Chapter 388: Even Women Have Conditions to Be Unfaithful

Four days passed.

At this moment, as the fifth day's sunset approached, Mu Nan Zhao still hadn't seen Gu Xixi at the Xiao He Manor.

He Jinghui slumped in his chair, his face showing utter despair, forced to count on his fingers one by one.

"On the first day, I first went to Sweet Rain Residence to check the shop, then went to the inn to visit Jiang Mingyuan, closed the door and chatted for half the afternoon."

"On the second day we went shopping together, supposedly to buy some gifts and local specialties to take home."

"On the third day, Jiang Mingyuan hosted, they went to several places, basically playing all day."

He Jinghui paused here, adding an explanation: "These three days, Jiang Mingyuan and An Qinghe were present the whole time, like Gu Xixi's two fierce guardians."

"They had a great time, leaving at dawn and only returning after curfew."

"So whenever you finally manage to get some free time and come to my place under the pretense of public duty, Gu Xixi just happens to be away from home."

Mu Nan Zhao's face was covered with a layer of frost, "Continue."

He Jinghui pursed his lips and said, "Then on the fourth day, during the day at Sweet Rain Residence, at night……"

He glanced at Mu Nan Zhao's expression, silently moving a bit farther away. "At night……they went to the Flower-planting Pavilion."

Mu Nan Zhao's gaze instantly turned sharp.

The last time Gu Xixi got drunk and lost her senses at the Flower-planting Pavilion, he still felt uneasy recalling it to this day.

However, since He Jinghui didn't treat it as a joke when he spoke, this time there definitely wasn't any mishap.

Mu Nan Zhao quickly calmed down, "You should also keep an eye on your sister."

"For the host to keep going to such a disreputable place—what propriety is that?"

He Jinghui grinned, unable to suppress his smile, "Ah, this time you've really blamed the wrong person."

"I've made it clear: yesterday's trip to the Flower-planting Pavilion was either suggested by Boss Gu or paid for by Boss Gu."

"Oh, they ordered that sword orchid again."

"Besides watching Boss Gu's favorite sword dance, Boss Gu also had the sword orchid teach her a few sword moves."

Mu Nan Zhao suddenly lifted his head, "She went to the Flower-planting Pavilion to study… sword?"

His voice was forced out through clenched teeth.

He Jinghui quickly wiped off his smile, adopting a serious tone, "No kidding—I find it outrageous just hearing about it."

"Ignoring the sword expert right at home, spending money to run to the Flower-planting Pavilion to find a performer?!"

"Isn't Boss Gu usually the one who most opposes wasting money?"

Mu Nan Zhao's face had evolved from bluish-black, as dark as a pot bottom, to the ultimate expressionless state.

Like an old monk who has attained the Dao for many years.

"Then," he said calmly, "why haven't they returned yet today?"

He Jinghui said, "Still the Flower-planting Pavilion, huh."

"Before you came, the shopkeeper at Sweet Rain Residence helped pass along a note."

"Jing Lan said she might not come back tonight, so don't wait for them to eat."

Saying this, He Jinghui took out a sheet of paper and handed it over.

The seemingly calm-as-water Regent Prince suddenly turned his head, his gaze sharp as if he wanted to kill someone.

"He Jinghui!"

He Jinghui immediately defended himself, "I also wanted to say it sooner."

"It's you who forced me to ask clearly what Boss Gu has been busy with these days, and then tell you everything in detail."

"You don't send people to follow Boss Gu, nor inquire about her whereabouts, claiming it's out of respect."

"Missing the news, you can't blame me for that."

Mu Nan Zhao didn't even look at the note He Jinglan sent back, and stood up directly.

He Jinghui looked at him, "Wait a moment."

"You're not going to rush to the Flower-planting Pavilion right now, are you?"

"Last time I went to great lengths to clean up the aftermath, and you want to do it again?"

"If anyone sees you again, tomorrow's gossip will be that the Regent Prince sneaked into the Flower-planting Pavilion at night to catch an affair, becoming the capital's top scandal!"

Mu Nan Zhao angrily turned toward He Jinghui, his eyes hostile.

He Jinghui waved his hand in appeasement, "Don't glare, I'm not saying Boss Gu is bad."

"I certainly know Boss Gu is a respectable person, especially with Jing Lan around."

"They seek amusement only by doing refined things."

"I mean rumors are fiercer than tigers; they can turn nothing into something with a nose and eyes."

"And you too."

He Jinghui and Mu Nan Zhao locked gazes, their expressions turning solemn, "Even if I let you go now to find Boss Gu."

"What right do you have to boss her around?"

"You're not her father, nor her brother, much less her husband."

Mu Nan Zhao fell silent for a moment, then retreated to sit back at the table.

He Jinghui had never seen him like this, and felt a twinge of pity.

So, trying to liven the mood, he asked, "Where has your usual nonchalance gone?"

"Could it be that the day you went to the palace to fetch Boss Gu, she unleashed her beastly nature and did something to you?"

He laughed, jabbing Mu Nan Zhao with his elbow, "Don't act like a resentful lady in her boudoir, chasing after someone to make them take responsibility."

He Jinghui had only been joking, but seeing Mu Nan Zhao's expression out of the corner of his eye, he gradually couldn't laugh anymore.

"Ah, you're not…?"

"Boss Gu, did you really just start something with me and then abandon me?"

He Jinghui never thought this word could be used for a woman toward a man.

But after meeting Gu Xixi, he gained a completely new understanding.

If a woman is strong-willed, her abilities and wisdom are not inferior to a man's.

Then she is fully capable of emulating those unfaithful men.

Mu Nan Zhao didn't answer Mu Nan Zhao; he just stood up and left.

As the moon just rose, the study in the Regent Prince's mansion unexpectedly had its lights turned off early.

Mu Nan Zhao lay on the hard pallet by the window, gazing blankly into the darkness.

That day, in the last corridor leaving the palace, Gu Xixi kissed him without any warning.

Although it was just a light kiss, she then stopped and withdrew.

He admitted that at the time his heart was surging, his emotions uncontrollable, so he immediately wanted to kiss her.

But Gu Xixi shoved him away hard, lowered her head, and quickly walked toward the palace gate.

And then, until before getting into He Jinglan's carriage, she didn't say a word, nor glance at him.

These past few days, whenever Mu Nan Zhao had a moment free, he couldn't help wondering what she really meant.

Just now, hearing what He Jinghui said, Mu Nan Zhao realized that only he himself had been worrying these days.

But Gu Xixi every day seeks out other men to play with, lingering among different flower clusters, enjoying herself immensely!

At this moment, Mu Nan Zhao increasingly feels that Gu Xixi has been avoiding him for the past five days.

So is she doing this out of a momentary impulse?

Or just playing around?

Or perhaps…

Or did she regret it after kissing?

Mu Nan Zhao suddenly sat up, raising his hand to touch his own lips.

His brow furrowed uncontrollably.

Gu Xixi, what on earth are you thinking?

We agreed to be frank with each other; if there's any dissatisfaction, why not say it to my face?

Mu Nan Zhao gritted his teeth, feeling fierce, yet he couldn't truly hate her.

He truly tossed and turned, his inner organs burning.

The next morning, a light rain began to fall.

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan rode in a carriage back to the Xiao He residence.

Coachman Old Li saw someone holding an umbrella and loitering outside the gate, turned his head inward and said, "Miss, there's a young lady outside our gate."

He Jinglan reached out to lift the curtain, leaned in to look, and immediately exclaimed in delight:

"Miss Lv!"

At the Jade Bamboo Pavilion, a maid served a pot of hot wolfberry chrysanthemum tea, and placed a small bowl of jujube flower honey on the table.

He Jinglan personally placed the teacup before Miss Lv, smiling and saying, "On a rainy day, it's refreshing and cool."

"You're being too formal; even if we're not here, you should knock and come in to wait."