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

Chapter 396 Self-Inflicted Shackles

Gu Xixi stared blankly at Mu Nanzhao.

"Unless the Gu family voluntarily breaks off the engagement," this puts all the initiative in her hands.

After a moment, she looked away and said in a muffled voice, "Everyone else is desperately trying to break free from their constraints, but you've just asked for a shackle for yourself."

Mu Nanzhao laughed and said, "Does the master not like it?"

"What can we do? Once this announcement is issued, it's too late to take it back."

"You scoundrel!" Gu Xixi scolded.

Mu Nanzhao's expression gradually became serious. "I know you have too many things you want to do, and too many uncertainties in your heart."

"Although... I don't know why yet."

"So you don't have to make any choices, nor do you have to respond to me immediately."

"Just like when we were in Huachidu Village, I was Chen Fang and you were the landlord."

"There's a long way to go. I'll wait for you."

Gu Xixi suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with complex emotions and disbelief.

Mu Nanzhao met her gaze without any attempt to hide it.

Gu Xixi clearly saw that the initial scrutiny and weighing of his thoughts were gone from his eyes, as were the previous eagerness and uncertainty.

All that remained was her shadow and his tenderness.

Gu Xixi couldn't help but become serious as well, "I understand."

She then grinned mischievously, "But I have many flaws, and I've always disliked being cuckolded."

"If you are too restless and cannot bear the loneliness, write to me and I will give you your freedom at any time."

Mu Nanzhao was both amused and gritted his teeth, "Does he really have to be mischievous like this?"

Before she finished speaking, Gu Xixi suddenly stood on tiptoe and gave Mu Nanzhao a light kiss on the cheek.

"Since you've already issued that kind of announcement, I should reciprocate. Here's the official stamp."

Her voice brushed past his ear as she turned away.

Mu Nanzhao felt a tickle in his heart. When he looked up, the woman who had recklessly set the fire had already walked away with a smile.

Not far away, He Jinglan and her maids were all surrounded by pink bubbles.

The young woman openly and boldly kissed the man she admired, who turned out to be the renowned regent.

This scene!

So visually appealing! And so stunning!

Ziyan blushed, thinking she shouldn't look, but she couldn't help stealing glances.

Green Wax cupped her face in delight, "Miss Xixi is so bold! But it's wonderful!"

Lianxing covered the light pearl's eyes, but she herself stared intently. "Don't move! You're too young to look!"

He Jinglan jumped up excitedly, "Did I see that right? They kissed!"

"Xixi said yes! Oh my, God is so kind to me, the matchmaker!"

Such manners of a lady from a respectable family are certainly unbecoming of her status.

As a personal maid, one should remind one's master to be mindful of their words and actions.

But Ziyan glanced around and smiled, thinking that since no one else knew, she shouldn't spoil the festive atmosphere.

The three people on the carriage side also saw Gu Xixi's actions.

Lu Jing sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat tense, and after glancing around, she understood the general idea.

Jiang Mingyuan's eyes dimmed, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

In fact, as early as the day of the flower viewing banquet at Xiao He's mansion, when he received the preserved flowers returned by Gu Xixi, he knew that he had completely lost.

Even witnessing it firsthand is still heartbreaking.

Unlike Jiang Mingyuan, An Qinghe's displeasure was written all over his face, especially the way he looked at Mu Nanzhao, as if he was about to turn into a vicious dog, baring his teeth and yelping as he pounced on him.

But when he saw Gu Xixi approaching again, An Qinghe immediately grinned like an idiot, almost as if he wanted to grow a tail from behind and wag it.

"Now that we've said goodbye, shall we set off?"

Gu Xixi smiled and nodded, "Mm."

Lu Jing reached out from above to pull Gu Xixi into the car, and as she pulled back, she glanced at the two men with amusement.

The carriage drove away slowly.

He Jinglan said with tears in her eyes, "Xixi! I'll write to you as soon as I get back!"

"Don't hesitate to come to me if you need money! You'll also get a share of the profits from Ganyu Residence!"

"If I get really tired of staying here and miss you, I'll go to the Northwest to find you!"

Gu Xixi waved to the back through the window.

After starting her graduate studies, she traveled all over the country, thinking she had long been used to parting ways.

But for some reason, my eyes suddenly felt a little sore.

Mu Nanzhao stood there, watching the carriage disappear into the distance.

Even though parting was heart-wrenching, he felt at peace.

Once he has chosen that person, his heart will no longer waver, and distance will no longer be an obstacle.

Within the capital city, as the sun rose high in the sky, the number of pedestrians on the streets gradually increased.

The newly posted notice attracted many people to stop and watch.

The content of the notice swept through the gossip centers of Beijing like a hurricane.

A carriage slowed down as it passed near the notice board of official robes.

The car curtain was partially lifted before finally closing.

Dou Rongshan grabbed a small booklet and began writing furiously, laughing fervently, completely absorbed in her work.

The maid was startled, "Miss, you..."

"If you're sad, just cry, don't do this..."

The maid actually wanted to say, "Don't laugh like that, it scares me," but she didn't dare, afraid of further provoking her mistress.

As Dou Rongshan wrote, she paused to ask, "Why am I sad?"

"Stop arguing! I need to write this down quickly so I don't forget it, hahaha..."

The young maidservant was pale and on the verge of tears.

Girl, have you gone completely mad because of the Regent?

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study Room.

Jingdong put down the tray, which contained a cup of orange-red tea, and next to it was a palm-sized white jade plate, shallowly filled with top-quality acacia honey as clear as water.

"This is Mr. Gu's Fu tea. Your Majesty may adjust it with locust honey from the Northwest according to your taste."

The emperor was curious about Gu Xixi's Fu tea.

So Jingdong secretly obtained some from Xiao He's residence under his own name.

The emperor first tasted the tea without honey, his eyebrows and eyes widening slightly. "It tastes quite good."

"You said Gu Xixi used this Fu tea cake as a gift, so why is my share missing?"

Jing Dong laughed and said, "When Boss Gu came to the capital, how could he have imagined that he would have the honor of meeting the Emperor?"

The emperor smiled and said, "She did say she would invite me for tea later, but since these are only the first batch, and she herself isn't entirely satisfied with them, she doesn't dare offer them to me to taste."

When Jingdong saw the emperor raise his hand, he naturally picked up a teaspoon and added half a spoonful of honey to the tea.

The emperor liked to eat lightly sweet foods, but disliked overly sweet ones.

Jingdong grasped this point perfectly.

Sure enough, after tasting it, the emperor drank two more sips.

"It just so happens that I don't particularly like him getting too close to those powerful families."

"Since he himself requested my instructions, let this proclamation be considered as him getting what he asked for."

Jing Dong bowed deeply and said, "This servant congratulates Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty. The Regent has cut off the path of marriage on his own, indicating that he has no other thoughts and is willing to be loyal to Your Majesty alone."

The emperor neither agreed nor disagreed, but picked up his teacup with a pleased expression.

Gu Xixi and her group have arrived in Fengcheng.

It was the same inn where Jiang Mingyuan had met Gu Xixi and An Qinghe on his way here.

After dinner, the two girls said they wanted to wash their hair and went back to their room early.

Jiang Mingyuan went to the backyard to check on An Qinghe and feed the horses.

After looking at you for a while, he said, "How come I haven't seen any sadness or distress on you these past few days?"