Chapter 471: Sweet Lies

Tonight, Zhang Shen, Lao Langzhong, Shitou, and Lv Jing all gathered together.

At the dinner table, nobody spoke; everyone seemed low-spirited.

Even Little Flower lay there motionless, whimpering.

Inside the house, only the faint sound of chopsticks moving could be heard, along with someone's sigh.

Until Shitou sighed deeply for what felt like the umpteenth time.

Gu Xixi finally couldn't take it anymore, stopping the steamed bun she'd brought to her mouth, "How old are you to sigh like that?"

"If you've run into trouble or someone's bullying you, just say so."

"With so many mouths to feed in our family now, we can't out-scold them, but are we afraid we can't out-fight them?"

Shitou said weakly, "Sister Xixi, you've got it backwards."

He sighed again, wearing an anguished expression far beyond his years, and said, "It's a shame the capital is so far away; if I could go, I'd really want to scold him to his face until he had nowhere to hide!"

"I was wrong about him before!"

Shitou gritted his teeth angrily, his grimace like that of a small beast.

Gu Xixi's hearing caught the keyword: "The capital? Who are you planning to scold?"

Shitou is a local who's never been to the capital; if he knew anyone there……

It's only He Jinglan and Mu Nan Zhao.

He Jinglan had just sent two fine wolf-hair brushes to Shitou a few days ago.

The little guy was overjoyed, holding the brush and saying over and over, "Sister Jinglan, you're so great!"

Moreover, tonight I saw Shitou practicing calligraphy with that wolf-hair brush.

So it's not He Jinglan; then it must be……

Gu Xixi scanned the room sharply, "I've noticed—tonight you all seem off."

"Especially you, Zhang Shen and Shitou—your expressions look like I'm about to kick the bucket and throw a feast for the whole village."

Zhang Shen immediately spat, "Pah! Pah! Pah! Don't say such inauspicious things!"

"If a man runs away, to others it might feel like the sky is falling."

"But our family's different—we have money, land, and a house; we won't be reduced to desperation!"

Shitou nodded firmly, "Sister Xixi, I support you!"

Gu Xixi wondered, "What on earth is going on?"

"Do you know something I don't?"

Come to think of it, these past few days she's been running around the village managing the orchard, never idle.

Maybe there's some new news outside that she hasn't heard yet?

Seeing everyone fall silent again, they grew even more listless and downcast.

Gu Xixi narrowed her eyes, "Did something happen to Mu Nan Zhao?"

She paused, looking at Lv Jing, "You know too, right? You say it."

Lv Jing glanced around with a troubled expression, then after a moment whispered, "The Beili envoy delegation has already reached the capital."

"I heard… I heard… that in ten days the two nations will marry off, the Rouran princess to the Regent Prince."

Gu Xixi's expression tightened, then she forced a calm smile and said, "Impossible."

Shitou shouted, "How could it be impossible? It's all over town!"

Zhang Shen flushed with anger, "He's just a heartless scoundrel!"

Finally, Lao Langzhong looked a bit conflicted but still spoke, "Xiao Mu hasn't written to you in a while, has he?"

"Not long ago, I recall there was a letter every day?"

Gu Xixi froze.

Right, come to think of it, that really is abnormal.

Then Lv Jing continued, "The last time I saw him, he seemed angry—he left without saying a word."

"And that departure really was the last we saw of him."

Zhang Shen sighed softly, "Come to think of it, we can't blame them entirely."

"They've proposed several times, but our Xixi has refused point-blank."

"All this dragging out let someone else swoop in and take the prize."

Lv Jing agreed, "Maybe it's not what he wanted, but there's nothing we can do."

"It just so happened that the princess took a liking to him, and he's single—how could that not be disastrous?"

Gu Xixi suddenly rose, silently got off the kang and put on her shoes.

Zhang Shen, Lv Jing, and Shitou exchanged glances and asked, "Xixi, why are you leaving without eating?"

Gu Xixi didn't look back, "To the capital."

"I don't believe what others say; I want to hear it from him myself."

"Even if we break up, that's a matter between her and Mu Nan Zhao alone."

"How can we just let it go based on village gossip?"

Anyway, the farm work in the village has paused for now.

Thus, Gu Xixi rode out on horseback in the night, leaving home.

The sound of hooves faded away.

Only then did the three of them and the cat sneak a peek out the gate.

Zhang Shen worried, "Running out late at night—will that be okay?"

Lv Jing laughed, "It's fine; someone's following to protect her."

Shitou excitedly said, "We should also take our things and set off quickly, otherwise we'll surely be late!"

……

After several days of travel, Gu Xixi rode horses during the day and stayed at inns at night.

But the closer she got to the capital, the clearer her mind became.

Recalling many unreasonable points.

For example, Zhang Shen previously didn't believe Mu Nan Zhao was the Regent Prince, yet upon hearing the Regent Prince was marrying a princess, she blurted out curses at him as a faithless man?

For example, the master's slightly apologetic expression when speaking seemed more like being forced, compelled to participate.

For example, that night she hastily left home, while Zhang Shen, who always cared most about her safety, didn't even try to stop her.

Moreover, the three of them that night behaved too uniformly?

Their uniformity was as if they had planned it beforehand!

Besides, there are many suspicions in the capital as well.

First, Mu Nan Zhao intends to marry another; He Jinglan should have blown up in anger and sent an urgent letter to Huachi Du Cun.

Second, that fellow Mu Nan Zhao would rather break his leg than marry the princess, yet he compromised after only half a month?

Something's off, really off.

When Gu Xixi left home her mind was somewhat chaotic; now, having calmed down, she gradually sorted things out, and she has already arrived near the capital.

Well, since we're here, we can't just turn back, can we?

She wants to see what this group is actually up to by joining forces!

Approaching noon, at the Xiao He residence, Gu Xixi dismounted and went forward to knock on the door.

As the door opened, she saw Zi Yan, Lv La, Lian Xing, and Guang Zhu coming out to greet her.

Without a word, they surrounded Gu Xixi and escorted her to the inner courtyard.

Gu Xixi struggled in vain, "My horse!"

Guang Zhu smiled, "Miss, don't worry, someone will take care of the horse."

Gu Xixi was led forward, dazed, asking, "Where are we going? Is your young lady there?"

"Let her accompany me to the neighboring Regent Prince's mansion!"

The four maidservants pursed their lips and chuckled.

While Gu Xixi was puzzled, Zi Yan softly said, "Miss, don't be anxious."

"Before the wedding, the bride cannot see the groom."

Gu Xixi stared, "The bride?"

She felt her head in a knot, "Who?"

As they spoke, they had already entered the Yuzhu Courtyard.

Only He Jinglan's loud laugh was heard, "Finally you've come!"

Gu Xixi lifted her eyes, as if seeing a savior, "Jing Lan! They……"

However, He Jinglan seemed not to see Gu Xixi's pleading gaze, repeatedly urging, "Hurry hurry hurry, the clothes and jewelry are ready; if we don't dress up quickly we might miss the auspicious time!"

Then another group of maids and elderly women swarmed up, surrounding Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi was almost lifted off her feet as she entered the room.

By the time she saw the room filled with festive colors and realized something was wrong, wanting to escape was already too late.

Bathing, changing clothes, cleansing the face, combing hair……

When the crowd dispersed, Gu Xixi looked at herself in the mirror, dressed in wedding attire, her makeup as brilliant as peach and plum.

And the person who had appeared behind her at some unknown time.

Gu Xixi gritted her teeth and burst out an angry shout, "Mu Nan Zhao!!!"

Mu Nan Zhao stood with hands in sleeves, wearing red robes, adding a touch of alluring color to his aloof demeanor.

"Deceiving you into coming to the capital to marry is my fault."

"After entering the bridal chamber, you may do as you wish with me."

"Until the Regent Prince's consort enters the Qingyu pavilion this evening, there is still one shichen before the formal wedding rites."

"If the host is unwilling to follow me, there is ample time to leave."

"But……"

He paused, "Aunt, Master, and Shitou set out a little later than you, but I've sent fast horses to fetch them; they will surely arrive in time to watch the ceremony tonight."

Gu Xixi suddenly turned, her head full of bead strings swaying, making her annoyed yet lively and adorable expression.

"You did this on purpose!"

Mu Nan Zhao readily agreed, "Yes, on purpose."

"You exchanged silver locks with others; I feared that if we waited longer, more dreams would arise, and someday another jade pendant or something might appear."

Gu Xixi glared angrily, "Wasn't it said we cannot meet before the wedding?"

Mu Nan Zhao pondered, "I have devised so many schemes, thinking I could not escape."

"But I also feared you might really flee."

"Not coming to take a look would truly unsettle me; anyway, climbing over the wall, no outsider would know, so it wouldn't be a breach of propriety."

The Regent Prince speaking so openly about scaling the wall made Gu Xixi finally unable to hold back a puff of laughter.

"Well, I'm already dressed like this, the arrow is on the string; it's fine to settle this lifelong matter as well."

She stepped forward and lifted Mu Nan Zhao's chin.

"The husband said tonight I may dispose of him; these words are true."

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes reflected the image of his beloved, his smile reaching to the bottom of his eyes.

Leaning in, they kissed.

This life will not change.

(End)