Chapter 164

He Jinglan also calmed down.

Unlike before, her face bore a resolute, self‑sacrificing determination. "Xixi, don't comfort me now—I know what fate awaits me in the hands of these wicked people."

evil people

They were both lying on the ground; He Jinglan tilted her head slightly and could whisper into Gu Xixi's ear.

Bei Li people should not understand what we're saying; in a moment I'll shout and tackle him; while he's dazed, you run quickly.

Gu Xixi opened her mouth to say something, but He Jinglan reached out and pressed her finger to her lips, giving a bleak smile, "Don't argue with me."

You just need to inform my elder brother afterward.

Also, that wooden-headed Meng, ask if he's dead; if not, tell him I'm braver than he is.

"Have you two finished chatting?" the black-clad person in the grass beside them suddenly said, with a familiar impatience.

He Jinglan startled, frowned, and locked eyes with Gu Xixi, "Whose voice is that?"

Gu Xixi finally found a chance to speak, "From childhood, you should be more familiar with this than I am."

He Jinglan sucked in a breath of cold air, then abruptly turned her head to look at Gu Xixi's other side.

Mu!

Mu Nan Zhao shushed, "Shut up."

Just now, the Bei Li soldiers outside the grass had dismounted, their weapons parting the grass as they walked and searched.

Gu Xixi and her companions' position was closest to these Bei Li soldiers, so they lay flat on the ground, daring not to move.

Mu Nan Zhao observed the outside movements.

Gu Xixi's view was blocked here; she couldn't see anything, and inevitably grew anxious.

What did you see? Should we go or keep lying down—say something.

Mu Nan Zhao glanced back at her, not impatient, just somewhat helpless, "We haven't gone far yet; wait a bit longer."

He Jinglan digested her earlier embarrassment and asked, "We're already inside our borders; why can't we rush out and fight them?"

The military camp is just ahead; if we cause a commotion, the commanding general will surely send troops to rescue us.

Mu Nan Zhao said, "If it were only our people, we could still put up a fight. But now..."

He glanced sideways, uncharacteristically adopting a relatively mild tone, "There are too many non-martial womenfolk, we're short-handed, and the womenfolk have scattered again; we can't protect them."

Real swords and spears mean direct life-or-death combat; once there are casualties, even if Huo Jiang could bring troops out in time to hack these Bei Li people into mincemeat, it would be of no avail.

He Jinglan fell silent; indeed, life is only one.

Gu Xixi asked, "How many of you are there? Why do I only see you alone?"

Mu Nan Zhao, while staying on guard, said, "About ten."

I happened to see someone dash into the grass without choosing a path, so I followed to have a look.

I didn't expect there to be another one.

He seemed to grit his teeth, muttering to himself, "If I'd known, I should have brought Meng Chengping; one's own woman should be managed by oneself."

Gu Xixi didn't hear his muttering, "What did you say?"

"Nothing." Mu Nan Zhao said calmly, "How many people came out of the Dependents Village?"

Gu Xixi reported the number.

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes widened in shock, "What?! You!"

He looked left and right, lowering his voice further, "Did you empty out the entire Dependents Village by luring them away?"

Gu Xixi displeased, "Don't use the ugly term 'abduct'."

Mu Nan Zhao's emotions were somewhat agitated; after several attempts at wording, he managed to speak as calmly as possible, "Do you know who they are? Military dependents!"

Now, in wartime, if anything happens to them, Huo Jiang will certainly have to give an explanation to their husbands.

Have you considered what you, as the leader, should do when the time comes?

He Jinglan quickly shielded Gu Xixi, "This time it wasn't Gu Xixi who took the lead."

It was Aunt Lin and everyone's voluntary decision; I volunteered too!

Gu Xixi said, "No need to explain on my behalf."

I was the one who initiated the fruit-tree claim; if we speak of the instigator, it's indeed me. If I am ultimately found responsible, let me plead guilty, accept punishment, and pay with my life—I will not protest.

But those military dependents are blameless; tonight the Bei Li people secretly launched rockets, setting fire to the Pinbo orchard. They said, as military dependents, it's their duty to first resolve the fire hazard, then relay military intelligence.

Mu Nan Zhao blinked, "The Bei Li people set fire."

Gu Xixi hummed, "Aunt Lin said that at this time of year, the northwest has many northwest winds."

Once a sandstorm arises, the fire will spread very quickly.

Mu Nan Zhao furrowed his brows in thought.

He Jinglan flushed with anger, "Now you know we're here to put out the fire—hurry up and apologize!"

Gu Xixi couldn't even be bothered to glance sideways at the moment.

His apology is something I, a commoner, cannot afford.

But rather than complain here about me leading everyone out, hurry up and take action to protect the military dependents—isn't that what you lot, who eat the Imperial Court's stipends, should be considering?

By now, no footsteps could be heard outside the grass.

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes were like a hawk's, fixed firmly on a certain direction, he said in a low voice, "Now is the moment."

Run!

He Jinglan saw Mu Nan Zhao and Gu Xixi almost simultaneously burst into a run, while she was still in a daze.

Huh?

Fortunately, Gu Xixi kept a firm grip on He Jinglan's hand.

He Jinglan felt like a kite, forced to fly up, fluttering wildly in the wind.

Her legs were extremely quick; before her mind could figure it out, her legs already knew to follow and run.

They were about to rush out of this patch of wild grass more than half a person tall.

He Jinglan asked, "Are we leaving now? What are we going to do?"

Where the grass parted, several horses were casually scattered ahead, left temporarily by the Bei Li people.

Mu Nan Zhao grabbed the nearest rein, shouting lowly, "Mount up!"

In the blink of an eye, he saw Gu Xixi move even faster than he had said, already seated on a black horse.

He Jinglan's reaction this time was also quick; she immediately climbed onto the horse Mu Nan Zhao was leading.

Mu Nan Zhao held his soft sword, warily scanning the surroundings, while quickly instructing, "Hurry up and leave; you'll be safe once you're out of this middle ground, then go to the camp and inform Huo Jiang."

The two looked down from their horsebacks at Mu Nan Zhao.

He Jinglan: "And what about you?"

Gu Xixi: "You're not leaving."

Mu Nan Zhao said, "I'll go over there to meet them."

He suddenly stared into Gu Xixi's eyes, "Just now, I spoke too harshly; I'm sorry."

"And I will certainly bring back every one of your people, not a single one missing."

Having said that, he raised his hand and whipped the two horses!

The warhorses cried out in pain and galloped away.

In the deep night, Mu Nan Zhao did not see that, as Gu Xixi rode away, she had once turned her head to look at him, her expression complex.

Incomprehension, gratitude, or perhaps worry…

In the capital, noble ladies popularly rode horses in men's attire for spring outings, so He Jinglan's horsemanship was also not bad.

On this journey to request reinforcements, the two dared not delay, spurring their horses forward.

He Jinglan shouted with exhilaration in the wind, then added, "By the way, I've lived so many years and have never seen him apologize and back down to anyone; tomorrow morning I surely won't see the sun rise from the west, will I?"

Gu Xixi fell silent for a moment, then only said, "Let's just go faster."