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

He Jinghui's understanding was refreshed tonight. After digesting it for a while, he patted Mu Nanzhao on the shoulder and said:

"I thought you were overconfident just now, but I take that back now."

"You're not the only one who deserves Gu Xixi."

"It's your Gu Xixi..."

He Jinghui sighed with emotion.

"It's going to be difficult to find another husband who can stand shoulder to shoulder with her and doesn't mind her being so powerful."

"So you still have a good chance, bro, I believe in you!"

Mu Nanzhao said expressionlessly, "No."

"She can choose not to get married and not have a husband in this lifetime."

These words are truly shocking.

Even with his extensive knowledge and open-mindedness, He Jinghui took it as a joke, saying, "How could that be?"

"What woman doesn't get married? Unless she cuts her hair and becomes a nun."

"Boss Gu doesn't seem like the kind of person who's detached from worldly desires. He certainly wouldn't be so foolish as to do something like that, haha..."

Mu Nanzhao said calmly, "Of course she won't. She'll find a way to make sure she lives a good life."

"Whether she has a man or not, whether she is married or not, this will not change for her."

"Therefore, her choice was never that I was indispensable."

He Jinghui's smile vanished; he could tell this guy was very serious.

Trying to clarify the relationship, she said, "Well... in other words... you can't live without her now."

"But... she doesn't need you?"

Mu Nanzhao looked up at He Jinghui without saying a word.

He Jinghui knew that he had spoken too bluntly and made him uncomfortable.

He quickly changed the subject, "But Gu Xixi is really bold."

"As women, even those noble ladies from aristocratic families, princesses and county princesses, don't have this confidence."

Mu Nanzhao said, "Of course they don't."

"Some of them came from the power of their fathers or brothers, or from the connections of other women in the family."

“Gu Xixi is different. She only leverages others’ resources, without depending on anyone. This is because she provides the other party with the value they need in exchange, especially value that can never be replaced by anyone.”

He Jinghui wholeheartedly agreed, "Indeed."

"The Northwest Army had suffered from insufficient military supplies for many years, but Gu Xixi solved the problem with a single move."

"I heard that her land reclamation plan in the Northwest is going to continue. No wonder Huo Jiang not only treats her as an honored guest, but I've also heard that several generals and deputy generals in the army are familiar with her."

Mu Nanzhao said, "This is Gu Xixi's strength. Her confidence is not given by others, but firmly held in her own hands."

He Jinghui sighed, "If one only tries to curry favor and scheme, becoming a lackey for a while, one might get a few scraps, but that's not a long-term solution."

"Only by revealing one's unique value can one achieve lasting success. Isn't this the same principle for you and me?"

The two looked at each other, both filled with melancholy.

That evening, He Jinghui went to Yuzhu Academy to discuss the matter of meeting the emperor the next day.

He Jinglan clearly understood Gu Xixi better, and said happily, "Xixi, that's wonderful!"

"We'll pick out clothes later."

He Jinghui was surprised by his sister's attitude. "You're not surprised that His Majesty summoned Boss Gu?"

"Also?" He Jinglan asked, "Who else?"

She thought for a moment and then said, "Oh, you mean Mu Nanzhao?"

Seeing that her brother was still waiting for an answer, He Jinglan raised her pointed chin, looking sly and proud.

"Because Xixi in our family has always believed that every effort will be rewarded."

"I helped you come up with a strategy to exterminate the locusts, gave you ideas to help you gather the people, and even ate fried insects. I may have to run errands for you for the next few days."

"Such hard work deserves some reward!"

He Jinglan's last sentence was spoken with utmost confidence and self-assurance.

Looking at Gu Xixi, she smiled and seemed to have no intention of refuting.

He Jinghui stared in astonishment, his mouth agape. "This...this is to protect the grain, to prevent the people from going hungry!"

He Jinglan clicked her tongue in disdain and gave her a look that said, "Are you stupid?"

"Xi Xi once said that doing good deeds and being good to oneself are not contradictory."

"Does self-sacrifice, like cutting off one's own flesh to feed an eagle, make one a good person?"

He Jinghui didn't know how he got out of Yuzhu Courtyard.

Shocked!

Big shock!

People often display selflessness while concealing their selfish desires.

He had even seen too many seemingly noble and upright families who regarded money and power as dirt, but in reality, what kind of despicable things wouldn't they do in private?

For the first time, He Jinghui felt that Gu Xixi's frank admission of "personal desires" was worthy of respect.

He Jinghui used to consider himself a magnanimous person.

At this moment, I find my own magnanimity somewhat laughable.

And he truly understood why Mu Nanzhao was so arrogant and why he couldn't do without Gu Xixi.

Within the imperial city, the palace walls stretch as far as the eye can see, with rooftops connecting one after another.

The palanquin stopped at a side gate of the inner palace, where a young eunuch was already waiting. He led Gu Xixi on foot to the imperial study.

Before parting, He Jinglan deliberately held Gu Xixi's hand and said openly, "His Majesty summoned you because he values ​​you, so you must perform well."

"I went to pay my respects to Consort Yu at her palace, and I'll be waiting for you here when the time comes."

"Let's go back together."

As she spoke, she turned to the eunuch and gave him a graceful bow, saying, "I would be grateful if you could show my good sister the way."

The young eunuch knew, of course, that He Jinglan was the direct descendant of the He family, the cousin of Consort Yu, and the only younger sister of He Jinghui, the newly appointed Minister of Revenue and a rising star.

He nodded and bowed in fear, "No, no, it's all my duty."

"How could I possibly accept such a trouble from you, Miss?"

At this moment, Gu Xixi took out a brocade pouch containing the silver ingots she had put in the previous night.

The saying goes, "It's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings." The imperial palace is full of servants who fawn over the powerful and bully the weak.

She entered the palace as a commoner, without rank or social status.

Gu Xixi knew that He Jinglan had just intentionally put on a good show for her.

She herself certainly needed to be prepared.

He Jinglan gave a wink to her head maid, Lüla.

Green Wax took the brocade pouch, stepped forward and discreetly slipped it into the little eunuch's hand, smiling as she said, "Boss Gu invites you to have some tea, sir."

In similar situations in the past, even if He Jinglan personally intervened, they would still accept the money.

But the moment the young eunuch touched the brocade pouch, he seemed to be burned and abruptly withdrew his hand.

"This servant wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!"

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan were stunned, and when they looked at the little eunuch, they were so frightened that his face turned pale.

The two looked at each other in confusion.

What's going on?

The young eunuch bent over and wiped his sweat with his sleeve, realizing that he had overreacted.

He then tried to smooth things over, saying, "This servant thanks Boss Gu for his generous reward! But it is already an honor for this servant to guide Boss Gu; asking for more rewards would shorten my lifespan!"

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan looked at each other in confusion once again.

Isn't that too unusual?

Upon their first meeting, Gu Xixi didn't believe that she could make this little eunuch so terrified and fearful.

He Jinglan frowned and whispered in Gu Xixi's ear, "Could he be... being threatened by someone?"

At this moment, Gu Xixi thought of the person who said he would wait for her in the Imperial Study. What else could she not understand?

She remained expressionless and said quietly, "Besides the Regent, there's no one else, is there?"

Ah, today I finally got to experience the power of someone else borrowing the tiger's might.