Chapter 420: Fervent Confession

Prefect Xu wore casual dress, binding his hair with only a black gauze cap.

He was past middle age, his sideburns frosted white, and when he smiled the wrinkles at his eyes were clearly visible.

Although Prefect Xu held a high post, he was warm and kind-hearted.

He exchanged pleasantries with Jiang Mingyuan, and did not neglect the two female guests beside him.

After the formal greetings, Prefect Xu personally ushered the three inside.

"The Prince is temporarily residing in the prefectural office; tonight he is hosting a banquet, and I had worried he would dislike the noise."

"I didn't expect the Prince to grant this favor, breaking protocol to appear in person."

Gu Xixi secretly thought, it seems this Prince has quite the airs; normally one couldn't persuade him to come.

No wonder Prefect Xu's face was beaming with spring, he was so pleased.

Upon entering the house, the noble person was already within arm's reach, and Jiang Mingyuan also felt it inappropriate to ask further which Prince it was.

When he first heard it outside the door, Jiang Mingyuan's immediate reaction was to think of a certain person.

But that person handles everything personally; the emperor and the imperial court cannot do without him.

How could he possibly find time to come to the northwest?

Yes, it certainly isn't him.

Jiang Mingyuan thought so. He continued to respond to Prefect Xu's conversation.

Gu Xixi followed closely behind, her mind filled only with the tea garden, so she felt no tension at all.

Only Lv Jing still had the presence of mind to steal glances and survey the surroundings.

She first saw a blurry figure reflected in the gauze cabinet, and inexplicably felt it familiar.

No way……

Before Lv Jing could remind Gu Xixi, Prefect Xu had already led them past the gauze cabinet.

The interior was brightly lit, the light suddenly bright, and before their eyes lay a large round table.

The banquet was already set out, the aromas of food and drink assailing their senses.

Yet all these sensory stimuli combined could not compare to the person seated at the head of the round table.

Gu Xixi, Jiang Mingyuan, and Lv Jing suddenly fell silent.

Prefect Xu assumed the two young ladies, upon seeing the Prince for the first time, were overwhelmed by his celestial beauty.

He understood and smiled.

A few days ago, when the Prince visited and the prefectural office staff greeted him, most reacted the same way.

Prefect Xu solemnly introduced, "Boss Gu, Miss Lv, this is the Regent Prince."

"Official Jiang should have already seen the Prince at the Apricot Grove banquet, so there's no need for me to make a special introduction."

The three came to their senses and naturally performed the proper rites.

Jiang Mingyuan's face tightened: "This official pays respects to the Regent Prince."

Gu Xixi and Lv Jing: "Commoner girls pay respects to the Regent Prince."

Mu Nan Zhao then lifted his gaze and said lightly, "Please, no need for formalities."

"Today Prefect Xu is hosting; I, the Prince, am merely here to join the festivities—you need not stand on ceremony."

His gaze lingered on Gu Xixi for a moment without a trace, a warmth flickering in his cold eyes.

Seeing the Prince say that, Prefect Xu hurriedly called for the guests to take their seats.

As they sat down, Gu Xixi wore a three‑part smile, not deliberately staring at Mu Nan Zhao.

Both sides played out the "first meeting" to perfection.

At the table, Prefect Xu raised a topic, drawing everyone into conversation.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became ever more relaxed and harmonious.

Prefect Xu naturally brought up the notice concerning the Regent Prince.

He said with a smile, "There are many rumors among the folk, more colorful than any storybook."

"I just don't know whether they're true or false; would the Prince mind clearing up our doubts?"

Lv Jing stole a glance sideways.

Gu Xixi was calmly drinking tea, while Lv Jing did not know whether this composure was genuine or merely surface.

Jiang Mingyuan also gazed at Mu Nan Zhao and said, "This official is also curious."

"Is the Prince's notice motivated by gratitude and duty, or, as the rumors say, by deep affection?"

Prefect Xu glanced at him in surprise, slightly frowning—does this Top Scholar really speak so bluntly?

I had thought the Regent Prince would be somewhat displeased.

As Prefect Xu was about to smooth things over, Mu Nan Zhao smiled and said, "The wording of the rumors is somewhat exaggerated."

"The Gu family indeed owes the Prince a life‑saving debt, and she has shared life‑and‑death trials with him several times."

"But to claim that the Prince repays the debt by offering himself, or to say that the Gu family possesses vast wealth, looks like a heavenly immortal, has a gentle disposition, and is accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—all of that is unfounded."

Prefect Xu, bewildered, felt embarrassed, wondering whether he should not have raised this matter.

Could it be that everyone has misunderstood that notice?

Is the Regent Prince's feeling toward the Gu family not romantic, but simply a matter of providing protection?

The table fell silent, each person lost in their own thoughts.

Only Gu Xixi picked up her own teapot and poured herself a cup of clear tea.

The sound of tea pouring into the cup was especially clear at this moment.

Prefect Xu looked at Gu Xixi, and indeed he regarded her with new respect.

The Regent Prince's aura makes ordinary people around him involuntarily become extra cautious.

But this woman, though of commoner origin, actually fears the Regent Prince not at all, and can even eat and drink as she pleases.

Mu Nan Zhao gazed deeply at Gu Xixi, a smile appearing in his eyes.

「The person I hold dearest, she sometimes harbors ambitions for the world, her magnanimity yielding to no man. Yet at times she is quite petty; for anything she deserves, she yields not an inch。」

「Compared to music, chess, calligraphy and painting, she has something she likes even more; she is willing to devote her whole life to it. She could even give up staying by my side forever to achieve her ideal。」

「She is somewhat fond of wealth, but she seeks it only through her own abilities。」

「She refuses to accept her fate, is quite cunning, and occasionally will resort to some tactics。」

「She feels that relying on me alone is not secure enough, so she has used her own abilities to find other backers for herself, and not just one。」

「In that case, even if I were to fall out with her someday, I could not easily do anything to her。」

Prefect Xu simply could not believe what he had heard.

Greedy, self‑serving, full of ideas, and moreover so unruly.

The Regent Prince actually took a liking to such a woman?

What's more, judging by the Regent Prince's words, it is now this woman who refuses to have the Regent Prince.

Rather than the Regent Prince considering whether to renew their fate with her.

Even though Prefect Xu is over forty and has seen many storms, he could not help but show a stunned expression.

But looking at the Regent Prince's demeanor, it is clearly utterly serious, certainly not a joke.

Gu Xixi picked up a piece of cherry blossom pastry and ate it with gusto.

Lv Jing secretly felt excited, her heart already blossoming with joy for Gu Xixi.

Lv Jing quietly tugged at Gu Xixi from under the table, lowering her head slightly, smiling and giving her a wink.

The meaning is, you're not going to give any reaction?

At the prefect's banquet, he made a deep, public confession of love!

Reckless and daring! Unabashed! Deeply devoted! Heart‑moving!

Besides the Regent Prince, who else could do such a thing!!

Gu Xixi also returned a glance, not in a hurry, letting them speak first.

She needs to eat her fill first; later there are other matters to attend to.

At this moment Mu Nan Zhao continued, saying, "But I just appreciate her like this。"

「I also love her and value her。」

「Sir Xu, and also… Sir Jiang。」

He slightly strengthened his tone, looking at Jiang Mingyuan with a half‑smile, saying, "What do you think, compared to the rumored story？"

Prefect Xu secretly broke into a sweat, offering an apologetic smile and saying, "Miss Gu truly is different from ordinary women。"

「With lofty ambitions reaching the clouds and a broad‑minded chest。」

「He and the Prince are truly a match made in heaven！」

Jiang Mingyuan's eyes were complex; after a moment he suppressed his feeling of regret, poured a cup of wine and raised it.

「This humble official… wishes the Prince well。」