Chapter 148

Meng Chengping was about to knock on the door when he heard Gu Xixi's last sentence; his raised hand halted in midair.

Eavesdropping on the girls' private talk is not what a gentleman should do.

But he really wanted to know what difficulty He Jinglan had that she was unwilling to reveal.

Is that the real reason she has recently lost her temper and refuses to leave Xi Bei?

After waiting a moment, he heard He Jinglan's voice: "No."

"I cannot decide my own marriage; even if I spoke of these matters, it would merely turn one person's worry into two people's."

"That day he came to convey General Huo's meaning to me; do you know his expression?"

He Jinglan recalled Meng Chengping's appearance then, and a gentle smile rose in her eyes.

"He hemmed and hawed several times before finishing that simple sentence, and while speaking he dared not look into my eyes."

"I know what he thinks in his heart; he is reluctant to let me go, yet he must let me go, and having him say these things to me makes him feel guilty toward me."

So for the remaining days, I don't want him to feel extra pressure when facing me; better to bicker noisily, perhaps easing his guilt a bit.

Gu Xixi looked at He Jinglan with heartache.

Others only see the young lady throwing tantrums, but who understands her inner suffering?

Meng Chengping stood with his head bowed outside the door, his knocking hand slowly falling.

Before, the eldest sister Meng Dangni zi always said he was heartless and fearless, an optimist who wouldn't cry even if pricked.

But at this moment, his heart felt as if gripped by an invisible hand.

A fine pain spread over him, not severe, yet like waves at the water's edge, one after another, making it hard for him to breathe.

Pain — she actually understands him so well.

Pain — he cannot refute the reasons she gave.

Inside the room, Gu Xixi gazed at He Jinglan, her thoughts turning over and over.

As a transmigrator, she ought not to interfere with anyone's choices.

But...

Scheming and weighing cannot beat the two words 'sincerity'.

Gu Xixi said solemnly, 'Jing Lan, how you choose between yourself and General Meng, I will not judge.'

'But you say you have no other talents; I cannot agree with that.'

He Jinglan raised her head, looking at Gu Xixi with some surprise.

Gu Xixi continued, 'For your family, for the person you previously chose to marry, you, a young lady, dare to come alone to Xi Bei; just this courage is something many lack.'

'You are also very smart, able to see many things clearly, yet you understand worldliness without being worldly.'

'In feelings, you are clear-headed and independent, able to take up and let go; you say you don't like Mu Nan Zhao, so you don't.'

'To be honest, I truly admire you!'

He Jinglan stared, her cherry lips slightly parted, obviously surprised.

She never expected to have so many merits in Gu Xixi's eyes.

Gu Xixi turned, pressing both hands firmly on He Jinglan's shoulders, facing her, their eyes meeting.

'So Jing Lan, you can do this for Mu Nan Zhao; discarding someone indifferent to me is no loss. Why then marry someone else you don't like?'

He Jinglan had still been immersed in shock and emotion, but hearing the latter, her expression stiffened.

Her gaze wavering, she said, 'Um… besides what you said… there are actually other reasons.'

Gu Xixi blinked. 'Other reasons?'

'Mm.' He Jinglan nodded.

She looked at Gu Xixi again and said, 'First, considering how he has looked after me and my brother since childhood, I cannot harm him by making him fall into the same matrimonial pit as me.'

'Second,' He Jinglan smiled, pursing her lips, as if implying something profound.

'If my two friends can both find happiness in the future, my choice would be well worth it.'

'When I marry, I must sit at the main table, no matter what!'

'Your two friends?' Gu Xixi repeated, as if she had understood something.

Gu Xixi let out a short breath, saying, 'So you don't want him because you're letting him go to me?'

Before a friend, one ought to speak frankly.

Gu Xixi waved her hand, saying, 'To be honest, I never had such a plan.'

'If you want to sit at the main table, rather than that, one day when my fields spread across the world, granaries full, gold and silver piled high, I will surely feast you in my manor, even giving you a table alone.'

He Jinglan was teased into a puff of laughter.

She covered her belly and fell onto Gu Xixi, and after a while she wiped the tears from laughter at her eyes and sat up.

'Oh well, then I'll be waiting,'

'In the future, you'll be so rich with endless grain; if I don't want to stay with my future husband, I'll leave him and you'll support me for the rest of my life.'

Gu Xixi glanced at her sideways and laughed, 'You're being modest; with He Jinglan's rich dowry, why would I need to support you? Still, I'd be happy to.'

The two laughed while embracing.

He Jinglan suddenly pointed at the door toward Gu Xixi and blinked.

Then, while speaking, she tiptoed toward the room door.

'Xixi, you haven't said why you came this time.'

'You're not as idle as I am; making a special trip must be for something important.'

Gu Xixi looked at He Jinglan's actions and understood, saying, 'Originally I came to check on my fruit trees.'

'Unexpectedly, I also took on another task.'

'If you could help me tomorrow, that would be great.'

He Jinglan nodded at Gu Xixi, said nothing more, took a few quick steps and rushed to the door, then suddenly pulled it open.

The light from inside poured out, illuminating the dazed man outside.

Meng Chengping instinctively raised his head, "Jing Lan..."

He Jinglan looked at him with a half‑smile, "You aren't one who likes to be straightforward and upright—how did you also learn to eavesdrop?"

Meng Chengping stared blankly at her, unable to utter a word.

He Jinglan's smile turned colder, and she asked, "Since you heard everything, what do you think?"

"I..." Meng Chengping's hand hanging at his side clenched tightly.

He lowered his head, not daring to meet He Jinglan's eyes.

He Jinglan naturally understood; seeing Meng Chengping unable to speak, she gave him a choice: "Do you want to go inside and let me stay, or just leave now?"

Meng Chengping gritted his teeth; after a moment, his clenched hands suddenly loosened, and he lifted his head to look at He Jinglan.

"It's my fault toward you."

The new emperor and his partisan ministers have long eyed Xi Bei with covetous intent.

If something happens to the He family's daughter in Xi Bei, these people will use the pretext of instability in Xi Bei and insufficient border defense by Huo Jiang to plant a foothold in Xi Bei.

This reason, Huo Jiang only secretly told him alone when ordering Meng Chengping to deliver the message.

In terms of sentiment, before the greater righteousness and the bigger picture, Meng Chengping cannot plead with the Grand General to change his mind because of his personal feelings.

In terms of principle, military orders are as immovable as a mountain; as a commander he must obey unconditionally.

Meng Chengping offered no explanation to He Jinglan; sorry is sorry.

Any excuse would be feeble and powerless.

He finally gave He Jinglan a deep look, and also gave a pleading glance to Gu Xixi who came out afterward.

"I'll keep watch outside; just call out if you need anything."