Chapter 298: Is it comfort or a stab?

Gu Xixi said, "What does it have to do with me?" but inside she still couldn't help feeling ripples.

Looking further down, there were actually a few more lines of text.

The ink's color was slightly different from before; it should have been added later after the letter was sealed, after a while.

Gossip: Recently, matchmakers formed long lines outside the Regent Prince's mansion, and scented little sedans were carried at night to the Regent Prince's Houmen, all being daughters of noble families sent as gifts to serve as concubines' attendants.

Good news: The Houmen was tightly shut, refusing all these gifts and not seeing anyone.

Bad news: This Regent Prince is young and capable, with tremendous power, unmarried, and happens to have a handsome face that draws crowds of admirers; consequently, women's gatherings big and small take him as their top topic, openly and secretly competing, and some even declare they'd gladly become his foot-washing maid—how outrageous! Speechless!

The letter ends here.

Gu Xixi couldn't help frowning at that passage, as if her eyes had just been splashed with ginger juice—too harsh to look at!

Fighting openly and secretly for Mu Nan Zhao?

And there are those who want to be his foot-washing maid?!

Are some noble ladies in the capital just bored and idle, eating till they're full?

Gu Xixi really couldn't understand this idea, shaking her head and muttering, "They should be sent to the fields to do three days of farm work; then they wouldn't want to be foot-washing maids."

She refolded the letter, put it away in the drawer under the desk, then unconsciously stared out the window.

He Jinglan said all that last, wanting to tell her how fierce the competition was?

Gu Xixi snorted coldly, "I didn't go to the capital for him."

"How many women are breaking their heads over him, what does that have to do with me?"

When thinking of sending a letter to He Jinglan, Gu Xixi specifically cautioned not to tell Mu Nan Zhao about her going to the capital, lest she give herself away, and also not let He Jinghui know.

After all, men may usually quarrel, but in some aspects they still present a united front, wearing the same pants!

At this moment, Gu Xixi felt even more that writing those two extra lines was wise.

This time going to the capital, she ought to keep her distance, lest those ladies infatuated with Mu Nan Zhao start a fight and splash her with blood.

Moreover...

Gu Xixi's face grew somewhat gloomy.

Moreover, behind these women lurks the most ruthless and realistic struggle for fame and profit.

Since they can wager their lives,

What's so surprising about opening a path with fresh blood?

Therefore, compared to a man, naturally one's own life is more important.

Gu Xixi's resolve remained firm as ever.

Even if she now clearly feels her heart moved, she will not change her aspiration.

After all, if life is gone, what need is there for money, or what man to like?!

Capital, the Regent Prince's study.

It was already lamp-lit time, and Mu Nan Zhao was still handling documents.

He Jinghui entered carrying a jar of wine, saying, "You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

Mu Nan Zhao grunted without lifting his head.

He Jinghui went over and pulled him, saying, "I've brought a vat of aged Golden Valley Wine; let's have two cups together."

Mu Nan Zhao said indifferently, "No."

He Jinghui rolled his eyes upward, exclaiming, "Do you know how rare this Golden Valley Wine is!"

"I also know you want to quickly settle these lingering matters and then return to your hometown."

"But look, with so many tedious affairs, the Six Ministries are already swamped."

"With just you, you certainly couldn't finish it in ten days or half a month."

Mu Nan Zhao finally moved, lifted his head, and said displeased, "If I could do a bit more, I could finish sooner."

"As for you, with this free time, you'd better go back to the Ministry of Revenue and do more work."

He Jinghui felt resentful; originally he had been somewhat concerned for Mu Nan Zhao, so he patiently tried to console him with a few words.

Who would have thought good intentions would go unrewarded?

He Jinghui immediately dropped the act, sneering, "I only got off work from the Ministry of Revenue at dark! After a day's labor, all I want now is to eat! Drink! Rest!"

"If you keep working without eating or sleeping, the day you suddenly drop dead from exhaustion, I, your brother, will still have to keep my life to collect your corpse!"

"Oh, don't worry about Boss Gu's side; I'll personally inform her of the death, repay that one cash she paid for you, and tell her that since the man she bought is dead, she's free to take on as many live-in sons-in-law as she likes."

While He Jinghui was shouting earlier, Mu Nan Zhao had remained quite calm.

But upon hearing 'still owe one cash', his temples throbbed and he glared at He Jinghui.

He Jinglan saw his anger, and although she felt nervous inside, she still assumed a fearless stance.

"What, why are you glaring at me? Do you even want to bite me twice?"

"If you don't rebut me, it means you think every word I say is true!"

Mu Nan Zhao said nothing, then suddenly stood up, startling He Jinghui.

"What, what are you doing! We're scholars—we argue with words, not hands!"

Mu Nan Zhao looked at him fiercely, gritted his teeth, and said, "I want to drink."

With the moon high overhead, both drank until they were tipsy.

He Jinghui put an arm around Mu Nan Zhao's shoulder and said, "Brother, I'll help you think of a way."

"Don't forget who my sister is—she's the closest confidante of your Boss Gu; even if Boss Gu doesn't want to deal with you, those two good friends will surely meet."

Mu Nan Zhao gave He Jinghui a cool look and said, "Are you comforting me, or deliberately poking my heart?"

He Jinghui laughed drunkenly, "It doesn't matter, it's all the same—I'm full of…… concern for you!"

Mu Nan Zhao gazed speechlessly at the sky, then shook his shoulder, flinging He Jinghui's hand away.

He Jinghui's body suddenly lost balance, and he slumped onto the table.

He was already getting muddle-headed, still muttering softly, "I saw Jing Lan send a letter to Qing Tian County; it must be for Boss Gu, just, just a couple days ago."

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes flew open, not a hint of drunkenness visible.

"Do you know what Jing Lan wrote in her letter? Is it a reply for Gu Xixi?"

After waiting a moment, there was no response.

Mu Nan Zhao had to push He Jinghui, then heard a long snore begin.

He sat with a stern face for a while, then summoned the guard outside to come in.

"Take Master He to the guest room and settle him well."

In Huachi Du Cun, the alfalfa Gu Xixi scattered in the corner of the courtyard sprouted overnight, and in just two or three days grew to a span long.

This is the first patch of wild greens seen this year, heralding the arrival of spring in the northwest.

Zhang Shen happily picked the alfalfa; the tender shoots snapped off with a light pinch.

This was the first time they had eaten it at home.

Listening to Gu Xixi say the alfalfa should be eaten tender, it's good cold-tossed, steamed veggie dumplings, or wheat rice.

Zhang Shen decided to first make it a cold salad, then fry a few spring pancakes, to enjoy the original flavor of the first spring shoots.

The simple dish came together quickly.

Zhang Shen called Shitou, "Go call your older sister Gu Xixi home for a meal!"

Shitou put down the book he was reciting, agreed crisply, and ran out.

Now he also has a book of his own, of course bought by Gu Xixi.

Just don't know when the new teacher will arrive.

But Gu Xixi has been busy these days precisely because of this.