Chapter 432: Nearing Home, Feeling Apprehensive

After a long absence, arriving at the border, it happened to be midsummer, with the scorching sun blazing.

Mu Nan Zhao gave his own carriage to Gu Xixi and Lv Jing.

He, meanwhile, rode on horseback following them.

Gu Xixi felt sorry for Mu Nan Zhao's face, fearing it would get sunburned, and before departure she took out her own sun-protection item and insisted he wear it.

At that moment they were crossing the barren Shitou beach along the official road.

Gu Xixi opened a crack in the carriage window and watched Mu Nan Zhao's side profile as he rode ahead.

The man wore a frost-colored long robe, with a wasp waist and ape-like back, his posture upright, wearing headwear with black gauze hanging down.

When the gauze curtain fluttered in the wind, his sharp-angled side face was revealed, resembling the handsome hero of a later-generation martial arts drama.

Gu Xixi became utterly absorbed in watching him.

She had often found such scenes boring before, but because of someone's presence they turned into a painting.

Beside her, Lv Jing felt somewhat restless,

She examined the luxurious furnishings inside the carriage; the cushion on the seat was woven from some unknown vine grass, soft and cool to the touch, smooth and not sticking to the skin.

There were also cushions stuffed with silk and soft jade, an ebony-carved flowered tea table, tea utensils on the table, a lamp stand, and the four treasures of the study, all exquisitely made.

Many things Lv Jing could not name, and she dared not touch them, so she merely observed them curiously.

Gu Xixi felt a bit hot, lowered the window, and instead picked up the ivory fan on the table to fan herself gently.

Noticing Lv Jing's tension, Gu Xixi whispered with a smile, 'Since we have come, let us be at ease.'

'Relax a bit; don't make riding in the carriage more tiring than walking.'

Lv Jing also whispered, 'This is the Regent Prince's carriage; it's only natural for you to sit in it.'

'Although I'm benefiting from your connections, it just lets the Regent Prince bake outside.'

'It also interferes with your private time together.'

'I'm afraid he'll hold a grudge against me.'

Gu Xixi felt both annoyed and amused, 'How can you keep getting more improper?'

Lv Jing said solemnly, 'Everything I say is from the heart, the plain truth, no joking.'

Gu Xixi shook her head and sighed helplessly, 'I guarantee he won't bear a grudge against you—will that do?'

Lv Jing smiled and nodded, 'Fine, with you as my guarantor, I feel much more at ease.'

After resting overnight midway, the carriage passed near the Dependents Village at noon the next day.

Gu Xixi lifted the curtain and said, 'If you have important matters to attend to, you don't need to see us into the village.'

The Northwest Army first suffered a great defeat at Beili, then later launched a campaign to aid the king, earning merit for following the dragon.

Huo Jiang returned to the army, freed up his hands, and in turn eliminated the spies and bandits hidden in the border region one by one.

Now this region is the most peaceful it has been since the founding of the Daye dynasty.

Mu Nan Zhao thought it over and did not insist on seeing Gu Xixi into the village, saying, 'All right, if I have nothing to do tonight, I won't stay at the camp and will come back.'

Gu Xixi smiled and nodded.

Their gazes intertwined, naturally giving rise to affection.

Mu Nan Zhao left the coachman and two guards, instructing them to escort the two ladies safely into the village.

He seized the reins, gave Gu Xixi a deep look, and then continued forward.

The carriage turned toward the Dependents Village, and Gu Xixi unexpectedly felt a sense of nervousness upon nearing her hometown.

After Mu Nan Zhao left, Lv Jing relaxed considerably, she poked her head out the carriage window and curiously looked around.

'Is this the Dependents Village?'

'Are we going to live in the village?'

Gu Xixi hummed in affirmation, 'There's a fixed little courtyard; I and Jing Lan have stayed there every time we came before.'

After a while, Lv Jing wondered again, 'Miss He said the people here are all military dependents and children,'

'We've been in the village for quite a while, yet we haven't seen a single person.'

Gu Xixi startled, also lifted the curtain to look out.

The carriage was traveling down the central straight road of the village, yet at a glance no one could be seen.

She pondered briefly and realized the reason: 'The harvest at the border comes a few days later than in our village.'

'At this time of day, those able to work should still be out in the fields reaping.'

'Those less able either stay home to cook or help look after the children, with no time to wander about.'

Lv Jing nodded, 'If it's only women and children, that's indeed quite difficult.'

'It's inevitable that everyone helps each other, working together with one heart.'

As they spoke, the carriage stopped outside a small courtyard.

From the ground beneath the carriage wheels all the way to the courtyard gate, everything was very clean.

Upon touching the door panel, there was hardly any dust to be seen.

Lv Jing laughed and said, 'Even though you've been away for so long, someone still comes by often to clean.'

Gu Xixi smiled, took the key she had prepared earlier, unlocked the door and pushed it open.

The interior of the small courtyard was as clean as the outside.

The accompanying coachman and guards, without needing Gu Xixi's instructions, had already carried the luggage from the carriage into the courtyard.

Gu Xixi expressed her thanks for their trouble, saying, 'Put the things in the main hall, then you may go rest.'

These people were well trained, and they obeyed Gu Xixi's words without exception.

They merely set down the items and left the small courtyard, saying nothing more the whole way.

Gu Xixi first went to the bedroom she usually stayed in; all the furnishings remained as before.

She skillfully opened the box, took out a clean mattress and bedsheet, and began to make the bed.

Lv Jing ran in and said, "I checked the kitchen—there's nothing edible."

"But there's a tub full of clean water."

Gu Xixi said, "Supplies are hard to come by here; the little courtyard's meals have always been handled by the army mess corps."

"This time we didn't send word ahead, so naturally they didn't prepare any food."

She smoothed the sheets with both hands, turned her head, and asked, "Hungry?"

"Once we've tidied your quarters, we'll go look for food."

The bedroom adjacent to this one had previously been occupied by He Jinglan.

Everything was complete.

Gu Xixi helped Lv Jing make the bed; when they left, the sun was high and the ground had been bleached white.

Lv Jing had thought Gu Xixi would take her to mooch a meal from someone's home.

Who would have thought that, as they walked, they left the village—just by a different road than the one they entered.

Lv Jing, hot, wiped sweat with a handkerchief and asked, "Where are we headed?"

"We're almost at the wild beach."

Gu Xixi said, "I specifically want to show you the former wild beach."

Lv Jing's spirits instantly rose, even her hunger forgotten.

"I know this! You reclaimed land in the northwest, opening many fields, planting oats, alfalfa, and vegetables, stretching as far as the eye can see!"

"I've long wanted to see it with my own eyes!"

Gu Xixi laughed, "We're not there yet."

"Let's go somewhere nearby first."

Outside Dependents Village, endless oat fields stretched, their hue slightly different from wheat.

As they drew near, they heard lively chatter—all women's voices.

Gu Xixi told Lv Jing, "Everyone's resting and having lunch now; we've come at just the right time."

First, a military dependent spotted the two, she rubbed her eyes in disbelief, then exclaimed joyfully:

"Boss Gu is back!"

"Mrs. Lin! Mrs. Zhou! Zao Hua lass! Quick! Quick!!"

Lv Jing pressed her lips and smiled, "She said you're back—clearly she treats you like family."

In the blink of an eye, many girls sprang out of the wheat field with a whoosh, surrounding Gu Xixi and Lv Jing.