After rebirth, I cried and criticized the prince

Chapter 141: Sweeping the Dust at the Beginning of Winter

When Helan Xuenuo came out of Gu Shicheng's study, Qi Didi saw her. She didn't dare to confirm it at first. She even asked Cui'er, "Someone just passed by. He didn't look like someone from the palace. Did you see him?"

Cui'er shook her head.

Qi Didi followed the figure and when she reached the gate, she saw Yuan Xu while hiding and confirmed that it was Helan Xuenuo.

"It's her again!" Qi Didi was indignant. Why did Helan flirt with Gu Shicheng when she clearly had Yuan Xu? She had just run away from Gu Shicheng, and she couldn't even set foot in Gu Shicheng's study! She had thought it was some playboy, but she didn't expect it to be Helan again.

Thinking back on these times, he realized that Gu Shicheng treated Helan Xuenuo differently. She should have seen the clues when he jumped into the moat to save her on the August Festival!

What is she doing? Is she trying to take everything away from her? This must not happen! She must teach Helan a lesson!

Qi Didi gritted her teeth, her expression extremely grim. She said to Cui'er, "What's the news from the Second Young Master of the Xiang Mansion?"

Cui Er pursed her lips and lowered her head, not daring to look at Qi Didi. Once Qi Didi was in a bad mood, she would also be in a bad mood. She shook her head and said, "The people sent here reported that the second young master of the Prime Minister's Mansion has not left the Prime Minister's Mansion."

Qi Didi suddenly smiled, "Don't worry, I believe he will come out soon." She touched a strand of Cui'er's hair. Cui'er's cheeks trembled unconsciously. She didn't dare to look up. She only heard Qi Didi's half-smile voice, "Keep sending people to watch."

Helan Xuenuo returned to the Helan Mansion, and ten days passed without Yuan Xu coming again. In the past, he would always come to supervise her "homework" in the name of a master every now and then, and occasionally drink tea with her in her yard.

On the day of her return, Xiaozhu's face was pale, but she felt much better after seeing her. She cried for a long time. Helan was thankful that Yuanxu came to deliver the Gentleman Bow in time, only to find out that she had been deceived and taken away without letting her parents know. Otherwise, the matter would have become out of control...

Xiaozhu was crying her eyes out, so it’s hard to imagine how sad her parents must be.

Speaking of the gentleman's bow, she has been playing with it for many days. Her great-grandfather is really a skilled craftsman. He can not only make projectiles, but also modify weapons.

This gentleman's bow is small and exquisite. When folded into its smallest shape, it can just fit in the palm of your hand.

So Helan embroidered a purse for herself, specifically to hold the gentleman's bow and deer bone arrows. She put the two things in it and hung it in front of her waist. It was convenient and unnoticeable, and it could even save her life at critical moments!

She would go to the training ground every day and practice archery there. Occasionally, she would practice with the West King Bow that she won in the autumn field. She had buried it at the bottom of the box and it was almost covered with dust. The lethality of this bow was greater than that of the Gentleman Bow, and she had already mastered it well.

This can be considered as the bow that Yuan Xu won for her.

Xiao Zhu thought she was seeing things. When had her daughter become so diligent? She'd actually gotten up at the crack of dawn to practice archery. Xiao Zhu would go, too, but even later than Helan. She'd practice with Mu Kong, but rarely consult him. Now that she was his adopted sister, she'd long since gotten over any inappropriate thoughts.

Occasionally I would run away, but she would pull me back into her heart.

The eleventh day flew by, and with it the Beginning of Winter had arrived, the entire capital began to sweep the doors of its houses. This was a long-standing custom in the Donglai Kingdom. Regardless of their status, all common people would sweep the doors of their houses, symbolizing sweeping away the old, sweeping away bad luck, and welcoming good fortune. This sweeping of the doors of the houses wasn't limited to the Beginning of Winter, but also took place before the Lunar New Year.

The Helan Prefecture attaches great importance to the Beginning of Winter and celebrates it as a minor festival.

She, General Helan, and the old lady started the first sweeping of the beginning of winter, and then the others began to sweep the dust and clean. They were busy until sunset, and only then were everywhere cleaned.

Helan Xuunuo swept extra hard this year. The high dust made her happy. She wanted to sweep away all the bad luck and get rid of those hateful and annoying people.

After the dust-sweeping was over, the Helan Mansion would set up several tables in the courtyard for the servants to have a good meal, with stewed mutton, dumplings, etc. On the table were the servants. Mrs. Helan would not care if the noise was excessive, and would let them laugh and play, and the courtyard was full of joy.

This year was different from previous years. Helan asked Mu Kong to come as well. Originally there were only three people at the table, but now there were Mu Kong and Xiao Zhu. General Helan and his men treated Mu Kong like another child and loved him even more.

In the past, when they asked Mu Kong to have dinner with them, Mu Kong always said it was against the rules. Unexpectedly, Helan Xuenuo called him this year. The old general Helan pulled Mu Kong to drink one glass after another.

They had a lively dinner that night. Helan occasionally wondered, would the Yuan Mansion be this lively even on the beginning of winter? How great would it be if Yuan Xu were here?

But eleven days passed and there was no sign of Yuan Xu. She felt a little lost in her heart, but she always told herself not to let anyone affect her mood.

She had experienced such pain before, and she should have known that she was her only supporter. She had also thought, what if Yuan Xu regretted it? Thinking of this, she had drunk a few more glasses of wine. She didn't dare to think about it, but...if he really regretted it, she would be willing to let him go.

No one would know what Yuan Xu had done for her! Not even Yuan Xu in this life knew that he had done so much for her in his previous life, and she had no way to repay him.

The beginning of winter has arrived and the weather has suddenly become colder. She only hopes that Yuan Xu can live according to his heart, be himself freely, and no longer give up on himself because of her. It is not worth it.

She drank glass after glass of wine without missing a single one.

Mu Kong advised her several times, "Girl, drink less."

Helan was half drunk and smiled at him, "My father and mother didn't stop me, so don't stop me!" Helan suddenly had an idea and said to the old general Helan, "Why not adopt Mu Kong as the adopted son of the Helan family!"

It wasn't a sudden idea. Mu Kong had always been loyal to the Helan family. Helan was also worried that one day she would be gone, and there would always have to be someone by her parents' side. Anyway, Mu Kong seemed to be the most suitable.

Madam Helan was also slightly dizzy from drinking. She nodded in agreement and asked the old general, "Nuonuo's suggestion is good. I think it's feasible."

The old general laughed. In his eyes, Mu Kong had always been a promising talent. He had thought about this before. They were both older and had a daughter in their old age, so they didn't want to have another one. He used to think that having such a precious daughter was enough, but the older he got, the more afraid he was that his daughter would have no one to rely on after they were gone.

Helan Xuenuo's proposal moved him and there was no need to think about it at all. Mu Kong had fought with them on the battlefield for many years, and they knew what kind of child Mu Kong was.

The old general nodded with satisfaction and looked at Mu Kong kindly, "You should ask Mu Kong about this."

The old lady immediately looked at Mu Kong and asked anxiously, "Mu Kong, what do you think? We believe we have always treated you well. You don't mind having parents like us and a sister like Nuonuo, right?"

Sister? Mu Kong hesitated. In his heart, Helan Mansion had long been his home. He was willing to spend his whole life protecting Helan Mansion, but... he didn't want a sister.

He glanced at the drunken Helan Xuenuo, who was looking at him with a smile on her face, anticipating his response. His heart sank, and without hesitation, he replied, "Mu Kong is not worthy yet. Thank you, General Helan and Madam, for your kindness. You treat me like your parents. Mu Kong will remember this in your heart. Mu Kong will definitely protect the Helan Mansion, everyone, and the young lady."

Old Madam Helan nodded in disappointment. Mu Kong always had his own ideas and could not be forced. However... since Mu Kong promised to protect the Helan Mansion, they could rest assured.

General Helan raised his glass and drank it down. "Never mind. It's up to you."

Helan Xuenuo couldn't remember how she got back to the South Courtyard. When she heard Yuan Xu's name in a daze, she immediately woke up. She got out of bed and stared at the door expectantly. When Xiao Zhu came back with a box of things, she smiled and asked, "Yuan Xu is here?"

Xiao Zhu shook her head and handed the item to her, "Master Yuan didn't come, he sent someone to deliver it."

Helan opened it and found a can of Golden Crow Tea. She looked out the door again and suddenly felt empty inside. She pushed the can to Xiaozhu, the smile gone from her face, "Let it go."

She fell back into bed in a deep sleep, and the clarity she had just felt seemed to disappear. She felt dizzy and her whole body was weak.