Night Ning Yuan watched the little ball of fluff on the bed for a moment, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh, "Sometimes, fallen leaves must return to their roots."
Although her mother had passed away when she was very young, she vaguely remembered the poor woman constantly murmuring about the scenery of Southern Xinjiang.
Even when she was close to death, she had passed on that strong wish to her, urging her to find the Glazed Lock and present it to the King of Southern Xinjiang to complete the mission.
Although she had no feelings for the royal family of Southern Xinjiang, she also wanted to know what Southern Xinjiang was truly like.
She really wanted to go back and see, to see what was so good about the place that made someone think of it until their dying breath.
Luo was listening to their conversation, somewhat surprised by Night Ning Yuan's true identity.
However, she was also a bit confused, "Your Highness, if you want to go back, you can go back anytime. Isn't Southern Xinjiang already allied with our Zhaoyao through marriage?"
Night Ning Yuan pursed her lips and shook her head.
Lin Lang said in a deep voice, "Southern Xinjiang has a rule that only Southern Xinjiang people can enter Southern Xinjiang territory."
Su Yunmo frowned, "There's such a rule?"
Lin Lang nodded, "This has been passed down from generation to generation by the Southern Xinjiang royal family. To ensure the purity of their bloodline, Southern Xinjiang people can only marry other Southern Xinjiang people."
In fact, while it was said to be for bloodline purity, it was actually to preserve their special abilities.
If Southern Xinjiang people married outsiders, their descendants would no longer possess these abilities.
Although in Southern Xinjiang, only the royal family and the people of the Posuo tribe could display their special abilities, others also carried something different from outsiders.
And it was precisely that something that the people of Southern Xinjiang had wanted to protect for generations.
Su Yunmo rubbed her temples with a headache, "So, to prevent Southern Xinjiang people from marrying outsiders, they simply refuse all outsiders entry?"
This rule was truly... rotten.
She possessed special abilities herself. Honestly, while these abilities were sometimes very useful, they mostly caused trouble.
It was fine now that she could control her power, but when she was a child and couldn't control it, she had made countless mistakes.
Sometimes, she thought being called a 'monster' was understandable.
The door opened.
Zi Yuan came in with two bowls of ginger soup, "Young Mistress, have some to warm yourself up."
Lin Lang took a bowl and walked to the bedside, handing it to the little fluff.
Luo took a towel and retreated to the side.
Su Yunmo gave Zi Yuan a look.
Luo stepped forward to help wipe Night Ning Yuan's hands clean, and Zi Yuan brought the ginger soup to Night Ning Yuan's hand.
Night Ning Yuan did not take it, but stared fixedly at Su Yunmo, "Can you promise me one thing?"
Su Yunmo took a sip of the ginger soup, then looked up at her.
Night Ning Yuan took a deep breath, her expression serious, "Take me back, back to Southern Xinjiang. Only you can do this."
The three servants exchanged glances, even Lin Lang was bewildered.
Night Ning Yuan stared intently at Su Yunmo, "Your bloodline is purer than mine, you are allowed to enter Southern Xinjiang, and more importantly, you have the Glazed Lock."
If she wanted to return to Southern Xinjiang, she could only rely on her; there was no other way.
Su Yunmo looked at her for a moment, blew on the rim of the bowl, and after the ginger soup cooled a bit, she drank it down in two or three gulps. Then she turned and lay down on the bed, yawning.
She pulled the quilt over herself and threw out two words, "Turn off the lights."
The other three servants glanced at Night Ning Yuan, giving her comforting looks. They then tidied up their things, turned off the lights, and closed the door, leaving.
The room darkened.
A moment later, Night Ning Yuan wailed and pounced onto the bed fully clothed, whimpering, "Momo, don't be so heartless. We are of the same clan, after all."
"If we really count, I'm your older sister from the same clan. Our relationship is much closer than yours was with Lin Yu Ning. You used to dote on her so much~"
Su Yunmo rolled her eyes and kicked her, "If you don't sleep now, I'll throw you out tonight!"
Night Ning Yuan immediately fell silent, and aggrieved, burrowed into the covers to sleep.
Perhaps because her Southern Xinjiang identity had been revealed, Night Ning Yuan slept much more soundly tonight than on the previous few nights, sleeping until dawn.
When Su Yunmo woke up and finished breakfast, she went out of the room. Night Ning Yuan was still asleep, hugging her pillow and muttering in her dreams.
Su Yunmo didn't wake her. She went to the front courtyard after leaving the room.
Perhaps it was because Night Ning Yuan mentioned her mother last night, the little fluff also dreamed of her mother.
Su Yunmo rarely dreamed of things that made her unhappy. Previously, when she dreamed of such things, she could only endure them. Now, when she dreamed of them, she would go to Zhou Wan You for comfort.
Zhou Wan You's courtyard was very quiet, unlike usual.
When Su Yunmo arrived, A Cai was guarding the entrance.
A Cai saw her approaching and quickly went to greet her, lowering her voice, "Is the young lady here to see Madam? Madam is feeling a bit unwell today. Perhaps you could come back tomorrow?"
Su Yunmo looked towards the door with some surprise.
The room door was tightly shut.
"What's wrong with Mother? Is she sick?" The little fluff was worried, and remembering last night's dream, she felt uneasy.
A Cai replied, "Perhaps it's the cold weather and overwork, or perhaps it's because she was angry with someone yesterday."
Su Yunmo was even more surprised to hear this, "Mother was angry?"
This was strange. Mother was a person who remained unfazed by honor or disgrace. Who could she be angry with?
"It's nothing much. Just some people from the business world. Anyway, they were sent away yesterday, so it's not a big deal." A Cai's expression was calm.
There was no sign of tension, so it seemed Zhou Wan You was indeed just slightly ill and not seriously.
Seeing this, Su Yunmo felt a little relieved, "Since Mother is unwell, Momo will wait until Mother is better to see her."
The little fluff turned to leave sensibly. Halfway out, she suddenly stopped and looked back to ask again, "Sister A Cai, who was it that angered Mother?"
A Cai originally didn't want to say, thinking that even if she did, the little fluff wouldn't know. Seeing her repeated inquiries, knowing she was worried about Madam, she spoke directly, "It was Wang Yi, the newly appointed Assistant Minister."
Su Yunmo's fingers stiffened, and her face suddenly darkened.
Lin Lang, following behind her, was also startled, feeling a bad premonition.
Su Yunmo calmed herself, tilted her head to look at A Cai, "Sister A Cai, Momo suddenly feels it's better to see Mother now."
"Mother is unwell. If Momo goes to see her and talks to her, perhaps her illness will get better soon."
A Cai looked troubled. The doctor had already visited, Madam had taken medicine, and the doctor had also instructed Madam to rest and not talk too much.
"Young Mistress, perhaps you could come back later? Madam is asleep now and cannot talk to you."
The little fluff then put on a pitiful expression, "Sister A Cai, please. Momo just wants to see Mother for a moment. Momo promises not to disturb Mother."