Chapter 169

Faced with Gu Xixi's question, Meng Chengping's calm yet crazy face finally showed a hint of shame.

Translation: Facing Gu Xixi's question, Meng Chengping's usually calm and crazy face finally showed a trace of shame.

Note: "calm and crazy" means calm and crazy; "calm yet crazy face" could be "a calm yet crazy face". We'll translate it as "calm and crazy face". Keep the meaning.

"Hmm."

Translation: "Hmm."

"Sorry."

Translation: "Sorry."

Gu Xixi said solemnly, "It was just a coincidence that we ran into each other; it's not your fault, General Meng doesn't need to apologize."

Translation: Gu Xixi said solemnly, "It was just a coincidence that we met; I don't blame you, General Meng doesn't need to apologize."

"Besides, the risk of encountering the Bei Li army when we decided to leave the village to fight the fire was always present."

Translation: "Besides, when we decided to leave the village to fight the fire, the risk of encountering the Beili Army was always there."

As she said that, she glanced at Murong Nan Zhao, feeling somewhat relieved in her heart.

Translation: She said while glancing at Mu Nan Zhao, though she felt a bit relieved inside.

This way, the debt of gratitude to Murong Nan Zhao for saving her life is at least not too great; she will surely find a chance to repay it properly later.

Translation: This way, the life debt owed to Mu Nan Zhao is at least not too great; later we can find a chance to repay it clearly.

The special mission this time has already been reported.

Translation: This special mission has already been reported.

Huo Jiang decided to still punish Meng Chengping, saying, "With the big battle imminent, what can you do in this absent-minded state? Go receive twenty military strokes to wake up."

Translation: Huo Jiang decided to still punish Meng Chengping, "The big battle is imminent; what can you do in this absent-minded state? Go receive twenty military sticks, wake up."

Meng Chengping said nothing more and turned to leave.

Translation: Meng Chengping didn't say another word, turned and left.

Seeing this, Gu Xixi stood up to plead, "General Huo, please see clearly; General Meng has his reasons for behaving this way."

Translation: Seeing this, Gu Xixi stood up to plead, "General Huo, please see clearly, General Meng has a reason for being like this."

Gu Xixi explained what happened at the military camp gate in a few sentences.

Translation: Gu Xixi explained clearly what happened at the military camp gate in a few sentences.

"General Meng merely suffered a setback, temporarily feeling down, and did not intentionally disrespect the Grand General."

Translation: "General Meng just suffered a setback, his mood is bad for a moment, it's not intentional disrespect toward the General."

"Moreover, his conflict with Miss He hasn't arisen just these past two days."

Translation: "Besides, the conflict between him and Miss He isn't something that just started these two days."

"Nevertheless, he can still prioritize military orders, not letting his emotions affect the duties he must bear."

Translation: "But he can still prioritize military orders, not let his emotions affect the duties he should bear."

Huo Jiang pondered and said, "You're saying Xiao Meng and Miss He?"

Translation: Huo Jiang pondered, "You're saying Xiao Meng and Miss He?"

"How could that be possible? Boss Gu, I know you've known Xiao Meng for a long time and are good friends; wanting to vindicate him doesn't require fabricating such a story."

Translation: "How could that be possible? Boss Gu, I know you've known Xiao Meng for a long time, you're good friends; wanting to clear his name wouldn't require making up such a story."

Gu Xixi replied helplessly, "The Grand General has dealt with me several times; do you think I'm the kind of person who jokes around randomly?"

Translation: Gu Xixi said helplessly, "I've dealt with the General several times; do you think I'm the kind of person who jokes around randomly?"

"Besides, just now Miss He ignored General Meng, and this happened outside the camp, witnessed by several military dependents."

Translation: "Besides, just now Miss He ignored General Meng, and it happened outside the military camp; several military dependents saw it."

Huo Jiang's expression gradually became intriguing.

Translation: Huo Jiang's expression gradually became intriguing.

"This matter..."

Translation: "This matter..."

Gu Xixi urged, "If you don't stop it soon, the military strokes will be finished!"

Translation: Gu Xixi urged, "If you don't stop it soon, the military sticks will be finished beating."

Huo Jiang smirked indifferently, "Eh, what's there to stop?"

Translation: Huo Jiang smiled indifferently, "Eh, what's there to stop?"

"Although with that face, I, the general, have wronged him."

Translation: "Although with that face, I, the General, have wronged him."

"But he doesn't obey military orders, acts on his own; receiving a few military strokes to curb his temper is fine."

Translation: "But he doesn't obey military orders, acts on his own; receiving a few military sticks to temper his nature is also good."

"If he ever behaves similarly again, he should consider the consequences before acting and what he must bear upon returning to camp."

Translation: "If he next time has similar behavior, before deciding he should think about what consequences he'll have to bear upon returning to camp."

Gu Xixi inquiringly looked at Murong Nan Zhao, who also slightly shook his head.

Translation: Gu Xixi looked questioningly at Mu Nan Zhao; Mu Nan Zhao also slightly shook his head.

Helpless, Gu Xixi had no choice but to return to her seat.

Translation: Helpless, Gu Xixi had to return to her seat.

Huo Jiang was in a good mood then, smiling and comforting, "Boss Gu, don't worry; that lad is strong, well-liked, and the one striking him will exercise restraint, so he won't suffer serious injury."

Translation: Huo Jiang was in a good mood then, smiling as he comforted, "Boss Gu, don't worry, that kid is strong-bodied, well-liked, the ones hitting him have restraint; they definitely won't injure his bones or muscles."

"Furthermore..." Huo Jiang paused intentionally, eyes sly, "Misfortune and blessing depend on each other."

Translation: "Furthermore..." Huo Jiang paused intentionally, eyes sly, "So-called blessings and misfortunes depend on each other."

"His suffering some fleshly pain at this time isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Translation: "His suffering some fleshly pain at this time isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Gu Xixi doubted, having heard that military strokes are much heavier than the beatings given by the local magistrate.

Translation: Gu Xixi doubted, having heard that military sticks are much heavier than the Government Office's board beatings.

"Twenty military strokes—this still isn't considered a bad thing?"

Translation: "Twenty military sticks, and this still isn't considered bad?"

As he was leaving, Huo Jiang personally escorted Gu Xixi outside the commander's tent.

Translation: As he was leaving, Huo Jiang personally saw Gu Xixi to the outside of the military tent.

He chuckled and cautioned, "Xiao Meng just got twenty military strokes; he might be lying there unable to get up, perhaps even running a fever that won't subside—nothing serious, Boss Gu, please don't tell Miss He, lest she worry."

Translation: He smiled and cautioned, "Xiao Meng getting twenty military sticks, maybe just lying there unable to get up, perhaps even a persistent fever—nothing serious. Boss Gu, definitely don't tell Miss He, lest she worry."

Gu Xixi broke out in a cold sweat.

Translation: Gu Xixi couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

"This Grand General!"

Translation: This General!

"Earlier they made it sound like Meng Chengping was about to die, then they especially emphasized not telling He Jinglan."

Translation: Earlier they made Meng Chengping sound like he was about to die, then they especially emphasized not telling He Jinglan.

"Isn't that hint a bit too obvious?"

Translation: Is this hint too obvious?

Gu Xixi said, "I understand that the Grand General hopes General Meng will quickly regain his vigor; I appreciate the intention."

Translation: Gu Xixi said, "The General hopes General Meng can quickly regain vigor; I understand the intention."

Huo Jiang's expression showed a hint of embarrassment.

Translation: Huo Jiang's expression had a hint of embarrassment.

"Aside from his concern for Meng Chengping."

Translation: Besides caring for Meng Chengping.

"With the big battle imminent, he naturally hopes his fierce generals recover quickly and display their utmost bravery."

Translation: With the big battle imminent, he naturally hopes his fierce generals under him recover soon and display their utmost bravery.

Gu Xixi solemnly said, "However, Miss He is also my good friend; I can only hint at letting her know General Meng's current situation, but I will never persuade her."

Translation: Gu Xixi said solemnly, "However, Miss He is also my good friend; I can only hint to let her know General Meng's current state, but I will never persuade her."

"Whether to give the person who made a mistake another chance depends on Miss He's own wishes."

Translation: "Whether to give the one who made a mistake another chance still depends on Miss He's own opinion."

Huo Jiang nodded and said, "Alright! I trust Boss Gu's discretion."

Translation: Huo Jiang nodded, "Alright! I trust Boss Gu's discretion."

After saying that, he gave Murong Nan Zhao a push, "Nothing else going on; I just want to quietly look at the map."

Translation: Having said that, he pushed Mu Nan Zhao aside, "Nothing going on, I just want to quietly look at the map."

"It's perfect for you to escort Boss Gu back; you can stay there tonight and not return, keeping him good company."

Translation: "It's perfect for you to send Boss Gu back; staying there tonight means you don't have to return, keep him company well."

Gu Xixi felt embarrassed and hurried to clarify, "I don't need anyone to accompany me!"

Translation: Gu Xixi felt embarrassed, hurried to clarify, "I don't need anyone to accompany me!"

Murong Nan Zhao almost spoke at the same time, "We've said it many times; we're not that kind of relationship."

Translation: Mu Nan Zhao almost spoke at the same time as her, "How many times have I said, we're not that kind of relationship."

Yet Huo Jiang earnestly patted Murong Nan Zhao on the shoulder and said, "Others may not know, but I do—you're the man Boss Gu bought for a single coin."

Translation: Huo Jiang, however, solemnly patted Mu Nan Zhao's shoulder, saying, "Others may not know, but I do? You're the man Boss Gu bought for a single wen."

"We are both upstanding men; we ought to honor our promises."

Translation: "We are both pillars of heaven and earth, men who should uphold our promises."

"How can you let Boss Gu spend money, yet the result is—uh—you're nothing, you do nothing, just loaf around here shirking responsibility; that's inexcusable!"

Translation: "How can you let Boss Gu spend money, but the result is, uh? You're nothing, you do nothing, just lazing around here shirking responsibility—this is unacceptable!"

Huo Jiang spoke with righteous conviction; at first listen, there seems nothing wrong with it.

Translation: Huo Jiang's righteous words, at first hearing, seem faultless.

"But it inevitably makes people… prone to think dirty thoughts."

Translation: But it inevitably makes people... prone to think dirty.

Gu Xixi suppressed the urge to turn and storm off, striving to stay calm, saying, "I'm currently idle in the dependents' village; indeed, there's nothing for him to help me with."

Translation: Gu Xixi suppressed the urge to turn and storm off, forcing calm, "I'm currently idle in the Dependents Village; indeed there's nothing for him to do for me."

"Since he's been helpful to the Grand General, let him stay here."

Translation: "Since he's been helpful to the General, let him stay here."

Huo Jiang waved his hand, saying, "No, no; I've kept him too long, which is really inappropriate."

Translation: Huo Jiang waved his hand, "No no, I've kept him too long, really shouldn't."

"You two, as an engaged couple, have always lived under the same roof; when have you ever been apart this long?"

Translation: "You two, as an engaged couple, used to live under the same roof; when have you ever been apart this long?"

Gu Xixi still wanted to say something, but Mu Nan Zhao grabbed her wrist.

She looked up in surprise, but saw Mu Nan Zhao's smile was gentle and entwining (scary).

General Ho rarely lets us reunite on our own, host—don't refuse.

The word "host" he called out with especial affection, like a nickname lovers used.

Ho Jiang glanced askance at the two, making a tsking sound, "Then I won't see you off; take your time."

Gu Xixi's scalp went numb, being forced by Mu Nan Zhao to have her wrist pulled along.

One cash, one cash, damn that cash!

Heaven knows how much she just wanted to sew up General Ho's broken mouth!

Bringing up the very topic that shouldn't be brought up—she knows full well that Mu Nan Zhao being bought by her is a huge disgrace, yet she keeps bringing it up repeatedly.

This Ho Jiang only cares about his own pleasure, not at all about Gu Xixi's life or death!

After leaving the camp, Gu Xixi secretly exerted force, trying to free her wrist.

But Mu Nan Zhao let go of her hand then, saying, "If we hadn't left just now, do you know what the consequences would be?"

As noon approached, the military dependents had already returned; outside the camp it was empty and deserted.

Gu Xixi glanced around, feeling guilty, and said, "... What consequences?"

Mu Nan Zhao said coldly, "One, if you keep refusing, you'll only give Ho Jiang a chance to laugh at us."

Gu Xixi startled, just that?

She immediately spoke righteously, "You're right; how did I not think he was hiding something bad back then?"

"No, from now on we need to find a chance to laugh at him too!"

After saying that, Gu Xixi asked again, "You said 'one,' what about 'two'?"

"Two, I can't guarantee that if we start fighting, someone won't end up with blood splattered on the spot." Mu Nan Zhao's eyes turned gloomy.