Chapter 470: Clear Attitude

After inner struggle, Gu Xixi still chose honesty, detailing the details she had heard from Zhang Shen over the years.

Then she calmly said, "An identical silver lock is with Zhang Shen at my home."

"I heard that back then I was still in swaddling clothes, and my father indeed met and arranged the marriage with someone while out buying livestock."

"If this silver lock truly has no third copy, perhaps I am the person Uncle Jiang is looking for."

The Jiang family looked at Gu Xixi in surprise.

Besides surprise, Jiang Mingyuan's eyes held more complex expression, just like his current mood.

If one says he has no fate with Gu Xixi, yet he already had a silver lock determining their marriage in childhood.

If one says they are fated……

Jiang Mingyuan lifted his gaze to look at Gu Xixi and the man beside her.

He sighed inwardly.

If they are fated, why did they meet so late, thus falling behind step by step by arriving a step late?

Jiang Father first came to his senses, delighted, saying, "So then the time, place, and even your father's manner and appearance all match, plus the silver lock as proof,"

Jiang Father happily slapped his thigh, "This marriage is a sure thing!"

Accompanied by his hearty laugh, however, no one around joined in laughing.

At this moment, it was the woman's attentiveness; Jiang Mother pinched her husband twice underneath, signaling him to look opposite.

Mu Nan Zhao lowered his eyes, silently eating.

Jiang Father looked at Mu Nan Zhao, then glanced at Gu Xixi; his smile froze on his face and gradually faded.

Indeed, look at his mind—when happy he forgets that Miss Gu Xixi already has a fiancé.

Although it was bought with money, it was still issued by the Imperial Court, equally valid as a marriage bond.

The atmosphere at the table became somewhat subtle.

Jiang Father and Mother looked at each other.

This matter really is somewhat difficult to handle.

Jiang Mother again looked toward Jiang Mingyuan; as a mother, could she possibly not know her own son's thoughts?

She had long faintly sensed that her son seemed to have intentions toward Gu Xixi.

But Gu Xixi already had a purchased husband; Jiang Mingyuan never voiced his feelings, so Jiang Mother just pretended ignorance and didn't expose it.

But now there is the advantage of an earlier engagement.

Great Undertaking Dynasty law: a woman cannot be betrothed to two families.

That means the current stalemate: the earlier betrothal takes precedence naturally, and the later one is automatically void.

Jiang Father inwardly felt twelve parts satisfied with this future daughter-in-law.

Thinking back, the generous and affable in-laws from those years have passed away; the prospective daughter-in-law, an orphan girl, must have suffered these past two years, and the Jiang family also bears responsibility for not seeking her out sooner.

Fortunately, Mingyuan is somewhat accomplished; marrying again would not disgrace the in-laws.

Jiang Father's expression turned solemn; he cleared his throat, deciding as head of the family and as elder to the two children to make a decision.

Jiang Mingyuan saw what his father was about to do and spoke first.

"Father, Miss Gu Xixi should have something to say; please let her speak first."

He smiled while looking at Gu Xixi, his eyes holding both wistfulness and relief.

Like a fisherman releasing the most beautiful fish in the world.

Gu Xixi and Jiang Mingyuan locked eyes for a moment, returning his gaze with a grateful smile.

She indeed could not respond to Jiang Mingyuan's feelings.

Earlier she did not rush to speak, only because her heart had already decided; under any circumstance it would be impossible to shift.

Thus, for her this matter is actually simple.

Gu Xixi gave a solemn bow to Jiang Father and Mother, "I am grateful that you two elders do not disdain me."

"Then, Gu Xixi today states this matter clearly, only to call off the engagement."

"Tomorrow I will return the silver lock as a token; I hope you will fulfill this."

Jiang Mingyuan smiled and replied, "Since the engagement partner is me, I will answer for myself."

After great difficulty finding the prospective daughter-in-law, she flew away again; Jiang Father exclaimed in shock, "Zi Chu, what are you doing!"

Jiang Mingyuan gently gestured for his father to calm down, then said, "Only the token and verbal agreement exist, with no marriage deed as proof; this engagement originally could not be counted."

"After the bride's family returns the token on a chosen day, the man's marriage and the woman's marriage are unrelated."

Gu Xixi stared steadily at Jiang Mingyuan for a moment, then said, "Thank you."

Jiang Mingyuan is open and gentle; to say Gu Xixi feels no emotion would be false.

However, being moved ultimately differs from having one's heart stirred.

Gu Xixi has always been clear about what she wants from beginning to end.

Leaving the Jiang residence, Gu Xixi was about to board the carriage when she saw Mu Nan Zhao standing there motionless.

She turned her head in confusion, "What are you doing? Get in the carriage."

Mu Nan Zhao glanced at her lightly, his expression somewhat inscrutable, making it hard to discern his current mood.

"I still have some official duties, so I won't be returning with you."

Having said that, he turned and left without waiting for Gu Xixi's reaction.

Only Gu Xixi and Lv Jing remained, driving the carriage back.

Gu Xixi simply lifted the carriage door curtain, leaning against Lv Jing's back to facilitate conversation.

Lv Jing said with lingering fear, "Suddenly I learned that your unseen fiancé is the Jiang County Magistrate; I thought you would bluff your way through, but you ended up admitting it yourself."

"It scared me enough."

Gu Xixi laughed, "Anyway, I could never marry Brother Zi Chu, so what's there to fear?"

Lv Jing nodded, "Jiang Mingyuan helped you out of the siege like that; he surely knows you're doing it for the Regent Prince, so you could never marry anyone else."

Gu Xixi said, "No, he understands; even without Mu Nan Zhao, it's also impossible between me and him."

After a while, Lv Jing suddenly turned pale and said, "When he came, the Regent Prince didn't say there were still official duties."

"Just now he suddenly wanted to leave; could it be that he's making an excuse, but actually he's angry?"

Gu Xixi laughed and waved her hand, "Impossible."

"I took the initiative to propose calling off the engagement, the matter was resolved smoothly, he wouldn't be so petty."

"Besides, I know what he looks like when he's truly angry; he must really have official duties to attend to."

However, Mu Nan Zhao left and then half a month passed with no word.

And during that half month, Gu Xixi was also extremely busy, with no time to spare for him.

The pomegranate trees in Huachi Du Cun were in full bloom.

Gu Xixi led everyone in pruning, fertilizing, and thinning the blossoms, keeping her extremely busy.

Yesterday, Zhao Meipo brought the Fruit King and his entourage to the village for an inspection, and they had preliminarily reached a cooperation intention with Gu Xixi.

Next, we'll have to see how the actual fruiting turns out this year.

Gu Xixi was teaching how to thin blossoms in Lao Qian's orchard when Lv Jing came running from outside, her face full of joy.

"Master, master! The tea garden land dispute has been resolved!"

"The County Magistrate Jiang sent a note saying that Magistrate Li wanted to come to the village to apologize in person, but Magistrate Jiang refused on his behalf, saying it's fine as long as the tea garden's ownership is made clear."

Gu Xixi snipped off a cluster of blossoms and said, "It's good that we refused; otherwise we'd have to waste time and energy receiving them."

Just a few days ago, the tea garden sold its first batch of loose tea, labeling it as official tea.

Perhaps seeing an opportunity, the officials of Lin County's magistrate office jumped out and said that part of the tea garden's land originally lay within their county's borders.

Therefore, they believed the tea garden's sovereignty should include a share for their county office.

In fact, most of that wasteland lies within Qing Tian County, with only a small remainder straddling the two counties' border, which has never been clearly demarcated.

Jiang Mingyuan and Gu Xixi went together to Lin County to discuss the matter, and they had no intention of making any concessions.

Thus Lin County threatened to take back part of the tea garden's land.

Gu Xixi was already feeling somewhat irritable due to Mu Nan Zhao's mysterious loss of contact.

This time she directly produced the gold medal bestowed by the emperor.

The fact proves that a simple, brute-force approach saves worry and effort.

Not only that, the dispute was resolved, and even that haughty county magistrate had to come in person to apologize.

After finishing the orchard work, Gu Xixi returned home in the evening and noticed that Aunt Zhang's expression was a bit off.