Chapter 441: When Feeling Wronged, Seek a Wife

Huo Jiang gazed at Mu Nan Zhao with deep meaning, "What if the Emperor also thinks the same as you?"

"If the Emperor agrees to the marriage alliance with Beili but does not want Beili women to enter the harem, he will choose another suitable candidate."

"However, the imperial clan has dwindled, so there are few to choose from."

"The Rouran Princess's words spoken to me today will soon reach the Emperor's ears."

"How the Emperor will weigh the matter is unknown to us."

Mu Nan Zhao understood that Huo Jiang was giving a kind reminder.

But he was not worried about it at all.

"Since his heart is already set, any future changes are merely a matter of meeting force with force."

Mu Nan Zhao lifted his eyelids, his eyes clear and cold, "Everyone under heaven knows that I have already found my home."

"The news will reach Beili a little slower; for now, give them some time to regret."

"If they remain clueless and dare to stuff Beili women into my manor, they will only end up in coffins on the bridal journey."

Huo Jiang clapped, "Enough ruthless; Boss Gu didn't misjudge the person."

"But how should I write this memorial? Do I need to erase your name?"

Mu Nan Zhao glanced sideways with a cold smile, "You said the Emperor will eventually know; just write it."

Huo Jiang clapped again, "So audacious!"

"However, I guess if you insist on refusing, the Emperor will still choose you over the mere wish of a Beili princess."

The new emperor wanted to enact reform and revive Da Ye's prosperity, so he chose Mu Nan Zhao as Regent Prince.

Naturally, it had long been decided to display honor guards everywhere.

This is also Mu Nan Zhao's confidence.

Even if the Rouran Princess sets her sights on him, he remains utterly unflustered.

Huo Jiang was in high spirits at the moment, smiling, "Since you already have an idea, I can relax."

"Let's brew a pot of aged citrus poria tea to relieve internal heat and strengthen our spleen and stomach."

Huo Jiang had just ordered the tea to be boiled.

A messenger soldier ran in, reporting, "Report to the General, report to the Regent Prince!"

"The Beili envoy has already packed their baggage; they intend to leave without waiting for lunch."

Huo Jiang nodded, indifferent, "Not eating is fine; Da Ye's grain isn't meant to fatten them."

"When they depart, just say the General has other matters and cannot see them off."

"Send another order to the Three Camps, especially the scouts in the valley area, to keep a close watch."

"Before they enter Beili territory, don't let them stir up any mischief."

The messenger soldier clasped his fists, "Received!"

But shortly after, he showed hesitation, standing there without moving.

Huo Jiang glared, "What's the matter? Speak! Say it all at once!"

The messenger soldier lowered his head, glancing sideways at Mu Nan Zhao from the corner of his eye.

Finally he managed to say, "The Rouran Princess requests to see... the Regent Prince before she departs."

"'To bid farewell in person.'"

Huo Jiang glanced at Mu Nan Zhao's grim face and muttered, "She looks like a smart little girl, why would she throw away her life just for lusting after male beauty?"

Hearing such words for the first time, the messenger soldier was startled and lowered his head even further.

Huo Jiang did not expect Mu Nan Zhao to personally reply at this moment.

He waved his hand broadly, saying, "Clueless brat! I said I have important business and won't see them off—can't you find an excuse for the Regent Prince too? Do I have to teach you?"

At that moment, Mu Nan Zhao spoke, "No need for all that trouble. Just tell her I won't go."

The messenger soldier stood frozen, wondering if he could really say that.

The poor lad could only look pleadingly at his own general.

Huo Jiang then chuckled and raised his hand, indicating he could proceed.

The messenger soldier, as if pardoned, turned and ran off in a flustered hurry.

Mu Nan Zhao suddenly stood up.

Huo Jiang looked up at him, "Where are you going? The tea hasn't been drunk yet."

"'Go back, find Gu Xixi.' Mu Nan Zhao tossed that over his shoulder and walked away without looking back."

Marriage alliance?

Prince consort?!

Although he usually fears nothing, being entangled in this sort of trouble inevitably affects his mood.

At this moment he just wants to leave this vexing place and find the person who can clear his mind.

The summer harvest at the Dependents Village concluded by noon today.

The celebratory feast cannot be prepared in time; we must wait until tomorrow.

Everyone spread out the wheat stalks to dry, then followed Gu Xixi to the slope to look at those pingpo fruit trees.

The slope where the trees are planted is relatively far from the Dependents Village.

Moreover, with the northwest border having expanded greatly, the enemy has been driven back to their homeland.

Now this place no longer has Beili cavalry roaming about; it is very safe.

Gu Xixi and the others thus relaxed and lingered in the woods for a long while.

Watering and pruning, the military dependents followed Gu Xixi, learning as they went.

Gu Xixi checked the condition of the fruit trees; overall it still met her expectations.

But this place, after all, doesn't have as fertile soil as Huachi Du Cun.

The fruit trees have grown a bit slower, and they didn't bloom this spring.

Gu Xixi plans to send over a batch of suitable fertilizer and pest-control pesticide after she returns.

She informed everyone, briefly explaining how to use them.

"Don't worry, when I have someone deliver the goods, I'll also include a handwritten usage note."

"I guarantee you'll be able to read it clearly."

There are quite a few literate military dependents in the village who can read, so this isn't a problem.

But……

Lin Damu nodded, but she clearly pointed out, "Since Xixi has let us subcontract and take charge of these trees,"

"We won't take any payment upfront, but we expect a share of the profits after the fruit is harvested."

"In that case, how can the cost of this fertilizer be borne by you alone?"

Gu Xixi laughed and said, "Originally planting these fruit trees here was just to test the effects of different environments."

"I can't often come to the frontier, but for you all to be willing to gamble with me on this unseen harvest, to take responsibility for and care for these trees, is already a great help to me."

"How could I then ask you to spend more money?"

Since it's an experiment, she never intended to make money from this orchard from the start.

However, she was confident that she would not let the military dependents work for nothing.

Only when the sun was about to sink into the vast horizon did they return to the village, chatting and laughing.

Lv Jing stepped over the threshold of the small courtyard, the smile still on her face, and looked up, only to be startled.

Mu Nan Zhao stood outside Gu Xixi's bedroom door.

The resentment radiating from him was darker than the shadows at dawn and dusk.

Lv Jing reacted extremely quickly, darting toward the kitchen, "Time to cook!"

Gu Xixi put down her farming tools, walked up to Mu Nan Zhao, raised her head, and looked at him with a smile.

"What's wrong?"

"Who is the clueless one who has upset our Prince?"

Mu Nan Zhao stretched out his long arms, embraced Gu Xixi, and rested his chin on the side of her neck.

After a moment, he murmured, "Beili intends to marry into Daye."

Gu Xixi smiled, "Not fighting is good for our farming and business."

"Then why are you unhappy?"

Mu Nan Zhao lifted his head to meet her gaze, somewhat dissatisfied, "The landlord only knows how to make money."

"You never considered that if the Beili princess took a fancy to me, you'd still be able to laugh?"

"Don't you know I'm full of resentment, just hoping to see you, but I waited left and right at home and didn't see you?"

Gu Xixi stared at him seriously, "Was the Prince originally eyed by a rascal and suffered grievances outside?"