's actually just a large courtyard house, where two people are cleaning and tidying up.

Nianyao followed Xu Sheng inside: "I heard Qi Yang was injured. How badly is he injured?"

Xu Sheng said casually, "It's nothing. Qi Yang is young but very experienced; he's not so easy to get into trouble with."

Does "nothing's wrong" mean "not dead" or "not injured"?

Nianyao couldn't figure it out, so she got a little angry: "I've finished reading it, weren't you supposed to see the Emperor?"

Xu Sheng wasn't in a hurry: "Do you have anything to say to the Emperor?"

Nianyao asked curiously, "Weren't you going to take me to see him?"

Xu Sheng simply sat down on a bench in the corridor: "As the older brother, it's basic etiquette for me to introduce my younger siblings to my uncle?"

Should we talk to her about manners? Should Mr. Xu talk to her about manners?

Nianyao kicked the bench and said impatiently, "Just tell me what you're up to, don't beat around the bush."

Xu Sheng said discontentedly, "Why are you so hostile towards me? Xue Nianyao, we need to make things clear, otherwise I'll feel really uncomfortable. What did I do wrong? Did I offend Luo An or you? Why do you just not like me?"

"We, who's with him, us?"

Nianyao leaned against the wall: "Because you're not sincere, and I don't like insincere people."

Xu Sheng frowned slightly: "How is it not sincere? Where is it not sincere?"

Nianyao said, "I've seen all kinds of people in the Great River Gang. People can't be simply described as good or bad; after all, human nature is complex."

Xu Sheng nodded: "Even if I'm not a good person, I'm not a bad person either."

Nianyao said, "Some people are genuinely good, and some are openly bad. But you're not genuine when you're being good, and you're not open when you're being bad. No matter what you do, you give people the feeling that you're full of calculation."

I don't like this feeling, regardless of the motive. It's like you're bringing me to the palace to meet the emperor—it's clearly your arrangement, yet you insist on talking about basic etiquette. When have I, a person of the martial world, ever cared about etiquette? And you, with your arrogance, certainly don't care about etiquette either.

Xu Sheng looked at her, seemingly deep in thought.

Nianyao added earnestly, "That's probably why I like Luo An. He doesn't talk much, and sometimes his words are harsh, but he's genuine and sincere."

"A hundred tricks are not as good as sincerity." Su Wuming pushed open the door of the room and stood in front of them: "Your Highness, I will accompany my sister to the palace."