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

The two stood face to face, no more than half a palm's width apart.

When our eyes meet, we can clearly feel each other's breath.

Gu Xixi was the first to come to her senses, twisting her arm forcefully, afraid of being seen but not daring to raise her voice, "Let go!"

The woman's clear, bright eyes, tightly pursed lips, and the blushing tips of her ears were all deeply observed by Mu Nanzhao.

Seeing her glaring at him angrily again felt like a lifetime ago.

"If I let go, won't you still try to run away?"

Gu Xixi was furious, but instead looked up at him defiantly and said, "Don't forget that this is not your royal palace. Now that you are the regent, it's unacceptable for someone to see you entangled with a country girl late at night."

"If word gets out, it won't do you any good for your unapproachable reputation."

Wasn't Mu Nanzhao the one who cared most about power and fame?

Besides, he had risked his life to get it back.

Gu Xixi was determined that her words would work, and she was even pleased to see Mu Nanzhao's next reaction.

however……

Mu Nanzhao not only did not let go, but leaned down and brought his head close to Gu Xixi's face.

Gu Xixi's pupils trembled. "If you dare to do anything improper, I'll scream for help!"

They were very close, and Mu Nanzhao's handsome thin lips curved into a smile.

"It's been a long time since we last met. I thought my boss had forgotten about me because he's been surrounded by women all this time."

"I never expected that my employer would not care about his own reputation, but would worry about me first."

He looked at Gu Xixi with a smile, his eyes shining like stars, "I'm very happy."

Gu Xixi frowned, looking at him with an expression that seemed to ask, "Are you alright?"

But then she realized something, "You're spying on me?!"

Mu Nanzhao frowned. "Shouldn't you clarify first that you're not having affairs with women on both sides?"

Gu Xixi said seriously, "That's not important. Tell me first, when did it start?"

Mu Nanzhao sighed, "When else could it be? It was yesterday when you entered the city, and last night I learned that the old man from the Fan family was looking for people who looked like you and that guy surnamed An."

"Of course I need to confirm if it's you."

He paused, "I really didn't know you were coming to the capital at first. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have seen you get into such trouble."

Gu Xixi looked at Mu Nanzhao, her expression softening unconsciously. "Thank you."

"I've caused you so much worry again."

Mu Nanzhao was taken aback, and awkwardly looked away. "We've been through life and death several times, what's there to be polite about?"

Don't be fooled by how casually he talks about it now.

The previous night, the entire Regent's Palace was on high alert.

In order to confirm Gu Xixi's whereabouts as quickly as possible, Mu Nanzhao disregarded the curfew and risked sending his secret guards on a covert operation.

They even used the spies that the Prince's Mansion had painstakingly planted around Grand Secretary Fan.

With such a heavy bet, the results were naturally remarkable.

In less than an hour, the confirmed news was on the desk in the study.

Firstly, the group consisted of two men and two women, and the Fan family intended to include one of the women.

Secondly, three of them have checked into an inn. One woman is missing, while the other woman has been confirmed to be the person the Regent is looking for.

It was already dawn.

Only after finding Gu Xixi did Mu Nanzhao truly calm down and order someone to send a message to He Jinghui.

This explains why He Jinglan stormed into the inn early in the morning.

Seeing that Gu Xixi was no longer distant and resistant as before, Mu Nanzhao decided to stop while he was ahead.

"I'm going back."

"The He family is very safe. You can just treat this place as your own home."

"Take a good rest, don't always push yourself so hard."

Whenever he was about to leave, he couldn't help but say one more word, as if he were being held back by something.

Gu Xixi asked in surprise, "It's been so long, how come you've become as long-winded as Aunt Zhang?"

Mu Nanzhao was helpless and didn't know what to do with her.

"Isn't it because you've been running around everywhere since you first arrived in the capital?"

He finally suppressed his reluctance and walked into the courtyard, then turned back and pointed to the high wall in the distance.

"Don't climb the wall at night."

From that direction, the Regent's Palace is on the other side of the continuous high walls.

Gu Xixi watched the tall figure disappear into the shadows of the bamboo in the night, choked for a moment before finding her voice.

"What kind of double entendre is this?!"

Mu Nanzhao left Yuzhu Courtyard without letting any servants lead the way, and took a lantern himself before leaving.

As he approached the second gate, he saw He Jinglan standing next to a lamppost, clearly waiting for him.

Mu Nanzhao looked around, "Didn't He Jinghui forbid us from meeting alone?"

He Jinglan smiled, but unlike her usual lively self, she looked very serious at this moment.

“The person my brother is wary of is no longer you.”

Mu Nanzhao said succinctly, "Tell me what you have to say."

He Jinglan said, "We grew up in this circle and have seen many marriages based on interests and status. Even when we were young, did you and I think we would be no exception?"

Mu Nanzhao: "But you don't want to marry me now."

He Jinglan: "You didn't intend to marry me either."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

He Jinglan said, "We've seen so many women who married into wealthy families but didn't have a good ending."

"Xixi is the most amazing girl in my opinion. If we disregard social status, you are the one who is out of her league."

"But now you are second only to the emperor, and many people are watching your marriage. How many people are waiting to use it as a pretext?"

"Xixi is just an ordinary farmer. Against ordinary people, she can protect herself with her intelligence, but against those high and mighty jackals and tigers, I'm afraid she'll be eaten to bits."

"You're wrong." Mu Nanzhao's voice was soft, but it was firm.

"Didn't you notice that she's been gradually moving upwards, climbing higher and higher?"

"Her vision is probably bigger than any of us think."

"Like the crops she planted, they grew quietly, and one day they suddenly startled everyone."

He looked at the sky, a smile in his eyes, as if that person were right in front of him.

“I have a feeling that she might be able to sit at the same table and talk with those people you mentioned in the future.”

"Until then, I will protect her. I don't need to say anything, Miss He, my good friend, should also do everything in her power for her."

“Of course.” He Jinglan said proudly, “I told Xixi a long time ago that I’m sticking with her for life. But we support each other, there’s no such thing as one protecting the other.”

Actually, she told Mu Nanzhao these things for two reasons: firstly, to state the facts, and secondly, to test him.

Even if Mu Nanzhao's answer is disappointing, there is still Gu Xixi and He Jinglan.

Sometimes, saying it all is enough.

He Jinglan yawned. "I'm going back to sleep."

"Wait a minute." Mu Nanzhao hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "You know her. You said she didn't want to see me when she came to the capital, and today when she saw me, she was so distant, talking about being the regent and a commoner."

"Could it be because of my so-called position that she feels pressured and inferior?"

He Jinglan chuckled, "Inferiority complex? What a joke! You, who was bought for a penny, are already feeling inferior? Xixi wouldn't feel inferior at all!"

Her expression turned serious. "She just wanted to remind you that now that you've left Huachidu Village, you're no longer Chen Fang. Let bygones be bygones, and those who walk different paths cannot work together."