Chapter 332: Drunken Talk or Dream Talk?

Gu Xixi lay on the bed like a puddle of mud, eyes closed, utterly still.

Then her lips parted slightly, emitting even, soft snores.

She had only walked a few steps and fell asleep again?

Just now she was still making a fuss, full of energy, wasn't she?!

Mu Nan Zhao rarely felt so powerless; he silently pulled open the quilt and covered her with it.

Just as he was about to walk away, he suddenly heard from behind the sound of lips smacking, sighing and muttering indistinctly:

"Actually…… I don't dislike you."

Mu Nan Zhao startled, turned and looked.

He saw Gu Xixi lying on her side, arms and legs spread like a frog, the quilt just covered rolled into a ball and held in her arms.

Mu Nan Zhao couldn't help thinking, her sleeping posture is truly awful, worse than her drinking capacity and taste.

Gu Xixi still kept her eyes closed, unsure whether it was sleep-talk or drunk talk.

"After all, you're quite good-looking; women also feel desire upon seeing beauty……"

Mu Nan Zhao's face darkened, thinking that her taking him in, helping him find medicine, and several times sharing life and death were all just because of his looks?!

Mu Nan Zhao simply moved a stool to the bedside and sat down, patiently waiting.

He wanted to see what other nonsense this woman could come up with!

This time he didn't wait long before hearing Gu Xixi mumble indistinctly, "You proposed to me, I hesitated, I really hesitated about whether to accept you; anyway, anyway I also spent money."

"You don't understand, back then my family had no money; even a single cash coin…… was very important!"

Mu Nan Zhao saw Gu Xixi squint her eyes and pout, the corners of her eyes drooping, a look of great grievance.

He couldn't help but sneer.

Thanks to her, who knows how many people heard her shouting; who knows what strange rumors will spread by morning.

As for her, she's the one who first felt wronged?

But……

A hint of amusement flickered in Mu Nan Zhao's eyes as he asked softly, "Since you considered accepting me, why didn't you?"

"Such a precious single cash coin—wouldn't that be a huge loss?"

After a pause, Gu Xixi really answered, furrowing her brows, "I… I don't dare…… "

Mu Nan Zhao gazed at her with a complex expression, pausing for a long while.

Just as he was about to ask "Why don't you dare?"

Inside the dim bed curtains, a pair of eyes suddenly opened, bright and sparkling, locking gazes with him.

Although he felt a little guilty, Mu Nan Zhao still spoke calmly, "Awake? Want some tea?"

The next moment, Gu Xixi somehow found the strength and sat up with a roll.

Her face flushed, she glared fiercely at Mu Nan Zhao, "I'm going to make a career!!"

"Career!! Do you understand?!?"

Mu Nan Zhao helplessly glanced at the door, "I understand, so could you keep it down?"

Gu Xixi, however, turned a deaf ear, "You don't understand!"

"This is ancient times; it's not a truly lawful society, unequal, unfree!"

Mu Nan Zhao frowned, "Lawful society? Does that mean rules set by law?"

Gu Xixi lowered her head and sighed, "You're of noble birth, you don't know what it's like to be an ant; I came here, reincarnated as a commoner, it's too hard, too hard."

"I need to first have the ability; only when I can be my own master am I qualified to think of anything else."

"Because I don't want to live in fear, afraid that anyone could just flick a finger and take my money, my land, even my life."

"Just like…… just like Lv Jing."

A dense ache welled up in Mu Nan Zhao's heart.

In the past he only knew that Gu Xixi had many special talents, and that she was naturally strong and independent.

Naturally she had the confidence to not rely on anyone, including him, whom the world sees as a heavenly prodigy and a national power broker.

Only now did Mu Nan Zhao realize that Gu Xixi's heart also bore so much anxiety.

He gazed at her, his eyes completely shedding their sharp pretense, leaving only sincerity and softness.

"Then, hearing you, when you're able to protect yourself, would you be willing to truly open your heart to me?"

Gu Xixi didn't look at Mu Nan Zhao, just kept speaking on, as if venting.

"So I need to become strong, preferably as strong as you, so that no one can easily trample on me. Thus……"

She swayed as she looked at Mu Nan Zhao, chuckled a few times, "You can't just lock me up whenever you please."

Mu Nan Zhao's heart gave a jolt as he stared at her, "When have I ever locked you up?"

Gu Xixi instead grinned at him, then rolled her eyes and fell flat backward, silent thereafter.

Mu Nan Zhao stood up, "Gu Xixi! Whenever it comes to a crucial matter you just pretend to sleep!"

"What, I just lock you up whenever I feel like it—you're deliberately changing the subject, spouting nonsense, right?"

For a long while there was not the slightest response.

Mu Nan Zhao had intended to push her awake, but upon reaching out he saw her peaceful sleeping face and couldn't bear to.

He had no choice but to let it be for now.

By the time Gu Xixi opened her eyes again, it was already daylight.

She shook her head on the pillow, and surprisingly had no hangover headache.

Lifting the bed curtain, she saw He Jinglan seated before the dressing table, Zi Yan in the process of coiling her hair.

He Jinglan looked back from the mirror, "Awake, did you sleep well?"

Gu Xixi turned over, sat up at the bedside, put on her shoes, and asked strangely, "Why is Zi Yan here?"

Zi Yan pressed her lips and smiled, "Miss Xixi, you certainly slept well last night."

My lord worries that the master and Miss Xixi have no one to attend them here, so he sent Uncle Li with the lord's waist token overnight to bring me and Guang Zhu.

Gu Xixi murmured, "Calculating the time, wouldn't that violate the curfew?"

Zi Yan nodded slightly, "Sometimes when an urgent matter arises, we have to make an exception."

The clothes taken off last night have disappeared; a set of narrow-waisted, narrow-sleeved Hu clothing is placed at the bedside.

Women in the capital commonly wear Hu clothing, dressing as men to ride horses.

Gu Xixi didn't think much, got up and dressed. Not seeing He Jinglan and Zi Yan exchanging glances in the mirror, they couldn't help but smile, quickly lowering their eyes to hide it.

Just as Gu Xixi finished dressing, Guang Zhu entered holding a copper basin.

Upon seeing Gu Xixi, she broke into a smile, "I guessed Miss Xixi would be getting up soon; this is freshly drawn warm water mixed with jasmine dew, the floral scent fresh and invigorating, applying more can also moisturize the skin."

Gu Xixi took the cloth with a smile, "Thank you."

She washed her face, then used the tooth powder and brush prepared by Guang Zhu, finally feeling completely refreshed.

Turning around, she noticed Guang Zhu gazing at her with a continual smile, not knowing what she was looking at.

Gu Xixi examined herself up and down doubtfully, "What part of me isn't right?"

Guang Zhu quickly restrained her smile and shook her head.

Gu Xixi looked again at He Jinglan and Zi Yan.

She discovered that He Jinglan had actually avoided her gaze.

Gu Xixi involuntarily narrowed her eyes.

Now she could be certain that something unusual must have happened while she was asleep!

It seems she couldn't ask directly right away; she would wait a bit for an opportunity.

He Jinglan's hair had already been combed.

It was quite different from usual.

She had only braided a few strands, using a red hair ribbon to tie them high on top of her head into a single bunch.

The tip of each small braid hung a pearl the size of a lotus seed; aside from that, there were no other pearl ornaments or hairpins.

She also changed into Hu clothing of the same style as Gu Xixi's.

Zi Yan said she would help Gu Xixi with her hair; Gu Xixi didn't decline and went to the dressing table to sit down.

Are we going to ride out of the city today?

I don't want it that complicated; just tying a high ponytail will do.

Zi Yan laughed and said, "That's exactly like a male hairstyle, which matches the riding attire quite well."