Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 118 Fox Demon
Chaolu didn't expect that her identity would be exposed so suddenly. She hurriedly explained: "I have broken off my engagement with Xiao Liulang. I am not his fiancée anymore."

Si Buping smiled and said, "Cancel the engagement? Does Lord Xiao know about this?"

Xiao Wang said calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Grand Master. When I get to Chang'an, I will tell my grandfather about this. Grandfather has always been tolerant and kind, so I believe he will understand my decision."

Si Buping's eyes fell on Yan Ciwan's face. He asked, "Are you going to Chang'an with Xiao Liulang?"

Yan Ciwan admitted generously: "Well, it happens to be on the way, so let's go together, so that we can have someone to take care of us on the way."

"I also need to go back to Chang'an to report to the Saint. If you don't mind, you can come with me."

Yan Ciwan thought the other party was joking with her, so she smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Grand Master. You are very busy, and if you bring a burden like me along, it might delay your trip."

"Mrs. Ning is smart and clever, how could she be a burden?"

Yan Ci Wan met his light brown eyes and suddenly realized that he was not joking. The strange feeling in her heart emerged again.

——Si Buping’s attitude towards her was very unusual.

Not only her, but everyone else present also noticed this.

Xiao Wang's eyes were dark, and he was thinking secretly, why did Si Buping pay special attention to Ning Ci? What was his real purpose?
Fortunately, for the time being, Si Buping has not shown any ill will towards Ning Ci.

Chu Wangshan's gaze swept across Si Buping, Yan Ciwan, Xiao Wang, and Chao Lu.

Just now he felt that Yan Ciwan and Chaolu did not look like maids, especially Yan Ciwan. With such a bright and confident attitude, how could she look like a maid at all?

It now seems that the relationship between these four people is quite complicated.

Yan Ciwan pretended not to notice anything and said casually, "Thank you for your compliment, Grand Master. I have already made an appointment with Xiao Liulang and the others to go to Chang'an together. I cannot go back on my word and can only disappoint the Grand Master's kindness. I hope you will forgive me."

The smile on Si Buping's face faded a little.

He said to Chu Wangshan: "Let's stop here today. I'm going to rest first. I hope you can give me a satisfactory answer tomorrow."

Chu Wangshan nodded in agreement, and then asked Aping to take Si Buping to Jinxiu Garden to rest.

The inner guard fetched a cloak and hood from inside the house, shook them out and put them on Si Buping.

Everyone watched Si Buping leave with the inner guards.

Chu Wangshan lowered his head, covered his lips, and coughed softly.

At this time, a beautiful woman walked out of the house. She was wearing a light red skirt and a goose yellow shawl. There was a red plum blossom hairpin between her eyebrows, her black hair was tied up like clouds, her lips were red like cherries, and her skin was whiter than snow.

She stretched out her delicate hand to hold Chu Wangshan's arm and asked softly, "Husband, why are you coughing again? Is your old illness coming back?"

Chu Wangshan waved his hand and said that he was fine, then introduced himself to Xiao Wang.

"This is my concubine, Lingniang."

He turned to Lingniang and said, "This Xiao Liulang is the grandson of Prime Minister Xiao Gong."

Lingniang bowed to Xiao Wangying and said softly, "I have heard of Mr. Xiao's great name for a long time. I never thought I would be able to meet Mr. Xiao's beloved grandson. It is truly an honor for Lingniang."

Xiao Wang said: "Madam Ling, there is no need to be so polite."

Chu Wangshan looked at the snow outside and said to Xiao Wang, "The snow came a little early this year. As soon as it snows on Qibao Mountain, the mountain road will be blocked. You guys stay in the villa and wait until the snow stops. I will order people to clear the snow on the mountain road. It won't be too late for you to leave then."

Xiao Wang thanked him politely.

"Tomorrow I will hold a warm and cold party in the villa. There will not only be wine, meat and dishes, but also puppet show performances. Please do me a favor and enjoy it with us, Xiao Liulang."

"Then Xiao will respectfully obey your command."

Chu Wangshan instructed Lingniang, "Take Xiao Liulang and the other two to Shaoguang Court to rest. Be sure to entertain them well and don't neglect the distinguished guests."

Lingniang nodded in agreement, and before leaving, she reminded him, "The medicine is on the table, my husband, remember to take it. I'll be back soon."

She was wearing an apricot cloak and holding a gauze lantern in her hand, walking in front to lead the way.

Xiao Wang, Yan Ci Wan and Chao Lu followed behind.

Yan Ciwan suddenly asked, "Madam Ling, I heard that among the guests invited by Nuanhan Club, there is a man named He. I happen to have a friend named He, who is a businessman. He once told me that he was going to Luzhou to do some business. Could it be that he is also in the villa?"

Madam Ling slowed down her pace, turned around and said to her with a smile: "What a coincidence. It's getting late now, so I can't introduce you. Mr. He will also attend the Warm and Cold Party tomorrow, and you can have a good chat with him then." Yan Ciwan smiled with curved eyebrows and eyes: "When I suddenly appear in front of him at the Warm and Cold Party tomorrow, I will definitely scare him."

Madam Ling chuckled, her laughter as clear as a silver bell.

"Aci, you are so funny."

Yan Ciwan's eyes rolled, and his expression suddenly changed. He shouted in panic: "Ah! What is that?!"

The other three people immediately stopped and looked in the direction she pointed, only to see a courtyard in front of them. There was nothing in the courtyard except flowers, plants, rocks and stones.

Xiao Wang's heart tightened and he subconsciously wanted to go forward to check. But just as he took a step forward, his sleeve was grabbed by Yan Ciwan.

He took the opportunity to look at Yan Ciwan.

The two looked at each other.

Yan Ciwan blinked imperceptibly.

Xiao Wang understood what he meant, and asked with concern: "Aci, what did you see just now?"

He now called her by her name directly, instead of calling her Madam Ning as before. Yan Ci Wan was concentrating on acting and didn't notice this detail. She looked frightened and panicked, and spoke in a trembling voice.

"I just saw a dark shadow over there. It scurried over there. It looked like an animal. Do you have any pets in your villa?"

When she heard the word "animal", Madam Ling's expression changed slightly, but she quickly returned to normal and said softly, "There are no pets in the villa. We didn't see anything just now. Ah Ci, you must have seen it wrong."

Yan Ciwan hesitated: "Is this really an illusion?"

Xiao Wang said, "You must have heard rumors about the fox demon, and you felt too uneasy, so you had hallucinations."

"They all say there is a real fox demon here, and some people even said they saw it with their own eyes. It can't be fake, right?" Yan Ciwan looked at Madam Ling and asked eagerly. "Is the fox demon still in your villa? Will it come and eat us in the middle of the night?"

Chaolu was so frightened that her face turned pale, and it was obvious that she really believed what Yan Ciwan said.

Madam Ling said helplessly: "It's just hearsay, don't believe it."

"But Zhang Dalang from Zhang's Mutton Shop really saw a fox demon."

"He drank a little that night, and his mind was not clear, so he mistook the maid in the manor for a fox demon."

"Is that so?" Yan Ciwan was skeptical.

Madam Ling continued to lead the way and led them into Shaoguang Courtyard.

"Have a good rest, and see you tomorrow."

After Madam Ling left, only Yan Ciwan, Xiao Wang and Chaolu were left in Shaoguang Courtyard.

Yan Ciwan and Chaolu lived in the east wing, and Xiao Wang lived alone in the west wing.

At night, Chaolu was scared and didn't dare to sleep alone, so she hugged her pillow and crawled into Yan Ciwan's bed.

Chaolu was worried: "Aci, is there really a fox demon here?"

Yan Ciwan smiled and explained the truth: "I lied to you earlier. I didn't see anything. I said that on purpose to see Madam Ling's reaction. Now it seems that there should be no fox demon here."

—But there must be something else.

Chaolu breathed a sigh of relief, as long as there was no fox demon.

She muttered quietly, "I thought you really saw a fox demon. I was really scared by you."

"Stop imagining and go to sleep."

The two closed their eyes and fell asleep. At midnight, Yan Ciwan suddenly woke up.

She felt some movement outside the house and immediately sat up, just in time to see a dark shadow flash past the window.

The shadow had two pointed ears, just like a fox!

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(End of this chapter)