0p0 Chapter 193 Totem
Chapter 193 Totem
Jiang Lige's words reflected both her helplessness as a royal princess and her worry as the granddaughter of the Xu family.
Ning Yunxiao didn't want Jiang Lige to be trapped in such negative emotions, so he changed the subject and asked, "What is this thing you drew today? Why did it make Xu Weiming obey you so well?"
"It's the Xu family's family totem. We call it the clan totem." Jiang Lige said, then sat down at the desk and drew another one. "This is the clan totem. All Xu family members will recognize each other when they see the totem."
"Then how did Xu Weiming know your identity through the totem? Logically speaking, there should be quite a few girls of your age in the Xu family."
"Important members of the direct lineage of the Xu family, in addition to the clan totem, also have personal totems that represent their identities. Personal totems are created by modifying the clan totem." Jiang Lige marveled at Ning Yunxiao's ability to discern the whole from the smallest details. After explaining this, he pointed to the flower-like area in the center of the totem, "Look, this is my exclusive totem. Personal totems are more subtle than clan totems. Once Xu Weiming saw it, he knew it was me."
Ning Yunxiao observed it carefully and asked, "Is this a flower?"
Jiang Lige nodded, "Yes, this is iris."
"Iris." Ning Yunxiao's slender hand swept across the painting, and he said softly, "Warm and elegant, very suitable for Ah Li."
Being praised like this, Jiang Lige smiled a little embarrassedly, and drew another totem in the blank space next to it with the pen and ink in his hand.
The frame used was still that of the Xu clan, but a small cluster of bamboo leaves was painted on the blank space in the middle.
"If he were a prince, he would be like a cluster of green bamboos, open-minded and resilient, with a broad mind."
When saying this, Jiang Lige's eyes curved into crescent shapes, which made Ning Yunxiao's heart move. He couldn't help but reach out and touch Jiang Lige's head.
"I didn't know that I had such an image in the princess' mind."
"Yes!" Jiang Lige agreed as a matter of course, then propped up his chin and pretended to be distressed, "Well, the prince knows my secret again. If this continues, I will no longer be a mystery to him."
Ning Yunxiao took over the conversation naturally, "Why should Ah Li hide from me?"
Even if Jiang Lige was slow-witted, he could sense the tender affection in these words. After a moment's pause, he looked around and said, "Well, I don't care. The prince should tell me a little secret."
Ning Yunxiao was not at all bothered by Jiang Lige's unreasonable behavior. Instead, he thought that the little girl's character was really cute.
He reached out and picked up the piece of paper with the totem on it and waved it in front of Jiang Lige. "This is my secret, and it's also our secret."
"what?"
Jiang Lige didn't understand what Ning Yunxiao meant and tilted his head in confusion, but Ning Yunxiao held his head with a smile and straightened it.
"I mean, it's okay to use your name as my surname."
I can’t stand it!
Who can stand this!
Jiang Lige's face turned red all of a sudden, like a chair on fire. He jumped up and ran out, not forgetting to make an excuse for his desertion.
"I suddenly remembered that I haven't told Grandma about the gold foil fruit yet. This is a serious matter, so I'll go there first!"
Ning Yunxiao found Jiang Lige's escape amusing, and a hint of smile appeared in his usually icy eyes.
……
After leaving the yard, Jiang Lige patted his chest in shock.
Ning Yunxiao has been acting a little abnormal recently. He used to be a man with a stern face and a serious manner, but now he keeps saying these words, which make people's hearts tremble and they can hardly think normally.
Jiang Lige's head was in a mess. Just as she was about to sigh, she heard someone calling her from a distance, "Princess Zhaohua."
Following the source of the sound, Jiang Lige saw the personal nanny beside Old Madam Xu and immediately smiled, "Nanny Ding."
Nanny Ding also nodded slightly and said respectfully, "Princess, the old lady invites you."
Jiang Lige took over the conversation readily, "I just settled the prince and am going to pay my respects to my grandmother."
"Princess please."
After the two finished talking, they walked towards Old Madam Xu's residence, one in front and the other behind. The two people who had not seen each other for a long time talked as they walked, and after about half an incense stick of time, they arrived at Old Madam Xu's yard.
Madam Xu welcomed them into the room with a smile on her face. Jiang Lige was the first to perform the junior greetings, "Greetings, Grandmother."
"Who just told Grandmother not to be polite? Now you're being polite." Old Madam Xu smiled and dismissed her attendants. She glared at Jiang Lige and said, "I heard about what happened today from the servants who accompanied us. It's amazing that you've just arrived in Nancheng and you're already busy solving a problem for the Xu family."
Jiang Lige smiled and pretended to be angry, "Grandma, when you say that, you're not considering Lige as a member of the Xu family anymore."
"You naughty monkey!" Old Madam Xu poked Jiang Lige's forehead with a smile and sighed, "That blind woman from the Tang family contradicted you today, but I couldn't punish her severely for various reasons. Grandmother was just worried that you were upset."
How could Jiang Lige not understand the mystery? The wives of aristocratic families usually turned big things into small things when they made mistakes.
After all, it concerns the family reputation and cannot be taken lightly.
Jiang Lige shook his head, indicating that he didn't mind. "A clown like Tang isn't worth my anger. What I'm worried about now is Weiming. He's my uncle's only son and has always been the treasure of the family. If he had good character, it wouldn't matter if he was a little less educated. But now that he's been educated like this, it's like..."
"A ticking time bomb."
Old Madam Xu spoke with melancholy, and Jiang Lige echoed her in silence.
Then Madam Xu sighed again, "I have already explained the interests involved to him. Let's wait and see. If he does it again, I will definitely not tolerate him."
Jiang Lige nodded, "Grandmother is wise."
Madam Xu obviously didn't want to mention Xu Weiming. She took the cakes from the wooden table and stuffed them into Jiang Lige's hands. "Okay, don't mention that rebellious son. My little princess has made it here with great difficulty. Come and try the cakes that your grandmother made for you. They are best enjoyed while they are hot."
In the glass cup, there was a plate full of pastries, all of which were Jiang Lige's favorites when he was a child. Just by looking at the style of the pastries, you could tell that they were made by Madam Xu herself.
Thinking of this, Jiang Lige couldn't help but feel moved. He reached out and hugged Madam Xu's arm, saying coquettishly, "Grandma treats Lige the best!"
Jiang Lige's coquettish behavior melted Old Madam Xu's heart. She patted her head lovingly and said, "By the way, why did Lige suddenly come to South City?"
After Old Madam Xu said this, Jiang Lige finally remembered the important matter. He obediently poured Old Madam Xu a cup of tea and answered honestly, "To be honest, Lige came here this time because I have something to ask Grandmother for help."