Chapter 172: with translation of chapter title

"Go away?" Gu Xixi shook her head and smiled, her expression utterly sincere.

Translation: "Leave?" Gu Xixi shook her head and smiled, her brows and eyes full of frankness.

We need to keep quotes? The Chinese uses 「」 for quotes. We'll keep as English quotes? Usually we translate to English quotes. We'll use double quotes. So: "Leave?" Gu Xixi shook her head and smiled, her brows and eyes full of frankness.

Make sure it's one line.

That is the path you were meant to take, and it is also my blessing for you.

Translation: "That is the path you ought to take, and it is also my blessing for you."

Having said everything that needed to be said, Gu Xixi stood up and said, "Take your time eating; I'll go check on Jinglan."

Translation: All that could be said has been said; Gu Xixi stood up, "Eat slowly, I'll go check on Jing Lan."

Murong Nan zhao silently watched as her silhouette disappeared beyond the door curtain.

Translation: Mu Nan Zhao watched silently as her silhouette disappeared beyond the door curtain.

"How can you be so sure we will never walk the same path?" "If I could stay for you."

Translation: "How can you be so sure we will never walk the same path?" "If I could stay for you."

Note: The Chinese has two quoted sentences separated by a comma? Actually line: "How can you be so sure we will never walk the same path?" "If I could stay for you." So it's two quotes. We'll translate accordingly.

Such words would only linger briefly in his heart.

Translation: Such thoughts would only swirl briefly in his heart.

Because reason tells him that the future is uncertain and he cannot guarantee keeping his promise, it's better not to speak of it.

Translation: Because reason told him the future was uncertain, he could not guarantee fulfilling the promise, so it was better not to speak it out.

Gu Xixi worried about Jinglan, she stood at the door, listening closely, hesitating whether to wake her for a snack or let her continue sleeping,

Translation: Gu Xixi worried about He Jinglan, standing at the door she listened closely, hesitating whether to wake her for a bite or let her continue sleeping,

Just as she was torn between the two options, the door was suddenly pulled open from inside.

Translation: Just as she was torn, the door was suddenly pulled open from inside.

Jinglan stood there, her eyes clear, her hair neatly tied, obviously she hadn't slept yet.

Translation: He Jinglan stood there, her eyes clear, her hair neatly tied, clearly she had not yet slept.

"Xixi? Why are you wandering around my doorstep in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

Translation: "Xixi? Why are you wandering outside my door in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

Gu Xixi sighed, "I should be asking you that—your room is dark, I thought you had already gone to sleep."

Translation: Gu Xixi sighed, "I should be asking you that—your room is dark, I thought you had already gone to sleep."

She stepped closer and peered at her, saying, "Look at those dark circles—you've been up since last night, how are you still holding up?"

Translation: She stepped forward and peered, "Look at those dark circles—from last night till now, how are you still holding up?"

Jinglan, caught red‑handed, didn't deny it and laughed, "I just put out the lamp and sat alone in the dark, thinking things over."

Translation: He Jinglan, caught out, didn't hide it, smiling, "I just put out the lamp and sat alone in the dark, thinking things over."

Gu Xixi looked at her and asked, "Have you figured it out?"

Translation: Gu Xixi looked at her, "Have you figured it out then?"

Jinglan nodded, her smile calm, "Yes, I've thought it all through."

Translation: He Jinglan nodded, her smile calm, "Mm, I've thought it all through."

She suddenly changed the topic, asking, "I'm so hungry—do you have anything to eat? Oh, and something to drink too!"

Translation: She abruptly changed the topic, asking, "I'm so hungry, is there anything to eat? Oh, and something to drink too!"

"There is…" Gu Xixi drew out the word affectionately.

Translation: "There is……" Gu Xixi drew out the word affectionately.

"I was afraid you'd faint from hunger earlier, so I had actually planned to wake you for a bite before you went back to sleep."

Translation: "I was afraid you'd faint from hunger earlier, so I had actually planned to wake you for a snack before you slept again."

She flicked her hand and walked toward the kitchen, saying, "Wait inside, I'll bring the food to you."

Translation: She waved her hand, heading toward the kitchen, "Wait inside, I'll bring it to your room to eat."

In the kitchen, Murong Nan zhao had already washed clean all the utensils Gu Xixi had used.

Translation: In the kitchen, Mu Nan Zhao had already cleaned the cookware Gu Xixi had used.

Faced with Gu Xixi's incredulous expression, he calmly said, "I've seen Aunt Zhang do this before; although it's my first time, I should be able to do it better than most."

Translation: Faced with Gu Xixi's incredulous expression, he said calmly, "I've watched Zhang Shen do this before; although it's my first time, I should do it better than most."

Gu Xixi thought to herself, "He's really not humble."

Translation: Gu Xixi thought: He's really not humble.

But when she caught sight of the shining iron pot and the spotless stove, she couldn't help but be impressed.

Translation: But when she glanced and saw the shining iron pot and spotless stove, she couldn't help but admire.

Before Gu Xixi left, this place still bore specks of batter stains, a sorry sight.

Translation: Before Gu Xixi left, this place still had traces of batter stains, a miserable sight.

She had been wondering how long it would take to clean up tonight.

Translation: She had still been wondering how long it would take to clean up tonight.

As it turned out, Murong Nan zhao only needed a little while to finish.

Translation: In the end, Mu Nan Zhao needed only a little while to finish it.

Gu Xixi sincerely said, "Thank you—this way I can keep Jinglan company for dinner and then get back to sleep."

Translation: Gu Xixi sincerely said, "Thank you; this way, after I keep Jing Lan company for a meal, I can go back to sleep."

Murong Nan zhao walked to the door, his back to her, and said, "No need to thank me—I ate the food you made, so cleaning up is only natural."

Translation: Mu Nan Zhao walked to the door, his back to her, saying, "No need to thank me; having eaten your food, doing these chores is only natural."

After Murong Nan zhao left, Gu Xixi heard Jinglan speaking with him in the courtyard.

Translation: After Mu Nan Zhao left, Gu Xixi heard He Jinglan speaking with him in the courtyard.

"I'm heading home tomorrow morning—do you have anything you want to say?"

Translation: "I'm heading home tomorrow morning; do you have anything you want to say?"

The brief calm before the great battle has remained relatively safe these past few days.

Translation: The brief calm before the great battle has kept these days relatively safe.

On this trip to the northwest, Jinglan brought a few shadow guards, but she left them all at the nearest town.

Translation: On this trip to the northwest, He Jinglan also brought a few Shadow Guards, though she left them at the nearest town.

If she wants to hurry back to the capital, now is the best time.

Translation: If she hurries back to the capital, now is the best time.

So Murong Nan zhao didn't object, saying, "It's better to leave early—the big battle is imminent, and once it erupts fully, who knows when you'll be able to leave."

Translation: So Mu Nan Zhao didn't object, "It's better to return early; the great battle is imminent, and once it erupts fully, who knows when you'll be able to leave."

Jinglan laughed and said, "You're worried about Xixi's safety, aren't you?"

Translation: He Jinglan laughed, "You're worried about Xixi's safety, aren't you?"

"She has me—if she agrees to go with me, I'll bring her back to Huachi Village."

Translation: "She has me; if she agrees to go with me, I'll bring her back to Huachi Du Cun."

She paused, then added, "But before we leave, could you do me a favor?"

Translation: She paused, then added, "But before we leave, could you do me a favor?"

The egg pancakes left in the bowl are still warm; all that's needed is to heat water on the small stove and brew a pot of hot honey water.

Translation: The egg pancakes left in the basin are still warm; just boil water on the small stove and steep a pot of hot honey water.

Gu Xixi fanned the stove while listening to the noises outside.

Translation: Gu Xixi fanned the stove while listening to the outside commotion.

After a moment, Murong Nan zhao said plainly, "You want to visit Meng Chengping?"

Translation: After a moment, Mu Nan Zhao said plainly, "You want to visit Meng Chengping?"

Jinglan hummed in agreement, "During my time in the northwest, he has looked after me a lot."

Translation: He Jinglan hummed in affirmation, "During my time in the northwest, he looked after me a lot."

"Now that he's injured, I ought to go see him before I leave."

Translation: "Now he's injured; before I leave, I ought to go see him."

Her tone was bright, completely free of the earlier anger or confusion.

Translation: Her tone was bright, completely free of the earlier anger or confusion.

Murong Nan zhao said, "It's not easy for a woman to enter the military camp."

Translation: Mu Nan Zhao said, "It's not so easy for a woman to enter the military camp."

Jinglan chuckled lightly, "I know you have a way."

Translation: He Jinglan chuckled lightly, "I know you have a way."

"Don't worry—I'll only say a few words and won't linger; as long as I go in before dawn and come out before daylight, that's enough."

Translation: "Rest assured, I'll only say a few words, won't linger; as long as I go in before dawn and come out before daylight, that's fine."

After a brief pause, Murong Nan zhao replied, "Alright, I'll figure something out—just don't oversleep yourself."

Translation: After a moment, Mu Nan Zhao agreed, "Alright, I'll figure something out—just don't oversleep yourself."

As Murong Nan zhao's footsteps faded toward the other side of the courtyard, Jinglan called out crisply, "Thank you!"

Translation: As Mu Nan Zhao's footsteps faded toward the other side of the small courtyard, He Jinglan called out crisply, "Thank you!"

Gu Xixi stepped out holding a tray, glanced around, and assumed Murong Nan zhao had returned to his own room.

Translation: Gu Xixi went out holding a tray, first scanning the area; Mu Nan Zhao should have returned to his own room.

Jinglan lifted her chin and whispered, "Come on, let's go inside and talk."

Translation: He Jinglan lifted her chin, whispering, "Come on, let's go inside and talk!"

She was indeed hungry too, sat down without rushing to speak, and picked up an egg pancake to start eating.

Translation: She was indeed hungry too, sitting down without rushing to speak, she grabbed an egg pancake and started eating.

Gu Xixi poured the honey water into a bowl and gently stirred it with a small spoon.

Translation: Gu Xixi poured the honey water into a bowl and gently stirred it with a small spoon.

Jinglan devoured the first pancake in big bites, finally easing her rumbling hunger.

Translation: He Jinglan devoured the first pancake in big bites, her hunger finally eased.

She was feeling dry‑mouthed just as Gu Xixi handed her the honey water.

Translation: Just as she felt her mouth dry, Gu Xixi's honey water happened to be handed to her.

"Knowing you like osmanthus, I added a few dried blossoms; now it's warm and ready to drink."

Translation: "Knowing you like osmanthus, I added a few dried blossoms; now it's warm and just right to drink."

Jinglan looked at Gu Xixi with tears in her eyes, "Xixi, you're so wonderful! Whatever I think or want, you always seem to understand."

Translation: He Jinglan gazed at Gu Xixi, moved, feigning tears, "Xixi, how can you be so good! Whatever I think, whatever I want, you always seem to understand!"

Gu Xixi laughed softly, "Drink up, or I'm afraid I'll faint again."

Translation: Gu Xixi laughed sighingly, "Drink up, or I'm afraid I'll faint again."

"Again?" Jinglan wondered for a moment, glanced at the window, and burst out laughing.

Translation: "Again?" He Jinglan puzzled for a moment, glanced at the window, and let out a puffed laugh.

You say Mu Nan Zhao fainted from hunger? When did that happen?

No wonder you were cooking at midnight—was he so weak that he begged you for food?

Gu Xixi placed her index finger on her lips, "Shh……"

You know he's the most strong‑willed; if you hear about this, just pretend you didn't hear it. What I saw, after a night's sleep, I'd forget completely.

He Jinglan naturally knew Mu Nan Zhao's temperament.

She covered her mouth and laughed a few more times before barely holding it in, "I said someone who loves cleanliness so much—how could he go out wearing only his underwear?"

He must have been starving in the middle of the night, sneaked into the kitchen looking for food, ended up fainting from hunger, and you happened to bump into him.

Gu Xixi waited until she finished laughing, then asked, "I heard you tell him we're leaving tomorrow morning?"

"Yes." He Jinglan turned to Gu Xixi and clasped her hands.

"This time I have no reason to delay any further."

"Xixi, in a few days this place will be even more turbulent than what we've been through before—come with my convoy."

Gu Xixi hesitated, "This……"

As for her mission on this trip, it's already been completed, and she even exceeded the target by helping the Dependents Village.

He Jinglan continued to persuade, "I'm leaving, and I really can't leave you here by yourself."

"If fighting really breaks out, Mu Nan Zhao being able to look after himself would be good enough, so I still want to personally send you home."

Gu Xixi pondered, "Alright, I've been out this long—if I don't go back, Aunt Zhang will surely give me a beating."

He Jinglan was very pleased, "That's better!"

Gu Xixi glanced at her expression, which was very different from earlier that day, and probed, "As for General Meng's side, have you decided that too?"