Chapter 170: Gu Changxiao’s Hesitation
Jin Sui deliberately ignored Gu Changxiao’s words and scoffed, “I’m not following you to get promoted and rich, so I don’t need you to treat me well.
If Lord Li can just take the Black Feather Camp brothers back and let the people of the border city live in peace and contentment, then my trip to the Northern Frontier in the freezing cold won’t have been in vain.”
Gu Changxiao completely ignored the sarcasm in her tone and chuckled, “Suisui, you really came north for me, didn’t you?”
Jin Sui was somewhat exasperated. Had this person become thick-skinned? You weren’t like this before!
“Who’s here for you? I already said I’m here for the Black Feather Camp brothers!”
Gu Changxiao tilted his head and smiled brightly, “But I’m also one of the Black Feather Camp brothers!”
Jin Sui took a deep breath and decided not to argue with him anymore, returning to the main topic: “Did you already know about the Northern Frontier Crown Prince and the Left Wise King?”
“I only knew a little, and I’ll need to gather more information once we reach the Royal Court.”
“Then what are your plans?”
Gu Changxiao was quite certain about this point: “The Left Wise King has long been secretly colluding with Prince Yu. If I want to return alive and ensure the stability of the border, I have no choice but to help the Northern Frontier Crown Prince ascend the throne.”
Jin Sui was surprised, “Then why didn’t you go to Princess Tuoya?”
Gu Changxiao shook his head and chuckled, “You’ve already met the Princess, haven’t you? I assume you’ve heard her assessment of me.”
Jin Sui remained silent. Tuoya’s assessment wasn’t good; she thought he was a prince with no power, no money, and no troops, essentially coming to his death. She preferred Yan Jiu and didn’t want to cooperate with him.
“I have to do something to make her realize that I can be her accomplice.”
Jin Sui instantly thought of the recent battle and her eyes widened, “The Princess is in your group, you deliberately spread this false information?”
Gu Changxiao glanced at Miss Yan, who was talking to the Yan Clan Bodyguards:
“I didn’t deliberately spread it, I just let the Northern Frontier people discover that there was a woman of noble status in my group, and they would naturally speculate.”
Jin Sui pondered and asked, “If I hadn’t appeared and thrown the fish oil just now, would you have also prepared a counterattack?”
Gu Changxiao didn’t hide it from her, as there was no need. And after that one time where a bit of information almost cost Jin Sui her life.
He had learned his lesson and decided that no matter what happened, he would communicate with Suisui.
Furthermore, he had also discovered the pattern for communicating with Jin Sui: be direct and straightforward, never beat around the bush, and don’t leave things half-said for her to guess.
Because this girl’s way of thinking was unique; if you let her guess, she would guess something completely different from the correct answer. It felt like the process was all correct, but the result was astonishing.
It had to be said that Gu Changxiao did very well in this regard. In contrast, Yan Jiu had never realized that being indirect and subtle when communicating with Miss Ji wouldn’t work.
Our little Daoist Ji had been a man for too long and had become a romantic insulator, making her unsuitable for poetic conversations like ‘The moon is beautiful tonight.’
If she heard that, she would only reply, “Yes, it looks like it will be a sunny day tomorrow, perfect for drying blankets.”
…
“Yes, I’ve already arranged for people to hide in the dark and prepare to launch a surprise attack with fish oil. I need to let those associated with the Northern Frontier Crown Prince know that I carry the Thunder Fire that burned two thousand of the Left Wise King’s soldiers.
Lord Li is not unqualified to be their accomplice.”
Seeing Jin Sui’s thoughtful expression, he immediately added, “But it’s even better that you’re here, Suisui!”
Jin Sui didn’t overthink it and tilted her chin up, “Of course! My fish oil skills are better than any of the other brothers. Looking at the situation just now, the Left Wise King must have been trembling with fear when he found out!”
Gu Changxiao shook his head, “I mean, when you came, I and the Black Feather Camp soldiers were all very happy, and our morale soared. Suisui, do you know? You are actually our backbone.”
These words greatly pleased Jin Sui. Although she tried to suppress a smile, her lips were about to curl up uncontrollably. She said proudly, “Of course! Who do you think trained the Black Feather Camp!”
Jin Sui then mentioned the Meteor Horse she picked up on the road, “I wonder what news he brought? He’s been groggy and hasn’t woken up. Will something happen to the border city?”
Gu Changxiao quickly comforted her, “Nothing will happen! I’ve already secretly sent a detachment of the Northwest Army to infiltrate near the border city and maintain secret contact with Cheng Yu. As soon as there’s a crisis in the border city, they will be able to defend it.”
Jin Sui suddenly felt both happy and self-mocking, “Actually, even if I hadn’t come, you could have brought the brothers back alive. I said you were conceited, and I’m the same. I shouldn’t have come.”
I should have gone to Jiangnan with Grandpa and Jin An, so I wouldn’t have to work for Yan Jiu for a few years after returning.
Gu Changxiao became anxious upon hearing this. If he weren’t on horseback, he would have truly wanted to hug Suisui tightly and sincerely tell her how happy he was to see her.
It wasn’t just happiness, but rather: “If I say this, Suisui might think I’m being overly sentimental, but this is my true feeling. Without you by my side, half of my soul is missing.
I was numb, my heart was dead. And the moment you appeared, Suisui, I truly came back to life.”
Jin Sui’s entire face flushed red. She quickly looked around, thankfully no one else had heard. Her face was as red as if she had a fever. She glared at Gu Changxiao and gritted her teeth,
“Can you please not say things like that? It’s so embarrassing to hear. You weren’t like this before! How have you become… become…”
She felt like he had become love-struck. Thinking back to when she first met Gu Changxiao, apart from the time she and Grandpa saved him, Gu Changxiao still didn’t count.
When they met again at the bandits’ hideout, they were chained together by an iron chain, and Gu Changxiao had intended to cut off her leg to escape!
You were so decisive back then!
In the border city, you supported me, the fake Lord Li, in everything, you were decisive, skilled in both civil and military arts, and never cared about romantic affairs.
How have you become like this now? It’s hard to believe you could say such things!
Is it just because I’ve become a woman? Your change is too drastic!
Jin Sui didn’t dare to look at him anymore, afraid that if she glanced at him, he would say something embarrassing again.
This person, he used to be so serious, but now he’s so glib.
Yet, he was afraid Jin Sui wouldn’t believe him and added, “No matter how I’ve changed in Suisui’s eyes, please believe that I am sincere. These words have been buried in my heart for a long time.
I was afraid of scaring you before, so I didn’t dare to tell you. Meeting again, for me, is no different from a life-and-death separation.”
Thinking of the moment he received the secret letter saying that little Daoist Ji had died at the hands of Prince Yu’s assassins, Gu Changxiao felt his heart ache again.
That feeling of lingering fear, regret, and grief would be etched in his heart forever. Whenever he thought of how Suisui had almost died, his heart would ache.
Only by seeing the vibrant young woman before him could he alleviate that pain.
He once again wanted to dismount and hold the young woman in his arms tightly, feeling her heartbeat and breathing, to alleviate the heartache accumulated from his long longing.
Jin Sui quickly said, “Alright, I believe you. Stop talking! Let’s hurry and meet up with Yan Jiu and the others to discuss important matters.”
She felt like Gu Changxiao had lost half his brain to the cold of the Northern Frontier, and the other half was diluted with water.
How did a perfectly good Lord Li become love-struck?
Fortunately, at this moment, Miss Yan arrived beside Jin Sui and asked worriedly, “Suisui, is my brother very angry? He’s going to hit me.”
Jin Sui turned to talk to Miss Yan, no longer paying attention to Gu Changxiao. That guy had lost his reason and couldn’t communicate normally at all.
If she continued talking to him, she would get infected too!
She didn’t notice Liu Yun seize the opportunity to quietly step forward, gently tug Gu Changxiao’s sleeve, and whisper to him, “Your Highness, have you taken a liking to Miss Ji?”
Gu Changxiao shook his head, like an elder brother teaching a younger brother, “It’s not ‘taken a liking,’ it’s admiration, it’s love, it’s deep affection. The phrase ‘taken a liking’ cannot express my feelings for Miss Ji.
I want to marry her as my wife, love her and respect her for all my life.”
Now it was Liu Yun’s turn to get goosebumps. He didn’t expect their Prince to say such things? Had his brain gone bad?
But Liu Yun still reminded him appropriately, “But Miss Ji is a Taoist nun, she can’t get married.”
Gu Changxiao chuckled. The so-called Taoist nun was just like when she lied to him that she was a eunuch, it was to avoid suspicion.
He couldn’t help but smile and glance at Jin Sui, “Our Suisui has so many identities! And how could she pretend so well? I was almost fooled by her.”
“Her grandfather is also a Taoist priest! If she couldn’t get married, how could she exist?”
Liu Yun pondered for a moment and felt that the Prince was right, but he still earnestly told the Prince:
“No, she really is a Taoist nun who cannot get married. She told Yan Jiu and Princess Tuoya the same thing.
She shared a carriage with the Yan Family Head on the road. I asked her, and she said that it’s not good for a young lady like you to travel in the same carriage with a man, as it would harm your reputation.
She said that she even slept in the same dormitory with the Black Feather Camp soldiers in the military camp and slept with Your Highness’s feet touching, so traveling in the same carriage with the Yan Family Head is nothing. Besides, as a Taoist nun, she can’t get married…”
Gu Changxiao seized the key point, “What did you say? Suisui traveled with Yan Jiu in the same carriage all the way? Day and night?”
Liu Yun nodded, “Yes! That carriage was very large and warm.”
Gu Changxiao’s eyes narrowed. Good for you, Yan Jiu! You really have ulterior motives towards my Suisui!
Gu Changxiao warned Liu Yun, “Don’t say this to anyone else. Miss Ji is not a Taoist nun; she’s just saying that for convenience.”
Liu Yun seemed to understand but not understand. He just saw that the Prince’s expression was bad, and his eyes looked like he wanted to kill someone, so he naturally said no more.
But he couldn’t help but think that if Miss Ji really became their Princess Consort, it wouldn’t be bad.
At least we would have endless brown sugar and inexhaustible fish oil firearms!
That’s right. The meticulous Gu Changxiao and Yan Jiu, although they had suspected how Jin Sui always managed to produce so many supplies, didn’t delve deeper.
This was because their thinking was that of normal people; they couldn’t imagine anything fantastical.
But our Liu Yun was different. This child was young and at an age where he could accept all sorts of fantastical tales, especially since Jin Sui had established the reasonable persona of a Taoist nun.
Liu Yun was like a little doll, often disappearing. He would hide without making a sound, and people who weren’t paying attention wouldn’t notice him.
He had observed carefully along the way and found that when Miss Ji reached into the box prepared by Lord Cheng, she would take out food, medicine, or even things for women.
Then she would tell the Yan family members that they were all prepared by Lord Cheng.
But he had secretly checked that box many times, and it contained none of those things!
Things like the warming ginger tea they often drank, or hot drinks made from brown sugar, seemed to be inexhaustible.
He had arrived in a hurry and hadn’t brought much clothing, only a cotton-padded jacket. One day, it accidentally got wet, and a Yan Clan Bodyguard found him some clothes to wear.
But at night, Miss Ji, like a sister caring for her younger brother, quietly gave him a cotton-padded jacket made of a very different material, and instructed him:
“Wear it on the inside. If you’re cold, tell me! Don’t just endure it yourself; you’ll freeze.”
He had seen this garment before; Jin An and Daoist Ji both had one just like it.
And this time, Miss Ji took out a lot of fish oil firearms. However, neither Yan Jiu nor Lord Cheng had prepared fish oil firearms. Even if Miss Ji had brought them herself, how many could she carry?
Liu Yun boldly speculated that Miss Ji must have a Taoist sleeve-of-universe or a mustard seed pouch.
Therefore, Miss Ji might truly be a Taoist nun protected by immortals, who could not get married.
He wanted to remind the Prince, but he knew very well that if he spoke his guess, the Prince would think his brain had been frozen by the cold all the way and would only let him play with Hei Hu from now on.
No one would believe him.
Liu Yun sighed softly. Forget it, I’ve said what I needed to say. I’m not even an adult yet. These adult love affairs have nothing to do with me!
I’m more interested in what treasures Miss Ji has! If I become a Taoist priest, can I get such treasures too?
Imagining himself fighting enemies with a hundred swords at his side… I want it so badly!
But after becoming a Taoist priest, can I fight on the battlefield?
Our Liu Yun’s worries were so unique.
Furthermore, after Gu Changxiao learned that Jin Sui and Yan Jiu had spent their days together, his heart felt both sour and bitter, and he became even more regretful.
He turned and glared fiercely at Huo Zi’an. He knew this was misplaced anger, but he couldn’t help it.
Huo Zi’an, who had wished he could disguise himself as a quail all the way, felt his scalp tingle again. What should he do? He felt like he would be disciplined by the terrifying Miss Ji sooner or later.
The reason for Gu Changxiao’s misplaced anger was that if it weren’t for this guy’s loose tongue, and if he hadn’t kept it from Jin Sui, Jin Sui would definitely have come north with him.
Then they would have spent their days together, without Yan Shi’er Niang interfering, and without that detestable Yan Jiu chasing after them.
He could have completely denied Yan Jiu any opportunity, but it was his own fault. Suisui was right; I’m just too conceited!
Now Gu Changxiao was filled with anxiety and fear. He was certain that Yan Jiu liked Jin Sui; it was a tacit understanding between men.
From the way Yan Jiu looked at Suisui, Gu Changxiao could tell.
But he didn’t know what Jin Sui thought of Yan Jiu. She had said more than once that Yan Jiu was a good person and that they could cooperate with him.
What about other things? Would she be moved by Yan Jiu? Would she think Yan Jiu was better than him?
Gu Changxiao’s gaze fell on Jin Sui’s back, making Jin Sui feel that even through the thick cotton-padded jacket, she would be scorched by that gaze.
It was like that night of parting in the border city, when he had looked at her like that all night.
She couldn’t help but turn back and glare at him, “What are you looking at? I’m talking to Miss Yan, can’t you just watch the road properly?”
