Chapter 256: with translation of chapter title

Gu Xixi sat there without moving, "Just now that little scene made Master Mu laugh."

"With your looks, when your worth skyrockets someday, how many peach blossoms could you want?"

Zhang Shen stood up in disbelief, "Who is Master Mu again? He, he isn't little Chen, is he??"

Mu Nan Zhao is Chen Fang; it's no longer a secret outside.

Previously Gu Xixi didn't mention it because she felt that deliberately bringing it up would require extra effort to explain clearly.

She couldn't be bothered to waste words on someone she might never see again.

But tonight Mu Nan Zhao appeared before the whole family, and Gu Xixi no longer needed to hold back her words.

"Chen Fang is just his alias; his surname is Mu, and his name is Mu Nan Zhao."

"Aunt, you only need to know he comes from an extraordinary background, once held a high office, originally someone we couldn't afford to provoke, and from now on we'll each go our separate ways—that's enough."

Lao Langzhong is a knowledgeable person; he furrowed his brows and pondered, "Surname Mu, and also from an extraordinary background."

"All I know is that it's the great Mu clan."

Gu Xixi said, "What my master said refers to his ancestral home."

Lao Langzhong's expression was complex as he murmured, "I thought I'd never have any dealings with court officials in this lifetime, but… the young people of the Mu clan still hold high office…"

"I should have thought of that earlier…"

Mu Nan Zhao stepped forward and apologetically said, "Earlier I faced dire straits and my life hung by a thread; I truly couldn't be frank with all of you, and this matter is indeed my fault toward everyone."

Lao Langzhong had already regained his calm, "Rest assured, I don't regret treating you."

"Later, after learning of your countless ties to the Northwest Army, I also guessed you once held an official post."

"I just didn't expect you once served as an official in the capital, and that you're from the Mu family."

Zhang Shen looked at Mu Nan Zhao, surprised and confused, "Have you been deceiving us with a fake name all along?"

Mu Nan Zhao, aware he was in the wrong, lowered his head heavily and replied, "Yes."

Zhang Shen pointed at him angrily, "Fine! Fine! Usually I feed you well and treat you like a son-in-law of the family. My Xixi even spent money and effort to buy you medicine to nurse your health!"

"Is this how you repay us?!"

"You healed up, then just brushed off your backside and left, not even willing to tell your real name!"

Zhang Shen grew angrier the more she spoke, her heart also hurt, and she couldn't continue scolding.

She panted, looked left and right, remembered the broom she had just used, grabbed it and immediately started hitting Mu Nan Zhao.

"You little brat! No matter how high your birth or how big your office, today I'm hitting you! I take responsibility for my own actions; if you want revenge, come at me—have the officials arrest me, and see if I'm afraid!"

Zhang Shen struck and scolded with each blow, while Mu Nan Zhao stood straight, neither dodging nor defending himself.

He indeed was at fault; Zhang Shen had always treated him like family and been very kind to him.

Therefore he willingly bore Zhang Shen's anger.

Gu Xixi also knew Zhang Shen felt wronged; seeing that a few blows were about enough, she got up and pulled Zhang Shen apart.

"Aunt, that's enough."

Zhang Shen felt pity for Xixi, her eyes reddening involuntarily, "Xixi, don't be scared; at my age, no matter if he's the heavenly king, I still have to vent this anger for you!"

Mu Nan Zhao's lips curled with a bitter smile, "I'm sorry for Aunt's wholehearted care; Aunt, feel free to hit and scold."

"In your presence I'm just little Chen; if I were to use power to oppress people in this courtyard, I'd truly be unworthy of being human."

Zhang Shen wiped her eyes, gave a cold laugh, "You have nothing to apologize to me for; I only blame myself for being blind and mistaking you for a son-in-law."

"The one you owe most is my family's Xixi! When you needed to avoid trouble, you just casually moved into our home; when you wanted to pursue a bright future, you simply said you were leaving and left a mess for Xixi to clean up!"

"Did you see those people outside just now? You call that peach blossoms? Pah!"

Zhang Shen spat on the ground, "They say nicely they're here to propose marriage, but in fact they're just taking advantage of the chaos!"

"Everyone knows Xixi's purchased fiancé ran away! Although we never held a wedding, you've lived in my home for over a year—only we know whether things were proper or not!"

"Ordinary people think Xixi must hurry to find another man to marry before her reputation gets worse—even I! I once had that foolish thought too!"

The more she spoke, the more she felt indignant for Xixi, and tears kept falling.

Jing Lan and Shitou hurried to comfort Zhang Shen.

Mu Nan Zhao looked at Gu Xixi, his expression complex, "Back then I never imagined I'd cause this much trouble."

Gu Xixi smiled, "At that time you were eager to protect yourself; it wasn't that you didn't think of it, but that you simply wouldn't think about it."

"Even if you had a chance to redo it, you'd probably make the same choice, right?"

Mu Nan Zhao had nothing to say in response.

Indeed, as Gu Xixi said, back then his considerations did not include her life, Aunt's life, or even the survival of the whole village.

But later everything gradually slipped out of control; by the time he realized it, his inner balance had already shifted.

Gu Xixi calmly said, "I know you have your position, and Aunt feels sorry for me; please bear with it a bit more."

"While you lived in my home, we each gained what we needed, with no mutual debt."

"Although later there were occasional troubles we got dragged into, you were capable of cleaning up after your own actions; plus the people left behind helped me deal with the bandits who raided the village, so we can call it roughly even."

She locked eyes with Mu Nan Zhao, "If you came back just to apologize, you can leave now."

Jing Lan, watching all this, grew so anxious she couldn't help but shout, "Surname Mu! You've always been like this since childhood—can't you just speak what's in your heart?"

"Even now you're still putting on airs!"

Zhang Shen and Shitou were shocked, "You've known him since childhood?"

Jing Lan sucked in a breath of cold air, reflexively raised her hand to cover her mouth, "Oh no, oh no—I've exposed myself too."

Gu Xixi was locking eyes with Mu Nan Zhao.

His gaze was very complex, yet from just now it has held a kind of… determination.

Gu Xixi hadn't yet figured out where this determination came from when she heard Mu Nan Zhao say:

"I want to marry you and become a son-in-law of the Gu family!"

It's not a wedding, but rather a marriage where he becomes a son-in-law.

Zhang Shen's broom slipped from her hand.

He Jinglan's eyes nearly popped out; she had been urging Mu Nan Zhao to apologize sincerely and explain properly, but who would have thought he'd immediately propose! Truly, it's a case of 'silent until a stunning burst'.

Lao Langzhong also wore a look of surprise.

Only Shitou grinned, glancing at Gu Xixi then at Mu Nan Zhao, laughing with a silly look.

Everyone turned their gaze toward Gu Xixi in unison.

She stood there motionless, so calm it seemed abnormal.

He Jinglan moved over and touched her, 'Xixi, Xixi? Are you... scared silly?'

Gu Xixi collected herself, took a deep breath, feeling her ears inexplicably hot and her chest pounding.

She consoled herself, it being the first proposal in two lifetimes, lacking experience, some fluster was understandable.