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

Although Gu Xixi said "What does it have to do with me?", she couldn't help but feel a ripple of emotion inside.

Scrolling down further, there were actually a few more lines of text.

The ink color is slightly different from the previous ink, so it must have been added a little while after the letter was closed.

Gossip: Recently, matchmakers have been lining up in long queues outside the Regent's Palace, and sedan chairs exuding fragrance have been carried to the back gate of the palace at night. These are all illegitimate daughters of prominent families, presented as gifts to be taken as concubines or maids.

Good news: The back gate of the Prince's Mansion is tightly closed; he will not accept or see any of these gifts.

The bad news: The Regent is young, capable, and incredibly powerful. He's unmarried, and possesses an alluring appearance, attracting a multitude of women. So much so that he's the talk of the town at every gathering of women, leading to open and covert competition. Some even boast that they'd gladly become his foot-washing maids—is that an exaggeration? Speechless!

The letter ends here.

Gu Xixi couldn't help but frown when she watched that scene, as if her eyes had just been splashed with ginger juice—it was too pungent!

Are they fighting openly and covertly for Mu Nanzhao?

Someone else wants to be his foot-washing maid?!

Are some noble ladies in the capital really just bored and have nothing better to do?

Gu Xixi couldn't understand this idea at all. Shaking her head, she muttered to herself, "They should really be made to do farm work for three days straight. Then they probably wouldn't want to do foot-washing work, right?"

She folded the letter again and put it in the cabinet under the table, then unconsciously stared out the window in a daze.

Was He Jinglan saying all this to tell her how fierce the competition was?

Gu Xixi snorted coldly, "I didn't go to the capital for him."

"What do I care how many women have fought tooth and nail for him?"

When Gu Xixi wrote to He Jinglan, she specifically instructed her not to tell Mu Nanzhao about her trip to the capital, so as not to expose the secret, and also not to let He Jinghui know.

After all, no matter how much men argue and bicker, they will still stand together on certain issues and be of one mind!

At this moment, Gu Xixi felt even more that writing those two extra sentences was a wise decision.

This time when she goes to the capital, she has to stay far away to avoid getting splattered with blood by those noble ladies who are obsessed with Mu Nanzhao.

not to mention……

Gu Xixi's face turned somewhat gloomy.

Moreover, behind these women lies the most cruel and realistic struggle for fame and fortune.

Since they were willing to gamble with their lives.

What's so strange about using blood to pave the way again?

Therefore, one's own life is naturally more important than that of a man.

Gu Xixi's idea remained as firm as ever.

Even though she now knows she has fallen for him, she remains steadfast in her feelings.

After all, if you're dead, what's the point of money, or even liking a man?!

The Regent's Study in the capital city.

It was already dusk, but Mu Nanzhao was still processing official documents.

He Jinghui entered carrying a jar of wine. "You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

Mu Nanzhao hummed in response, without even raising his head.

He Jinghui went over and pulled him, "I got a jar of aged Jingu wine, let's have a couple of drinks together."

Mu Nanzhao said indifferently, "I'm not going."

He Jinghui rolled his eyes. "Do you know how rare this Golden Valley Wine is?!"

“I know you want to sort out and resolve these unresolved issues as soon as possible, and then go back to your rural hometown.”

"But look at yourself, there are so many complicated matters, the Six Ministries are already busy."

"You alone cannot finish it in ten days or half a month."

Mu Nanzhao finally moved. He raised his head and said unhappily, "If we can do more, we can finish faster."

"As for you, instead of wasting your time, you should go back to your Ministry of Revenue and do more work."

He Jinghui was furious. He had originally felt sorry for Mu Nanzhao, so he patiently coaxed him for a few words.

Who would have thought that good intentions would be met with no reward?

He Jinghui immediately dropped the pretense and sneered, "I didn't leave the Ministry of Revenue until dark! After a long day's work, all I want to do is eat, drink, and rest!"

"You're working yourself to the bone, without eating or sleeping. If you suddenly die from exhaustion one day, I'll have to stay alive to collect your body!"

"Oh, don't worry about Boss Gu. I'll help you announce the death in person, pay back the one penny she paid for you, and tell her that the man she bought is dead, so she's free to take in as many sons-in-law as she wants in the future."

When He Jinghui was cursing, Mu Nanzhao was still very calm.

But when he heard "return one penny," the veins on his forehead bulged violently, and he glared at He Jinghui.

Seeing his anger, He Jinglan, though feeling uneasy, still put on a fearless posture.

"What, why are you glaring at me? Are you going to bite me a couple of times?"

"You don't refute me because you think everything I say is true!"

Mu Nanzhao didn't say anything, but suddenly stood up, startling He Jinghui.

"What are you doing! We're all scholars, stop using words and fights!"

Mu Nanzhao glared at him fiercely and said through gritted teeth, "I want to drink."

The moon was high in the sky, and the two of them were quite drunk.

He Jinghui put his arm around Mu Nanzhao's shoulder and said, "The brothers will help you find a way."

"Don't forget who my sister is. She and your boss, Mr. Gu, are the closest of friends. Even if Mr. Gu doesn't want to talk to you, two good sisters still have to meet up, right?"

Mu Nanzhao looked at He Jinghui with a cool gaze, "Are you trying to comfort me, or are you deliberately trying to hurt me?"

He Jinghui chuckled drunkenly, "It's okay, it's all the same, it's all because of my... concern for you!"

Mu Nanzhao looked up at the sky speechlessly, and at the same time, he shrugged his shoulder, throwing He Jinghui's hand away.

He Jinghui suddenly lost his balance and slumped onto the table.

He was starting to get confused, muttering to himself, "I saw Jinglan send a letter to Qingtian County. It must be for Boss Gu. It happened just a couple of days ago."

Mu Nanzhao opened his eyes wide, showing no sign of drunkenness whatsoever.

"Do you know what Jinglan wrote in her letter? Was it a reply to Gu Xixi?"

There was no response after a while.

Mu Nanzhao had no choice but to reach out and push He Jinghui, and then he heard a long snore.

He sat upright with a stern face for a while, then called in the servants who were guarding outside the door.

"Carry Lord He to the guest room and make sure he is properly settled."

In Huachidu Village, the alfalfa that Gu Xixi had sprinkled in the corner of the yard sprouted overnight and grew to the length of a hand span in just two or three days.

This is the first batch of wild vegetables I've seen this year, heralding the arrival of spring in Northwest China.

Aunt Zhang happily picked alfalfa, the tender leaves breaking easily with a gentle pinch.

This is the first time our family has ever eaten this.

Gu Xixi said that alfalfa should be eaten fresh and tender, and it's good in cold dishes, steamed vegetable dumplings, or wheat rice.

Aunt Zhang decided to make it into a cold dish first, and then bake some spring pancakes to enjoy the original flavor of the first harvest of spring.

Simple meals can be prepared quickly.

Aunt Zhang called to Shi Tou, "Go and call your sister Xi Xi home for dinner!"

Shi Tou put down the book he was memorizing, readily agreed, and ran outside.

Now he has his own book, which was bought for him by Sister Xixi, of course.

I just don't know when the new gentleman will arrive.

However, Sister Xixi's busy schedule these past few days is related to this.