Chapter 90: Sleep-Talk

Mu Nan Zhao had a dream.

He was in a dark prison, chained to a wooden frame, his whole body covered in blood and filth.

A person whose face could not be seen asked, "Have you forgotten who you really are?"

"Chen Fang? Or Mu Nan Zhao?"

"Speak!!!"

Suddenly someone dragged out a woman in white; she lifted her head, revealing Gu Xixi's face.

Her eyes were empty, like a puppet whose soul had been sucked out.

Mu Nan Zhao was greatly alarmed, "Let her go!"

The faceless person let out a grating, evil laugh, "Admit it, Mu Nan Zhao."

"Do you want everyone around you to die for you?"

"Your teacher, your friends, your confidants in the court, your loyal subordinates, and this woman before you—all are harmed by you."

Before his eyes, many old acquaintances appeared like a revolving lantern.

Mu Nan Zhao looked at Gu Xixi and roared desperately, "Threatening me with her is useless! She's just a piece of driftwood I temporarily found to rely on! I'm using her! Using her!!!"

His heart suddenly contracted, and Mu Nan Zhao snapped his eyes open.

Carved lattice windows, bright daylight, warm-yellow bed curtains, and Gu Xixi's worried eyes.

"Why are you breaking out in a cold sweat again? I'll go fetch the military doctor."

Mu Nan Zhao's racing heart gradually calmed, "Wait."

Gu Xixi stopped and looked at him.

Mu Nan Zhao exhaled, his expression returning to normal, "Where is this?"

Gu Xixi said, "This is a small village near the Northwest Army's main camp; many soldiers in the army are locals, and some of their families live here."

"You've slept for a day and a night; today is the second day since we were rescued."

"Because the military camp doesn't allow women to enter, General Meng has arranged for us to stay here and summoned a military doctor to treat your wounds."

Mu Nan Zhao frowned, "Military doctor?"

Gu Xixi knew what he was worried about and whispered, "That military doctor is someone from the Grand General's entourage."

"The Grand General instructed him to just treat the wounds, so he hasn't asked anything."

Mu Nan Zhao nodded; the military doctor is most skilled at treating blade wounds, and he indeed feels somewhat better now.

He then recalled that dream, lowered his eyelids, and his expression grew a bit dim.

"I don't need anyone to look after me; go rest."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Mu Nan Zhao caught sight of Gu Xixi standing motionless nearby, still staring at him, out of the corner of his eye.

He deliberately sounded impatient, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"

Gu Xixi extended a hand and offered a pill, "My master gave it; one per day."

Mu Nan Zhao placed the pill in his mouth, and Gu Xixi immediately handed him a cup of warm water.

Mu Nan Zhao couldn't help but glance at her twice, feeling that Gu Xixi seemed off somehow.

Just as he had swallowed the pill and was still drinking water, Gu Xixi suddenly said softly, "You were talking in your sleep just now."

"Pfft!" Mu Nan Zhao choked, erupting into violent coughing.

"I'm using her, using her." Gu Xixi said, hands behind her back, bending forward to get close to Mu Nan Zhao's face.

"Is the 'her' you're talking about perhaps me?"

Mu Nan Zhao continued coughing.

He resented himself for growing weaker, even acquiring the habit of talking in his sleep.

Gu Xixi straightened up, looking down at Mu Nan Zhao, "I don't care what you dreamed; it caused you to suddenly discover your conscience."

"But now you want to drive me away, putting on an act of severing ties—isn't that too late?"

Mu Nan Zhao's coughing finally stopped; he pressed a hand to his chest, pallid as he gazed at Gu Xixi.

"What exactly do you want to say?"

Gu Xixi gave a half-smile, "From you, the Meng family, General Meng, all the way to the Northwest Army—I am already here."

"Even if you die and turn to ash, anyone who cares can still find me. Whether I implicate you or not, it's long since not just your call."

Mu Nan Zhao averted his gaze, breathing lightly, "You can blame me."

Gu Xixi's smile faded, her eyes deepening, "That night you said we were alike, caring only for our own lives."

"You're right."

She paused, "So I won't be unilaterally used by anyone; that's always been the case. You needn't worry about it for me."

Gu Xixi lifted the basin on the rack, walked to the door, paused, and said, "Actually, you didn't say any sleep-talk just now; I lied to you."

Mu Nan Zhao was startled, "Deceived?!"

Actually, when they encountered danger that night, Gu Xixi had already realized Mu Nan Zhao was speaking harshly on purpose to drive her away.

She knew he meant well, but she disliked his self-righteous self-sacrifice.

So she just now fabricated that dream-talk as an excuse to vent her dissatisfaction.

However...

Gu Xixi splashed out the remaining water, furrowed her brows in doubt, watching Mu Nan Zhao's reaction—could he really have had such a dream?

Meng Chengping approached carrying a three-tiered red-lacquered food box, seeing Gu Xixi standing outside in a daze, he waved and smiled:

"Boss Gu! Why are you standing outside in this freezing weather?"

Gu Xixi came to, smiled, and said, "I came out to dump dirty water."

Meng Chengping strode in, asking, "Brother Mu, has your fever gone down?"

Gu Xixi grunted, "It stopped burning after midnight last night; the military doctor said that if the fever breaks, you're out of danger."

Meng Chengping sighed, "You've worked hard too, having to feed soup and medicine and apply wet cloths all day; Brother Mu, you've turned danger into safety largely thanks to you."

And I… Meng Chengping lowered his head and gritted his teeth, "I'm utterly ashamed!"

Gu Xixi comforted, "You've already done your best; no one expected to run into so many enemies."

She noticed Meng Chengping's gait seemed a bit unsteady and asked concernedly, "General Meng, are you also wounded?"

Meng Chengping said, "Just a minor injury; this morning I went to the Senior General and received twenty lashes of the military stick."

Gu Xixi exclaimed, "Twenty military sticks?"

Meng Chengping said solemnly, "Protecting you two this time was my duty; I failed to fulfill it and made an erroneous judgment that nearly got you killed. I deserve punishment."

Gu Xixi remained silent; military law is ironclad, so she couldn't say anything about it.

Mu Nan Zhao had already overheard the conversation outside.

When the two entered the room, he first glanced at Gu Xixi and spoke up, "You're back."

Gu Xixi ignored him, walked straight over, and put the empty basin down with a clang.

Meng Chengping, however, answered with a smile, "Hey, I brought food for you and Boss Gu, and I have an important matter to discuss with you."

The food box opened, revealing a large pot of fragrant clear-stewed mutton.

Chunky bone-in mutton paired with diced white radish, stewed into a rich broth with tender meat.

Meng Chengping smiled at Mu Nan Zhao and said, "You can't eat this; I'll have it with Boss Gu."

The mutton soup was brought out, and upon lifting another layer, there were several freshly fried crescent‑shaped pot‑helmet cakes, two side dishes to go with the mutton: wild chive flower sauce and pickled sand leeks.

At the very bottom lay a bowl of plain congee, plus a small plate of sesame‑tossed tender dried gourd.

Mu Nan Zhao lowered his head, took a look, and protested dissatisfiedly, "What you gave me is too vegetarian, isn't it?"

Gu Xixi sat down at the table and remarked in a neutral tone, "Having something to eat is already good; aren't you afraid of bothering others?"