Chapter 350: The Two People in the Story

Dou Rongshan slumped there, eyes vacant, her heart feeling as if she had bumped into a ghost in broad daylight.

One part of her told herself it was impossible, that it was all fake.

Yet another part couldn't bear what she saw with her own eyes being real.

He Jinglan glanced at Dou Rongshan and said, "Everything you wanted to know you now know; are you sure you still want to stay here and humiliate yourself?"

Dou Rongshan suddenly came to her senses.

She had looked at Gu Xixi and Mu Nan Zhao in turn, bitten her lip, as if she had finally made up her mind.

"I know that after the late emperor's demise, my cousin fell into hardship among the common folk, though I don't know the exact circumstances..."

"But you must have met each other then, right?"

Gu Xixi felt amused inside, originally thinking this Miss Dou was just a naive, impulsive love‑brain, but didn't expect that after calming down she still had intelligence.

Mu Nan Zhao said indifferently, "You grew up around the military camp since childhood; you should know some things are better not pried into."

Dou Rongshan pursed her lips, snorted, and said, "Since you say that, it means I guessed correctly."

She glanced again at Gu Xixi and said, "The last question."

"What my cousin just said is perfectly reasonable."

"Could it be that you two have already married in the common folk?"

Gu Xixi's lunch had been disastrously delayed; she was drinking tea to stave off hunger, not expecting Dou Rongshan to suddenly throw out that remark.

Fortunately, when she spat out tea, she quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, thus avoiding getting Mu Nan Zhao opposite her wet.

"Cough cough cough..."

He Jinglan hurried over to pat Gu Xixi's back to ease her breathing, glaring at Dou Rongshan and saying:

"It's all your fault! What business is it of yours whether others get married? Why do you have to ask!"

Dou Rongshan paid no heed; she was seriously thinking, "When the noble young master fell on hard times, as the saying goes, a fallen phoenix is no better than a chicken; at such a time, naturally a common‑born girl would appear to rescue him."

"The noble young master, to repay the debt of his life, would pledge himself in marriage; moreover, having met in humble circumstances and shared adversity, their feelings would naturally grow over time..."

Gu Xixi coughed even harder, her face flushed and neck thick, while she stole glances at Mu Nan Zhao.

This person is somewhat of a neat freak; having just offended him, if she were to spray him with water again...

... today this grudge would likely be even harder to resolve.

Gu Xixi is someone who never shirks responsibility.

Having pulled off Mu Nan Zhao's clothes, causing his spring to be exposed and seen by others, she is indeed the direct culprit.

One can imagine Mu Nan Zhao's mood must be quite bad.

Otherwise, he would have just gone along with her adding drama earlier, but instead he went and crafted a "resentful husband" persona.

Making it seem as if Gu Xixi is a wanton, faithless woman!

Yin-yang weirdness!

This is definitely yin-yang weirdness!

Coincidentally, Mu Nan Zhao noticed Gu Xixi looking at him, gave a half‑smile and asked, "Does the host also think that Miss Dou's fabricated story fits us extremely well?"

Gu Xixi barely managed to stop coughing, panting and unable to speak, merely flushing red with tears in her eyes as she glared at him.

At this moment Dou Rongshan finished her own plot reasoning, "Exactly, it must be this way!"

She glanced askance at Gu Xixi, disdainfully saying, "Even if your two‑person encounter is rather moving, you yourself aren't hearing about it for the first place—so did you actually cry from being moved? Really hopeless!"

Gu Xixi could bear it no longer, sat up straight and shouted, "Who cried? I was just coughing!"

"Besides, what you said is basically..."

Seeing Mu Nan Zhao gazing at her with a smile, Gu Xixi suddenly couldn't continue, wilting.

Could she say in front of him, "Originally I never intended to appear, and I certainly didn't want to rescue you?"

Could she!

Mu Nan Zhao is now the Regent Prince, naturally a big tree attracts wind.

If a few rumors were to spread from Gu Xixi's side, it would cause the Regent Prince to suffer ridicule and lose face.

How could that be allowed?!

Dou Rongshan, however, wasn't satisfied, "Basically what?"

Gu Xixi hesitated, then reluctantly said, "Basically... part of it is true."

Mu Nan Zhao's mouth corner twitched, his gaze looking quite pleased.

In the end, it was He Jinglan, the host, who issued the order to evict.

"We still have other business to attend to in Dongshi; Miss Dou, will you get off here, or shall I arrange someone else to send you?"

"No need for you to send me!" Dou Rongshan said angrily, about to rise.

At that moment Mu Nan Zhao looked toward her, "There are only four people here."

"Whatever you heard today, if any of it leaks out through any other channel, I will personally ask Old Lady Dou to discipline you strictly."

"Old Lady Dou, for the sake of all the Dou clan's sons' futures, surely will not let it go unchecked."

Dou Rongshan's eyes flickered, hurt by the man's ruthlessness, "Are you threatening me?"

Mu Nan Zhao gazed at her lightly, neither confirming nor denying.

Dou Rongshan took a deep breath, suppressed her discomfort, lifted her chin and gave a proud smile:

"As it turns out, even my cousin dares to act but not to take responsibility."

"I understand, the knowledge of a plain‑spoken wife at home inevitably hinders men's prospects outside."

"You men really are all like that—not a single good one!"

He Jinglan suddenly looked at her with newfound respect.

Just moments ago she risked her life to stop a carriage for a man, and in the blink of an eye she was loudly cursing that men are no good.

Splendid!

But...

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan instinctively went to see Mu Nan Zhao's reaction.

However, faced with such provocation, Mu Nan Zhao surprisingly did not get angry but smiled.

"It's not that I'm afraid of people knowing."

Dou Rongshan followed his gaze and looked at Gu Xixi, astonished...

The carriage continued onward.

He Jinglan laughed, "I've never seen Dou Rongshan like that before; when she left, she was utterly dazed."

"Ah, you say if I advised her to go back and, if she were idle, write a few street‑read books to kill time, maybe she could earn money—would she listen?"

Gu Xixi thought it over and said, "I think you might be able to buy the street‑read books she writes in the future."

"After all, after hearing your suggestion, she reflected on the story she had just made up."

He Jinglan chuckled and said, "She made up a story about you and Mu Nan Zhao—does she really think her fabrication isn't good enough? She just wants to act like she looks down on the two of you."

"'Speaking of making up stories…' Gu Xixi said, glancing wistfully at Mu Nan Zhao."

"'The Prince's level isn't bad either.'"

Mu Nan Zhao calmly waited for her to settle the score later; after all, he only spoke the truth and felt no guilt.

Gu Xixi: "Why, in front of Miss Dou, did you say I refused you twice?"

Mu Nan Zhao: "Could it be that you agreed to me?"

Gu Xixi: "I'm saying! Why say this to someone unrelated?"

Mu Nan Zhao: "Wasn't it you who first deflated her arrogance? I can't very well undermine you."

Gu Xixi: "Then why do you insist on adding fuel to the fire by saying it's only natural and proper?"

Mu Nan Zhao: "Wasn't it you who first said it's only natural and proper?"

Gu Xixi: "……"

Mu Nan Zhao: "The government office assigns husbands to marriage‑eligible women; even if you're lucky and spend only a single cash coin, you can't ignore the facts."

Gu Xixi felt a lump in her throat and, after a moment, managed to say: "You still say her story matches."

Mu Nan Zhao wondered, "Didn't you also say the basic part is true?"

Gu Xixi choked.

How can this person not admit he did it on purpose?

He Jinglan comforted from the side, "Xixi, don't worry; even if Dou Rongshan is clueless, she wouldn't dare spread rumors even if she were wary of the Dou Clan."

Mu Nan Zhao had just gone to the next city, feeling pleased, and said, "You hadn't finished telling me about Jingdong earlier; why don't we continue?"