♂?，，

  Ming Xuan was still hesitant, but Pei Jingxun had already spoken up and said, "Thank you, Uncle, for your concern. Although my legs are inconvenient to move around, they don't affect my life. The yellow-robed girl's words may be able to temporarily alleviate the poison, but drinking poison to quench thirst is not necessarily a good solution. If we can obtain the poisonous grass from Western Xia, that would be great luck. If we can't get it, then it will be my fate."

  He smiled slightly, with a calm and serene expression. "It doesn't matter if the leg is crippled, as long as the heart isn't. What do you think, Uncle?"

  Gu Yuanjing was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing, "Not bad, brother-in-law has such a broad mind, it's worth my worry, I'd rather live an upright life than be controlled by others in the future."

  He paused, looking at Huang Yi, his voice becoming weaker and somewhat helpless, "Since you've seen through it, I don't need to hide it anymore. This Huang Yi girl is the youngest daughter of the Miao tribe chief in Nanjiang. When I went to Linnan on a mission, there were many twists and turns along the way. Fortunately, she helped me and I was able to return safely. However, she's quite reckless and has a bit of a temper. When I returned to the capital, she secretly followed behind me, and by the time I realized it, she had already entered the city..."

  Ming Xuan saw Gu Yuanjing, although somewhat helpless, occasionally flowing with tenderness in his eyes. Although he felt surprised in his heart, he didn't say much about Huang Yi's identity, but instead turned around and lightly bowed to Huang Yi, "Thank you, Miss Huang Yi, for lending a helping hand to my brother."

  "Huang Yi hummed softly, 'I saved him is my business, what's the point of thanking me?'"

  Gu Yuanjing felt somewhat embarrassed and hastily drank to stop him, "Huang Yi!"

  He found it difficult to say to Ming Xuan, "The Miao family doesn't pay attention to etiquette, and she has been in a high position for a long time. She is somewhat ignorant of the situation, but she didn't do it on purpose. Sister, please don't take it to heart. However, because of this, I have another request for my sister. With her temperament, if she follows me to the Hou Mansion, she will definitely cause trouble."

  "I didn't think it was a big deal to take in the Miao girl, but she's the chief's youngest daughter and this time she ran away secretly. If it gets out of hand, I'm afraid the Hou Mansion won't be able to explain it to the Emperor, so I want to ask my sister to temporarily shelter her for a few days. Once I've finished dealing with the matters in Lin Nan, I'll immediately send her back."

  The rules of the aristocratic family are not something that a Miao girl like Huang Yi can bear, although he has some affection for Huang Yi, but as calm and collected as he is. He also knows that the possibility of marriage between a southern barbarian woman and a Central Plains nobleman is zero, whether it's his grandmother or his clansmen, even the emperor himself would not agree to his marriage with a Miao girl, so Huang Yi will never become his legitimate wife.

  He didn't want to owe her.

  Nor did he want to give her false hope.

  But she followed him, and he couldn't shake her off. For the time being, he couldn't persuade her to leave, so he could only temporarily separate from her for a few days until his current matters were settled, then personally send her back.

  Pei Jingxun's eyebrows slightly raised, hearing the helplessness and melancholy in his uncle's tone, sincerely said, "Since it is Uncle's entrustment, we must follow, but our humble abode is simple. If you condescend to accept, then we can only temporarily inconvenience Huang Yiniang for a few days."

  Yu Jing was about to thank her, but Huang Yi cut him off. She stomped her foot and said somewhat angrily, "Brother Jing, I traveled thousands of miles to come to Shengjing with you, wanting to see each other every day, be together every day, and never be apart again. I want to live with you, not in someone else's home, where we can't even see each other!"

  Her face wore a look of grievance, looking both sad and anxious. "I've already promised to dress up as a man, not speak, not cause trouble, go wherever you want me to go, absolutely not run around, and won't let the little ones out to scare those delicate women from the Central Plains. But still thinking of getting rid of me, sending me away... Is it really that you don't like me?"

  Gu Xuanjing was at a loss for words, if he said he didn't like it, that would be a lie. He wasn't a cold-hearted person, and in the past half year in Lin Nan, he had been treated with kindness by her, which he remembered clearly. He felt grateful, sympathetic, and even had some affection for her.

  But he was clearly aware that this feeling was doomed to disappear like flowing water, and it was impossible for anything to come of it. Therefore, his rationality made him repeatedly reject her, he couldn't fall in love with a woman from another tribe, otherwise the clan wouldn't tolerate it, the emperor would be suspicious, and all the honors he had won through life and death struggles over the years would all be washed away.

  All that he had worked hard for, he couldn't let go of, because on his shoulders still bore the heavy responsibility, his parents' grievances, his elder sister's humiliation, and his younger sister's dependence.

  After a while, he lowered his tone and said to Huang Yi, "If you don't want to stay here, that's fine too. There is also an official post station in Shengjing City. As the daughter of the Miao tribe chief, I just need to inform the Ministry of Rites, and naturally, there will be officials coming to arrange your accommodation."

  Huang Yi listened, biting her lip even harder, looking very hurt. But because of these cold and heartless words, she slowly calmed down. After a long time, she said dejectedly, "Don't be angry, since you want me to stay here, I'll stay here then. Just... just come visit me often, okay?"

  In love, whoever sinks in deeper and invests more has to compromise, because the deeper you fall in love, the more afraid you become. Afraid that you're not good enough for him, afraid of not changing into what he likes, afraid that being too clingy will push him further away. The woman is afraid, so even if she's not satisfied in her heart, she has to compromise.

  Gu Yuan let out a sigh of relief and said a few more words to her before standing up to bid farewell to Ming Huan and his wife.

  Ming Xuan was busy and had already taken Huang Yi to the guest house. In her heart, she still hadn't calmed down from the shock. She said to Pei Jingzhen, "My brother seems to have fallen for that Miao girl..."

  She wasn't a narrow-minded person, and the education she received in her past life allowed her to maintain a congratulatory attitude towards this inter-ethnic marriage. Emotionally speaking, she didn't care whether Gu Yuanjing's future wife was a noble lady or a commoner, a Central Plains beauty or an exotic demoness, as long as her brother truly liked them and the two of them loved each other, that would be enough. However, reason did not allow her to think this way.

  The feudal etiquette of the Zhou Dynasty was strict, and it was not easy to break through with one's own strength, unless the emperor granted a marriage. Otherwise, a woman from a different tribe like Huang Yi would never be able to marry into a noble family in the Central Plains. Even if she did get married, as the fourth wife of the Yongning Marquis' manor, she would still have to go out and socialize. Those aristocratic women who had received a noble education since childhood were still cautious, so how could Huang Yi, an outsider without any knowledge of etiquette, navigate this situation?

  Pei Jingxuan sighed, "No need to worry about your uncle, he is a man who has been through life and death on the battlefield, compared to others, he has more insight and clarity, and naturally, he will have his own measure in doing things. For men with ambitions, there are more important things in this world than love between men and women. The wife he wants is one who can stand shoulder to shoulder with him, take care of the household for him, balance the relationships between families, and in the grand scheme of things, love is just a small matter."

  His eyes slightly condensed, looking at Ming Xuan's eyes filled with tenderness, "Ah Xuan, not every man is as lucky as I am."

  His wife is his beloved, both tied to his heart and able to advance and retreat with him.

  Ming Xuan's mood improved slightly due to Pei Jingchen's plain confession. She turned her head, held his shoulder and said in a low voice, "Forget it, brother is a man who stands tall and has his own judgment and choices. No matter what decision he makes in the end, as his sister, I only need to firmly support him. As for Huang Yi, as long as she lives on the estate for one day, I will treat her with the highest courtesy due to a noble guest, it's not in vain for her deep feelings towards my brother."

  She didn't know what had happened between Gu Yuanjing and Huang Yi, but the harsh living conditions in Nanjiang, and Gu Yuanjing said it was a lifesaving grace, they must have gone through countless adventures together, and true feelings were born out of hardship. Regardless of whether Huang Yi would eventually become her sister-in-law or not, she was willing to treat her kindly within her capabilities.

  It was late at night, and Ming Xuan was chatting with Xue Su in the main hall when suddenly a loud knock came from outside. After a while, Luo Shu entered with a puzzled expression and reported, "Miss, Master, there is a group of passing soldiers outside who claim to have been ordered to deliver something to you. I asked them to put down their things, but the leader refused, saying that the items were valuable and could not be left behind. Their master instructed him to hand it over to you personally."

  He hesitantly asked, "When the old slave comes back to invite the young lady, should he also invite them in?"

  Ming Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly thought of something and hastily said, "Quickly invite him!"

  In less than a moment, as expected, a soldier entered the main hall. He clasped his fists and said, "I am the Qianhu Zhang of General Weiguo's army, and I have come to deliver gifts to Madam Pei on the general's orders. The general says that a man without credibility cannot stand, and he has never gone back on his promises. There are two rare herbs here, please take a look, Madam Pei."

  He took a sip, and then his subordinates carried in a large black sandalwood box. After opening it, there were two potted plants with flowers and grasses, which looked unusual but ordinary.

  Ming Xuan's heart was slightly trembling, and she didn't know why she suddenly had a feeling of wanting to cry. She strongly held back the sourness in her nose, restraining herself from losing control, but the corners of her eyes still unknowingly flowed with wet marks. She didn't care about maintaining a dignified image, and leaned forward to carefully examine the two medicinal herbs, for a moment not knowing what to say was good.

  Dan Hong hastily wrapped several thick bundles and handed them over, "You gentlemen have traveled far to deliver medicine for our young master, thank you for your hard work. This is just a small token of appreciation, not enough to show respect, take it with you on the road to buy wine."

  Those soldiers didn't decline politely either and accepted them one after another.

  Ming Xuan stood up, walked to the soldier and bowed deeply, then said in a low voice, "General Han's timely help is like sending charcoal in snowy weather. My husband and I will remember this kindness. When he returns triumphantly, my husband will definitely go invite him for a good drink to thank him for his kindness."

  Rumor has it that the battle ahead is fierce, she thought for a moment and felt that no matter what happened in the past, Han Xiuxi's ability to remember to send medicine was already astonishing. She didn't care whether it was out of politeness or not, but she should have shown some concern for his situation. However, she was also afraid that her concern would cause Han Xiuxi to misunderstand and stir up trouble again in the emotions that had just calmed down.

  Just as she was hesitating, the soldier suddenly said, "The gift that General sent to Madam Pei is not just these two rare grasses. He also left a few people at Shengchang Medicine Store. Please ask Madam to pick them up when you have time."

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