A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

Mu Nanzhao glanced coldly to his side, "Comfort? I think it's more like kicking someone when they're down."

"Hey, I can't even say anything..." He Jinghui was about to speak with a smile when he was shocked to see Mu Nanzhao reach out and take away the plate of cold melon from his table.

"What are you doing! I haven't eaten yet!"

Mu Nanzhao looked at He Jinghui as if it were his right, and took a big bite under He Jinghui's angry glare.

"Since you're so busy talking that you don't have time to eat, it's a waste to put such good food on your table."

He Jinghui gritted his teeth in anger, but with outsiders present, he couldn't very well start a fight with the Regent over a plate of fruit.

He had no choice but to turn to He Jinglan on the other side, forcing a smile and saying, "Lan'er, I..."

He Jinglan silently moved her plate further away and sped up her eating of the melon rind.

He Jinghui was heartbroken and exasperated. "So you two are really after this piece of fruit!"

He Jinglan rolled her eyes and said, "Isn't this your own fault, brother? You know he's unhappy about this, but you just have to bring it up."

"Now you've got your share of the excitement, but you can forget about getting any gossip."

He Jinghui glanced around; everyone was enjoying their food at their seats, and no one was paying attention to what was happening here.

He then said in a low voice, "I'm your brother, your own brother! You're speaking up for Mu Qixiu, an outsider..."

"Could it be that you still have feelings for him?"

Before He Jinglan could answer, He Jinghui himself became nervous, his face hardening as if facing a formidable enemy.

"That guy surnamed Mu has someone else in his heart now, and your engagement with him has long been called off, so don't think about it anymore!"

As he spoke, he glared at Mu Nanzhao with a hostile look.

"I can't let my sister knowingly jump into a pit of fire!"

Despite He Jinghui's righteous indignation, the two people involved on his left and right ignored him.

Mu Nanzhao picked up his wine glass, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He Jinglan couldn't help but roll her eyes first, then secretly glanced at Mu Nanzhao, seemingly feeling a little guilty.

After all, He Jinghui was the only one who didn't know about He Jinglan and Meng Chengping's affair.

He Jinghui noticed something was amiss and looked around. "What's your reaction?"

Mu Nanzhao said, "What does it have to do with me if you discipline your sister?"

When He Jinglan saw her brother looking over, she quickly adjusted her expression, frowned unhappily, and said, "Brother, are you trying to harm me?"

"The Regent is young and promising, and he's incredibly popular in the capital. Countless young ladies are eyeing him. If people hear what you're saying, I'll be subjected to countless open and covert attacks! I don't want that!"

He Jinghui was skeptical. "Really?"

He Jinglan's eyes were so firm they were practically swearing, "Of course!"

Not to mention that she herself no longer likes Mu Nanzhao, He Jinglan has also recently begun to waver on Gu Xixi's side.

It's all because Mu Nanzhao is such a big tree that attracts too much attention.

It's only been a short time since the new emperor ascended the throne, and already many people are plotting to send their daughters to the regent's palace.

He Jinglan didn't want her good friend to give up her comfortable life and become a thorn in the side of other women.

So she hesitated about whether to continue to stand by and support the two of them being together.

Seeing his sister's reaction, He Jinghui believed her and said, "That's good."

"Anyway, my sister He Jinghui deserves a man who is devoted to her."

He Jinglan smiled sweetly and said coquettishly, "Brother treats me so well!"

He Jinghui was very pleased. Since his younger sister returned from the Northwest, she was unusually well-behaved and cute, just like when she was a child.

He didn't care at all about not tasting the cold melon, and said with a smile, "Didn't you want to manage your dowry yourself? I'll give you the dowry list tomorrow. You have all the keys to the mansion, just don't mess around with it."

He Jinglan was overjoyed. As long as she received the dowry, she could open a shop with Xixi!

"Thank you, brother~~~"

"I'll listen to my brother, I definitely won't do anything reckless."

Mu Nanzhao, who was drinking, frowned at the coquettish tone.

The image of He Jinglan laughing wildly to the sky in Huachidu Village, rolling up her sleeves and shouting for battle flashed through my mind.

If Ho King-fai were to witness this with his own eyes, what a blow it would be to him.

In addition... there's actually an even bigger bomb that hasn't exploded yet.

Meng Chengping was originally a low-ranking general under the Northwest Army. Because he had risked his life to protect the new emperor, he was favored by the new emperor and was exceptionally transferred from the Northwest Army to serve as a military advisor in the Jinwu Guard.

Although the official rank may not sound high, the Jinwuwei were the emperor's personal guards, responsible for the security of the capital and the imperial city.

Meng Chengping was handpicked by the new emperor and is now considered a hot commodity among officials in the capital.

Mu Nanzhao gave He Jinghui a meaningful look. If it weren't for the fact that Meng Canjun was on duty today and had invited him to the banquet, it would have been interesting to see how his future brother-in-law would react.

As He Jinghui listened to the poem being recited, he clapped his hands in praise, while subtly glancing at Mu Nanzhao with a look of inquiry.

As for He Jinglan, she has already met with Meng Chengping, and Mu Nanzhao is aware of this. She even threatened Mu Nanzhao to keep it a secret for the time being.

Thus, the three childhood friends each had their own thoughts.

The banquet ended close to curfew. No sooner had the guests been seen off than He Jinghui ordered his men to prepare carriages.

He Jinglan pressed, "Brother, where are you going so late?"

He Jinghui said, "I'm going to Qi Xiu's for tea tonight and I won't be coming back."

He Jinglan was puzzled.

Since you can't bear to see Mu Nanzhao leave, you can just let him stay at home. Why bother chasing him to the Prince's Mansion?

At the first quarter of the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), the clapper sounded, and the side gate of the Regent's Palace opened.

A man wearing a black fox fur cloak led a horse out.

He looked at the carriage that almost completely blocked the path in front of him, and after a moment, turned around.

"Mu Qixiu, you stop right there!"

He Jinghui leaned out of the carriage. He knew he would have to wait a while, so he had prepared a heater and tea inside the carriage.

Mu Nanzhao turned around, "So it's Lord He. You've come here in the middle of the night on business?"

He Jinghui didn't even step on the stool, he just jumped down, "You're asking a question you already know the answer to!"

"Where do you want to go now, leading your horse?"

"Relying on your regent's token, you openly broke the law at night and even made the city guards open the city gates for you, just to run to Huachi Ferry Village?"

Mu Nanzhao remained silent.

He Jinghui walked up to him and said sternly, "I've already ordered my guards to keep watch nearby. No one will know you've been out. Go back now!"

Mu Nanzhao finally moved. "Get out of the way."

"Now that it's the holidays, I can go wherever I want."

He Jinghui, who always greeted people with a smile, now had a frighteningly serious expression.

"The new dynasty has just been established, and there are many complicated matters. His Majesty needs your assistance, so he is giving you power and allowing you to meet with him at any time."

"But such favor means you must be present when His Majesty summons you. It also means you'll attract unwanted attention!"

"Have you considered the consequences if you leave the capital without His Majesty's permission?"

"Not to mention, you're going to the Northwest! Given your relationship with the Northwest Army..."

"You should know better than I do that serving a ruler is like walking on thin ice; how difficult it is to keep an emperor at ease!"

Mu Nanzhao and He Jinghui exchanged glances.

He Jinghui stood in front of him, making it clear that he would not back down tonight.