Jiang Nuan looked over and saw a man running towards her, holding a woman's handbag.
A middle-aged woman was chasing after him. Due to her size, she stopped after a short distance, slapping her knees and shouting, "Stop, thief!"
The thief was fast, and no one dared to step forward and stop him.
Jiang Nuan stood her ground, waiting for the man to run closer. She deliberately tripped him, and the man fell to the ground.
With a "bang" and a scream, the handbag slid to Jiang Nuan's feet.
Jiang Nuan looked down at him, a cold glint in her eyes. She despised people who gained without earning.
The man stared back sharply at Jiang Nuan. A scar on his eye made him look fierce and menacing.
"You wretched woman, you're asking for death!" The man got up from the ground, a dagger appearing in his hand, his eyes filled with ferocity.
In the sunlight, the dagger flashed coldly and he lunged towards Jiang Nuan. The onlookers gasped, worried for her.
However, the expected scene did not unfold.
Jiang Nuan moved swiftly, grabbing the dagger as it came towards her. With a slight squeeze of her delicate hand, the man's wrist stung, and the dagger clattered to the ground, bouncing a few times.
The man stared at Jiang Nuan in shock. He couldn't believe he had been defeated by a young girl.
Jiang Nuan picked up the handbag from the ground and walked towards the woman.
"Oh! Thank you, dear girl!" Aunt Li looked at Jiang Nuan gratefully.
Jiang Nuan nodded indifferently. "You're welcome!"
As Jiang Nuan turned to leave, she heard Aunt Li speak again.
"This young lady helped me get it back."
Jiang Nuan paused, looking at the beautiful lady dressed in a pink dress, her hair meticulously styled, elegant and beautiful, with a noble and graceful demeanor.
Her pupils trembled. The familiar face before her was so familiar. Even after decades, it hadn't changed much, as if she had been frozen in time.
This was Mu Jiuchen's mother, He Junshu.
"Thank you, young lady. It contained many important things, and it would have been quite troublesome if it had been stolen," the beautiful lady said, smiling gratefully at Jiang Nuan.
As the autumn wind picked up, He Junshu's black hair fluttered. She was still very beautiful.
Jiang Nuan gazed at her quietly. Her appearance was breathtaking, the kind that leaves an unforgettable impression. Jiang Nuan felt that she herself was beautiful, but this woman, in her youth, could undoubtedly have been called the most beautiful woman in Jinshi.
"Madam, you're welcome!"
Hearing the familiar accent, He Junshu was slightly startled and asked with surprise, "Miss, are you from Jinshi?"
Jiang Nuan smiled and nodded. "Yes, Madam. It's my first time in Qi Kingdom, but your accent sounds very much like someone from Jinshi."
Jiang Nuan was testing her. A person who had faked their death would try their best to hide their identity.
But she smiled and nodded. "I am also from Jinshi, but I immigrated here later. Since it's your first time here and you're alone, do you have a place to go?"
Jiang Nuan shook her head slightly and smiled. "Madam, not for now. There should be hotels nearby."
Forgive me, Madam, but I want to get to know you. You have always been a heartache for Mu Jiuchen.
Hearing this, and that she was also from her hometown, He Junshu couldn't go back. Seeing a familiar fellow countrywoman, she wanted to chat with her.
"May I ask your surname, Miss?" He Junshu asked with a gentle smile. She also wanted to get acquainted with her and inquire about her family in Jinshi. These years, some things she truly dared not touch upon.
"Madam, my name is Jiang Nuan." Jiang Nuan's voice was light and melodious. She was also very beautiful, and when she smiled, she exuded an approachable aura.
He Junshu walked towards her, her smile gentle and her tone very cordial. "Nuan Nuan, you've helped me a lot today. How about I invite you to my home as a guest? My house isn't far from here."
Just as Jiang Nuan was thinking about how to exchange contact information with her, she heard this.
She looked at her with a smile, a hint of hesitation in her voice. "Would it be too much trouble for you, Madam?"
"Not at all. I rarely meet fellow countrywomen, and I'd like to chat with you." A flicker of pain crossed He Junshu's eyes, but her lips remained curved in a smile.
Jiang Nuan had just arrived and hadn't had a chance to explore yet, but she nodded in agreement. She still had ten days.
From her eyes, it was clear she was a very happy woman. Setting aside her past, the way she smiled at this moment was like a radiant pearl.
In a sense, living is about pursuing happiness.
Although Mu Jiuchen was cold, seeing his mother so happy, he wouldn't blame her for abandoning him back then.
Jiang Nuan smiled and nodded. "Alright, thank you for your hospitality, Madam!"
He Junshu looked at her beautiful, pure face and inexplicably liked her.
"Nuan Nuan, let me take you around the neighborhood first. We'll head back for lunch at noon."
"Thank you for your trouble, Madam." Jiang Nuan smiled and walked beside her.
Aunt Li followed behind them.
After a few steps, He Junshu stopped and said to Aunt Li behind her, "Aunt Li, you go home first. Tell them to prepare more local Qi Kingdom dishes. I'll bring Nuan Nuan back later."
Aunt Li looked uneasy and said with difficulty, "Madam, the Master doesn't allow you to go out alone."
He Junshu's expression darkened slightly as she said, "I'm with Nuan Nuan, don't worry."
Jiang Nuan remained silent, waiting patiently.
Aunt Li knew Madam was stubborn and didn't say anything more, turning to leave.
He Junshu and Jiang Nuan chatted as they walked, He Junshu occasionally pointing out the surrounding scenery to Jiang Nuan.
Qi Kingdom was a large country, vast in area. As long as it wasn't in the main urban areas, every household had a large courtyard where they could grow flowers and vegetables.
Han Yifan's courtyard was also very comfortable.
"By the way, Nuan Nuan, which district did you live in in Jinshi?" He Junshu asked casually.
Jiang Nuan could tell she wanted to learn about things in Jinshi. She was just puzzled. With advanced technology and information today, it wasn't difficult to learn about the He and Mu families. The most difficult thing to find information on would be Mu Jiuchen.
No one dared to easily write reports about him.
The entire Asian continent knew of Mu Jiuchen's existence, but very few people had actually seen his appearance.
"Madam, I live in the main urban area, in the Yihaiwan Villa District. It's about a 20-minute drive to the city center."
"Oh! That's quite close." He Junshu smiled, glanced at Jiang Nuan, and then said nothing more.
"And you, Madam?" Jiang Nuan also asked with a smile, wanting to know if she was willing to return.
"I used to live in Mingxiang Mansion." She didn't conceal it.
She longed to go back and see, but lacked the courage. She had deceived everyone, including her son.
She had never dared to inquire about their news, fearing that she would be unable to resist returning.
Jiang Nuan feigned surprise. "Madam, what a coincidence! I know it too. The former Mingxiang Mansion was rebuilt years later and is now the old He family residence."