Chapter 232: Again and again, exposing

The He family's coachman seemed not to see a living person standing on the road, and the carriage smoothly passed in front of Master Liu.

Master Liu had no choice but to speak up, "Boss Gu, Mr. He, have you two been all right along the way?"

A moment later, He Jinglan's voice came from inside the carriage, "Stop."

The carriage stopped in time, putting some distance between it and Master Liu.

Master Liu had to run over quickly; the heat from the day's scorching sun had not yet dissipated, and this run left him drenched in sweat.

He stood under the carriage window, took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, wore a smile on his face, but inside he was bitterly complaining.

Knowing that the two inside the carriage had just seen him, he deliberately ignored them.

He still had to put on a fawning face to call them over, then eagerly come up to them.

What could he do?

Who let him be bewitched by Mu Nan Zhao's talent back then, sincerely admiring him, and willingly become his disciple to work for him?

By the time he gradually realized that Mu Nan Zhao, though learned, was far from a modest gentleman, he was already deeply involved, and for the rest of his life he could only work for Mu Nan Zhao until death.

Take this unpleasant task before him; whether he does it well or not, he cannot avoid being scolded from both sides.

Master Liu covered his face with the handkerchief and sighed silently.

He Jinglan lifted the carriage curtain with one hand, feigning surprise at Master Liu, "Mr. Liu? On such a hot day, why aren't you staying home to cool off, but coming out to exercise?"

Master Liu lowered the handkerchief, revealing a smiling face, "Mr. He, you're really humorous."

He wanted to catch a glimpse of Gu Xixi, but He Jinglan only lifted the curtain a corner, blocking the interior completely.

Master Liu had no choice but to steel himself and continue small talk, "I guessed you two would be back soon, so I came here to try my luck and give you a welcome."

Boss Gu's trip to the border this time was so rushed, it must have been very hard.

There was no response from inside the carriage.

He Jinglan tugged at the corner of her mouth, "Indeed it was hard; Xixi has fallen asleep."

"But Master Liu actually predicted our return at this time; I don't know if it's because he's omniscient and can calculate, or… do you know that if we don't come crawling back today, we won't be able to return in a day or two?"

Master Liu broke out in a cold sweat, "How could that be? You two are blessed with good fortune and will surely return safely."

He harbored no resentment toward Gu Xixi and He Jinglan in his heart; who let that person behind him implicate them?

Their lives were at stake; they merely gave them a look, which was actually quite courteous.

He Jinglan looked at Master Liu, suddenly wiped off her smile, and said coldly, "We should still thank Master Liu for his concern."

"Originally Xixi planned to go for seven or eight days; if we were really fools and kept in the dark, we'd probably have to stay long-term in the Dependents Village, or rather… be under soft detention, only to be released after the war ends."

Master Liu's pupils contracted.

Mu Nan Zhao's reason for appearing at this juncture was not only that he had long planned it, but also that there was an element of spur-of-the-moment decision.

Upon learning that Gu Xixi and He Jinglan had gone to the border, he decided to detain them in the Dependents Village.

Because for the whole future undertaking, there was no safer place than that.

Who would have thought that Gu Xixi would finish the work ahead of schedule by half the time and rush back on horseback?

When Master Liu received the news, sending the Shadow Guards to pick them up was already too late.

He could only run to the village entrance, anxiously waiting, praying that the holy one would keep the two young ladies safe on the road.

Fortunately, they returned, and everything was safe.

Unfortunately, Gu Xixi was not only worried about the road being blocked preventing her return; she had also seen through Mu Nan Zhao's arrangements.

Master Liu tried to explain, "Qi Xiu he……" (Qi Xiu, the courtesy name of Mu Nan Zhao).

"He also means well, wanting to do his utmost to keep you two safe; this is the best course."

"Pah!" He Jinglan snapped angrily, "We might be safe, but what about the people at home? Shitou, Zhang Shen, and Old Jiang are still at home! What kind of best plan is that?"

Master Liu fell silent for a moment, feeling it was still necessary to explain clearly for that ill‑favored fellow.

"Qi Xiu did not disregard the lives of Zhang Shen and them."

"On the contrary, he specifically ordered that if any mishap occurred, the Shadow Guards would spare no expense to escort them away immediately."

"Besides… if they wanted to take hostages, they wouldn't pick those three at home; compared to you two, they'd be much safer staying here."

His expression was earnest, and everything he said was true.

He Jinglan lowered the curtain and, inside the carriage, quietly said a few words.

Then she got off the carriage and stood before Master Liu, speaking softly, "As a childhood friend, I have a few words I'd like you to pass on to him."

"So‑called good intentions only count if the other party can actually use them. I don't know when he will be able, before making a decision, to truly put himself in the other's shoes and think."

"People's hearts are not something he's used to manipulating with scheming, weighing, and choosing what's most advantageous for himself; that might gain him much, but not necessarily the sincere heart he desires."

Master Liu was startled; before he could respond, he heard He Jinglan say loudly:

"Tell him, Xixi still has a lot to do; we have no time to listen to his arrangements!"

"Anyway, we're back now; if he still acknowledges me as his childhood friend, he should arrange the aftermath properly and not implicate innocent people."

Master Liu repeatedly agreed, "Yes, yes, yes, protecting you two and Boss Gu's family is naturally our duty for being here."

He Jinglan returned to the carriage, and the carriage continued toward the village.

She said to Gu Xixi, "Xixi, Master Liu said he will dispatch more personnel; besides continuing to guard our home, there will be people stationed at several points from the village to the county town."

"For these two days of our outing, there will also be someone secretly accompanying us for protection."

"Furthermore, Master Liu activated the intelligence network yesterday; those with ill intent might be caught before they even make a move."

Gu Xixi softly hummed in acknowledgment.

He Jinglan saw her reaction was bland and exclaimed, "You don't object?"

"You think you'd say you don't want to have anything to do with someone?"

Gu Xixi calmly replied, "Why not?"

"The trouble was caused by him; when things succeed, he will also be one of those who profit the most. As innocent commoners caught up in it, it is only right that he protects us."

Besides, if we two aren't caught, him and the Grand General also count as one less trouble.

He Jinglan fully agreed, "Exactly, we don't need to owe him a favor at all!"

She suddenly thought of a question.

"If... I'm just saying if,"

"We've become hostages, kidnapped to threaten the Northwest Army."

"Will Mu Nan Zhao and the Grand General rescue us?"

Gu Xixi gazed deeply at He Jinglan; after a moment, the corners of her mouth curled up.

"There are no 'ifs' in anything; even if we aren't placed in that situation, we probably wouldn't know how we'd choose then."

He Jinglan looked thoughtful, then laughed in relief, "I was just worrying needlessly."

Gu Xixi's smile softened; she had also previously asked Mu Nan Zhao a similar question.

At that time, her answer was "no," while Mu Nan Zhao had none.

But she didn't want to say these things, as they would make He Jinglan feel heavy-hearted.

As He Jinglan said, isn't it better to be optimistic?